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
sent her complaints to the king of France her father which concerned iniuries in the highest kind as in her bed the King being drawne by Gaueston to adultery and in her honour and maintenance Whereupon the Peeres of the land animated by the King of France so confidently dealt with Edward that his Earle now the third time did abiure the Realme but the King of France and his enemies making forraine parts vnsure for him to abide in he returned in Christmas to the generall perturbation of the Kingdome and to his owne certaine ruine for that the Barons his aduersaries had gotten him banished with this Prouiso that if at any time afterward hee were taken in England hee should be forthwith apprehended and suffer death But an Angell from heauen could not seeme more welcome then this most faithful friend as that Courtier cals him was vnto King Edward who forthwith aduanced him to be his principall Secretary 11 Vpon report of Gauestons returne the chiefe Lords aswell Ecclesiasticall as temporall Walter Bishoppe of Couentree excepted who allowed the Kings affections towards Gaueston and procured him to breake the former agreements which were made and sworne in the Parliament at London consulted vpon a desperat course of reformation in this point and made choise of Thomas Earle of Lancaster to be their leader This Thomas was sonne of Edmund Earle of Lancaster Leicester and Ferrers second sonne of Henry the third King of England and in right of his wife after her fathers decease which hapned about this time Earle of Lincolne Salisburie and besides many other great Lands in Yorkeshire Cumberland and Wales hee had the Earledom of Artoys in Picardy so that without comparison hee was the greatest subiect of the Kingdome 12 The Issue of which combination before we pursue wee may not here in our way ouerslippe a strange alteration both here in England and in all Christendome by the vniuersall extinguishment of the Order of the Templars wrought about this time by the procurement of the French King who being so gracious with Pope Clement that formerly hee sent Ambassadors to craue of his holinesse with great importunity that the bones of his Predecessor Pope Boniface might bee burnt as being an Heretike so now also he so farre preuailed with him that in the Councel at Vienna this so highly esteemed Order was vpon clear proofe of their generall odious sinnes and scarse credible impieties vtterly abolished through Christendome The French King caused 54. of that Order together with their Great Maister to bee burnt at Paris and though that King hoped to conuert all the Lands of that Societie to his sonnes vse whom hee intended to make King of Ierusalem yet the Pope and Councell annexed their possessions to the Order of the Knights Hospitalers called commonly Knights of the Rhodes Notwithstanding in England where such Papall commands went not alwayes for lawes the heires of the Donours and such as had endowed the Templars here with landes entred vpon those parts of their ancient Patrimonies after the dissolution of the Order and saith our Courtier detained them vntill not long after they were by Parliament wholly transferred vnto the Knights of the Rhodes or of S. Iohn of Ierusalem 13 King Edward was now at Yorke and Earle Thomas according to that which had beene concluded among the combined Lords who resolued to trie all extremities rather then any longer to endure Peirs Gaâ—…eston as being perswaded while that King-bane breathed peace could neither be maintained in the Realme nor the King abound in treasure nor the Queene enioy his loue sent humble petitions by honourable messengers to their Soueraigne requesting him to deliuer the man into their hands or to driue him from his company out of England But the selfe-wild King preferring the dearenesse of one stranger before the loue of the whole Realme would not condiscend 14 Afterward Peirs whom the Earles pursued with an Armie being entrusted for his safeguard to Aimerie de Valence Earle of Pembrok was left by him but one night at a Village or Manour called Dathington betweene Oxford and Warwicke being a place neither farre enough off nor strong enough pretending to haue conuaied him on the next day to the Castle of Wallingford the said Aimerie in the meane space departing to lodge with his Countesse who lay hard by but the said Aimerie conniuing thereat as our Courtier chargeth him who also writes that hee tooke a solemne oath before the king to doe his best to safe-conduct Gaueston the king purposing in the meane time to labour his peace with the Lords vpon any conditions Guy Earle of Warwicke with his people surprised him the same night and took him to his Castle of Warwicke where in a place called Blacklow afterward Gaueshead his head was stricken off at the commandement and in the presence of the Earles of Lancaster Warwicke and Hereford as of one that had beene a subuerter of the lawes and an open Traitour to the Kingdom In which bold attempt themselues who yet pretended so much standing for the liberties of the land did most vnaduisedly infringe a Capitall branch of the same Franchises in putting to death an Earle and so deare a friend of the Kings without any iudiciall proceeding by triall of his Peeres which caused a lasting hatred betwixt the King and his Nobles 15 There wanted nothing now to King Edward but present meanes to reuenge the bloud of his friend or rather of his halfe-selfe the lacke wherof did encrease the sorrow he tooke for his death which being well knowne to the Lords they resolued not to lay downe Armes till they had prouided for their security and the performance of all such points as concerned the temperament of the Regall power that vnder colour thereof the Nobles themselues might finger some part of the Soueraigne gouernment The King was then at London and the Lords at Dunstaple but by the continuall interdealings of the Prelates and of Gilbert Earle of Glocester who stood neutrall the kindling displeasures were for the present allaied vpon condition that the Lords should restore to the King all such things once belonging to Peirs Gaueston as they had taken at Newcastle which they accordingly did 16 King Edward neuerthelesse as if his soule were ouercast with some blacke cloud continued mourning till it pleased God to enlighten the world with the birth of a young Prince whose noble Acts did afterward redeeme all the blemishes wherewith his Fathers infelicities had darkned the brightnesse of the English name and at this present cleared the mind of the sorrowfull King his father for vpon Saint Brices day Isabel his Queene brought forth her first sonne at Windsor which caused great reioycing through the Kingdome Her French kindred and friends which were there in good numbers of either sexe among them as chiefe the Queens owne brother
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
mercifully * Holinsh. p. 523. Iohn Stow names also Sir Nicholas Lâ—…gford and cals the two Gausels not Gausels but Gentels and brothers The great destruction of Cheshire Gentlemen * August 10. The Earle of Northumberland pardoned of his life VVilford a Sea-captaine takes a thousand tunnes of good commodities A. D. 1404. The Earle of Northumberland restored The Country-men about Dartmouth kill the French General and present the King with honourable prisoners Owen Glendwr and the Welshmen waste the Marches A new false king Richard Serlo a spreader of that imposâ—…ure deliuered to the King * Parliamâ—… 〈◊〉 Tho. Wels. * Sir Iohn 〈◊〉 Ypodig Neust. pag. 563. An. 1405. Mowbray Earle Maâ—…all and Scrope Archbishop of Yâ—…ke 〈◊〉 to redâ—… 〈◊〉 and lose their heads * Sueton. lib. 3. cap. 59. The King pursues the Earle of Northumberland The first time that a gunne is vsed in England * Tho. VValsing In Hen. 4. The French with seuenscore ships arriue in 〈◊〉 to aid Owen Glendowr A. D. 1406. An. Reg. 7 A. D. 1407. King ' Richard spred to be aliue Sir Robert Knolls dieth An. D. 1409. Platina * Ypod. Neust. p. 566. * Antiq. Britan. ecclesia * Walsing Ypodig p. 569. * 〈◊〉 S. Theo. Oxonia saith Tho. Gascoigne MS. An. D. 1410 An. D. 1411. * Paul Aâ—…yl in Carol. 6. The Duke of Burgundie sends for aid to the King The Kings wise and Christian answere to the Dukes request Aides sent by the King to the Duke of Burgundie An. D. 1412 The Duke of Orleance sends to the King for succour * The words of the Dukes letter The great offers of the Orleance faction to the King Their demands The King forsakes the Duke of Burgundy and aides the Duke of Orleance * Pol. Verg. lib. 21. Iob. Tilius Chr. The English burne and spoile in Normandy till the Duke of Orleance came * homines de 〈◊〉 A. D. 1413. A. reg 14. The King dieth hauing reigned thirteene yeeres and sixe moneths wanting fiue daies â—…ith VValsing â—…ll â—…olinsh Cambd. Brit. in Glocest. Monarch 52 Henry V. Sutton in vit Tit. 1. 6. * Ti. 〈◊〉 Fâ—… Edw. Hal. Henry borne at Monmouth in Wales * Râ—…cor of Toweâ—… 4 Hen. 5. Ioh. Rosse 〈◊〉 in lib. 〈◊〉 regiâ—… Prince Henries Educatin Holinsh. Richard Grafton Edward Hal. Thom. Walsing Rich. Grafton Eccles. 2. Ioh. Rosse Sir Tho. Eliot Gouernour Rich. Grafton Tho. Otterborne Deut. 17. 12. Exod. 21. 15. Tho. Otterborn Ex Record Ioh. Stow. Rich. Grafton An. D. 1413. Tiâ—… Lâ—… Tho. Walsing Râ—…b Fabian Polycâ—…ron Vpon Trinity Sunday Nich Vigâ—…r in bist 〈◊〉 Eglise Fox in Acts and Monuments * Oper a Ioh. Hâ—…ssi To. 〈◊〉 Thom. Walsing 〈◊〉 and Monuments Ouldcastle pronounced an heretike Tho. Wals. Antiq. Britan. Ex libro Wigorn. Archbishop Arundels death * See it in Foxes Martyrologie The offers of the Lord Cobham Rob. Fabian Touching Ouldcastles innocency from Treason see Foxes defence against Cope in Martyrologie Iohn Stow Iohn Fox in Acts and Monuments * then called Thicket fields * See Fox at large Ypodig Neust. Tho Wals. Bishops of Saint Dauids Henry Chicheley made Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Walsing A complaint against the Clergies excesse Edw. Hall The Archbishop Câ—…ichleys oration Io. Serres The Law Salique touched the Germans but not the French Their claiming by the same title Numb 27. An addition 1. Chro. 2. 34. Lewis 〈◊〉 Iudg. 18. Io. Serres Io. Serres Ex Record apud Westm. P. 〈◊〉 Fr. Rosâ—…en Enguerrant de Monstrel Nich. Uegâ—… Will Parradin in Annal. de Burgoin Caâ—…ton Chron. 〈◊〉 Ex Record VVest An. D. 1414. Ypod. Neust. Ex Record Iohn Harding Roger VVals Enguerrant de Monstrâ—…l Holinsâ—… Ex Pâ—…l 1. H. 5. Alain 〈◊〉 in Aâ—…ls of Brit. An ancient Manuscript Tiâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Stâ—… Holinsh. â—…o Stâ—… Annal. Liâ—… Original Harding 1500. Ioh. Stow. 1600. Holinsh. 1000. Grafton 140. Ould Manuscr 1500. Caxton 1500. Nichol. Giles Titus Liâ—…l 〈◊〉 de yllescâ—… Hist. Pâ—…tif Platina Nicol. 〈◊〉 in Theatrâ—…â—…sal de Prâ—… Sebastian Munster Francis Goodwin vpon the liues of the Bishop The French glorious in shew but the English conquerors Caxton Chron. The English discerned what was done in the French army P. Aemil. Alain Bâ—…chant â—…n les Annales de Bretagâ—…e The stratagem with stakes Guil. Parradyn Tho. Walsing The chiefe Leaders of each part of the English army The noble ablliaments of King Henry in the maine Battell Tiâ—… Liuiâ—… The admirable and glorious sight that both armies made 10. Serres King Henry seeketh to passe Callis Tho. Walsing Stowes Annal. Tho. Wal. Denis Saâ—…age in Cron. Flan. Enguerrant de Monâ—…reles The English proffer Battell Their Archers put the enemy to the greatest harme Ypodig Neust. Enguerrant The wings of the French battell discomfited Tho. Walsing The English Archers giuing back the French horsemen spill themselues vpon the sharpe pointed stakes Enguerrant de Monstrel Guil. Paradyn in les Annals de Burg. King Henry rescueth his brother the Duke of Glocester Alenzon encountring King Henrie putteth him in some danger Rich. Grafton The French maine battell put to flight Pyd Verg. Walsinghams description of the Frenches ouerthrow After some sharp execution the English shew mercy to the French Enguerrant de Monstrelet Ypod. Neust. Certaine French rob the Kings carriages They steale a Crowne and a sword and faine that King Henry is taken prisoner History of Normandy Pol. Verg. A new power of French appearing King Henrie causeth all his prisoners to bee slaine Enguerrant Tiâ—… Liâ—… 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 The Duke of Burgundy impriâ—…oneth the robbers of King Henries carriages but pardons their liues at Count Charolois request Ypodig Nest. King Henry acknowledgeth God the gâ—…uer of victory God deliuereth a nation into the hands of the destroier for their sinnes Enguer de Monstreles Nich. Gille Latiers volume de Cron. Franc. The small number of English slaine Tho. Walsing * Ex Manuscript The names of great persons either slaine or taken prisoners Enguerrant de Monstrelet Enguâ—… Iehan Tillet Bertrand de Argentre La. Mer Nichol. Giles Legend Fland. Chron. Fran. 3. vol. * Of Sâ—… The number of Dukes Earles c. slaine Denis Sâ—…g Bertrand de Argâ—…re in hist Bret. Iehan Tillet Alain Bouchart Annal. de Bret. Will. Parredin Annal. de Burgoin History of Normandy 5800. slaine French buried in one plat of ground Alain Bouchart Annal. de Bret. History of Normandy Stowes Annal. Grafton King Henry returneth into England He and his company in danger at Sâ—… Tho. Wal. The King is receiued oâ—… London with great state Caxton Chron. All sorts both Clergy and Laity shew their affection to the King and he to God Stowes Annal. The Duke of Yorke interred at Fotheringhay The Earle of Suffolke at Ewhelme Gonzales de yllesâ—… in la Hist. Pontif. May 7. The Emperour Sigismund commeth into England The sterne manner of entertaining the Emperour at his landing VVell liked of by the Emperor * Rich. Grafton * Paul Aemil. The King willinglie heareth the Emperour for
not learned the truth of things indeed he admitteth without discretion and iudgement the vanitie and vntruths of fables I forbeare to speake saith he what great matters this fellow hath forged of the Britaines acts before the Empire and comming in of Caesar. Thus farre Paruus But I know the answer to this so great an accusation namely that this William making suit vnto Dauid ap Owen Gwyneth Prince of North-wales for the Bishoprick of Saint Assaphs after the death of Geffrey and thereof failing falsly scandalized and impudently belied that most reuerend man Which surely had been a great fault and might of vs be beleeued had not others of the same ranke and time verified asmuch 17 For Syluester Giraldus commonly called Cambrensis that flourished in the same time with the said author made no doubt to terme it The fabulous story of Geffrey The like is verified by Iohn Weathamstead Abbat of Saint Albanes a most iudicious man that wrote in anno 1440. who in his Granarie giueth sentence of this history as followeth The whole discourse of Brutus saith he is rather poeticall then historicall and for diuers reasons is built more vpon opinion then truth first because there is no mention thereof made in the Romane story either of his killing his father or of the said birth or yet of banishing the sonne Secondly for that Ascanius begat no such sonne who had for his proper name Syluius by any approued Author for according to them he begat only one sonne and his name was Iulius from whom the family of the Iulii tooke their beginning And thirdly Syluius Posthumus whom perhaps Geffrey meaneth was the sonne of Aeneas by his wife Lauinia and he begetting his sonne Aeneas in the thirty eighth yeer of his raigne ended his life by course of naturall death The kingdome therfore now called England was not heretofore as many will haue named Britaine of Brutus the sonne of Syluius Wherefore it is a vaine opinion and ridiculous to challenge noble blood and yet to want a probable ground of the challenge for it is manhood only that enobleth a nation and it is the mind also with perfect vnderstanding and nothing els that gaineth gentility to a man And therefore Seneca writeth in his Epistles to Plato that there is no King but he came from vassals and no vassall but he came from Kings Wherefore to conclude let this suffice saith he that the Britaine 's from the beginning of their nobility haue been couragious and valiant in fight that they haue subdued their enemies on euery side and that they vtterly refuse the yoke of seruitude 18 Now that William of Newborough had sufficient cause say some to exclaime against the fantacies of Merline and the fictions of Arthur is made manifest in the sequel not only by the decree of that obtruded Councell of Trent wherein was inhibited the publication of Merlines books but also in effect by the statute enacted the fifth yeere of our last deceased Queene Elizabeth of blessed and immortall memorie wherein is forbidden such fantasticall predictions vpon occasions of Armes Fields Beasts Badges Cognizances or Signets such as Merline stood most vpon and likewise William of Malmsbury saith that Arthur being the only proppe that vpheld his country deserued rather to be aduanced by truth then abused with fables wherewith that story is most plentifully stored And also that Weathamstead had reason to account Brutes acts and conquests to be rather poeticall then any waies warranted by the records of truth appeareth by the silence of the Romane writers therein who name neither Brute nor his father in the genealogie of the Latine Kings and if any such were saith the contradictors how could they be ignorant of the vntimely death of their king slaine by the hand of his naturall though in this act vnnaturall sonne or what should moue them being so lauish in their own commendations to be thus silent in their Brutes worthinesse that with seuen thousand dispersed Troians warred so victoriously in Gallia conquered a kingdome of Giants subdued a most famous Iland raigned gloriously and left the same to his posterity none of them either in prose or poetry once handled but left to destiny to be preserued by a long ensuing meanes or to perish in obliuion for euer And surely this moued the whole senate of great Clerks to giue sentence that neuer any such Brute raigned in the world such as were Boccace Viues Hadrian Iunius Polydore Buchanan Vignier Genebrard Molinaeus Bodine and others 19 Yea and there are some Criticks that faine would take aduantage from the defenders of Brutes history themselues as from Sir Iohn Prys that produceth many vncertaine ensamples of the originall of other nations which granted say they doth no waies confirme the truth or certainty of our owne neither is it any honour to deriue these Britaines from the scumme of such conquered people as the Troians were Humfrey Lhuyd likewise denying absolutely the deriuation of the Britaines name from Brute and bringing it from two compounded words as we haue said doth thereby weaken the credit of his conquest of this Iland to their vnderstanding as also the catalogue of his successors which are said to raigne successiuely for many hundred of yeeres after him And another industrious British writer hauing the helpe of two most ancient British copies the collections of Caradock of Carnaruan their owne Bardies euery third-yeeres visitation and twenty seuen authors of good account all of them cited in the preface of his Chronicle besides his helps had in the offices of records for this realme yet ascending no higher then to the person of Cadwallader Prince of Wales whose raign was in the yeere of Christs incarnation 682. and no lesse then one thousand seuen hundred twenty and sixe yeeres after that Brute is said to come into this Iland doth not warrant say they the story that is included betwixt but rather euen the same is enterlaced with many doubtfull vncertainties and so left disputable by the said compiler himselfe as namely whether that this Cadwallader whom the Britaines claime to be their king be not the same Chedwald whom the Saxons would haue theirs both liuing at one time both in acts alike and names neere both abandoning their kingdomes both taking the habit of religion both dying in Rome both buried in one Church nay say they in one Sepulchre The like he bringeth of the Britaines Iuor and the Saxons Iue in the like coherences of names acts deuotions and deaths so that this history of Brute carieth not so smooth a current for passage as is wished nor is that Gordeons knot so easily vnloosed Againe the Reformer of the British history himselfe although he hath written one whole chapter in defence of Geffrey Monmouth and straineth to make his booke authenticall complaining often and accusing learned and vnpartiall Cambden seuerall
bottome that Beda and Asser report them so to remaine in their times All which notwithstanding the Romans passed with the repulse of their enemies and Caesar who grew now to the height of his honour marched further into the Continent and comming forward was met by Ambassadours from the chiefest Citie of the Trinobants which first of all the States profered submission and promised subiection with this intreatie also that Mandubrace who being Caesars follower and doubtlesse the contriuer of this submission might be Gouernour of their Citie 9 Caesar ready to worke vpon such aduantage seized them at forty hostages with sufficiencie of graine for his whole armie which with all expedition those Suppliants performed preferring the satisfaction of their owne discontentments before the common cause of their Natiue Country thus laid open and betraied into the enemies hands from whose example many other States without stroke yeelded to Caesars command yea further treacherously shewing vnto him both the power and place of Cassibelans abode who had now retired himselfe into his owne Citie called Verolam well fortified both with woods and marish grounds Thither Caesar came and with little losse or labour won the place and many of the miserable Britaines both taken and slaine Cassibelan now despairing of his owne power farre vnable to match and much lesse to ouermatch his Enemies instigated the Gouernours of Kent being foure in number Cingetorix Caruilius Taximangulus and Segonax whom Caesar termeth Kings to raise all their strengths and suddenly to set vpon the Romanes Campe that guarded their ships which enterprise was accordingly attempted but with such successe that the Britaine 's were on each side slaine and Cingetorix taken prisoner the rest sauing themselues by flight 10 Cassibelan beholding these vnfortunate proceedings feared the end of vnhappie successe for hee saw his Country wasted his owne designes defeated and himselfe forsaken by the traiterous reuolt of many Cities and States on euery side Therefore as bootlesse to bandy against fortune he sought to hold his owne with others and sent Comius King of the Attrebatij to be his meane to Caesar for peace which was the willinglier heard and granted for that he determined to winter in Gallia his affaires so requiring it 11 The conditions were hard but necessitie must be obeied for Caesar imposed a grieuous Tribute to be taxed of the Britaines of no lesse then three thousand pounds yeerely to be paid and moreouer included the safety of Mandubrace with his Trinobantes taken into friendship and protection of the Romans lastly that these Couenants should be faithfully obserued he cōmanded hostages for assurance forthwith to be deliuered These things thus compounded he tooke the Seas about the second watch of the night which then began to equalize the day in length and safely arriued in the Continent of Gallia Hauing rather shewed the place to posterities then deliuered to the Romans the possession thereof as Tacitus saith supposing it his glory sufficient to vndergoe a matter so rare and difficult and at his comming to Rome to haue presented his British Captiues whose strangenesse for attire and behauiour filled the peoples eies both with wonder and delight He offred also in the Temple of Venus genitrix a Surcoat made all of British pearles as a Trophey and Spoile of the Ocean And now his fortunes comming to the highest the title of perpetuall Dictator then which the State of Rome could affoord nothing greater sufficed him not but a King hee will be and sole gouernour ouer all though contrarie to the Law and liking of the Romanes whereof in short time grew such heart-burning and hatred that seuenty principall men conspired his death and after his many dangers of enemies in battles abroad was in the Senate-house amongst his supposed friends and in peace if treacherie may be called peace cruelly murdered receiuing in his body three and twenty wounds whereof he died after he had sate Emperour only fiue moneths 12 I am not ignorant that the British Writers doe varie from Caesar in relating these his proceedings and speake more honourably of their owne resistance then himselfe hath set downe namely that by the valour of Cassibelan their King in his first attempts hee was twice driuen backe without his purpose and forced to take the Seas to the great hazard of his ships and men yea and with the losse of his owne sword which with great prowesse was wonne from him in a single encounter by Nenion Cassibelans brother And surely howsoeuer Polydore accounteth their Story new and Caesar carrieth himselfe gloriouslie in his owne affaires yet by sundry other renowned writers it seemeth that the currant of his Conquest went nothing so smooth and vntroubled or with so little losse of the Romans nor the Britaines liberties forgone by so easie resistance which may be collected euen out of some couert passages of Caesars own words where it appeareth that hee durst not at sundry times giue the Britaines battle though they were only harnessed in leather and his Souldiers were all old Legionaries of long seruice called for their huge armour Milites grauis armaturae as hauing a helmet corslet and boots all of massy brasse or iron with a large target a strong two-edged sword and a great staffe or clubbe headed with an iron pike which oddes notwithstanding had not Cassibelan been vndermined by Mandubrace and traiterously forsaken which Caesar himselfe confesseth by the Princes which promised him assistance but euer mangned him and had now a faire time of reuenge perhaps Caesar might haue missed this parcell of his glory Yet for all these helpes Lucan saith expresly of him Territa quaesitis ostendit terga Britannis He Britaine 's found but left them soone by fright Eutropius saith He was wearied out and quelled both with the fierce battles of the enemie and cro◅es of tempests Tacitus saith Hee found out Britannie for the Romans but could not winne it for them which was the very cause why as Dion witnesseth for twenty yeeres after Caesars entrance Britannie kept their owne Kings and their owne lawes and had no forraine Prefects to command them And Beda sheweth that Caesar in this Land was both receiued with sharpe and sore fight and weakened by the losse of his ships and with the most part of his men at armes Tacitus also vsing the speech of Caractacus to his Souldiers hath these words He called saith he vpon the names of his Ancestors which chased Caesar the Dictator out of the I le by whom and by whose valour they were deliuered from Hatchets and Tributes and enioied freely their wiues and childrens bodies vndefiled Againe in the consultations of the Britaine 's intending a reuolt hee allegeth their arguments whereof one was the sudden departure of Caesar out of this Iland little better then a slight With whom Dion Cassius also agreeth affirming that Caesar got nothing
amazed firmly thought that nothing could bee inuincible to them who came with such resolutions to Warre and therefore they humbly desired Peace and yeelded the Iland vnto Agricolaes deuotion 12 Who now in these prosperous proceedings of his fortunes sought not with any glorious relations or letters of aduertisements to improoue and augment the greatnesse of his honour but rather in seeking to suppresse his fame made it shine more bright and addressing himselfe for ciuill gouernment reformed many abuses in his House his Campe and in the whole Prouince and those especially that most touched the poorer sort as by moderating the increase of Tribute and Corne wherewith the Britains were daily burdened by the suppressing of which enormities and the like an honourable opinion of him was euery where entertained and a generall inclination vnto Peace which partly by the negligence partly by the auarice of former Gouernours had beene no lesse feared then Warre it selfe 13 And whereas the Britaines hitherto still harried with Oppressions and Warres had little leisure or will to apply themselues to things which accompany Peace and are the ornaments of Ciuil and settled Societies and therefore were prone vpon euery occasion to reuolt and stirre to induce them by pleasures to quietnesse and rest he exhorted them in priuate and helpt them in publike to build Temples Houses and Places of Assemblies and common resort and likewise prouided that the sonnes of their Nobles should be instructed in the liberall Arts and Sciences commending the industrie and preferring the wits of the Britaine 's before the Students of France as being now growen curious to attaine the Eloquence of the Roman Gentrie yea euen the Gowne the habit of peace and peaceable Arts and to delight in gorgeous Buildings Banquets and Baths 14 And thus farre had Agricola proceeded before the death of Vespasian whose managing of the Imperiall dignitie was euery way answerable to so high a place and whose death was as much lamented as his Vertues did surmount his Predecessours But as touching his miraculous cures of the Blind and the Lame as they serue not either to bee vrged or inserted in this our present Historie so yet may they conuince the indurate Atheist whose conscience is seared with the sinne of incredulitie of the Miracles wrought by our blessed Sauiour Iesus Christ. For if the wisest Historians of those times haue beleeued themselues and left Records vpon their credit to following posterities that by his touch onely hee cured a Lame-man and with his spittle opened the eies of the Blinde being a mortalland sinfull man shall it then bee doubted that hee which knew no sinne neither receiued the gift by measure either in power could not or in act did not worke such Miracles as were the witnesses of his God-head and for such are recorded to confirme our faith But to our purpose 15 When Vespasian had liued threescore and nine yeeres seuen moneths and seuen daies and had raigned ten yeeres as Eusebius saith he died peaceably in his Bed which no Emperour since Augustus euer did hauing beene a great Scourge and Instrument of God against the miserable Iewes whose kingly race from Dauids line he sought by all meanes to extirpate that so all their hopes and expectations might for euer be cut off 16 Hee was of a middle stature well set and strongly compact his countenance not altogether amiable neither any waies deformed a great fauourer of Learning very Liberall a Iust Wise and Most Valiant Prince TITVS FLAVIVS VESPASIAN CHAPTER XIII PResently vpon the death of this Emperour Titus his eldest sonne sirnamed Flauius Vespasian without al contradiction was receiued and obeyed for his rightfull successor aswell for that his Father in his life-time had made him his Partner in the Empire and at his death by Testament declared him his Heire as also for the generall opinion conceiued of him for his inbred goodnes and noble conditions called esteemed the louely darling and delight of mankinde Indeed of a most comely presence he was fitted thereunto with all heroicall vertues a great Souldier learned in the Arts a good Oratour a skilfull Musitian and could by artificiall characters write both very fast and very faire 2 His youth he spent in Militarie qualities and serued in Germanie and Britaine with exceeding commendations and in Iurie warred with the like glorie which is nothing impaired by the learned stile of his Recorder Iosephus vnto whom againe for these affaires I must referre the curious Reader 3 Ierusalem with the slaughter of eleuen thousand Iewes euen on the birth day of his daughter with such honour he wonne that thereupon presently he was saluted Emperour euen in the life time of Vespasian his Father and from that day carried himselfe as his Associate in the Empire for with him hee Triumphed and with him he iointly administred the Censorship his Colleague he was in the Tribunes authoritie and his Companion also in seuen Consulships In all which though the Edicts went forth in his fathers name yet were they penned by himselfe Of this his victorie ouer the Iewes hee left the remembrance to posteritie by stamping vpon the reuerse of his coines IVD CAP. with pictures expressing his Triumph and the Iewes ouerthrow which in the front of this Chapter we haue also placed 4 Somewhat he was blemished with the loue of Berenice the beautifull Queene of Iewrie and much more with the murther of Aulus Cinna only through iealousie conceiued of her and whether that was the sinne whereof at his death he repented is vncertain when lifting vp his eies to Heauen hee complained why his Life should be taken from him that excepting one offence deserued not to die As himselfe in glorie wielded the Emperiall Scepter so did his Substitutes gouerne the Prouinces at which time in Britaine Agricola was President and therein had spent almost two yeares vnder the raigne of Vespasian in such maner as wee haue declared 5 In his third yeare he discouered new Countries and parts of this Iland yet vntouched or at leastwise not thoroughly subdued as altogether vnsatiate of that which was gotten sought to draw the confines of the Empire with a larger compasse therefore marching Northward to the Frith of * Taus wasted all as he went and without any resistance fortified the places with Castles and Bulwarkes which hee stored with sufficient prouision where euerie Garrison wintring garded it selfe and with the Summers seruice euer repaired the Winters euents whereby euermore the Enemie went to the worse and his designes prospered as himselfe wished 6 The fourth Summer was spent in perusing and ordering that which he had ouer-runne And if the glory of the Romane name could haue permitted or so beene satisfied it needed not to haue sought other limits of Britaine for Glota and Bodotria two armes of two opposite Seas shooting farre into the
