drove him toward the Sea and there slew him before he could get to the Haven from whence it is said it obtained the name of Hamo's Haven and after Hampton now Southampton XIX Arviragus succeeded his brother forty six years after Christ who after the departure of Claudius went in progress about the Realm repairing decayed Towns and Citys and making new Laws for governing his people and finding that in short time the Land begun to flourish he was so elated that he denied to pay the Romans their accustomed Tribute whereupon Claudius sent Vespasian afterward Emperor as his Lieutenant into Brittain who attempting to land at Sandwich was valiantly opposed by Arviragus so that sailing farther West he came ashoar at Totnes in Devonshire and beseiged Exeter but by the Queens means a reconciliation was made without blows Thus write the Brittains but Suetonius the Roman Historian relates That Vespasian being sent with a Legion of Souldiers into Brittain fought thirty feveral battels and brought under obedience two mighty Nations and above Twenty Towns with the Isle of Weight Arviragus finding his strength insufficient to contend with the power of the Empire in his old age made a firm League with the Romans which continued till his death who having reigned thirty years dyed and was buried at Glocester In his time about fifty three years after the birth of Christ Joseph of Arimathea being sent by Philip the Apostle came into Brittain with several other Christians preaching the Gospel and instructing them in the Religion of the blessed Jesus whereby many were converted and baptized these Holy men continued here all their lives having a place assigned them by the King near the City of Wells where after was erected the Abbey of Glastenbury This Arviragus was reckoned a very puissant Prince by the Romans as appears by what Juvenal Writes Regem aliquam capies aut de Temone Brittanno Excidit Arviragus It shews to honour thou shalt rise Or some great King restrain Or shake the fierce Arviragus Out of his Brittish Wain After his death the Land was many years under Roman Governors or Lieutenants First Ostorius then Aulus Didius and after him by Pautinus Suetonius during which the Brittains made many Essays for recovering their lost liberty wherein they sometimes prevailed and were otherwhile defeated In the reign of that cruel Emperor Nero Successor to Claudius the Romans received a great overthrow from the Brittains which Paulinus endeavoured to retrieve by assaulting the Isle of Anglesey then fully inhabited with people of desperate fortunes and having provided flat bottom'd boats to ferry over his Forces the Brittains were ready to oppose him on the shore the women likewise with the hair about their ears clothed in strange garments ran about the Camp with firebrands in their hands and a great company of Druids or Priests appeared who lifting their hands toward Heaven thundered out curses and execrations against the Romans who were so much surprized at this unexpected treatment that they suffered themselves to be slain like senseless creatures till by the incitation of their General and their incouraging each other not to be daunted by a company of mad women they came forward with so much fury that they beat down all before them and with their own fires smothered and burnt the Brittains to ashes taking possession of the whole Island and cutting down their woods wherein they use to Sacrifice the Prisoners they had taken to their Gods and by their entrails when dismembered pretended to Divine their future success While Paulinus was thus imployed the Brittains in other parts of the Land got together and consulted how to free themselves from the insupportable slavery and misery wherein they lived one among the rest deploring their wretched condition in words to this effect Dear Countreymen and Friends the more wrongs and injuries we patiently endure from the governing his people and finding that in short time the Land begun to flourish he was so elated that he denied to pay the Romans their accustomed Tribute whereupon Claudius sent Vespasian afterward Emperor as his Lieutenant into Brittain who attempting to land at Sandwich was valiantly opposed by Arviragus so that sailing farther West he came ashoar at Totnes in Devonshire and beseiged Exeter but by the Queens means a reconciliation was made without blows Thus write the Brittains but Suetonius the Roman Historian relates That Vespasian being sent with a Legion of Souldiers into Brittain fought thirty several battels and brought under obedience two mighty Nations and above Twenty Towns with the Isle of Wight Arviragus finding his strength insufficient to contend with the power of the Empire in his old age made a firm League with the Romans which continued till his death who having reigned thirty years dyed and was buried at Glocester In his time about fifty three years after the birth of Christ Joseph of Arimathea being sent by Philip the Apostle came into Brittain with several other Christians preaching the Gospel and instructing them in the Religion of the blessed Jesus whereby many were converted and baptized these Holy men continued here all their lives having a place assigned them by the King near the City of Wells where after was erected the Abbey of Glastenbury This Arviragus was reckoned a very puissant Prince by the Romans as appears by what Juvenal Writes Regem aliquam capies aut de Temone Brittanno Excidit Arviragus It shews to honour thou shalt rise Or some great King restrain Or shake the fierce Arviragus Out of his Brittish Wain After his death the Land was many years under Roman Governors or Lieutenants First Ostorius then Aulus Didius and after him by Paulinus Suetonius during which the Brittains made many Essays for recovering their lost liberty wherein they sometimes prevailed and were otherwhile defeated In the reign of that cruel Emperor Nero Successor to Claudius the Romans received a great overthrow from the Brittains which Paulinus endeavoured to retrieve by assaulting the Isle of Anglesey then fully inhabited with people of desperate fortunes and having provided flat bottom'd boats to ferry over his Forces the Brittains were ready to oppose him on the shore the women likewise with the hair about their ears clothed in strange garments ran about the Camp with firebrands in their hands and a great company of Druids or Priests appeared who lifting their hands toward Heaven thundered out curses and execrations against the Romans who were so much surprized at this unexpected treatment that they suffered themselves to be slain like senseless creatures till by the incitation of their General and their incouraging each other not to be daunted by a company of made women they came forward with so much fury that they beat down all before them and with their own fires smothered and burnt the Brittains to ashes taking possession of the whole Island and cutting down their woods wherein they use to Sacrifice the Prisoners they had taken to their Gods and by their entrails when
