strength and health wherewith they liue and serue the King Is there any honest thyng more desired than libertie ye haue shamefully spoyled them therof Is there anye thing more dutifull than to serue their Lorde and maister But as that was deserued of the one parte so was it hindered and stopped on your part For neither can the King be serued nor families kepte nor the Common wealth looked vnto where freedome of libertie is stopped and diligence of seruice is hindered and the helpe of strength and health abated Mens bodies ought to be free from all mens bondage and crueltie and only in this realme be subiect in publike punishment to oure publike gouernour and neither be touched of headlesse Captains nor holden of brainlesse rebels For the gouernement of so precious a thing ought to belong vnto the most noble ruler and not iustly to be in euery mans power which is iustly euery liuing mans tresure For what goodes be so deare to euerye man as his owne bodye is whiche is the true vessell of the mynde to bee measurably kept of euery man for all exercises and seruices of the mynde If ye maye not of your own authoritie meddle with meÌ„s goods muche lesse you may of your owne authoritie take order with mens bodies For what be goodes in comparison of helth libertie strength whiche bee all settled and fastned in the body They that strike other doe greatly offend and be iustly punishable And shall they that cruelly and wrongfully tormente mennes bodyes with yrons and imprisonmentes be thoughte not of other but of them selues honeste and playne and true dealyng men What shall we say by them who in a priuate businesse wil let a man to goe hys iourney in the kings high way Doe they not thinke ye playne wrong Then in a common cause not onely to hynder them but also to deale cruelly with them and shutte them from doyng their seruice to the 〈…〉 〈…〉 things enterprise great matters and as though ye coulde not satisfye your selfe if yee shoulde leaue any mischiefe vndone haue sought bloud with crueltie haue slayn of y e kings true subiects in any thinkyng their murder to be your defence when as ye haue encreased the faulte of your vile Rebellion wyth the horroure of bloudshead and so haue burdened mischiefe wyth mischiefe whyle it come to an importable weight of myschiefe What coulde we doe more in the horriblest kynde of faultes to the greatest transgressours and offendoures of God and men than to looke straightly on them by death and so to ridde them out of the common wealth by seuere punishment whome ye thought vnworthie to liue among menne for their dooings And those who haue not offended the King but defended hys Realme and by obedience of seruice soughte to punishe the disobedient and for safegarde of euerie man putte them selues vnder duetie of Law those haue ye myserably and cruelly slayne and bathed you in theyr bloud whose dooynges ye shoulde haue followed and so haue appayâ—…ed the common welth both by destruction of good men and also by increase of rebels And howe can that common welth by any means endure â–ª wherin euery maÌ„ without authoritie may vnpunished slea whome he list and that in suche case as those who be slaine shewe themselues most noble of courage and most ready to serue the king and the common wealth and those as doe slea be most villanous traiterous eche lâ—…es that any common wealth did ouer susteyn for a Citie and a Prouince â—â— and the faire houses and the strong walles nor the defence of anye engin but the liuing bodies of men being able in number strength to mainteyn themselues by good order of iustice and to serue for all necessary behouable vses in the coÌ„mon wealth And when as mans bodie being a parte of the whole coÌ„mon welth is wrongfully touched any way specially by death then suffeyeth the coÌ„mon welth great iniurie and that alway so much the more how honester and nobler he is who is iniuriously murdered Howe was the Lord Sheffilde handled among you a noble gentleman and of good seruice both sit for couÌ„sel in peace for conduct in warre considering either the grauitie of his wisedome or the authoritie of his person or his seruice to the commonwelth or the hope that all men had in him or the need that England had of suche or amoÌ„g many notably good his singular excestencie or the fauour y t all men bare toward him being loued of euery man hated of no man Considered ye who should by duetie be the kings subiects either how ye shoulde not haue offended the king or after offence haue required the kings pardon or not to haue refused his goodnesse offred or at length to haue yelded to hys mercie or not to haue slain those who came for his seruice or to haue spared those who in daÌ„ger offred ransom But al these things forgotten by rage of rebellion bycause one madnesse cannot be without infinite vices ye flowe him cruellye who offered himselfe manfully nor woulde not spare for raunsome who was worthy for noblenesse to haue had honour he weddim bare whome ye could not hurt armed and by slauerie flewe nobilitie in deede miserably in fashioÌ„ cruelly in cause diuellishly Oh with what cruell spite was violently sundred so noble a body fro so godly a mind Whose death must rather be reuenged than lamented whose death was no lacke to himselfe but to his countrey whose death might euery way bin better borne than at a rebelles hande Violence is in all thinges hurtfull but in life horrible What shoulde I speak of others in the same case diuers and notable whose death for manhood and seruice can waÌ„t no worthy praise so long as these vgly stirrers of rebellion can be had in mynd God hath himself ioyned maÌ„s bodie and his soule togither not to be departed asunder afore he eyther disseuer them hymselfe excause them to be disseuered by his minister And shal rebels and heedlesses camps being armed against God and in fielde against theyr King thinke it no faulted shead bloud of true subiects hauing neither office of God nor appointment of ministers nor lust cause of rebellion He that steale the any part of 〈◊〉 substance is worthy to lose his life When shal we thinkeâ—… them wâ—…o spoyle men of their lyues for the mayntenaÌ„ce whereof not only substance and riches be soughte for but also all common welths be deuised Now then your own consciences should be made your iudges and none other set to giue sentence against yet seing ye haue bin suche bloud â—â—aders so he ynouâ—â— manquellers so horrible murderers could ye do any other than playnely confesse your soule wicked rebellion to be greuous against god traiterous to the king and hurtfull to the coÌ„mon wealth So many grieuous faults meetyng togither in one sinke might not onely haue discouraged but also driuen to desperation any other â—…ouest of indifferent
Eugenius after he had gouerned the kingdome about three yeares his bodie was buried in Colmekill amongest his auncesters thoughe the people thought it little worthie of that honor which had misused it selfe so inordinately in this present life Ferguse 767. AFter him came the administration of the Realme vnto Ferguse the thirde the sonne of king Ethfine in the yeare 767. who being established in the same Ferguse the thirde created king beganne freely to practise all kindes of vices which most abundantly raigned in him howbeit till that day wonderfully dissembled and kept couert He seemed to striue howe to passe his predessour in all poyntes of wickednesse A wicked Prince Hee tooke no regarde at all to the gouernment of his Realme but gaue himselfe to excessiue gluttonie in deuouring of delicate meates and drinks and therwith kept suche a number of vile strumpettes in house with him whom hee vsed as concubines that his wife was no better esteemed than as an handmayde or rather a kitchin mayde Who being a woman of great modestie and sober aduisednesse coulde not yet but take sore griefe and indignation hereat and therefore sundrie tymes assayed by waye of wholesome perswasions to turne his minde from such sinfull vsages and filthie trade of liuing Finally when she saw there was no hope to conuert his deprauate minde nor by any meanes to refourme him but that the more shee laboured to doe good vppon him the worse he was through verie displeasure of suche iniuries as shee daylye susteyned at the handes of his concubines King Ferguse the third strangled by his wife shee founde meanes to strangle him secretely one night as hee lay in his bed choosing rather to be without a husband than to haue one that shoulde deceyue hir of the right and dutie of mariage and that in such sort as she must be faine to suffer the reproch dayly afore hir face being misvsed of them whom he kept as paramours in most dispiteful maner The day after she wrought this feate the bodie being founde deade was apparayled in funerall wise brought forth into the place of iudgement where inquisition was straightly made what they were that had done so heynous a deed For though there were but few that lamented his death yet some of his friends were verie earnest to haue the matter tryed forth that such as had cōmitted the murther might suffer due punishment Suspicious persons are racked Many were apprehended and had to the rack but yet could not be founde that would confesse it The Queene was voyde of all suspition as she that had bene taken for a woman at all times of great temperancie But yet when shee hearde that a number of innocent persons were tormented without desart sore lamenting as shoulde appeare theyr miserable case she came hastily into the Iudgement hall The Queene confessed the murther and getting hir aloft vpō the bench there in the presence of al the company she had these or the like wordes vnto the whole assembly I knowe not good people I knowe not what God moueth me or what diuine reuengement vexeth me with sundry thoughts and cogitations that of all this daye and morning preceeding I haue had neither rest in bodie nor minde And verely when I hearde that certaine guiltlesse persons were cruelly tormented here in your presence had not wrath giuen place party vnto modestie whereof I must confesse there is left but a small portiō in me I had forthwith rid my self out of the way The kings death was mine act Conscience constrayneth me setting apart mine owne safegarde to confesse the truth least the guiltlesse shoulde wrongfully perishe Therefore vnderstande yee for truth that none of them whome ye haue examined are priuie to the offence I verily am she that with these wicked handes haue strangled this night last past Ferguse about whose death I see you in trouble moued so to do with two as sharpe pricks as may rest in a woman to wit Impatient forbearing of carnall lust and yrefull wrath Ferguse by his continuall vsing of concubines kept from me the due debt that the husbande oweth to the wife whereupon when there was no hope to reconcile him with often aduertisementes vehement force of anger rysing in my heart droue mee to doe so wicked a deed I thought lieffer therefore to dispatch the Adulterer then being destitute of my husbande and defrauded of all Queenely honor to liue still subiect vnto the perpetuall iniuries of such lewde women as hee kept and vsed in my steade She giueth hir owne sentence Loose ye therefore those that be accused of the kings death and as for me ye shall not neede to proceede agaynst me as guiltie of the crime by order of law for I that was so bolde to commit so heynous an act will accordingly do execution vpon my selfe euen here incontinently in presence of you all what honour is due to the deade looke you to that Hauing thus made an ende of hir tale The Queene taketh execu◅ of hir selfe shee plucked forth a knife which she had hid vnder hir gowne and stroke hirselfe to the heart with the same falling deade vpon it downe to the grounde All such as were present wondered greatly at hir stoute and hardie stomacke speaking diuersly thereof as some in prayse and some in disprayse of these hir monstrous doings The bodie of Ferguse was caryed foorth to the I le of Colmekill and there buryed in the thirde yeare after his entring into the gouernment and in the yeare of our Lorde 769. 767. H.B. The Quenes corps was not buried in sacred ground for that she slue hirselfe Thus he being in maner impotent and lame of his lymmes there were some commotions misorders the more boldly attempted first amongst thē of y e out Iles. A rebellion For Bane Makedonald goueruernor by the kings appointment of the Ilande called Tyre got all the castels and fortresses of the Iles into his owne handes and strengthned with a route of vnruly and mischieuous youthful persons Makedonalde proclaymed king of the Iles. toke possession of al the said Iles causing himselfe to be proclaimed king of the same And yet not contented herewith he gathered a number of shippes togither wherein transporting himselfe with a great armie ouer into Lorne and Cantyre He inuadeth Lorn and Cantyre made great wast spoyle of those countreys til Duthquhal gouernor of Athole and Culane of Argyle A power from the king is sent against him beeing sent with a chosen power from the king to defend the countrey chaunced to encounter with him and putting him with hys people vnto flight chased them vnto such a strait where there was no way to get forth saue onely that by which they entered This place is in Lorn with a strayght passage to enter into it but whē ye are within it the same is verie large and brode enuironed aboute with craggie mountaynes chayned togither
