sonnes of Sebert ruled ioyntly Serred Seward Sigbert 4 Sigebert surnamed the Little the sonne of Seward 5 Sigbert the sonne of Sigebald brother of Sebert 6 Sigher 7 Sebbi 8 Sigeherd the sonne of Sebbi 9 Seofride the brother of Sigeherd 10 Offa the sonne of Sigeherd 11 Celred 12 Suthred defeated by Egbert Prince of the West-Saxons ⧠The succession of the Bishops of London in the Province of the East-Saxons 604 Melitus the first Bishop sent from Rome sate thirteene yeares after whose translation the Sea was void about fortie yeares 658 Cedda eight yeares 666 Wina translated from the Sea of Winton 9. yeares 675 Erkenwaldus twenty two yeares 697 Waldherus eighteene yeares 715 Ingualdus thirtie one yeares 746 Egwulfus eight yeares 754 Wighedus seven yeares 761 Eadbrichtus eleven yeares 775 Deora nine yeares 784 Eadbaldus eleven yeares 795 Heathobertus in the time of Egbert the West-Saxon Prince eighteene yeares The first CHAPTER The principalitie of the East-Saxons erected by Erchenwin Sebert the first Christian Prince Miletus the first Bishop of the East-Saxons hath his Sea at London Saint Pauls church there founded by Ethelbert the first Christian Prince of the Kentish-Saxons The Church at Westminster founded by Sebert Cedda afterward called St. Chadde preacheth the Gospel to the East-Saxons Sigher and Sebbi ioyntly rule the Province ERchenwin was the first of all the Saxons that erected a Provinciall government among the East-Saxons who then inhabited those parts which now containe the Counties of Essex Middlesex and part of the Countie of Hartford all which both himself and his successors many yeares togither held by homage of the Kentish Princes as of their superiour Lords This Prince having reigned a long time with what successe I find no certaine report left the government to Sledda his sonne who to strengthen his estate by affinitie married Ricula the daughter of Ermerick the Prince of Kent by whom he had issue Sebert that succeeded him Sebert governed peaceably the Province of the East-Saxons which in his time was converted to Christianitie for in the yeare of Grace 604. Miletus was sent by Augustin the Archbish. to preach the faith of Christ to that people and had the Cittie of London assigned to him for his Episcopall Sea where Ethelbert the Kentish Prince erected a Church which he dedicated to Saint Paul endowing it with large possessions and Sebert following his example therein founded an other at the West end of the citie where afterwards a Monasterie was builded The place at that time being environed with water and overgrowen with thornes was called Thorney and afterwards by reason of the situation thereof the West-Minster It is reported that in more ancient times there had beene a Temple of Apollo which being overthrowen by an Earth-quake Lucius the first Christian Prince of the Britans reedified and converted to a Church for the exercise of the Christian Religion Sebert having spent the most part of his time after his conversion in deedes of Charitie and Devotion ended his life and was buried in that Church togither with his wife Ethelgoda Serred Seward and Sigbert his sonnes ruled ioyntly the province of the East-Saxons They were all men of disordered conversation and open despisers of religious rites for being not yet baptised they would have receyved the Sacrament of Christs bodie wherein for that Miletus the Bishop had opposed himself against them they expelled him from his Sea at London and themselves soone after were by Kinegles the West-Saxon Prince deprived both of government and life Sigebert surnamed the Little the sonne of Seward succeeded in the principalitie which in short time he left to Sigbert the nephew of Sebert the first Christian Prince of the East-Saxons Sigbert was by perswasion of Oswin chiefe governor of the Northumbers converted from Paganisme to Christianitie wherein he was confirmed by Cedda a devout learned man that then preached to the East-Saxons and recovered many of them which after the expulsion of Miletus had fallen from the faith He was afterwards by Finan the Bishop of Holy-Iland consecrated bishop of the East-Saxons amongst whom he preached the Gospell of Christ without interruption till such time as Sigbert the Prince procoring the dislike of his Subjects for that he shewed too much clemency to the Mercians his enemies was trecherously murdered by one of his owne kindred After his death Swidhelin the sonne of Sexbald obtained the regement and was baptised by Cedda the Bishop Then Sigher Sebbi ruled togither but not with absolute authoritie for at that time they acknowledged allegeance to Wulfere Prince of the Mercians In those dayes great plague and mortalitie fell vpon the Inhabitants of the Province and Sigher renouncing the faith fell to Idolatry which in a short time greatly encreased till Iarumanus the Bishop of Lichfield and certain priests being sent thither by VVulfere to that end laboured with all diligence to stop the course thereof and in the end suppressed it CHAP. II. The Devotion Chastitie and Chiritie of Sebbi the Prince The maner of his death Offa resigneth the government and goeth to Rome where he entreth into Religion Egbert the West-Saxon Prince obtaineth the principalitie of the East-Saxons IN the meane time Sebbi and the people vnder his obedience notwithstanding the relapse of their Country-men persisted constantly in the faith of Christ and Sebbi himselfe by praying fasting and Almes ceeds manifested his owne earnest desire to maintaine the same being so strongly possessed with the spirit of zeale and love of Chastitie as he perswaded his wife to a separation whereby they might serve God with more puritie of heart and his pietie and humilitie was had in such estimation even among the religious persons as they reputed him more meete to have beene a Priest then a Prince After he had with much difficultie obtained his wives consent for a separation he bestowed the greatest part of his worldly wealth vpon the poore reserving nothing for himselfe besides his necessarie maintenance but onely the expectation of a future recompence In his time lived Erkenwald a godly Priest who was afterward Bishop of London He founded two Monasteries the one for himselfe at Chartsey in Surrey and the other for Ethelburga his sister at Barking in Essex Sebbi having ruled about thirtie yeares fell sicke of a grieuous and verie painfull disease by reason whereof doubting lest â—hrough frailtie of the flesh he might burst out into any intemperate speeches or do any other thing vnseemely for his person profession he desired Waldher the successor of Erkenwald then Bishop of London by prayers and ghostly counsaile to assist him in his agonies and that no more then himselfe and two of his Chaplains onely might be present at the time of his departure so great a care had this religious Prince in well finishing that race which he had prosperously continued the most part of his life and in preventing all occasions of scandall to the faith which he professed His bodie
THE HISTORIE OF Great Britannie Declaring the successe of times and affaires in that Iland from the Romans first entrance vntill the raigne of EGBERT the West-Saxon Prince who reduced the severall Principalities of the Saxons and English into a Monarchie and changed the name of Britannie into England AT LONDON Printed by Valentine Simmes 1606. The Race and Succession of the Roman Emperors from Iulius Caesar to Domitius Nero. Sextus Caesar. 1 Iulius Caesar Dict. Perp. 3. yeares Accius Balbus Iulia. C Octa Presid of Maced Accia Scribonia the sister of L Scribonius Libo the first wife of Aug 2 Oct Augustus Emperour 56. yeares Livia the relict of Nero father of Tiberius the 2 wife of Aug Iulia the wife of Vipsanius Agrippa 3 Tiberius Nero Emperour 23. yeares Drusus Agrippina Germanicus 5 Claudius Nero Emp 13. years and 9. months Valeria Messalian 4 C Caâ—igula Emperour 3. yeares and 10 months Agrippina the wife of Dom Nero. 6 Nero Emperor 14 yeares Britannicus ⧠Lieutenants in Britannie vnder the first five Emperors of Rome During the severall raignes of Iulius Caesar Augustus Tiberius and Caius the Romans had no setled forme of government in any part of the I le Lievtenants vnder Claudius the Emperor Aulus Plautius the first Lieutenant in Britannie Ostorius Scapula Didius Gallus Auitus ⧠The Princes and men of speciall note among the Britans In the time of Iulius Caesar. Cassibelin Prince of the Trinobantes Pettie Rulers in Kent Cingetorix Carvilius Taximagulus Segonax Mandubratius the Traitor whose father Imanentins preceeded Cassibelin in the government of the Trinobantes Cuno-belin Prince of the Trinobantes in the time of Augustus Sonnes of Cunobelin in the time of Caius Admimus Cataracacus Togodumnus a sonne of Cuno-belin in the time of Aul. Plautius government vnder Claudius the Emperor In the time of Ostorius Scapulaes government vnder Claudius the Emperor Cogidunus aduanced by the Romans Caractacus the renowmed Prince of the Silures Cartismandua Princesse of the Brigantes THese two Parts of the Historie may seeme not improperly to beare the name of Great Britannie in that for the most part they containe certaine generall reports of the affaires of the whole Iland which was afterwards divided into the two Kingdomes of England and Scotland Howbeit in the Second Part the accidents and occurrents in the state of Scotland then called North-Britannie are either purposely omitted or touched very briefely both to avoide confusion by entermingling them with the imperfect relations of the dismembred governments of the Saxons and English in the South parts of the I le and also for that England and Scotland having bin many hundred yeares two distinct Monarchies and that of Scotland the more antient it may be thought perhaps most meete that there should be severall Histories of the English and Scottish Nation from the first erection of either Kingdome vntill the vnion of them both the title of Britannie in the meane time remaining indifferent as well to the one as to the other The first Part is divided into three Bookes The first Booke Declaring the state of Britannie vnder the Romans from Iulius Caesar his first entrance into the I le vntill the death of Claudius the Emperor in whose time the East part of the I le was subdued and brought into the forme of a Province The second Booke Declaring the state of Britannie vnder the Romans from the death of Claudius the Emperour vntill the raigne of Domitian in whose time the vtmost limits of the I le were discovered and the greatest part thereof reduced into a setled Provinciall government The third Booke Declaring the state of Britannie vnder the Romans from the death of Domitian the Emperour vntill the raigne of Honorius in whose time the I le of Britannie was abandoned by the Romans and the inhabitants thereof left wholly to their owne government The second Part is divided into two Bookes The first Booke Declaring the state of affaires in Britannie after the Romans had given over the government there vntill such time as the Saxons and English obteined it The second Booke Containing an Epitome or a short imperfect relation of the chiefe occurrents in everie one of the seven Principalities of the Saxons and English vntill Egbert the West-Saxon Prince reduced them into a Monarchie The beginning of the Raigne of Egbert the first English Monarch THE FIRST PART OF the Historie of Great Britannie The first Booke C. IVL. CAESAR DICT PERP. The first CHAPTER The Originall of the Britans C. Iulius Caesar making warre in Gallia intendeth a voyage into Britannie C. Volusenus is sent to discover the Sea Coasts of the I le The Nature and customes of the Britans IT is recorded by the most true and antient of al Histories that the Iles of the Gentiles and north partes of the world were first divided and inhabited by the posteritie of Iaphet from whose eldest sonne called Goneer the Cimbrians as Writers report deriv'd their name and discent imparting the same to the Gauls and Germans and consequently to the Inhabitants of this I le as being originally discended from the Gauls that came over hither at the first either vpon a naturall desire which men commonly have to discover places vnknowne or to avoid the assaults of other Nations encroching vpon them or happly to disburden their native soil by seeking new habitations abroad And this opinion of the Britans first comming out of Gâ—llia seemes the more probable in regard both of the situation of this Iland in neernesse to that continent and also of the vniformitie of language religion and policy betweene the most ancient Gauls and Britans Touching the name of Britannie with the Gouernors and state thereof before the Romans arrivall as they are things not to have been neglected if any certain knowledge of them had been left vs by approved testimonies of former ages so I thinke it not now requisite either to recite the different conjectures of other men or of my self constantly to affirme any thing concerning the same aswell for that those matters have been alreadie handled at large by our modern Writers as also for that I suppose in ayming at such antique Originals there being but one truth amidst many errors a man may much more easily shoote wide then hit the marke I purpose therefore omitting Etymologies of words and varietie of opinions concerning the first inhabitants and their doings to take the name and affaires of this I le in such sort as they were first known to the Romans in the time of Iulius Caesar when the Roman state which had tried all kinds of government as namely that of Kings then of Consuls Tribunes Decemvirs began to be vsurped by a few soone after submitted it self to one For about the foure and fiftieth yeare before the birth of our Saviour Christ Caesar being then governor of Gallia for the Senat and people of Rome and having brought some part of that Countrey vnder obedience intended a voyage with an armie into Britannie
who had so long time withstood and contemned that power which held all the world in awe and obedience The Citty of Rome for many dayes togither was filled only with talke of him and expectation of his comming and the Emperour himselfe as a Conqueror by extolling his owne worthinesse covertly added more glory to the conquered The people assembled togither as it were to see some notable and rare spectacle The Emperors guard in armes were orderly placed in the field before the camp After this preparation made the prisoners and Trophies were presented in this maner First the vassals of Caractacus going formost bowed their bodies to the people as they passed and seemed by their rufull countenances to discover their feare The caparisons chaines and other spoiles taken in the warre were carried after them Then Caractacus his Brethren his Wife and Daughters followed and last of all came Caractacus himselfe His bodie was naked for the most part and painted with the figures of diverse beasts He ware a chain of yron about his necke and another about his middle The haire of his head hanging downe in long locks curled by nature covered his backe and shoulders and the haire of his vpper lip being parted on both sides lay vpon his breast The rest of his body was shaven all over Neither was his behaviour lesse noted then the strangenes of his habite For he neither hung down his head nor craved mercie as the rest did but went on boldly with a setled and sterne countenance till he came before the Emperors Tribunall seat and there standing stil a while he after spake these or the like wordes If either my vertues in prosperitie had beene answerable to the greatnesse of my estate or the successe of my late attempts to the resolution of my mind I might have come to this Citie to have beene entertained rather as a Friend than as a captive to be gazed vpon For it should have beene no disgrace for the Romans to have admitted into societie with them a man royally discended and a commaunder of manie warlike Nations But what cloud soever Fortune hath cast over my estate she is not able to take from me those things which the heavens and Nature have given me that is the dignitie of my Birth and the courage of my Mind which never failed me I know it is a custome among you to make your Triumphs the spectacles of other mens miseries and in this my Calamitie as in a Mirror you do now behold your owne glorie Yet know that I was sometimes a Prince furnished with strength of men and abiliments of warre and what marvaile is it that I have now lost them since your owne experience hath taught you that the events of warre are variable and vncertaine I thought that the deepe Waters which like a Wall enclose vs whom the heavens seeme to have placed farre off in another world by it selfe might have bin a sufficient defence for vs against forraigne invasion But I see now that your Desire of soveraigntie admits no limitation since neither the danger of an vnknown Sea nor the distance of place can any longer warrant our safetie and libertie If you will needs command the whole world then must all men become your vassals and live vnder a forced obedience For mine owne part so long as I was able I made resistance being vnwilling to submit my neck to a forraine Yoke The law of naturall reason alloweth everie man to defend himselfe being assailed and to withstand force by force Had I yeelded at the first thy glorie and my mis-hap had not bin so renowned but both of them would soone have been forgotten Fortune hath done her woorst and we have now nothing left vs but our lives which if thou spare having power to spill thou shalt doe that which best beseemeth a great Mind and a noble Nature The Emperor hearing this speech and wondering to see such boldnesse and constancie of mind in a dejected estate pardoned both him and the rest of his companie commaunding them to be vnbound and so dismissed them CHAP. XVI What opinion the Romans held of Caractacus Triumphal honors assigned to Ostorius for taking him The Britans assaile the Roman campe in the Countrie of the Silures The principalitie of South-wales The death of Ostorius the Generall FOr many dayes togither Caractacus his Fortune ministred matter of discourse to the Lords of the Senate who affirmed the spectacle of his captivitie to be no lesse honorable then that of Syphax the Numidian King over whom P. Scipio triumphed or that of Perses whom Paulus Aemilius vanquished or of any other Kings that had in former times beene taken in warre and shewed to the people Then publike honors of triumph were decreed for Ostorius whose fortunes being now at the highest began afterwards to decline by reason that either Caractacus the obiect of his valour being removed he supposed he had made a full conquest and therfore followed the service more carelesly or else for that the residue of the Britans having compassion of the misfortune of so mightie a Prince and being eagre of revenge renued the warre for they assayled the Legionary Cohorts which were left behind to build fortresses in the Silures Country killed the camp-Maister and eight Centurions besides some of the forwardest souldiers and they had put all the rest to the sword if speedy rescue had not come from the villages and Forts adioining Diuerse other sallies they made as time and place gave them advantage prevailing sometimes by strength sometimes by pollicie and somtimes by chance The Principal motive that enduced the rest to take armes was the example of the Silures who were most resolutely bent as being exasperated by reason of as peech that the Roman Emperor had vsed which was That he would root out the name of the Silures as the Sicambrians had beene in former time This made them bold and desperate to adventure as men knowing their destinie before hand Many skirmishes they had in surprising the scattered troupes of the Roman souldiers and often times with good successe in taking rich booties and prisoners and distributing the spoiles among their neighbours by which meanes they drew them also to revolt In the meane time Ostorius wearied with care and travaile ended his life CHAP. XVII Aulus Didius is sent by Claudius the Emperour to take charge of the armie in Britannie Venutius the husband of Cartismandua Princesse of the Brigantes vpō private discontentment taketh armes against the Romans The death of Claudius the Emperor CLaudius the Emperour being advertised of the death of Ostorius sent Aulus Didius to take charge of the armie in Britannie where notwithstanding all the haste he made he found all out of frame Manlius Valens with his Legion having encountred the Britans with ill successe which by report of the Ilanders was made greater then indeed it was to terrifie the new Governour who also made vse of the same policie to serve his owne turne