' gainst Israel The Lord will vengeance take of those That ' gainst him do rebel He will put fire into their flesh And worms shall them annoy They shall much misery feel God will For ever them destroy After this Judith dedicated to the Temple the Pavilion of Holofernes and other rich habiliments given her by the People that the memory of this glorious Action might never be forgotten and then returning to her own house she there continued a chast widdow to the day of her death being honoured and respected of all the people as their Great Deliverer she made her servant a free woman and lived in the house of her husband Manasseh till she was an hundred and five years old and then dying was buried in his Sepulchre for whom all the Israelites made a deep and solemn mourning seven days without intermission and the terror of this admirable success made such an impression on all the Neighbour Nations that none of them troubled Israel all her days nor a long time after her death How great art thou O Lord of Hosts and how terrible is thy power thou God of Battels a General in the midst of an Army of an hundred thousand valiant Souldiers invironed all with steel and fire who says I will go I will do I will level with the ground who decreed the firing of Cities and destruction of Countreys behold him now conquered slain tumbled in his bloud by a woman who makes a play-game of his head and all this by the assistance of that God who acted in her and put courage into her soul to overthrow the mighty and bring to confusion the Sons of pride and violence The History of Queen Esther WHen Haman in his proud ambitious mind Utter destruction to the Jews design'd When for the fault of one they all must dye All must be ruin'd for poor Mordecai Then prudent Esther doth her self oppose Against her Uncles and her Peoples Foes Ventures her life her Nation to save And Mercy for them of the King doth crave Who hears and grants her suit most graciously Haman is hanged for his Treachery And Mordecai his Office doth enjoy Who for the Jews his Interest doth imploy IN the year from the Creation of the world 3543. and before the birth of our Saviour 521. during the Captivity of the Jews in Babylon Cyrus the son of Xerxes whom the Grecians called Artaxerxes was King of Persia in whose reign all the race of the Jews both men women and children were in danger to have been utterly exterminated had it not been happily prevented by the mercy of God and the excellent conduct and admirable courage of our renowned Heroine Queen Esther For the better understanding hereof we read that after Artaxerxes was setled in the Kingdom and had established Governors over an hundred and seven and twenty Provinces from India as far as Ethiopia in the third year of his reign he made a most Royal and Magnificient Feast for all the Grandees of his mighty Empire wherein he display'd the opulency and grandeur of his Dominions for one hundred and fourscore days together After which he for 7 days treated the Ambassadors of all Nations in the Palace of Shushan sitting in a Tent the Pillars whereof were Gold and Silver and the covering of Scarlet of such a vast extent that thousands might be entertained under it all the provisions were served in Vessels of Gold inriched with Jewels and of excellent workmanship The King commanded his Attendants that none should be enforced to drink but according to the Persian usage each at his own discretion He also sent an Order throughout all his Countreys that they should all cease from their labour many days and make Holyday in Honour of his Royalty At the same time Vashti his Queen made a Royal Banquet to her Ladies and the King being merry with wine the seventh day of the Feast sent one of his Eunuchs to cause her to come with the Crown upon her head in the most glorious manner and her most gorgeous attire to display her beauty to the eyes of all the people but she being too tenacious of the Persian custom that count it a crime to be seen by strangers refused to come and though he renewed his desires divers times yet she persisted in her denial upon which being extreamly displeased he rose suddenly from the Banquet and calling to him seven of his Councellors by whose advice he managed his affairs and who expounded the Law to him he desired to know what punishment they thought due to his wife who had put such an open affront and indignity upon him before that Great Assembly one of them answered That this was a crime of State and might occasion a general disorder throughout the Realm since all other women following the example of the Queen might from thence take a licentious power to disobey their husbands and every where domineer over them thereby overthrowing the order of Nature and cause quarrels and disturbance in all Families His opinion therefore was that she who had done him this publick dishonour should be divorced from the King her husband and that a Proclamation should be published throughout all his Provinces signifying the cause thereof and asserting the just subjection of wives to their husbands The King who had an extraordinary passion for Vashti and could hardly entertain any thoughts of a separation from the dear object of his love seemed for some time wholly abandoned to grief and sorrow which his Nobles observing endeavoured to remove by representing the unreasonableness of his concernment for such an unworthy woman who had so extreamly disobliged him and that he might soon find out another who in beauty and all other Princely qualifications should far exceed her and by whose pleasing demeanor the thoughts of Vashti might be utterly extinguished The King confirming the Judgment they had given against Vashti sent abroad messengers to bring into his presence the fairest Virgins that were to be found in his Kingdoms Whereupon a great number being assembled there was among them a young Orphan whose parents being dead she was educated under the tuition of her uncle Mordecai of the Tribe of Benjamin and a principal man among the Jews her name was Esther and was judged the most beautiful of all that youthful company and for her amiable countenance caused all Spectators to stand still and admire her Whereupon the Eunuchs attended her with more than ordinary diligence and she was prepared for the kings pleasure with odors and perfumes for six months in the company of four hundred other Virgins After which the Officer judging them fit to approach the Royal bed sent one every night to the King who returned her back in the morning But when Esther came into his presence he was so surprized with her love that he took her for his lawful wife and setled his affections upon her above all the others The marriage was solemnized in the seventh year of