or rather in the .xxx. yere if he reygned xxxx and twoo moneths as Iohn Maior hath His body was buried in Dunfermeling after the incarnatiō of Christ our sauiour .1153 1153. yeares Howe farre this prince king Dauid excelled in noble vertues and sober conuersation of lyfe I haue thought it better to passe ouer with silence than to go about in few wordes to comprehende that wherein if I shoulde spende muche time I were not able yet in any wise worthily to performe for where in suche cases fewe things are slenderly shewed the residue may seeme to be omitted through fault of the writer but yet this is not to be forgotten that where his singuler pitifull regard whiche he had towardes the reliefe of the poore His singuler pitie towardes the poore passed all other his notable vertues he purged his court also in suche wise of all vicious rule misordered customes King Dauids court y t his whole family was giuen onely to the exercise of vertue no riotous banqueting nor surfeting cheare was vsed amongst them no lasciuious worde heard come foorth of any mans mouth nor yet any wanton signes shewed to prouoke sensuall luste or carnall concupiscence King Dauids seruantes All the woordes workes and whole demeanour of his seruaunts tended to some good conclusion Nothing moued to styrre stryfe or sedition but al things ordered in suche frendly and peaceable sorte that the chayne of brotherly loue seemed to haue linked them all in one minde and will King Dauids example a rule of godly liuing Such a rule was theyr maister king Dauid vnto them and all other to direct and frame a perfect and godly life after He was but .xiij. yeares of age when he began his reygne but yet his modestie and vertuous conditions were suche that all men conceyued a good hope that he would proue a right noble and worthie prince The educatiō of king Malcolme He was nourished and brought vp in suche vertue euen from his infancie that deliting in chaste conuersation and cleannesse of body and minde he liued single all the dayes of his life and without mariage wherefore he was surnamed Malcolme the Mayden About the time of his entring into the possession of the crowne A dearth there was a greate death through all the boundes of Scotlande And soone after followed a sore death bothe amongst men beastes A death not contagious though it was not perceyued that the disease whereof they died was any thing contagious Hereof did one Somerleid the Thane of Argile take occasion to attempt an higher enterprise Somerleid Thane of Argile goeth aboute to make himselfe king than stoode with the basenesse of his lynage and estate for considering that the one halfe of the realme was consumed by mortalitie and the other halfe neare hande famisshed through lacke of foode hee thought it an easie mater for him now whilest the king was vnder yeares of ripe discretion to vsurpe the gouernance of the realme into his owne handes and so assembling togither an huge companie of such as in hope of pray lightly consented to his opinion hee came foreward to make as it were a full conquest Somerleides crueltie steaing and spoyling all such in his way as went aboute to resist him But his presumptuous enterprice was shortly repressed Gilcrist sente with an army against Somerleid For Gylcrist Earle of Angus lieutenaunt of the kings army reysed to resist Somerleides attempts encountred with him in batayle and slew .ij. M. of his menne Somerleid hauing receyued this ouerthrowe and escaping from the fielde fledde into Ireland and so saued his lyfe Henry the second of that name king of Englande hearing that Malcolme had thus subdued his domestical enimies dread least he being enboldened therwith should now attempt somewhat against the Englishmen and therefore by counsell of his Nobles he sent an Herald vnto king Malcolme K. Malcolme summoned to do homage commaunding him to come vnto London there to do his homage vnto him for the landes of Cumberland Northumberlād and Huntington in maner and forme as his graundfather king Dauid had before done vnto his predecessour Henry the first with certificate that if he fayled he would take from him all the sayde landes King Malcolme obeyed this cōmaundement of king Henry but yet vnder condition as the Scottish wryters affirme that it shoulde in no maner wise preiudice the fraunchesses and liberties of the Scottish kingdome The same time king Henry had warres against Lewes the .vj. king of Fraunce King Malcome goeth with king Hēry into France and so passing ouer into that realme constreyned king Malcolme to go with him in that iourney against his will notwithstanding that hee had a safecunduite freely to come and goe In this voyage king Henry did much hurte to the Frenchmen Tholous besieged and at length besieged the citie of Tholous King Henries meaning In all whiche enterpryses he had Malcolme present with him to the ende that Malcolme might encurre such hatred and displeasure of the Frenchmen that thereby the band betwixt them and the Scottes might finally be dissolued but in the end king Henry hauing loste diuers of his noble men by sickenesse hee returned into England and then licenced king Malcolme to returne home into Scotland Who at his cōming home sent the Bishop of Murray Ambassadours sent to Rome and one of his Secretaries vnto the sea of Rome as ambassadours vnto the Pope whiche as then hight Eugenius the thirde of that name to recognise the obedience which he ought to the Romaine sea A parliament at Scone Shortly after also there was a parliament holden at Scone where king Malcolme was sore rebuked by his Lordes King Malcolme reproued by his nobles King Malcolmes excuse in that he had borne through his owne foly armure agaynst the Frenchmen their olde confederate frendes and auncient alies but king Malcolme excused the mater with humble wordes saying he came vnwarely into king Henries handes and therefore might not choose but accomplishe his will and pleasure at that time so that he supposed verily how y e Frēch king would take no great displeasure with his doings whan he once vnderstoode the trouth of the mater King Henry hauing perfect vnderstanding of this grudge betwixt the Scottish Lordes and their king thought to renewithe same with more displeasure King Malcolme goeth to Yorke and therevpon sent for king Malcolme to come vnto Yorke to a parliamēt which he held there where at his comming he was burdened by a right greeuous complaynt 〈◊〉 fed against him by king Henry for that he shoulde reuele vnto the Frenchmen all the secretes of the Englishe army when hee was with him in Fraunce at the aboue remembred iourney allegyng the same to be sufficient mater for thē which he ought to forfeyt all the landes ▪ whiche he helde of the crowne of England as Cumberland Northumberland and Huntington
were congealed with frost The Earle of Ormonde his toylsome trauaile yet the Earle and his armie waded ouer on foote to the great daunger as well of his person as of the whole companie whiche doubtlesse was a valiaunt enterprise of so honourable a personage From thence hee passed to Strangfoorde and through Lecale to Dondaâ—…lke where he discharged his Souldiours and hauing presented himselfe to the Gouernour at Dublyn he roade homewarde to the Countie of Kilkenny The Deputie and Ormond debate Shortly after sir Anthonie Sentleger lorde Deputie and the Earle of Ormonde fell at debate insomuch as eyther of them layde articles of treason one to the others charge The chiefe occasion of their mutuall grudge proceeded of certaine newe and extraordinarie impositions wherewith the Deputie woulde haue charged the Subiectes Whereat the Erle of Ormonde as a zealous defender of his countrey beganne to kicke and in no sort coulde bee woonne to agree to any such vnreasonable demaunde Herevpon Ormonde perceyuing that the Gouernour persisted in his purpose addressed Letters of complaynte to suche as were of the priuie Counsayle in Englande Ormonde his â—â—â—ters intercepted whiche letters were by one of Sir Anthonie his friendes intercepted at Sea and presented to him to bee pervsed Sir Anthonie hauing ouerread the wrytings sent Maister Basnet in post hast with the packet to Kylkenny where the Earle of Ormonde kept his Christmasse requesting hys Lordshippe to take in good parte the opening of hys Letters which was done rather to learne the effect of his complaynte than in any sort to invar his writings from comming to the counsaile his handes The Earle answered that his quarell was so good his dealing so opeÌ„ as he little weighed who tooke a view of his letters And for hys part what he wrote hee ment not to vnwryte but in such sort as they came from the Gouernour they should be sent to the Counsaile and if theyr honours woulde allow any Subiect to bee so bardie as to entercepte and open Letters that were to them indorced hee coulde not but dygest any such iniurie that they woulde seeme to beare The Lord Deputie and Ormond sent for to England With this aunswere Basnet returned and the Earle perfourmed his promise Wherevpon the Gouernour and he were commaunded to appeare before the priuie Counsaile in Englande where they were sundrie tymes examined and their accusations ripely debated In fine the Counsaile equallye to bothe partes in theyr complaints affected and weighing withall rather the due desert of both their loyall seruices than the vaine presumption of their mutuall accusations They are made friends wrapped vp theyr quarelles and made them both friendes wyth such indifferencie as neyther part should bee eyther with anye conquest exalted or wyth anye foyle debaced Sir Iohn Alen Lord Chauncellour committed to the Fleete And for so muche as sir Iohn Alen knight then Lorde Chauncellour of Irelande was founde to limpe in this controuersie by playing as it was supposed more craftily than wiselye with both the handes in that hee seemed to bee rather a fosterer of theyr malice than an appeaser of theyr quarelles hee was likewise sent for into Englande and being tript by the Counsaile in his tale was committed to the Fleete wherein he remayned a long tyme. In this trouble the Earle of Ormond was greatly ayded by sir William Wise Knight Sir VVilliam VVise knight a woorshipfull Gentleman borne in the Citie of Waterfoorde who deseruing in deede the prayse of that vertue whereof he bare the name grewe to bee of great credite in the Court and stoode highly in king Henrie his grace whiche hee wholy vsed to the furtherance of his friends and neuer abused to the annoyance of his foes This Gentleman was verye well spoken mylde of nature wyth discretion stoute as one that in an vpright quarel would beare no coles seldome in an intricate matter grauelled being found at all assayes to be of a pleasant and present wit Hauing lente to the King his Signet to seale a Letter who hauing powdred Erimites engrayled in the Scale why howe now Wise quoth the King what hast thou Lise here And if it like your Maiestie quoth sir WilliaÌ„ a louse is a riche Coate for by giuing the Louse I part Armes with the French King in that he gyueth the Floure de Lice Whereat the king heartily laughed to heare how pretily so byting a taunt namely proceeding from a Prince was sodaynly turned to so pleasaunte a conceyte Anon after the agreement made betweene Ormonde and Sentleger the Earle his Seruants which hee kept at that time in his lyuerey to the number of fiftie besought his Lordship to take at the Lymehouse his part of a supper which they prouided for him The noble man wyth honour accepting their dutifull offer supped at theyr request but not to their contentation at the place appoynted For whether it were that one caytife or other did poyson the meate The Earle of Ormonde deceaseth or that some other false measures were vsed the certaintie with the reuenge whereof to God is to bee referred the noble man wyth thirtie and fiue of his seruaunts presently that night sickned one Iames White the Earle his Stewarde with sixtene of his fellowes died the remnant of the seruauntes recouered but theyr Lorde whose health was chiefly to bee wished in the floure of his age deceassed of that sicknesse at Elie house in Holborne 1546 muche aboute the .xxviij. of October and was buried in Saint Thomas of Acres his Churche whose death bred sorrow to his friendes little comfort to his aduersaries great losse to his Countrey and no small griefe to all good men His description This Earle was a goodly and personable noble man full of honour which was not onely lodged inwardly in his mynde but also hee bare it outwardly in countenaunce As franke and as liberall as his calling required A deepe and a farre reaching head In a good quarell rather stout than stubborne bearing himselfe with no lesse courage when he resisted than with honourable discretion where he yeelded A fauourer of peace no furtherer of warre as one that preferred vnlawfall quietnesse before vpright troubles beeing notwithstanding of as greate wisedome in the one as of valour in the other An earnest and a zealous vpholder of his countrey in all attemptes rather respecting the publique weale than his priuate gaine Whereby he bounde his Countrey so greatlye vnto him that Irelande might with good cause wish that eyther he had neuer beene borne or else that hee had neuer deceassed so it were lawfull to craue him to bee immortall that by course of nature was framed mortall And to giue sufficient proufe of the entyre affection he bare his Countrey and of the zealous care he did cast thereon he betooke in his death bed his soule to God his carkasse to Christian buriall and his heart to his Countrey declaring thereby that where his minde was