IIII. Suetonius returneth with his armie out of Anglesey The Cities of London and Verlam are taken and spoyled by the Britans The Romans and Britans make preparation for a set battaile SVetonius vpon intelligence of the revolt returned out of Mona and led his armie with some difficultie towards London a place not knowne at that time by the name of a Colonie but famous onely for concourse of Merchants and trafficke There he staied a while as doubting what course to take the small number of his forces and the ill successe of Cerealis making him more warie and he supposed it would be a worke well worth his labor if with the losse of one Towne he could preserve the rest that were likely to revolt Wherupon furnishing his defective Companies with such able men as were then in the Towne although the Londoners with teares implored his aide and desired his aboade there for their defence yet he marched forward leaving behind him all such as either by reason of their age sex or other infirmities could not folow or else for love of the place as being bred and born there would not abandon it The towne being thus weakly garded was taken by the Britans and the people therein put all to the sword The like calamitie befell the free-towne of Verulamium by reason that diverse of the Britans finding their owne strength forsooke their forts and assailed the most notable and wealthie places enriching themselves with the spoil of their enemies whom they hanged burned and crucifyed exercising all kinds of crueltie that a mind enraged with desire of revenge could devise They tooke no prisoners either to preserve for ransome or to exchange according to the lawes of warre but slue both Citizens and Confederates to the number of about seuentie thousand Suetonius with the Fourteenth Legion seconded by the Standard-bearers of the Twentieth and some Auxiliaries made haste to encounter the Britans and resolved without further delay to trie the chance of a set battaile Then he pitched in a place that had a narrow entrance with a thicke wood for a defence behind him and a faire wide plaine before his Campe. The Legionarie Souldiers were marshalled togither in thicke ranks the light harnessed inclosing them about and the horsemen making wings on each side Poenius Posthumus the Campe-Master of the Second Legion was appoynted to leade the fore-ward but he contemptuously refused the charge In the meane time the Britans ranged abroad in great troopes triumphing for their late good successe and being encouraged by the example of Voadica their Generall were fiercely bent to assaile the Roman campe supposing now that no force was able to resist them And they had brought their wives with them and placed them in Waggons about the vtmost parts of the Plaine to be the beholders of their valiant acts and witnesses of their expected victorie CHAP. V. The Oration of Suetonius the Roman Generall vnto his Souldiers The fight betweene the Romans and Britans The Britans are overthrowne Voadica poysoneth her selfe The death of Poenius Posthumus SVetonius being now readie to joyne battaile though he perceived that his Souldiers were not much dismaied with the sight of so great numbers scattered vpon the Plaine yet he supposed it not vnnecessarie to vse some speech to them by way of exhortation and therefore began in this maner I can not now vse many words to exhort you the time permits it not and the present occasion requireth rather deeds then words Yet let not our small number discourage you considering that your ancestors with a smaller number have vndertaken greater matters and that where many Legions have beene in the field a few Souldiers have carried away the victorie What a glorie shall it be for you then if with so small a power you can purchase the praise of a whole army There is no feare of Ambush the Woods gard you behind and on the Plaine before you lieth your enemies Campe wherein you may behold more women then men and the men themselves for the most part vnarmed and not likely to endure the poynts and strokes of our weapons which they have so often felt to their smart It stands you now vpon to approove your selves the same men you are reputed to be This is the time either to recover that you have lost or to loose that which you shall never recover You fight now not for honour onely but for Honour and Life Remember that you are Romans whose glorie it is to doe and suffer great things The fortune of this battell wil either give vs peaceable possession of that our forefathers have wonne or for ever deprive vs of it What shall become of you if you be taken the woful experience of your Countrimen most miserably massacred before your eyes may sufficiently testifie Revenge therefore both their wrongs and your owne and no doubt but the gods themselves who never leave crueltie vnpunished wil assist you It is better for vs to die in this Action then by yeelding or flying to out-live the praise of our owne worthinesse But whether we live or die Britannie shall be ours for if we live and recover it our posteritie ever after shall be able to defend it and though they should not yet shall our bones keepe continuall possession of it Take courage therefore and feare not the lowd and vaine showts of a disordered multitude but boldly give the assault and keeping your selves close togither pursue the fight without thinking of the spoile till you have made a ful end For the victorie once gotten al things else will of themselves fall to your share With these or the like words the old Souldiers were pricked forward and Suetonius perceiving it gave the signall of battell The Legions kept the strait as a place of defence till the Britans had spent their Darts and then they sallyed out into the Plaine the Auxiliaries and the horsemen making way and pressed into the thickest troopes of the barbarous people who being vnable to endure the fiercenesse of the assault turned their backs thinking to save themselves by flight But by reason their waggons placed about the Plain had hedged in the passages on all sides few of them escaped The residue as well women as men were put to the sword and their dead bodies mingled with the carcases of their Horses and Chariots were heaped one vpon another The number of the Britans slaine in that battaile was reported to be about fourescore thousand and of the Romans about foure hundred onely and not many mo wounded in the conflict This dayes service was renowmed among the Romans as comparable to those of auncient times in the free Common-wealth Voadica disdaining to fall into her enemies hands ended her life by poyson and Poenius Posthumus seeing the good successe of the Fourteenth and Twentieth Legions for that by disobaying the Generall contrarie to the discipline of warre he had defrauded his owne Legion of their part of the glorie in the action for
verie griefe slue himselfe CHAP. VI. Suetonius renforceth the Roman Garrisons Variance betweene him and Classicianus the Procurator Polycletus is sent by Nero the Emperour to examine their doings Suetonius is discharged of the armie which he delivereth vp to Turpilianus THen Suetonius having gathered togither his dispersed troopes certaine Legionarie souldiers and Cohorts of Auxiliaries were sent him out of Germany to renforce the Garrisons and to make an end of the warre Some of the Britans that either openly resisted or elsstood doubtfully affected were put to the sword and some that escaped the sword died of famine for lacke of corne a calamitie incident to them as to a people given rather to warre then husbandrie The rest found meanes to relieve themselves by the Romans provision And though some overtures were now and then made for a treatie of peace yet the Britans would not verie readily hearken thereto by reason they much doubted their safetie as imagining that their guiltinesse of the rebellion had excluded them from all hope of pardon and they feared also the private displeasure of the Lievtenant who though otherwise a singular man yet seemed to shew too much hautie and hard dealing towards them that yeelded themselves and in some sort vnder pretext of the publike service to revenge his owne injuries Besides Iulius Classicianus who was sent to succeed Catus being at variance with Suetonius had given out that a new Lievtenant was comming and that he was such a one as being void of malice or the pride of a Conquerour would be readie to receive into favour all such as would yeeld themselves He wrote Letters also to Rome signifying to the Senate that they should looke for no end of the warre in Britannie so long as Suetonius continued the government there and that the ill successe which he had in the service was to be attributed to his owne ill cariage of himselfe and the good to the fortune of the Common weale Hereupon Nero sent Polycletus a Libertine into Britannie to examine and report the state of the affaires there and to enterpose his authoritie as a meane to reconcile the Lievtenant the procurator to win the Britans to embrace peace At his landing in the I le the Roman souldiers there seemed to feare reverence him the causes of his comming were diversly reported at the first But the Britans derided him for as men being borne free they knew not till that time the power of Libertines men made free but rather marvailed that a Captain and an armie which had atchieved so great an enterprise could be brought to obey and yeeld an account of their actions to a base bondslave as they termed him These things howsoever they were censured by others yet they were reported to Nero in such maner as the reporters thought might best content him and Suetonius after the losse of some of his shipping was commanded the warre being not yet finished to deliver vp the armie to Petronius Turpilianus who had but even a little before given over his Consulship CHAP. VII Trebellius Maximus succeedeth Turpilianus in the government of the Province Discord in the armie betweene Trebellius and Celius The death of Nero the Emperor and succession of Galba Otho and Vitellius The valour and fortune of the Fourteenth Legion TVrpilianus was a man of a soft spirit and being a stranger to the Britans faults was the more tractable and readie to remit them by which meanes having composed the former troubles he delivered vp his charge to Trebellius Maximus whose vnfitnesse for action and want of experience in militare matters gave the more boldnes to the Britans that began now to discover the defects of their Governours having learned both to flatter dissemble in conforming themselves to the present times and occasions for their advantage and for the most part yeelding themselves to those pleasures which Securitie vseth to engender even in minds well disposed by Nature For Trebellius besides his insufficiencie abused the authoritie of his place to enrich himself by polling the Common souldiers and Roscius Coelius Lievtenant of the Twentieth Legion whetted them on against him as against his ancient enemie so that in the end they brake out into hainous termes the one objecting matter of crime against the other Trebellius charged Coelius with factious behauiour Coelius againe Trebellius with beggering the Legions and the discord betwixt them grew so farre that Trebellius being despised as well by the Aydes as the Legions both of them sorting themselves to Coelius his side was in great feare of his life the danger wherof he sought to prevent rather by flying away then by executing any exemplarie Iustice vpon offenders In the meane time the Souldiers neglecting the ancient discipline of warre fell to mutinie and all kind of riot as men that had rather be doing ill then doing nothing And afterwards Trebellius taking againe his former place as it were by capitulation seemed to govern onely at the discretion of his Souldiers who finding his weaknesse and want of Iudgement to vse his authoritie tooke vpon them to do what they listed and herewith also the Lievtenant himselfe seemed contented as being now given over altogither to a slouthfull kind of life terming it peace and quietnesseâ— for which the death of Nero the Emperour and the civill discord at that time between Galba Otho and Vitellius contending for the soveraigntie ministred some colour of excuse Not long before this time the Fourteenth Legion famous for many great attempts and growing now more insolent then the rest was revoked out of the I le to have beene sent to the Streights about the Caspian Sea though afterwards vpon intelligence of the revolt in Gallia and Spaine when Iulius Vindex tooke armes against Nero it was retained about the Citie of Rome for a safegard to those parts In the turbulent times that ensued Neroes death it tooke part with Otho against Vitellius at the battell neere Bebriacum where Otho was overthrowne and Vitellius after the victorie suspecting the Souldiers of that Legion as knowing their great stomacks and ill affection towards him thought it expedient to joyne to them the Batavian Cohorts that by reason of the inveterate hatred betweene them they might one oppose the other and himselfe in the meane time remaine more secure CHAP. VIII Vectius Bolanus is sent by Vitellius the Emperour to take charge of the Armie in Britannie Vespasian succeedeth Vitellius in the Empire The government of the Province assigned to Petilius Cerealis who soone after leaveth the same to Iulius Frontinus VEctius Bolanus a man not much vnlike Trebellius in some respects was sent over by Vitellius during the time of whose Government the like disorders continued still in the Campe saving that Bolanus by the mildnesse of his nature being not touched otherwise in his reputation had purchased love and good will in stead of feare and obedience In his time diverse choise men of warre taken out of the