proceedings or what Lieutenants were imploied in Britaine since Virius Lupus there placed by Seuerus since whose death our Storie hath spent twenty seuen yeeres we finde not recorded Yet now in the raigne of young Gordianus some glimmering light for her Gouernour appeareth by an Altar-Stone found in Cumberland at a place then called Castra Exploratorum with an inscription for the happy health of the Emperour Gordian the third his wife Furia Sabina Tranquilla and their whole Familie which votiue Altar was erected by the Troupe of Horsemen surnamed Augusta Gordiana when Aemilius Chrispinus a natiue of Africa gouerned the same vnder Nonnius Philippus Lieutenant Generall of Britaine in the yeere of Christ two hundred forty three as appeareth by the Consuls therein specified whose forme and inscription wee haue followed by the Stone it selfe now remaining at Connington among many others in the custodie of Sir Robert Cotton Knight IOM. PRO SALVTE IMPERATORIS M. ANTONI GORDIANI P. F. INVICTI AVG. ET SABINIAE TVR IAETRANQVILECONIVGIEIVSTO TAQVE DOMV DIVIN EORVMA LA AVG. GORDIA OB VIRTVTEM APPELLATA POSVIT CVI PRAEEST AEMILIVS CRISPINV S PRAEF EQQ. NATVS IN PRO AFRICA DE TVIDRO SVB CVR. NONNII PH LIPPI LEG AVG. PROPRETO ... ATTICO ET PRETEXTA TO COSS. 3 In Rome the Temple of Ianus that long had stood shut he caused to be opened a sure token that warres were in hand and departing the City passed the Straits of Hellespont and tooke his way thorow Mysia to stay the Gothes that were come downe to inhabit Thracia Thence marching to Antioch recouered the Citie forcing Sapor to forsake the Prouince and to content himselfe with his owne demaines 4 But long this Sunne went not without a Cloud nor his fauourable fortunes without a checke for Mi◅theus his Nest◅r paying Natures debt before it was due being poisoned by Philip as Eutropius affirmeth was wanting in counsell missed for trust to supply which Philip an Arabian and of ignoble parentage was made his Prefect wise I must needs say had hee beene moderate and valiant in Armes had he beene true But the glory of a Diademe beheld with the false light of ambition so dimmed the eie of his dutifull affection and blinded the senses of his aspiring mind that he who from nothing was risen to be somthing thought that also nothing worth whilst it was shadowed with the name of a subiect First therefore he sought to winne credit with the Souldiers to whom he was facible to regard the poore to whom hee was liberall and in all things to outstripe his Soueraigne to whom he was treacherous Yong Gordianus vnable to endure his Prefectors designes or his owne disgraces and perceiuing the marke whereat he aimed complained his wrongs in open assemblies and to the Souldiers after this tenor 5 I got not this state from my Parents by birth nor yet by any deserts I must confesse in my selfe being the least of many that did deserue it better but it was you my fellow Souldiers vpon what fate I know not that haue made me what I am If then I haue defrauded your hopes by carrying my selfe vnder your expectations I wish to bee set in the place where I first was or rather if I so deserue my life and state may at one instant be ended by your vnerring hands For Noble mindes cannot brooke to be curbed with the bitte of base indignities nor suffer their vassals to bee Corriuals of their Maiestie It is a iealous obiect I must needs confesse and many times casts great suspition whē is small occasion but I for my part haue alwaies thought of that humour that men causlesly icalous doe most iustly deserue what they vniustlie feare and both your selues will bee my witnesses how farre I am from the touch of that staine and also the dailic occurrents of my Caesar if so low I may terme him doth make more then manifest I am but yong yet elder by sixe yeares then I was my body tender yet exposed to the chaunce of warre my counsell raw yet bettered by your wisedomes and my conquests in my selfe nothing but yet in your valours both glorious famous What then are mine errours that I may amend them or your discontents that I may redresse for by the powers of heauen I protest it is your loues which I most esteeme and the good of the Empire for which I onely wish to liue the first is in your powers to bestow at your pleasure but the other in me if it be possible shall liue euen after death 6 These complaints notwithstanding Philip so politickly nay rather traiterously brought his owne proiects to passe as that the yong innocent Emperour was displaced and abandoned of all in which distresse he first sued to be made his Caesar and that denied to be his Praetorian Prefect but neither would bee had yet at length the charge of an ordinary Captaine was with some difficulty granted him But Philip bethinking himselfe of the greatnes of Gordianus his blood his loue and esteeme both in Rome and the Prouinces and his owne vertues equalising any hee commanded him to be slaine in the twenty two yeere of his age and the sixt of his raigne The Senate hearing thereof elected M. Marcius and after him again L. Aurel. Seuerus Ostulianus But Philip through the giddie multitude preuailed against both This Emperour though yong so well demeaned himselfe that the Senate by authoritie added to his titles TVTOR REIPVBLICAE and PARENS PRINCIPVM POPVLI ROMANI and after his death euen by his owne murtherers his Monument of faire Stone was raised in the confines of Persia and vpon his sepulchre this inscription set DIVO GORDIANO VICTORI PERSARVM VICTORI GOTTHORVM VICTORI SARMATARVM DEPVLSORI ROMANARVM SEDITIONVM VICTORI GERMANORVM SED NON VICTORI PHILIPPORVM To the Sacred Gordianus vanquisher of the Persians Gothes and Sarmates extinguisher of the Romane Ciuill discords and subduer of the Germans but not of the Philippians 7 He was of condition most noble and louely of behauiour gentle very studious and giuen much to learning hauing in his Librarie no lesse then threescore and two thousand Bookes as is reported The truth is that wicked people were not worthy long to enioy so vertuous so clement so peereles an Emperour He died in the moneth of March in the yeere of our Redeemer two hundred forty fiue M. IVLIVS PHILIPPVS EMP CHAPTER XXXI M. IVLIVS PHILIPPVS CAES. WHat man is there who considering those forepassed murthers of so many and so mightie Monarchs would not by the spectacle of others calamities be induced to preferre the securitie of a moderate estate before the desire of Soueraignty whose glorious content is onely in appearance but the cares and hazards are both reall and perpetuall But of so attractiue vertue is the Load-stone of Maiesty through the imagined felicity thereof that most mens desires are drawne to that one point of the Compasse and if a
pleasure as profit 9 At length the Empire in these West parts standing vniuersally quiet Probus determined a iourny into the East to end at once all forraine wars saying he would shortly bring it to passe that the state should need no more Souldiers which speech they tooke very indignely hauing passed Illyricum in Sclauonia was by some of his own Army for curbing as they cōceiued with an ouer-hard hand their dissolute idle maners conspired against treacherously murthered in Nouember the second and yeere of Christ two hundred eighty two hauing raigned fiue yeeres and foure moneths others say six yeeres where notwithstanding they erected for him a most honourable Sepulchre wherein was engrauen this Epitaph Here lieth the Emperor Probus iustly for his goodnes called Probus of all the Barbarous Nations and Tyrants a Conqueror M. AVRELIVS CARVS VVITH CARINVS AND NVMERIANVS HIS SONNES CHAPTER XLIII PROBVS thus slaine in the midst of his Army without any apparant cause ministred the Souldiers were stricken into a great feare and mistrusted each other to be guilty of the Treason no man therefore diligent to finde out the beginner nor hastie to punish the bloudy executors but holding the right of Election to remain in themselues they presently chose Carus for their Emperor who had been the Pratorian Prafect valiant sufficient of worth and esteeme whereunto the Senate likewise consented 2 From whence or what parents we should deriue his birth is vncertaine and of diuers writers diuersly reported For Flauius Caecilianus who wrote the storie of his time as Vopiscus doth report saith that he was borne in Sclauonia or as we call it Moscouia Onesimus an ancient writer affirmeth his birth was in Rome and that his father was a Sclauonian indeed but held for a citizen as he citeth by letters from Vopiscus Aurelius Victor Eusebius and Paulus Orosius wil haue him a French man and borne at Narborne but whence soeuer his princely parts deserued these his princely preferments and no waies for the short time of his raigne carried he himselfe vnder expectation Two sonnes hee had of vnequall conditions Carinus and Numerianus these both he made his Caesars with the Name and Power of Augusti 3 His first proceedings was to finde out the murtherers of Probus whom hee seuerely punished which tooke away all suspition of treason in himselfe Then marching against the Sarmates whose furie had pierced so far into Panonia that they threatned Italy it selfe he ouerthrew with the slaughter of sixteen thousand and tooke twenty thousand of them prisoners And leauing Carinus his elder sonne to gouerne Britaine Gallia Illyricum and Spaine himselfe with the younger Numerianus prepared for the East against the Persians in which expedition he tooke in his way Mesopotamia Seleucia and certaine cities whom the enemie had entred and being surprized with sicknes and not able to trauel pitched his Pauilion vpon the shore of Tigris where in the midst of his armie about the yeere of our saluation 283. garded from all supposed dangers and assaults of man felt the vnexpected stroke of death euen from the hand of God himselfe for in his bed by a thunderbolt falling from heauen he was slaine with many others then present with him in his tent and the same consum◅ altogether with lightning fire 4 The terrour thereof so daunted the courage of his whole army that no further they proceeded in their enterprise and his death was so grieuous vnto Numerianus now elected Emperor that with continuall weeping a fault in few Sonnes who are raised by their fathers fall his eies were so weakened that he could not indure any light Vpon which accident Arrius Aper his wiues father tooke occasion to conspire his death hoping thereby to attaine the Empire himselfe For hauing at all times free accesse to his presence at length in his closet hee secretly murthered him pretending to the armie that his infirmitie only kept him from sight and so leauing his body to putrifie and corrupt in short space by the very sauor thereof the treason was descried and the Traitor slaine by the hands of Dioclesian who was both his Iudge and executioner 5 His Empire thus ended before it was well begunne the Armie proclaimed Dioclesian a Principall man in the Campe for Emperor who to vphold his election made al his power for Gallia against his Concurrent Carinus a man of profuse sensualitie who there had caused himselfe to bee proclaimed and in his fathers absence had so ruled there and in Britaine that P◅phyrio liuing at the same time gaue out this testimonie that Britaine was a fertile Prouince of tyrants Betwixt these two Captaines many skirmishes were fought with variable successe till lastly in a set battell Carinus was slaine by a Tribune whose Wife he had defiled whereby the Imperiall Title was ioyntly conferred vpon Dioclesian 6 The time that these three the father and two sonnes raigned is reported to be two yeers and somewhat more and this last to die the yeere of Christs natiuitie two hundred eighty foure C. AVRELIVS VALER DIOCLESIANVS IOVIVS AND M. AVRELIVS VALERIVS MAXIMIANVS CHAPTER XLIIII THe Empire thus deuolued to Dioclesian with approbation of the Senate hee euery way studied to bee accounted worthy of the same as knowing well his birth was no way answerable to his present lot and therefore chose for his Caesar Maximianus a man of better descent very honourable wise and valiant as was manifested in his first seruice against the Gaules whom with an infinite number of pesants in that prouince troubling the peace of the Romans hee with much slaughter ouercame For which exploit so fortunately accomplished the Emperor made him his Consort in the Gouernment 2 Dioclesians parentage is vncertainly reported by Writers some making him the sonne of a Notary and others of a meere Bondman but all agreeing that his Country was Dalmatia and his ofspring very base This man being but a Common Souldier consulted with a Witch for his future successe who told him if you please to beleeue the reporters that he should become an Emperour after he had killed a Bore to which he gaue credit and euer after was a great enemie to that beast and in time grew vnder Probus to so great account for dexterity in expediting his affaires that he was made Steward of his house and now lastly elected to the Empire 3 The very first thing that he attempted was the punishmēt of his predecessors death for which Arrius Aper being conuicted before his tribunall seat himselfe rising suddenly from the Throne ran him thorow with his sword in outward shew for zeale of Iustice as not able to endure so foule a fact but in truth to fulfill the Prediction of his hostesse the Druid for that Aper signifieth a Bore After which act he held his Empire fully established 4 To let passe many imploiments and troubles of the State these two Emperors chose to themselues two Caesars
of the Empire wherein the rage of Satan so preuailed that seuenteene thousand men and women were crowned with martyrdome within the space of one moneth besides infinite numbers of such as were otherwise punished As in other Countries so heere in Britaine the Christians Churches were demolished their Bibles and other godly writings burned and themselues tormented with a more cruell and longer continuance then formerly had beene vsed for this endured the terme often whole yeeres together leauing no time of intermission nor place free from the staine of Martyrs Bloud And amongst others it made Britaine to be honored with the glory of many holy Martyrs which constantly stood and died in the Confession of the Faith whereof the first is reported to bee Albane of the City Verolanium who was beheaded at Holmehurst since called Derswold where now the Towne of S. Albans bearing his name is built and in whose honour Offa the great King of Mercia founded a most magnificent Monasterie Of this Alban the ancient Fortunatus Priscus in his booke of the Praise of Virginitie maketh mention thus Albanum egregium foecunda Britannia profert Britaine fertill of all good Washt with glorious Albans blood 12 His Instructor Amphibolus afterwards apprehended was brought to the same place and whipped about a stake whereat his intrailes were tied so winding his bowels out of his body was lastly stoned to death Sundry others also in other places laid downe their liues for their Professions sake as Iulius and Aaron at Leicester saith Beda or rather at Caer-leon in Monmouthshire as our Grand-Antiquarie iudgeth and in Leichfeild so many that the place became another Golgotha A Field of dead Corps For which cause the Citie doth beare an Escocheon or Field charged with many Martyrs for their Seale of Armes euen vnto this day 13 This last rage is by Orosius and Beda accounted the Tenth Persecution from Nero and by others the Tenth Horne of the Imperiall Beast who had receiued his Power from the Dragon the diuel and Forme from those foure Beasts deciphered by the Prophet Daniel whose mouth was as the Lyons mouth of Asshur his feete like the Beares feete of Persia his spots as the Leopards of Greece and these ten hornes taken from the Monster of the Grecians parted kingdome the Seleucies and the Ptolemies called in Ezekiel Gog and Magog and here alluded vnto by S. Iohn that thus made battel against the Saints But as those foure Beasts perished and were crushed by the fall of The stone cut without hands Emmanuel borne in our flesh so this Beast compounded of them Foure fell in the destructions of these most wicked Emperors whereof all almost died so vntimely and vnusuall deaths as the like is not read of elsewhere 14 For some slew themselues as Nero and Otho did some were smothered to death as was Tiberius some poisoned by their wiues as Claudius and Commodus some tugged and torne in pieces by their own Subiects and Souldiers as Vitellius Heliogabalus Pupienus and Balbinus some stabbed by them whom they most trusted as Caligula Domitian Didius Gallienus and many others some tumultuously murthered as Pertinax Seuerus Maximius Aemilius and Probus were some slaine in battell and defence of their titles as Macrinus and Gallus some hanged themselues as Gordianus and Maximianus did some drowned and swallowed vp as Decius and Maxentius were some slaine by a thunderbolt from heauen as Carus was some died in most miserable captiuitie as Valerianus did whose skinne was fleaed off he yet aliue some cut their owne veines and bled to death as Quintilius and Florianus did some dying mad as did this our Dioclesian some few and them somewhat fauoring Christians died in their beds a thing most strange to see in these times wherein the Wrath of God thus fought against them in his Iustice and the power of his Gospell preached by his Apostles and Disciples that as a Conqueror crowned and riding vpon a White horse bare a Bow in his hand and shot the sharpe Arrowes of death into the hearts of these the Kings enemies as in the opening of the First Seale is seene and in the Second is described and made manifest by a Red Horse prepared for Battell whose Rider bare a Bright sword and had commission To take peace from the earth which most effectually wee haue seene performed in most of these preceding Emperours And as Famine in great Warres is not greatly strange so Scarsitie exceeding Plentie was seene vnder the opening of the Third Seale whence a Blacke horse sent from God pased through the earth whose Rider bare a Ballance to weigh Corne as it were Spice for dearth and in the raigne of this last Tyrant Dioclesian they that had Eagles eies might see the threefold iudgements of God in the opening of the Fourth Seale when Sword Famine Death went all together as a pale-horse sent from the presence of the Lamb whose rider was Death and Hell following as his Page These were the times of calamities wheas the Soules of the righteous in the opening of the Fifth Seale cried for vengeance for the bloud of the Martyrs whom these ten hornes had gored to death and vnder the Sixth Seale both then and for euer the wicked are said to call for the Mountaines to fall vpon them and for the rockes to hide them from the presence of Him that sate vpon the Throne and from the wrath of the Lambe before whom none could stand But why doe I weake man thus open the Curtaines of Gods most sacred Tabernacle to behold the Mercy-seate of his diuine Mysteries in the accomplishments of these holy Oracles when as they who haue worne the Ephod and in whose hand Aarons Rod hath Budded with a religious reuerence haue feared to look into the same Therefore with the charge of Ioshua I will not approach neere the Arke and with Iobs hearers will Lay my hand on my mouth and returne to the prosecution of my purpose 15 It was the nineteenth yeere of his raigne in the month of March when this Tyrant sent forth his wicked Edicts through all his Empire That all churches should bee vtterly ouerthrowne that the Scriptures should be burnt that all Christians for honour should bee held infamous and all Christian seruants should bee vncapeable of freedome that all Pastors should be enforced to offer to Idols c. 16 The fountaine chiefe cause of these miseries lighting on the Church of Christ did arise from the Christians themselues as Eusebius in these words declareth After that our conuersation through too much libertie and licentiousnesse was degenerated and holy discipline corrupted whiles euery one of vs did enuie bite and backbite each other waging intestine warres within our selues and piercing one anothers hearts with the sharpe speares of opprobriouswords so that Bishops against Bishops and people against people were at bitter contention Lastly whiles
may appeare out of the ancient Gildas who thus recordeth it To represse saith hee many Inuasions of those their ancient enemies which with cruell slaughters and booties continually afflicted them the Britaines fell to consult vpon some conuenient course therein to be taken Lastly all the Counsellers together with the proud Tyrant being blinded in iudgement deuised such a protection as in the end prooued their Countries destruction namely that those â—…rce Saxons a people sauage and of hatefull name odious both to God and man should be let into this Iland as it were wolues into sheepe-folds to repulse for sooth the Northerne Nations then which proiect doubtlesse nothing was euer more pernicious and vnhappie vnto this Land O senses senslesse and plunged into deepest mists of errour O desperate dulnesse and blinde blockishnesse of minde Those whom in absence were feared more then death now of their owne accord are inuited by these Princes of Aegypt if I may so say thus sottishly counselling their Pharao to come and rest with them vnder one roofe Presently out of the Denne of that barbarous Lionesse rushed foorth a kennell of her whelpes in three long Vessels called in their Language * Cyula carried vnder full saile and with ominous presages fore-prophecying that for 300. yeeres they should possesse that Land vnto which they then directed their course and for halfe of that space viz. one hundred and fiftie yeeres they should waste and depopulate the same These being put on shore first in the East part of the Iland and that by Commandement of this vnfortunate Tyrant there set fast their terrible pawes pretending to the Ilanders defense of their Countrey but more truly intending the destruction of them The foresaid Lionesse finding that her first troupe of whelpes sped so well sends againe a greater Rabble of the same Litter which heere arriued in Flâ—…es bringing with them some other Associates of bastardly and vnnoble brood And these beginnings the slips of iniquitie and the roots of bitternesse an accursed plantation well befitting our demerits haue sprung vp and put foorth in our soile their haughtie boughes and spreading branches This barbarous Nation thus admitted professing themselues our Souldiers and such as would endure all hazards so they fained in defense for their good Hosts first they craued supplie of victuals only which being giuen them for some time stopped as we may say the Dogs mouth howbeit afterward they complaine that their wages was not bountifully enough paid deuising of purpose colourable occasions of quarrell and threatning that vnlesse they might haue more munificent entertainment they would with the breach of couenant spoile and waste the whole Iland And without further delay they second these threats with deeds for our Sinnes the cause of deserued reuenge were still nourished and the fire kindled Eastward was set a flaming by these sacrilegious men from Sea to Sea ceasing not to consume all the Cities and Countries bordering there about vntill such time as burning welneere all the Inland Soile of the Iland it licked as it were with the red tongue of the flame the very Westerne Ocean it selfe In this violent inuasion comparable to that of the Assyrians against the Land of Israel in old times is historically fulfilled also in vs that which the Prophet by way of sorrowfull lamentation vttereth They haue set fire vpon thy holy places and haue burned the dwelling place of thy name euen vnto the ground And againe O God the Heathen are come into thine heritage thy holy Temple haue they defiled for all the Fortifications demolished with their Engines and the Inhabitants together with the Bishops of the Church and also the Priests and people with glistering swords and crackling flames were all at once laid along vpon the ground yea and which was a most lamen-table spectacle the stately Turrets high mounted Walles and the sacred Altars lay all tumbling together all purpled with the broken and bloudy Quarters and goared Carcases mixed as in a horrible wine-presse Neither were there any other Sepulchers abroad saue the 〈◊〉 of buildings and the bowels of wilde beasts and birds 9 During this most wofull desperate and tempestuous season saith the mournfull Historian some poore Remaines of Britaines being found in the Mountains were slaine by whole heapes others pined by famine came and yeelded themselues vnto their enemies vpon composition to serue them as Bond-slaues for euer so they might not bee slaughtered out of hand which granted was reputed a most high and especiall grace Others went ouer Seas into Strange Lands singing vnder their spread Sailes with a lamentable and mourning note that of the Psalmist Thou hast giuen vs O Lord as Sheepe to bee deuoured and hast scattered vs among the Heathen Yet others remained still in their owne Countrey albeit in fearefull estate and continually suspecting hazard committing their liues and safetie to the high steepe Hilles to craggie Mountaines naturally intrenched to thick growne Woods and Forrests yea and to the Rockes of the Sea 10 Thus was Britaine brought to the period of her glory and the people miserably subiected to a forraine Nation about the yeere from Christs Natiuitie 473. and after the Romans last farewell 28. In which time you see they were most cruelly pursued with all calamities of warre and lastly betraied by them in whom so much trust was reposed as mournfull Gildas hath ruefully declared THE SAXONS ORIGINALL CHAPTER II. AS times decaied Ruines haue stopped the Passage of those small Springs issued from the first fountaine of Nations beginnings and haue diuerted their streames far from any sure Course or certaine known Heads so the originall parent place and name of our English-Saxons haue bin writteÌ„ with a pen of slight touch vpon the leaues of obliuion or else recorded in those obscure Roules that as yet lie bound vp in the Office of Times forgetfulnesse whereby it rests doubtfull from what root these branches first sprang some bringing them from Asia some from Africa some from Macedon some from Denmarke and some without all likelihood from Britaine it selfe Occa Scarlensis a Frislander borne affirmeth these Saxons to come of Saxo a Prince of India who with his two brethren were banished by lot to seeke their destinies abroad their owne Countries being pestered with ouer many people at home These saith he following Alexander the Great into Greece became Progenitors to their Countries that from them receiued their of-springs and names as that from Friso the eldest his Frislanders descended from Saxo the second the Saxons vpon the Riuer Albis and from Bruno the yongest the Inhabitants of the Dukedome of Brunswic And of this opinion also Sufridus Petri seemeth to be Crantzius doth deriue them from the Catti in Germany and the Phrygians a Region in Asia to omit others who would bring them from Saxo the brother of Vandale 2 F. Albinus a learned Author doth thinke the Saxons to bee
Easter The Images of all these they still bare before them in battle reputing no small confidence in their aides and yet saith Tacitus they thought it vnbeseeming to paint their Gods in the shape of men hauing euen by Nature doubtlesse written in their hearts a regard to that demaund of the Lord To whom will ye liken me that I should be like him saith the holie one Iehoua They gaue great heede also to the neighing of their Horses and to the flight and singing of Birds as ominous fore-shewers of future euents 8 These Superstitions Ethelward euen in his daies complained of That they had infected the Danes Normans and Sueuians with the worship of this God wooden vnto whom those barbarous Nations offered sacrifices that they might be victorious where they fought And as Crantz recordeth Herald the first of that name and Norwaies King was so farre ouergone that he sacrificed two of his Sonnes vnto his Idols that he might obtaine a tempest to disperse and put backe the Armado which Herald King of Denmarke had prepared against him This generall defection of Gods true worship Adam Bremensis maketh mention of in this manner In a Temple saith he called in their vulgar and natiue speech Vbsola which is made altogether of Gold the people worship the Statues of three Gods in such manner as that Thor the mightiest of them hath only a Throne or Bed on either hand of him Woodan and Frisco hold their places And thus much they signifie Thor say they beareth rule in the Aire and gouerneth the Thunder and Lightning Windes Showres Faire weather Corne and Fruits of the Earth The second which is Woodan that is stronger maketh Warres and ministreth manly valour against Enemies The third is Frisco bestowing largely vpon mortallmen peace and pleasure whose Image they deuise and pourtray with a great virtle member Woodan they engraue armed like as we vse to cut and expresse Mars 9 Their controuersies and doubtfull matters were decided by drawing of Lots which they euer made of some fruit-bearing tree and was performed after this manner If there were publike cause the Priest if priuate the Goodman of the house or worthtest in the company tooke those slitted slips distinguished with certaine markes that had beene scattered at hap hazzard vpon a white garment and after praiers and inuocation on their God with eies fixed vpon heauen and three times lifting the same lots aloft gaue their interpretations thereof according to the markes therein inscribed which was receiued and beleeued for a most sure Oracle as the like was obserued vpon other occasions both by the inspections of Beasts intrals and singings of Birds after the accustomed maner of other Gentiles that doted vpon the auguration for things of future successe 10 For the generall gouernment of their Countrey they ordayned twelue Noblemen chosen from among others for their worthines and sufficiency These in the time of peace rode their seuerall circuits to see iustice and good customes obserued and they often of course at appointed times met together to consult and giue order in publike affaires but euer in time of warre one of these twelue was chosen to be King and so to remaine so long onely as the warres lasted and that being ended his name and dignitie of King also ceased becomming againe as before And this custome continued among them vntill their wars with the Emperour Charles the Great at which time Wittekind one of the twelue aforesaid a Nobleman of Angria in Westphalia â—…bore ouer the rest the name and authoritie of King and he being afterward by means of the said Emperour conuerted to the faith of Christ had by him his mutable Title of King turned into the enduring stile and honour of Duke and the eleuen others were in like manner by the said Emperour aduanced to the honourable Titles of Earles and Lords with establishment for the continuall remaining of these Titles and Dignities vnto them and their heires Of whose descents are since issued the greatest Princes at this present in Germanie But though they obserued this said forme of gouernment elsewhere yet heere in Britaine it was otherwise as heereafter will appeare 11 And thus much out of my poore readings I haue obserued of the originall beginnings the names maners and customes of our ancient Progenitors the worthy Saxons without either amplyfying or impayring their glory who being of all the Germans so much deuouted to warre as that their only fame therein was many times sufficient to daunt the Enemy were thought vpon by the downe-cast Britaines as the fittest to support their ruiued Estate of whose Entrance Conquests and Kingdomes wee are now next addressed to speake THE SAXONS ARRIVALL INTO BRITAINE VNDER THE CONDVCT OF HENGIST AND HORSA CHAPTER IIII. WHen the state of Britaine was miserablie torne by the calamities of ciuill Dissensions Famine Death and Robberies the Romans returned their owne Strength decaied and their Afflictions daily augmented by their wonted Enemies the Scots and Picts no hope was left to their despairing hearts that of themselues they were able to defend themselues and therefore as wee haue shewed they called to their aid the Saxons a Nation fierce and valorous who to the number of nine thousand vnder the Conduct of Hengist and Horsa two brethren entred Britaine at Ebsfleet in the I le of Thanet in the raigne of Theodosius the second and of Valentintan the third Emperors of the East and West about the yeere of Grace 450. Receiued they were with great ioy as Angels from Heauen and saluted with songs after the accustomed manner of the Britaines who appointed them the Iland Thanet for their habitation 2 These Saxons in short time made proofe of their Manhood For ouercomming the Enemie euen in Scotland it selfe seated themselues in some part thereof so that their Conquest seemed absolute and the Britaine 's freed from their former assaults Peace thus setled and the Inhabitants freed a friendly Composition was made betwixt these Nations wherein the Saxons vndertook to maintaine the Field and the Britaines to sustaine the Charge In which league they aboad some certaine time faith Witichindus making vse in a ciuill sort of the Brets friendship but so soone as they perceiued the Country large the soile fertile and the hands of the Inhabitants slow to practise feats of Armes and further considering with themselues that themselues and the greatest part of the Saxons had no certaine place of aboad they found fault with their pay and want of victuals making that their quarrell as both too meane and too little for their high deserts threatning withall as vnkind Ghests that shortly they would reckon without their Hosts and thereupon sending ouer for more of their Nation entred peace with the Scots Picts who all together rose against the poore Brets 3 And Hengist that by the gift of Vortigern had got the