the greatest part of Shropshyre which the Welch occupied not Lancaster Glocester Hereford alias Hurchforde Warwijc and Hertforde shyres the rest of whose territories were holden by such princes of other kingdomes thorow force 〈◊〉 bordered vpoÌ„ the same And thus much haue I thought good to leaue in memorye of the aforesaid kingdomes not omitting in y e meane time somewhat here to remember of the diuision of the Island also into Prouinces as the Romaines seuered it whiles they remayned in these parts Which being done I hope that I haue fullye discharged whatsoeuer is promised in the title of this Chapter The Romaines therefore hauing obteined the possession of this Island deuided the same at y e last into fiue Prouinces The first wherof was named BritaÌ„nia prima â—…itannia â—…ma conteined the east part of England as some doe gather froÌ„ y e Trent vnto y e Twede The second was called Valentia â—…lentia included the West side as they note it froÌ„ Lirpole vnto Cokermouth The thirde hight Britannia secunda â—…itannia â—…cunda and was that portion of the Ile which laye Southwardes betwéene the Trent and the Thames The fourth was surnamed Flauia Cesariensis â—…auia Ceâ—…iensis and contayned all the countrey which remayned betwéene Douer the Sauerne I meane by south of the Thames and wherevnto in lyke sort Cornewall and Wales were orderly assigned The fift and last part was then named Maxima Cesariensis â—…axima â—…esarienâ—… now Scotland The most barren of all the reast yet not vnsought out of the Romaines bicause of the great plentie of fishe and foule fine Alabastar and harde Marble that are ingendred and to be had in the same for furniture of housholde and curious buylding wherein they much delited Of the auncient Religion vsed in this Island from the comming of Samothes vnto the conuersion of the same vnto the faith of Christ Cap. 8. IT is not to be doubted but at the first and so long as the posteritie of Iaphet onelye reigned in this Islande that the true knowledge and forme of religion brought in by Samothes â—…amothes was exercised among the Britains And although peraduenture in processe of time either thorow curiositie or negligence y e onely corrupters of true pietie and godlynesse it might a little decay yet when it was at the woorst it farre excéeded the best of that which afterwarde came in with Albion and his Chemminites as maye be gathered by vewe of the supersticious rites which Cham and hys successours dyd plant in other countries yet to be found in Authors What other learning Magus the sonne of Samothes taught after his fathers death wheÌ„ he also came to the kingdome Magus beside thys which concerned the true honoring of God I can not easily saye but that it shoulde bée naturall Philosophie and Astrology wherby his disciples gathered a kinde of foreknowledge of thinges to come the verye vse of the worde Magus among the Persians doth yéeld no incerteine testimony In lyke maner Sarron it shoulde séeme that Sarron sonne vnto the sayde Magus diligentlye followed the steppes of hys father thereto opened Schooles of learning in sundrie places both among the Celtes and Britaines whereby such as were his Auditours grewe to be called Sarronides notwithstanding Samothei Semnothei that aswell the Sarronides as the Magi otherwise called Magusei Druiydes were generally called Samothei or Semmothei of Samothies stil among the Grecians as Aristotle in his de magia doth confesse and calling them Galles hée addeth thereunto that they first brought the knowledge of Letters and good learning vnto the Gréekes Druiyus the sonne of Sarron as a scholler of his fathers owne teaching séemed to be exquisite in all thinges Druiyus that pertayned vnto the deuine or humaine knowledge and therfore I may safely pronounce that he excelled not onely in the skill of Philosophie and the Quadriuialles but also in the true Theologie whereby the right seruice of God was kept preserued in puritie He wrote moreouer sundry precepts and rules of religious doctrine which among the Celtes were reserued very religiously and had in great estimation among such as sought vnto them Howe and in what order this Prince left the state of religioÌ„ Corrupters of religion I meane for those publike orders in administration of particular rites and ceremonies as yet I do not reade howbeit this is most certayne that after he dyed the purity of his doctrine began somewhat to decaye for such is the nature of man that it wil not suffer any good thing long to remaine as it is left but either by additioÌ„ or substraction of this or that to or from the same so to chop chaunge withal froÌ„ time to time that there is nothing of more difficulty for such as doe come after theÌ„ then to find out the puritie of the originall and restore the same againe vnto hir former perfection In the beginning this Druiyus did preach vnto his bearers Caesar that the soule of man is immortall that God is omnipotent mercyfull as a father in shewing fauor vnto the godly and iust as an vpright Iudge in punishing of the wicked That the secrets of mans hart are not vnknowen and only knowen to him and that as the worlde and all that is therein had their beginning by him at his owne will so shall all things likewise haue an end when he shal sée his time He taught them also howe to obserue the courses of y e heauens Strabo li. 4. Socton lib. success Cicero diuinat 1. and motions of the planetes to finde out the true quantities of the celestiall bodyes and thereto the compasse of the earth and hidden natures of thinges contayned in the same But alas this integritie continued not long among his successours for vnto the immortality of the soule they added that after death it went in to another bodye the seconde or succedent being alwayes eyther more noble or more vile than the former as the partie deserued by his merites whylest he liued here on earth Plinius lib. 16. cap. vltimo For said they of whoÌ„ Pythagoras also had and taught this errour if the soule appertayned at y e first to a king he in this estate did not leade his lyfe woorthie of this calling it should after his decease be shut vp in y e bodie of a slaue begger cocke Owle Dogge Ape Horse Asse Worme or Monster there to remaine as in a place of purgation punishmeÌ„t for a certaine periode of time Beside this it should peradueÌ„ture sustaine often translation from one bodie vnto another according to the quantitie and qualitie of his dooinges here on earth till it should finally be purified and restored againe to all other humaine bodie wherein if it behaued it selfe more orderly then at the first after the next death it shoulde be preferred eyther to the bodie of a king or other great estate And thus they
white horse another of Eouesham noted to be twelue or thirtéene miles in compasse the third of Aslesbyry y e goeth by Tame the roote of Ehilterne hils so to Donstable Newport panell stony Stratford Buckingham Birstane parke c. And likewise of the fourth of Whithart or Blackemore in Dorsetshire and also the Marshwood vale but forasmuch as I knowe not well their seuerall limites I giue ouer to go any farder in their description at this time In like sort it should not be amysse to speake of our fennes other pleasant bottomes 〈◊〉 which are not onely indued with excellent ryuers great store of fine fodder for neat and horses in time of y e yere whereby they are excéeding benificiall vnto their owners but also of no small compasse quantity in ground For some of our Fennes are well knowen to be eyther 10.12.16.20 or 30. miles in length that of the Gyrwis yet passing al the reast which is ful 60. as I haue often read 〈◊〉 Finally I might discourse in like order of the large commons laide out heretofore by the Lordes of the soyles for y e benefite of such poore as inhabite within y e compasses of their manours but as the tractatioÌ„ of them belongeth rather to the seconde booke so I meane not at thys present to deale wythall reseruing the same wholly vnto the due place whilest I go forwarde with the reast Of the generall constitution of the bodyes of the Brytaines Cap. 14. THose that are bredde in this Islande are men for the most part of a good completion tall of stature strong in body white of coulour and thereto of great boldenesse and courage in y e warres For such hath béene the estimation of english souldiers from time to time since our Isle hath béene knowne vnto the Romaines that wheresoeuer they haue serued in forrein countries the chiefe brunts 〈◊〉 seruice haue béene reserued for them Of their conâ—…uestes and bloudy battailes woâ—…ne in Fraunce Germany and Scotlande our histories are full and where they haue béene ouercome the victors themselues confessed their victories to haue ben so dearely bought that they woulde not gladly couete to ouercome often after such difficult maner In martiall prowesse there is little or no difference betwene Englishmen and Scottes for albeit that the Scottes haue béene often and very grieuously ouercome by the force of our nation it hath not béene for want of manhood on their partes but through y e mercy of God shewed on vs and his iustice vpon them sith they alwaies haue begun the quarels and offred vs méere iniurie with great despite and crueltie Leland noting somewhat of the coÌ„stitution of our bodies sayeth these wordes the Britaines are whyte in coulour strong of body as people inhabiting néere the north and farre from the Equinoctiall line where contrariewyse such as dwell towarde the course of the sunne are lesse of stature weaker of body more fearfull by nature blacker in coulour and some so blacke in déede as anye Crow or Rauen thus sayeth he Howbeit as these men doe come behinde vs in constitution of bodie so in Pregnancie of witte nimblenesse of lymmes and pollitike inuentions they generally excéede vs notwithstaÌ„ding that otherwise these giftes of theirs doe often degenerate into méere subtiltie instabilitie â—…rmis â—…genio â—â—tur vnfaithfulnesse and crueltie We therfore dwelling néere the North are commonly taken by forrein Hystoriographers and others to be men of great strength and little policie much courage and small shift thus doth Comineus burden vs after a sort in hys history But thanked be God that all the wit of his countrymen coulde neuer compasse to doe so much in Britaine as the strength and courage of our Englishmen not without great wisedome and forecast haue brought to passe in Fraunce Certes in accusing our wisedome in this sorte he doth in mine opinion increase our commendation for if it be a vertue to deale vprightly with singlenesse of minde sincerely and plainly without any suspicious fetches in all our dealinges then are our countreymen to be accompted vertuous But if it be a vice to coulour craftinesse subtile practises doublenesse and hollow behauiour with a cloke of pollicie amitie and wisedome then are Comineus and his companie to be reputed vicious How these latter pointes take holde in Italy I meane not to discusse how they are daily practized in many places of the maine and he accompted most wyse and pollitike that can most of all dissemble here is no place iustly to determine neyther woulde I wishe my countrymen to learne any such wisedome but that a king of Fraunce coulde say Qui nescit dissimulare nescit regnare their owne hystories are testimonies sufficient But to procéede with our purpose With vs 〈◊〉 doe liue an hundred yeares very many â—…oure sower score as for thrée score it is taken but for our enteraunce into age so that in Britain no man is sayde to were old til he draw vnto thre score These two are also noted in vs as thinges appartayning to the firme constitutions of our bodies that there hath not béene séene in any Region so many cartasses of the dead to remaine from time to time without corruption as in Britain and that after death by slaughter or otherwyse such as remayne vnburied by foure or fiue dayes togither are easte to be knowen and discerned by their friendes and kinred wheras Tacitus and other complaine of sundry nations saying that their bodies are tam fluidae substantiae that within certaine houres the wife shall hardely knowe hir husbande the mother hir sonne or one friende another after their liues be ended I might here adde somewhat also of the meane stature generally of our women 〈◊〉 beautie commonly excéedeth the faire 〈◊〉 those of the maine their comlynes of person and good proportion of limmes most of theirs y e come ouer vnto vs from beyonde the sea I coulde make report likewyse of the naturall vices vertues of all those y t are borne within thys Islande but as the tractation thereof craueth a better head then mine to set it forth so I will giue place to other men that list to take the same in hand Thus much therfore of the constitutions of our bodies and so much may suffice How Britayne grew at the first to be deuided into three portions Chap. 1. AFter the commyng of Brutus into this Island which was as you haue red in the aforesayd treatize about the yere of y e world 2840 or 1127 before y e incarnation of Christ he made a general suruey of the whole IslaÌ„d from side to side by such meanes to view and search out not onely the limites and boundes of his dominions but also what commodities this new atchieued conquest might yeld vnto hys people Furthermore findyng out at the last also a couenable place wherein to erect a citie he began there euen y e very same which at this day is called London namyng it Trenouanton
Britain and that he planted colonies of meÌ„ broght forth of the east parts in either of them Anti. lib. 1. fyrst in the mayne land after in the Iland He is reported by Berosus to haue excelled al men of that age in leening and knowledge Bale script Brit. cent 1. and also is thought by Bale to haue imparted the same among his people namely the vnderstanding of the sundry courses of the starres Caesar coÌ„men lib. 8. the order of inferiour things with many other matters incident to the morall and politike gouernement of mans life to haue deliuered the same in the Phâ—…nician letters In quiâ—… temp De 〈◊〉 Contra 〈◊〉 pioâ—… out of whiche the Grekes according to the opinion of Archilochus deuised deriued the greke charecters in somuche that Xenophon Iosephus do constantly report although Diogenes Laertius be against it that both the Grekes and other nations receyued their letters and lerning first from these countreys Of this king and his lerning arose a sect of Philosophers saith Annius first in Britain li. de 〈◊〉 succesâ—… after in Gallia the whiche of his name were called Sâ—…mothes They as Aristotle Secion write were passing skilful both in the law of god man and for that cause excedingly giuen to religion especially the inhabitants of this yle of Britain in so much that the whole nation did not only take the name of theÌ„ but the yland it selfe Script â—… cent 1. De 〈…〉 cent lib. â—… This 〈◊〉 Saâ—…thea as Bale doctor Cay agree came to be called Samothea which was the firste peculiar name that euer it had and by the which it was especially known before the arriuall of Albion Magus MAgus y e son of Samothes after y e deth of his father was the second king of Celtica by whoÌ„ as Berosus writeth there were manye townes builded among the Celtes Lib. 3. which by the witnesse of Annius Anniâ—… coâ—…â—… perâ—… Geâ—…ge dyd bear the addition of their fouÌ„der Magus of which townes diuers are to be found in Ptolomie and Antoninus a painful surueyor of the world sercher of cities maketh mencion of .4 of them here in Britain Sitomagus Neomagus Niomagus and Nouiomagus Neomagus sir Thomas Eliot writeth to haue stoode where the citie of Chester nowe standeth Niomagus George Lilly placeth where the towne of BuckinghaÌ„ is now remaining beside this doth Bale so highly comend y e forsaid Magus for his lerning renoumed ouer al the world y t he wold haue y e PersiaÌ„s other nations of the south west partes to deriue the name of their diuines called Magi from him In dede Rauisius Textor sir Iohn Prise affirme y t in the days of Plinie the Britons wer so expert in arte Magike y t they might be thoght to haue firste deliuered the same to the Persians What the name of Magus importeth De diui iâ—… De fastiâ—… of what profession y e Magi were Tulli declareth at large and Mantuan in brief after this maner Ille penes Persas Magus est qui sidera norit Qui sciat herbarum vires cultumque deorum Persepolifacit ista Magos prudentia triplex The Persians terme him Magus that the course of starres doth knowe The power of herbes and worship due to god that man doth owe. H.i. By threefolde knowledge thus the name of Magus then doth growe Sarron De ant Cant. 