Legions in Britannie were conducted to Rome by Hordeonius Flaâ—cus in ayd of Vitellius But when Vespasian made warre for the Empire Bolanus refused to send Vitellius any succour by reason that the Britans finding the Romans state encumbred with civill dissention began to revolt in diverse places of the I le and some of them also shewed themselves openly in favour of Vespasian who had carried himselfe honourably in Britannie when Claudius was there and seemed now by many ominous predictions to be a man specially marked for the Empire The death of Vitellius quenching the flame of civill broyles among the Romans confirmed the possession of the Empire to Vespasian who shewed the care and respect he had of the I le of Britannie by employing great Captaines and good souldiers there The Lievtenantship was then assigned to Petilius Cerealis a man that had given good proofe of his sufficiencie in former services Vpon his first entrance into office he invaded the Country of the Brigantes the most populous state of the whole Province the greatest part whereof after many bloodie battailes was either conquered or wasted and the hope of the Britans greatly abated whenas Iulius Frontinus whose reputation was nothing impaired by the fame of his predecessor tooke vpon him the charge which he afterwards executed with great commendation in subduing the strong and warlike Nation of the Silures among whom he seemed to fight not onely with men whose strength and valour was able to make opposition against his attempts but also with Mountaines streights and places of verie difficult accesse CHAP. IX Iulius Agricola assigned by Vespasian the Emperour to be Lievtenant of the Armie in Britannie subdueth the Ordovices the ancient Inhabitants of North-wales and maketh a full conquest of the I le of Anglesey The carriage of himselfe at his first entrance into government IN this estate Iulius Agricola having bin trained vp for the most part in the British warre did find the Province at his first comming thither He crossed the narrow Seas about the midst of Summer at which time as though the season of the yeare had bin past to begin a new warre the Roman soldiers attended an end of their travel the Britans a beginning of annoyance to their enemies The Ordovices a little before he landed had almost cut in peeces a troope of horsemen that lay vpon their borders Vpon which attempt the country being awaked as desirous of warre allowed the example and some staied to see how the new Lievtenant would take it Agricola in the mean time although the summer was spent and the Bands lay dispersed in the Province his souldiers having fully presumed of rest for that yeare diverse officers of the armie being of opinion that it were better to keep and assure the places suspected then to make any new attempt yet all this notwithstanding he resolved directly to encounter the danger and gathering togither the Ensignes of the Legions some few Auxiliaries because the Ordovices durst not discend into indifferent ground himselfe first of all to give others like courage marched vp to begin the assault And having in that conflict destroyed almost the whole Nation of the Ordovices knowing right well that Fame must with Instance be followed for as the first should fall out so the rest would succeed he deliberated to conquer the Iland of Mona from the possession whereof Paulinus had beene formerly revoked by the general rebellion of Britannie But ships being then wanting as in an enterprise not intended before the policy and resolutenesse of the Captaine devised a speedie passage For he commaunded the most choise of the Aids to whom al the shallows were knowne and who after the vse of their Country were able to swim in their armor if need were to lay aside their carriage and putting ouer at once suddainly to invade it Which thing so amazed the Inhabitants who supposed that the Romans would have stayed a certain time for ships and such like provision by Sea that now beleeving nothing could be hard or invincible to men which came so minded to make warre they humbly intreated for peace and yeelded the Iland Thus Agricola at his first entrance into office which time others vsed to consume in vaine oftentation or ambitious seeking of Ceremonies entring withall into labors and dangers became famous indeed and of great reputation Howbeit he abused not the prosperous proceeding of his affaires to vanitie or braving in speeches for he esteemed it an Action not worthy the name of a Conquest to keepe in order onely persons subdued before neither decked he with Laurel his letters of advertisement but by stopping and suppressing the fame of his doings he greatly augmented it when men began to discourse vpon what great presumptions offuture successe he should make so light an account of so great actions alreadie performed CHAP. X. Agricola reformeth abuses in the Province His courage industrie and wisdome set forth as commendable qualities in a Generall The death of Vespasian the Emperour whom Titus his sonne succeedeth in the Empire AS touching the civill government Agricola knowing how the province stood affected and being taught also by experience of others that armes availe little to settle a new conquered state if violence and wrongs be permitted determined at the first to cut off all causes of warre and rebellion And beginning at home he first of all reformed his owne house a point of more hardnesse to some men then to governe a Province He committed no maner of publike affaires to bondman or Libertine He received no souldier neer his person vpon private affection of partiall suiters nor vpon commendation or intreatie of Centurions but elected the best and most serviceable He would looke narrowly into all things yet not exact all things to the vtmost light faults he would pardon and the great severely correct not alwayes punishing offenders but oft times satisfied with repentance choosing rather not to preferre to office such as were likely to offend then after the offence to condemne them The augmentation of Tribute and corne he tempered with equal dividing of burdens cutting away those petie extortions which grieved the Britans more then the tribute it selfe For the poore people in former times were constrained in a mockerie to wait at the Barne doores which were lockt against them and first to buy corne and after sell at a low price Severall wayes also and farre distant places had beene assigned them by the Purveyors appointments for carrying provisions from the nearest standing campes to those which were farre off and out of the way pettie officers in the meane time making a gaine thereof by sparing some and charging others at their pleasure so as that which lay open to all and at hand was turned onely to the private profite of a few By repressing these abuses in his first yeare a good opinion was conceived of the peace which either by the negligence or partialitie of former Lievtenants had beene no
marched also with his army divided in three parts which when it was knowne to the Caledonians they changed advise on the sodaine and vniting their forces togither joyntly assaulted by night the Ninth Legion as being of weakest resistance having slain the watch partly asleep partly amazed with feare they broke into the camp were fighting within the trenches when Agricola having vnderstood by spies what way the Britans had taken and following their footsteps commanded the lightest horsemen and footmen to play vpon their backs and to maintaine the skirmish When the day drew neere the glittering of the Ensignes dazeled the eyes of the Britans who being daunted with feare of danger on each side began to draw backe and the Romans like men that were now out of perill of their lives did fight more cheerfully for their honour freshly assailing the Britans and driving them to their owne gates where in the verie straits the Conflict was sharpe and cruell til in the end the Britans were forced to flie whilest the Roman forces severally pursued them contending with a kind of emulation the one to have helped the other and the other to seeme to have needed no helpe Vpon the successe of this battell the Roman Souldiers presuming that to their power al things were easie and open cryed to the Generall to leade them into Caledonia that with a course of continuall Conquests they might find out the vtmost limits of Britannie Now such as before the battaile were so waâ—ie and wise in adventuring waxed forward enough after the event and grew to speake gloriously of themselves such is the hard condition of warre if aught fall out well all challenge a part misfortunes commonly are imputed to one Contrariwise the Britans presupposing that not true Valor but the cunning of the General by vsing the occasion had carried away the victorie abated not much their wonted courage but armed their youth transported their children and wives into places of safetie and sought by assemblies and religious rites to establish an association of the Cities togither And so for that yeare both parties as 〈◊〉 departed incensed away CHAP. XIII The Northern Britans with common consent arme themselves to repulse the Romans The Oration of Galgacus the chiefe of their Leaders IN the beginning of the next summer Agricola sending his Navie before which by spoyling in sundry places should induce a greater and more vncertaine terror followed himselfe with his armie by land having drawne to his partie some of the valiantest Britans whom by long experience in peace he had found most faithfull and so armed at the Mount Grampius where the Britans had lodged themselves before For they were not altogither dejected with the vnfortunate event of former battel but now as men prepared for all chances they attended nothing else but revenge death or servitude being taught at the length that common danger must be repelled with mutuall concord by leagues and ambassages they had assembled the power of all the Cities togither in number above thirtie thousand armed men the view being taken besides a great companie of youth which dayly flocked to them and lustie old men renowmed in warre and bearing the badges due to their honour at what time Galgacus for Vertue and Birth the principall man of all the Leaders seeing the multitude hotly demaund the battell is said to have vsed this or the like speech When I consider the cause of this warre and out present necessitie I have reason me seemes to presume that this day and this our generall agreement will give a happie beginning to the freedome of the whole Iland For we have al hitherto lived in libertie and now no land remaineth beyond vs no sea for our safetie the Roman Navy as you see surveying and invironing our coasts so that combat and armes which men of vertue desire for honour the dastard must also vse for his securitie The former battels which have with diverse events bin fought with the Romans had their refuge hope resting in our hands For we the flower of the British Nobilitie seated in the furthest part of th'ile did never yet see the borders of those countries which were brought vnder servile subjection our eies being still kept vnpolluted free from al contagion of tyranny Beyond vs is no land besides vs none are free vs onlie hitherto this corner and secret harbor hath defended You see the vttermost part of the land is laid open and things the lesse they have bin within knowledge the greater is the glorie to atchive them But what nation is there now beyond vs what els but water and rocks and the Romans Lords of all within the land whose intollerable pride in vaine shall you seeke to avoid by service and humble behavior They are the robbers of the world that having now left no land to be spoiled search also the sea If the enemie be rich they seek to win wealth if poor they are content to gain glory to themselves whom neither the East nor West can satisfie as being the only men of al memory that seek out al places be they wealthy or poore with like greedy affection To take away by main force to kil and spoile falsely they terme Empire Government when all is waste as a wildernes that they call peace His children blood each man holds by nature most deare yet even they are pressed for Souldiers carried away to be slaves we know not where Our sisters and wives though they be not violently forced as in open hostilitie yet are they vnder the colour title of friends guests shamefully abused Our goods substance they dayly draw from vs rewarding vs onely with stripes and indignities Slaves which are borne to bondage are sold but once after are fed at their owners expences But Britannie dayly buieth dayly feedeth and is at charges with her own bondage And as in a private retinue the fresh man and last commer is scoffed at by his fellow servants so in this old servitude of the whole world they seeke onely the destruction of vs as being the latest attempted and of al others in their opinion the most vile We have no fields to manure no mines to be digged no ports to tradâ— in and to what purpose then should they keepe vs alive considering that the manhood and fierce courage of the subject doth not much please the jelous Soveraigne and this corner being so secret out of the way the more securitie it yeeldeth to vs the greater suspition it worketh in them Seeing therfore all hope of pardon is past it behooveth you at length to shew courage in defending and maintaining both your safetie and honor The Icenians led by a woman fired the Roman Colonie forced the castles had the prosecution of the war bin answerable to so luckie a beginning the Southern Britans might then with ease have shaken off the yoke and prevented our perill We as yet never
Arviragus a Britan by birth and education did governe as King part of the I le of Britannie the Romans accounting it a poynt of policie to permit the Britans sometimes to be ruled by Princes of their owne Nation whose ayde and counsaile they might vse vpon occasions to the pacifying of rebellions and the establishing of their owne greatnesse For the common people whose affection doth oft times sway the fortunes of great Princes are much more easily brought vnder the obedience of their own Country-men then of strangers The end of the second Booke of the first Part of the Historie of Great Britannie The succession of the Roman Emperors from Nerva Cocceius vnto Honorius in whose time the Romans gave over the government of Britannie 13 Nerva Cocceius raigned one yeare and foure Moneths 14 Vlpius Trajanus a Spaniard nineteene yeares and six moneths 15 Aelius Adrianus twentie yeares 16 Antoninus Pius twentie three yeares 17 M. Aurel Antoninus Philosophus nineteene yeares L Verus his Collegue in the Empire 18 Aurel. Commodus the sonne of Antoninus Philosophus thirteene yeares 19 Aelius Pertinax six moneths 20 Didius Iulianus seven moneths 21 Septimius Severus Brit eighteene yeares Pessenius Niger Vsurpers Clodius Albinus 22 Anton Bassianus Caracalla Brit the eldest sonne of Sept Severus six yeares Geta Caesar Brit. the yonger sonne of Sept. Severus 23 Opilius Macrinus one yeare and two moneths 24 Varius Heliogabalus the base son of Caracalla 4. year 25 Alexander Severus a kinsman of Heliogab 13. year 26 Iul Maximinus three yeares Caesars elected Balbinus Pupienus 27 Gordianus the father with his two sonnes and his Nephew six yeares C. Valens Hostilianus Caesar. 28 Philippus the Arabian five yeares 29 Decius Trajanus two yeares 30 Vibius Pallus Hostilianus with his sonne Volusianus two yeares 31 Aemilius of Mauritania three moneths 32 Licinius Valerianus fifteene yeares 33 Gallienus the sonne of Valerianus nine yeares Valerianus the brother of Gallienus Caesar. Cassus Labienus Posthumus Caes. 34 Flavius Claudius two yeares 35 Aurelius Quintillus the brother of Claudius 17. daies 36 Valerius Aurelianus five yeares and six moneths 37 Tacitus six moneths 38 Annius Florianus the brother of Tacitus sixtie dayes 39 Valerius Probus six yeares and foure moneths 40 Carus Narbonensis two yeares Caesars the sonnes of Carus Numerianus Carinus 41 Dioclesianus twentie yeares Maximianus Herculeius Caesar. 42 Constantius Chlorus foure yeares 43 Galerius Maximus eleven yeares Caesars Severus Maximianus 44 Maxentius the sonne of Maximian six yeares 45 Licinius fourteene yeares 46 Constantinus Magnus thirtie yeares Magnentius Vsurper The three sonnes of Constantine the Great Constantinus Constans 47 Costantius 24. yeares 48 Iulianus Apostata one yeare six moneths 49 Iovinianus eight moneths 50 Valentinianus twelve yeares Valens his brother Caesar. 51 Gratianus six yeares Valentinianus Caesar. Theodosius Caesar. 52 Theodosius three yeares 53 Arcadius thirteene yeares 54 Honorius twentie eight yeares ⧠Lievtenants in Britannie from Nerva Cocceius his entrance into the Government of the Empire vntill the raigne of Honorius the Emperour Lievtenants vnder the Emperours Nerva and Traianus ¶ There is no mention of any Lievtenants in Britannie during the time of their government Lievetenants vnder Adrian Brit. ¶ Iulius Severus ¶ Priscus Licinius Lievtenants vnder Antoninus Pius ¶ Lollius Vrbicus Brit. Lievtenants vnder Antoninus Philosophus ¶ Calphurnius Agricola Lievtenants vnder Commodus ¶ Vlpius Marcellus ¶ Helvius Pertinax ¶ Clodius Albinus ¶ Iunius Severus Lievtenants vnder Pertinax ¶ Clodius Albinus Lievtenants vnder Did Iulianus ¶ Clodius Albinus Lievtenants vnder Sept. Severus Brit. ¶ Heraclianus ¶ Virius Lupus From the time of Bassianus Caracalla the Successor of Severus vnto Constantine the great there is no mention in approoved Histories of any Lievtenants in Britannie Deputies vnder Constantine the Great ¶ Pacatianus Deputies vnder Constantius the yongest sonne of Constantine the Great ¶ Martinus ¶ Alipius Deputies vnder Honorius ¶ Chrysanthus ¶ Victorinus Princes and secular men of speciall note among the Britans In the time of Calphurnius Agricolaes government vnder M. Aur. Antoninus Philosophus Lucius surnamed Lever-Maur the first Christian Prince in Britannie In the raigne of Aurelianus Bonosus Vsurper of the Empire in Britannie In the raigne of Constantius the yongest sonne of Constantine the Great Magnentius Taporus vsurper of the Empire in Britannie  Archbishops of London from the time of Lucius vntill the comming in of the Saxons 1 Thean 2 Clavus 3 Cador. 4 Obinns 5 Conanus 6 Paladius 7 Stephanus 8 Iltut 9 Dedwinus 10 Thedredus 11 Hillarius 12 Guidilinus 13 Vodinus who lived when the Saxons first entred the land THE FIRST PART The third Booke IMP NERVA CAES AVG P. M. TR P. P. P. CHAP. I. Nerva Cocceius succeedeth Domitian in the Empire leaving the same soone after to Vlpius Trajanus Adrianus the successour of Trajan sendeth Iulius Severus into Britannie to defend the borders of the Province against the incursions of the Northern Britans The Emperour himselfe with an Army entreth the Iland and buildeth there a wall of Turves for defence of the Province Licinius Priscus is Governour of Britannie HItherto hath beene declared the successe of times and affaires in Britannie vnder the first twelve Emperours of Rome the same being recorded by such Writers as had best meanes to vnderstand the truth thereof and were the principall Registrers of things done by the Romans in those times As for the occurrents ensuing the death of Domitian vntill the raigne of Honorius in whose time the Roman governement ceased they are imperfectly reported or a great part of them meerely omitted so that I am forced of many things to make onely a bare and briefe relation as vnwilling by adding or diminishing to alter in substance what Antiquitie hath left vs or to fill vp blancks with conjectures or projects of mine owne invention And therefore howsoever this Booke following which comprehendeth the acts of many more yeares then the former may seeme to carry with it a kinde of disproportion from the other two and likewise in respect of the stile and composition to be somewhat differing from them yet the cause thereof ought to be imputed to the very matters themselves being for the most part fragments and naked memorialls the loose ends of Time without observation of circumstances or congruitie in substance which will hardly admit any method fitting a continuate History And I owe so much love and reverence to Truth as I would rather expose her in the meanest and worst habit that Time hath left her then by disguising her to abuse the world and make her seeme a counterfet DOmitian the Emperour being slaine Nerva Cocceius a Prince much honored for his vertues succeeded in the Empire But in what estate the affaires of Britannie then stood the histories of those times make no mention either for that the Emperour being a man stricken in yeares and disposed to ease and quietnesse employed himselfe rather in reforming abuses at home then in maintaining warre abroad or else for that the