swords into the Scales where the weights were that they might get the more which the Romans would not admit and while some difference arose upon this account Camillus with his Forces comes in amongst them and commands the Gold to be carried away since no composition could be made without consent of the Dictator and bid the Gauls prepare for battle who having more mind to the Gold than to fight were soon defeated many being slain and the rest flying out of the City Some affirm that a Peace was concluded between them and that Brennus went afterward into Germany and Belin returned home to Brittain imploying the rest of his reign in building Churches and beautyfying Citys and Pallaces among others he built a famous Gate at a Port in London on the top whereof was set a Vessel of Brass wherein the ashes of his body which was burnt according to the custom of those times were afterward put which was then called Bellinus but now Billingsgate He also built a Castle not far off which was called Bellins Castle now the Tower of London Having reigned 26 years he left the Kingdom to his son III Gurgint who sailed with a mighty Army into Denmark for recovering the Tribute promised to his Predecessors where he made such devastations with fire and sword that the King of Denmark by persuasion of his Nobles was compeil'd to continue the payment thereof As he returned home he met with thirty Ships near the Isles of Orkney freighted with men women and children under their Captain named Bartholin who being brought before the King declared They were banished out of Spain and were called Balenses who had sailed long on the Sea in hope to find some generous Prince who would assign them a place to inhabit and to whom they would willingly be subject humbly beseeching him to commiserate their condition Who with the advice of his Barons granted them Ireland for an habitation which then lay wast Though some writers relate that it was peopled long before by a people called Hibernensis from Hiberus their Captain who brought them from Spain Gurgint returning home made many good Laws and administred Justice worthily nineteen years In whose reign Cambridge and the University are said to be built by one Cantaber IV. Guintolin succeeded a prudent Prince and happy in a virtuous and beautiful Queen who after his death administred the affairs of the Kingdom during the minority of her Son After he had revived and inforced all the good old Laws and added what new were wanting whereby he setled the Land in peace and tranquillity he left it to his Son. V. Sicilius not then about seven years old who reigned about seventeen years most part of which his Mother Martia managed all State affairs VI. Kinarus his Son ruled after him who giving himself up to Luxury and Debauchery was slain by some of his enemies as he was a hunting in the Fields VII Elanius his Son or as others write his Brother was his Successor of whom little is recorded but his name and that he reigned eight years and then VIII Morindus his Son by a Concubine was admitted King of Brittain a man of much valour and conduct but withal so barbarously cruel that he delighted to inflict lingring torments upon those that offended him yea oftentimes with his own hands he severely tortured his people In his reign a certain King of a people called Moriani landed with a great Army in Northumberland and made horrid ravage with fire and sword Against whom Morindus having raised his Brittains marches with all expedition and in a dreadful battel defeated and pursued them to their Ships taking a great number Prisoners whom to satisfie his bloudy humor he caused to be executed in his presence some being beheaded some strangled and others ript up alive They were thought to come from some part of Germany At length this bloudy Prince hearing there was a Monster come ashore out of the Irish Sea resolved to encounter therewith but was devoured by it after he had reigned eight years leaving five Sons Gorbomen Archigallo Elidure Vigenius and Peredurus IX Gorbomen the eldest succeeded and was a very religious Prince according to the devotion of that age repairing many old Temples and erecting divers new He built the Town of Grantham and inclosed Cambridge with walls and a strong Castle procuring Philosophers to come thither from Athens who instructed the youth of the Kingdom in Learning and the Liberal Sciences he died without issue and X Archigallo his Brother came after him who much degenerated from his Father and caused dissension among his Nobility by taking away their Honours and Estates illegally and bestowing them upon mean unworthy persons whereby the Gentry were reduced to beggery and misery who therefore conspired against him and at length deprived him of his Royal Dignity having reigned only one year advancing XI Elidure the third Son of Morindus to the Throne who was a person of such a gallant temper that he used all manner of means for restoring his Brother to the Crown It happened that as he was one day hunting in a Wood near York he met Archigallo wandring to seek relief whom he treated with all kindness conveying him secretly to his own house soon after he feigned himself sick and sent with all speed for his Barons to attend him with whom he dealt so effectually one by one in his Privy Chamber that at length they agreed to admit his Brother again to be King and then assembling a great Council at York he resigned his Dignity to him after he had ruled with much wisdom three years A worthy example of fraternal love considering how ambitious all men naturally are of dominion Archigallo thus restored in hope of his upright administration of justice for the future did not disappoint his people but became a new man and acted with so much prudence and moderation that he was beloved of all his Subjects to the end of his life and having reigned ten years was buried at York After which Elidure having right by Succession as well as by the inclination of the Brittains was acknowledged King with general Applause who had not sate on the Throne a year when his two Brothers raised a Rebellion against him and in a pitcht Field he was taken Prisoner and committed to the Tower of London after which XII Vigenius and Peredurus the two youngest Sons of Morindus divided the Kingdom between them all the Countrey from Humber west falling to the eldest and the other northward to Peredurus Vigenius after seven years died and Peredurus took possession of the whole Land and reigned very tyrannically eight years and then dying without issue XIII Elidure as next Heir was the third time admitted King having continued in Prison all this while and during his four years reign managed all matters to the great satisfacton of his people and being then grown very aged dyed and was buried at Carlisle From this time to the reign of