〈◊〉 â—… SArron the third king of y e Celtes succeded hys father Magus in Gouernemente of the countrie of Gallia and the Isle Samothea wherein as Doctoure Caius writeth he fouÌ„ded certain publike places for them that professed learning whiche Berosus affirmeth to be done to the intente to restrayne the wilfull outrage of men â—…ale script Brit. cent 1. beeing as then but rawe and voyde of all ciuilitie Also it is thought by Annius that he was the firste author of those kinde of Philosophers which were called Sarronides Lib. 6. of whom Diodorus Siculus writeth in this sort There are sayth he among the Celtes certain diuines philosophers whom they call Sarronides hauing them of all other in greatest estimation For it is the maner among them not without a Philosopher to make anye sacrifice for they are of beleefe that sacrifices ought only to be made by suche as are skilfull in the diuine misteriâ—…s as of those who are neerest vnto God by whose intercession they thinke all good things are to be required of God and whose aduise they vse and followe as well in watte as in peace Druis This Prince is coÌ„mended by Berosus to bee so plentifullye endued with wisedome and lerning that Annius taketh him to be the vndoubted authour of the beginning and name of the famous secte of Philosophers called Druides whome Cesar and all other auncient Greeke and Latine writers doe affirme to haue had their beginning in Brytayne and to haue bin brought from thence into Gallia in so muche that when there arose any doubt in that countrey touching any point of their discipline they did repaire to be resolued therin into Britayne where especially in the I le of Anglesey as Humfrey Llhuyd witnesseth they made their principal aboade Touching their vsages many things are writen by Aristotle Secion Plinie Laertius Anti. lib. 5. Annius super eundem De bello Gallico lib. 9. De bello Gallico lib. 6. Bodinus and others which I will gather in brief and set downe as followeth They had as Cesar sayth the charge of coÌ„mon and priuate sacrifices y e discussing of pointes of religion the bringing vp of youth the determining of matters in variance with full power to inteâ—…ite so manye from the sacrifice of their goddes and the company of men as disobeyed their awarde Polidore affirmeth Hist. an li. 1. how they taught y e mens soules coulde not dye but departed from one bodye to an other and that to the intente to make men valiant and dreadlesse of death Tullic writeth that partely by tokens De diui li. 1. and partely by surmises they wold foretell of things to come And by report of Hector Boetius Hist. Scoti lib. 2. some of them were not ignorant of the immortalitie of the one and euerlasting God All these things they had written in the greke toung De migr gen lib. 2. Marcellinus in so much that Wolfg. Lazius vpon reporte of Marcellinus declareth howe the Greeke letters were first brought to Athenes by Timagines from the Druides and herevpon it cometh also to passe the British toung to this daye hath in it remayning some smacke of the Greke Among other abuses of the Druides they had according to Diodorus one custome to kill men and by the falling bleeding and dismembring of them to diuine of things to come for the whiche and other wicked practises De vitae Agricolae their secte was first condemned for abhominable as Cor. Taritus writeth and dissolued in
hee stoode in feare of your commyng whose sayles hee behelde readie to approche towards him howesoeuer the matter shoulde fall out he chose rather to trye his fortune wyth your capitaynes than to abyde the present force of your maiestie a madde man that vnderstoode not that whether so euer he fled the power of your diuine maiestie to be present in all places where your countenance and banners are had in reuerence But hee fleeing from your presence fell into the handes of youre people of you was he ouercome of youre armies was he oppressed To be short he was brought into suche feare and as it were still looking behynde him for doubte of your comming after him that as one out of his remembrance amazed what to do he hasted forward to his death so that he neyther sette his men in order of battayle nor marshalled suche power as hee had about him but onely with the olde authors of that conspiracie the hired bands of the barbarous nations as one forgetful of so great preparation which he had made ran hedlong forwards to his destruction insomuch noble emperor your felicitie yeldeth this good hap to the cōmon welth that the victorie being atchieued in the behalfe of the Romain empire there almost died not one Romain for as I heare all those fields and hilles laye couered with none but only with the bodies of moste wicked enimies the same beeing of the barbarous nations or at the lest wise apparelled in the coūterfait shapes of barbarous garments glistering with their long yealow heares but nowe with gashes of wounds bloud all deformed and lying in sundry maners as the pangs of death occasioned by their wounds Alectus founde dead had caused them to stretch foorth or draw in their maymed limmes and mangled parts of their dying bodies And among these the chiefe ringleader of the theeues was founde who had put off those robes which in his life time he had vsurped dishonored He had dispoy◅ed himselfe of the imperiall ◅obes bycause he vvould not be knovven if ◅e chanced to be slayne so as vneth was he couered wyth one piece of apparell wherby he might be knowen so neare were his wordes true vttered at the houre of his death whiche he saw at hand that he would not haue it vnderstoode howe he was slayn Thus verily most inuincible emperour so greate a victorie was appointed to you by consent of the immortall gods ouer al the enemies whom you assayled Francones siue Franci but namely the slaughter of the Frankeners those youre souldiours also which as before I haue sayd through missyng their course by reason of the myst that lay on the seas were nowe come to the citie of London where they slewe downe right in eche parte of the same citie London in danger to be spoyled what multitude soeuer remayned of those hyred barbarous people which escaping from the bataile mente after they had spoyled the citie to haue got away by flight But now being thus slain by your souldiours the subiects of your prouince were both preserued from further daunger and tooke pleasure to beholde the slaughter of suche cruell enimies O what a manyfolde victorie was this worthie vndoubtedly of innumerable triumphes by which victorie Britayne is restored to the Empire by which victorie the nation of the Frankeners is vtterlye destroyed and by whiche many other nations found accessaries in the cōspiracie of that wicked practise are compelled to obedience To conclude the seas are purged and broughte to perpetuall quietnes Glorie you therfore inuincible Emperor for that you haue as it were gote an other worlde and in restoring to the Romain puissaunce the glorie of conquest by sea haue added to the Romain empire an element greater than al the compasse of the earth that is the mightie mayne Ocean You haue made an ende of the warre inuincible Emperour that seemed as present to threaten all prouinces and might haue spreade abroade and burst out in flame euen so largely as y e Ocean Seas stretche and the Mediterrane gulfes do reache neither are we ignorant althoughe thorough feare of you that infection did festee within the bowels of Britayn only and proceeded no further w t what furie it would haue auanced it selfe else where if it might haue bin assured of meane to haue raunged abroade so farre as it wished For it was bounded in with no bordure of mountayne nor ryuer whych garnisons appoynted were garded and defended but euen so as the shippes although we had your martiall prowes and prosperous fortune readye to relieue vs was still at oure elbowes to put vs in feare so farre as eyther seas reache or wynde bloweth for that incredible boldenesse and vnwoorthy good happe of a few captiues of the Frankeners in time of y e Emperour Probus came to our remēbrance whiche Frankeners in that season The piracy of the Frankeyners called Franci or Frācones conueying away certayn vessels from the coastes of Pontus wasted doth Grecia Asia and not without great hurt damage ariuing vpon diuers partes of the shore of Libya at length tooke the Citye of Saragose in Sicile an hauen towne in tymes paste hyghely renowmed for victories gotten by sea and after this passyng thorough the streytes of Gibralterra came into the Ocean so with the fortunate successe of their rashe presumptuous attempte shewed how nothing is shut vp in safety from the desperate boldnesse of pyrates where ships may come and haue accesse And so therfore by this your victorie not Britain alone is deliuered from bondage but vnto all nations is safetie restored which might by the vse of the seas come to as great perils in time of warre as to gayne of commodities in tyme of peace Now Spayne to let passe the coastes of Gallia with hir shores almost in sight is in suretie now Italy now Afrike nowe all nations euen vnto the fennes of Meotis are voyde of perpetuall cares Neyther therfore are they lesse ioyful the feare of danger being taken away which to feele as yet the necessitie had not brought thē but they reioyce so muche the more for this that both in the guiding of your good prouidence and also furtheraunce of fortune so great a force of rebellion by sea men is calmed vpon the entring into their bordures and Britayne it selfe whiche had giuen harburgh to so long a mischief is euidently knowne to haue tasted of your victorie with hir only restitutiō to quietnesse Britayne restored to quietnesse Not without good cause therefore immediatly when you hir long wished reuenger and deliuerer were once arriued your Maiestie was met with greate triumph and the Britayns replenished with all inwarde gladnesse The Britaynes receyue Maximian vvith great ioy and humblenesse came foorth and offered themselues to youre presence with their wyues and children reuerencing not onely youre selfe on whome they sette their eyes as on one descended downe them to from heauen but also euen
therto agreeable nor induce the souldiours to admit him they hauing already established his sonne he began to deuyse wayes howe to assure the state more strongly to his sayde sonne and hearyng that his sonne in law Constantine was mynded to come into Italy against him he purposed to practise Constantines destruction in somuch that it was iudged by this which folowed â—…issimulation y t Herculeus Maximinus did but for a colour seme to mislyke with that whiche his son Maxentius had done to the ende he might the sooner accomplishe his entente for the dispatching of Constantine oute of the waye Herevpon as it were fleing out of Italy â—…anulphus â—…estrensis he came to Constantine who as then hauing appointed lieutenants vnder him in Britayn remayned in France and with all ioy and honor that mighte bee receiued his father in lawe the which being earnestly bent to compasse his purpose Fausta the daughter of Maximinus vvife to Constantine made his daughter Fausta priuie therto whiche ladie either for feare least the concealyng therof might turne hir to displesure either else for the entier loue whiche she bare to hir husbande reueled hir fathers wicked purpose Wherevpon whilest Constantine goeth about to be reuenged of suche a trayterous practise Herculeus fleeth to Mersiles Marsiles purposing there to take the sea and so to retire to his sonne Maxentius into Italye But ere he coulde get away from thence he was stangled by commaundemente of his sonne in lawe Constantine Maximinus slayne An. Chri. 311. and so ended his lyfe whiche he had spotted with many cruell actes as well in persecutyng the professour 〈◊〉 the Christian name as others In this mean time had Maximinus adopted one Licinius to assiste hym in gouernaunce of the empire Licinius chosen fellovv vvith Maximianus in the empire proclayming hym Cesar So that nowe at one selfe tyme Constantine gouerned Fraunce and the weast partes of the Empire Maxentius helde Italy Affrike and Egypte And Maximinus whydhe lykewyse had but elected Cesar ruled the Easte partes and Licinius Illyrium and Grecia But shortly after the Emperoure Constantine ioyned in league with Licinius and gaue to him his sister in marriage named Constantia for more suretie of faithfull friendship to endure betwixt them He sent him also against Maximinus who gouerning in the East parte of the Empire purposed the destruction of Constantine and all his partakers but being vanquished by Licinius at Tarsus he shortly after dyed being eaten with lice Constantine after this was called into Italy to deliuer the Romaynes and Italians from the tyrannie of Maxentius whiche occasion so offered Constantine gladly accepting passed into Italy and after certaine victories gote againste Maxentius at length slewe him And after this when Maximinus was dead whiche prepared to make warre againste Licinius that hadde married Constantia the sister of Constantine hee finally made warre against his brother in lawe the sayde Licinius by reason of suche quarrels as fell out betwixt theÌ„ In the whiche warre Licinius was putte to the worse and at length comming into the handes of Constantine was put to deathe so that Constantine by this meanes gote the whole Empire vnder his rule and subiection Hee was a greate fauorer of the Christian Religion in somuche that to aduance the same hee tooke order for the conuerting of the Temples dedicated in the honors of Idols vnto the seruice of the true and Almightie God Hee commaunded also Christians honoured cherished that none should be admitted to serue as a Souldiour in the warres excepte hee were a Christian nor yet to haue rule of any countrey or armie Hee also ordeyned the weeke before Easter and that whiche folowed to be kept as holy and no