Kent in the same yeere that Cheaulin was whom he discomfited and slew his two Captaines Duke Oslaue and Duke Cnebba at * Wibbandune as we haue said Other Victories he obtained ouer the Britaines both at Bedford Deorham Glocester Cirencester and Bathancester But the fortunes of warres being alwaies variable at length his successe altered and at VVannes ditche in VViltshire he was ouerthrowne and dispossessed of his kingdome by Cealrik his brother Cuthwolfs sonne when he had raigned thirty three yeeres Hee had issue Cuth and Cuthwin the former serued valiantly in the warres vnder his father at Wimbledon in Surrey where King Ethelbert of Kent was chased and his souldiers slaine and with the like valour and victorie hee fought at Fethanleygh against the Britaines notwithstanding that therein he lost his life the yeere of our Lord 585. and the fiue and twentieth of his fathers raigne Cuthwin his younger brother suruiued his father but succeeded not in his Kingdome being then by reason of his young yeeres vnable to recouer his right He had two sonnes Kenbald and Cuth the latter of which was father to Chelwald whose son Kenred had issue Ine the eleuenth King of the West-Saxons and Ingils his brother whose sonne was Eoppa the father of Easa whose sonne was Alkenmud the father of Egbert the eighteenth King of the West-Saxons who reduced the Saxons diuided Heptarchie into an absolute Monarchie CEarlik the sonne of Cuthwolfe who was brother to this last King succeeded in the kingdome by the eiection of his Vncle and was the fourth King of the West-Saxons He began his raigne in the yeere of our Redemption 592. and continued it the terme of six yeeres without any memorable act by him atchieued besides his Treason spoken of before CHelwolfe the sonne of Cuth the sonne of Kenrik and Cosen-german to Cearlik the preceding King began his raigne ouer the West-Saxons the yeere 598. on whose first entrance this prouince of the West-Saxons was inuaded both by the Britaines and also by the Scots and Picts and the East-Angles likewise molested his peace vnder the conduct of Redwald at that time Monarch of the Englishmen But hee wading thorow these troubles harried the Prouince of the South-Saxons with inuasions and calamities in the prosecution whereof he died leauing the pursuit of his warres and possession of his kingdome to Kingils his Nephew that immediately succeeded him after he had raigned the space of fourteene yeeres KIngils the Sonne of Chel who was Brother to King Chelwolfe succeeding his Vncle in the kingdome of the VVest-Saxons in the yeere six hundred and twelue in his third yeere associated vnto him in his Gouernment Quinchelme his Sonne who ioyntly managed the West-Saxons affaires both of warre and peace And fighting with victorie against the Britaines at Beandune they there slew of them one thousand forty six persons and after that against Penda King of Mercia neere vnto Cirencester about the fift yeere of his raigne where lastly they came to a conclusion of peace This King at the preaching of Berinus an Italian Diuine afterward reputed for a Saint and by the perswasions of Oswald the most Christian King of Northumberland who was a suiter to become his Son in Law by the mariage of Kineburg his daughter and was made his Godfather by receiuing him at the Font receiued the Word of Life and became the first Christian King of all the West-Saxons in witnesse whereof he gaue the City Dorchester neere vnto Oxford to his Conuerter who therein erected his Episcopall Sea He raigned the space of thirty one yeeres some say but seuen and twenty and had issue besides Quinchelinus who raigned with him and died before him Kenwin and Kenwald that succeeded him and Kineburg his Daughter married to Oswald as is said Quinchelinus had a Sonne named Cuthred that was baptized with his Father at Dorchester and is said by Stowe to haue raigned after the death of Kingils but I take it rather to be Kenwen whom some suppose to be his Fathers Associate the terme of foure yeeres but neuer sole King himselfe KEnwald whom Beda calleth Senwalch succeded his Father Kingils in the kingdome of the West-Saxons His beginnings by Matthew of VVestminster are compared to be with the worst and his endings with the best of those Kings At his first entrance he fought with victorie against the Britaines at 〈◊〉 whereof he became most insolent and refused not onely to receiue the Christian Faith but also put from him his lawfull wife Sexburg the sister of Penda King of Mercia whereby hee became hatefull to his owne Subiects and sore assaulted by the Mercian King who followed the reuenge so farre that he forced Kenwald out of his kingdome who being driuen to extremity sought succour at the mercie of Anna the Christian King of the East-Angles where he was both courteouslie entertained and at last wonne to the Christian Faith was baptized by Bishop Foelix whereupon hee did recall his wife according to prescript of Christianitie and recouered againe his former Maiestie which he much aduanced by his pious workes He founded the Cathedrall of Winchester and the Abby of Malmesburie and when he had raigned thirty one yeeres gaue place vnto nature in the yeere 673. leauing no issue of his body to succeede him whereupon Segburg his wife tooke vpon her the gouernment of the West-Saxons the same yeere that Lothair was made King of Kent shee being a woman of great spirit and vnderstanding and sufficiently worthy to haue managed the Kingdome had she not beene preuented by death or rather as some write by a religious deuotion that the affaires of this present life might not hinder her zealous meditations of the future in desire whereof she abandoned her Regencie and built a house of deuotion in the I le of Shepey wherein her selfe became a Vowesse and afterward was elected the Abbesse of Elie. ESkwin after the departure of Queene Segburg succeeded in the kingdome of the West-Saxons Hee was the sonne of Kensy the sonne of Kenfrid the sonne of Cuthgils the sonne of Chelwolfe the sonne of Cherdik the first King of that Prouince his raigne lasted but two yeeres in which time he fought a great Battle with Wulfere King of the Mercians at the place then called Bidanheaford and wherein many of the Saxons on both sides perished leauing neither issue to succeede him nor other matters to be spoken of him though as it seemeth hee had dispossessed Kenwin who had more right to the Crowne then himselfe or as Beda and Malmesbury auerre he raigned with him the space of two yeeres and Kenwin alone for seuen yeeres more KEnwin the brother of Kenwald and sonne to King Kingils in the yeere 677. became the ninth King of the West-Saxons and raigned the space of nine yeeres Hee was a great scourge vnto the weake and ouer-borne Britaines making Conquests of their
raigned thirty seuen yeeres and odde moneths and professing a voluntarie pouertie so great was the zeale and so little the knowledge of that age went to Rome where in the habit of a Religious Man he ended his life in poore estate and Ethelburga his wife became a vailed Nunne and was made Abbesse of Barking neere London wherein she ended her life The brethren of this Inas were Kenten whose sonne was Aldelme Abbat of Malmesbury and Bishop of Sherborne and Ingils that was the progenitour of Egbert the first Saxon Monarch of the whole Iland and his sister Cuthburga maried into Northumberland sued a diuorce against Osrick her King and husband and in the habit of a Nunne ended her daies at Winburne in the Countie of Dorset EThelard the kinsman of King Ina whom he ordained his successour at his departure to Rome was the sonne of Oswald and he of Ethelbald the sonne of Kenbald the brother of Cuth and both of them the sonnes of Cuthwin the sonne of Cheaulin the sonne of King Kenrik the sonne of Cherdik the first West-Saxon King He began his raigne the same yeere that King Edbert did his ouer the Kingdome of Kent and with him was terrified by the dreadfull appearance of two Blazing Starres of whose Acts no other mention is recorded sauing that at his entrance into regall estate Oswald a Norman of the West-Saxons bloud emulated his glorie and troubled the quiet peace of his prosperous beginning but not able to winne fortune to fauour his proceedings he quite abandoned his natiue Country and so left Ethelard to rule the Kingdome in peace who therein quietly raigned the space of foureteene yeeres without any mention of wife or issue CVthred cosen to King Ethelard succeeded him in his Dominions and was much disquieted by Edilbald King of Mercia both by open warre and priuie practises but these two Kings comming to a conclusion of peace ioined both their Powers against the ouer-borne Britains and in a bloudy battle gaue them a great ouerthrow In this time saith Beda the bodies of the dead were permitted to bee buried within the walles of their Cities which thing before was not lawfull but their corps were interred without in the Fields many of whose Tombes as yet are witnesses to vs that daily finde them in the digging of the grounds adioining and reserue them for sight or other necessarie vse The peace of this King was molested by his owne subiect an Earle named Adelme who boldly encountred his Soueraigne in Battle and fought it out euen to the point of victorie but failing thereof and forced to flie his life was pardoned And hee made Generall against the Mercian Edilbald Cuthreds ancient foe wherein by his valiant prowesse with the flight and discomfiture of the Enemie hee made a worthie amends for guerdon of his life and was euer after held in great fauour and honour This King raigned in great fame and victories the space of fourteene yeers and died in the yeere of our Lords Passion 753. Hee had issue one onely son whose name was Kenrik a valiant young Prince who in the ninth yeere of his Fathers raigne was seditiously slaine in his Armie for bearing himselfe as it may seeme ouer-rigorous towards the Souldiers SIgebert obtaining the Principalitie of the West-Saxons raigned therein no long time and that without all honour or fame His parentage is obscure and vnknowne but his vices are made apparant and manifest for hee wallowing in all sensuall pleasures added exactions and cruelties vpon his Subiects setting aside all lawes and rules of true pietie from which vicious life when hee was louingly admonished by his most faithfull Counsellor a worthy Earle called Cumbra so farre was his minde from abandoning his impious courses as that he caused this Noble Personage to be cruelly slaine whereupon the rest of the Peeres seeing their State and liues were euery day in danger and the common subiects whose Lawes were thus violated being incensed into furie they rebelliously rose vp in Armes against him and would acknowledge him no longer their Soueraigne Sigebert by nature as fearefull as he was audacious vnto vice fledde into the woods as his only safeguard where like a forlorne person he wandred in the day and in caues and dennes lodged in the night till lastly he was met with by a Swine-heard that was seruant to Cumbra and of him knowne to be Sigebert was presently slaine in reuenge of his masters death in the wood that was then called Andreads Wald when hee had raigned not fully two yeeres KEnwulfe sprung from the bloud-Royall of the West Saxons after the death of wicked Sigebert was made King of that Prouince and appeasing some tumults that were stirred for Sigebert obtained many victories against the ouermastred Britaines but had not the like successe against Offa King of the Mercians who at Bensington gaue him a great ouerthrow He founded the Cathedrall Church of S. Andrewes at Wels which afterwards was an Episcopall See and in great honour raigned for the space of twenty foure yeeres but then Fourtune turning her face away from him the rest of his raigne did not sute to that which was spent for he giuing himselfe to pleasure and securitie banished Kineard the brother of his Predecessor Sigebert who dissembling his wrong gaue place vnto time and occasion being offered made his vse thereof For Kenwulfe comming to Merton to visit his Paramore was there set vpon and slaine and his body conueied and buried at Winchester after hee had raigned twenty nine yeeres leauing no memoriall either of Wife or Children BRithie lineally descended from Cherdik the first King of the West-Saxons a man of a soft and quiet disposition succeeded Kenwulfe in that Principalitie in the yeere of Christs Incarnation 784. He married Ethelburga the daughter of great Offa the Mercian King by whose power he expelled Egbert that ruled a Lordship in his Prouince vnder him whose fame increasing through his feates of warres draue many icalousies into King Brithries head and the more by the instigation of Ethelburga his Queene who bearing her selfe great because of her parentage practised the downfall and destruction of them whom she hated and by her suggestions this Egbert was banished on suspicion of conspiracie It afterward chanced that shee preparing poison to make an end of one of the Kings Minions wrought thereby though vnwittingly the Kings death for he by tasting the confection ended his life after hee had raigned the space of sixteene yeeres Wherein she fearing the iust reuenge of his subiects fled into France by Charles then King was so courteously entertained as that for her great beauty there was offered her the choice of him or his sonne But she in her youthfull and lustfull humor choosing the sonne was debarred from both and thrust into a Monastery in the habit not the affection of a Nunne where not long after
Redwald King of the East-Angles who in his quarrel forthwith assembled his forces and meeting Ethelfrid in the field slew him neere the Riuer Idle after hee had raigned twenty three yeeres in the yeere of Christ his Incarnation 617. He had issue by his Wife Acca the daughter of Ella Eanfrith King of Bernicia Oslafe and Oswald King of Northumberland Oslake and Offa with two Daughters canonized for Saints Oswith and Ebba the Nunne as also by his Concubine Oswy the tenth Monarch of the Englishmen EDwine thus raised by the helpe of King Redwald returned to his Country and was of the Inhabitants made King of Northumberland and afterward Monarch of the Englishmen as in their succession shall be declared Beda somewhat too much addicted to fabulous miracles of him reporteth this storie That whilest hee lay banished in King Redwalds Court Ethelfrid instigated his receiuer by promises to take away his life or if he refused threatned him warres for feare whereof Redwald partly inclining to this wicked purpose reuealed the same to the Queene his wife which a friend of Edwins hearing told him of his danger and wished him to flie Edwine thus perplexed with troubled thoughts in the dead of the night sate solitary vnder a tree in dumps musing what was best to be done to suspect and flie from Redwald that had honoured him so much he held it a wrong and to thinke himselfe safe in other Prouinces against so powerfull pursuers he thought it was vaine Thus distracted in casting what way might be safest suddenly approched a man vnto him vtterly vnknowne who after salutation demanded the cause why hee sate at so vnseasonable a time in so vncouth a place and pensiue manner Edwine thinking him to be his deaths-man resolutely answered It nothing concerned him at all either to aske or to know his estate Oh Edwine said he thinke not but that I know thy sorrow and the cause of thy sitting thus vpon that stone thy death is pretended and euen at hand but what wouldest thou giue to rid thee of that danger and to make King Redwald thy assured preseruer Any thing quoth Edwine which is in my power But what shall be his reward said the other that shall set thee vpon the throne of thy Kingdome and that with such glory as none of thy Progenitors euer attained vnto I would bee thankfull to that man said Edwine in all things and at all times as reason required and of right I ought But tell me Edwine said he what if the same man shew thee a more safe way to preserue the life of thy soule then either thou at this present knowest or any of thy Parents euer heard of wilt thou consent and imbrace his counsell Yea said Edwine God forbid that I should not bee ruled by him that thus should free me from this present danger set me vpon the throne of a Kingdome and after these great fauours should also teach mee the way to an eternall life Vpon this answere laying his right hand on Edwines head he said vnto him When these things shall in order come to passe then call to minde this time and what thou hast promised and so vanished from his presence The young Prince thus left betwixt hope and despaire his friend that had forewarned him of his death came hastily to him with a more cheerfull countenance Come in Edwine quoth he and surcease thy cares for the Queene hath not onely changed Redwalds mind to saue thy life but he also hath granted to maintaine thy right against Ethelfrid thine enemy Which shortly he did and slew him as we haue said Edwine thus placed vpon the Princely Throne his first Wife Queenburg being dead in his exile receiued in marriage Ethelburga surnamed Tace a fit name for a woman the Daughter of King Ethelbert and Sister to Edbald King of Kent a most chaste and vertuous Christian Lady whose teacher was Paulinus and both of them Gods instruments for the Conuersion of the Northumbrians to the imbracement of Christian Religion But because we shall haue occasion to speake of this Edwine as he was Monarch of the Englishmen we will reserue his Acts Issues and Raigne to bee further related in the course of his Succession Hee was slaine in battell against Cadwall King of the Britaines and Penda King of the Mercians when he had prosperously raigned seuenteene yeeres the twelfth of October Anno 633. and was buried in Saint Peters Church at Streanshall after called Whitby Vpon whose death the Kingdome of Northumberland was againe diuided OSricke the Sonne of Alfrid Edwines Vncle succeeding in the Prouince of Deira and Fanfrith the Sonne of Ethelfrid the Wilde in the Prouince of the Bernicians these with the rest of Ethelfrids Children for the continuance of Edwins Raigne had in banishment beene preserued among the Scots and Red-shanks and there had receiued the Sacrament of Baptisme but after the death of their Enemie these Princes returned to their owne Country and former superstitions renouncing againe the profession of Christ. Yet this their Apostasie saith Beda remained not long vnpunished For Cadwallader King of the Britaines with wicked force but with worthy vengeance slew them both the next Sommer ensuing Osrike vnprepared and his whole Army penned in the Suburbs of their owne Citie he miserably slew and possessing the Prouince of the Northumbrians not as a King or Conqueror but rather like an outragious Tyrant destroied and rent in tragicall manner all things before him Eanfrith vnaduisedly with twelue chosen persons comming to Cadwallader to intreat vpon peace were cruelly put to death This yeere saith he continueth vnhappy and hatefull euen vnto this day as well for the Apostasie of these English Kings as also for the Britain Kings furious tyranny Wherefore the Historiographers of that time haue thought it best that the memory of these Apostate Kings being vtterly forgotten the selfe-same yeere should be assigned to the Raigne of the next following King Oswald a man dearely beloued of God OSwald the sonne of Wild Ethelfrid and brother to King Eanfrith beganne his raigne ouer the Northumbrians Anno 634. hauing first embraced Christianitie and receiued Baptisme in Scotland wherein hee was secured all the raigne of King Edwin and had withall learned some experience in warre Hee comming vnlooked for with a small Armie but fensed saith Beda with the Faith of Christ obtained against Cedwald King of the Britaine 's a great victorie the manner whereof with his other acts atchieued wee will further declare in his succession among the Monarkes of the English-men whereof hee was the ninth from Hengist He sent for Aidan a Scotish Diuine to teach his people the Doctrine of Christ inlarged his Kingdome and reconciled the Deirians and Bernicians who were at mortall enmitie He was slaine and cruelly rent in peeces by the vnmercifull Pagan Penda
all their footing in the Continent and often assailed them in the I le of Tannet likewise as Fabian confidently affirmeth But destiny going forward for the downfall of Britaine remooued these rubbes out of her way for Rowena the mother of the Britaines mischiefe and the maintainer of the Saxons residence found the meanes to make this worthy Vortimer away and by poison caused the end of his life after hee had valiantly raigned the space of foure yeeres all which time by the testimonie of an old Chronicle that Fabian had seene Vortigern the father remained in durance and vnder assigned Keepers in the Citie Caerlegion now Chester and so demeaned himselfe towards his sonne then his Soueraigne in dutifull obedience and faithfull counsell that hee wonne againe the hearts of the Britaines and was againe re-established their King It is recorded by Ninius that after his last victorie ouer the Saxons he caused his Monument to be erected at the entrance into Tanet and in the same place of that great ouerthrow which by the said Author is called Lapis Tituli of vs the Stonar where for certaine it seemes hath been an hauen In this Monument hee commanded his body to be buried to the further terror of the Saxons that in beholding this his Trophy their spirits might bee daunted at the remembrance of their great ouerthrow As Scipio Africanus conceited the like who commanded his Sepulchre to be so set that it might ouerlooke Africa supposing that his very Tombe would be a terror to the Carthaginians But how that desire of Vortimer was performed I finde not but rather the contrary for an old Manuscript I haue that cōfidently affirmeth him to be buried in London yet others from Ninius the disciple of Eluodugus hold the place to bee Lincolne But howsouer his graue is forgotten yet let this bee remembred that Sigebertus hath written of him that is After he had vanquished the Saxons saith he whose drift was not onely to ouer-runne the Land with violence but also to erect their owne Lawes without clemencie he restored the Christian Religion then sorely decaied and new built the Churches that those enemies had destroied AVRELIVS AMBROSIVS 3. AVrelius Ambrosius verily descended of that Constantine who in the fourth Consulship of Theodosius the younger was elected here in Britaine onely in hope of his luckie name succeeded Vortigern the Father in the Gouernment of Britaine and Vortimer the sonne in affection and defence of his Country He with Vter saith Geffrey Monmouth when their brother Constantine was murthered by Vortigern fled into France where they remained the yeeres of his first raigne whose returne as we haue heard from Ninius he greatly feared and whose force at his last he felt to his smart For hauing againe resumed his Crowne he liued in his old sinnes and suffered the Saxons to be Lords of his Land to preuent which saith Beda from Gyldas the Britaine 's by little and little beganne to take strength and with some courage to come forth of their Caues who with one vniforme consent called to God for his heauenly helpe They had saith he for their Captaine a Roman called Ambrosius Aurelianus a gentle natured man which onely of all the bloud of the Romans remained then aliue his parents being slaine which bore the name of King of the Country This man being their Leader prouoked the Victors to the fight and through Gods assistance atchieued the victory From that day forward now the Britaines now the Saxons did preuaile vntill the yeere that Bathe was besieged which was fortie foure yeeres after their first comming into the Iland His first expedition as our British Historians report was against Vortigern and his Castle in Wales wherein that incestuous King was consumed to ashes by lightning from heauen as we haue said and then following the Saxons made toward Yorke at Maesbel beyond Humber encountering Hengist became his Victor vnto whose mercy say they his sonne Occa yeelded himselfe and obtained in free gift the Country in Gallaway in Scotland for him and his Saxons But these his affaires thus prospering against the common Enemie was enuied at by Pascentius the youngest son of King Vortigern who not able either to mate the Saxons or after his Brethrens deaths to recouer the Kingdome to himselfe ambitiously sought to prefer his base humor before the recouery of his Countries libertie which then lay gored in her owne bloud For hauing gotten the aid of Gillamare King of Ireland whether hee had fled vpon the death of his Father and now returned into the west of Wales first indammaged the Citie of S. Dauids and thence proceeded with fire and sword Aurelius then sicke in the Citie of Winchester sent his brother Vter to withstand his force who slew both Pascentius and the Irish King his partaker in a set sore battell fought betwixt them But before this battell Pascentius had sent a Saxon whose name was Eopa in shew a Britaine and in habit a Physitian to minister poison in stead of physicke which according was effected with Ambrosius his death Vnto this Aurelius Ambrosius is ascribed the erection of that rare and admirable monument now called Stonhenge in the same place where the Britaines had been trecherously slaughtered and interred whose manner and forme in our draught of Wiltshire wee haue inserted The matter being Stones of a great and huge bignesse so that some of them containe twelue tunne in waight and twenty eight foote or more in length their breadth seuen and compasse sixteene These are set in the ground of a good depth and stand in a round circle by two and two hauing a third stone somewhat of lesse quantitie laid gate-wise ouerthwart on their toppes fastned with tenons and mortaises the one into the other which to some seeme so dangerous as they may not safely be passed vnder the rather for that many of them are fallen downe and the rest suspected of no sure foundation notwithstanding at my being there I neither saw cause of such feare nor vncertaintie in accounting of their numbers as is said to be The stones are gray but not marbled wherein great holes are beaten euen by force of weather that serue for Rauens and other birds to build in and bring foorth their young The ground-plot containeth about three hundred foot in compasse in forme almost round or rather like vnto a horse-shooe with an entrance in vpon the east-side Three rowes of stones seeme formerly to haue beene pitched the largest outwards and the least inwards many whereof are now fallen downe but those that stand shew so faire an aspect and that so farre off that they seeme to the beholders to bee some Fortresse or strong Castle A Trench also is about them which hath beene much deeper and vpon the plaines adioining many round copped hilles without any such trench as it were cast vp out of the earth stand like great hay-cockes
at the hands of Pope Sergius died soone after in the yeere of our Lord six hundred eighty nine and there was buried in S. Peters Church being the last King of the Britaines bloud after they had held possession therof the space of one thousand one hundred thirty and seuen yeeres before the Natiuitie of Christ and six hundred eighty eight yeeres after his Birth as the Chronicle of Wales with other Britaine Writers haue calculated though as is said after the largest size But howsoeuer this sudden alteration was wrought in Cadwallader yet whiles he continued a King in health hee raigned saith Geffrey in great magnanimitie the terme of three yeers and fought many Battles against the Saxons whose sword was euer sheathed with victorie for Lothaire King of Kent he slew in the Field and Edilwach also King of the South-Saxons with the ruine of his Country as the British Historians report and would haue it But Beda vnto whom more credit is heerein to be giuen telles vs that Lothaire was slaine by Edrik his Nephew and Successour declaring the manner and day of his death and that Ceadwall a young man of the West-Saxons bloud royall being banished from among them fell vpon the South-Saxons harrying the Country and killing their King But afterwards lamenting the bloud he had spilt whereat euen Nature her selfe seemed to bee offended in great repentance abandoned his Kingdome and pilgrim-like went vnto Rome where of Pope Sergius he was baptized vpon Easter Euen the yeere from Christs Natiuitie six hundred eightie nine The times thus agreeing their names so neere their deuotions alike Sergius the same ghostly father to both their sepulchers in one and the same Church doe strongly confirme that they both were the same and one only man as we formerly haue said But with this man Cadwallader wheresoeuer he died lay buried the last bloud of their Kings their gouernment and immediatelie the very Name of Britaine for many hundred yeeres ensuing as in the sequell of this Historie Christ assisting shall bee shewed And now at last according to my first intendment I am come to speake of the succession of Great Britaines Monarkes from which vpon the fore-shewed occasions of the Ilands diuision the Saxons possessions and these Britaine Resisters I haue beene ouerlong staied and am forced to returne againe to King Hengist the first of the Saxons that I may shew their succeeding succession in this English Monarchy wherin of necessitie I must desire the patience of my Reader if some things be againe touched that formerlie haue beene spoken the Matter of Historie so much requiring and the Method that to my proceeding I haue herein proposed enforcing it THE SAXONS SVCCESSIONS IN THE MONARCHY OF GREAT BRITAINE WHEREOF HENGIST THE FIRST KING OF KENT BECAME THE FIRST MONARCH OF THE ENGLISHMEN CHAPTER XIII HEngist a Prince of the English-Saxons hauing the Command ouer certaine forces planted in the Low-countries of Germany in the yeere of Christs Incarnation foure hundred and fiftie transported them ouer into Britaine where the fifth yeere after his arriuall he began his Kingdome in Kent hauing surprised his son in law King Vortigern slain his Britaines and seized into his possession the best of the Iland he laid the foundation of a Monarchy and deserueth to be reputed the first Monarch of the English Nation 2 He as all the Saxon Kings besides doth claime his originall from Prince Woden and his wife Fria by Wechta the eldest of their â—…uen sonnes being the fifth in issue from them as thus Himselfe was the sonne of Withtgils who was the sonne of Witha and he the sonne of Wechta the eldest sonne of the Deified Woden This Prince held the supreme Scepter of this Iland for thirty foure yeeres continuance and therein died honorably saith Marianus Scotus But Peter de Ikham Polydore and others say that he was slaine in battell or else taken by Edol Earle of Glocester and beheaded at Conesborow Hee left issue behind him two sonnes and one daughter whose names were Hatwaker Eske and Rowena 3 Hatwaker his eldest sonne is reported by Petrus Albinus of Wittenberg a great Genealogist and Hitoriographer also to be Duke of the Saxons in Germanie and there left to gouerne the people at his Fathers departure for Britaine And if Albinus authority be sufficient he was the Father of Duke Hatwegat and grandfather of â—…erik King of the Saxons ancestor to the valiant Witikindus the principall progenitor of the most noble Familie of the Dukes of Saxony 4 Eske the second sonne of King Hengist came ouer with his Father into Britaine and was his assistant in all his warres wherein he gaue worthy testimonie of his valour whose Kingdome of Kent after his death he enioyed and gaue name to that Countries Inhabitants who were from him called Eskings ouer whom he raigned peaceably twenty yeeres 5 Rowena the daughter of King Hengist was borne in Germany before her Fathers departure and afterwards sent for by him into Britaine to further his designes At whose surpassing beautie and feature Vortigern so lawfull and louing wâ—… to Paganish bed and to the and griefe of the Nobâ—… cond wiâ—…e and the struction By her he had a all lawes either of God wife by whom he had iâ—…ue ly spent the daies of his life as he was got in that wicked bed This Rowena whom some call Roâ—…a by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is accounted the Neece and not the Daugâ—… 〈◊〉 â—…gist But seeing his opinion is grounded vpon 〈◊〉 youth of Hengist as not sufficient in yeeres to 〈◊〉 a daughter so mariageable I rather thinke and hold this bare testimonie vnable to turne the great streame of other Writers out of their vsuall course and 〈◊〉 chanell ELLA THE FIRST KING OF THE SOVTH-SAXONS AND SECOND MONARCH OF THE ENGLISHMEN CHAPTER XIV ELla a noble Saxon being sent for by King Hengist about the three and twentith yeere of his raigne brought a fresh supply of those Germans to the reliefe of his Countrymen who with his forces landed at the hauen now called Shoreham in Sussex where putting backe the Inhabitants in many skirmishes lastly chased them into a great wood then called Andredflege whence often being assailed by the sudden assaults of the Britaines wherein as may bee thought he lost the liues of his two elder sonnes was so hardly beset that hee sent for more aid of his Saxons who came to his supply 2 His strength thus augmented and ambition still increased he fought three cruell and bloody battels but the last of them most fatall against the Britaines in the place then called Macrodes-burne and besieging the ancient and famous City Anared-Chester situated in the said great forest and chiefe defensible fortresse in all those Southern parts intercepted the Britaines that came to their reliefe and entring the same by an assault put to the sword all that were found within it After which great