thanksgivings that there was no dishonesty nor unchastity found in her O thou most worthy to be fear'd Great God Who rul'st the nations with an iron rod But gently dost thine own Choice Israol bring To be refreshed at thy mercies Spring Our Fathers trust in thee was not mistaken Nor were they in their greatest wants forsaken Thou heard'st Susanna's fighs and tears even when She stood betray'd condemn'd by wicked men Who falsly charg'd her though no stain was found Whereby thy faithful handmaid to confound Blest and admired always be thy name May after ages praise thy mighty fame That to deaths door thou bringest man and then Proclaim'st Return agenye sons of men The History of the Chast Lucretia THE Chast Lucretia would no longer live When wicked Tarquin basely did deprive Her of her Chastity Hating to be Rather than lead her life in Infamy From her own hand she cold Death doth imbrace Which vengeance brings on Tarquins Treacherous race The Roman People utterly disclaim His Power His Family and his hated name The Ravisher to banishment is driven Wheresoon his just reward he meets from Heaven Being stain by those to whom for life he flyes Who seek revenge for former injuries HAving already related the Lives and Actions of four Jewish Worthies I now present you with a Noble Roman Lady even the chast Lucretia who to redeem her honour ravished away by Sextus Tarquin scorned to live any longer and therefore sacrificed her self for saving her Countrey yet I cannot commend this last and great act of her life since the Christian Law allows none to be their own Executioners and the principle of self preservation seems to be implanted in us by nature as well as in all other living creatures However she may serve as an example of extraordinary Chastity which she has been reckoned to be in all ages since and to discover great Magnanimity of Soul who rather than live with shame and disgrace chose not to live at all and though her mind were absolutely innocent yet put an end to her days with her own hands for the forcible defilement of her body This tragical accident happened about the year from the Creation of the World 3432. and about fix hundred years before the Birth of our Saviour It was in the reign of Tarquinius Superbus or Tarquin the Proud the seventh and last King of the Romans from Romulus the first Founder of that Kingdom which afterward arrived to such immense grandeur He was Sirnamed the Proud because he denied his Father-in-law and Predecessor Servius Tullius the common rites of Burial saying That Romulus was never buried after his death and killing all the Roman Senators whom he thought Favourers of him for having no pretence to the Kingdom besides force he endeavours to maintain his Usurpation by the same means therefore since he could repose no trust in the love and affection of the Citizens he was resolved to secure himself by fear taking cognizance of all Capital Causes alone in Person without the advice or consent of any of the Senators whereby he put to death banished or fined any whom he thought ill-affected to his Tyranny He reduceth the Senators to a small number that they may be less esteemed by others and more observant of himself He marrieth his daughter to the Latines to prevent the danger of allying her amongst his own Friends and increases his Guards with strangers that he might Tyrannize over the Romans and having by this marriage obtained much reputation among the Latines he desired their Nobility to meet him one day in the Florentine Wood to treat of publick affairs But delaying his coming at the appointed time Turnus one of the Nobility with great liberty but small discretion made a severe Speech against him intimating That the Romans might well intitle him Tarquin the Proud since he had now put so great an affront upon such an Illustrious Assembly and that it might well be suspected he designed to impose upon them and usurp Dominion over their Countrey who could put such a slight upon the whole Nobility that came so far only upon his request With much more to this purpose when in the midst of his Oration Tarquin arrived and endeavoured to excuse his delay but having notice how Turnus had inveighed against him he instantly contrived his destruction and that very night again calling the Latin Nobles together he in a studied Oration strove to possess them with the belief of a dangerous design laid by Turnus to kill him and all the Chief of the people and having corrupted one of the Servants of Turnus with money to let him carry a great number of Swords into his Masters Lodgings Tarquin told the Lords That to confirm what he had said he could make it appear that Turnus had conveyed a great quantity of Arms into his own house wherewith he intended with the assistance of his accomplices to massacre them all next day when they should come to Council Desiring them to accompany him to Turnus his house that they might be eye-witnesses of the truth of what he had asserted The Lords go to his house prepared to believe all if they found that of the Arms true Coming thither the Officers waked Turnus and stood round about him having first secured his servants who out of love to their Master were endeavouring to make resistance the Swords which were hid were brought forth out of every corner of the room which with the fierce disposition of Turnus and the Speech he had made the day before seemed a full confirmation of this treacherous Design which so extreamly incensed the Latines that they would not suffer him to make the least defence for himself but presently sentenced him to lose his life by a new kind of execution for he was thrown into a River with an hurdle upon his head whereon stones were piled to prevent his rising again and by this means was drowned Tarquin having again summoned a Council of the Latin Nobles commends the revenge they had taken upon such a seditious Rebel and desires them to renew their League and friendship with the Romans who were easily induced thereto and then commanding all the armed Youth of both Nations to meet together he out of both formed an Army with which he makes war against the Volscians and took some Towns from them by storm with a booty to the value of four hundred Talents of Silver and Gold wherewith he designed to build a magnificent Temple to Jupiter After this he ingaged in a War against the Gabins who inhabited a Neighbouring City which he attempted to gain by storm but being beaten back with great loss he began to despair of obtaining his end by main strength he solved to add policy thereto therefore while he pretended to have laid aside all thoughts of War and seemed imploy'd in the foundation of his Temple and other stately buildings in Rome he had recourse to treacheries wherein he found none so fit to be