person to doe any bodily workes during the same He was muche counsailed by that noble most vertuous ladie his mother the Empresse Helene Polydore The prayse of the Empresse Helenae the whiche being a godly and deuoute woman did what in hir laye to moue him to the setting foorth of Gods honour and encrease of the christian faith wherein as yet he was not fully instructed Some writers alledge that she beeing at Ierusalem 320. made diligent searche to finde out the place of the Sepulchre of our Lorde and at length founde it thoughe with muche adoe for the infidels had stopped it vp and couered it with a heape of filthie earth and buylded alofte vpon the place a chappell dedicated to Venus where yong women vsed to sing songes in honoure of that vnchaste Goddesse Helene caused the same to be ouerthrowne and the earth to be remoued and the place clensed so that at length the sepulchre appeared and fast by were founde there buried in the earth .iij. crosses and the nailes but the crosse wherevppon our Sauiour was crucifyed was known by the title written vpon it The Crosse founde though almost worne out in letters of Hebrew greke and Latine the inscription was this Iesus Nazarenus rex Iudaeorum It was also perceyued which was that Crosse by a miracle as it is reported but how truly I can not tell that shuld be wrought thereby For being layde to a sicke woman only with the touching therof she was healed It was also sayde that a dead man was raysed from death to lyfe his bodie onely being touched therwith Whervpon Constantine moued with these things forbade that from thenceforth any should be put to death on the Crosse to the ende that the thing which afore tyme was accompted infamous and reprochefull myghte nowe be had in honour and reuerence The Empresse Helen hauing thus found the Crosse buylded a temple there and taking wyth hir the nayles returned with the same to hir son Constantine who set one of them in the crest of his helmet Polidorus an other in the brydell of his horsse and the thirde he castinto the sea to assuage and pacifie the furious tempestes and rage thereof She also brought with hir a parcell of that holy Crosse Polidorus and gaue it to hir sonne the sayd Constantine the whiche he caused to be closed within an Image that represented his person standing vppon a piller in the market place of Constantine or as some late writers haue he caused it to be enclosed in a coffer of golde adorned with ryche stones and Pearles placing it in a Churche called Sessoriana the which church he endued with many great giftes and precious ornamentes Many workes of greate zeale and vertue are remembred by writers to haue bin done by thys Constantine and his mother Helene to the setting foorth of Gods glorie and the aduauncing of the faith of Christe The commendation of Constantine But to be briefe he was a manne in whome many excellent vertues and good qualities bothe of mynde and bodie manifestly appeared chiefly he was a prince of great knowledge and experience in warre and therewith verie fortunate an earnest louer of iustice and to conclude borne
a most valiant Duke began to gouerne Deira as both the sayd Mat. Westm and other doe affirme Vortiporus VOrtiporus Vortiporus y e sonne of Aurelius Conanus succeeded his father and began to reygne ouer the Britons Math. VVeâ—… noteth 57â—… in the yeare of oure Lorde fiue hundred seuentie and sixe in the eleuenth yeare of the Emperoure Flauius Anicius Iustinus in the fourthe yeare of the reigne of Childerike king of Fraunce and in the fourth yeare of Ciephis the Gotishe king in Italy This Vortiporus vanquished the Saxons in batayle as the Britishe histories make mention and valiantly defended his lande and subiectes the Brytons from the daunger of them other their alies In the tyme of this kyâ—…gâ—… reigne the foresayde Ella began to rule in the south parte of the kingdome of Northumberlande called Deâ—…ra as before is mencioned according to the accoÌ„pt of some authors who also take this Vortiporus to begin his reigne in the yeare â—…48 â—…th VVest â—â—th 3. yeres Fynally after that Vortiporus hadde ruled the Britons the space of .iiij. yeares he departed this lyfe and left no issue behynde him to succede him in the kingdome Against whome also Gildas turning his tale beginneth with him thus â—…da And why standest thou as one starke amazed thou I say Vortiporus the tyraunt of Southwales lyke to the Panther in manners and wickednesse dyuersly spotted as it were with many colours with thy hore head in thy throne full of deceytes craftes and wyles and defiled euen from the lowest part of thy bodie vp to the crowne of the heade with diuers sundrye murthers committed in thyne owne kinne and filthye adulteries thus prouing a naughtie sonne of a good king as Manasses was to Ezechias how chanceth it that the violente streames of sinnes which thou swallowest vp lyke pleasant wyne or rather arte deuoured of them the ende of thy lyfe by little and little nowe drawyng neere can not yet satisfye thee What meanest thou that with fornication of all euyls as it were the ful heape thyne owne wyfe beeing putte awaye and by hir honeste death doest oppresse thy soule wyth a certayne burdeyn that can not bee auoyded of thyne vnshamefast daughter Consume not I pray ther the resydue of thy â—…ayes to the offence of God and so foorth exhorting him to repentaunce wyth admonitions taken oute of the Scriptures bothe for his comforte and warnyng If the circumstaunce of thys that Gildas writeth of Vortiporus bee marked it maye bee perceyued that Geffrey of Monmouthe and also Mathewe of Westminster the Authour of the Floures of histories are deceyued in that they take hym to bee the sonne of Aurelius Conanus and rather it maye hee gathered that not onely the same Aurelius Conanus and Vortiporus but also Constantinus yea and Cunegâ—…asus and Maglocunus of the whiche he also intreateth as partly shall bee hereafter touched liued and reigned all at one tyme in seuerall partes of thys Isle and not as Monarkes of the whole Britishe nation â–ª but as rulers eche of them in his quarier after the manner as the state of Iâ—â—lande hath bin in tymes passe before the countrey came vnder the Englishe subiection if my coniecture herein doe not deceyue me Malgo. AFter the deceasse of Vortâ—…orus Malgo. Malgo that was nephewe to Aurelius Conanus as some write was made king of Britayne Math. VVest hath noted 58â—… and began his reigne ouer the Britons in the yeare of our Lord .580 in the .xv. yeere of the Emperor Iustinian and in the â—…7 580. yeere of the reigne of Childerick king of the Frenchmen This Malgo is reported to haue beene the comelyest Gentleman in beautie and shape of personage that was to be founde in those dayâ—… amongest all the Brytons and therewith of a bolde and hardie courage Gal. Mâ—â— Hee manfully defended the countrey which he had in gouernaunce from the malice of the Saxons subdued the out Isles as Orkeneye and others But notwithstaÌ„ding the noble qualities with the whiche his persone was adorned yet hee spotted them all with the foule filthie synne of Sodomie so that he fell into the hatred of Almightie God and being pursued of the Saxons receyued many ouerthrowes at their handes as by the reporte of the Englishe writers is gathered more at large Finallye when hee had reigned fiue yeeres and odde moneths hee departed this lyfe It seemeth that this Malgo is named by Gildas Maglocunus Math. VVest compteth not past fiue yeeres to his reigne vvhom Harâ—…s folovveth although other affirme that he reigned â—… yeares the whiche Gildas before he speaketh of him inueyeth against one Cuneglâ—…sus whom he reproueth for that he warred both against God and man against God with greuous sins as namely adulterie in forsaking the companie of his lauful wife and keeping to concubine a syster of hirs that hadde professed chastitie and againste man with materiall armor and weapons whiche hee vsed to the distruction of his owne countreymen with whome he kepe warres and not against the enimies of the common wealth From Cuneglasus he commeth to the forsayde Maglocune whome hee nameth the Dragon of the Isles and the expellet of many tyrants not only out of their kingdomes but also out of lyfe the last of whome he entreateth as he himselfe sayth but the first in all mischiefe and euil greater than manye in power and lykewise in malice right liberall in giuing but more plentifull in sinne â–ª strong and valiant in armes but stronger in destruction of his owne soule And so proceeding chargeth him with the sinne of the Sodomites and sore blameth him for that wher it had pleased God to make him hygher than all the other Dukes of Britayne in kyngdome and degree hee didde not shewe hymselfe better but contraryly worse than they by farre in manners and conditions Hee declareth also a little after that this Maglocune in his young yeares slewe in battayle his vncle being king â–ª with the most valiaunt souldiours in manner that he had Also that where the same Maglocune tooke vpon him the profession of a Monke he after renounced the same and becam a worse liuer than euer he was before abandoning his wyfe and keeping his brothers sonnes wife whilest hir husbande yet lyued Thus by that whiche Gildas wryteth of the kings and rulers of the Britons whiche lyued in his dayes ye may perceiue that they were giuen to all manner of wickednesse and namely to ciuill dissention rapine adulterie and fornication so that it maye bee thoughte that God stirred vp the Saxons to be a scurge to them and to worke his iuste vengeaunce vppon them for theyr wicked and abhominable offences dayly committed against his diuine maiestie so that we fynde recorded by writers howe that the Saxons in dyuers conflictes agaynst the Brytons hadde the better and also tooke from them diuers townes as already partly hath bin and also hereafter shal be shewed IT is furthermore to be remembred
yeares This Kenwalk was such a Prince Mat. 〈◊〉 dereg 〈◊〉 as in the beginning he was to be compared with the worst kind of rulers but in the middest and later ende of his raigne hee was to bee compared with y e best His godly zeale borne towards the aduancing of the Christian religion wel appeared in the building of the Church at Winchester where the Bishops Sea of al that prouince was theÌ„ placed His wife Sexburga ruled the Kyngdome of West Saxons after him a woman of stoutues ynough to haue atchieued actes of worthy remeÌ„brance but being preuented by deathe ere she had raigned one whole yeare she could not shewe any full proofe of hir noble courage I remember that Math. West maketh other report hereof declaring that the nobilitie remoued hir from the gouernement But I rather followe William Malmes in this matter TO proccede therefore after y t Sexburga was departed this life or deposed Escuinus if you wil nedes haue it so Escuinus or Elcuinus whose Grandfather called Cuthgislo y e brother of K. Kinigils succeded in gouernmeÌ„t of y e West Saxons VVil. Mal. reigning about y e space of two yeres and after his decesse one Centtuinus or Centwine tooke vppon him the rule and continued therein the space of nine yeares But Bede sayth that these two ruled at one time and deuided the kingdom betwixt them Elcuinus fought against Vulfhere Kyng of Mercia a greate number of men being slayne on both parties Hen. 〈◊〉 though Vulfhere yet had after a manner the vpper hand as some haue written In the same yere that the Sinode was holden at Herford Beda lib. â—… cap. sup 〈◊〉 that is to say in the yeare of our Lord 673. Ecgbert the King of Kent departed this life in Iuly King Locius and lefte the Kingdome to his brother Lothore which held the same eleuen yeares and seuen monethes VVil. Malm. Beda dereg lib. 1. Thunnir A vile maâ—…ther Some haue written that King Egbert by the suggestion of one Thunnir who had the chiefe rule of the kingdome vnder him suffered the sayde Thunnir to put vnto death Ethelbert or Ethelbright whiche were the sonnes of Ermenredus the brother of King Ercombert that was father vnto king Egbert for doubt leâ—…t they being towardly yong Gentlemen myghte in tyme growe so into fauor with the people that it shoulde bee easie for them to depriue both Egbert and his issue of the Kyngdome Also that they were priuily put to death and priuily buried at the firste but the place of their buriall immediately beeyng shewed after a miraculous manner theyr bodyes long after in the dayes of Kyng Egilrede the sonne of Kyng Edgar were taken vp and conueyed vnto Ramsey and there buried And although Egbert being giltie of the death of those his cousins did sore repent him for that he vnderstoode they dyed giltlesse yet hys brother Lothaire was thought to be punished for that offence as after shall be shewed Bishop Winfrid deposed Winfrid Bishop of the Mercies for cause of disobedience in some poynt was depriued by the Archbishop Theodore Sexvulfe ordeyned Bishop of the Mercies and one Sexvulfe that was the buylder and also the Abbot of the Monasterie of Meidhamstede otherwise called Peterborrough was ordeyned and consecrated in his place 675. as Math. West hath Bishop Erkenwalde About the same time Erkenwalde was ordeyned Bishop of the East Saxons and appoynted to hold his See in the Citie of London This Erkenwalde was reputed to bee a man of great holynesse and vertue Before he was made Bishoppe hee buylded two Abbeyes the one of Monkes at Chertsey in Sowtherie where hee himselfe was Abbot and the other of Nunnes at Berking within the prouince of the East Saxons Ethelburga where he placed his sister Ethelburga a woman also highly esteemed for hir deuout kinde of life Iohn Capgraue She was firste brought vp and instructed in the rules of hir profession by one Hildelitha a Nunne of the parties of beyond the Sea whome Erkenwald procured to come ouer for that purpose Waldhere Sebby king of East SaxoÌ„s Beda lib. 4. cap. 61. After Erkenwald one Waldhere was made Bishop of London in whose dayes Sebby king of the East Saxons after hee had raigned thirtie yeares beeing nowe vexed with a greeuous sicknesse professed himselfe a Monke whiche thyng he would haue done long before if his wife hadde not kept him backe Hee died shortly after within the Citie of London and was buried in the Church of Saint Paule King Sighere whyche in the beginning raigned with him VVil. Malâ—… and gouerned a parte of the East Saxons was departed thys