Ouer the Deirans Osrik was made king and of Bernicia Eanfrid assumed the raigne but Gods iustice ouer taking their Apostasie neither their liues nor this diuision lasted long For Cadwall the Christian and Penda the Pagan were Gods instruments that with worthy vengeance in the first yeere of their gouernment cut the one off in battell and the other by trechery whose names and yeere of raigne as vnhappy and of hatefull remembrance the Historiographers of those times would haue to be omitted 3 But religious Oswald lamenting the effusion of his Countries bloud long slept not their reuenge For assembling his power which was not great hee suddenly and vnlooked for came vpon Cadwâ—… and at Deniseburne pitched downe his tents The place saith Beda stood neere the wall that Seuerus had made where Oswald for the first day forbare to fight and among his Souldiers for his Standerd set vp a Crosse of wood wherunto it seemeth those dawning daies of Christianity were ouermuch addicted Here Oswald making first intercession to God the onely preseruer of his people in sore long fight obtained great victory with the slaughter of Cadwallo and of all his British Army which so accomplished many haue attributed the vertue of that Crosse to bee no small cause of that great ouerthrow This Crosse so set vp was the first we read of to haue been erected in England and the first Altar vnto Christ among the Bernicians whose pretended miraculous cures not onely in the wood it selfe but in the mosse and in the earth wherein it was set let Beda report them and Stapleton vrge them yet for my part I hold them no Article of our canonicall Creed 4 But certaine it is that Oswald himselfe was a most religious and godly king and tooke such care for the conuersion and saluation of his subiects that he sent into Scotland for Aidan a Christian Bishop to instruct his Northumbrians in the Gospell of truth And whereas the Bishops could not speake their language the king himselfe was interpreter at his Sermons and gaue his words in the English as hee spake and pronounced them in the Scotish which language Oswald perfectly spake hauing beene there the space of eighteene yeeres Thus the godly proceedings of the king and Bishop produced such increase of their heauenly seed that it is reported in seuen daies space fifteene thousand Christians receiued Baptisme and many of theâ—…forsaking the pleasures of the world to haue betake themselues to a religious and solitarie life 5 At this time the whole Iland flourished both with peace and plentie and acknowledged their subiection vnto king Oswald For as Beda reporteth all the Nations of Britannie which spake foure languages that is to say Britaines Redshanks Scots and Englishmen Became subiect vnto him And yet being aduanced to so royall Maiestie he was notwithstanding which is maruellâ—… to be reported lowly to all gracious to the poore and beautifull to strangers The fruits whereof the same Author exemplifieth in his bounty and humilitie towards the poore who vpon a solemne feast day seeing many such at his gates sent them both the delicates for himselfe prepared commanded the charger of siluer to be broken and diuided among them The Bishop much reioycing thereat tooke the king by the right hand and praied that it might neuer consume as after his death it did not but was shrined in siluer and in S. Peters Church at Bebba now Bambrough with worthy honor was worshipped for the many miracles in cures that it did as likewise the earth wherein his bloud was spilt with such lauish enlargements haue those writers interlined the deeds of Gods Saints 6 But as the Sunne hath his shadow and the highest tide her ebbe so Oswald how holy soeuer or gouernment how good had emulators that sought his life and his Countries ruine for wicked Penda the Pagan Mercian enuying the greatnesse that king Oswald bare raised warres against him and at a place then called Maserfeild in Shrop-shire in a bloudie and sore fought battle slew him and not therewith satisfied in barbarous and brutish immanitie did teare him in peeces the first day of August and yeere of Christ Iesus six hundred forty two being the ninth of his raigne and the thirty eighth of his age whereupon the said place of his death is called to this day Oswaldstree a faire Market Towne in the same Countie 7 The dismembred limmes of his body were first buried in the Monastery of Bradney in Lincolnshire shrined with his standard of Gold and Purple erected ouer his Tombe at the industry and cost of his neece Offryd Queene of Mercia wife vnto king Ethelred and daughter to Oswyn that succeeded him From hence his bones were afterwards remooued to Glocester and there in the north side of the vpper end of the Quire in the Cathedrall Church continueth a faire Monument of him with a Chapell set betwixt two pillers in the same Church His Wife 8 Kineburg a most vertuous Lady and daughter to Kingils the sixth and first Christian king of the West-Saxons was the wife of king Oswald who became both his father and sonne in the day of her mariage by receiuing him at the Font and her of his gift She was maried vnto him in the second yeere of his raign which was the yeere of Christs Incarnation six hundred thirty six no other relation made of her besides the birth of his sonne His Issue 9 Ethelwald the only childe of king Oswald and Queene Kineburg his wife was borne in the yeere of our Lord six hundred thirty seuen being the third yeere of his fathers raigne and but an infant at his fathers death was disappointed of the Northumbrian Kingdome by the fraud of his vncle Oswyn Notwithstanding at the death of Oswin king of Deira and then not aboue sixteene yeeres of age hee tooke the same kingdome and by strong hand held it against his vncle so long as he liued and at his death left it to his cosen Alkefryd the naturall sonne of king Osuyne as in the ninth Chapter we haue said OSVVY KING OF NORTHVMBERLAND AND THE TENTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISHMEN HIS ACTS WIFE AND CHILDREN CHAPTER XXII OSwye the illegitimate sonne of King Ethelfrid surnamed the Wilde at thirty yeeres of age succeeded Oswald his halfe brother in his Dominions being the fourth King of Northumberland and the tenth Monarch of the Englishmen entring his gouernment the thirteenth day of October and yeere of Christs Incarnation six hundred forty three His first beginnings were much disquieted by Penda the Heathen Mercian by the rebellions of his base sonne Alkfrid and by the oppositions of Ethelwold the son of King Oswald but none sate more neere his heart then Oswyn king of the Deirians did whose vertuous gouernment did much darken as hee tooke it his owne and the free loue of those subiects daily to lessen his among the Bernicians 2 This Oswyn of Deira was the sonne
West-Saxon he made his Kingdome subiect to a Tribute then called Peter-pence afterwards Rom-Scot besides other rich gifts that he gaue to Pope Hadrian for canonizing Albane a Saint in honour of whom and in repentance of his sinnes at his returne ouer against Verolanium in the place then called Holmehurst where that Protomartyr of Britaine for the constant profession of Christ lost his head Offa built a magnificke Monastery in Anno 795. indowing it with lands and rich reuenewes for the maintenance of an hundred Monks vpon the first gate of entrance in stone standeth cut a Salteir Argent in a field azure is assigned by the iudicious in Heraldry to bee the Armes that he bare 12 Also in testimony of his repentance for the bloud hee had spilt he gaue the tenth part of all his goods vnto the Churchmen and vnto the poore At Bathe he also built another Monastery and in Warwickshire a Church where the adioyning towne from it and him beareth the name Off-church 13 Finally when hee had raigned thirty nine yeares he died in peace at his towne Off-ley the nine and twentieth of Iuly the yeare of Christ Iesus seuen hundred ninety foure and with great solemnity his body was buried without the towne of Bedford in a Chapell standing vpon the Banke of Owse which long since was swallowed vp by the same riuer whose Tombe of lead as it were some phantasticall thing appeareth often saith Rouse to them that seek it not but to them that seeke it is altogether inunible His wife 14 Quendrid the wife of King Offa hath not her parentage set down by any of our Writers notwithstanding the recorder of this his life saith that her name was Drida and that shee was the kinswoman to Charles the Great King of France and by him for some offence banished his Realme who arriuing vpon the coasts of England in a ship without tackle was taken thence and relieued by Offa being then a young Nobleman where shee changed her name vnto Petronilla with whom hee fell so farre in loue that hee made her his wife contrary to the liking of his Parents She was a woman of condition ambitious couetous and cruell as appeared specially in the death of Ethelbert King of the East Angles that came to her husbands Court to marry their daughter whose port shee so much enuied that shee procured him to bee treacherously murdered the manner the foresaid Author declared to be by his fall into a deepe pit purposely made in his bed-chamber and vnder his chaire of estate That his head was cut off and found by a blind-man that the well which beares his name sprung vp presently in the place where it lay that the bloud thereof gaue the blind man his sight and that Dryda died in the same pit which she had digged for Ethelbert I leaue to the credite of my author and the liking of my Reader but certaine it is that Gods vengeance followed this heynous fact within one yeare after the same was committed by the death of her selfe her husband her Sonne and the translation of that Kingdome from the Mercians to the West-Saxons An ancient Saxon coine inscribed with her name CENEDRED REGIN we haue found and here placed which the iudicious suppose to be hers and that not vnlikely shee being so powerfull proud and ambitious His Issue 15 Egfrid the onely sonne and heire apparant of King Offa and Queene Quendred was the onely ioy and pride of his parents who succeeded his Father in his dominions and title and in the same yeare also in the shades of death 16 Ethelburga the eldest daughter of King Offa and Queene Quendred was maried to Brithrick the sixeteenth King of the West-Saxons shee was a Lady of passing beautie but withall of an insolent disposition hating all whom her husband loued and practising the deathes of them that she hated She departed into France after the poisoning of her husband for that her offence a law was enacted to the great preiudice of the West-Saxons Queenes as in the raigne of Brithrick we haue declared 17 Elfled the second daughter of King Offa Queene Quendred by the report of Randulph Higden the Monke of Chester was the second wife to Ethelred King of Northumberland who in regard of her had put from him his former wife for which his subiects rose in Armes against him and slew him in the last yeare of King Offa his raigne 18 Elfrid the third and yongest daughter of King Offa and Queene Queâ—…dred being promised in mariage and assured vnto Ethelbert King of the East Angles after the murther of her hoped Bridegroom with great lamentations and prophesying threats of reuenge abandoned the society of men and withdrew herselfe vnto the monastery of Crowland in the Fennes where in contemplation and solitary sadnes she spent the remainder of her life and yet there are that suppose her to bee the wife of King Kenwolfe who was the founder of Winchcombe Monastery the successor of his brother Egfride 19 Fremund by Iohn Capgraue is supposed to be the sonne of King Offa who as he saith was traiterously murdered by one Oswy that enuied his victories which he gat against the Danes his body was buried at Offchurch in Warwickshire and neere vnto the Palace of Offa alleadging for his Author one Burghard who was at his death and wrote his life yet some there are that thinke him mistaken for that hee calleth him a young man when as those warres hapned an hundred yeares after King Offa his life EGFRID THE TVVELFTH KING OF THE MERCIANS AND THE SEVENTEENTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISH CHAPTER XXIX EGfrid the sonne of King Offa succeeded his father in the Mercians Kingdom wherof he was the twelfth in number and in the Monarchy of the Englishmen ranked in account the seuenteenth He began his raigne the thirteenth day of Iuly in the yeer of Christ his natiuity seuen hundred ninety foure The first businesse that he vndertooke after hee came to the Crowne was the restauration of antient priuiledges to the Church which his father had depriued them of and great hope was conceiued of his further proceedings had not God cut him off by vntimely death For hauing raigned onely foure moneths hee gaue place vnto nature and to another successour the sins of the people deseruing no such Prince for whose cause and his fathers great bloudshed as Alcuine wrote to Osbertus he was taken away so soone 2 He deceased the seuenth day of December and in the first of his raigne hauing had neither Wife nor Issue that we reade of His body with all due obsequies was honourably buried in the Abbey Church of S. Albans of his fathers foundation KENVVOLFE THE THIRTEENTH KING OF THE MERCIANS AND THE EIGHTEENTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISHMEN CHAPTER XXX KEnwolfe not so neere in bloud to king Egfryd as he
likelyhoods to induce that she was his lawfull Queene 11 Elfleda the second wife of King Edward was the daughter as Mathew of Westminster reporteth of an Earle named Ethelhelme and Asser the Bishop of Sherborne maketh mention of an Earle in Wiltshire among the West-Saxons of the same name who was in great fauour with King Elfred the father of this King by whom hee was sent Ambassador to carry his Almes to Stephen the sixt of that name Bishop of Rome in the yeare of our Lord 887 and by all probable conference of name time and place hee seemeth to bee the man that was father to this Queene 12 Edgina the third wife of King Edward was the daughter and heire of Earle Sigeline Lord of Meapham Culings and Leanham in Kent who was there slaine in battaile against the Danes Anno 927. She was married vnto King Edward about the fourteenth yeare of his raigne being the yeare of Grace 916. She was his wife ten yeares and after his death she liued a widdow all the times of the raignes of King Ethelstan her sonne in law of King Edmund and King Edred her owne sonnes of King Edwy her Grand-child and was liuing in the Raigne of King Edward another of her Grand-children almost fortie yeares after the death of her husband It is writ of her that in the yeare of Grace 959. Shee offered her lands and euidences to Christ vpon his Altar at Canterbury She deceased the twenty fift of August in the fourth yeare of the said King Edgar and of Christ 963. His Children 13 Ethelstan the eldest sonne of King Edward and the Lady Eguina was borne and growne to good yeeres in the time of the raigne of his Grandfather King Elfred who with his owne hands gaue him the order of Knighthood after a very honourable manner of creation as William the Monke of Malmsbury a great obseruer of such things hath left in writing who reporteth that he put vpon him a Purple Robe and girt him with a girdle wrought with pearle and a Saxon sword in a scabard of gold hanging at the same He was the Successor of his Father in the West-Saxons dominions and the English Monarchy 14 Elfred the second sonne of King Edward and the Lady Eguina is warranted by the testimony of the story of Hyde to haue been loued of his Father aboue all his other children that he caused him in his owne lifetime to bee crowned King and to sit with him in his Seat of Estate as his Partner in the Kingdome and that he enioyed that great honour but for a small time deceasing shortly after his creation and long before his fathers death and was buried in the New Monastery at Winchester which afterwards was remoued to Hyde 15 Editha whom the Scotish Writers call Beatrite the daughter of King Edward and the Lady Eguma with great honour was maried to Sythrick the Danish King of Northumberland in the first yeere of the raigne of her brother King Ethelstane being the yeere of grace 915. Within one yeere after her mariage her husband deceased and his sonne Guthfrid succeeded him in his Kingdome Wherefore she forsaking that Country obtained of her brothers gift the Castell of Tamworth in the County of Warwicke where she began a Monastery of Nunnes and therein liued died and was interred and both the Monastery and Body afterwards was remoued from thence vnto Pollesworth 16 Elsward the third son of King Edward the first of Queen Elfleda his second wife was born as it seemeth about the beginning of his Fathers raigne He was carefully brought vp in the study of Liberall Arts and in all other princely qualities so that it was expected he should haue succeeded his Father in the Kingdome but presently vpon his fathers decease he deceased himselfe in Oxford and was buried at one time and in one place with him in the New Monastery at Winchester in the yeere of Christ Iesus 924. 17 Edwine the fourth sonne of King Edward and the second of Queene Elfleda his second Wife was very young when his father was buried and his brother Ethelstane crowned Notwithstanding a deep ielosie possessing the King that his title was too neere the Crowne he caused him to be put into a little Pinnesse without either Tackle or Oares one only page accompanying him that his death might be imputed to the waues whence the young Prince ouercome with griefe and not able to master his owne passions cast himselfe headlong into the sea and his dead body being driuen vpon the coasts of Flanders was taken vp by Adulphe Earle of Boloine his cosen-germane and honourably buried in the Monastery of Saint Bertin in the Towne of S. Omers Which fact was much lamented by King Ethelstan who greeuously punished the suggestions of his owne ielosie and the procurers of his brothers death sending great thanks to the Earle that buried him and rich presents to the Monastery which entombed him and to appease the ghost of his innocent brother built the Abbey of Mialeton in the County of Dorset 18 Elfleda the second daughter of King Edward and the first of Queene Elfleda his second Wife entred into the orders of Religion and tooke vpon her the profession and vow of Virginity in the Monastery of Rumsey situated vpon the Riuer Test in the County of Southampton In which Monastery she was first a Nunne and afterward Abbesse during the whole time of her life which was there spent and ended and her body in the said Abbey buried 19 Eguina the third daughter of King Edward and the second of Queene Elfleda his second Wife was the second Wife to Charles the third surnamed the Simple King of France son to King Lews the brother of Iudith Queene of England before mentioned She had issue by him Lewis the third surnamed Beyond-sea because he was brought vp here in England with his Vnkle King Ethelstan and Gillet Duchesse of Normandy maried to Rollo the Dane who in regard of his marriage was allowed to bee the first Duke of that Country This Queene suruiued King Charles her Husband and afterwards was remaried to Herbert the younger Earle of Vermandoys which marriage was taken for so great an indignity because Earle Herbert the elder father to this Earle had caused the King her Husband to die in prison that King Lewis her sonne presently pursued her apprehended and committed her to the strait custody of Queene Gerberge his wife so as shee had no recourse vnto him nor issue by him 20 Ethelhild the fourth daughter of King Edward and the third of Queene Elfleda his second Wife followed the example of her elder sister Elfleda and became a Nunne in the Monastery of Wilton which was sometime the head Towne giuing name to the whole County of Wiltshire and antiently called Ellandon 21 Edhild the fifth daughter of King Edward and the fourth of Queene Elfleda
deceased in the very prime of his youth before the death of his father or of his elder brother and before hee had done any thing in his life worthy of remembrance after his death 44 Edmund the third sonne of King Ethelred Queene Elgiua his first wife was borne in the eleuenth yeare of his fathers raigne and of Grace 989 and of all his fathers Children proued to be the only man that set his helping hand to the redresse of the estate of his Country distressed by the miserable oppressions of the Danes which hee pursued with such exceeding toile and restlesse hazards of his body as he was therefore surnamed Iron-side and when hee had followed those warres with great courage the space of seuenteene yeeres vnder his Father being come to twenty seuen of his owne age hee succeeded him in his Kingdome and troubles as presently shall be shewed 45 Edred the fourth sonne of King Ethelred and of Queene Elgiua his first wife was born about the foureteenth yeare of his fathers raigne being the yeare of Grace 992. His name is continually set downe as a witnesse in the testees of his fathers Charters vntill the thirtie fift yeare of his raigne by which it appeareth that hee liued vnto the two and twentieth yeere of his owne age although I find no mention of him or of any thing done by him in any of our histories and it seemeth he died at that time because his name is left out of the Charters after that yeare 46 Edwy the fift sonne of King Ethelred and Queene Elgiua his first wife suruiued his father and all his brethren and liued in the raigne of Canute the Dane who being iealous of his new-gotten estate and fearefull of the dangers that might accrew vnto him by this Edwy and such others of the English bloud roiall practised to haue him murthered which was accordingly done by them whom hee most fauoured and least suspected the yeare of our saluation 1017. 47 Edgar the sixt sonne of King Ethelred and of Queene Elgiua his first wife was borne about the twentieth yeere of his fathers raigne beeing the yere of our Lord God nine hundred ninetie and eight He seemeth by the Testees of his fathers Charters to haue beene liuing in the one and twentieth of his raigne but beeing no more found in any of them after may be supposed by all coniectures to haue died in or about the same yeere beeing but the eleuenth after his owne birth and the seuenth before his fathers death 48 The eldest daughter of King Ethelred and Queene Elgiua his first wife although her name bee not to bee found in any writer of those times appeareth notwithstanding to be married to one Ethelstan a Noble man of England who was the principall Commander of Cambridge-shire men at the great battle fought betweene them and the Danes wherein the English-men had the ouerthrow and this sonne in law of King Ethelred with the rest of the chiefe Leaders were slaine in the yeere of Christs Natiuity 1010. being the two and thirtieth of his father in lawes raigne 49 Edgith the second daughter of King Ethelred and Queene Elgiua his first wife was married to Edrik Duke of Mercia who for his couetousnesse in getting was surnamed Streattone This Edrik was the sonne of one Egelrik surnamed Leofwin an elder brother to Egelmere the grandfather of Goodwin Duke of the West-Saxons and beeing but meanely borne was thus highly aduanced by this King notwithstanding he was euer a traitor to his Countrie and a fauourer of the Danes betraying both him and King Edmund his sonne to King Canut that he thereby might gette new preferments by him who worthily rewarded him as a traitor and put him to death 50 Elfgine the third daughter of King Ethelred and of Queene Elgiua his first wife was the second wife of Vtred surnamed the Bold sonne of Earle Waldefe the elder Earle of Northumberland by whom shee had one onely child a daughter named Aldgith married to a Noble-man called Maldred the sonne of Crinan shee was mother of Cospatricke who was Earle of Northumberland in the time of William the Conquerour and forced by his displeasure to fly into Scotland where hee abode and was ancestor to the Earles of Dunbar and of March in that Countrie 51 Gode the fourth and youngest daughter of King Ethelred and Queene Elgiua his first wife was first married to one Walter de Maigne a Noble-man of Normandy greatly fauoured by King Edward her brother who liued not long after the marriage and left issue by her a sonne named Rodulfe whom King Edward his vncle created Earle of Hereford This Earle Rodulfe died the one and twentieth of December in the thirteenth yeere of his vncles raigne and was buried at Peterborough leauing issue a young sonne named Harrald created afterwards by King William the Conqueror Baron of Sudeley in the Countie of Gloucester and Ancestor to the Barons of that place succeeding and of the Lord Chandois of Sudeley now being This Lady Gode after the decease of the said Water de Maigne was remarried to Eustace the elder Earle of Bulloigne in Picardy a man of great valour in those parts of France and a most faithfull friend to King Edward her brother which Earle was grand-father to Godfrey of Bulloigne King of Ierusalem albeit it seemeth he had no issue by this Lady 52 Edward the seuenth sonne of King Ethdred and his first by Queene Emme his second wife was borne at Islipe in the County of Oxford and brought vp in France all the time of his youth with his vncle Richard the third of that name Duke of Normandy mistrusting his safety in England vnder King Canute the Dane although he had married his mother but hee found the time more dangerous by the vsage of his brother Elfred at his beeing heere in the raigne of King Harrald sonne of the Dane Notwithstanding hee returned home when Hardiknut the other sonne beeing his halfe brother was King and was honourably receiued and entertained by him and after his death succeeded him in the Kingdom of England 53 Elfred the eight sonne of King Ethelred and his second by Queene Emme his second wife was conueied into Normandie for feare of King Conute with his eldest brother Edward and with him returned into England to see his mother then beeing at Winchester in the second yeere of King Harrald surnamed Harefoote by whose practize hee was trained towards London apprehended by the way at Guilford in Surrey depriued of his eie-sight and committed prisoner to the Monastery of Elie his Normans that came with him most cruelly murthered and hee himselfe soone after deceasing was buried in the Church of the said Monasterie EDMVND SVRNAMED IRONSIDE THE THIRTIE THREE MONARCH OF THE ENGLISH-MEN HIS WARRES ACTS RAIGNE WIFE AND ISSVE CHAPTER XLV EDmund the third sonne of King Ethelred and the eldest liuing at his Fathers death
aduenture himselfe among the Danish host as a base Minstrell and Contemptiblemakesport till hee had perfectly learned their secrets and after with his sword through the thickest of those Enemies made a way to his owne most glorious Monarchie 13 To speake nothing of the desolations left in euerie Prouince Towne and Place where they came laying all leauell with the ground as prints of their foote-steppes where they had troden Their cruell and mercilesse dealings towards holy and religious persons with the ruination of Churches and other places for Oratorie is most lamentable to bee rehearsed or remembred and among many others the faire beautifull Monasteries of Bradney Crowland Peterborow Ely and Coldingham were made subiect to their desolations In the last whereof Lady Ebbe with her chast Nunnes to auoid their sauage and filthie pollutions cutte off their owne noses and vpper-lippes least the baite of their beauties should prooue the bane of their honours honestie The most greeuous tribute and exactions laied vpon the poore Inhabitants in generall and great sums of money paied in such afflicted vnseasonable times imposed by the name of Dane-gilt did from ten thousand arise to forty thousand pounds yeerely gathered for them in England Their sturdy behauiour and Lord-like carriage against the English in all places where euer they soiourned was with such subiection of the poore Owners that they abused both wife daughter and maide and were of all called the Lord-Dane till lastly they were Lords indeede of the Land and swaied the Scepter at their owne pleasures which how it was attained vnto wee haue before declared and how it was worne and continued wee are now presently to speake CANVTVS THE FIRST DANISH KING RAIGNING INENGLAND AND THE THIRTIE FOVRTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISH-MEN HIS ACTS RAIGNE WIVES AND ISSVE CHAPTER III. THe sailes of the Danes thus ouer-filled with the gales of their swelling fortunes and themselues arriued at the Port of their long sought soueraignety cast anker as it were at the hauen of their wished desire and prepared themselues to a setled rest for Canutus possest of halfe the Kingdome by composition with Edmund now after his death seazed vpon the whole and that all things as was pretended might proceed with iustice and concord he called a Counsell of the English Nobility at London wherein was propounded whether in the agreement betwixt Edmund and him any claime of title to the Crowne had beene reserued for King Edmunds brethren or sonnes The English that had paid a very deere rate for their ouerbold resistance before not daring now to buy with too late repentance the wrath of this Dane absolutely answered No and hauing learned to appease Princes with flattery offered their swords against any such claimes and tooke themselues the Oath of alleagiance vnto Canutus who beeing a very wise and politike Prince thought neuer the better of them for such their doings whose truths thus failing towards their naturall Princes could neuer hee well knew stand firme for him or his forreine posteritie 2 But being thus cleered of all other opposites hee prepared with great roialty for his Coronation which was performed at London by the hands of Lyuingus surnamed Elstane Archbishop of Canterburie in the yeere of Christ Iesus 1017. beeing the second King of Denmarks of that Name the first of England and the thirty fourth Monarch of this Land His first designes for the establishment of the Crowne to himselfe and Danish issue was a care to preuent others neere vnto the claime and therefore taking counsell with Edrike banished Edwin who for his melancholy and regardlesse deportment was commonly called the King of Charles son of King Ethelred and brother of Edmund notwithstanding hee was guilefully recalled and treacherously murthered by his owne men whose bodie they buried at Tauestocke in Deuon-shire 3 One cloud thus ouer-blowne two others appeared far more dangerous in Canutus sight namely Edward and Edmund the sonnes of the Iron-side whom albeit their yongue yeeres might haue freed from suspition of conspiracies and their gentle dispositions from enuying his glory yet the bright raies of a Diadem so dazeled his ielous eie that euer he saw to his owne seeming the reflection thereof shine from their faces but ashamed saith Higden to lay hand on them himselfe sent them to his halfe brother of Sweden to be made away as we haue said In the doubtfull times betweene Edmund and Canute when the scale of warre was held of either hands alike Queene Emma had sent Edward and Alfred her sonnes by King Ethelred vnto her brother Duke Richard of Normandy whereby wee see the Land was emptied of the English bloud Roiall and the Crowne left for the Dane without competition 4 Who now seeking to hold fast the Scepter thus grasped sought the alliance of the Norman Duke by the espousing of his sister faire Emma a suite sounding but harshely in the eares of the English yea and most of all vnto her selfe as deeming the linke of loue verie slender that might bee broken by the same hand which was the death of her Husband Notwithstanding after good deliberation knowing him childlesse of any lawfull successor vpon couenants agreed that the issue of her body by him should inherite the English Crowne the suit was granted hoping also if that failed betwixt them to establish her other sonnes by King Ethelred This prouident respect so pleased the subiects that it both drew the hearts of the English vnto Canutus and their loue vnto Emma in a surpassing measure as the booke penned to her praise and written in that age intituled Encomium Emmae sufficiently doth shew 5 Neither was her louing care limitted onlie to her sonnes but further extended towards the Common-wealth being much pestred then with his Danes that lay lazie and idle as drones in the hiue who at her instigations were sent into Denmarke lest they should through discontents make any stirres either here or there had a largesse to buy their contentment of fourescore and two thousand pounds 6 Canutus his next care for the maintenance of his owne safety and the continuance of his new got Empire was the establishment of good lawes which if duly executed are the very sinewes and strongest guards of all States to be administred and practised both on the English and Dane alike wherefore calling a Parliament of his Peeres vnto Oxford there established many wholsom Acts both for the Clergy and Laitie to obserue some of which were diuulged by the praise-worthy care of a studious Antiquarie and a few as touching Religion as a relish of the rest we thinke it not amisse to giue the Reader a tast of 7 And first for the celebration of Gods most diuine seruice it was ordained that all decent ceremonies tending to the encrease of reuerence and deuotion should be vsed as need required That vpon the Lords Sabbath publike Faires Markets Synods Conuenticles Huntings