to appease them when Imbert their Chief suddenly let fly an arrow at him which Corineus soon returned with such force that it clave his head in sunder whereat the rest of the Poictovins fled and brought the news to Goffarius who instantly raised a mighty Army wherewith he marched to encounter the Trojans between whom a sharp battel was fought but in the end Brute by the admirable courage of Corineus obtained the Victory and Goffarius fled further up into Gallia or France endeavouring to incite all his Neighbour Princes to join with him in this common danger Brute mean time marcht forward destroying all before him with Fire and Sword and having got great booty carried it to his Ships Goffarius and his Confederates with mighty forces resolving to revenge these injuries came suddenly upon the Trojans being thirty times as many and assaulted them often in their Camp with so much fury and such inequality of numbers that they besieged them therein hoping by famine to compel them to yield to mercy In this extremity Corineus and Brute resolved to use some stratagem for their deliverance and the next night Corineus drawing three thousand choice men out of the Camp into a wood that lay on the back of the enemy in the morning Brute fell upon them furiously in the front when at the same time Corineus assaulting them couragiously on the Reer they were so surprized and confounded that they instantly fled whom the Trojans eagerly pursued with great slaughter Brute lost many of his men in this battel and among others his Nephew Turnus from whom it is said the City of Tours in France which Brute built took its name and was called Turonium Turnus being there buried though Brute had cause to rejoice in this victory yet finding his forces decay every day and his enemies increase it was resolved they should bring the riches they had got to their Ships and all imbark once again to find out the Island the Oracle had promised After a few daies sailing they arrived at an haven now called Totnes in Devonshire in the year from the Creation of the World 2850. After the destruction of Troy 66. From the deliverance of the Israelites out of Babylon 397. in the eighteenth year of the reign of Tyneas King of Babylon and the thirteenth of Melanthus King of Athens Before the building of Rome 368. And before the Nativity of our Saviour 1116. For as the Poet sings of Brute The Gods did guide his sail and course The winds were at command And Totnes was the happy shoar Where first he came to land Brute having entred the Countrey he immediately went in search of it from one end to the other and found it to abound in Woods Grass pleasant Springs and fair Rivers though in the way he was encountred by divers strong and mighty Giants whom he at length subdued and brought the Land wholly into subjection Among others there was one Giant of extraordinary strength and reputation called Gogmagog with whom Brute obliged Corineus to wrestle at a place neer Dover where it happened that Gogmagog broke one of the ribs of Corineus with a fall who being therewith enraged recovered himself and redoubling his courage he prevailed against the Giant and cast him down headlong from one of the Rocks now called Dover Clifts but for many ages after retained the name of Gogmagogs leap and if Tradition is to be relied on in this case it may somewhat confirm the truth of the foregoing History since the two Figures placed in Guild-hall London are by some believed to represent these two Giants Gogmagog and Corineus For this and many other valiant Atchievements Brute bestowed upon Corineus the whole Countrey of Cornwall whose Inhabitants are still famous for wrestling occasioned it may be from this their first governor I. Brute having conquered all that opposed him in the whole Island resolved to build a City which might be the Royal Seat of his kingdom to which purpose he chose a plat of ground on the Northside of the Thames convenient for pleasantness clearness of air goodness of soil plenty of woods and especially accommodated with a Noble River for bringing in Merchandise and all other necessaries proper for a multitude of inhabitants He began to lay the foundation thereof in the tenth year of his reign which he called Troynovant or New Troy in remembrance of that famous City from whence he and his people were descended but now named London which having finished he by the advice of his Nobility commanded the Isle of Albion to be called Brittain and the people Brittains as a perpetual memorial that he was the first who brought them hither He had by his wife three sons Locrinus Camber Albanack to the elder at his death he gave that part now called England which was long called Loegria from his name To the second Wales named from him Cambria and to the third all the North part of the Isle beyond the River Humber which he called Albany now Scotland Having thus divided the Land Brute died in the twenty fourth year after his arrival and was buried at Troynovant or London but in what place is now unknown II. Locrinus his eldest Son succeeded in Loegria and his brother Albanack in Albania but Humber King of the Hunns or Scythians invading his Countrey slew him in battel and took possession of his Land till Locrinus with his brother Camber King of Wales joining their Forces to revenge their brothers death fell upon him with such valour that they put his Army to flight and pursued him so eagerly that he with abundance of his people were drowned in the River which divided Loegria from Albania and from that K. hath ever since retained the name of the River of Humber among many others three Virgins of excellent beauty were taken Prisoners with one of whom called Estrild a Scythian Kings daughter Locrinus fell so in love that notwithstanding a former contract between him and Guendolen daughter of Corineus King of Cornwall he resolved to marry her but by the perswasions and threats of her Father durst not do it in his life time and though he married Guendolen he kept Estrild as his Concubine and after Corineus death forsook Guendolen and married her Who being thus cast off by her husband went to her kindred in Cornwall whom she provoked to make War upon Locrine her husband wherein he was slain neer the water of Stour after he had reigned twenty years and was buried by his Father at Troynovant III. Madan his Son by Guendolen succeeded him but being under age his Mother was by common consent of the Brittans made Ruler of the kingdom wherein she administred justice and equity fifteen years till her Son came to manhood to whom she then resigned the government of whom little is recorded but that he used much Tyranny over his Subjects forty years after which as he was one day going on hunting he lost his company and was devoured of Wild Beasts