life before so that in his latter time the foresayde Sebby had the gouernemente of the whole prouince of the East Saxons and left the same to his sonnes Sighard and Sewfred About the yeare of our Lorde .675 675 Vulfhere King of Mercia departed this life after hee hadde raigned as some haue .19 yeares VV. Mal. But other affirme that â—â— raigned .17 yeares Beda Peada or rather Weada but as other affirme hee raigned but .17 yeares Howbeit they which reckeÌ„ nineteene include the time that passed after the slaughter of Penda wherein Oswy and Peada held the aforesayde Kingdome King Ethelred The Bishoppe of Rochester Putta after that his Church was spoyled and defaced by the enimies wente vnto Sexvulfe the Bishop of Mercia and there obteyning of him a small â—â—re and a portion of ground remayned in that countrey not once labouring to restore his Church of Rochester to the former state but wente aboute in Mercia to teach song instruct suche as would learne musicke wheresoeuer hee was required or could get entertaynement Herevpon the Archbishop Theodore consecrated one William Bishop of Rochester in place of Putta and after when the sayd William constreyned by pouertie left that Church Theodore placed one Gebmound in his steede In the yeare of our Lord .678 in the moneth of August 678 A blasing Starre a blasing Starre appeared with a long bright beame like to a piller It was seene euery morning for the space of three monethes togither The same Ecgfrid king of Northumberland Mat. VVest Beda li. 4. cap. 12. Bishop Wilâ—…rid banished Hlagustald Hexam Eadhidus Lindesferne â—…oly ilande banished Bishop Wilfrid vppon displeasure taken with hym out of his See and then were two Bishops ordeyned in his place to gouerne the Church of the NorthuÌ„bers y e one named Bosa at Yorke the other called Eata at Hagustald or Lindesferne Also one Eadhidus was ordeined about the same time Bishop of Lindsey the which prouince king Egfride hadde of late conquered and taken from Vulfhere the late King of Mercia whome he ouercame in battel and droue him out of that couÌ„trey The said three Bishops were consecrated at Yorke by the Archbishop of Canterbury Theodorus the whiche within three yeares after ordeyned two Bishops more in that prouince of the
sorily so that in the ende when his countrey was inuaded by the West Saxons he was easily constreyned to departe into exile And thus was the kingdome of Kent annexed to the kingdome of the West Saxons after the same kingdome had continued in gouernmente of kings created of the same nation for the space of .382 yeres The ende of the kingdome of Kent 827 yeres that is to say from the yeare of our Lord .464 vnto the yere .827 Suithred or Suthred K. of Essex was vanquished and expulsed out of his kingdom by Egbert K. The end of the Kingdome of Eastsex of West Saxons as before ye may reade in the same yere that the kentishmen were subdued by the said Egbert or else very shortly after This Kingdome continued .281 yeres from the yere .614 vnto the yere .795 as by the table of the Heptarchie set foorth by Alexander Neuill it appeareth After the decesse of Kenvulfe K. of Mercia his sonne Kenelme a child of the age of .7 yeares was admitted K. Mat. VVest 821 The wickednesse of QueÌ„dred about the yere of our Lord .821 Hee had two sisters Quendred and Burgenild of the which the one that is to say Quendrede of a malitious minde moued through ambition enuyed hir brothers aduauncemente and sought to make him away so that in the ende she corrupted y e gouernor of his person one Ashberte with greate rewardes and high promises perswading him to dispatch hir innocent brother out of life that shee might raigne in his place Ashbert one day vnder a colour to haue the yong king foorthe on hunting King Kenelme murthered led him into a thicke wood and there cut off the head froÌ„ his body an Impe by reason of his teÌ„der yeres innocent age vnto the world voyde of gilt yet thus trayterously murthered without cause or crime he was afterward reputed for a Martir There hath gone a tale that his death should be signified at Rome and the place where the murther was committed by a straunge manner for as they say a white Doue came and alight vpon the Aulter of Saint Peter bearyng a scroll in hir 〈◊〉 which she let fall on the same Aulter in which scroll among other things this was contreyned in Cleâ—…c Koâ—… Bath Keneline Kenbarne lieth vnder thorne heaued betraned that is at Clenc in a Cow pasture Keneline the Kyngs Child lieth beheaded vnder a thorne This tale I reherse 〈◊〉 for any credite I thinke it 〈◊〉 of but only for y t it seemeth the place where the yong Prince innocently lost his life After that Keneline was thus made away Ceolwolf K. of Mercia 823 his Vncle Ceolwolfe the Brother of King Kenulfe was â—…reaâ—…ed King of Mercia and in the seconde yeare of his raigne was expulsed by Bernwolfe Bernwolfe in the thirde yeare or seconde as Harrison hath of his raigne was vanquished and put to flight in battell by Egbert King of West Saxons and shortly after 〈◊〉 of the East angles as before ye haue heard Then one Ludiâ—â—nus or Ludicanus was created King of Mercia and within two yeres after came to the like ende that hapâ—…es to his predecessor before him as he 〈◊〉 about to reuenge hys death so that the Kingdome of Britayne began now to recâ—…e from their owne estate and leane to an alteration which grew in the end to the erectioÌ„ of a perâ—â—t Monarchie and finall subuersion of their perticular estates and regiments After Ludicenus succeeded Wightlafe Mat. VVest 728 who first being vanquished by Egbert King of West Saxons was afterwardes restored to the Kingdome by the same Egbert and raigned thirtene yeres whereof twelue at the least were vnder tribute which he payed to the said Egbert and to his sonne as to his Soueraignes and supreme gouernoures The Kingdome of Northumberlande was brought in subiection to the Kings of West Saxons as before is mentioned in the yeare of oure Lord .828 828 and in y e yeare of the raigne of K. Egbert .28 but yet here it tooke not ende as after shall appeare EThelwoulfus otherwise called by some writers Athaulfus Ethelwolfus began his raigne ouer y e West Saxons in the yeare .837 which was in the .24 yere of the Emperour Ludouicus Pius that was also K. of France in the .10 yeare of Theophilus y e Emperour of the East about the third yere of Kenneth the seconde of that name K. of Scottes This Ethelvoulf minding in his youth to haue bin a Priest entred into the orders of SubdeacoÌ„ Hen. Hunt Math. VVest and as some write he was Bishop of Winchester but howsoeuer the matter stoode or whether he was or not sure it is that shortly after he was assoyled of his vowes by authoritie of Pope Leo and then maried a proper Gentlewoman named Osburga which was his butlers daughter Hee was of nature curteous and rather desirous to liue in quiet rest than to be troubled with the gouernement of many countreys â—…V Mal. so that coÌ„tenting himselfe with the kingdome of West Saxons he permitted his brother Athelstan to enioy the residue of the countreys which his father had subdued as Kent and Essex with other He ayded the K. of Mercia Burthred against the Welchmen and greatly aduanced his estimation by gyuyng vnto him his daughter in marriage But now the fourth destruction which chanced to this lande by forraine enimies â—…our especiall â—â—structions 〈◊〉 this land was at hande for the people of Denmarke Norway and other of those Northeast regions which in that season were greate rouers by Sea had tasted the wealth of this land by such spoiles and prayes as they hadde taken in the same so that perceiuing they coulde not purchase more profit any where else they set their myndes to inuade the same on each side as they had partly begun in the days of the late kings Brightrike and Egbert Hen. Hunt Simon Dun. The persecutioÌ„ vsed by these Danes seemed more greeuous than any of the other persecutions either before or sithence that time for y e Romanes hauing quickly subdued the land gouerned it nobly withoute seeking the subuersion thereof The Scottes and Pictes only inuaded y e North partes And the Saxons seeking the conquest of the land when they had once gote it they kept it and did what they could to better and aduance it to a florishing estate And likewise the Normans hauing made a conquest graunted both life libertie and auntient lawes to the former inhabitants But the Danes long time and often assayling the land on euery side now inuading it in this place and now in that did not at y e first so much couete to conquere it as to spoyle it nor to beare rule in it as to wast destroy it who if they were at anye time ouercome the victorers were nothing the more in quiet for a new nauie and a greter army was ready to make some new inuasioÌ„ neither did they enter all at one place
where the Danes hadde the victorie Also two moneths after this they lykewise fought with the Danes at Merton A battayle at Merton And there the Danes after they had bene put to the worse and pursued in chase a long tyme yet at lengthe they also got the victorie He vvas bishop of Shirborne as Math. VVest hath noted in which battayle Edmund bishop of Shirborne was slayn and many other that were men of woorthye fame and good accompte In sommer following a mightie hoste of the Danes came to Reding and there soiorned for a tyme. These thinges agree not I remember wel with that whiche Polidore Vergile hathe written of these warres whiche king Ethelred hadde with the Danes Polid. Verg. for he maketh mencion of one Ivarus a king of the Danes Ivarus who landed as he writeth at the mouthe of Humber and lyke a stoute enimie inuadeth the countrey adioyning Against whom Etheldred with his brother Alvred came with an armie and encountring the Danes fought with theÌ„ by the space of a whole day togither and was in daunger to haue bin put to the worsse but that the nighte seuered them asunder In the morning they ioyned againe but the death of Ivarus who chaunced to be slayne in the begynnyng of the battayle discouraged the Danes so that they were easily put to flighte Danes put to flight of whome before they coulde get out of danger a great number were slayne But after that they had recouered themselues togither and found out a coÌ„uenient place where to pitche theyr campe they chose to theyr Capipitaynes Agnerus and Hubo two bretherne Agnerus and Hubo whiche indeuoured them selues by all meanes possible to repayre theyr armie so that within fifteene dayes after the Danes eftsoones fought wyth the Englishmenne and gaue them suche an ouerthrowe that little wanted of makyng an ende of all encounters to bee attempted after by the Englishemen But yet within a fewe dayes after this as the Danes attended theyr market to spoyle the countrey and raunge somewhat licenciously abroade they fell wythin the daunger of suche ambushes as were layd for them by king Etheldred that no smalle slaughter was made of them but yet not withoute some losse of the Englishmenne Emongst other Ethelred himselfe receyued a wounde whereof he shortely after dyed Thus hath Polyd. touching the warres which king Etheldred had wyth the Danes who yet confesseth as the truth is that suche Authors as he herein folowed varie muche from that which the Danish writers do recorde of these matters and namely touching the doings of Ivarus as in the Danyshe historye you maye see more at large But now to oure purpose touching the death of king Ethelred whether by reason of hurt receyued in fight against the Danes as Polydore sayth or otherwise certain it is that Etheldred anone after Easter departed this lyfe in the sixte yeare of his reigne VVynborne abbey and was buried at Wynborn abbey Agnere Fabian In the days of this Ethelred the forsaid Danishe capitaines Hungar otherwise called Agnerus and Hubba returning from the Northe parties into the countrey of Eastangles 870. came vnto Thetford wherof Edmunde who reigned as king in that season ouer the Eastangles being aduertised Edmund K. of the East angles he raysed an armie of men and wente foorthe to giue battayle vnto this armie of the Danes Framyngham castell But he with his people was chased out of the fielde and fled to the castell of Framyngham where being enuironed with a siege by his enimies hee yelded him selfe vnto them And bicause he would not renounce the christian faith they bound him to a tree King Edmund shot to death shot arrows at him til he dyed afterwards cut off his head from his bodie and threw the same into a thicke groue of bushes But afterwards his freÌ„ds tooke the bodie with the head Eglesdone and buried the same at Eglesdon where afterwarde also a faire monasterie was buylded by one bishop Aswyn and chaungyng the name of the place it was after called Sainte Edmundesbury Thus was king Edmund put to death by the cruel Danes for his constant coÌ„fessing the name of Christe in the .xvj. yeare of his reigne and fo ceased the kingdome of Eastangles VVil. Mal. For after that the Danes hadde thus slaine that blissed man they conquered the hole countrey EastaÌ„gle vvithout a gouernor and wasted it so that through their tyraÌ„nie it remayned without any gouernor by the space of nine yeares and then they appoynted a king to rule ouer it Guthrun a Dane king of east angle whose name was Guthrun one of their owne nation who gouerned bothe the Eastangles and the Eastsaxons Ye haue heard how the Danes slew Osryke Ella kings of Northumberland After which victorie by them obteyned they did muche hurte in the north parties of this lande and amongest other cruell deedes Polychron they destroyed the Citie of Aclâ—…yd which was a famous Citie in the tyme of the olde Saxons as by Beda and other wryters it dothe manifestly appeare Here is to be remembred that some wryters reherse the cause to be this Caxton Osbright or Osricke king of Northumberlande rauished the wyfe of one Bearne that was a noble man of the countrey about Yorke who tookesuche great despite thereat that hee fledde out of the lande and went into Denmarke and there complained vnto the king of Denmarke that was his cousin of the 〈◊〉 done to hym by king Osbright Whervpon the king of Denmark glad to haue so iust a quarell against them of Northumberlande furnyshed foorthe an armie and sente the same by Sea vnder the leadyng of hys two brethren Hungar and Hubba into Northumberland where they flew first the sayd kyng Osbrighte and after king Ella at a place besides Yorke whiche vnto thys daye is called Elles crofte takyng that name of the sayde Elle beeing there slayne in defence of hys countrey against the Danes Whyche Ella as we fynde registred by wryters was elected king by suche of the Northumbers as in fauour of Berne had refused to be subiect vnto Osbright Alvred or Alfred AFter the decease of King Ethelred his brother Alvred or Alfrede succeeded him Alvred or Alfred and beganne hys reigne ouer the Weast Saxons and other the more parte of the people of Englande in the yeare of our Lorde eyght hundred seuentie and two whiche was in the ninteenth yeere of the Emperour Lewys the seconde 871. as Math. VVest Siâ—â— Dunesmen doâ—… note 〈◊〉 H. Hunt and two and thirtieth yeare of the reigne of Charles surnamed Caluus or the balde Kyng of Fraunce and about the eleuenth yeare of Constantine the seconde king of Scotland Although that this Alvred was sacred King in his fathers lyfe tyme by Pope Leo as before you haue heard yet was he not admitted king at home till after the decease of his three elder brethren for