this King 5 But his vices were more and concerned more personnes for a great Epicure hee was and giuen much vnto Cuppes whereby he trained the body to belly cheere and sense to bee subiect to sloth and drunkennesse foure times euery day were his tables spred and plenteously with all Cates furnished euer commanding that his courtiers guests and seruants should rather leaue for superfluity then call for lack which howsoeuer it was in him accounted for Roiall bounty yet it caused in the people who vse to praise the Soueraignes vertues but imitate his vices a riotous loosenesse and the Common-weale to lie sicke of consumptions bred by such excesse of those grosse humours in her body 6 This wrought in him a carelesse neglect of gouernment in State so that â—…he whole managing thereof was committed to his mother Queene Emma a woman extreamely couetous and to Goodwin the rich and politicke Earle of Kent who seeing the present state carried wholy away with present pleasures thought that a fitte subiect for him to worke vpon for the King not married vnlesse it were to his lewd will and Edward likely to succeede of an ouer soft temperature hee thought these both might proue aduantageous to his ambition and therfore bethought him how the crowne might bee worne by him or his 7 Therefore to separate the hearts of the subiects from the Prince then which there can bee no greater a wound vnto both hee caused the King to impose heauy tributes vpon the English onely to pay the Danes in his Fleete appointing euerie common Souldier and Mariner to receiue eight markes in money euery officer and Master twelue which amounted to the summe of thirty two thousand one hundred forty seuen pounds for the payment whereof there was so great a grudge that two of the Collectors Thurstane and Feader were slaine by the Citizens of Worcester which caused their City to be burnt and part of the country spoiled by the Kings commaund and their Bishop Alfred expulsed the See till with money hee had purchased his peace This Bishops hands as was said were deepe in the murther of Prince Alfred the Kings half brother whom we spake of yea and Goodwin himselfe was put to his purgation by oath for the clearing of his suspitions in that treacherous and brutish fact which oath was the lighter vrged and the easier receiued for his rich and bounteous gifts immediately before presented to the King and that was a shippe whose sterne was of gold with fourescore souldiers therein placed all vniformely and richlie suited On their heads they al wore guilt Burgenets and on their bodies a triple guilt habergion a sword with guilt hilts girded to their wastes a battaile-axe after the manner of the Danes on their left shoulders a target with guilt bosses borne in their left hands a dart in the right their armes bound about with two bracelets of gold containing sixeteene ounces in weight 8 Aimundus Bremensis writing the Stories of those times sheweth that the three sonnes of Canute were possessed of the three Kingdomes England Denmarke and Norway though the father by Will had disposed of the first otherwise which moued Hardi-Canute much to maligne the roialtie of Harold whose Crowne by birth and couenant belonged to him and therfore with great preparation intending to recouer his right hee entred the Sea and came into Flanders where hauing notice of the vsurpers death his rage was staied and he peaceably came in and receiued the Crowne 9 And that Swein called the Younger King of Denmarke to assist his vncle Hardi-Canute against Harold the vsurper of Englands Crowne with a great Armie prepared thitherward and taking the Seas were by tempest driuen vpon the coasts of Hadelâ—… where his Armie doing some hurt was set vpon and discomfited by the souldiers of the Arch-bishoppe himselfe amongst them beeing taken prisoner and brought into the presence of the Arch-bishop was by him most honourably receiued and conueied vnto Breme who there entered a league with him and with gifts and other complements after a few daies suffered him to depart who likewise hearing of the death of King Harold returned backe to his owne Countrey where shortly after he was much molested by Magnus the sonne of Olaf then raigning King ouer the Norwegians 10 Hardi-Canute in England hearing of those stirres thought it his part to aid his Nephew King Sweyn against the inuasions of Magnus and therefore hee sent one Sueno his kinsman with an Armie of the English to reestablish King Sweyn in his Throne These entred Norway and the Field against the Norwegians but by them were so ouerlaied that hee left Magnus the vanquisher and returned againe for England but before hee could arriue the Shore King Hardi-Canute was dead with whom dyed the issue of that warre whose death was suddaine and after this manner 11 At the celebration of a great marriage contracted betwixt a Daenish Lord called Canut-Prudan and Lady Githa the daughter of a Noble-man whose name was Osgot Clappa in a solemne assembly banquet at Lambeth the eight of Iune reuelling and carousing amidst his cups hee suddainly feldown without speech or breath whose losse was the lesse lamented for his excesse riotousnesse and vnwonted exactions but chiefly because a much better was then to succeede him hauing himselfe had neither wife nor child that is read off Yea so farre were all sorts from bewailing him that in regard of the freedome from the Danish yoke which they attained by his decease euer since among the common people the day of his death is annually celebrated with open pastimes in the streetes as the old Romanes kept their fugalia for chasing out of their Kings which time is now called Hoctide or Hucxtide signifying a time of scorning or contempt which fell vpon the Danes by his death His body with all due obsequies was interred at Winehester by his fathers after hee had voluptuously raigned two yeeres lacking ten daies and departed his life and kingdome the yeere of Christ Iesus 1042. 12 With the death of this King died all rule of the Danes in this land and the sacred sparke of the Saxons fire through three of their successions buried in their owne ashes beganne now to take flame and to burne most bright which was Prince Edward now commonly called the Confessor the sonne of King Ethelred and albeit there were others betwixt him and the crowne as namely Edward and Edmund the sonnes of the Iron-side yet the one dying in Hungarâ—… without issue of body the other there liuing as a banished man by surname the Out-law was neither so well regarded nor thought so worthy of gouernement as this other Edward was whom therfore they sent for and with so great applause and acclamations proclaimed that the present ioy seemed to prognosticate a perpetuall happinesse to the English who had beene most miserably afflicted by the Daenes for the space of two hundred forty
where calling a Parliament in the presence of himselfe and of Dauid King of Scotland hee caused the Nobles and first before all other Stephen his Sisters Sonne who first did violate it to sweare fealty to her as to his lawfull and now onely heire by whom they should againe come to bee gouerned by the ancient English Roiall bloud from which he shewed her to bee descended which Oath was this that they should as much as in them lay after King Henries decease if hee died without Heire-Male establish her Queene of the Monarchy of Great Britaine now called England But whether they did or no saith Gemeticensis belongs not to mee to tell but this our Story shall hereafter relate and make knowne 48 Giraldus and Higden and some ancient Manuscripts affirme but with very little probability or credite that Henry the Emperour died not at this time as was giuen forth but that rather vpon a remorse of conscience for imprisoning his owne naturall Father Henry the third vnto death and also his Spirituall Father the Pope with his Cardinals repenting these outrages hee laid aside his Imperiall Roabe and secretly fled into England where at Westchester hee became an Hermite changing his name vnto Godscall where he so liued the space of ten yeeres and was buried in the Cathedrall Church of Saint Werburga the Virgine Vpon which his suddaine flight and missing the Empresse Maud some say was suspected to bee guilty of his death and for that cause was kept continually in the Queenes Chamber Indeed that she abode still in Chamber with the Queene Paris records but hee giues a wiser reason thereof for that her Father did loue her exceedingly as being now his sole Heire and where should an Empresse rather liue then with a Queene a Daughter then with her Mother a faire Lady a Widow and an Heire of so great a Kingdom then where her Person might bee safest from danger her mind from inueigling and her carriage from suspition But as for that other idle coniecture it is razed out both by those Writers who record his Buriall and Monumentat Spire as Higden himself signifieth and also by the penne of William Gemeticensis who reporteth her to be a woman generally well thought of and approued among the greatest Princes of the Empire for her prudent and gratious behauiour towards the Emperour her husband insomuch that they became suiters vnto her seeking by all meanes to attaine her to gouerne them and to that end attended her to King Henry in Normandy to solicite the same to whom in no wise hee would giue his consent meaning to make her his Successor in the Kingdome Whereunto Malmsbury who then liued accordeth saying shee was very vnwilling to haue come out of those parts of the Empire where both her dowry and acquaintance lay and that the Princes of those Countries came more then once into England to haue her for their Empresse but that the King would not part with the Heire of his Crowne 49 But King Henrie afterwards desirous to bee free from the variances of these forraine Princes and hearing that Foulke Earle of Anion had giuen his Earledome with the territories of Gaunt and Turyn vnto his Sonne Ieffrey Martell surnamed Plantagenet himselfe minding to abide at Ierusalem whereof he was King in right of his wife Milissent the daughter of Baldwine de Burge lately deceased thought him the fittest to be linked into his alliance therfore concluded a mariage betwixt the said Ieffrey and his onely lawfull daughter Lady Maude the Empresse though partly against her liking as both Gemeticensis and Geruasius of Canterbury doth declare which was solemnized in Normandy the third of Aprill accordingly 50 That William sonne to the Curtoise was formerly fauoured by Earle Foulke wee haue shewed but now he was further followed with increase of Fortune and the French Kings aide onely for a rub in King Henries way for Charles Earle of Flanders being traiterously murdered by his owne People without any his issue to succeed him Lewis of France to make William faster to him set him in possession as the next heire in blood vnto that Larledome William being the sonne of Duke Robert and Robert the Eldest of Queene Maude the wife of the Conquerour and she daughter to Earle Baldwin the fifth whose issue Male now failing the right was from her deriued vnto this her Grand-child William 51 This Ground-worke vnto greatnesse King Henry disliked least by his Nephewes height himselfe might bee ouer topped and his blind fathers wrongs the sooner redressed therefore hauing by his daughters marriage made Aniou his from Normandy he inuaded France euen vnto Hespard where for eight daies he remained as secure as in his owne Kingdome and partly by feare partly by faire paiments wrought Lewis to withdraw his aide from yong William neither so ceased but that hee instigated William de Ypres to disturbe Williams state and did also draw a cerraine Duke named Theodorick out of Germany with a band of Flemmings who entred Flanders in Hostile maner 52 With these last Earle William a Prince for his age of imcomparable prowesse soone met and giuing them battell with an inuincible courage brake through the enemies troopes in such sort that they were discomfited and the Earle had the day whence in this heate of bloud hee marched vnto Angi a Castle of King Henries which after a strong siege being vpon the surrender by a small wound which Earle William receiued in his hand hee shortly died but not without immortall fame for magnanimity and valour 53 Were it not reported by some Writers of note I might here well passe ouer certaine presaging dreames as the Monkes interpreted them which King Henry had being ready now to goe into Normandy for to his seeming he saw a sort of rusticke plough-men with their Instruments of husbandry after them Souldiers with their weapons of Warre and lastly the Bishops with their Crosiers staues all of them angerly threatning and attempting his death wherewith hee was so perplexed that leaping out of his bed he called for helpe but seeing it but a dreame as a dreame he esteemed it and passed ouer into Normandy where long hee staied not but that his Daughter Maud vpon some displeasure departed from her husband and came with her Father into England Some write that she was the proâ—…ker of certaine displeasures betwixt her husband and Father which so affected his mind with passions of wrath and griefe that many thought it was a great hastning of his end and indeede Malmsburie witnesseth that the King vpon his death-bed passionately mentioned the wrongs and indignities wherewith her husband had disquieted his mind Howbeit soone after this her departure from him by consent of the States who met at Northampton shee was reconciled to her husband sent vnto him vpon his intreaty and bare
him for Normandy Aquitane Angiou Main and Tourain which partly were his patrimony and partly the inheritance of Elianor his wife 6 His domesticke enemies being subdued or appeased hee put his brother Geffrey by force to a pension the summe whereof if it be any thing to the purpose to know was 1000. l. English and 2000. l. Aniou by yeere wringing out of his possession all such territories as by their Fathers last Will and Testament were bequeathed to him in France But Geffrey did not long enioy the said annuity or his brothers friendship for in the third yeare death brought a discharge and Henry was disburdened of those paiments For his violence in taking away those lands King Henry might alledge he was eldest brother but that allegation might bee auoided with his owne consent which once hee gaue but the great Elixar called Reason of State though falsly so called vnlesse it bee seasoned with Iustice and Religion hath so transmutatiue a faculty as to make Copper seeme Gold right wrong and wrong right yea when all Pleas faile it will stand for good while there are forces to support it 7 This accord between the two brethren being thus howsoeuer established the King repaires into England and at Chester enters amity with Malcolme King of Scots on such termes as his Grandfather had done yet Saluis omnibus dignitatibus suis sauing to himselfe all his dignities and the said Malcolme restored to Henry the City of Karleol Newcastle vpon Tyne c. and Henry restored to him the Earledome of Huntington in England And so iustly dreadfull did the growing puissance of this young Monarch appeare to his greatest enemies that Hugh Bigod Earle of Norfolke who had potent means to doe mischiefe rendred his Castle to bee at his disposall 8 The Welsh notwithstanding forsooke not themselues but did some memorable matters vnder conduct of the valiant Prince Owen against the English in defence of North-Wales and their Countries liberty to the losse of the English and extreame danger of the Kings owne person whose Standard roiall was cowardly abandoned and the King reported to be slaine for which Henrie de Essex the Kings Standard-Bearer at that conflict was afterward accused by Robert de Montford his neere Kinsman and in single battaile within lists was vanquished at Reading where the said Henry de Essex was shorne a Monke and died Mathew Paris relates the whole voiage of King Henry summarily thus That Henry prepared a very great Army against the Welsh with full purpose to ouercom them both by land and sea that hee cut vp the woods and forrests and laid open a way that hee recouered the Castle of Ruthlan and other fortresses taken from his Ancestors that hee repaired the Castle of Basingwerke and that hauing brought the Welsh to his will hee returned with triumph into England 9 After this himselfe and his wife Queene Elienor beeing openly crowned vpon Christmas day some say Easter day at the Citie of Worcester they both at the Offertorie laid their Diademes vpon the high Altar vowing neuer to weare them after this beeing now the third time in which at three seuerall places Westminster Lincolne and Worcester he had beene crowned This deuout act of his did flow perhaps out of some such speculation as that of Canutus who thought none truly worthy the name of King but God alone or that vpon which Godfrey of Buillion refused to weare a crowne of gold in Hierusalem where our Lord and Sauiour had beene crowned with thornes For this King had at times the pangs and symptoms of mortification and piety and did heerein acknowledge the onely giuer and taker-away of kingdoms God-almighty putting himselfe and Realme vnder the protection of that Maiestie of whom hee held paramount and professing as it were that from thencefoorth hee would direct his actions to the glorie of his omnipotent Master which is indeede the only finall cause of all true monarchie 10 Not long after hauing established his affaires in England hee crost the Seas into Normandie where successiuely sundrie matters of importance fell out as the seisure of the City of Nants in Britaine after his brother Geffreis death his iourney to Paris beeing inuited thither by Lewis and his wife the Queene the vnprofitable siege of Tholouze laid by King Henrie where Malcolme King of Scots was in companie with him the vnripe marriage of his sonne Henrie to Margaret the French Kings daughter whom Thomas Becket then Lord Chancellor had formerlie conducted with verie great State from Paris by consent of parents for that purpose the offence taken at those spousals by Lewis for that the children were but infants and that himselfe was a looser thereby the warre heereupon attempted by Lewis fortifying Chaâ—…mount which the French hauing quit the Field by flight King Henrie recouered with aduantage the Armies of both these great Kings being afterward at point as it were to ioine dispersed vpon reconciliation of the two Kings by reason of a marriage concluded vpon betweene Richard King Henries second son and Alice the French Kings daughter All which and some other not drawing with them any extraordinarie sequell nor offording much matter for ciuill document must not preponderate the handling of things more rare and considerable 11 For after these accidents beganne the famous controuersies betweene the King and his Arch-bishop Becket a man of an inuincible stomack and resolution in his life and after death reputed by some for a great Saint or Martyr as is likewise noted of Henrie that he was the most politike martiall rich and honoured Prince of all his time This Prelate by birth a Londoner though his mother a Sarazen say some by profession a Ciuilian was by Theobald Arch-bishop of Canterburie both made his Arch-deacon and also placed about the person of Duke Henrie who beeing now King aduanced him in the verie first yeere of his raigne to bee Lord Chancellor of England in which high honor he carried himselfe like another King and afterward vpon the death of Theobald though the Monks obiected against Becket that neither a Courtier nor a Souldier as hee had beene both were fit to succeede in so high and sacred a function yet the King gaue him that Arch-bishopricke partly in reward and partly in further hope of his ready and faithfull seruice Which to be true a Legender of his Miracles can best relate Nonnullis tamen c. Many saith hee iudged his promotion not Canonicall because it was procured more by the importunity of the King then by the voices of Clergie or People and it was noted as presumption and indiscretion in him to take vpon him to guide the Sterne who was scarce fit to handle an Oare and that beeing skild onely in worldly affaires hee did not tremble to ascend vnto that sacred top of so great dignitie Whereto agreeth the reports of two
Christs faith and therefore such should come to subdue them and take their possessions when he said a Stag which hee kild had neuer the lesse fatte though he neuer heard a Masse they charged him hee doubted of the Resurrection of the dead and in saying hee neuer sped well after his yeelding to the Pope that hee said hee was vnfortunate since hee was reconciled vnto God that when hee gaue leaue to a seruant of his owne to enter any religious Order he gaue him leaue to bee of what Religion and Faith hee list That moreouer hee offered his Kingdome to a Sarazen and would embrace the Turkish faith though this tale were told by one Robert of London a wicked Masse-Priest or rather a Monster hauing a face like a Iew with one arme long and another short his fingers deformedly growing together two and two with such senseles improbabilities as that hee found that Moorish King reading of Saint Paules Epistles and that hee refused the Kingdom of England being offered him with the like That lastly it was reuealed to a Monke King Iohn was in Hell though a Poet for so saying is by M. P. who ◅de no doubt of King Iohns saluation censured for a Reprobate These all are demonstrations of so incredible hatred as should rather alleuiate their Authors credite then the Kings whose Raigne had it not fallen in the time of so turbulent a Pope so ambitious Neighbour Princes so disloyall Subiects nor his Story into the handes of exasperated Writers hee had appeared a King of as great renowne as misfortunes His works of deuotion inferiour to none as his Foundations declare at Beauley Farrington Malmsbury and Dublin and that other for Nunnes at Godstow by Oxford for which some haue interpreted that Prophesie of Merlin as meant of him Sith Virgin giftes to Maids he gaue Mongstblessed Saints God will him saue His Acts and Orders for the Weale-publike were beyond most hee being eyther the first or the chiefest who appointed those noble Formes of Ciuill gouernment in London and most Cities and Incorporate Townes of England endowing them also with their greatest Franchises The first who caused Sterling money to bee h◅re coyned The first who ordayned the Honourable Ceremonies in Creation of Earles The first who setled the Rates and Measures for Wine Bread Cloth and such like Necessaries of Commerce The first who planted English Lawes and Officers in Ireland and both annexed that Kingdome and fastned Wales to the Crowne of England therby making amends for his losses in France Whose whole course of life and actions wee cannot shut vp with any truer E◅loge then that which an ancient Author hath conferred on him Princeps quidem Magnus erat sed minus foelix atque vt Marius vtramque fortunam expertus Doubtlesse he was a Prince more Great then happy and one who like Marius had tried both sides of Fortunes wheele His Wiues 64 Alice the first wife of King Iohn was the eldest of the two daughters and heires apparant at that time of Humbert the second Earle of Maurien now called Sauoy her Mother was Clemence daughter of Berthold the fourth Duke of Leringen who had been the diuorced wife of Henry the Lyon Duke of Saxonie This marriage was in their childhoode cōcluded by their Parents at Mountferrant in Auerne in February Anno 1173 he should haue had with her her Fathers Earledome but all altered by her vntimely death and after ensued the death of her Mother the new marriage of her Father and issue male of the same whereof the Dukes of Saxonie are descended 65 Isabel his second wife by some called Hawisia or Auis though the youngest of the three Sisters yet was in regard of this marriage the sole Heire of William Earle of Gloucester sonne of Earle Robert the Naturall sonne of King Henry the first her Mother was Hawis the daughter of Robert Bossu Earle of Leicester Shee was married vnto him when hee was Earle of Mortaine in the first yeere of his brother Richards raigne and after ten yeeres hauing no issue by him was the first yeere of his Raigne diuorced from him vnder pretence of Consanguinity and married to Geffrey Mandeuill Earle of Essex and lastly to Hubert de Burgo Earle of Kent but died without any Issue by them 66 Isabel also his last wife was daughter and heire of Aymer Earle of Angolesme her Mother was Alice daughter of Peter Lord of Courteney fifth son of Lewis the Grosse King of France Shee was married vnto him in the first yeere of his Raigne crowned by Hubert Archbishoppe of Canterbury 8. Id. Octob. Anno 1200. and suruiuing him was married to Hugh Brun Earle of March and Lord of Lusignian and Valence in Poytou to whom first she should haue beene married but yet as seemeth continued her affection to him till now By him shee had diuers Children greatly aduanced by the King Henry 3. their halfe brother and as greatly maligned by his Subiects Hugh Earle of March and Angolesme Guy of Lusignian slain in the battell at Lewise William of Valence Earle of Pembroke Aymer of Valence Bishoppe of Winchester Geffrey of Lusignian L. of Hastings His Issue 67 Henry the eldest Sonne of King Iohn and Isabell his last wife was borne at Winchester 1. October 10. of his Fathers Raigne Anno 1208. K. Iohn dying at Newarke whither hee was broughtina Horselitter from Swynshead the Barons malice was ended their offence amended Lewis of France reiected and the yong Prince seated on his Fathers throne 68 Richard his second son by the same Queene was borne the next yeere after Henry by whom afterward hee was made Knight created Earle of Cornwall and appointed Earle of Poytou After the death of William Earle of Holland Emperour of the West hee was by the Electours chosen to succeed him in the Empire and crowned King of Romanes of Almayn at the City of Acon in Germany by Conrade Archbishoppe of Coleyne Maij 27. being the Ascention day Anno 1257. deceasing at the Castle of Berkhamsted April 20. Ann. 1271. the 13. yeere of his Empire his body was buried in his Monastery of Hayles in Gloucestershire but his Heart at Oxford in Reuly Abbey founded by him vnder a Pyramis of admirable worke Hee had three wiues the first was Isabel daughter of William Marshall Earle of Pembroke widdow of Gilbert Clare Earle of Gloucester by whom hee had issue Henry slaine at Viterbo in Italy and Iohn both dying without Issue His second wife was Senches daughter of Raimond Earle of Prouince sister to Queene Eleanor his brothers wife who was crowned with him at Acon and had issue by him Edmund Earle of Cornwall and others His last wife was Beatrice Niece to the Archbishoppe of Coleyne who seemeth to haue suruiued him and to haue no Issue by him 69 Ioane the