Morgan and Cunegad her sisters sons disdaining to live under the government of a woman raised a rebellion against her and having destroyed great part of the Countrey and defeated her Forces they took her and kept her close Prisoner wherewith being much disturbed and despairing of regaining her liberty she out of Feminine valor stab'd her self to the heart and died after five years reign XII After her death the two Nephews divided the Land that part beyond Humber even as far as Caitness in Scotland falling to Morgan and the other to Cunegad Having reigned jointly two years Morgan was incited by some evil counsellors to endeavour to gain the whole to himself he being Son of the eldest daughter and was told it was a shame to be partner with a younger brother Pride Covetousness and Ambition soon prevailed upon him to raise an Army for effecting this unjust design wherewith entring the Territories of Cunegad he miserably ruined all before him but was quickly met by his brothers Forces who gave him battel wherein a great number of Morgans men being slain the rest fled and were pursued from one Countrey to another till they came into Wales where Morgan resolved once more to try his fortune but being too weak for a victorious army he was there slain in the Field the Countrey being afterward called from his name Glamorgan After which Cunegad became sole Governor of Brittain which he ruled peaceably thirty three years and was buried at Troynovant He is reported to have built three Temples one dedicated to the God Mars at Perth in Scotland another to Mercury at Bangor and a third to Apollo in Cornwall XIII Rival his Son ruled after him in much prosperity In whose time it rained bloud three days together after which followed such a multitude of noisome and poysonous flies that breeding a great contagion many died thereof Rome was built about this time He reigned forty six years and was buried at York leaving the Realm to XIV Gurgusius his Son in the year of the world 3249. of whom little is related in our Brittish Chronicle but that having reigned thirty seven years he was buried at York likewise XV Sysillus his Son who succeded or his Brothers Son as some write has as little recorded of him nor of XVI Jago Cozen of Gurgusius but that he died without issue XVII Kinmark his Brother governed after him and reigned fifty four years XVIII Gorbodug succeeded and after sixty three years died and was buried at London leaving the Land to be ruled jointly by XIX Ferrex and Porrex his two Sons who continued some years in good correspondence but flattery and thirst of Dominion at length raised variance between them whereby Ferrex was forced to fly into France and having received aid from that Prince returned in hope to conquer all for himself but his Brother being ready to receive him he was slain with the greatest part of his Army The Mother of them having greater love for Ferrex than his Brother was so inraged at his death that she contrived to murther the Survivor which she effected with the help of her women while he was asleep in the night and then cut him into small pieces to evidence the malice of her feminine revenge After this for fifty years the Kingdom was in great distraction the Government being divided between five Governors who were all at length subdued by Dunwallo Duke of Cornwall And here ancient writers affirm the line of Brute ended there being none of his Race left alive after the two brethren Ferrex and Porrex The names oâ— the five Rulers are said to be Rudacus King of Waleâ— Clotenus King of Cornwall Pinnor King of Loegria Stâ—â—terus King of Albania and Yewan King of Northunberland but Dunwallo having obtained the rule of tâ—â— whole Land begun his Reign about seven hundrâ—â— years after Brutes arrival who was the first Crowâ—ed King of Brittain for before this the Chief Maâ—â—strates of the Kingdom were indifferently calâ— Kings Rulers or Governors but had not any solâ— Coronation according to the custom of other Countries I shall therefore now begin a new Catalogue with a new Family of which I. Malmutius Dunwallo Duke of Cornwall was the first in the year of the world 3529. and about five hundred years before our Saviours Nativity He built in Troynovant or London the Temple of Peace which some think is Blackwell Hall now used for selling cloth He made many good Laws which were called by his name and long after translated out of Brittish into Latin and mingled among the Statutes of King Alfred He gave priviledges to Temples Ploughs and Cities that whoeser fled to either in any criminal cause should be secured and have liberty to go thence into what Countrey he pleased he built Malmsbury and the Devizes After he had setled the Kingdom he by the advice of his Lords caused himself to be Crowned with a Crown of Gold with all the Heathen Ceremonies of that Age and was therefore called the first Monarch of Brittain He ordained rules about Weights and Measures and made strict Laws against Robbers and after forty years reign was buried in the Temple of Peace leaving the Kingdom to be ruled by his two Sons II. Belinus and Brennus the first governing Loegria Wales and Cornwall and Belin all the Countrey beyond Humber They both reigned very quietly about seven years when Brennus ambitious of gaining the whole was perswaded by some unquiet youths to sail into Norway where he married the daughter of Elsing Duke of that Countrey Belin vext that he should marry without his advice in his absence seiz'd all his Castles and Fortresses and put Garrisons therein of which Brennus having intelligence he was assisted by his Father-in-law with a great Fleet of Ships and a stout Army of Norwegians wherewith sailing homeward he was encountred by the way by Guldac King of Denmark who with his Navy lay in wait to surprize the young Lady Brennus had married to whom Guldac had been long a Servant but could never obtain her Fathers consent The two Fleets meeting a bloudy fight ensued but at length the King of Denmark prevailed and took the Ship wherein the Lady was whom he brought into his own Vessel Brennus making his escape The Danes had no sooner obtained this great victory and prize when a sudden tempest arising the navy was scattered and the King in danger of being lost but after five days he was driven by storm into Northumberland with the few Ships that remained Belin being then in that Countrey providing defence against his brother having notice of it caused the King to be detained Mean time Brennus having again got together his dispersed Ships and furnisht them and his Souldiers with all necessaries sent to his brother to demand the restoring his wife and his Countrey both which were wrongfully detained from him But receiving a positive denial to both he landed his Army in Albany now Scotland and his brother coming toward him a