accounted himselfe most happy Thus died Constantius Caesar a wise and vertuous Prince as being not subject to those vices which commonly accompany the highest fortunes He was first called from the degree of a Senator to be a Caesar not affecting the title for ambition nor refusing it in respect of the danger Helena his wife the mother of Constantine the Great was as some have written the daughter of Coil a British King though by others it be otherwise reported But of what Country or kindred soever she was it appeareth by consent of all Writers that she was a wise and vertuous Lady worthy to be the Wife of such a Husband and the Mother of such a Sonne She was an earnest professor of Christianitie and vpon religious zeale travailed to Ierusalem where she found out the Manger wherein Christ was laid at the time of his birth and the Crosse whereon he was nailed when he suffered By this Crosse many diseases were cured and strange miracles wrought if credit may be given to such as have written thereof Her constant desire to advance the Christian faith first moved Constantius her husband to favour the Christians who having in times of danger hidden themselves for the most part in desarts and dennes did then come abroad againe into the view of the world reedified their old Churches founded new instituted holy daies to be celebrated in honour of their Martyrs and exercised religion freely and peaceably as being licensed so to doe by publike Edicts In all vertues beseeming a Prince there were few of his degree either before his time or since that might worthily be compared with Constantius who in the administration of Iustice in civill causes carryed so even a hand as he never vsed to make difference of persons or to be mis-led by affection He was no wastefull spender of his subjects treasure no greedie horder vp of his owne for he esteemed money onely as a thing to be vsed not kept and hee would oft times say That it was more behoovefull for the Common-weale that the wealth of the land should be dispearsed in subjects hands then barred vp in Princes coffers For glorious apparrell and other outward ornaments wherewith Princes vse to dazell the eyes of the common people he was more meanly furnished then beseemed the greatnesse of his estate His diet was neither curious nor costly and when he feasted his friends he borrowed his silver vessell supposing it a thing vnnecessarie to have any of his owne and considering perhaps that the mettall whereof they were made might be converted to a better vse In times of war he was diligent and industrious yet not vsing force where pollicie might prevaile for he so much esteemed the life of a man as he would never hazard it in desperate attempts for his owne glory which wan him great reputation among his Souldiers who for the love they bare him did presently after his death elect Constantine his sonne to succeede him other Nations supposing this our Iland most happie in first seeing him saluted Emperor CHAP. XV. Constantine the Great is declared Emperour at Yorke He subdueth Maxentius and Licinius the one vsurping the West Empire and the other the East He establisheth a new forme of governement in Britannie appointing Pacatianus to rule the Province there as Deputie to the Praefectus Praetorio of Gallia He translateth the seate of the Empire from Rome to Bizantium His three sonnes Constantinus Constans and Constantius raigne successively after his death Gratianus Funarius hath the charge of the Armie in Britannie when Constans the Emperor is staine by Magnentius Martinus Deputie in Britannie vnder Constantius Paulus Catena a Commissioner to enquire of Magnentius confederates THen Constantine residing at Yorke although he seemed at the first vnwilling to accept the Imperiall Title and protested openly against it yet when the Senate had confirmed the election he tooke vpon him the government of those Provinces which his father had held in the West parts and with an Armie of Britans and other Nations he first setled France and Germany being then in Armes against him and afterwards subdued Maxentius Maximians sonne that vsurped the Empire in Italy Then with like successe he made war vpon Licinius his Associate who persecuted the professors of Christianitie in the East parts of the world By which meanes Constantine alone enjoyed the Empire and for his many and glorious conquests was worthily surnamed the Great In his time the forme of government in Britannie both for Civill and Martiall causes was altered and new lawes established The civill governement of the Province there he committed to Pacatianus who ordered the same as Deputy to the Praefectus Praetorio of Gallia an Officer instituted by him with a limitation of place and restriction of that power which the antient Praefectus Praetorio had vnder the first Emperors Then Constantine intending to make war in Persia either to defend or enlarge the limits of the East Empire removed the Imperiall seate from Rome to the Citie Bizantium which he reedified and caused the same to be called of his owne name Constantinopolis drawing thither the Legions in Germany that garded the frontires of the Westerne Empire which was thereby laid open to the incursions of those barbarous people that afterwards assailed it and in the end possessed the greatest part thereof The borders also of the Province in Britannie were weakened by removing the Garrisons there into other Cities and Townes which being pestered with Souldiers for the most part vnruly guests were abandoned by the antient inhabitants After the death of Constantine the Great Constantinus his eldest sonne enjoyed Britannie as a portion of his dominion till making some attempts vpon his brother Constans for the enlarging of it he was by him slaine Then was the Empire divided betweene Constans and Constantius the two younger brethren Constans seised vpon the Provinces which Constantinus his brother had held and made a voyage into Britannie where Gratianus an Hungarian by birth had then charge of the Armie This Gratianus was surnamed Funarius for that being a young man he was able as it is written of him to holde a rope in his hand against the force of five Souldiers assaying to pull it from him But Constans afterwads following ill counsell the ready way to Princes ruines and giving himselfe over to all kinds of vice was slaine by Magnentius Taporus the sonne of a Britan who then invaded the Empire vsurping the governement of Gallia and Britannie till after three years warre with Constantius the successour of Constans his brother finding himselfe vnable any longer to vphold his greatnesse he murdered himselfe Then was Martinus an aged man made Deputy of Britannie when Paulus a Spaniard surnamed Catêna a name well sorting with nature was sent thither as a commissioner to inquire of such as had conspired with Magnentius But vnder colour of his authoritie he called in question such as were not faulty either vpon false information or
Britans are trecherously murdered by the Saxons vpon Salisbnrie Plaines THen Vortimer his sonne a man in disposition of his mind much vnlike his father was declared King renued the warre with the Saxons whom he encountred in a pitched field neere Ailsford in Kent In that conflict Catigern his brother and Horsa the brother of Hengist fighting hand to hand were both slaine whereby though the Saxons perished in greater number then the Britans yet by the losse of the Generals on both sides the fortune of the battaile seemed in a maner to be equall On the part of the Britans there died no man of name save onely Catigern in remembrance of whose death there was afterwards a Sepulchre of stone erected where the battaile was fought The like Monument was also built by the Saxons for Horsa their Captaine though Time hath now defaced it howbeit the memorie of the place it selfe if credite may be given to the Inhabitants there is continued among them even to this day by a small Village in East Kent yet bearing his name After this the Britans made diverse attempts vpon their enemies sometimes winning sometimes loosing and then recovering againe that which they had lost when Vortimer the King ended his dayes either by a naturall death or by the trecherie of Rowen his Stepmother He was a Prince of great courage adorned with many Morall vertues and as some writers have reported a favorer and professor of the Christian religion Then was Vortiger the King either vpon hope that adversitie had wrought in him a reformation of mind or else for feare lest any civill discord should arise by the election of any other revoked with common consent of the Britans and restored to his former estate During his Sonnes raigne as the Brittish Storie reporteth he lived a private life neere Radnor in Wales where he bestowed much cost in building a Castle for defence as himselfe vainly imagined against any suddaine assault In the meane time the strength of the Saxons encreased by new supplies which came dayly out of Germanie and the Britans now doubted their owne estates so much the more by reason that the Picts and Scottish-men their ancient enemies were dispersed in most parts of the I le the Saxons also for their owne aduantage entring oftentimes into secret confederacie and mutuall leagues with them But Hengist supposing that he could not with safetie enjoy the possession of that territorie which Vortiger had assigned vnto him so long as the chiefe and most valiant of the Brittish Nation remained alive devised by a cunning practise vnder pretence of hospitalitie and friendship to draw them togither into one place and on the suddaine to surprise them To this end he prepared a solemne Banquet at which the King with diverse Noble personages as bidden guests were present suspecting nothing lesse then what was intended against them For the Britans being warme with good cheere and wine whereof they had drunke immeasurably were scoffed at by the Saxons the one provoking the other so farre with reproachfull termes that in the end they fell from words to blowes in such furious maner as the Britans being about three hundred in number all vnarmed and surcharged with Wine were slaine in the place and Vortiger their King taken prisoner who soone after delivering for his ransome the whole Countrey of Kent with other Provinces thereto adjoyning into the Saxons hands fled to his Castle in Wales where supposing himselfe free from danger he continued his vitious and prophane maner of living till in the end both himselfe and his Castle as some Writers affirme was by lightning from heaven consumed to ashes Thus Vortiger the last King of the Brittish blood a Prince in manners dissolute and weake in actions was by Strangers dispossessed of his Kingdome living to see the ruine of his Countrey whereof himselfe was the principall cause and dying in the ende a strange and vnnaturall death which is commonly the issue of a disordered and infamous life The report goeth that this fatall meeting was held vpon Salisburie Plaines where not many yeares after Aurelianus Ambrosius caused that strange building of Stone now called Stone-henge to be erected as a perpetuall Monument of so many worthie Britans slaine and buried there concerning which sundrie conjectures have beene made as being either framed according to mens particular conceits or grounded vpon common reports received by tradition But by what meanes soever they came thither they are accounted at this day one of the miracles of England in regarde both of the Stones themselves which are of a huge bignesse and also of their composition and order whereby they seeme in a maner to be supported with their owne weight in hanging one by another considering withall that there are no Stones fit for building to be found with in many miles of that place CHAP. VI. The calamities of the Britans The Professors of Christian Religion in Britannie are persecuted by the Saxons whose Idolatrie and superstitious rites are described NOw were the Britans driven from place to place some flying to the Mountaines others hiding themselves in Caves vnder the ground where they either perished for want of foode or comming abroad to seeke reliefe were cruelly murdered their enemies in the meane time ranging vp and downe without resistance razing their houses polluting the Altars in their Temples with the blood of their Priests burning the Temples themselves and committing all maner of Sacrilege and outrage without regard of place or person For the Saxons as by little and little they planted themselves in the most wealthie fruitful parts of the I le so they endevored to supplant the truth of Christian religion whereof they professed themselves open enemies as men meerly addicted to heathenish superstition in worshipping divers gods and goddesses among whom the images of Thor Woden Frea and Eoster were placed in their Temples as their chiefe Patrons They painted Thor with a Scepter in his hand after the same manner that the Poets vsed to describe the image of Iupiter and him they reverenced as the commander and disposer of Thunder and Lightning with all those 〈◊〉 is that are ingendred in the middle Region of the ayre consecrating to him the fifth day of the weeke which was afterwards called Thoâ—sday The name of Woden they attributed to Mercury or as some write to Mars whom they reverenced as a protector in warre and a giver of strength and courage against their enemies To him they vsually sacrificed with mans blood and dedicated the fourth day of the weeke naming it Wodensday as yet retaining the first denomination with very little difference Vnder the name of Frea they sacrificed to Venus as the giver of peace and pleasure whom they adored sometimes vnder the figure of Priapus committing to her the patronage of the sixth day called Frea day Of these three Thor was placed vpon a three-footed stoole in the midst and Woden and Frea on each side To the goddesse
perhaps most fit to avoid contention which many times ariseth among great spirits about superioritie of place These Knights were commonly chosen for their valour and skill in feats of Armes wherein they strived vpon emulation one to excel another Into this societie were admitted strangers of divers Nations who for desire of glory came over into the Iland to make proofe of their sufficiency by exercise of armes with the Brittish Knights For Arthur himself by vndertaking great difficult enterprises in forraigne Countries after he had subdued the Saxons in Britannie made his name no lesse famous abroad then at home Touching his birth some have doubted whether he were a Roman or a Britan though the Britans challenge him for their Countryman confidently affirming that he was borne at Tyndagel in Cornewall and surely if the acts of such worthy men as at sundry times were transported out of the I le to aide the Romans in the wane of the Westerne Empire had beene faithfully registred the glorie of the Brittish Nation might well have been preserved from all suspition of vntruth without the support of forged and fabulous inventions As for the place where he died or the manner of his death I find no certaine report concerning the same in any approved Writer But his body was buried at Glastenbury betweene two Pyramides where the enscription of his name engraven vpon a leaden Crosse was discovered many hundred yeares after his death namely in the raigne of King Henry the second who having some intelligence of the place by the songs of the Brittish Bards commanded it to be digged and the Monument to be sought for Divers strange and incredible things to the prejudice of posteritie have beene written of this Prince of Queene Guinever his wife of Gawen his sisters sonne and of Merlin a phantastical Prophet with others commonly called Wandring Knights matters indeede more fit for feined Legends and poeticall fictions then for a Historie which ought to be a Register of things either truely done or at least warrantable by probabilitie And albeit those ridiculous and absurd reports of idle Writers doe seeme to have repaired the reputation of this Prince and to have called in question the truth it selfe so farre forth as some have doubted whether there were ever any such man or not yet divers Authors of good regard pittying his misfortune in that behalfe have both confirmed his being and commended him as a great souldier and the chiefe pillar of the State of Britannie in his time CHAP. IX The Britans flie into Wales and Cornewall where they seate themselves The Saxons and English possesse the greatest part of the I le which is afterwards divided into severall Principalities AFter the death of the noble Prince Arthur the hope of the Britans was cleane abated and a great number of them fled secretly into Wales and Cornewall as places furthest off from annoyance by the enemie and naturally defensible by reason of the bogges woods and high mountaines on the one side and the seas on the other Then the Saxons finding little or no resistance began in processe of time to erect certaine Provinciall governments in the South parts of the I le in the end divided the whole Land excepting that portion which the Scottishmen and Picts inhabited Northward into seven Principalities which were severed by certaine limits and governed for the most part by Princes according to order of succession till by making continuall warre one vpon another and the Provinces subdued augmenting the Dominions of the Conqueror the whole land was in the end brought into a Monarchy by the West Saxons But in what manner these things were done the Writers of former ages have much varied and the actions and events of those times being set downe so darkely and corruptly that I purposed to have omitted the relation of them as a hard and vnpleasant taske for me to vndertake and likely to receive small approbation of others if I had not beene thereto induced partly for respect of order which required a continuation and partly vpon desire to