S. Salomon Rochester chiefe Iustice of Assises 4000. M. S. Richard Boyland 4000. Marks S. Thomas Sodentone 2000. Marks S. Walter de Hopton 2000. Marks S. William Saham Iustice 3000 Marks Robert Littelburie Clerk 1000. Marks Roger Leicester Clerk 1000. Marks Adam de Stratton beside other riches incredible 32000. Markes But with one Sir Thomas Weyland the Kings chiefe Iustice being found belike most false he dealt farre more sternely for he not only seised vpon all his moueable goods and Iewels which he had done to others but also vpon his immoueable and banisht him moreouer out of the Kingdome At which time the King constrained all his Iustices to sweare that from thence forth they would take no pension fee or gift of any man except only a breakfast or the like present O diuine and still necessary seuerity onely able to breake the pernicious combination of men that vnder the profession of law offices of Iustice make merchandize of honor iustice law and conscience which cannot in the end but ◅ring forth ruine and confusion 18 That tempest now which * Thomas Ersilton a Scottish Rimer is said to haue obscurely prophecied alluding to the troubles of Scotland by reason of King Alexanders death hapned about these times which raised so great and bloody contentions that it had almost blowne vp the regalitie of that kingdome by the very rootes For when by the violent fall from his horse King Alexander had most vnfortunately lost his life that Realme was wofully destitute of any apparent heire sundry persons stāding in competition for the same These things were thought to be foreshewed from heauen by many fearefull presages as extraordinary Meteors Flouds Fires and Pestilence But King Edward intending to sway that affaire and being vpon his way toward the borders the death of his royall consort and Queene which he lamented while himselfe did liue called him backe to the celebration of her funerals as her excellent virtues did well deserue To our Nation shee was a louing mother saith one the Column and pillar as it were of the whole Realme In her honour the King her husband who loued her aboue al worldly Creaturs caused those many famous tropheis or crosses to be erected wheresoeuer her noble coarse did rest as it was conueyed from Lincolneshire to buriall in Westminster Nor coulde any thing but the respect to other weighty matters now presently in hand with-holde our pen from paying to her memory a farre more copious commendation 19 Those mourning offices as mournfully performed the King repaires into Northumberland whither the greatest and sagest persons of the Scottish nation being come themselues hauing sought to him Edward makes claime to the superiority of Scotland and requires that the Competitors woud quietlie assent to his award alleaging that the Crowne of that Realme was held of him for more credit to which assertion he vouched sundry books and actss whereunto the Scots replied That they were ignorant that any such superiority belonged to the King of England neither could they make answere to such things without a King the head vpon whom it lay to heare such a denunciation and protested that other answere they ought not as then to giue in regard of their Oath which after the death of Alexander their King they had made one to the other and the same to keepe vnder paine of excommunication Whereupon the King deliuered to them his letters Patents in which he acknowledged that the comming of those Scots on this side the water of Twede should not be at any other time vrged to preiudice them for comming againe into England that is That their example should not so be drawne to an argument of King Edwards right ouer them as if they were to come againe vpon dutie so prudentlie iealous were these Patriots of their Countries liberty 20 The names of the Competitors were these according to Walsingham Erick King of Norway who appeared by his Attorneys Florence Earle of Holland Robert le Brus Lord of Annandale Iohn de Baliol Lord of Galway Iohn de Hastings Lord of Abergeuenny Iohn Comin Lord of Badenaw Patrick de Dunbar Earle of March Iohn de Vesci on his Fathers behalfe Nicholas de Sules William de Rosse These all peaceably submitted themselues for so much as concerned their seuerall titles to the Scottish Crowne to the finall award and arbitration of King Edward passing thereof an authentick Instrument vnto him who hauing giuen caution to restore the realme of Scotland within a certaine prefixed time to that party to whom the Crowne thereof should be adiudged had seisin deliuered to him the better to put the sentence in execution or say the writers of that nation they giuing him power to constraine the parties to stand to this sentence The whole carriage of which weighty businesse being so diuersly related and censured by the writers of both nations though for the present it be not material both Kingdoms now blessedly acknowledging one absolute Superiour wee will so trace the steps of truth in a middle way as resoluing neither to impeach the action of that glorious vmpier nor preiudicate the right of our noble sister nation The State of Scotland now was not without manifest perill for the Scots denying that their Kingdome was in anie point subalterne to the Crowne of England and King Edward either perswaded that it was so or resoluing and plotting now to make it so would not neglect the aduantage of this Akphalisis or want of a known head in Scotland 21 Vpon full ventilation therefore and scanning of all rights the maine doubt rested vpon Lord Brus and Baliol for the residue might seeme rather to affect the honour of hauing pretended title in blood to a Diademe then to haue colour to contend with either of them Great was the aduise and deliberation as there was cause which King Edward tooke therein for not trusting to his owne iudgement hee caused saith Hector Boetius twelue of the best Clerks or learned men of Scotland and twelue of England to concurre as Assessors with him in that great decision 22 While this weighty cause was in debatement there fell out deadlie strife betweene the English and Normans occasioned by one of them casually slaine by the English which mischiefe the King of France forwardly nourisht as thirsting for the dutchy of Gascoigne which best he might attain by troubling the forreine affaires of King Edward whom they saw now entangled at home in so weighty emploiments Whereupon the Normans slew sundry of the English and hung vp one vpon the mast of a Shippe whom they had taken at Sea but ere long after threescore English ships encountring with two hundreth saile of Normans laden with wines after a most bloody battel wherein many thousands of the French were slaine tooke with their whole fleete their full reuenge and brought them into England 23 At last yet King Edward returning 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
heire of Iohn Beaufort Duke of Sommerset was father by her vnto Henry the only heire of Lancaster afterwards King of England Iasper the second brother was created the same yeere Earle of Pembroke who required his brothers kindnes with continuall assistance against the house of 〈◊〉 and when that faction preuailed he was forced to flie into Flanders but it againe waning he was both restored and to his greater honour created Duke of Bedford dying without any issue legittimate This Queene either for deuotion or her owne safety tooke into the Monastery of Bermondsey in Southwarke where dying Ian. 2. A D. 1436. shee was buried in our Ladies Chappell within S. Peters Church at Westminster whose Corps taken vp in the raigne of King Henry the seuenth her Grand-child when he laid the foundation of that admirable structure and her Coffin placed by King Henry her husbands Tombe hath euer since so remained and neuer reburied where it standeth the Couer being loose to be seene and handled of any that will and that by her owne appointment saith Report which doth in this as in most things speake vntruth in regard of her disobedience to King Henry for being deliuered of her sonne at the place hee forbad His Sonne 87 Henry the only child of a roiall couple borne at Windsore and not nine months old at his fathers death succeeded in his dominions though not holding his Empire with the like glory Crowned he was with the Crownes of two Kingdomes but vnable by much to weild the scepter of one that of France was lost by the factions of his Nobles before it was well wonne and Englands Crowne twice pluckt from his head before his death Of whose aduentures and variable raigne the times when England lay goared in the blood of her ciuill warres we shall speake in the insuing relation of his innocent but vnfortunate life HENRIE THE SIXTH KING OF ENGLAND AND FRANCE LORD OF IRELAND THE THREE AND FIFTIETH MONARCH OF ENGLAND HIS RAIGNE ACTS AND ISSVE CHAPTER XVI HAd God almighty the giuer and transferrer of Kingdomes thought good that the English should haue setled in the Continent of Europe and not haue beene shutte vp within their Ilands hee would not so soone haue depriued them of their late incomparable Captaine and Soueraigne Henry the fifth But it seemes that God hauing humbled the French Nation vnder Henries victorious hand ment now again to restore them to his wonted fauor by taking away their terrour triumpher substituting his son an Infant in his place Henrie of that name the 6. born at Windsor who was crowned about the eight month of his age The prety hands which could not feed himselfe were yet made capable to weeld a scepter and hee that was beholding to nurses for milke did neuerthelesse distribute the sustenance of law and iustice to so great and warlike Nations Counsell supplies the defect of age At his fathers death hee had vncles men of approued valour and discretion to whom the principall care of all publike affaires by the fathers last prouisions was committed Humfrey Duke of Glocester the yonger brother of two had the gouernement of England entrusted to his fidelity the regency of France was assigned for Prouince to Iohn Duke of Bedford the eldest liuing vncle of the King as to a Prince of much magnanimity prowesse and felicitie in conduct with whom was ioyned Philip Duke of Burgundie The guard and custody of the royall Infant was assigned to Thomas Duke of Excester the nurture and education to his mother the Queene Dowager vpon the two vncles as betweene the two Poles of the English Empire the whole globe of gouernment moued whatsoeuer is done by the kingly power is said to be done by the King We shall behold notwithstanding in the tragicall glasse of this Henries raigne how farre the imbecillity of the kingly person may affect the body politicke with good or euill If histories were ordayned to stirre affections not to teach and instruct neuer any Princes raigne since the Conquest did better deserue to bee described with a tragical style and words of horror sorrow although the beginning like the faire morning of a most tempestuous day promised nothing morethen a continuance of passed felicities 2 For the State of the English affaires was great and flourishing England without tumult the naturall fierce humors of her people consuming or exercising themselues in France and France her selfe for the nobler parts together with the grand City of Paris head of that Monarchie was at their deuotion There wanted nothing which might aduance the worke begunne Most noble and expert Leaders as those which had bin fashioned in the schoole of warre vnder the best martiall master of that age the late Henry arms full of veterant souldiers most of which were of skill sufficient to be commanders themselues their friends firme no defect nor breach by which dissipation might enter to the ouerthrow of the English greatnesse as yet disclosing themselues Wisdome pietie riches forwardnesse at home courage and like forwardnesse abroad It is a fruitfull speculation to consider how God carrieth his part in the workes of men alwaies iustly sometimes terribly but neuer otherwise then to bring all worldly greatnesse and glory into due contempt and loathing that the soule may bee erected to her Creator and aspire to a Crown celestiall The first disaduantage which hapned to the English cause after the late Kings decease was the death of Charles the French King who suruiued the other but fiftie and three dayes This wee may worthily call the first as it was a great aswell as the first disaduantage for the imbecilities of that Prince were a strēgth to the English On the other side God obseruing a talio and parilitie the infancy of young Henry was an aduantage to Charles the Daulphin of France now by them of his faction called King of France as the English vsed in derision to enstyle him King of Berrie because little else was left vnto him 3 In England whose condition the order of narure wils vs first to describe because there was the seat of counsell by which all the actions of the generall state were directed a Parliament was assembled to establish the Crowne vpon the Infant and to prouide for the publike vses and necessities of State Money alwayes one of them was liberally granted It was a strange sight and the first time that euer it was seene in England which in the next yeere hapned an infant sitting in the mothers lap before it could tell what English meant to exercise the place of Soueraigne direction in open Parliament Yet so it was for the Queene to illumine that publike conuention of States with her Infants presence remoued from Windsor to London through which Citie her selfe roially seated with her young sonne vpon her lappe passed in maiesticke manner to Westminster and there tooke seate among all his Lords whom by the
any of aboue fifteene The great number of the slaine is not the measure of a victory but the vse and effects which it drawes The Duke of Alanson himselfe was taken prisoner with about two hundred others of speciall worth The English paid for this noble victory the bodies of about two thousand of their souldiers which lost life there for it was fought vpon faire termes in the open fields and carried by meere manhood That which followeth till the siege of Orleance Paul Aemylius comprehendeth in some few lines The fierce Conquerour besiegeth Mants in Main and with Ordinance beates downe part of the wals It yeelds heereupon The English Garrison left therein after the taking not being sufficient to containe the Towne in due subiection is compelled to flie to a Tower for their safetie the enemies which were admitted into it by the Burgers enioying the rest The Lord Talbot the most noble Captaine of the English presently arriues to the rescue and puts the malefactors to death The English Empire extends it selfe to the Riuer of Loyr Charles they call in scorne the King of Berry Thus roundly he In nine Articles and capitulations drawne and concluded at the yeelding of Mâ—…nts this was one as perhaps it was in euery like occasion That if any persons were found within the City which had beene consenting to the murther of Iohn Duke of Burgoin father to Philip Duke of Burgoin in full reuenge whereof he had hither to adhered to the English that they should simply bee at the Regents mercy 8 The chiefe things which passed in England during these happy proceedings in France were briefly these Iames Steward the young King of Scots hauing beene casually taken vpon the Sea in the reigne of King Henry the fourth and after his fathers death not sufficiently tendered nor respected by the Scots remained still a Prisoner The rather therefore to hinder the Scots that was the hope from aiding the French it was now thought fit by the Councell of England to enlarge him Which was accordingly done vpon pledges Not long after the which he married the Ladie Iane daughter to Iohn Earle of Sommerset neere cosen to King Henry Principall setters forward of this marriage as by likelihood of his liberty also to honour their family with a Kingly alliance were the Earle of Sommerset and the Bishop of Winchester both of them Beauforts who together with sundry other of the English Nobility conducted the new married Couple to the Scottish Borders Much of his ransome was abated and his new kinsemen bestowed vpon him store of plate gold and siluer among other gorgeous Ornaments suit of hangings in which the labors of Hercules were most curiously wrought But this wise King hauing had the benefit of excellent and Princely education in England did not suffer any obligations contracted in the time of his durance to preponderate with him the Generall state of Scotland whose freedome did much depend vpon the fortune of France whereby the maine drift of his enlargers was not much aduanced The reason notwithstanding which lead this action was probable and so much the more commendable for that it was tempered with humanity The forreine mischiefe thus howsoeuer intended hereby to be auoided or qualified Sir Iohn Mortimer a dangerous firebrand at home being Prisoner in the Tower was arraigned for many treasonable speeches vsed to a yeoman seruant to Sir Robert Scot keeper of the Tower of London to draw the said yeoman to let him escape promising him great matters The points of his speeches were as that fellow charged vpon him in open Parliament 1. That the said Mortimer meant to flie into Wales to the Earle of March and with an armie of forty thousand men to enter England and strike off the Protectors head and the Bishop of Winchesters 2. That the Earle of March ought by right to bee King of England and if the Earle would not that then hee himselfe was next heire 3. That if he could not safely reach to the Marches he would saile to the Daulphin of France and there serue with honor which he was assured of For these ouertures of escape and conspiracie the Knight was drawne hanged and headed Of whose death no small slander arose Perhaps he that writes so doth meane that the whole was but a stratageme to rid him out of the way Edmund Lord Mortimer Earle of March the party whom the said knight mentioned was sent not long after with many other Lords and competent numbers of men into Ireland where he deceased without issue whose great patrimony descended to Richard Plantagenet Earle of Cambridge the fatall disturber of the Realme of England vpon the pretence of Mortimers title to the Crowne 9 The amity with the Duke of Burgoin which the English had hitherto found so auailable toward their Conquests hauing otherwise receiued some few slight flawes was now in danger of vtter breaking vpon this occasion Humfrey Duke of Gloucester Protector of the Realme following councell vnworthy of his person and place contracted himselfe with the Lady Iaqueline of Baâ—…aria Inheretrix of Holland Zeland Henaâ—…lt and many other faire dominions in the Netherlands notwithstanding that Iohn Duke of Brabant her former husband was then liuing and that the suit of diuorce commenced by Iaqueline depended still betweene them The Duke of Burgoin held with Brabâ—…t This bred bitter humor in the Duke of Glocester who being not vsed to meet with any rubs or confrontments and now when in person he came with an armie to take seison of Henault in right of his supposed wife finding himselfe hard set vnto by the aids which Burgoin ministred to the Duke of Brabant he challengeth Combat of the Duke of Burgundy calling him traitour It was accepted and the lie strongly thrust vpon Gloucester who leauing the light Lady at her Towne of Monts in Henault returned into England doing nothing of that for which at that time he came Mediation tooke vp the quarrell afterward betweene the Duke of Burgundy and him Not long after the returne of the Duke of Gloucester into England the first marriage which had beene made and consummated betweene the Duke of Brabant and the said Lady Iaqueline was pronounced lawfull by Pope Martin the fifth Hereupon the Duke of Glocester hauing susteined many losses aswell of friends as treasure in punishment of that great sinne in taking anothers wife forthwith marries Eleanour daughter to Reignald Lord Cobham of Sterborough whereby he made her amends for that vnlawfull familiarity which had formerly passed betweene them Meanewhile the Court of England doth well shew that the King was an infant for it was full of dangerous emulations and sidings the Duke of Gloucester whose high office it was to tender the welfare of the King and State laying sundry grieuous accusations against the Cardinall Beaufort sonne of Iohn Duke of Lancaster Bishop of Winchester and Lord
Chancellor as being a person very dangerous vnto both 10 The news of these home-contentions comming to the Duke of Bedford into France easily drew him home though the state of that Realme could not well want his presence For Iohn Duke of Britaine notwithstanding his late renouation of league with the Regent at Amiens iealous of the English greatnes turned sodeinely to Charles and with him Arthur Earle of Richmond his brother This puts fresh spirit into the drooping Prince Arthur is by Charles made Constable of his France in place of the Scottish Earle who was slaine at the bloody Battell of Vernoil The Duke of Britaine ouerliues this reuolt but a small time Arthur to declare his forwardnes on the behalfe of Charles assembleth about twenty thousand men and with them sodeinely besiegeth S. Iean a Towne of Normandy vpon the frontier of Britaine which Edmund Duke of Sommerset Gouernour of Normandy had lately fortified and stuft with souldiers The vnexpected arriuall of the French did greatly at the first perplex the English but vpon better aduise they valiantly sallied out vpon them both before and behind which stroke so great terrour into the enemy that with losse of their Artillery and many of their people they forsooke the siege To redeeme this dishonour he turnes his fury vpon the Countrey of Angioâ—… which in many parts he depopulates and spoiles The Regent being resolued to returne into England leaues behind him Beaâ—…champ Earle of Warwicke as lieutenant who was lately arriued in France hauing six thousand fresh Souldiers in his company 11 The presence of the Duke of Bedford Regent of France was to the State of England very necessary For the wisdome and authority of so great a Prince being eldest vncle to the King and one whom many great deedes made famous allaied the distemper which he found at his arriual It was a worke worthy of his labour and he also found it to be a worke indeed and not easily effectuable The differences were debated first at Saint Albans then at Northampton lastly in a Parliament at Leicester which continued there till toward the end of Iune The Duke of Bedford himselfe to auoid the note of partiality for that his brother of Glocester was a party did not intermeddle otherwise then as in Generall words to perswade amity but the whole cause was referred to arbitrators of greatest Nobility and prudence by whose endeuours all those differences and greeuances were equally thrust into one sacke to be sealed vp for euer by obliuion and without mention of amends on either side the Duke and Bishop the one hauing sworne by his Princehood the other by his Priesthood truly to obserue the award shooke hands and were fully for that time reconciled After which holy and necessary worke of priuate attonements ensued acts of festiuitie and honor For in the same Towne of Leicester the young King not then fiue yeeres of age was at the high feast of Pentecost dubbed Knight by the Regent of France Immediately whereupon the King honored Richard Earle of Cambridge who by the fatall errour of the Counsell was at this Parliament created Duke of Yorke the same who was father to Edward the fourth with the order of knighthood and about forty more with him This Richard Duke of Yorke was hee who brought vpon this Kingdome and nation most dolefull diuisions to the vtter extirpation of all the male lines of either house that is to say his owne and that of Lancaster whereof the young King was head From Leicester the King was conueighed to Killingworth and Thomas Duke of Excester dying Beauchamp Earle of Warwicke was constituted Guardian and Tutor to the King 12 The Regent hauing thus worthily prouided for the quiet estate of the King and Country returns to his charge in France There went ouer at the same time a choise and great number of fresh men vnder the conduct of that immortally renowmed the L. Talbot whose victories saith Polydor were so many that his name was not onely most dreadfull to the French but most famous through the world euen at this present That yee may know the man not to haue beene studious of fine Phrases vpon the one side of his sword-blade was engrauen Sum Talboti and vpon the other this boisterous blunt sentence Pro vincere inimicos meos The Duke of Alanzon taken at the Castell of Vernoil was set at liberty vpon payment of two hundreth thousand Scutes of gold At Mountarges about Orleance the English receiued an ouerthrow with the losse of about fifteene hundreth of their numbers and in Britaine the French sustained great dammages by a Captaine of the Duke of Sommersets These were petty matters They of Mantz in Maine had drawne in the French by night who massacred the English William Earle of Suffolke Captain of the place sends to Iohn Lord Talbot for succour It came and that so vnexpectedly that the French were alike distrest All but souldiers were spared and many also of them though thrust into prisons The Traitours which had caused so much mischiefe had their deserts by death From hence the Lord Talbot marched to other enterprises The quality of our taske cals vs to the maine 13 Thomas Lord Montacute Earle of Salisbury being with the Regent at Paris and considering what forces of men and all prouisions the English then enioied bethought himselfe of some action which might answere the greatnesse of his owne name and of the publike meanes The siege of Orleance is by him propounded to the Councell The credite of the Motioner was alone an argument of power to conuince the possibility His desires were therefore furnished with all competent prouisions They of Orleance hearing what a storme was comming for the name of this Earle was worthily terrible with great diligence ordaine for their defence The Suburbes answerable in bignesse to a good City they leuell with the earth that the enemie might not from thence annoy them Men victuals munition and constant intentions to fight for their liberty and safegard abounded The Earle of Sarisburie the Lord Talbot and a dreadfull puissance vnder most expert commanders present themselues before it Orleance was and is an Episcopall See a Parliament Towne and Vniuersity richly scituate vpon the riuer of Loir whose best glory it is being the chiefe City which that renowned streame watereth No enemies appearing abroad he approacheth close to the walles Assaults prouing vain he entrencheth about it and to secure his Campe casts vp ramparts and other works one of which by reason of the hugenesse thereof was called London by the name of the chiefe-City of England The Fort which stood at the Bridge foot beyond the Loyr hee seiseth vpon and closeth them vp on euery side Charles of France could minister no sufficient succor God when mans helpe failes interposeth his hand which as all of vs daily feele so is it most conspicuous in the deliuerance of
deposed King Henry and with speed to bee crowned himselfe at Alhallontide next yet finding such amasement and silence hee sends them his pedigree and his claime in writing that they might the better consider yeelding as it seemes to be ordered therein according to their generall agreement during the treaty whereof he would not visite King Henrie alleadging himselfe was peerelesse in England The maine points of his Title were as followeth King Edward the third had issue Edward Prince of VVales VVilliam of Hatfield Lionell Duke of Clarence Iohn of Gaunt D. of Lancaster Edmund D. of Yorke Thomas D. of Glocester and VVilliam of VVindsor Edward Prince of Wales dyed liuing his Father and left issue Richard the second King of England who died without Issue as did also William King Edwards second sonne 85 Lionel the third sonne had issue Philip his daughter and heire married to Edmund â—…ortimer Earle of March who had Issue Roger Earle of March who had Issue Edmund Earle of March Roger Anne and Eleanor which Edmund Roger and Eleanor died without Issue Anne the heire of that house marrieth Richard Earle of Cambridge the sonne of Edmund Duke of Yorke fifth sonne to King Edward the third which Earle of Cambridge had Richard commonly saith the Booke called Duke of Yorke 86 Iohn of Gaunt the fourth son and younger brother to Lionel had Issue Henry who immediately after King Richards resignation vnrighteously saith the Booke entred vpon the same for that Edmund Earle of March sonne of Roger Earle of March and of Philip daughter and heire of the before said Lionel Duke of Clarence elder brother to Iohn Duke of Lancaster was then aliue and that aswell the said Henry eldest son to Iohn Duke of Lancaster as his descendents haue hitherto holden the Crowne of England c. vniustly for that himselfe the said Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke was the lawfull heire being the sonne of Richard Plantagenet Earle of Cambridge and of Anne before said 87 This was the effect of the Duke of Yorks title which for the points of the Pedegree was very true though in barre thereof the friends of King Henry without denying any part of the premises being all of them more euident then that they could be honestly denied had not a little to say for him for they could among other things alleadge that Richard the second resigned vp his Crowne and Regality at large and that none else making claime but Henry Duke of Lancaster hee was thereunto by the consent of all the three Estates admitted that Richard Earle of Cambridge was for high Treason attainted and executed and his Issue made incapable of any inheritance that this Richard his sonne now challenging the Crowne of England being restored by the meere clemency and goodnesse of this King Henry the sixt had voluntarily acknowledged him for his lawfull Soueraigne and sworne the same and that the said Richard was finally for treason attainted and adiudged vninheritable they could hereunto haue added sundry Acts of Parliament made to establish the right of the Lancastrian line the succession of three Kings all Henries that is to say the fourth fifth and sixth the politicke addresses of the first of those Kings the noble victories of the second and the holy life of the third which three Kings liues contained of raigne about threescore yeeres in which number this was the nine and thirtiethof King Henry the sixth who was descended of the male line and the Duke of Yorke but of a female of which female line none had euer been in possession of the Crown Great and weighty points if any and the rather to bee considered for that King Henries person beeing in very truth Prisoner no act of his to establish Yorkes title could bind in law or conscience and the lesse for that hee had a wife and by her a sonne who was at liberty and ready with Armes to free his father or hazard to destroy the whole English name But they who on Yorks behalfe abstractiuelie disputed these highest questions knew a rule of law which saith Iura sanguinis nullo iure ciuili dirimi possunt ' and the Lancastrians were not without their speculatiue and remote considerations to countenance the particulars of their cause Thus we see that in Monarchies though the noblest forme of Regiment where lineall succession is the rule of inheritance there sometimes fall out as great and as indeterminable difficulties as where Election designeth the Successor whereof the French tragedies which our Nation made among them and now these in England are without all exception the most fearefull instances For France had heretofore her time of affliction but now O dearest England it was thine 88 While this weighty controuersie was debated a Crowne which hung for garnishment in the middle of the roofe where the Knights and Burgesses of the Parliament met to consult and the crown which for like cause stood vpon the highest Tower of Douer Castell fell sodainely down which were vulgarly construed to portend That the raigne of K. Henry was at an end and that the Crown should be transferred from one royall line to another But the Queene her sonne Prince Edward and her fast friends in the North the seate of their hopes being nothing discouraged at their late ill fortunes prepare all the forces they can to recouer K. Henrie and the Kingdome which thing whiles they are pursuing the conclusion of the Parliament concerning the crown was That Henry the sixth should raigne and bee King during his life the remainder to rest in Richard Duke of Yorke and the lawfull heires of his body in generall tayle King Henries heires to bee excluded The Duke in the meane time is proclaimed heire apparant and called Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall Earle of Chester and Protector of England The agreement was engrossed sealed and sworn vnto The Queene will haue nothing to doe in this bargaine being so dangerous and preiudicious to her selfe her husband and her sonne and therefore when the King at the Duke of Yorkes instigation sent for her to repaire vnto him shee relying vpon the Dukes of Sommerset and Excester and other the Kings friends vtterly refuseth Henry continueth king The Armes therefore which she taketh for his deliuerance haue the more iustice The Duke of Yorke missing the prey hee expected leaues the king with the Duke of Norfolke and the Earle of Warwicke at London himselfe with the Earles of Salisbury and Rutland and certaine forces setteth forward to Wakefield to pursue the Queene and her sonne sending direction to the Earle of March that hee should follow with all his power The Castell of Sandall standeth pleasantly vpon a small hill in view of the faire town of VVakefield there the Duke of Yorke comming thither vpon Christmas Eue reposeth himselfe and expecteth the encrease of his numbers The Queene aduertised thinkes it wisdome to fight before the Duke grow too strong and thereupon marcheth forward hauing