continue there to this day The History of Mariamne the wife of King Herod HErod a furious Monster made of bloud Who boldly God and Natures Laws withstood Neither with Virtue nor with Grace indu'd Of Visage hideous and of manners rude To whom the beautious Mariamne was A Chaft and Loyal wife But yet alas He that us'd Tyranny and foul debate As well in Love as in his Royal state This Virtuous Queen did from the Earth remove To seat her in a Higher state above Who lives thus bravely and thus leaveth breath Makes of a Dying life a living Death ABout fifty years before the birth of our Saviour the Kingdom of Judea which had continued through many invissitudes from the time of King David almost a thousand years was brought into great distractions by the discord between two Brothers The Chief Rulers over the Jews who had for many years contented themselves with the title of Governors or High Priests now aspire to the name of Kings among whom Hircanus reigned a good man but a bad King who had honesty and innocence but not sufficient prudence nor courage to manage so great a charge He being sensible of his own weakness freely resign'd the Kingdom to his brother Aristobulus a valiant and stout though unsuccessful Prince At which time Antipater the Father of Herod an Idumean being a wealthy desiquing person resolved to take the opportunity of those concussions in the state to advance himself to the Throne but found it would be very difficult to attain his ends whilst the couragious Aristobulus bare sway he therefore sowes seditious seeds of revolt among the People intimating That they had done very ill in removing so good a Prince and suffering him to be dethroned to promote another who was of so turbulent and violent a spirit that they should soon find his ill management of affairs would occasion much defolation in Palestine but however it was not yet too late to prevent the threatned mischeifs if they would return to their Loyalty and duty and again restore Hyrcanus to the Government whose modesty in declining advancement made him appear most worthy of having it bestowed upon him The common people not reaching the depth of Antipaters designs who if he could again advance Hyrcanus did not question but by the facility of his nature he might bring all into his own power and raise up a Monarchy to himself and Heirs began to give ear to his Remonstrancers especially those that loved change and some out of a sense of Justice Antipater having thus begun resolved to prosecute the buâ—â—ess to the utmost endeavouring to gain the good opinion of Hyrcanus by all manner of observances and pretences of friendship which at length prevailed so much upon his easy temper that Hyrcanus resigned himself and his affairs absolutely to his conduct whereupon Antipater proceeded to represent to him his great miscarriage in suffering the Kingdom to be taken from him and earnestly persuaded him to endeavour to resume it but found this motion received very cold entertainment from Hyrcanus who objected the breach of his Oath whereby he had absolutely renounced the Soveraignty and his inability to regain it with force to the first Antipater replied That the matter of the Oath was illegal and thereby void in it self and to the second that he would supply him with Arabians who should inable him to recover his right By such discourses he at length gained him especially by instilling jealousies into his mind that Aristobulus designed to take away his life so that Antipater having ingaged Arethas an Arabian King in the quarrel he comes into Judeâ— â—ith a great Army ruining all before him and at length driving Aristobulus into Jerusalem which they besieged At which very time the Romans ambitious of inlarging their already immense Dominions sent Pompey the Great into Syria whose Forces so far surmounted the Arabians that they durst not stand before him but were scattered as chaff before the wind and the whole Countrey soon reduced to their obedience The two Brothers both plead their cause at the feet of Pompey who seemed more inclined to Aristobulus he having prepossest his mind by a Noble present of a Golden Vine accounted one of the greatest rarities in the world and other rich Gifts Antipater perceiving which way things tended and doubting his projects would miscarry endeavoured by all kind of aspersions and misrepresentations to render Aristobulus odious and suspected by the Romans who penetrating into his designs was so inraged that he desperately ingaged against the strength of that mighty Empire but soon found the match very unequal Aristobulus himself was taken Prisoner and laid in fetters and with his two Sons and as many daughters carried to Rome to heighten the glory of Pompeys Triumph Jerusalem is brought under Tribute and Hyrcanus late King now constituted High Priest but the chief authority given to Antipater who in his name managed all affairs and at length being sensible of the weakness of the High Priest and his own strength he makes his eldest Son Phaselus Governour of Jerusalem and Herod his youngest Tetrarch of Galilee After his death the two brothers endeavour equally to obtain the favour of Hyrcanus making him own what either of them had done Yet Herod seemed to be of the most aspiring humour who being as politick and intreguing as his Father gained much interest among the Romans by all manner of submission and Services thereby hoping at length to obtain the kingdom which yet seem'd at a great distance from him his elder brother being alive and ruling the greatest part of Judea and Aristobulus who was in Chains at Rome having likewise two Sons The eldest named Alexander Father to our excellent Mariamne and Antigonus the youngest Alexander who succeeded his Father in misfortune getting some forces together attempted the recovering his Countrey but was soon suppressed by the Romans who assisted Herod and by their Order beheaded Antigonus and his Father Aristobulus escaping from Rome fled to the Parhians who ingaged to reestablish him in the kingdom and came upon Herod so suddenly and with so much fury though Hyrcanus and Phaselus were joined with him that they discomfited Herods Army and had almost surprized his Person which so much astonished him that he was ready to have fallen upon his own Sword Phaselus his brother unable to bear so strange a change of fortune beat out his brains against the side of a rock and Hyrcanus by the cruel command of Antigonus had his ears cut off being thereby made forever uncapable of the Office of High-priest Herod being a little recovered from his amazement resolved still to throw himself upon the assistance of the Romans imploring their help and representing the mischiefs committed by Antigonus and with all manner of arts so far insinuated himself into their favour that he is declared King of Judea and Antigonus at the same time proclaimed an utter enemy to the Empire who being taken by Mark Antony was