preserve the memory of some men whose names as marks of our Christianitie imposed vpon vs in our baptisme and registred in our calenders Churches are at this day in some vse with vs deserving well considering the state and condition of that age not to be altogether forgotten howsoever their doings through the negligence or ignorance of some Writers have beene left to posteritie as records of Antiquitie farced with absurdities and composed meerely of fragmâ—nts peeced together sometimes without method and for the most part without due coherence of circumstances and matters For many of those Writers being Monks and religious persons vnacquainted with matters of estate applyed themselves for the most part to register the charitable deeds of their Bishops and benefactors founders and maintainers of Monasteries and Hospitalls or such like generall observations and if aught were well written by any secular man the same hath perished by the many calamities of the Country a thing common to vs with other Nations or Time it selfe hath worn out in a manner the remembrance thereof I purpose therefore to make onely a bare and simple narration of the names of the Princes and to point out the most memorable things as I finde them reported in their severall raignes distinguishing the Principalities themselves and relating successively one after another such actions as for the most part concurred in time whereby though I shall be sometimes forced to report the same matters yet I shall more easily avoide confusion and obscuritie which the handling of them all joyntly would bring with it And so superficially passing over these imperfect affaires of the seven-fold regiment of the Saxons and English I will hasten to the occurrents of those times which afford more certaine and plentifull matter of discourse and may yeeld perhaps some contentation to the Writer and more profite and delight to the Reader The end of the First Booke of the Second Part of the Historie of Great Britannie ⧠The suceession of the Kentish-Saxon Princes 1 HEngist ruled 31. yeares 2 Vsk 24. yeares 3 Otta 20. yeares 4 Ermeric 29. yeares 5 Ethelbert the first Christian Prince 26. years 6 Edbald 24. yeares 7 Eâ—combert 24. yeares 8 Egbert 9. yeares 9 Lothar 12. yeares 10 Edrick 2 yeares 11 Withred 33. yeares 12 Edbert 23. yeares 13 Edelbert 11. yeares 14 Alric 34. yeares ⧠The Archbishops and Bishops in the Principalitie of the Kentish-Saxons the times of their succession and continuance in their Seas from the conversion of the English Nation to Christianity vntill the raâ—gne of Egbert the West-Saxon Prince who first obtained the Monarchy Anno Dom. Archbishops of Canterbury 598 Augustine the Monke sent by Gregorie the Great then Bishop of Rome to preach the Christian faith to the English sate 16. yeares 614 Laurentius 5. yeares 619 Mellitus translated from the Sea of London 5. yeares 624 Iustus translated from the Sea of Rochester
shaken with the blasts of schisme and division might easily miscarry for want of a Pastor he thought good while he lived to provide for it by appointing Laurence a grave and learned Priest to succeede him in the Sea of Canterbury and having to that end elected him and caused the election to be published he departed this life His body was buried in his owne Monastery within the Church which Ethelbert had there erected and an inscription in Latine was set over the place of his buriall declaring his name and qualitie and the time occasion and successe of his comming into the I le of Britannie CHAP. VI. Ethelbert the Prince provideth for the maintenance of religious persons Hee ordaineth lawes for civill governement publishing the same in the English tongue Edbald his sonne succeedeth him in the Principalitie of the Kentish-Saxons His Apostacie Repentance Death IN the meane while Ethelbert the Prince persisting with great devotion in the profession of the Christian faith did move very many of his subiects to follow his example therein and such persons as professors of one faith with him he vsed with speciall favour the rest that refused to doe the like he would not compell saying that he had beene taught that The service of Christ must be voluntarie and not forced And as he was very forward in advancing and supporting the State ecclesiasticall so he was not altogether carelesse of the civill governement For by advice of the wisest and best learned men of his Province he made certaine constitutions after the manner of the Romans and published them in the English tongue to the end his people might vnderstand them and by knowing the penalties imposed vpon offences more readily avoid the offences themselves By these lawes he provided first for the weale and safegard of religious persons ordaining restitution and severe punishment for such as by theft or violence tooke away anything from Churches Bishops or Priests For he thought it very meete that he should by all meanes protect and prefer from worldly annoyance such men as watched and prayed for the health salvation of soules And thus spending the rest of his time in the exercise of pietie and all princely vertues after he had prosperously raigned many years he ended his daies in peace He had issue Edbald who succeeded him in the governement and Ethelburga married to Edwin Prince of Northumbers Edbald was by his fathers direction trained vp in the knowledge of the Christian faith which after he had obtained the Principalitie hee vtterly renounced being otherwise also defamed for divers notorious and detestable vices whereby the greater number of his subjects following his example returned againe to idolatry and ran head-long into all kinds of enormity from which in his fathers time rather feare of temporall punishment then love of vertue and religion restrained them Heereupon Iustus the Bishop of Rochester and Melitus the Bishop of London perceiving this generall defection in the Provinces both of the Kentish and East-Saxons by reason of Edbalds Apostacie and being vnable eyther to direct or to oppose themselves against the streame of superstition which sodainely brake in vpon them gave way to the time and secretly fled into France where they remained till Edbalds conversion Laurence the Arch-bishop also intended to have followed them but that he was admonished by a vision as it is reported that hee should not forsake his flocke In the meane time Edbald continuing his profane and vicious manner of living fell at the last through distemperature of minde into a frenzie being also possessed with an vncleane spirit When the Arch-bishop of Canterbury taking courage as in a good cause repaired boldly vnto him partly by admonition partly by exhortation prevailed so farre with the Prince as in the end he wan him to approve and professe the truth of Christianitie from which by infidelitie he had fallen whereupon soone after ensued the recoverie of his bodily health which by many grievous infirmities had beene a long time much empaired The remnant of his life after he was rebaptized he spent in devotion and deeds of charity to expiate and make satisfaction for his former impietie and Apostacie CHAP. VII Ercombert succeedeth Edbald in the Principality The institution of Lent Honorius the Arch-bishop of Canterbury divideth his Province into Parishes Deusdedit succeedeth Honorius in the Sea of Canterbury Egbert ruleth the Kentish-Saxons after the death of Ercombert Theodorus the Arch-bishop of Canterbury expelleth Wilfrid out of the Sea of York His learning in Divinitie and Philosophie His estimation in the Court of Rome THen Ercombert his son by Emma the daughter of the King of France a temperate and religious Prince prosecuted the worke which his father had begun in reestablishing the Christian faith within his Dominions The idolatrous Priests he banished razing their Temples to the ground and erecting others for the service of the true God The subjects of his Realme being much inclined to excesse in eating and drinking he restrained by commanding a publike fast during the space of fortie daies to be yeerely kept for the better exercise of devotion which custome continueth among the English even to this day The Church of Canterburie was governed in his time by Honorius who first as it is reported divided his Province into Parishes and left his Sea to Deus-dedit the first Saxon Arch Bishop the former being strangers of other nations his owne name was Frithona which for his zealous inclination towardes the advancement of the Church and Common-weale was changed into Deus-dedit as the man whom God himselfe had specially given After him Wighard was elected but died at Rome before his consecration Ercombert the Prince having peaceably ruled the Kentish Saxons about foure and twenty yeares ended his life when the continuance thereof was most desired He had by Sexourga one of the daughters of Anna Prince of the East-Angles a sonne named Egbert that succeeded him in the governement Egbert ruled the Kentish-Saxons with great moderation and had not his hands beene defiled with the innocent blood of Elbert and Egelbright his cosin germans he might worthily have beene registred in the number of their best princes In his time there lived Adrianus the Abbot and Theodorus a Graecian borne then Arch-bishop of Canterbury and the last of those that came out of Italie They were men of speciall regard for their learning and holinesse of life This Theodorus began first of all others to exercise his Pontificall authoritie over all Britannie placing and displacing Bishops at his pleasure consecrating contrary to ordinances of the church of Rome Bishops of other Seas in the Citie of Yorke and either by force or shew of right removing first Cedda and afterwards Wilfrid who had bin Bishops of that place pretending that the wealth and possessions of that Bishopricke alone were sufficient to maintaine three Bishops and that it was meete they should be divided accordingly but whether he did it for the selfe same end that
was pretended or for envie at the glorie and greatnesse of that Sea I will not take vpon me to censure Howbeit Wilfrid being thus expelled and his Sea dismembred exhibited his complaint to Agatho then Bishop of Rome notwithstanding he sought thereby rather to manifest his owne innocency then to accuse Theodorus Whereupon being in the end acquited by judgement of the Court of Rome he was remanded into his former seate which yet he could not obtaine by reason that Egfrid the Prince of Northumberland refused to receive him while Theodorus either openly opposed against his re-admission or cunningly vnderhand laboured to empeach it the reputation of this Arch-bishop as of a stowt Prelate and very well learned both in Philosophie and Divinitie being so great with the Church of Rome in those daies as she would not alter or make frustrate what he indirectly had established for further proofe whereof also may serve the verie testimonie of Agatho the Bishop of Rome who deferred the Session of the sixth Synod at Constantinople where the Bishops of all other Nations were assembled vpon expectation onely of Theodorus his comming thither out of Britannie CHAP. VIII Lothar by intrusion succeedeth Egbert his brother in the governement The West-Saxons invade the Province of Kent Cuthbert Arch-bishop of Canterbury calleth a Synod for reformation of abuses in the Clâ—rgy The succession of the Kentish Princes from Lothar to Alrich Kent is subdued and annexed to the Principalitie of the West-Saxons AFter Egbert Lothar his brother vsurped the governement which by right appertained to Edrick his Nephew and seeking by force to keepe and maintaine what by wrongfull intrusion he had gotten was in the end after many conflicts wounded with a dart whereof he died Then Edrick the sonne of Egbert recovered the Principalitie which hee possessed with little quiet partly by reason of civill dissention among some of his owne subjects that aspired to the governement and partly for that the Kentish Territorie was then invaded by Moll the brother of Ceadwall Prince of the West-Saxons and divers valiant Captaines his associates whom the Kentishmen by casting fire vppon their Tents destroyed and consumed to ashes Whereupon Ceadwall to revenge his brothers death hotly pursued the war in Kent and expulsed Edrick the Prince spoiling and burning Townes as he marched and chasing the inhabitants from place to place with little or no resistance By reason of these troubles the Province remained certaine yeares without a Governor till Withred the sonne of Egbert purchasing peace with money obtained the Regiment although Swebherd at that time held part of the Province either by vsurpation or composition About this time Berctualdus governed the Sea of Canterbury vnto which Tatwinus succeeded and after him Nothelmus who was a speciall helper of venerable Bede in furnishing him with notes and instructions for composing his storie of the Church of England After the death of Withred his three sonnes Edbert Edelbert Alrich ruled successively During the raigne of Edbert the Prince Cuthbert was translated from the Sea of Hereford to the Archbishopricke of Canterbury where he sate about eighteene yeares Hee was had in great reverence both of religious and secular men in regard of his holinesse of life and zealous care for reforming abuses in the Clergie For to that end he summoned a counsell of the Bishops and Prelates of the land at which Ethelbert the Prince of the Mercians with the most part of his Nobilitie were present Alrich raigned many yeares and fortunately defended his Dominions against the Mercians till at the last he was overthrowne in battaile by Offa their Prince who in his owne person invaded the Province of Kent He died without issue being the last Prince of the Kentish line which was cut in sunder with the threed of his life Then Edelbert surnamed Pren vsurping the State made warre vpon the Mercians by whom he was taken prisoner and afterwards escaped though recovering his libertie he could not recover his former dignitie Cuthred likewise assum'd for a time the title of Prince which he left to Balbred his sonne But now the Provinciall governement of the Kentish-Saxons which had continued about 380. yeares drawing on to his fatall period Egbert the West-Saxon Prince strongly assailed the chiefe places of defence driving the Mercians out of the Province and forcing Balbred also to abandon it by which meanes in the end making a conquest of the whole Countrie he vnited it to the Principalitie of the West-Saxons ⧠The succession of the South-Saxon Princes 1 ALla ruled about 24. yeares Simen the two elder sonnes of Alla. Plening 2 Cissa the youngest sonne of Alla. 3 Edilwalch the first Christian Prince 4 Aldin the last Prince of the South-Saxons It is very likely that there were more Princes of the South-Saxons though I finde no certaine report of any other then those aboue mentioned ⧠The succession of Bishops in the Principalitie of the South-Saxons Bishops of Selesey 681 Wilfrid expulsed from his Sea in Northumberland sate 5. yeares 686 Hedda who was also at the same time Bishop of Winton sate 19. yeares 705 Daniel who likewise held the Sea of Winton sate 6. yeares 711 Eadbertus 8. yeares 719 Eolla 9. yeares After the death of Eolla the Sea was void about 5. yeares 733 Sigga 28. yeares 761 Alubertus 29. yeares 790 Osa alias Bosa who was Bishop of Selesey in the time of Egbert the West-Saxon Prince sate 27. yeares The first CHAPTER The principalitie of the South-Saxons established by Ella Cissa his yongest sonne succeedeth him therein Edilwalch the first Christian Prince of the South-Saxons ELLA the Saxon was one of those Captains which Hengist vpon pretence of ayding the Britans against the Picts had sent for out of Germanie while himselfe was making warre in Kent About the yeare of Grace 478. being well appointed for men shipping and other warlike provisions he arrived on the coast of Sussex with his three sonnes Cimen Plening and Cissa and after many sharpe encounters with the Britans inhabiting those parts was constrained by reason of his ill successe in the beginning to send into Germanie for new supplies wherewith he besieged Andred-Cester a place situated neere a verie great Forrest the chiefe and most defensible fortresse in all the Southern parts and having by policie intercepted the Brittish forces that came to relieve it entred the Citie by assault and put to the sword all those that were within the souldiers ransacking the houses for bootie murdering the inhabitants and defacing the Citie it selfe whereof Time hath left no other remembrance to this day then onely the name and calamitie of the place After this great losse the Britans sought rather to provide for their owne saftie by flying into the woods whence they might sallie forth vpon advantage and retire themselves againe then by making open resistance which oft-times procured apparant and irrecoverable daunger In the meane time Ella began to erect a Provinciall government over that