a Parliament begun at Westminster the fifteenth of Ianuary he was attainted of high treason but whether guiltie or guiltles to men saith Grafton that haue made large inquisition yea and of such as were of no small authority in those daies the certaintie thereof was hid and could not truly be disclosed but by coniectures which as often deceiue the imaginations of fantasticall folke as declare truth to them in their conclusions 105 I am not ignorant that some haue alleaged the cause of this Noble mans death to arise from a foolish prophecie whereof saith Comines the English-men are neuer vnfurnished this as the Cabâ—…sts who vsed to make an art of their letters gaue forth forsooth that a G. should raigne after an E. which must needes be George Duke of Clarence though Gloucester more craftie lay in winde for the game This indeed troubled the King not a little but the Queene and her blood much more and therefore of both King and Queene Duke George was mistrusted and greatly maligned in all that he did Who now a widower for Warwicks daughter was dead sent vnto his sister Margaret the Dutchesse of Burgundie to worke a marriage for him with her husbands daughter the Lady Marie Against which the Queene most earnestly interposed her selfe and sollicited the Ladie in the behalfe of Lord Anthonie Earle Riuers her brother whereby great discontent was ministred to the Duke and new iealousies daily bred in the Kings breast 106 Iohn Serres the French Historian interlacing the life of King Lewis with the Acts of K. Edward and his brethren saith confidently that the English King so much affected the league and alliance with France as that he caused his brother Clarence to be put in prison because he intended to haue past the Seas to succour the Dowager of Burgundie Ladie Margaret his sister vpon whose Territories King Lewis encroached after the death of Duke Charles her husband slaine at the battell of Manâ—…y 107 But howsoeuer Clarence had offended certaine it is that he was found guilty by the foresaid Parliament and the eleuenth of March following after he had offered his Masse-penny in the Tower of London was drowned in a But of Malmesey whose body was buried at Tewkesburie in Glocestershire by the bodie of his Dutchesse Ladie Isabell Countesse of Warwicke who being with Child died of poison a little before And although the King had consented to his death yet no sooner was it done but that he wished it againe vndone and was so greeued at the remembrance as when anie made suite for the life of a condemned he would openly say Oh â—…fortunate brother for whose life no 〈◊〉 would make â—…ite This good Duke for so was he called left issue behind him Edward Earle of Warwicke and Margaret afterwards Countesse of Salisbury both of them infants and followers of their fathers fortunes he a continuall Prisoner at foure and twentie yeeres of age vnder Henry the seauenth was beheaded vpon the Tower-hill and shee at sixtie two lost hers within the Tower and time of King Henrie the eight 108 But how dainty soeuer King Edward was of the breach of amitie betwixt him and the French King in regard whereof he suffered Mary the yong Dutchesse of Burgundy the daughter of his owne sisters husband to bee molested by 〈◊〉 of the French and all in fauour of the contract commenced betweene the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lady 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 daughter yet did 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ouâ—… 〈◊〉 For Ambassadors â—…ploied 〈◊〉 accomplishing â—…of they of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without 〈◊〉 oâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…he new were sent without 〈◊〉 while indeed Lewis 〈◊〉 working for his sonne another way First to match him with Mary Dutches of Burgundy but that refused with Margaret of Flaunders daughter to Duke Maximilian sonne to Fredericke the Emperor and to hold the world from suspition in the meane while Ladie Elizabeth the Infanta of England was in the French Court vsually called Madame the Daulphin and all things in France so soundly carried as Edward suspected no leake in the Caske for now growne fat and vnable for paines he both gloried in his nine famous victories at home atchieued and seemed sufficientlie satisfied that his yeerely tribute from France was so truly paied 109 At the same time Iames the third of that name King of Scotland sent his Ambassadors vnto Edward to obtaine the Lady Cicelie the Kings second daughter to be ioined in marriage with his sonne Iames the young Prince which was well listened vnto by Edward and his Counsell and least the motion should goe backe a great summe of money lent to the Scottish King with this condition that at a certain time appointed it should be at K. Edwards choise whether his daughter should match with that Prince or else to haue the said summe againe repaid Against which alliance and league as Lesly reporteth Lewis of France much repined and to annihilate the same sent Dr. Ireland a certaine knight and another religious man to moue King Iames to make warre against England 110 These no Peace-makers for Christ but firebrands of Belial blew the smothered sparkes of dissention into a flame of bloody warre which fell the more heauy vpon Scotland for that K. Iames much wedded vnto his owne will and altogether ruled by men of meane worth whom himselfe had aduanced from nothing had not only neglected by their instigations the loue of his Nobles but also banished the Realme of Scotland Alexander Duke of Albany his second brother and had caused the veines of Iohn Earle of Marre his other brother to be opened whereby he bled to death these and other discontents alienated his Subiects hearts from him which laid the land more open vnto the English Inuaders and yet to draw them more deadly against him relying vpon his ownevalor and the assistance of France he sent word vnto Edward that he should not aid his owne sister of Burgundy against K. Lewis being the Scots Allie as also with threats of warre commanded him to deliuer to his Ambassadors the Duke of Albanie then residing in the English Court and lastlie to make good and repay dammages done vpon the Scottish Borders 111 King Edward not a little inraged at these double dealings euen in the winter season mustered his men prepâ—…ed his artillery and rigged his ships that nothing should be vnready at the next Spring which no sooner was come but that he ordained for his Lieutenant his brother Richard Duke of Gloucester who with Henrie Earle of Northumberland Thomas Lord Stanley the Lord Louell Gâ—…stock and others the Duke of Albany marching vnto Gloucesters banner with twenty thousand strong repaired into the North and first â—…sieged the strong Towne Berwick then enâ—…ing the chiefe City Edenborough vrged K. Iames to performe his couenants concerning the marriage betwixt Prince Iames his sonne with Lady Cicely before agreed vpon
intention and escape for hee was escaped being discouered to the King all the wayes were beset and hee so close pursued that in the end betaking himselfe to a religious house of Carthusian Monkes hee declared who hee was and besought their Prior in the humblest manner he could for Gods sake to begge his life which at the Priors suite was granted but the Kings wrath being kindled or the passage of his suppressed wrath opened thereby he banisht all former respects commanding him to be settered and set for an whole day in a paire of Stockes mounted on a Scaffold before the Gate of Westminster Hall and the next day to be alike exposed in Golden Cheape to the basest of all contempt and scorne so fettered stockt Scaffolded as before to the great wonderment saith Stow of many as either insinuating that all were not perswaded of the imposture or that it seemed strange that one lately of so great Prowesse should vndergoe so despicable a punishment But for a seale and total summe of all ignominy and shame such as no face did euer beare greater he read his owne confession written with his owne hand as followeth 54 It is first to be knowne that I was borne in the Towne of Turney in Flanders and my fathers name is Iohn Osbecke which said Iohn Osbecke was controller of the said Towne of Turney and my mothers name is Katherine de Faro And one of my Grandsires vpon my fathers side was named Diricke Osbecke which died After whose death my grandmother was married vnto Peter Flamin that was receiuer of the forenamed Towne of Turney Dean of the Botemen that row vpon the water or riuer called Le Scheld And my Grandsire vpon my mothers side was Peter de Faro which had in his keeping the keyes of the gate of Saint Iohns within the same Towne of Turney Also I had an vncle called M. Iohn Stalin dwelling in the Parish of S. Pias within the same Towne which had married my fathers sister whose name was Ione or Iane with whom I dwelt a certaine season 55 And after I was led by my mother to Antwerpe for to learne Flemish in a house of a cosin of mine an officer of the said towne called Iohn Stienbecke with whom I was the space of halfe a yeere and after that I returned againe to Turney by reason of warres that were in Flanders and within a yeere following I was sent with a Merchant of the saide Towne of Turney named Berlo to the Mart of Antwerpe where I fell sicke which sicknesse continued vpon mee fiue moneths And the said Berlo set mee to boord in a Skinners house that dwelled beside the house of the English Nation And by him I was from thence carried to Barow Mart and I lodged at the figne of the old man where I abode for the space of two moneths 56 After this the said Berlo set mee with a Merchant of Middleborow to seruice for to learne the language whose name was Iohn Strew with whom I dwelt from Christmas to Easter and then I went into Portingall in company of Sir Edward Bramptons wife in a shippe was called the Queenes shippe And when I was come thither then was I put in seruice to a Knight that dwelled in Lushborne which was called Peter Vacz de Cogna with whom I dwelled an whole yeere which said Knight had but one eye And because I desired to see other countries I tooke licence of him and then I put my selfe in seruice with a Britaine called Pregent Menâ—… which brought mee with him into Ireland Now when we were there arriued in the towne of Corke they of the Towne because I was arrayed with some clothes of silke of my said Masters came vnto me and threatned vpon me that I should bee the Duke of Clarences sonne that was before time at Dublin 57 But forsomuch as I denied it there was brought vnto mee the holy Euangelists and the Crosse by the Maior of the town which was called Iohn Lewelin and there in the presence of him and others I tooke mine oath as the truth was that I was not the foresaide Dukes sonne nor none of his bloud And after this came vnto me an English-man whose name was Stephen Poitron and one Iohn Water and laid to me in swearing great oathes that they knew well that I was King Richards bastard sonne to whom I answered with like oathes that I was not Then they aduised me not to be afeard but that I should take it vpon me boldly and if I would so doe they would aide and affist me with all their power against the King of England and not onely they but they were well assured that the Earle of Desmond and Kildare should doe the same 58 For they forced not what part they tooke so that they might bee reuenged on the King of England and so against my will made mee to learne English and taught mee what I should doe and say And after this they called me Duke of Yorke second sonne to King Edward the fourth because King Richards bastard sonne was in the hands of the King of England And vpon this the said Water Stephen Poitron Iohn Tiler Hughbert Burgh with many others as the foresaid Earles entred into this false quarrell and within short time others The French King sent an Ambassador into Ireland whose name was Lâ—…t Lucas and M. Stephen Friham to aduertise me to come into France and thence I went into France and from thence into Flanders and from Flanders into Ireland and from Ireland into Scotland and so into England 59 From hauing thus beene made a publike spectacle till all eyes were wearied with the view and imaginations tired with thinking hee is conuaied to the Tower of London where it had beene happy if hee had onely wrought his owne destruction but the bloudy fate so to speake of his disasterous birth would not suffer him to perish single In the same Tower was prisoner Edward the young Earle of Warwicke hauing so beene from the first yeare of Henry to this present for no fault of his but for that as a neere Titler to the Crowne he carried in his liuing person inseparable matter of danger sedition Of his simplicity by reason of his education in prison from his in fancy there is a report that as one who liued out of the view of the world hee knew not an henne from a goose or one fowle or Creature from an other To hasten the ruine of so innocent a daunger behold there breakes foorth a counterfeit Earle of Warwicke as if all that which the world saw horrible in Perkins darings had been but a document to instruct others in the like and that nothing were to be taxed therein but want onely of successe which whosoeuer could propound to himselfe all things else were full of encouragement and reason This counterfeit was a Cordwainers son of London aged about
setting him vp lest in acting his part vpon that infectiue stage hee put the land to as much trouble as the arreared Duke Richard of Yorke had done after hee was ordained heire apparant which Title produced the Tragedy of his raiser King Henry the sixt and now hauing him and his Abetters vpon the aduantage the better to secure his owne Estate hee caused the heades of this Lord Marquesse with the Lord Montacute and Sir Edward Neuill to bee cut off vpon Tower-hill 105 The King then a Widdower since the death of Queene Iane who departed this life two yeeres before meant to 〈◊〉 whâ—… hee had done maugre all 〈◊〉 better â—…o effect by the Counsell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sought and obtained the 〈◊〉 the Princes of 〈◊〉 and heard the motion for marriage with the Lady Anne sister to William Duke of 〈◊〉 whose other sister Fredericke Duke of 〈◊〉 had espoused a great fauourer of the Gospell and 〈◊〉 of Martin Luther the zealous Preacher 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thereof But whether for the death of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or that hee would haue his wiues sister bestowed neerer at home which thing hee pretended a great hindâ—…er hee was of that match But the Lady sent into England and married vnto King 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nothing pleasing in his eye which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then Bishoppe of Winchester percâ—…ing thought it a fitte subiect for him to worke vpoâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lord Cromwell the maker of the mâ—…ch hee therefore instigated iealousies dayly into the Kings 〈◊〉 first exasperating the hatred of the Princes of 〈◊〉 ny to him-wards and especially of Duke Fredericke his compulsiue brother in Law the Emperor French Kings Scots and the Pope all seeking at once to raise their powers against England The ciuill tumults lately passed and new commotions greatly to be feared hee letted not to remember and all to nip the spring of the new spreading Gospell whereby this wise Politician in the end got six such Articles against it as the Consistory of Hell could deuise no worse Whose cruelties were such that not long after and in the dayes of this King some of those Acts were againe repealed and some of them qualified as too sharpe and searching into the bloud of the Kings best Subiects 106 The fruite of these bloud-thirsty instigators the Lord Cromwell and Lady Anne of Cleue soon tasted of he by imprisonment and death and she by disgrace and diuorce hauing been his wife from lanuary to Iune in all which time the King refrained the mutuall knowledge of her body for the dislike hee had of her person euen at the first sight as himselfe called to witnesse the Lord Cromwell then Prisoner in the Tower for whose report hee wrote a Letter with his owne hand and shee good Lady no other cause alleadged was diuorced by Parliament when also it was enacted that shee should no longer bee styled Queene The Lord Cromwell was charged by the Lord Rich and Sir George Throgmortâ—… with speaking of certaine generall words not excepting therein the Kinges person which neuertheresse were thought so sleight and insufficient to take away his life that his enemies feared to put it to the triall of his Peeres lest he should bee acquitted by them as the Lord Dacres of the North not many yeeres before had beene wherfore there was a Bill drawne to attaint him of hereâ—… and Treason in generall words rather then in particular proofes which when hee was dead passed in both houses of Parliament with the Kinges assent 107 Howbeit Sâ—…ders that seldome speakeâ—… well of the Gospels professors will haue him to die for the breach of a Law made by himselfe which was that one appeached of treason should not come in the Kings presence till he had tried himself not guilty but besides that wee find no such Act by him made his inditement doth not charge him with treason but with setting at liberty certain persons committed for misprision of treason and hereâ—… for fauouring and maintaining the transation of hereticall bookes into English for bearing out Barnes and other hereticall Preachers that himselfe was an heretike and had spoken words great wordâ—… for the vpholding of his said religion which were that the King should not change it if hee would for these things he was 〈◊〉 by Parliament of high Treason and that grounded either vpon a Stâ—…ute made in the fiâ—…e and twenty of Edward thâ—… third or else by the explanation of that Act which referreth the exposition of Treasons to the 〈◊〉 and so no way did 〈◊〉 deuise or make any law of treason which himselfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that partiall Romanist hath said 108 But most sure it is that the Kingâ—…â—…on altogether guided by the 〈◊〉 obiect 〈◊〉 â—…other point in the Compasse to fire his 〈◊〉 eye besides that onely which by his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 touched by the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and thâ—… 〈◊〉 to bee the Lady 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ward the brother of Thomas Dukâ—… of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whom Cromwell standing in the defence of 〈◊〉 Anne and vsing words of disâ—…ke 〈◊〉 the Lady 〈◊〉 distastfull vnto the King was thereupon apprehended his enemy so 〈◊〉 and vpon the twenty eight of Iuly suffered 〈◊〉 with the 〈◊〉 of the Axe vpon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 beheaded the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 neither 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nor 〈◊〉 quietly dying for his offence committed 〈◊〉 109 The sword thus vnsheathed vpon the necks of the Nobility strucke off the head of Margaret Countesse of Salisbury daughter and heâ—…re vnto George Duke of Clarence and mother vnto Reynold Poole Cardinall being neither arraigned nor tried but condemned by Parliament as Cromwell had bin And the Lord Leonard Gray in this present yeere lost his head for treason the twenty eight of Iune And the next day following Thomas Fines Lord Dacres of the South died at Tyborne for killing a priuate man in a fray Neither was it put vp vntill that the heades of Queen Katherine Howard and the Lady Iane Rochford were stricken off the one for Adultery the other for concealement as was alleadged the parties offending were Fraâ—…it Dereham and Thomas Culpepper Dereham before shee was Queene and Culpepper after who both were executed at Tiburne the tenth of December and the twelfth of February following Mistresse Katherine Howard for so in the Act of her Attainture 〈◊〉 is called who had beene stiled and receiued Queene for the space of sixe moneths and fouâ—… dayes with the Lady Iane then widow and late wife vnto 〈◊〉 Bullen Lord Rochford were both of them brought vnto a Scaffold raised vppon the hill within the Tower where they in lamentable passions suffered death 110 Howsoeuer those times afforded such Queenes to the Kings bed or himselfe vnfortunate in making his choise yet many of no meane iudgement haue rather accused King Henry for his changing and variable affections then thinke them guilty in the breach of Matrimony Of Anne wee haue seene what
hath beene said and of this Queene let vs heare what shee protested after her condemnation to 〈◊〉 White Bishoppe of 〈◊〉 her last Confessor and by him deliuered to a noble young Lord of her name and neere alliance Her words were these As to the Act my 〈◊〉 Lord for which I stand condemned God and his holy Angels I take to witnesse vpon my soules 〈◊〉 that I die 〈◊〉 neuer hauing so abused my Soueraignes 〈◊〉 what other sinnes and follies of youth I haue 〈◊〉 I will not excuse but 〈◊〉 assured that for these God hath brought this punishment vpon me and will 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 them for which I pray you pray with me vnto his sonne and my Sâ—…iour Christ. 111 As these then in case of Treasons eyther acted or intended ended their liues so others in case of conscience though diuersly affected câ—…e to their deathes and that by foâ—…ce of the Statutes enacted vnder this King whereof one was the abolishing of the Pope and the oath of Supremacy the reâ—…sers of either made offenders in stare of high Treason and the other in 〈◊〉 of religion when 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Articlâ—… enacted by Parliament was made Heresie and death to such as held or taught the conâ—… which Arâ—…cles were thus concluded in both the houses of Parliament with consent of the King 1 That after the words of consecration spoken by the Priest the reall and naturall body and bloud of Christ as hee was conceiued and crucified was in the Sacrament and no other substance consisting in the forme of 〈◊〉 and wiâ—…e besides the substance of Christ God and man 2 That the communion in both kinde was not necessarie vnto 〈◊〉 the flesh onely in forme of bread sufficient for the Laity 3 That Prieâ—… 〈◊〉 they haue receiâ—…ed â—…ders might not marry by the law of God 4 That the vowes of chastity either in 〈◊〉 or woman ought by Godâ—… law to be 〈◊〉 and by which they are exempted from other 〈◊〉 of Christian people 5 That priuâ—… Masses was necessâ—…ry for the people and agreeable to the law of Goâ—… 6 That auricular confession was â—…pedient 〈◊〉 be reteined and continued 〈◊〉 the Church of God These Statutes I say aswell the one as the other brought many to their ends which otherwise were very good Subiects and worthy instruments in the common weale for offending in the first there died Bishoppe Pisher and Sir Thomas More besides many Abbots Priors and Friers and among them in Smithfield the Welsh rode set Frier Forrest on fire according to the prophecy very rife in their mouthes that this holy rode should set a whole forrest on fire For the other suffered in flames many godly Christians whereof Robert Barnes a reuerend Doctor and worthy minister of Christ the first reducer as M. Fox reporteth of the Vniuersity of Cambridge from rudenesse and barbarity vnto good literature and learning was with the first And Anne Askew a Gentlewoman of an incomparable dexterity one of the last who aboue the weakenesse of her sexe most valiantly stoode against the violence of the time 112 Her birth was worshipfull and education accordingly bestowed in marriage vnto Iohn Kyâ—…e a Gentleman in 〈◊〉 and commended by Bale for her rare wit and elegant beauty which her pars the pensill of N. D. with his vneuen hand euer ouerhard to shadow the truth hath slanderously blurred and measured those graces in her by his owne loose affections and those want on 〈◊〉 which in the height of sinne haue changed the naturall vse of women against nature This young heifer saith hee abiding no yoake a coy dame and of very euill fame left the company of Master Kyâ—…e to 〈◊〉 vp 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Gospelling and Gâ—…ssipping where 〈◊〉 might and ought not but especially in London and 〈◊〉 the Court now shee being faire and but twenty 〈◊〉 yeers old at her death doth 〈◊〉 shew what may be suspected of her life and the mysticall speeches and demands of the Kings Coâ—…sell touching her departure from her 〈◊〉 were grounded vpon somewhat especially in that shee called her selfe 〈◊〉 Askew alias Kyâ—…e Thus 〈◊〉 this 〈◊〉 man hath accused this holy Anne by the outward appearance of her youth and beauty as holy Anne by Eli was accused of drunkennesse when her heart was most seruent in supplications to her God and his partiall peâ—… made the 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of her holy conuersation to finde out some chaffe whereof none is free nor is â—…ee to be condemned vpon the imagerie of his suspicious head who vndoubtedly would haue â—…old all if any thing could haue beene found whereas shee in the vigour of beauty and weakenesse of her Sexe 〈◊〉 the gaine-saiers of the truth with her dearest blood testifying from the Prisons her faith and constancy and from the Racke preached Christ whereon most vnhumanely and against kind shee was twice tormented and lastly sealed her 〈◊〉 in Smithfield through the 〈◊〉 of fire being borne to the place of her death in a Chaire her bones so 〈◊〉 by the Râ—…cke that shee could 〈◊〉 113 The 〈◊〉 N. D. whose affection to Chriâ—… Gospeâ—… 〈◊〉 to the English Crowne hath sufficiently 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to make her no 〈◊〉 and that her 〈◊〉 did demerit the Racke saith that the King himselfe commanded that torture to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with her erroneous doctrine his Court his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 daughters and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the truth tels vs that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to racke her the second 〈◊〉 was 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 Lord Chancellor who did it himselfe to bee complained of to the King who immediately tooke Boate and told the whole Tragedy whereof King 〈◊〉 seemed to be sore offended for vsing a woman with such 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had the Popes 〈◊〉 vnder the 〈◊〉 of the Church and wing of this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 not to follow the appeale of 〈◊〉 euen 〈◊〉 that slept in 〈◊〉 owne 〈◊〉 which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Parre espoused vnto him 〈◊〉 three yeeres before and 〈◊〉 as this States intelligeÌ„cer doth confesse he meant to haue burned had he longer liued For the truth is saith hee that the Kings sickenesse and death shortly ensuing was the chiefe cause of her escape and the error of the Lord Chancellor Wriothesley who let fall out of his bosoâ—…e the Kings hand and commission for carrying her to the Tower gaue occasion the paper found and brought her to goe and humble her selfe to the King the principal occasion against her was Heretical Books found in her closet both brought sent her by Anne Askew wherof thewitnesses were the Lady Herbert Lady Iane Lady Tyawit and others Indeed it is true that by Gods prouidence such papers were let fal out of the Lord Chancellors bosome conteining certaine Articles against her with a warrant to commit her to the Tower whereunto the Kings hand was subscribed which being found was presently brought vnto the Queene whereof the
1540. shee was his wife sixe moneths after which time certaine Lords of the vpper House of Parliament came into the nether and alleaged cause for which that marriage was vnlawfull whereunpon shee was diuorced and by Statute enacted that shee should no more be taken for Queene but should be called the Lady Anne of Cleâ—…e See remained in England long after the Kings death though small mention is made of her by any of our Writers only we finde that she accompanied the Lady Elizabeth through London at the solemnizing of Queene Maries Coronation 140 Katherine the fifth wife of King Henry the eight was the daughter of 〈◊〉 and Neece vnto Thomas Howard his brother Duke of Norfolke Shee was married vnto him the eight of August and yeere of â—…race 1540. being the thirtie two of his Raigne at Hampton Court and continued his Queene the space of one yeere sixe moneths and foure daies and for her vnchaste life was attainted by Parliament and for the same beheaded within the Tower of London the twelfth of February and her body buried in the Chauncell of the Chappell by Queene Anne Bullen 141 Katherine the sixth and last wife of King Henry was the daughter of Sir Thomas Parre of Kendall and sister to Lord William Parre Marquesse of Northampton shee was first married to Iohn Neuill Lord Latimer and after his decease vpon the twelfth of Iuly maried vnto the King at Hampton Court the yeere of Saluation 1543. and thirtie fiue of his Raigne Shee was his wife three yeeres sixe months and fiue daies and suruiuing him was againe married vnto Thomas Seimer Lord Admirall of England vnto whom she bare a daughter but died in the same Child-bed the yeere of Grace 1548. His Issue 142 Henrie the first sonne of King Henry by Queene Katherine his first wife was borne at Richâ—…d in Surrey vpon the first of Ianuary and the first of his fathers Raigne whose Godfathers at Font were the Lord Cranmer Archbishop of Canterburie and the Earle of Surrey his Godmother Lady Katherine Countesse of Deuonshire daughter to King Edward the fourth This Prince liued not fully two months but died in the same place wherein he was borne vpon the two and twentieth of February and his body with all due obsequies buried in Westminster 143 A sonne not named was borne vnto King Henrie by Lady Katherine his first Queene in the month of Nouember and the sixth yeere of his Raigne who liued not long and therefore no further mention of him can bee made the deathes of these Princes King Henrie tooke as a punishment from God for so he alleaged it in the publike Court held in Blacke-friers London they being begot on his owne brothers wife 144 Marie the third childe and first daughter of King Henrie by Queene Katherine his first wife was born at Greenewich in Kent the eighteenth of Februarâ—… in the yeere of Christs humanity 1518 and the eighth of his Raigne Shee was by the direction of her mother brought vp in her Childe-hood by the Countesse of Salisbury her neere kinswoman for that as some thought the Queene wished a marriage betwixt some of her sons and the Princesse to strengthen her Title by that Aliance into Yorke if the King should die without issue Male. In her yong yeeres shee was sued to be married with the Emperour the King of Scots and the Duke of Orleance in France but all these failing and shee succeeding her brother K Edward in the Crowne at the age of thirtie sixe yeeres matched with Phillip King of Spaine to the great dislike of many and small content to her selfe hee being imploied for the most part beyond the Seas for griefe whereof and the losse of Calice shee lastly fell into a burning feauer that cost her her life 145 Elizabeth the second daughter of King Henrie and first childe by Queene Anne his second wife was borne at Greenwich vpon Sunday the seuenth of September the yeere of Christ Iesus 1534 and twenty fiue of her Fathers Raigne who with due solemnities was baptized the Wednesday following Archbishop Cranmer the old Dutches of Norfolke and the old Marchionesse of Dorset being the witnesses at the Font and the Marchionesse of Excester at the confirmation Shee succeeded her sister Queene Marie in the Monarchy of England and was for wisdome vertue piety and Iustice not onelie the Mirrour of her Sexe but a patterne for Gouernment to al the princes in Christendome whose name I may not mention without al dutiful remembrance and whose memory vnto me is most deare amongst the many thousands that receiued extraordinary fauours at her gracious and most liberall hand 146 Another man childe Queene Anne bare vnto King Henry though without life vpon the nine and twentieth of Ianuary and twenty seuen of his Raigne to the no little griefe of the mother some dislike of the King as the sequel of her accusation and death did shortly confirme 147 Edward the last childe of King Henry and first of Queene Iane his third wife was borne at Hampton Court the twelfth of October the yeere of Grace 1537. and twenty nine of the Kings Raigne being cut out of his mothers wombe as is constantly affirmed like as Iulius Caesar is said to haue been his Godfathers at the Font was Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury and the Duke of Norfolk his sister Lady Mary being Godmother saith Grafton Sixe daies after his birth he was created Prince of Wales and at the death of his Father succeeded him in all his Dominions of whom more followeth heereafter His Naturall Issue 148 Henrie Fitz-Râ—…ie the naturall sonne of King Henrie the eight was begotten of the Lady 〈◊〉 called Elizabeth Blunt and borne in the Mannor of Blackâ—…moore in Essex about the tenth yeere of his Raigne at the age of sixe yeeres he was created Earle of Nottingham and in the fiue and twentieth of his Fathers Raigne vpon the eighteenth of Iune in the Kings Pallace of Bridewell was made Duke of Richmond and Sommerset Lord Warden of the East West and Middle-Marches against Scotland and Lieutenant Generall of all the parts of England Northward he was a Prince very forward in Marshal Actiuities of Good literature and knowledge in the tongues vnto whom the learned Antiquary Leland dedicated a Booke He married Marie daughter of Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolke Earle Marshall and Lord high Treasurer of England with whom he liued not long but died at Saint Iames by Westminster the two and twentieth of Iuly in the yeere of Christ Iesus 1536. and was buried at Framingham in Suffolke THe tempestuous 〈◊〉 in the Raigne of this King Henrie the eight and the violent deluge raised against the Church-state of his times bare downe so many religious strong foundations and were the destruction of so many beautifull Monasteries as the onely relation of their numbers and names would haue much interrupted the narration of his history Wherfore to reteinâ—… their memorials though their walles are laid