See more hereof in the booke of Actes and Monumentes set foorth by M. Foxe vol. 1. leafe .195 he sodenly fel down to the earth so that his seruants toke him vp bare him vnto the english schoole or hospitall where the thirde night after he died Pope Iohn the .x. sent vnto king Adelstane to know if he wold that his bodie should be layde in christian burial or not The king at the contemplation of Alfreds frends kinsfolks signified to the Pope that he was contented that his bodye shuld be enterred amongst other christians His lands being forfaited were giuen by y e king vnto God S. Peter The cause y t moued Alfred and other his coÌ„plices against the king was as some haue aledged his bastardie But whether that allegation wer true or but a slander this is certain that except that stain of his honor â–ª there was nothing in this Adelstan worthy of blame So that he darkned all the glorious fame of his predecessors both in vertuous conditions victorious triumphs Such difference is there to haue that in himselfe wherein to excell rather than to stande vpon the worthinesse of his auncesters sith that can not rightly be called his After that K. Adelstane was established in the estate he endeuored himself to answer the expectation of his people which hoped for great welth to ensue by his noble prudent gouernaÌ„ce Anno. 925. Si. Dunelm Polyd. Fyrst therfore meaning to prouide for the suretie of his countrey he coÌ„cluded a peace with Sithricus K. of the NorthuÌ„bers vnto whoÌ„ as ye haue hearde he gaue one of his sisters named Editha in mariage Sithrike liued not past one yere after he had so maried hir VV. Mal. And theÌ„ Adelstan brought the prouince of the NorthuÌ„bers vnto his subiection expelling one Aldulph out of the same y t rebelled against him Ther be y e write that Godfrey Aulafe the sonnes of Sithrike succeding their father in the gouernment of NorthuÌ„berland by practising to moue war against king Adelstane occasioned him to inuade their couÌ„trey and to chase them out of the same so that Aulaf fled into Irâ—…land Godfrey into ScotlaÌ„d but other write H. Hâ—…t y e Godfrey was the father of Reignold which was Yorke after that Sithrike had slaine his brother Nigellus as before is mencioned H. Boetiâ—… The 〈◊〉 vvriteâ—… 〈◊〉 from our English author Beatrice 〈…〉 The Scottish chronicles vary in report of these matters from y e english writers whose chronicles affirm y t in the life time of K. Edwarde his daughter Beatrice was giuen in mariage to Sithrike the gouernor of the Danes in Northumberland with condition that if any issue male were procreate of that mariage the same shuld inherite the dominions of K. Edward after his decease Kyng Edward had a brother as they say named Edwyn Edvvyn 〈◊〉 not brother of K. Edvv. but to him a ioyly Gentleman and of great estimation amongst the Englishmen He by Sithrikes procurement was sent into Flaunders in a ship that leaked so was drowned to the greate reioycing of all the Danes least if he had suruiued his brother hee woulde haue made some businesse for the crowne About the same time AdelstaÌ„ a base son of K. Edw. fled y e realme for doubt to be made away by some like trayterous practise of the Danes AthelstaÌ„ 〈◊〉 the realme Shortly after K. Edward vnderstanding y e Sithrik went about some mischef toward him persuaded his daughter to poyson hir husbande the sayd Sithrike Then Aulaffe or Aualassus and Godfrey the sonnes of Sithrike finding out by diligent examination y t Beatrice was of counsell in poysoning hir husband they caused hir to be apprehended â–ª and put to death on this wyse She was sette naked vpon a Smythes colde Anuylde or stythie Beatrice 〈◊〉 death by his stepsonnes and therewith harde rosted egges being taken foorth of the hot ymbers were putte vnder hir arme pittes and hir armes faste bounde to hir bodie with a corde and so in that state she remayned till hir life passed from hir K. Edward in reuenge of his daughters death moued war against the two brethren Aulaf and Godfrey in battail finally vaÌ„quished them but was slain in the same battail himself Thus haue the Scotish chronicles recorded of these matters as an induction to the warres which folowed betwixt the Scots and Danes as confederates against K. Adelstan but for the truth thereof we leaue to the readers own iudgement For in oure englishe writers we finde no suche matter but that a daughter of King Edward named Eadgitha or Editha after hir fathers deceasse was by hir brother King Athelstane about the firste yeare of his reigne giuen in mariage as before ye haue hearde vnto the foresayde Sithrike king of Northumberland that was descended of the Danishe bloud who for the loue of the young Ladie renounced his Heathenishe religion and became a christian but shortely after forsakyng bothe hys wyfe and the christian faythe hee set vppe againe the worshipping of Idols and within a while after as an Apostata miserably ended his life Wherevpon the yong Lady hir virginitie being preserued Editha a Virgin and hir body vndefyled as they write passed the residue of hir dayes at Pollesworth in Warwikeshire spendyng hir time as the same writers affirme in fasting watching praying and doing of almes deedes and so at length departed out of this world Thus our writers differ from the Scottish history both in name maner of end as concerning that daughter of K. Edwarde that was coupled in marriage with Sithrike But now to returne where we left After that Kyng Adelstane hadde subdued them of Northumberland hee was aduertised that not onely Constantine Kyng of Scottes but also Hudvale or Howell Kyng of Wales wente about a priuie conspiracy agaynst him VVil. Malm. Heerevppon with all conuenient speede assembling his power he wente against them and with like good fortune subdued them bothe and also Vimer or Wulferth K. of North wales so that they were constreyned to submit themselues vnto him who shortly after moued with pitie in considering their suddayne fall restored them all three to their former estates Mat. VVest 926 The noble saying of king Athelstane VV. Mal. but so as they should acknowledge themselues to gouerne vnder hym pronouncing with all this notable saying that more honorable it was to make a King than to be a King Ye must vnderstand that as it appeareth by the Scottish Chronicles the ScottishmeÌ„ in time of the warres that the Danes made to y e English nation gote a parte of Cumberland and other the North countreys into their possession and so by reason of their neere adioyning to the confines of the Englishe Kings there chaunced occasions of warre betwixte them as well in the days of Kyng Edward as of this Adelstane hys sonne although indeede the Danes held the more part of the North countreys till that
this Aulafe is not that Aulafe whiche was sonne to King Sithricke but rather that the other was hee with whome Kyng Edmond made partition of the Realme but they agree that this seconde Aulafe was a Dane also and being conuerted to the faith as well through constrainte of the Kyngs puissance as through the Preaching of the Gospell was Baptised Kyng Edmonde beeyng Godfather both to him and to the foresayde Reignolde to Aulafe at the fontstone and to Reignolde at his confirmation at the Bishoppes handes But their wicked natures coulde not rest in quiet so that they brake bothe promise to GOD and to theyr prince 944 Simon Dun. and were therefore in the yeare nexte followyng dryuen bothe out of the countrey and punished by perpetuall exile And so K. Edmond adioyned Northumberlande without admitting any other immediate gouernor vnto his own estate Leolin Kyng of South-Wales ayded K Edmonde in this enterprise 946 Moreouer he wasted spoiled whole Cumberland bycause he could not reduce y e people of that countrey vnto due obeysance and coÌ„formable subiection The two sonnes of Dunmaile K. of that prouince hee apprehended and caused their eyes to be put out And herewith vppon consideration eyther of suche ayde as he had receiued of y e Scottes at that time or some other friendly respect he assigned the saide countrey of Cumberlande vnto Malcolme K. of Scottes to hold the same by fealtie of him and his successors The Scottishe Chronicles peruerting the tyme and order of the actes and doings of the Englishe kings whiche raigned about this season affirme that by couenauntes of peace concluded betwixte Malcolme King of Scotlande and Adelstane King of England it was agreed that Cumberlande shoulde remayne to the Scottes as in their Chronicles you may finde at full expressed And again that Indulfe who succeeded Malcolme in the Kingdome of Scotland ayded K. Edmonde against Aulafe whome y e same Chronicles name Aualassus but the time which they attribute vnto the raignes of their Kings will not allow the same to stand For by accompt of their writers King Malcolme began not his raigne till after the decesse of King Adelstane who departed thys life in the yere 9â—…0 And Malcolme succeded CoÌ„stantine the third in the yere .944 which was about the third yeare of Kyng Edmonds raigne and after Malcolme that raigned .xv. yeares succeeded Indulfe in the yeare .959 The like discordance preceedeth and foloweth in their writers as to the diligent Reader in conferring their Chronicles w t ours it manifestly appeareth We therefore to satisfie the desirous to vnderstande see the diuersitie of writers haue for the more part in their Chronicles left the same as we haue found it Polidor The lawes of K. Edmonde But now to the other doings of K. Edmond it is recorded that hee ordeyned diuerse good and wholesome lawes very profitable and necessary for the common wealth whiche lawes with dyuerse other of like antiquitie are forgot and blotted out by rust of time the consumer of thynges worthy of loÌ„g remembrance as sayth Polidore but sithence his time they haue bin recouered for the more part and by master William Lambert turned into Latyne were imprinted by Iohn Day in the yeare .1568 as before I haue sayde Fiue yeres and seuen monethes hath St. Dun. Finally this Prince K. Edmond after he had raigned sixe yeres and a halfe he came to his end by great misfortune for as some say it chanced that espying where one of his seruauntes was in daunger to bee slayne amongst his enimies that were about him with drawen swords as he stepped in to haue holpen his seruante he was slayne at a place called Pulcher Church Prideciâ—…e hath Si. Dâ—â— VVil. Mâ—â— Math. VVâ—â— 946 or as other haue Michelsbourgh Other say that keeping a great feast at the aforesayde place on the day of Saint Augustine the English Apostle which is the .26 of May and as that yeare came about it fell on the tewsday as hee was set at the table he espyed where a common robber was placed neere vnto him whome sometime he had banished the land and now being returned without licence he presumed to come into the kings presence wherwith the King was so moued with high disdaine that he suddaynely rose from the table and flew vpon the Theefe and catching him by the heare of the head threwe him vnder his feete wherewith the theefe hauing fast holde on the King broughte him downe vppon him also and with his knyfe stroke him into the belly in suche wise that the Kings bowels fell out of his chest and there presently dyed the theefe was hewen in peeces by the Kings seruauntes but yet he slewe and hurt diuers before they coulde dispatch him Thys chance was lamentable namely to the Englishe people whiche by the ouertimely deathe of theyr King in whome appeared many euident tokens of great excellencie lost the hope whiche they had conceiued of great wealth to encrease by his prudent and most princely gouernemente His body was buried at Glastenbury where Dunstan was then Abbot There be that write that the death of King Edmonde was signified aforehande to Dunstane who about the same time attendyng vppon the same Kyng Capgraâ—…e as hee remooued from one place to an other chanced to accompany hymselfe with a noble man one Duke Elstane A vayne tale and as they rode togither beholde suddaynely Dunstane sawe in the way before hym where the Kings Musitions rode the Deuill running and leaping amongst the same Musitions after a reioycing manner whome after hee had behelde a good while he said to the Duke is it possible that you may see that whiche I do see and the Duke aunswered he sawe nothing otherwise than hee ought to see Then saide Dunstane Crossing bringeth fight of the Deâ—…ies and crossing driueth them away blesse youre eyes with the signe of the crosse and trie whether you can see that I see And when hee hadde done as Dunstane appoynted hym hee sawe also the Fende in likenesse of a little short euill fauoured Ethyopian daunsing and leaping whereby they gathered that some euill happe was towardes some of the company But when they had crossed and blessed them the foule Spirit vanished out of their sight And after they had talked of this vision Dunstan as interpretor of dreames and made an end of their talke touching the same y e Duke required of Dunstane to interpret a dreame which he had of late in sleepe and that was this he thought that he sawe in vision the King with all his Nobles sit in hys dining chamber at meate and as they were therewith making merry togither the K. chanced to fall into a dead sleepe and all the Noble men and those of his counsell that were aboute him were changed into Roobuckes and Goates Dustan quickly declared that this dreame signified the Kings deathe and the chaunging of the Nobles into dumb and insensible beastes