part of the Ile lying vpon the sea South-ward which at this day containeth the Counties of Surrey and Sussex though his successors by encroching vpon their neighbor Princes extended it afterwards even to the Firth of Humber After his death his two elder sonnes Cimen and Plening being either slain in the field or dead by course of nature Cissa his yongest sonne was by generall consent of the people of his owne nation received as Governor The chiefe seate of his principalitie was the Citie of Chichester which he reedified and called by his owne name He also fortified the place now called Cissburie in Sussex by casting a trench about it for defence of the Province What other things were done by him as also by the rest of the South-Saxon Princes the Writers of the occurrents of that age have for the most part omitted or Time it selfe hath vnhappily bereaved vs of the knowledge of them He ruled the South-Saxons verie many yeares and died naturally leaving the government in peaceable estate to Edilwalch who succeeded him therein Edilwalch by the earnest perswasion of Wulfhere the religious Prince of the Mercians was first moved to embrace the Christian faith and Wulfhere himselfe being his Godfather did at the time of his baptisme give vnto him the I le of Wight and another small Province in the West part of Britannie CHAP. II. Variance betweene the Archbishops of Canterburie and Yorke Wilfrid chiefe Bishop of the Northumbers expulsed from his owne sea at Yorke flieth into Sussex where he converteth the inhabitants to the Christian faith He is curteously entertained by Edelwalch the Prince who assigneth to him the I le of Selesey for an Episcopall sea The South-Saxons are brought vnder the obedience of the West-Saxon Princes IN the meane time Wilfrid chief Bishop of the North-humbers being expulsed from his sea at York by Theodorus the Archbi of Canterburie openly disgraced by Egfrid then Prince of Northumberland appealed to the Court of Rome from which he obtained a definitive sentence for his justification touching those matters wherewith he was charged and also for his restitution and reestablishment in his Sea But Egfrid the Prince refused to receive him protesting against the sentence as vnduly procured whereupon Wilfrid the Bishop fled secretly into Sussex and preached the Christian faith to the South-Saxons whose Prince named Edelwalch received him with great joy assigning vnto him for his Sea the I le of Selesey where afterwards the foundation of a Monasterie was laid After the death of Egfrid Prince of the Northumbers he was revoked and restored to his former dignitie which yet he enjoyed not long without interruption He was a man of great courage as having beene continually exercised with troubles and worldly incumbrances which do commonly deject and oppresse such as yeeld thereunto but do engender constancie or obduracie in such as encounter and oppose them The authoritie of the Sea of Rome he was euer stiffely bent to maintaine The custome of celebrating the feast of Easter after the Roman maner he diligently taught and defended in publike disputation against the Bishops of Scotland who observed the vsage of the East Churches according to the tradition of the Iewes It is reported of him that while he remained in the Province of the South-Saxons he instructed the rude poore people dwelling vpon the Sea coasts in the art of fishing with Nets and Ginnes by which meanes they were relieved in the time of famine wherewith the Country was then much afflicted The province enjoyed a long time of prosperitie vnder this Christian Prince till in the end it was assailed by Ceadwall a man of great power and courage descended from the race of the West-Saxon Princes who being banished from his owne Country attempted by force to have expulsed Edelwalch and finally after many conflicts slue him in battaile Howbeit the greatest number of his owne forces being spent in that warre he was afterwards constrained to abandon the Province which Aldin then governed till afterwards obteyning the West-Saxon Principalitie he assaied the recoverie of it againe and in the end by conquest annexed it to that government when it had remained about three hundred yeares vnder the obedience of the South-Saxon Princes The succession of the Mercian Princes 1 Creda the first Prince of the Mercians ruled about ten yeares 2 Wibba the sonne of Creda twentie yeares 3 Ceorla the sonne of Wibba ten yeares 4 Penda surnamed the Stowt the sonne of Wibba thirtie yeares 5 Peda the sonne of Penda the first christian Prince 6 Oswin 7 Wulfere the brother of Peda. 8 Ethelred the brother of Wulfhere 9 Kinred the sonne of Wulfhere 10 Celred the sonne of Ethelred 11 Ethelbald 12 Bartred 13 Offa the nephew of Ethelbald 14 Ecfrid the sonne of Offa. 15 Kenulph nephew to Penda in the fifth degree 16 Kenelm a child of seven yeares the sonne of Ecfrid murdered by his owne sister and reputed a Martyr 17 Ceolwulph brother to Kenulph 18 Bernulph defeated by Egbert Prince of the West-Saxons ⧠The succession of Bishops in the Principalitie of the Mercians till the raigne of Egbert the first English Monarch Bishops of Lichfield and Chester 656 Diuma the first Bishop of the Mercians sate two yeares 658 Cella two yeares 660 Trumherus five yeares 665 Iarumannus foure yeares 669 Cedda removed from the Sea of Yorke three yeares 672 Winfridus foure yeares 676 Sexulphus sixteene yeares 692 Hedda twentie-foure yeares 716 Aldwinus twentie one yeares 737 Witta fourteene yeares 751 Hemetus thirteene yeares 764 Cuthfridus nine yeares 773 Bertunus seven yeares 780 Higbertus ten yeares 790 Aldulfus in the time of Egbert the West-Saxon Prince twentie foure yeares Bishops of Lindisferne now called Holy-Iland 678 Edhedus sate one yeare 679 Aethelwinus twenty two yeares 701 Edgarus nineteene yeares 720 Kenebertus thirteene yeares 733 Alwich eighteene yeares 751 Aldulphus sixteene yeares 767 Ceolwulfus seventeene yeares 784 Vnwona two yeares 786 Ealdulphus after whose death the Sea was void certaine yeares lived about the time of Egbert the West-saxon Prince Bishops of Hereford 680 Putta sate eleven yeares 691 Tirthelus twelve yeares 703 Tortherus fifteene yeares 718 Walstodus eighteene yeares 736 Cuthbertus five yeares 741 Podda five yeares 746 Ecca six yeares 752 Cedda six yeares 758 Aldbertus eleven yeares 769 Esna six yeares 775 Ceolmundus eight yeares 783 Vtellus five yeares 788 Wulfhardus in the time of Egbert the West-Saxon Prince twentie one yeares Bishops of Worcester 688 Boselus sate twelve yeares 692 Ostforus one yeare 693 Egwinus twentie foure yeares 717 Wilfridus twentie seven yeares 744 Mildredus thirtie two yeares 776 Weremundus three yeares 779 Wolberus two yeares 782 Eathoredus seven yeares 789 Denebertus in the time of Egbert the West-Saxon Prince thirtie three yeares Bishops of the Middle-English whose Sea was at Leycester 692 Wilfrid expulsed from his province of Northumberland sate ten yeares after whose departure the Sea of Leycester was governed by the Bishops of Lichfield
Crowland He is slaine in battaile EThelbald the successour of Celred was a professour of Christian religion though much addicted to wantonnesse and sensuall pleasures for which he was sharpely reprooved by Bonifacius an Englishman then Bishop of Vtricht in Holland and afterwards Arch-bishop of Mogunce in Germanie who wrote vnto him how fowle and dishonourable a thing it was that he which raigned over so many Nations should himselfe be the bondslave of fleshly lust signifying withall that those offences of impuritie which he committed were punished even among the heathen with death and cruell torments that by his ill example he corrupted his subjects that God himselfe for those vices had plagued many Princes both in their own persons and in their posteritie and finally that the pleasures of this life are but short and vaine and the paines ordained for sinne intolerable and eternall He likewise admonished Cuthbert Arch-bishop of Canterbury that hee should cause the light habites of Priests and Nunnes who fashioned themselves too much after the secular guise to be reformed But Ethelbald being stricken with compunction of heart for the lascivious follies of his youth sought by all good meanes to prevent those dangers into which through securitie and continuance in sinne he doubted that he might irrecoverably have fallen and first by the advise of his Clergie and temporall Nobilitie he ordained that all the Churches within his Dominions should be discharged of tribute and freed from all burthens and labours excepting onely such as were to be vndertaken for the necessary building of Towers Castles and Bridges for the defence and generall good of the Province in which case none were to be exempted and that persons professed in religion should enioy the profits of their lands entirely and not be constrained to make any other payments out of the same vnto the Prince About that time also Cuthbert Arch-bishop of Canterbury by the advice of Bonifacius the Arch-bishop of Mogunce made certaine constitutions for the governement of the Clergie vnder his jurisdiction by which amongst other things it was ordered that the holy Scriptures should be vsually read in Monasteries that Priests should be no buiers nor sellers of worldly commodities that they should receive no rewards for administring the Sacraments that there should be an vniformitie among them in the observation of Ecclesiasticall ceremonies that they should both learne themselves and teach others the Lords praier the articles of the Christian faith in the English tongue and that none should be admitted to holy Orders but such persons whose conversation and maner of living was first examined and approoved In the meane time Ethelbald the Prince partly of his owne religious inclination and being partly moved by the examples of his predecessors caused a great and goodly Monastery to be erected at Crowland in the Countie of Lincolne where for that the ground was fennie and vnable to support the weight of a stone building many huge piles of Oke were driven into the Marish and hard earth brought thither about nine miles by water was rammed in with the piles wherevpon the foundation of the Church was laid such was the zeale of Princes in those dayes as they could levell Mountaines convert fennie bogs into firme land and alter in a maner the verie course of nature no cost seeming too much no labour too great nor any thing impossible that they had a will to effect When he had reigned aboue fortie yeares Cuthred the West-Saxon Prince invaded the territorie of the Mercians during the continuance of which warres Ethelbald was slaine by Bartred a person notorions for his crueltie and was afterwards buried in the famous Monasterie of Rippon howbeit Bartred soone lost that which he had ill gotten for he was also slaine by Offa the Nephew of Ethelbald who succeeded him in the government CHAP. IIII. Offa ruleth the Mercians He foundeth the Monasterie of Saint Albans He maketh a ditch to divide the Territories of the English and Walshmen Kenelmus the Martyr The Catalogue of the Mercian Princes from Offa vntill the West-Saxons obtained their Principalitie OFfa was a warlike Prince and for the most part fortunate Kineulph the West-Saxon Prince he overthrew in a setbattaile and Ethelbert Prince of the East-Angles he surprized vnder colour of friendship and after his death vsurped that Province Howsoever ambition and desire of glorie transported him beyond the limits of his owne Principalitie yet was he a great benefactor to the Church for he erected a faire Monasterie in the honour of Saint Alban neere the Towne that now beareth the Martyrs name and richly endowed it by his Charter He founded also the Abbey of Bathe the Archi-Episcopall Sea he translated from Canterburie to Lichfield the chiefe seat of the Mercian government where it continued but a short time Betweene Wales and the borders of his Province he caused a ditch to be made for defence against the incursions of the Britans whom the Saxons then called Walsh which in their language signifieth stranger Elfrid his sonne succeeding him reigned but one yeare Then Kenulph descended from Penda the Tyrant obtained the regiment He assailed the territorie of the Kentish-Saxons and tooke prisoner Egbert their Prince whom afterwards he freely delivered vpon the selfe same day that he dedicated the Church at VVinchelcombe whereof he was the founder adding that speciall Act of clemencie to the other exercises of prayer and fasting then ordinarily vsed at such dedications In the Cittie of Hereford also he founded a Church which he consecrated to Saint Ethelbert Kenelm sonne of Ecfrid being about the age of seven yeares was slaine by Quinda his owne sister that aspired to the government and dying innocently was afterwards reputed a Martyr Then Ceolworth the brother of Kenulph having raigned but one yeare was expulsed the Principalitie by Bernulph and Bernulph himselfe after three yeares defeated by Egbert the VVest-Saxon Prince Then Lucan defending himselfe against the West-Saxons was assailed and overthrowne by the East-Angles VVithlasm for a time withstood the VVest-Saxons but in the end submitted himselfe to their subiection which he acknowledged by the payment of a yearely Tribute After his death Berthulf possessed the principalitie with like conditions till being assailed by the Pirates of Denmarke he was constrained for safegard of his life to abandon the Countrie Burdred succeeded Berthulf both in estate and fortunes for being chased out of Mercia by the Danes he fled to Rome where he died Then was some part of the principalitie assigned by the Danes to Ceolwolph who held it of them by homage till Alfred the nephew of Egbert the West-Saxon Prince entred the Province with an armie and expulsing both Ceolwolph and the Danes reduced it vnder the obedience of the VVest-Saxons ⧠The succession of the East-Saxon Princes 1 Erchenwin held the province of the East-Saxons as feodatarie to the Princes of Kent 2 Sledda the sonne of Erchenwin 3 Sebert the sonne of Sledda the first Christian Prince the
successe till by the perfidious dealing of Offa the Mercian Prince he was shamefully murdered For being betrothed to Alfride the daughter of Offa who ambitiously affected the Principality of the East-Angles he was vnder colour of friendship invited to a feast where Offa by the perswasion of his wife commanded his head to be cut off and his body to be buried in the banke of a river By this dishonourable act the Mercians obtained the Province But Offa being afterwards touched with sorrow and compunction of heart for committing it caused Ethelberts body to be taken vp and to be conveied to the Citie of Hereford not farre from the place where he was slaine and there to be very solemnly enterred supposing thereby to expiate in part the guilt of his former offence Afterwards a Church was there built and dedicated to Ethelbert by the name of a Saint Then Offa vndertooke a voyage to the Holy-land and passing through Saxony was there received with great ioy by Alkemond the King his kinsman and Syware his wife at that time he adopted Edmund the son of Alkemond to be his heire and to succeede him in the Principalitie of the East-Angles which did soone after fall vnto him for Offa in his returne from the Holy-land ended his life at Port St. George whereupon Edmund speedily repaired into Britannie where he was received by the East-Angles as their Prince In his time Hinguar Hubba the two Danish Pirates invaded Northumberland and Hinguar having enriched himselfe with the spoyles of that Country sailed towards the coast of the East-Angles where afterwards landing hee surprized their chiefe Citie consuming it by fire The Citizens also without respect of age or sect he cruelly murdered and in the end tooke Edmund the Prince whom first the Pagan Danes perswaded to renounce the profession of Christianitie But when they could neither by promises of assurance of life and safetie nor by threats and terror of death prevaile with him therein they beate him with staves scourged him with whips and vsed him with all kindes of barbarous in civilitie and crueltie which the religious Prince with great meekenesse and patience endured cheerefully calling vpon the name of Iesus as reioycing for his sake to suffer those torments and indignities The Pagans seeing his great constancie and courage were transported with furie and at the last wounded him with their shafts which they shot at him till his body was covered over with them Theâ— they cut off his head and cast it into a bush His body being afterwards found was enterred at Bury in folke where a goodly Monastery was erected and â—â—â—dicated to him the ruines therof remaining yet to this day After his death the Principalitie of the East-Angles was possessed by the Danes about 50. yeares till Edward the sonne of Etheldred the West-Saxon Prince expulsing them annexed both that Province the country of the East-Saxons adjoyning to it vnto his owne government ⧠The succession of the Princes of the Northumbers 1 Ida. 2 Alla. 3 Ethelrick the younger sonne of Ida. 4 Ethelfrid the brother of Ethelrick 5 Edwin the first Christian Prince 6 Osric 7 Eanfrid 8 Oswald the Martyr brother of Eanfrid 9 Oswin the brother of Oswald the Martyr 10 Adilwald the sonne of Oswald the Martyr 11 Egfrid the sonne of Adilwald 12 Alfred the bastard sonne of Oswin 13 Osred the sonne of Alfred 14 Osric 15 Kenred 16 Ceolnulph 17 Egbert 18 Oswolf 19 Moll 20 Alered 21 Etheldred 22 Aelfwold 23 Osred ⧠The succession of Bishops in the Principalitie of the Northumbers Arch-bishops of Yorke 625 Paulinus sate nine yeares 666 Cedda three yeares 669 Wilfrid nine yeares 678 Bosa nine yeares 687 Wilfrid restored foure yeares 691 Bosa fourteene yeares 705 Ioannes sixteene yeares 721 Wilfridus two yeares 738 Egbertus nine and twenty yeares 767 Ethelbertus thirteene yeares 780 Eanbaldus 1. sixteene yeares 796 Eanbaldus 2. sixteene yeares Bishops of Lindisfarn Holy-Iland 635 Aidanus sate seventeene yeares 652 Finanus nine yeares 661 Colmannus three yeares 664 Tuda two yeares 666 Cedda three yeares 669 Wilfridus nine yeares 678 Eata five yeares 685 Cuthbertus two yeares 687 Wilfridus restored one yeare 688 Eadbertus ten yeares 698 Eadfridus twentie three years 721 Aethelwoldus nineteen years 740 Kinewulfus thirty nine years 779 Higbaldus twenty foure years Bishops of Haugustald Hexham 678 Eata sate two yeares 680 Tumbertus five yeares 686 Ioannes one yeare 687 Wilfridus foure yeares 691 Ioannes after Wilfrids expulsion 705 Wilfrid restored foure yeares 709 Acca thirtie yeares 739 Frithebertus twenty seven yeares 766 Alhmundus fourteene yeares 780 Tilherus nine yeares 789 Aethelbertus eight yeares 797 Heardredus three yeares 800 Heanbertus ten yeares Bishops of Whit-hern in Scotland 723 Pethelmus sate thirteene yeares 736 Frithewaldus twenty seven yeares 763 Pechtwinus fourteene yeares 777 Aethelbertus thirteene yeares 790 Beadwulfus CHAP. I. The Principalitie of the Northumbers divided into two Provinces namely Deira and Bernitia which are vnited by Ethelrick Ethelfrid defeateth the Britans and killeth the Monks of Bangor Edwin the first Christian Prince Paulinus preacheth the faith to the Northumbers and hath a Sea assigned him at Yorke The death of Edwin THe Principalitie of the Northumbers extended northward over all that part of the land which at this day containeth the Counties of Lancaster Yorke Durham Cumberland Westmerland and Northumberland all which were possessed by the Angles and divided into two Regiments whereof the one was called Deira and the other Bernitia Bernitia was bounded with the river Tyne and Edenborough Firth and Deira with the Tyne and Humber When Hengist was setled in the possession of the Kentish governement he sent Octa his brother and Ebusa his sonne to vndertake the conquest of those parts which with verie much difficultie they obtained The Province afterwardes during the space of ninetie and nine yeares was governed by certaine Dukes or Captaines who held the same by homage of the Kentish-Saxons About the yeare of grace 547. Ida erected a Principalitie in Deira and Alla his kinsman succeeded him therein for at that time Adda the eldest sonne of Ida ruled the Bernicians Alla governed Deira many yeares but little mention is made of him save onely that in his time the English Nation was first made knowne to Gregorie then Arch-deacon of the Sea Apostolike who being afterwards Bishop of Rome sent Augustin the Monke into Britannie to preach the Gospel of Christ vnto the inhabitants there Ethelrick the younger sonne of Ida succeeded Alla in the government of Deira and in short time adioyned thereto the Province of Bernicia making of them both one entire Principality which he left to Ethelfrid his brother Ethelfrid was a valiant and victorious Prince Hee made continuall warre vppon the Britans that inhabited the borders of his Province and chasing them from their habitations planted his owne subjects therein But Aidan the King of Scots suspecting the neighbourhoode of so mightie an enemie assayed by force