Monm Rob. Fabian Magnentius murdereth himselfe Socra li. 2. cap. 27. Amian li. 16. c. 5. Gracianus of admirable strength Martin Deputie in Britaine Amianus Marcel lib. 14. cap. 4. Paulus a Spaniard his subtiltie Amianus lib. 25. cap. 2. Paulus called Catena for his crueltie Martine kild Amianus Mar. li. 20. cap. 1. Lupicinus sent Deputie into Britain * 〈◊〉 * Richburrow or Ripâ—…bester * London Gallus chosed Caesar. Gallus executed Iulianâ—… made Caesar. Iuliani Epistâ—… Constanâ—… apparition He leadeth an Army against Iulianus and dyeth by the way Socrates lib. 2. cap. 37. Amianus Mar. lib 21. cap. 13. The time of his raigning Amianus lib. 26. cap. 9. Constantius perfections and defects His wife was Faustina Constantius a great exacter of tribute Sulpitius Seuerus A Councell in fauour of the Arrians assembled by Constantius Hilarie calleth them the Bishops of the Prouinces of Britain in an Epistle vnto the Bishops Gyldas Amianus Marc. lib. 11. cap. 15. Constantius his portraiture Constantius buried at Constantinople Iulien his Parentage Amian Marcell lib. 15. cap. 7. His proportion and feature Amian Marcel lib. 25. His education Misopo Iul. Imp. Socrates lib. 3. cap. 1. His temperance Marcel lib. 16. In Misopo Iulian. Imp. Marcel lib. 25. 24. Marcel l. 22. In Mesopo Iulian. Imp. Marcellinus l. 22. Gregor Nazianzen in lib. contra Iulianum His Iustice. Marcellinus l. 22. Mart. Epig. Ex Iulian. Epist. ad Arâ—…a pont Galatia In Misopogon Iulian Imp. Ex Epist. Iulian. Imp. ad Artabâ—… Ex Edicto Iulian. in Edissenet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ad Alexandrian Ex Epist. Iulian Imp. Hieron Russiâ—… Secrâ—…tes lib. 3. cap. 17. Sabelliâ—… 〈◊〉 lib. 2â—… cap 4. Eusebius lib. 7. ca. 17. Zosimus Eccl. lib. 5. cap. 20. Iulianus picture destroyed by lightning Ex Edicto contra Christian. Ex Epist. Iulian. ad Ecebolum Hieron Cassiodorus Socrates Sabellicus Socrates lib. 3. ca. 11. His prudence Epist. Iulian. ad Ecdicium praef Aegypt Suidas Iulian. Imp. Caesares Iul. Imp. Epist. Lib. Iul. de praeclaris actionibus Hymnus Iulian. in Solem. Misopogon vel Antiochensis His Religion Marcel lib. 25. Ex Iulian Epist. ad Pon. Galatiae His Fortitude Marcel lib. 15. Ex Epist. Iulian Maximo Phylosopho Amian lib. 16. Sabellicus lib. 22. cap. 2. Iulian his sacrifices An Earthquake Sabell lib. 25. ca. 2. An Army reaching ten mile Iulian strucke into the body with a Dart. Amianus lib. 25. 〈◊〉 3. Sâ—…es lib 3. cap 18. 〈◊〉 lib. 6. c. 〈◊〉 Tâ—…d lib. 3. c. 25. Sabell â—…us Matth. 20. 16. An. Do. 364. * Marcellinus saith Eutrop. Rufiâ—… 〈◊〉 Hist. lib. 10. Iouianus his Parentage * Iouianus his pietie Amian Marcell lib. 25. cap. 13. Cassiod Tripar hist. lib. 7. Paulus Orosius Sabellicus Socrates Sclâ—… lib. 3. cap. 20. Bishops recalled from banishment Iouianus adorneth Iulians tombe A Blazing starre seene at Noone-day Sabellicus Iouianus death His raigne Amianus Mare lib. 25. cap. 14. Socrates eccles hist. lib. 3. cap. 22. Iouianus shape and disposition An. Do. 364 Amianus Mar. lib. 26. cap. 5. Socrates in eccles hist. lib. 4. cap. 1. Chap. 47. sect 4. Valentinianus a Christian. Theodoret. Amian Marcel lâ—…b 17. cap. 7. Nectaridius slaine * Westerne Picts Easterne Picts * Britaine so called * Bologâ—… * Ribchester London called Augusta Theodosius ioifullie receiued into London Amianus Marcel lib. 28. cap. 7. Valentinus a Rebell put to death Theodosius an expert Warriour Britaine called Valentia Amian Marcel lib. 28. cap. 7. Areans remoued from their Stations Theodosius comparable to Camillus Symmachus Claudian in praise of Theodosius Dreadfull sights and fearefull Earthquakes Amian Marcell lib. 26. cap. 14. Gulfes of the Sea laid bare and many Cities drowned Paulus Orosius S. Ierome Wooll rained from Heauen Amian Marcell lib. 29. cap. 9. Fraomarius made King of the Bucinobantes 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Ualens Emperor in the Last Amian Marcell lib. 31. cap. 34. Gothes ouercome the Romans Ualens slaine An. Do. 376. Amianus Mar. lib. 27. cap. 5. Gracian and Valentinian Emp. Lib. 30. cap. 13. Gracian louing to Valentinian Iustina mother of young Valentinian Sorates eccles hist. lib. 4. cap. 25. Ualentinianus marrieth Iustina by whom be had young Valentinian Theodosius Captaine generall of the Roman Empire and fellow Emperor Theodosius ouercommeth the Gothes Aurelius Victor Pauls Orosius Sapor King of Persia. Clemens Maximus rebelleth Cambden Ann. Do. 381. Zosimus Paulus Orosius Clemens Maximus â—…ssumeth the Imperiall Stile Clemens Maximus his stratagem against Gracian Andragathius a murtherer Gracian his death raigne Arbogastes a conspitator Eugenius a Grammarian another Valentinian strangled Prosperâ—… Valentinian his raigne An. Do. 392. Theodosius goeth against Arbogastes and Eugenius Theodosius praieth to God for victorie Sabellic Ennead 7 lib. 9. Theodosius obtaineth victorie Secrat Eccl. hist. lib. 5. cap. 24. Eugenius beheaded Arbogastes killeth himselfe Theodosius dieth Honorius and Arcadius made Emperours Gildus Gouernor of Africa Rufinus Gouernour of Constantinople Stilicho Gouernour of Italia Stilicho somtimes imploied in the British Warres Stilicho commended by Claudian for his seruice in Britaine Theodosius his vertues Theodosius vpon his submission absolued by the Church Theodosius his Art to suppressâ—… anger Socrates eccles hist. lib. 5. cap. 25. Theodosius his death and progeny Anno 395. Gildus rebelleth Paulus Diaconus Mastelzerius ouer commeth his brother Gildus Paulus Orosius Gildâ—…s beheaded Mastelzerius beheaded Ruffiâ—… ambition Ruffinus slaine Stilicho set at hazard the whole Empire Alaricus the scourge of Rome Paulus Orosius Radagâ—…sius with two hundred thousand Gothes Hieron in epist. ad Paul 〈◊〉 Eust. Marcus chosen Emperor Marcus murthered Sabellicus 〈◊〉 7. lib. 9. Gracian chosen Emperor Gracian murthered Constantine of a common Souldier made Emperor Ann. Do. 410. Constans the 〈◊〉 of Constantine made Augustus Sabellicus Honorius alloweth Constantine Emperor Constans slaine Constantine beheaded Victorinus Lieutenant in Britaine Rutilius Claudius Paul Oros. lib. 7. August de Ciuit. Dei Hieron in Epist. ad Princip Iornandes in hist. Goth. Victorinus leaueth Britaine Zosimus Britaines write to Honorius for succour Pelagius an Hereticke corrupteth the Britains Beda hist. Angl. lib. 〈◊〉 cap. 10. Gennadius Innocentiue condemneth Pelagian Heresie August de Haeres Pelagius his opinions Timothie his Heresie Lib. 〈◊〉 cap. 9. Arcadius his death and raigne Theodosius his successour Hisdigerdus his Tutor Honorius his death and raigne Paul Diacon An. Do. 408. Theodosius Valentinian the last Roman Monarks in Britains Dan. 2. 35. The Roman Monarchies condnuance Abraham the time betweene the Promise made to him and the giuing of the Law Cal. 3. 17. 1. King 6 1. Israel the time between their departing out of Egypt and the building of the Temple of Salomon Dauid the time betweene his Annointing and the death of Zedechiah The time between Cecrops his setting vp and Codrus the last Lycurgus the time betweene him and Alexander the Great Taerquinius the time betweene him and Iulius Caesar. Caesar the time betweene his inuasion of Britaine and Valentinian the third Saxons the time betweene their
West The Princes of Wales doe homage to William Math. Paris Henry Hunt Simon Dun. Will. Malmes Math. Paris Polydor. An D. 1077 Robert warreth for Normandy Will. Malmes Mat. Paris Simon Dun. King William wounded and vnhorsed He bandeth his sonne Will. Malmes An. D. 1708 The Tower of London built Iohn Stow. Regist Epist. Roâ—… Stephenide Will. Malmes Florentius Wigor England Suruaie and generall Iudgement Ingulfus Higden Stow calleth that booke Doâ—…us Dei. Ingulfus Geruasius Tilburiens Robert Glocestrens Englands exactions Iohn Castor Iohn Rowse Englishmens reproch Mat. Paris in Gâ—…d Conq. Simon Dunel Malcolme inuadeth England Cambden in Ottaâ—… Simon Dun. Danes prepare against William Mat. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 â—…ance of in â—…ame 〈◊〉 King Williams depopulations Cambd in Hantshire Gualter Mâ—… King William the father or wild Beasts Iudgements of God â—…n King Williams 〈◊〉 in New Forest Cambden Matth. Paris Calamities falling on the Land All things degenerate Roger Wendouer Marianus Pope Gregories Buls against maried Priests Matth Paris in Gâ—… Conq. Inhibiting of married Priests a new deuice and inconsiderate Popish Continency hypocriticall Odo King williams brother affecteth the Papacy King william condemneth his brothers Ambitions His sacrileges His Oppressions His Trecheries His imprisonment His Auarice Wil. Malmsb. Matth. Paris Some write King William tooke Physicke to take downe his great fat belly Higden William Malmes King Williams Oath Stow saith two Anchorits King Williams last Will and Testament Ex Libro Cadomensis Monast. His last Speecâ—… on point of death Of his Sinnes Of his Norman troubles Of his Normans qualities Of his friends Kindreds vnkindnesse Of his English Conquest Outward triumphes leaue inward horrâ—…s His workes of deuotion His Counsell to his Children The dispose of his States Of Normandy Of England King Williams Legacie to his sonne Henry He writeth into England King Williams death With such doctrine was good deuotion abused contrary to the prescript of God Isai. Chap. 33. 16. Princes friends His Corps forsaken of all sorts The qualities of Court-Kites His Hearse also abandoned of al. His buriall place denied him Annoiance at his funerall Hence Stowe notes their report for fabulous who wrot that his Body was found vncorrupt 500. yeeres after his death His description for lineaments and qualities Will. Malmes Rand. Higden Polyc. lib. 7. cap. 4. Stow ex libro Richmond King Williams Charter to Hunter Lambert Peramb Ingulfus Hollins Lamb. Peramb Iohn Leland Wil. Malms Roane Bartel-Abbay so called of a battell there sought against Harold Will. Newbery Math. Paris in Will Conq. Charta de Bello Selby Abbay Exeter Priory Iohn Stow. Saint Stephens in Cane William Malmes King William regardfull of matrimonial agreement Robert A cruell reuenge of one brother on another Henry slaine let his GraÌ„drathers New-forest Richard Richard slaine 〈◊〉 his fathers New-Foâ—…est William Rufus or the 〈◊〉 Henry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Annales S. Augustus Cantâ—…ar M. S. Cecily She is vailed a Nunne Constanâ—… The Earldome of Richmond erected Alice Saint William Archbishop of Yorke Gundred Ela. Margaret William Rufus Monarch 40 An. D. 1087 William Rufus comes into England Ypodigma Neustria Simon Dunel The Peeres wish well to his Elder brother Mat. Paris Ypodigm Lanfranke and Wulstane sway the Peeres for Rufus William Gemit Matth. Paris His Coronation His disposition An. D. 1088 Rand. Higden in Polychr lib. 7. cap. 5 Robert possessed of Normandy His disposition Odoes emulation against Lanfrank Polyc. lib. 7. cap. 5. He conspireth against the King Inuireth Robert to try for the Crowne Duke Roberts hopes for England His wants His supply by morgage of his Land Odo the ringlealeader for Duke Robert Rob. Mowbray and other his associates Wil. Malms Simon Dun. Bristow fortified against King William Henry Hunt Duke Robert verie faire for the Kingdome Wil. Genetic King William promiseth to mollifie his Laws He waxeth strong Odo his great heart taken downe Simon Dun. An. D. 1089 * This Castle some lay was built by Odo but it appears to haue been built by William Conquerour Domesday-book Will. Gemet Niding a word of Reproch Camb. in Kent Matth. Paris Odo leaues England Rufus pretendeth submissiuenesse to his brother Polychr lib. 7. c. 3. Math. Paris William Rufus a cunning Time-seruer Faire words appease fooles and often deceiue the wise Lanfranke dieth King William an ill manager of Ecclesiasticall promotions Gâ—…rn Dor. Pope Vrbâ—… not at leasure then to remedy Church wrongs An. D. 1090 Ypodigma Neustria King William enters Normandy Peace made betwixt the King and Duke Will Gemet Matth. Paris Ypodig Neust. Math. Paris Both Brethren oppugne Henry the younger brother Willi. Gemet King William endangered in a Siege King William preferres him that ouerthrew him Williams Oath Edmerus saith his oath was By Gods face An. D. 1091 Ran. Higden in Polychr lib. 7. c. 5. A friendly Enemie An vn-brotherlie Brother Will. Gemet The three brethen reconciled Ypodigm Neustr. Chron. Wallia Warre bewixt Rise Prince of Southwales and 〈◊〉 Rob. Fiftz-hammon â—…ides 〈◊〉 Rob. Fitz. hammon and his followers possesions in Walles The Knighs who attended Fitz hammon An. D. 1092 Gemet Malcolme King of Scotland enters England with a power King William 〈◊〉 Malcolme meete enter League Ypodigm 〈◊〉 â—…stria Mat. Paris King William and Duke Robert at variance againâ—… Carleil reedified Peopled with a Southerne Colony Endowed with large Privilegio An. D. 109 King William falleth sicke and voweth 〈◊〉 Matth Paris Henry Hunt Polychron lib. 7. â—…p 6. Ger. Dorob Godwin in his Catalogue of Bishops Hic humâ—…lis diues res mira potens pausâ—… vltor Compatiensâ—…â—…itis cum pateretur erat Ypodigâ—… Neustri King William regaineth his health and loseth his good purposes Goodwin in the life of Anselme Polychron lib. 7. cap. 7. Rand. Higd. King Malcolme commeth to Glocester Will. Gemet Departeth discontent William Malmes Polydor. Raiseth a power William Gemet Is slaine with his son the Prince Simon Dun. Earl Mowbraies greatnesse suspected by the King Math. Paris Is taken and imprisoned Ypodigm Neustr. Hector Bâ—…s lib. 12. cap. 12. Malcolme slaine vnder shew of submission The name of Percyes ancienter theÌ„ Perceing of Malcolmes eâ—…e Uide Cambd. in Northâ—…m Gemetâ—…icensis Saâ—…nt Margaret Edgar Ethelings Sister dieth for griefe of her husbands death few such Saint-like wiues Hector Boetius Math. Paris The English Monarchs of Wales An. D. 1094 Wil. Malmsb. Ran. Hagd Simon Dun. A breach againe betwixt the two Brethren but made vp for a time King William refuseth the censure of his Arbitrators Bothparts againe in Armes King William preuailes by money Math. Paris The French King leaues his friend for money The warres for the Holy Land Theod. Biblian Duke Robert going to Ierusalem morgageth his Dukedome Henry Hunt Will Thorne Paul Aemil. Will. Gemet King Williams extreame exactions Math. Paris Not sparing Churches and Monasteries Aedmerus An. D. 1095 His expedition for Wales The Welsh fly to their Mountains An. D. 1096 Anglesey inuaded Mat. Paris An. D. 1097 Cruelty
pestilent tenour of the letters * Ro. Wend. MS. Mat. Paris Alexander Bishop of Chichester cleareth himself from disloyaltie The English Bishops deale with the King about redresse of the common euils Obiections against the Bishop of Winton and the Poictouines The outrages of the Marshalline faction * Quae exlex est Math. Paris The King facileâ—… in taking and leauing fauourites Of Princes Counsellors and Fauourites The king remoues the Bishop of Winchester and others from his Councell England purged from Poictouines The Earle Marshal dieth in Ireland * Partie per pale Or vert ouer all a Lyon rampant gules The king laments the Earles death Ann. 1235. The king cals home his rebels Hubert de Burgh is reconciled Gilbert brother to the late Earle Marshal hath his brothers lands honours * Math. Paris ad An. 1239. The practise to destroy the late Earle Marshal openly read * Rog. de Wend. M. S. Math. Paris The king sits in Westminster with the Iudges on the Bench. The king himselfe giues sentence on the Bench. The Bishoppe of Winchester went to Rome for hee was in Pope Gregories Armie against the mutined Romans say both Wendouer and Paris ad An. 1â—…35 The diuine vertue of charity actually commended by God * Of Alboldesâ—… a village in Cambridgeshire A miraculous confâ—…sion of hard heartednesse toward poore Christians * Mat. 5. 7. * God hath a care of the liberall * An. 1235. An. reg 19. The Iewes conspire to crucifie a child The Emperour marrieth the kings sister The magnificence of the Nuptials * At Wormes in August * Rog. de Wend. MS. Mat. Paris Marriage consuÌ„mated by calculation of the Stars * Rog Wendouer in hist. MS. in Biblioth D. Roberti Cotton Baronetti * K. Henry 3 of * Richard king of the Romans * Ioan Queen of Scots * Isabel. * Quasi Capientes vrsi deuouring Beares quoth Paris * Mat. Parid. * Idem ad An. 1227 * Ibidem * Math Paris 〈◊〉 seth this word * Polyd. Virg. lib. 16. Armiger quidam literatus saith Parâ—… but pag 566 â—…hesame M. Paris aâ—…th his name was Clement and a Clerke * Margaret Biset The Traitor drawne in sunder with horses * Holinsh. p. 123. * Because Kings are annointed * Because in holy Scriptures they are called Gods * Mat Paris â—…d A. D. 1242. Paris Idem * In Walling ford Castle * 16 Iunij Loâ—…ini Paris * Mat. Paris Ann. 1239. Great faults in the Lords towards the King Worthy iustice done vpon a Court-Rat or Promoter Math. Paris Allegations for Antioches Primacy aboue Rome Hubert Earle of Kent tost with a new Court-storme Strabo A strange description of a king * Ypod. Neust. * Mat. Paris * Cambden Brit. in Kent this man died An. D. 1243. An. 1240. England a most Christian Country * Mundâ—…ssimam terram Paris * Paris * Imperatoris literâ—… apud Paris An. 1241. * Edmund a Saint thoughdying an Exile in detestation of the Popes oppressions An. 1242. A reg 26. The King goes to recouer Poictou * Cadum The French Kings preparations to resist * Vide sâ—…pra at his deâ—…ing from England A most Christian feare of the Christian King * Io. Tili Chron. * Math. Paris Isabel Queene Dâ—…ger forgeth writings to draw her sonne the King into France Mat. Par. p. 570 Poictou lost by the Engâ—…sh Xaincts also and Xainctoing The French Earle of March compared by the King to Iudas Hertold an example of loyalty The effect of the kings iourny into Wales * Hist. Camb. A iudgement of God on a withholder of church lands * Gyrâ—…ld Cambren * 3. Reg. cap. 1. vers 21. An. 1246. A. reg 30. * Mat. Paris The French King reiecteth the Popes motion as vnchristian Dauid Prince of Wales * Articuli super Grâ—…amin a pud Paris * See their seuerall Letters in Paris * Math. Paris * 〈◊〉 Episcoporum Mat. VVest * Paris * Iohannes Anglicus England the Popes Asse * Genes 16. 12. Ann. 1247. * Mat. VVesâ—… Math. Paris Ioh. London c. * In Crastiâ—… Purificationis * Ibidem An. 1248. A. reg 32. The seditious Nobles exposlu lâ—…te their gree â—…ances with the King in stead of granting mony The king driuen to sell his Iewels and Plate to the Londoners A. D. 1249. An. reg 33. Simon Earle of Leâ—…cester returnes with honour out of Gascoign Hampshire purged of theeues by the King himselfe sitting in iudgement A. D. 1250. A. reg 34. Walter Clifford makes an officer eat the kings writ wax and all The king lesseneth the charge of his Houshold Thirtie thousand markes wrung from one Iew in a few yeeres The king preaâ—… cheth to the Couent * Paris * The pope was now fled from Rome for feare of the Emperour * Liuie * He calles iâ—… 〈◊〉 profitable Alâ—…s deed Paris An. 1251. A strange description of the Kings parâ—…mony or pouerty * Notwithstanding any former commandement * Or former priuiledge * Mat. Paris Sir Philip Darey appeacheth Sir Henry Bath a bribing Iudge of treason The disorderly weake and violent carriage of trialâ—… The King proscribeâ—… Sir Henry Bath Sir Iohn Mansel stayes the Kings seruants from killing Bath * Two thousand Marks * Additam ad Math. Paris An. 1252. Alexander the third King of Scots espouseth the Lady Margaret Six hundreth Oxen spent at one meale * Mat. Paris The young King of Scots a suter to the King for bringing Philip Louel into fauour againe * Circumsedentium The most witry and princely inâ—…inuations of the young king to the king his father in Law Philip Louel reconciled to the king Simon Earle of Leicester rather to be called Sinon as the Gascoigns said * Per Papa auarisiaâ—… toâ—… 〈◊〉 infortunium Paris The Kings hope to recouer Normandie frustrated The common opinion of the Kings designe for the holy Land A perilous bolde Dialogue between the Countesse of Arund l and the King An. 1253. An. reg 37. The king of Spaine claunes Gaâ—…coign Simon Earle of Leicester refuseth high honour in France to auoid the suspition of disloialty to England Magna Charta confirmed helpâ—… the king to mony The kings oath to obserue that confirmation The king requesteth the king of Spaines sister to be giuen for wife to his sonne Edward The King of Spaine quitteth his claime to Gaâ—…coigne The king of Spaines aduise to the king of England His most noble protestation The king of Romans what and who The English tongue in the dayes of Mathew Para agreeable to the Dutch The huge sums of ready money which Richard King of Romans had of his owne at his Election * 6. Cal Iun. diâ—… Ascensionâ—… * Contra antiqua statutâ—… libertates Paris * Mat Paris in hist maâ—…ori The Vniuersity of Oxford the second Schoole of the Church next Paris protected by the king The King commendâ—… the cause of his sonne Edmund for the kingdome of Sicilia Note that by this it appeares Edmund was not
* Ypod. Neust. * Tho. de la More * Beâ—…ind transl lib. 14 cap. 9. * Act. Mon. p. 459. * Tho. de la More * Tho. VVals * Tho. VVals in fine Edw. 1. * Idem Tho. Walsingham in Edw. 2. * Polyd. Virg. * Tho. Walsingh lib. S. Alban MS * Chr. Dunstab A. D. 1311. Peirs de Gaueston Earle of Cornwall banished for euer * Tho. VValsin * S. Th. de la More The Earle of Cornwal reuoked * Iohn Stow. Tho. VVals Tho. de la Moore Is the third time banished and returnes * Tho. VValsingh * Act Mon. p. 460. Fabian * Tho. Walsingh * Act. Mon. 461 colom 1. Tho. VVals * Tho. de la More * Continuator Triuet MS. * Tho. VVals * Iohn Stow. * Nic. Triuet ad an 1306. In those dayes it was thought the Pope might be an heretike * Fox Martyrâ—…log pag. 460. * Tho. de la More * Iohn Stow. Ypod. Neust. A. D. 1312. * Thom. Walsingh * Act. Mon. pag. 461. col 1. * Polyd. Virg. li. 18 * Chron. R. Auelburie Tho. de la More Tho. VVals * Tho. de la More * Tho. de la More * Ran. Cestr. l. 7. c. 41. * Act. Mon. pa. 462. * Tho. de la More * Tho. VVals * Continuator Nich. Triuet Edward of Windsor borne * Ran. Cestr. lib. 7. cap. 41. Fabian * Act. Mon. 462. Col. 1. * Tho. VVals * Act. Mon. * Tho. Wals. A. D. 1313. Scottish affaires * Tho. de la Mor. This according to Hector Boetiâ—… lib. 14. hapned A. D. 1309. * Hect Boet. l. 14. Geo. 〈◊〉 An. D. 1314. King Edward with a mighty Army in Scotland * Tho. Wals. * Tho. de la Mort Tho. Walsingh Polyd. Verg lib. 18 Bellind the Scotish transl of Hect. Boe. lib. 14. cap. 11. * Hect. Boet. * Tho. UUalsingh Hect. Boet. lib. 14. * Th. de la Moâ—… * Bellind transâ—… lib. 14 cap. 1. * Hect. Boet. lib. 14 ca. 11. * Tho. de la More * Hect. Boet. lâ—… qâ—… supra * Thâ—… la Moâ—… The English ouerthrowne at Bannockâ—…bourne * Tho. VValsâ—… * Tho. de la Mâ—… Uâ—…s 〈◊〉 * Tho. de la Moâ—… * Hect. Boet. l. 14. Tho. de la Moore Ypod. Neâ—…st * Tho. Wals. * Ypod. Neust. * Polyd. Ver. li. 7. cap. 41. An. D. 1314. * Tho. Walsingh Ypod. Neust. A. D. 1315. The woful estate of England vnder the three plagues of Sword dearth and pestilence Tho de la More Tho. VVals Gauestons funerals A. D. 1316. * Tho. UUals. An. D. 1317. * Tho. VValsing * Tho. de la More An. D. 1318 Edward Bruce king of Ireland vanquished by the English and slaine * Bellind 〈◊〉 lib. 14. cap. 12. Tho. Wals. * Th. de la More * Pol. Virg. lib. 1â—… * Tho. Wals. * Tpod. Neust. Polyd. Vâ—…g lib. 18 * Hector Boet. lib. 14. Tho. Wals. Pol. Virg. lib. 18. * Cap 17. * Ioh. Stow. Harding c. 172. The beginning of ciuill wars * Tho. de la More The Spensers banished * Tho. VValsin A. D. 1321. * Holinsh. p. 331. col 2. King Edward pursues the Lords Polyd. Verg. li. 8. A. D. 1322. * Tho. de la More * Tho. VValsingh Tho. de la More * Th de la More * Tho. Wals. * Tho. VValsing Execution of Nobles * Holinsh. p. 330 col 2. * Ypod. Neust. * Tho. de la More * Hollinsh p. 331. col 1. * Act. Mon. p. 463. col 2 Iohn Stow. * Tho. Wals. * Holinsh. p. 331. col 2. * Ioh. Stow. * Act. Mon pa. 463. col 2. Fabian * Continu Nich. Triuet MS. * Tho. de la Moore saith but about 18. and 5. banished The quality of Earle Thomas described * Râ—…l Higden Moâ—…st Cestrenâ—… Polych l. 7. c. 42. * S. Th. de la More Polych ib. * Thom. Walsingh * Holinsh. p. 329. col 2. * Continu Nich. Triuet MS. Tho VVals ad A. D. 1319. * Continu Nich. Triuet MS. * Ioh. Stow. Chron. Wil. Risanger apud VValâ—… Thom. Walsingh * Iohn Stow. * Hollinsh p. 331. col 2. * Tho. VValsingh * Holinsh. p. 331. col 2. * Tho. VValsing * Hollinsh qu. supra and Fabian * Fabian Holinsh. p. 332. c. 1. King Edward endangered by the Scots * Tho. de la More Tho. Wels. * Tpod. Neust. * Tho. de la More * Fabian A. D. 1323. Kiâ—…g Edward most bitteâ—…ly vpbraids the Earle of Lancasters death * Walsingham câ—… them verba imperij * Tho. VValsin * Pol. Virâ—… lib. 1â—… * Tho. Wals. * Ypod. Neust. * Chron. Dunst. apud Iohn Stow. A. D. 1324. An. Reg. 17. The I. Roger Mortimer escapes out of the Tower * Tho. de la More * Ypod. Neust. * S. Th. de la More An. D. 1325. * Tho. Walsingh Polyd. Verg. li. 18. * Tho. Wals. * Th. de la More * Polyd. Ver. li. 18 The Queene and Prince proclaimed Traitors * Tho. VVals Polyd. Verg. lib. 18. Fabiâ—…n Their death plotted by the King * M. Fox Act. Mon. p. 464. col 1. * Ypod. Neust. The English scowre the narrow seas * Tho Wals. An. D. 1326. A. reg 19. * Tho. de la More * Harding c. 176. The kings proceedings after the Queenes arriuall Thom. de la Moor. Ypod. Neust. * Tho. de la Moor. * 2 Kin. c. 4. v. 19 The Londoners for the Queene * Ex Hist. quae Brut. dicitur MS * Verg. Aene. 3 * Ypod. Neust. Tho. de la Moore The elder Spenser put to death * Tho. VVals Historia quae Bruti dicitur MS. Proclamations recalling the king * Tho. Wals. * Act. Mon. p. 465. col 1. * Tho. de la Moor cals him Omnis buiâ—…s mali Architectum but the Actor was doubtles Roger Mortimer The Prince Custos or high keeper of England * 16 Calend. DeceÌ„b. * Continu Nich. Triuet MS. The yonger Spenser put to death M. Fox Act. Mon. pa. 465. col 1. * Tho. de la Moore * Whosoeuer is kild by torment ouercomes the Tormentor An. D. 1327. An. Reg. 20. vlt. King Edward yeelds to resigne his Crowne * S. Th. de la More * Tho. Wals. * Polych lib. 7. c. 43. Reasons to perswade his resignation * Hist. Bruti MS. * Tho. de la More * Polyd. Ver. li. 28 * Tho. de la Moor. * Sir Tho. de la Moore his seruant * Pol. Virg. lib. 18 * Tho. Wals. Thom. de la Moor. * Polyd. Verg li. 18 Tho. VValsin * Tho. de la More * Tho. VValsingh * Tho. de la More * Tho. Wals. * Tho. de la Moore * Tho. VValsing Polyd. Verg. lib. 18. * Th. de la More * Polychr lib 7. c. 43 * Tho. VVals * Tho. Walsingh * Hist. Bruti MS. Monarch 49 Edward III. The happy change vnder King Edward 3. * Ranulph Cest. Thom. Walsingh
of the battels Iâ—… Stow. A mistaking of the soulâ—…ieis which was the losse of the field Great Warwickâ—… slaine in fight Marques Montacute slaine in battell Nobles and others slaine at Barnet field Edw. Hast. Ioh. Stow. Rob. Fabian saith 1500. The Duke of Sommerset and the Faile of Oxford fled into Wales Rich. Grast Edward triumpheth and oâ—…eth his banner in S. Pauls Queene Margaret with Prince Edward landed at Weyâ—… The Lords comfort Queene Margaret Queenâ—… Margarets care for Prince Edward her sonne The opinions of the Lords King Edward prepareth against Queenâ—… Margaret King Henry committed to the Tower of London The ordering of Queene Margarets battels The ordering of K. Edwards battels The battell at Tewkesbury Edw. Hall This battell was fought vpon Saturday the 4. of May the 11. of K. Edwards raigne and yeere of Christ 1471. L. Wenlocke slain for not following Sommerset Lords slaine at Tewkesbury Prince Edward apprehended The Duke of Sommerset and others executed Prince Edward apprehended and 〈◊〉 answers Prince Edward most shamefully slaine Queene Margaret taken out of her Sanctuary The Northerne men submit vnto K. Edward Bastard Fanconbridge Captaine of the Lancastri Fauonbridge assaileth London The Citizens withstood his â—…ance Fauconbridge forced backe to his shipâ—… K. Edward with his Captiue Queene Margaret enter London King Henry â—…urthered in the Tower by Richard Duke of Glocester K. Henry carried bare-faced through the streetes of London Stowes Annals K. Henry bâ—…ied 〈◊〉 Chertsey and 〈◊〉 to Windsor The 〈◊〉 of K. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The vertues of K. Henry Holinshed Camb. Brit. in descript of Surrey Kings Colledge in Cambridge and Eaton in Barkshire found 〈◊〉 by K. Henry Queen Margaret ransoâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bastard Fauconbridge with his vnruly crew yeeld to King Edward Bastard Fauconbridge pardoned of life and rewarded with Knighthood Rob. Fabian Bastard Fauconbridge beheaded A. D. 1472. Henry of Richmond fled into Britaine The storie of Iohn Earle of Oxford Waters brake out of the Earth Iohn Stow. Annals The Earle of Oxford sent prisoner into France The hard and inhumane vsage of the Countesse of Oxford The storie of Lord Henry Holland Duke of Excester Phil. Comines lib. 3. cap. 4. Ed. Hall The vnlouing parts of an vnlouing wiâ—…e Ioh. Sâ—…w The Lord Henrie supposed to haue been drowned The Archbishop of Yorkes goods seized vpon K. Edward sends into Britaine to recouer Richmond and Pembrooke K. Edward abrogates King Henries lawes Burgundie sends for aid into England against France A. D. 1474. K. Edwards expedition into France Phil. Comines lib. 4. cap. 5. The great preparation of King Edward King Edwards 〈◊〉 Lewis his conference with the English Herald Lewis his conference with the English Herald K. Lewis moneth Gartar to be a meanes for peace Phil. Com. lib. 4. cap. 7. A counterfeit Herald sent to K. Edward The Heralds perswasions An English Herald sent to King Lewis The Duke of Burgundy commeth to the King Edw. Hall â—…ol 231. Burgundies hot speech vnto K. Edward K Edwards reply to his brother of Burgundy Burgundy departeth displeased from King Edward The conference for peace 〈◊〉 Amiens Coâ—…ioners for peace Conditions of the peace Lewis his liberality for â—…oy of the peace Ph. Com. l. 4. c. 9. The kings of England and France dâ—… to see each others 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 place of the kings A. D. 1475. Aug. 29. The 〈◊〉 of the two kings The Kings swear the league K. Lewis loth that Edward should visite Paris A. D. 1475. Sept. 2â—… Henry Earle of Richmond â—…ught after by K. Edward An intent pretended which asâ—…r came to passe Ralph Holinsh. pag. 701. Henry â—…arle of Richmond taketh Sanctuary The English Ambassador complaineth to the Duke of Britaine His Answere Sir Tho. Moore King Edward beloued of his subiects and loueth his subiects Io. Stow. K. Edward sent for the Maior and Aldermen of London to his huntings K. Edward somwhat licention slie giuen K. Edwards three Concubines Thomas Burdet accused of treason Engâ—… Register of Gray-Friers Lâ—…don The story of George Duke of Clarence Tâ—… attainder of the Duke of Clarence Iohn Stow. A. D. 1478. Rich. Graft A false prophecie of G. E. Phil. Comin lib. 4. cap. 10. The Duke of Clarence is suiter vnto Marie the daughter of Burgundie Io. Serres Clarnce imprisoned by his brother King Edward George Duke of Claâ—…ce condemned by Parliament And drowned in a But of malmesay K. Edwards â—…pentance for his brothers death The Duke of Clarence his issue Edward and Margaret the children of Clarence beheaded King Edward deceiued in King Lewis 〈◊〉 Serres Lady Elizabeth called 〈◊〉 the Daulphin A. D. 1480. Io. Lesâ—… Lady Cicely motioned in matriage vnto 〈◊〉 Prince of Scotland Lewis King of France interposeth the contract betwixt Prince Iames and Ladie Margaret Iames King of Scotland much â—…dded to his 〈◊〉 will Alexander Duke of Albanie banished Scotland Iohn Earle of Marre bled to death K. Iames threatneth warre against England Richard Duke of Glocester made the Kings Lieutenant against Scotland The Duke of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Scotland 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 Holinsh. p. 707. Phil. Comines lib. 6. chap. 2. and 9. King Lewis dallâ—…th with King Edward King Edward vvould not beleeue vvhat was confidently tolde him A 〈◊〉 pretâ—… ded against France King Edward falleth â—…ke Thom. More King Edwards speeches at his death The perils of discord Tender youth is 〈◊〉 infected Great variance for small causes King Edwards good counsell What the nature of ambition is King Edwards vsuall oath King Edwards last request The raigne and death of King Edward Phil. Com. lib. 4 cap. 10. King Edward described Ph. Com. l. 6. c. 2. 〈◊〉 A. D. 1478. Stow. Edward 5. Monarch 55 King Edwards raigne vnfortunate and 〈◊〉 Aprill 19. A. D. 1483. Richard Duke of Yorke Richard Duke of Gloucester an vnnaturall vncle vnto the young King and his brother Richard Duke of Yorke was the father of Richard Duke of Glocester Women commonly maligne their husbands 〈◊〉 The description of Richard Duke of Glocester Richard Crooke-backe a good souldier He vvas the cause of Clorence his death Richard of Gloucester intended to be King eâ—…en whiles K. Edward liued The speech of Pottier at King Edwards death The vncle contriueth the destruction of his Nephewes Richards deepe pollicy King Edwards care to set peace betwixt the Queenes kindred and his The Queenes iealousie against the Lord Câ—…berlaine King Edward repaireth towards London The Queenes kindred only about the Prince The Duke seeketh to displace the Prince The crafty complaints of Richard Duke of Gloucester The effect that his pollicy took The conclusion of his designes Another crafty pollicy of Duke Richard The Queene yeldeth to the Dukes perswasion The Lords meet at Northampton The Keyes of the Inne kept by Richard Duke of Glaucester The L. Riuers much troubled at the sodaine action The L. Riuers imprisoned in Northampton The Dukes come to the King A quarrell picked in the kings presence Accusations against the Queens kindred