and this sudden discomfiture struck such terror into the other German Princes that they speedily sent to desire Peace and became Tributary to him The Queen was very joyful at this notable success but much more at the devout resolution of her husband and therefore went several miles to meet him in his return accompanied by a renowned Bishop called Remigius a person famous for piety in that age Clovis no sooner approached the Queen but even ravished both with her presence and his great Victory he told her That he had indeed triumpht over the Almains but she had conquered him and that he would now defer his Baptism no longer The Queen extreamly pleased at the news told him that the glory of his Conquests was only due to the God of Battels to whom he could not make a more pleasing return than by giving up himself to his worship and service and that she had brought an Holy person with her to perform that acceptable duty to the Almighty Soon after he was accordingly Baptized with great Solemnity at Rhemes and it is said that his Children his Sisters and above three thousand Courtiers Gentlemen Commanders and Souldiers were made partakers of the like blessing at the same time After which Clovis publishing a favourable Edict toward the Christians almost all the French Nation were converted and with much Zeal threw down the Idols and Altars of their former Superstition The Queen to prosecute this blessed work she had so happily begun persuaded Clovis to build divers Christian Churches and endow them with considerable revenues after which he subdued Burgundy and united it to his Kingdom together with Provence Dauphine and Savoy and then marches with his Victorious Army into Langudoc against the Visegoths where he slew Alarick their king with his own hand and obtained a remarkable Victory seeming irresistible in all his attempts and having extended his Empire from the Rhine to the Sein and from the Pyrenean Mountains to the Ocean he at length submited to the fate of all other Mortals and died leaving his dominions divided between his four Sons Clotilda was very sensibly afflicted for the loss of so indulgent an husband and so great a Conqueror but time having in some measure abated her sorrows she resolved to wear out the remainder of her days in a devout and retired life but however was much disturbed in this her recluse condition by hearing of the horrible confusions and disorders among her Sons who not content with their Fathers allotment raised dreadful wars against each other till at length after the destruction of all the rest Clotair the third Son alone enjoyed the whole kingdom Clotilda used her utmost endeavours to have appeased their quarrels and one time among the rest prevented a battel ready to begin by her prudent advice saying My Dear Children I had great expectation that after the death of my loving Lord I should have reaped much comfort from your mutual agreement and never expected that you could believe it a worthy matter to unpeople the World or that you ought to violate the law of nature and brotherly love for inlarging your power or to establish your Thrones by the bloud of each other Return then my Children to the waies of peace which you have forsaken and be united in an indissoluble affection do justice to your people and live now as you expect to dye I give you my last farewel and pray remember the words of your dying Mother and bury me in the Sepulcher of the King your Father as I have ever desired At which words they laid by all their anger and were at present made Friends After this being sensible of her death approaching she continued in sweet extasies of Soul and praises to God for her deliverance out of this troublesom World and about midnight uttering with much earnestness these words To thee O Lord I commit my Soul O God I have put my trust in thee therefore let me never be ashamed She gave up the ghost Her name and memory being in much reverence in France to this very day The History of Andegona Princess of Spain SWeet Andegon the most endeared wife Of Ermangild who lov'd her as his life Though of Great Sufferings she did partake Yet the true Faith by no means would forsake Neither could all the Wiles nor cruelty Of a Step-mother shake her constancy Which o're her husbands Soul such power did gain He the same Faith with zeal did entertain And with such courage doth the same profess His bloudy Father could not dispossess His mind thereof But with unnatural rage Puts him to death his fury to asswage OUr Ninth and last Feminine Worrhy I shall fetch from Spain her name Andegona who in the year of our Lord 486. was married to Ermangild Son to Lenigild King of Spain an Arrian she was one of the most accomplisht Princesses in the World in whom virtue grace and beauty made an admirable harmony Her native Countrey was France being the daughter of Sigebert grand-child of the pious Clotilda our former Heroine At her arrival in Spain her husband Ermangild was surprized with her graces and his Soul was transported with a sweet violence toward a person of such extraordinary endowments so that never were Nuptials more full of content nor amities more faithful than between these two endeared Lovers which yet in a short time met with some Clouds of discontent and trouble Lenigild her Father in Law was about this time married to a second Wife an Arrian named Gosintha as deformed in body as mind who notwithstanding had obtained such Soveraignty over the heart of this old King that she had the sole management of his affairs and all was acted according to her will and pleasure However she pretended an extraordinary contentment at the consummation of this marriage and went in Person to wait upon and entertain the Princess seeming to overwhelm her with kindness and courtesy Yet at length out of an envious or malicious disposition she seemed much disturbed at the chast dalliances between them especially since she saw Ermangild wholly transported with love to his excellent Lady so that he could hardly endure her out of his fight whereby their discourses conversation and pleasures became as troublesom to Gosintha as if she had been one of those Infernal Spirits that possess and torment poor mortals Though Andegona had the greatest passion in the World for her Lord yet she durst not refuse the company of this troublesome Creature whereby her husband to his great regret was deprived of it who told her That she ought to be satisfied with the power and interest she had in affairs of state and not pry into nor interrupt his converse with his dearest spouse Gosintha repled That the frequent Conferences she had with his Princess were only in order to convert her to the Arrian Faith so called from Arrius Bishop of Alexandra the author of a wicked and blasphemous Heresy against the Divinity of our