sister of Penda the Mercian Prince and afterwards put her away whereupon Penda to revenge the indignitie offered to his sister made warre vpon him and drave him out of the Province which he afterwards recovered by the assistance of Ana Prince of the East-Angles for Kennewalch during the troubles in his owne dominions had fled thither and was there baptised by Faelix the Bishop He founded the Cathedrall Church at Winchester to be the Bishops Sea for the Province of the West-Saxons and appointed Wiâ—a to be the first Bishop of that place Hee gave also to the Abbot Aldelmus the towne of Malâ—esbury where by the helpe of Elutherius that succeeded Wiâ—â— in the Bishopricke of the West-Saxons he erected a faire Monasterie of which William of Malmesbury who wrote in Latine part of the English History was sometimes a Monke After his death Sexburga his wife held the Principalitie but finding that by reason of the weakenesse of her sexe she was vnable to support so weightie a burthen she soone gave it over and went into a Nunnery in the I le of Shepey which her selfe had founded Then Eascwin the nephew of Kinegles succeeded He began a warre against Wolpher the Mercian Prince with whom he fought a set battaile What other things were done by him worthy remembrance I finde little reported Then Kenewin the youngest sonne of Kinegles ruled the West-Saxons He was oft times annoyed by the Britans whom in the end he chased into the vtmost parts of the Province Westward Ceadwall the nephew of Ceaulin possessing the government subdued the Province of the South-Saxons and wasted the Kentish Territories in the pursuit of which warre he gave vnto the Church even before he was baptised the tenths of all those spoiles which hee tooke Wherein howsoever his intention may be censured yet the example is no way justifiable considering it is written That hee which offereth vnto God the goods of the innocent doth as it were sacrifice the Son in the â—ight of the Father After hee had subdued the I le of Wight he sent thither Wilfrid the Bishop to instruct the inhabitants in the knowledge of Christian religion and being wearied with worldly affaires resigned the governement to Ina and went to Rome where he was baptised by the name of Peter and soone after ended his life His body was buried in the Church of Saint Peter and over the place where he was 〈◊〉 the inscription of his name and condition was engraven CHAP. II. Ina succeedeth Ceadwall in the governement of the West-Saxons Peter Pence first paied to Rome The Bishopricke of the West-Saxons divided into two Seas Lawes made by Ina the Prince The Church at Wells made a Bishops Sea The first arrivall of the Danes in Britannie in the time of Britric Egbert the West-Saxon Prince subdueth divers provinces which he annexeth to his 〈◊〉 Principalitie INa was lineally descended from the West-Saxon Princes He was a Prince of great courage and wisedome and for the most part fortunate in his attempts For 〈…〉 Prince he withstood by open forcâ— the Kentish-Saxons being weakned by many formeâ— assaults he constrained with great summes of money to purchase peace at his hands and the Province of the 〈…〉 after the death of Anthâ—â— their Prince 〈…〉 in battaile he reduced wholly vnder his obedience Then he manifested his good inclination to support and advance the state of the Church to which end he 〈…〉 at Wâ—llâ— that was afterwards 〈◊〉 to a Bishops Sea He builded also anew the Abbey of 〈◊〉 bestowing great cost vpon the Church there which he caused to be very â—ichly garnished with gold and 〈…〉 for the religious persons He instituted a certaine yeerely payment to the Sea of 〈◊〉 â—â—ipyning every 〈◊〉 of his Read me that 〈…〉 This payment was first called the Kings Almes and afterwards the Peter pence In his time the Bishopricke of the West-Saxons becomming voide was divided into two Seas whereof the one remained at Winchester and the other was established at Shirborn He made many good lawes both for the administration of justice in civill causes and also for the governement of the Church some of which even in these our daies are extant in the Saxon tongue After he had raigned a long time in great prosperity he was perswaded by Ethelburga his wife to resigne the Principalitie to Ethelard his kinsman and to goe to Rome where afterwards professing voluntary poverty he ended his latter daies in as lowly and meane estate 〈◊〉 he had formerly spent the greatest number of 〈…〉 pompe and glory Ethelard at his first entrance was much troubled with civill discention which Oswald one of the princely blood aspiring to the governement had raised 〈◊〉 the West-Saxons but that rebellion being appâ—â—â—ed he raigned the rest of his life in peace Then Cutâ—red the kinsman of Ethelard succeeded The borders of his Province bâ—ing strongly assailed by the 〈◊〉 he fortunately defended In his time there appeared two blazing Stars which were afterwards noted to be ominous predictions of those calamities which befell the Province vnder the tyranny of the Danes Then 〈◊〉 obtained the Principality of the West-Saxons He was a Prince much deâ—ained for 〈◊〉 and oppression of his subjects the antient lawes and customes of the Province 〈…〉 in such like outragious practises he was at the last by his owne people deprived of all authoritie and enforced for safeguard of his life to hide himselfe in woods and forrests where he lived in great misery secluded from the societie of men whereof by his inhumanitie he had made himselfe vnworthy till at the last he was slaine in Andreds-wald by a Swineheard whose Maister in former times Sigebert had injuriously put to death Kenulph descended from the line of Cerdic the first Prince of the West-Saxons was partly for the honour of his blood and partly for the generall opinion of his sufficiencie advanced to the government Such factions and popular tumults as had risen by the deposing of his predecessor hee pacified with great wisedome and moderation He was the first founder of the church at Wells where a Bishops Sea was afterwards placed Howbeit hee was much inclined to the wanton pleasures of the flesh which were the occasion of his destruction in the end for going in private manner to visite a strumpet whom he kept he was entrapped by one of Sigeberts kinsmen and murdered in the way Then Britric being also of the race of Cerdic governed the West-Saxons Hee was a Prince by nature more addicted to peace then warre He married Eadburga the daughter of Offa Prince of the Mercians by whose ayd hee expelled Egbert the West-Saxon that invaded his Province forcing him to flie into France where afterwards he lived like a banished man In his time about the yeare of grace 800. the Danes first attempted to land in Britannie whereat their arrivall they tooke the I le of Portland but Britric combining with some other of the Saxon Princes ioyntly assailed them and in
short time chased them out of the land and Britric himselfe having raigned about seventeene yeares was poisoned by Eadburga his wife who fled into France transporting thither great store of treasure But not finding that good entertainement which she expected at the French Kings hands she became a Nunne and afterwards Abbesse of a religious house from whence a◠the last shee was expulsed for committing adulterie with a lay person and ended her vitious and dishonourable life in extreame povertie After the death of Britric the West-Saxons were governed by Egbert who enlarged his dominions by many and great conquests for first he brought vnder obedience the Walshmen who had beene alwaies accustomed vpon advantage to make incursions into the Province then with like successe he assailed and subdued the Mercians the Northumbers the Kentish and the East-Saxons whose Provinces he annexed to the Principalitie of the West-Saxons as by relation of that which followeth more plainely shall appeare The end of the Second Booke of the Second Part of the Historie of Great Britannie ⧠The Table of the Contents of the Chapters in the Second Part of the Historie of Great Britannie The first Booke A Repetition of the Contents of the former part A briefe relation of the condition of the Britans vnder the Picts and Scottishmen from the Romans departure thence vntill the beginning of the raigne of Vortiger the last Brittish Prince page 173 The Britans elect Vortiger to be their King They send for the Saxons to aide them The originall and manners of the Saxons 177 The Saxons vanquish the Scottishmen and Picts Hengist deviseth how he may get possession of the East part of the Iland 182 Saxons Iutes and Angles arrive in Britannie Vortiger marrieth Hengists daughter He is deposed 186 Vortimer succeedeth his father in the government Vortiger is restored The most noble of the Britans are trecherously murdered by the Saxons vpon Salisburie Plaines 190 The calamities of the Britans The professors of Christian religion in Britannie are persecuted by the Saxons whose idolatry and superstitious rites are described 193 Germanus the Bishop conducteth the Armie of the Christian Britans against their enemies being Pagans who by his meanes are defeated He departeth out of Britannie 196 Aurelianus Ambrosius aydeth the Britans against the Saxons The valiant acts of Arthur the Warlike 198 The Britans flie into Wales and Cornewall where they seate themselves The Saxons and English possesse the greatest part of the I le which is afterwards divided into several Principalities 201 The second Booke THe Principality of the Kentish-Saxons established by Hengist whom Vsk Otta and Ermeric succeede in the governement Austen the Monke is sent from Rome by Gregorie the Great to preach the Christian faith to the Saxons and English He landeth in Kent where he is curteously entertained by Ethelbert the Prince of that Countrie 209 Austen converteth divers of the Saxon and English from Paganisme to Christianitie The cause that first moved Gregorie the Great to intend their conversion Austen is consecrated chiefe Bishop of the English Nation by the Bishop of Arles in France He advertiseth the Bishop of Rome of the successe of his voyage into Britannie and requireth directions touching the Ecclesiasticall government to be there established 212 Instructions sent to Austen from the Bishop of Rome for the ordering and governement of the new Church in Britannie The primacie of the Sea of Canterbury The first English Bishops of London and Yorke 214 Austen receiveth the Pall from Rome Gregorie the Great sendeth gratulatorie letters to Ethelbert who is converted to the faith being the first Christian Prince of the English Nation The Church of Saint Paul in London is founded Melitus the first Bishop there in the Saxons time Iustus the first Bishop of Rochester Contention betweene the English and Brittish Cleargy about the celebration of the feast of Easter 217 Austen calleth a Synod to reconcile the differences betweene the Brittish and English Cleargie The Brittish Bishops aske counsell of an Anchorite whether they should conforme themselves to such things as Austen the Monks should require of them They refuse to accept him for their Arch-bishop Austen appointeth Laurentius to succeede him in the Sea of Canterburie He dieth 220 Ethelbert the Prince provideth for the maintenance of religious persons Hee ordaineth lawes for civill government publishing the same in the English tongue Edbald his sonne succeedeth him in the Principalitie of the Kentish-Saxons His Apostacie Repentance Death 222 Ercombert succeedeth Edbald in the Principalitie The institution of Lent Honorius the Arch-bishop of Canterbury divideth his Province into Parishes Deus-Dedit succeedeth Honorius in the Sea of Canterbury Egbert ruleth the Kentish-Saxons after the death of Ercombert Theodorus the Arch-bishop of Canterbury expelleth Wilfrid out of the Sea of Yorke His learning in Divinitie and Philosophie His estimation in the Court of Rome 225 Lothar by intrusion succeedeth Egbert his brother in the government The West-Saxons invade the Province of Kent Cuthbert Arch-bishop of Canterbury calleth a Synod for reformation of abuses in the Clergy The succession of the Kentish Princes from Lothar to Alrich Kent is subdued and annexed to the Principalitie of the West-Saxons 227 ¶ The Principalitie of the South-Saxons established by Ella Cissa his youngest sonne succeedeth him therein Edilwalch the first Christian Prince of the South-Saxons 233 Variance between the Arch-bishops of Canterbury and Yorke Wilfrid chiefe Bishop of the Northumbers expulsed from his owne Sea at Yorke flieth into Sussex where he converteth the inhabitants to the Christian faith Hee is curteously entertained by Edelwalch the Prince who assigneth to him the I le of Selesey for an Episcopall Sea The South-Saxons are brought vnder the obedience of the West-Saxon Princes 235 ¶ The Principalitie of the Mercians erected by Creda the Saxon Penda persecuteth the Christians in his Province Peda succeedeth Penda his father in the governement He marrieth the daughter of Oswin Prince of the Northumbers and receiveth the Christian faith 241 Oswin Prince of the Northumbers ruleth the Mercians after the death of Peda till he is deposed by Wulfere the brother of Peda. Lichfield is made a Bishops Sea for the Province of the Mercians Chadde is Bishop of that place Wulfere is christned Ethelred his brother succeedeth him in the Principalitie He foundeth a Bishops Sea at Worcester He resigneth his governement and goeth to Rome where both himselfe and Kinred his nephew take vpon them the habit of religion Celred his sonne succeedeth him 243 Ethelbald succeedeth Celred in the governement He is reproved by Bonifacius an Englishman Bishop of Vtricht in Holland for his lascivious life His repentance He erecteth the Monasterie of Crowland He is slaine in battaile 245 Offa ruleth the Mercians Hee foundeth the Monastery of Saint Albans He maketh a ditch to divide the Territories of the English and Walshmen Kenelmus the Martyr The Catalogue of the Mercian Princes from Offa vntill the West-Saxons obtained their Principality 248
◠The Principalitie of the East-Saxons erected by Erchenwin Sebert the first Christian Prince Melitus the first Bishop of the East-Saxons hath his Sea at London Saint Pauls Church there founded by Ethelbert the first Christian Prince of the Kentish-Saxons The Church at Westminster founded by Sebert Cedda afterward called St. Chadde preacheth the Gospel to the East-Saxons Sigher and Sebbi ioyntly rule the Province 252. The Devotion Chastitie and Charitie of Sebbi the Prince The manner of his death Offa resigneth the governement and goeth to Rome where he entreth into religion Egbert the West-Saxon Prince obtaineth the Principalitie of the East-Saxons 254 ¶ The Principalitie of the East-Angles erected by Vffa Faelix a Burgundian preacheth the faith to the East-Angles His Episcopall Sea at Dunwich in Suffolke Sebert the first Christian Prince resigneth his government to Egrick and entereth into a Monasterie from whence he is drawne forth by his subiects when the Mercians invade his Province He is slaine in battaile with Egrick whom Ana succeedeth in the government 259 Athelhere the brother of Ana ruleth the East-Angles He is slaine by Oswin Prince of the Northumbers S. Ethelbert is murthered by Offa Prince of the Mercians Offa having made a voyage into the Holy-Iland dieth in his returne homewards Edmund succeedeth Offa in the government The Martyrdome of S. Edmund by the pagan Danes The Monastery of S. Edmunds-bury in Suffolke erected The principality of the East-Angles annexed to that of the West-Saxons 261 ¶ The Principality of the Northumbers divided into two Provinces namly Deira and Bernitia which are vnited by Ethelrick Ethelfrid defeateth the Britans and killeth the Monks of Bangor Edwin the first Christian Prince Paulinus preacheth the faith to the Northumbers and hath a Sea a signed to him at Yorke The death of Edwin 267 Oswald ruleth the Northumbers He is slaine in battaile against Penda the Mercian Prince He is honoured with the title of a Martyr Oswin his brother succeedeth him A Bishops Sea at Lichfield Egfrid the Prince removeth Bishop Wilfrid from his Sea at Yorke Ceolnulph and Egbert successively ruling give over the government to enter into religion Venerable Bede liveth in the time of Ceolnulph The Northumbers are brought vnder the subiection of the West-Saxons 271 The principalitie of the West-Saxons established by Cerdic Berinus preacheth the Christian faith to the West-Saxons The towne of Dorchester assigned to him for a Bishops Sea Kinegles the first Christian Prince Winchester is made a Bishops Sea by Kennewalch the West-Saxon Prince Ceadwall resigning the government to Ina goeth to Rome where he dieth 277 Ina succeedeth Ceadwall in the government of the West-Saxons Peterpence first paied to Rome The Bishopricke of the West-Saxons divided into two Seas Lawes made by Ina the Prince The Church at Wells made a Bishops Sea The first arrivall of the Danes in Britannie in the time of Britric Egbert the West-Saxon Prince subdueth divers Provinces which he annexeth to his owne Principality 281 ⧠The succession of the Kings of England from Egbert the first English Monarch vntill the Norman Conquest 1 Egbert raigned thitie seven yeares 2 Ethelwulfe the sonne of Egbert twentie yeares 3 Ethelbald the eldest sonne of Ethelwulfe five yeares 4 Ethelbert the second sonne of Ethelwulfe five yeares 5 Ethelred the third sonne of Ethelwulfe five yeares 6 Alfred the yongest sonne of Ethelwulfe 29. yeares 7 Edward surnamed the Elder twentie three yeares 8 Athelstane the eldest sonne of Edward sixteene yeares 9 Edmund the second sonne of Edward six yeares 10 Edred the yongest sonne of Edward nine yeares 11 Edwin the elder sonne of Edmond foure yeares 12 Edgar surnamed the Peaceable the yonger sonne of Edmond sixteene yeares 13 Edward surnamed the Martyr the elder sonne of Edgar foure yeares 14 Ethelred surnamed the Vnreadie the yonger sonne of Edgar thirtie seven yeares 15 Edmund surnamed Ironside the sonne of Ethelred in whose time the Danes possessed the greatest part of England ⧠The succession of the Princes of Denmarke in the Kingdome of England 1 Cnute raigned nineteene yeares 2 Harold the first surnamed Hare-foote the Bastard of Cnute foure yeares 3 Hardy-Cnute the sonne of Cnute two yeares 16 Edward the Confessor raigned twentie foure yeares 17 Harold the second the vsurper 18 William Duke of Normandie surnamed the Conqueror The beginning of the reigne of Egbert the first English Monarch EGBERT I SAX MONARCH VPon report of the death of Britric Egbert with great speed returned out of France where during the time of his abode he had served with good commendation in the warres vnder Charles the Great by meanes whereof his reputation encreasing among his owne Country men he was thought worthy of the government before he obtained it Besides the Nobilitie of his blood the pusillanimitie of the late Prince his predecessor seemed to adde more sufficiencie to his owne merit At his first entrance he assayled the Cornish and Walsh-men who commonly vpon the change of Governors vsed to make incursions into the Provinces next adioyning to them continuing their claime as it were to those countries from which the Britans their ancestors had beene expelled and though formerly they had thereby sustained many and great losses yet it well appeared that they had not altogither lost their wonted courage hereditarie to that warlike Nation The Cornish-men being first subdued he employed his whole forces against the Walsh whom he earnestly pursued never desisting vntill he had pierced into the verie vtmost limits of Wales vpon the Westerne Sea This fortunate proceeding bred both enuy and iealousie in diverse Princes of the land specially in Bernulph the governour of the English-Mercians who thought it a necessarie point of policie to make opposition betimes lest the West-Saxons growing too great the Principality of Mercia might be endangered considering withall that it would be more advantageable to make an offensive warre then to rest meerely vpon defence wherein the perill and hazard was likely to be as great as in the other the gaine and glory much lesse Herevpon he entred the Province of the West-Saxons with a huge armie consisting of men for the most part vnmeete for militarie service as being by long ease and idlenesse corrupted and become faint hearted and vnwealdie so that at the first assault made by their enemies they turned their backs and being confounded by their owne numbers were over whelmed one vpon an other in their flight The fortune of this battaile did cut in sunder the verie sinewes of the Mercian government which soone after as vnable to support it self any longer fell to the principalitie of the West-Saxons And now Egbert conceaving hope of like successe in attempting the Conquest of the other provinces and knowing well that the Kentish Prince was then scarce setled in his government and hated of his subjects he supposed a fit oportunitie was offered to bring that part of the I le also vnder subjection and thereupon sent his sonne with an armie to invade it
to empeach his further passage Northward till by the Northumbers being fewer in number then the Scottes hee was in battaile overthrowne Then Ethelfrid incouraged with this good successe remooved the warre to Chester where the Britans in great number had assembled themselves to make resistance but while the Monks and other religious persons were praying there that the Britans their countrymen might speed and prosper well in that enterprize Ethelfrid with his forces furiously assayled them putting to the sword about one thousand and two hundred religious persons of the Monastery of Bangor driving the rest of the Britans into the woods and marishes many of them perishing by the hand of the enemie before they could recover those places When Ethelfrid had raigned about twentie seven yeares he was slaine in a battaile by Redwald Prince of the East-Angles and left behind him seven sonnes whom Edwin that succeeded in the government dispossessed and banished out of the Province Edwin was by Boniface the Bishop of Rome exhorted to embrace the Christian faith and in the yeare of Grace 6â—6 Paulinus the third Bishop of Rochester in succession was appointed by Iustus the Archbishop of Canterburie to preach the Gospel vnto the Northumbers and to be their Bishop to which end also Edbald the Prince of the Kentish-Saxons had by letters recommended him to Edwin his brother in law In the mean time Evichelm the West-Saxon Prince ambitiously affecting the soveraigntie of the Northumbers practised with Eumer a man easily corrupted for desire of gaine to murder Edwin the Prince for the execution of which detestable purpose Eumer with a poysoned weapon hidden vnder his garment assailed the Prince and had slaine him in the place if Lilla had not thrust himselfe betweene his person and the danger and by making himselfe the memorable example of a faithfull servant preserved his masters life with the losse of his owne In revenge of this trecherous act Edwin invaded the territory of the West-Saxons after a great slaughter of the Inhabitants of that Province reduced the most part of it vnder his obedience Then to shew the fruits of his conversion to Christianitie he gave vnto Paulinus the Citie of Yorke to be a Bishops Sea for him and his successors laying the foundation of the Cathedrall Church of Saint Peter which was afterwards finished by Oswald About the same time also Paulinus himselfe erected the great Church at Lincoln This prince in felicitie of government excelled all his predecessors he was greatly beloved and honored of his people and no lesse feared of his neighbor Princes who for the most part held their Provinces of him by homage The Roman Banner Tufa was carried before him in token of triumph as well in times of peace as warre It is not to be forgotten that he caused certain cups of Iron and Brasse to be set by cleare Wels and fountaines running by high wayes for the vse of Pilgrims and Travailers which Cups remained long after in those places no man attempting to convey them away either for the reverence they bare vnto the Prince by whose appointment they were set there or else that they made a conscience to convert to their private commoditie such things as were ordained for a publike good But Edwin having reigned about seventeene years was in the end assailed at one time both by Penda the Prince of the Mercians and Ceadwall the Brittish Prince till with the losse of his life he made an end of the warre CHAP. II. Oswald ruleth the Northumbers He is slaine in battaile against Penda the Mercian Prince He is honoured with the title of a Martyr Oswin his brother succeedeth him A Bishops Sea at Lichfield Egfrid the Prince removeth Bishop Wilfrid from his Sea at Yorke Ceolnulph and Egbert successively ruling give over the government to enter into Religion Venerable Bede liveth in the time of Ceolnulph The Northumbers are brought vnder the subiection of the West-Saxons AFter his death the Principalitie of the Northumbers was dismembred againe For Osrick the sonne of Elfrick Prince Edwins vncle held onely the government of Deira and Eanfrid the sonne of Ethelfrid commanded the Bernicians Both these Princes forsaking the Christian faith fell to Idolatrie and were slain in battell by Ceadwall the Brittish Prince that spoiled wasted the country of Northumberland til Oswald the brother of Eanfrid opposed himselfe against the power of the Britans whose Captaine Ceadwall with the greatest number of his forces perished in the field After this victorie Oswald possessed the Province in peace and then sent for Aidan a Scottish-man to preach the Christian faith vnto his people assigning to him Holy-Iland for his Sea The Inhabitants of Deira and Bernicia who for the hatred which they bare one to another had submitted themselves to severall heads he wisely reconciled and vniting them in affection brought them vnder the obedience of one governor He was a zealous professor of the Catholike Religion which he endevoured to establish throughout all his Dominions When he had raigned about eight yeares he was killed in a conflict with Penda the Mercian Prince a cruell Pagan who commanded his head and armes to be cut from the rest of his bodie and in reprochfull maner to be hanged vp vpon high polles by reason whereof and for his holy conversation while he lived he was after his death honoured with the title of a Martyr Then Oswin the brother of Oswald succeeding him was much incumbred partly by the invasion of the Mercians and partly by the rebellion of his own sonne Elfrid Adilwald the sonne of Oswald the Martyr attempted by force to have recovered the Province and Oswy the sonne of Osrick sometime governor of Deira being trecherously delivered into his hands he caused to be murdered He fought oft times with fortunate successe against the Mercians whom after he had vanquished Penda he procured to be instructed in the christian faith and the better to strengthen his purpose therin he erected the Church at Lichfield to be the Bishops Sea for that Province After he had raigned about thirtie two yeares he ended his life in peace Then Egfrid his son ruled the Northumbers He married Mildred one of the daughters of Ana Prince of the East-Angles It is reported of her that living with her husband about twelve yeares she continued all that time both a wife and a virgin and in the end tooke vpon her the vaile of a Nun at Ely where she erected a Monasterie and was her selfe the first Abbesse In the meane while Egfrid removed Wilfrid from his Bishopricke at Yorke appointing two other Bishops over the Northumbers for their better instruction in the knowledge of Religion In his time diverse Synods were called by Theodorus then Archbishop of Canterburie for reformation of abuses in the Church for approbation of the five first general Councels and for the condemnation of the heresie of Eutyches who denied the humanitie of Christ. Not long before his death he made warre
vpon Edelfrid Prince of the Mercians with whom he was afterwards reconciled by mediation of Theodorus the Archbishop and then he converted his forces against the Irish and Scottish-men inhabiting the Northern Iles of whom he made a great slaughter and the yeare following making warre vpon the Picts contrarie to the advice of Cuthbert the Bishop he was slaine by some of his enemies that lay in ambush to surprise him Then Alfrid the Bastard sonne of Oswin succeeded him repairing the decaied state of the Northumbers though he could not recover all that the Picts Scottishmen and Britans had gotten from them in his brothers time Osred his sonne of the age of eight yeares possessed the government till he was murthered by his kinsmen Kenred and Osrick who divided the Principalitie between them till falling at civil discord among themselves the one supplanted the other by which means Kenred alone ruled the Northumbers about two yeares Then Osrick obtaining the government elected Ceolnulph the brother of Kenred to be his successor Ceolnulph after he had ruled the Province eight yeares and obtained many victories against his enemies gave over the regiment and became a Monke in Holy-Iland About this time lived Benedict the Priest who first taught the Saxons the art of painting glasing Masonrie In the raigne of Ceolnulph Venerable Bede the ornament of that age for learning and pietie flourished in Britannie He writ the historie of the English church and dedicated it vnto Ceolnulph the Prince Then Egbert the cosin-german of Ceolnulph imitating the example of his predecessor forsooke the world and entred into Religion His brother bearing the same name was then Archbishop of Yorke where he founded a famous Librarie Oswolf Moll Alered Etheldred Aelfwold and Osred raigned successively with like fortune for the most part for they were all either slaine or deposed by their own subjects except Etheldred who was afterwards restored to the government which yet he enjoyed not long For within four yeares after he was miserably slaine After his death the Province was wasted either by cruell dissention or forreine invasion by the space of thirtie yeares during which time Eardulph Alfwold Eandred Ethelred Readulph Osbert and Elle vsurped the title of Princes Readulph Osbert and Elle were slaine at Yorke by the Danish Pyrates Hinguar and Hubba whom Benbokard in revenge of the indignitie offred to him by Osbert that had ravished his wife had stirred vp to vndertake that enterprise But about the yeare of grace 800. the Danes were expelled the Northumbers brought vnder the subiection of Egbert the West-Saxon Prince The succession of the West-Saxon Princes 1 Cerdic 2 Kenric his sonne 3 Ceaulin the sonne of Kenric 4 Cearlick the nephew of Ceaulin 5 Ceolnulph 6 Kinegles the first Christian Prince 7 Guichelin the sonne of Kinegles 8 Cuthred the sonne of Guichelin 9 Kennewalch the yonger sonne of Kinegles 10 Sexburga the widdow of Kennewalch 11 Eascwin the nephew of Kinegles 12 Kenewin the yongest sonne of Kinegles 13 Ceadwall 14 Ina. 15 Ethelard 16 Cuthred 17 Sigebert 18 Kenulph 19 Britric 20 Egbert ⧠The succession of Bishops in the Principalitie of the West-Saxons Bishops of Dorchester 635 Birinus sate fifteene yeares 650 Agilbertus ten yeares 660 Wina sate at Winton ten yeares 670 Leutherius seven yeares 686 Hedda twentie eight yeares 705 Daniel who was also Bishop of Selesey sate fortie yeares 745 Humfertus ten yeares 755 Kinewardus twentie five yeares 780 Aethelâ—ardus eleven yeares 791 Egbaldus foure yeares 795 Dudda two yeares 797 Kinebertus eleven yeares Bishops of Shireburn 705 Aldelmus sate five yeares 710 Fortherus twentie seven yeares 736 Herewaldus nineteene yeares 756 Aethelmodus twentie two yeares 788 Denefrithus twentie one yeares 798 Wibertus twentie yeares CHAP. I. The Principalitie of the West-Saxons established by Cerdic Berinus preacheth the Christian faith to the West-Saxons The towne of Dorchester assigned to him for a Bishops Sea Kinegles the first Christian Prince Winchester is made a Bishops Sea by Kennewalch the West-Saxon Prince Ceadwall resigning the governement to Ina goeth to Rome where he dieth THe West-Saxons tooke the addition of their name from the situation of place as inhabiting the Westerne part of the I le wherein at this day are contained the Counties of Cornwall Devon Dorset Wilton Southampton and Berk. About the yeare of grace 509. Cerdic with Kenric his sonne and a warlike companie of Saxons arrived in Britannie where they were encountred by Natanleod a Brittish Prince neere a shallow brooke afterwards called Cerdics-foord and now by contraction of speech Chardfoord The fortune of that bataile determined the hope of the Britans and established the Saxons in possession of the greatest part oâ— those Countries over which Cerdic and Kenric ruled with equall authoritie enlarging their dominions by the conquest of the I le of Wight the governement whereof was assigned by Cerdic to Stuffa and Withgar his nephewes After the father and sonne had ruled joyntly about seventeene yeares Cerdic ending his life by course of nature left the entire Principalitie to Kenric his sonne Kenric was oft times assailed by the Britans who attempted the recoverie of their antient possessions but could not prevaile and the Province being otherwise free from annoyance was peaceably governed during his time Then Ceaulin his sonne succeeding him made warre vpon Ethelbert the Kentish Prince in the prosecution whereof Oslave and Cnebban two valiant Captaines of the Kentish Saxons were slaine and Cutholp his brother made head against the Britans from whom he recovered divers Forts and Cities which they had gotten in the Territorie of the Mercians But while Ceaulin was making warre abroad Cearlic his brother Gâ—tholps sonne kindled a rebellion within the Province and by force vsurped the governement about five yeares After the death of Cealric Ceolnulph the sonne of Cutha the sonne of Ceaulin recovered the Principalitie In the beginning of his raigne the Province of the West-Saxons was invaded both by the Britans also by the Scottishmen and Picts The East-Angles likewise at the same time assailed it but Ceolnulph having appeased these troubles and beginning a new warre against the South-Saxons died before he could fully finish it leaving the prosecution thereof to Kinegles his sonne who with good successe vndertooke the warre and having overthrowne the Britans converted his forces against Penda the Mercian Prince with whom after each had tried the others strength in battaile he concluded a peace In the yeare of grace 635. he imbraced the Christian faith and was baptised by Berinus who first preached the Gospel to the West-Saxons Oswald Prince of the Northumbers being his godfather at his baptisme The Citie of Dorchester was by Kinegles and Oswald assigned to Berinus for the Bishops Sea of that Province Then Guichelin the sonne of Kinegles and Cuthred the sonne of Guichelin ruled successively and were both baptised by Berinus the Bishop After them Kennewalch the yonger sonne of Kinegles obtained the governement He married the