the feast of Saincte Andrewe nexte ensuyng the late mencioned agreement Fabian And this shoulde seeme true for wheras these Authours whiche reporte Ran. Higd. that Earle Edryke was the procurer of his death they also write that when he knewe the acte to be done hee hasted vnto Cnute H. Hunt and declared vnto hym what he had brought to passe for his aduauncement to the gouernement of the whole realme Whervppon Cnute abhorryng suche a detestable facte sayde vnto hym Bycause thou haste for my sake made awaye the worthyest bodye of the world I shall rayse thy head aboue all the Lordes of Englande and so caused him to be put to death Thus haue some bookes Howbeit this reporte agreeth not with other writers whiche declare howe Cnute aduaunced Edryke in the beginning of his reigne vnto high honour and made hym gouernour of Mercia Some thinke that he vvas Dâ—…e of Mercia before and novv had Essex adioyned therto and vsed his counsell in manye things after the death of king Edmund as in banishing Edwin the brother of kyng Edmunde with his sonnes also Edmunde and Edward His body was buryed at Glastenbury neere his vncle king Edgar With thys Edmunde surnamed Ironsyde fell the glorious Maiestie of the English kingdome The whiche afterwarde as it had beene an aged bodye beyng sore decayed and weakened by the Danes that nowe got possession of the whole yet somewhat recouered after the space of .xxvj. yeres vnder kyng Edward surnamed the Confessor and shortely thervpon as it had bin falne into a resiluation came to extreme ruine by the inuasion and conquest of the Normans as after by gods good helpe and fauorable assistance it shall appeare Canute or Cnute Canute shortely after the death of king Edmunde assembled a Councell at London in the whiche he caused all the nobles of the realme to do vnto him homage in receiuing an othe of loyall obeysance Hee deuided the realme into foure parts assigning Northumberlande vnto the rule of Irke or Iricius Mercia vnto Edrike Eastangle vnto Turkyl reseruing the west part to his own gouernance He banished as before is sayd Edwyn the brother of king Edmunde but such as was suspected to bee culpable of Edmundes death he caused to be put to execution wherof it should appeare that Edrick was not then in any wyse detected or once thought to bee giltie VV. Malm. The foresayd Edwyn afterwards returned and was then reconciled to the Kings fauour as some do write and was shortly after trayterously slaine by his owne seruants Ran. Higd. He was called the king of Churles King of Churles VVil. Mal. Other write that he came secretely into the realme after he had bin banished and keeping himselfe closely out of sighte at length ended his lyfe and was buried at Tauestocke Moreouer Edwyn and Edwarde the sonnes of king Edmund were banished the lande and sent first vnto Sweno king of Norway to haue bin made awaye Ran. Higd. but Sweno vppon remorse of conscience sent them into Hungarie where they founde great fauour at the handes of king Salomon in so muche that Edmunde married the daughter of the same Salomon but had no issue by hir Edward was aduaunced to marry with Agatha the daughter of the Emperour Henrye and by hir had issue two sonnes Edmunde and Edgar surnamed Adelyng as many daughters Margarete and Christine of the whiche in place conuenient more shall be sayd When Kyng Cnute hadde established thynges as hee thoughte stoode moste to his suretie he called to remembrance that he had no issue but two bastarde sonnes Harrolde and Sweno Polidore K. Cnute marieth Queene Emme the vvidovv of Egelred in Iuly anno 1017. begotten of his concubine Alwyne Wherfore he sent ouer vnto Richarde Duke of Normandie requiring that he mighte haue Queene Emme the widow of king Egelred in mariage so obteyned hir not a little to the wonder of manye which thought a great ouersight both in the woman and in hir brother that woulde satisfye the requeste of Cnute herein considering hee hadde bin such a mortall enimie to hir former husbauÌ„d But Duke Richarde did not only consent Polidore that hys sayd sister should be maryed vnto Cnute but also he hymselfe tooke to wyfe the Lady Hestâ—â—tha syster to the sayd Cnute Heere ye haue to vnderstande that this mariage was not made without greate consideration and large couenants granted on the part of king Cnute for before he could obtain queene Emme to his wife it was fully condiscended and agreed that after Cnutes deceasse the crowne of Englande should remaine vnto the issue borne of this mariage betwixte hir and Cnute The couenant made at the mariage betvvixt Cnute and Emme whiche couenant although it was not perfourmed immediatly after the deceasse of kyng Cnute yet in the ende it tooke place so as the right seemed to bee deferred and not to be taken awaye nor abolished for immediatly vpon Haroldes death that had vsurped Hardicnute succeeded as right heire to the crown by force of the agreement made at the tyme of the mariage solemnised betwixt his father and mother and being once established in the Kingdome hee ordeyned his brother Edwarde to succede hym whereby the Danes were vtterly excluded from all ryghte that they hadde to pretende vnto the Crowne of this land and the Englishe bloud restored thereto The Englishe bloud restored The praise of Quene Emme for hir vvisedome chiefly by that gracious conclusion of this mariage betwixt king Cnute and Queene Emme for the which no small prayse was thoughte to bee due vnto the sayd Queene sith by hir politike gouernement in making hir matche so beneficiall to hir selfe and hir lyne the Crowne was thus recouered out of the handes of the Danes and restored againe in time to the right heire as by an auncient treatise whiche some haue intitled Encomium Emmae Encomium Emmae and was written in those dayes it doth and may appere Whiche booke although there bee but fewe Copies thereof abroade gyueth vndoubtedly greate light to the historie of that tyme. But nowe to our purpose Cnute the same yeare in whiche he was thus maryed Mat. VVest thorought perswasion of his wyfe Queene Emme sent away the Danishe nauie armie home into Denmark giuing to them fourscore and two thousande poundes of siluer whiche was leuied thoroughout this lande for their wages In the yeare a thousande and eighteene VVil. Mal. Edrycke de Streona Erle of Mercia was ouerthrowen in his owne turne for being called afore the King into his priuie chamber and there in reasoning the matter about some quarell that was piked to him hee beganne very presumptuously to vpbrayde the king of suche pleasures as he had before tyme done vnto him I did sayde he for the loue which I bare towardes you forsake my soueraigne Lorde king Edmunde and at length for your sake slewe him At whiche wordes Cnute beganne to change
though shee had not lyued so continently as was to be wished both in hir husbands lyfe tyme and after his decease But yet at the houre of hir deathe whyche chaunced in the dayes of Wylliam Conquerour shee cleared hir selfe in takyng it vpon the charge of hir soule that shee hadde euer lyued in perfecte chastitie For kyng Edwarde as before is mentioned neuer touched hir in any actuall manner By thys straight dealyng with the Queene that was daughter to Earle Goodwyn now in tyme of hir fathers exile it hath seemed to many that Kyng Edwarde forbare to deale with hir in carnall wyse more for hatred of hir kin than for any other respecte But to proceede Griffin kyng of VVales destroyeth Herefordshire In the meane tyme also Griffyn the kyng of Wales destroyed a great parte of Herfordshire agaynste whome the power of that countreye and also manye Normans that laye in garrison wythin the Castell of Hereforde commyng to gyue battayle were ouerthrowne on the same daye in the whyche aboute two and twentie yeares before or as some Copies haue thirteene yeares the Welchemen hadde slayne Edwyn the brother of Earle Leofrike Shortely after Harold landeth the shire of Dorset and Somerset Earle Harrolde and his brother Leofwyn retourning out of Ireland entred into the Seuerne sea landing on the coastes of Somersette and Dorset shires where fallyng to spoyle they were encountred by a power assembled oute of the Counties of Deuonshire and Somersetshire but Harolde putte his aduersaries to flight and slewe thirtie Gentlemen of honoure or Thanes as they called them with a great number of others Earle Harrolde then and his bretherne returning with their pray and bootie to their ships and coasting about the poynte of Cornewalle came and ioyned with their father and their other breethrē as then soiourning in y e Isle of Wight King Edward to withstand their malice had rigged and furnished foorth sixtie Ships of war with the which he himselfe went to the water Sim. Du◅el not sticking to lie abourde at that season although he had appoynted for Captaynes and admirals two Earles that were his cousins Odo and Raufe who had charge of the whole army Raufe was his nephew as sonne to his sister Goda by hir first husband Gualter de Maunte But although they were knowen to bee sufficiente men for the ordering of such businesse yet he thought the necessitie to be suche as his person coulde not be presently spared Therefore he was diligent in foreseeyng of things by good aduice although age woulde not giue him leaue to execute the same by hys owne hand and force of body but as the Nauies on both partes were ready to haue ioyned they were seuered by reason of a thicke mist that then rose whereby theyr furious rage was restrayned for that time and immediately therevpon Goodwin and his complices were forced by a contrary winde to returne to the places from whence they came And shortly after by mediation of friends a peace was made and Earle Goodwine restored home and obteined againe bothe y e kings fauour and al his former liuings for he was such an eloquent wise man that he cleared and purged himselfe of all such crimes and accusations as in any sort had bin layde against him Thus haue some written concerning this agrement betwixt King Edward and Earle Goodwin where other make somwhat larger report therof as thus The same time that the two sonnes of Earle Goodwin Harrold and Leofwine came foorth of Ireland and inuaded the West countrey King Edwarde rigged foorthe fortie Shippes the whyche throughly furnished with men munition vittayles he sente vnto Sandwich commaundyng the Captaynes there to awaite for the comming of Earle Goodwin whome he vnderstood to be in a readinesse to returne into Englande but notwithstanding there wanted no diligence in them to looke to their charge Earle Goodwine secretly with a few Shippes whiche he had got togither arriued in Kent and sending forth his letters and messengers abroade vnto the Citizens of Canterbury to thē of Sussex Southrey and others required them of ayde who with one consente promised to liue and die with him The Captaines of the nauie at Sandwich aduertised hereof made towardes the place where they thoughte to haue found Erle Goodwin but he being warned of their comming escaped by flight and gote him out of their daunger wherevpon they withdrew to Sandwiche and after returned to London Earle Goodwin aduertised thereof sayled to the Isle of Wighte and wafted vp and downe those Seas til his sonnes Harrold and Leofwine came and ioyned their nauie with his and ceassing from spoyle only sought to recouer vittailes to serue their turne And incresing their power by suche ayde as they might any where procure at length they came vnto Sandwiche whereof K. Edward hauing knowledge being then at London It seemeth that Earle Goodwine was well friended her sente abroade to reyse all the power hee mighte make but they that were appoynted to come vnto him lingered time in whiche meane while Earle Goodwin came into the Thames so vp the Riuer arriued in Southwarke on the day of the exaltation of the Crosse in September being Monday and there staying for the ride solicited the Londoners so as hee obteyned of them what hee coulde desire and afterwardes withoute disturbance with the tide passed vp the Riuer through the South arche of the Bridge at y e same instant a mighty army whiche he had by land mustred in the fieldes on that South side the same Riuer and herewith his nauie made towardes the Northe side of the Riuer as if they mont to enclose y e kings nauie for y e K. had also a nauie and an army by land but yet sith ther were few either on the one part or the other that were able to do any great feate except Englishmē they were loth to fight one against another where vppon the wiser fort on both sides sought meanes to make an atonemente so at length by their diligent trauel the matter was taken vp and the armies being dismissed on both partes Erle Goodwin was restored to his former dignitie There were pledges deliuered on his behalfe that is to wit Wimotus one of his sonnes and Hacun the son of Suanus that was the eldest son of Goodwin These two pledges were sent vnto Williā Duke of Normandy to bee kepte with hym for more assurance of Goodwines loyaltie Some write Ran. Higd. Mat. VVest Simon Dun. VVil. Malm that Suanos y e eldest son of Goodwin was not reconciled to y e kings fauour at this time but whether he was or not this is reported of him for a troth y e after he had attēpted sundry rebellions against K. Edward he lastly also rebelled against his father Goodwin his brother Harrow became a Pyrat dishonoring w t such manifold robberies as he made on the Seas y e noble progenie whereof he was discended Finally vpō◅emorse of cōsciēce
neyther gouernoure Bishoppe nor Abbot remayning therein of the Englishe Nation But now to make an ende with K. Edward hee was of person comely and of an indifferente stature of white heare both head and bearde of face ruddy and in all other partes of his body fayre skinned with due state and proportion of limmes as was thereto conueniente In the yeare before the deathe of Kyng Edwarde a blasing Starre appeared the whyche when a Monke of Malmesbury that highte Eylmer behelde hee vttered these wordes as it were by way of Prophesying Thou arte come fayth he thou art come muche to be lameÌ„ted of many a mother it is long agone sith I saw thee but nowe I doe beholde thee the more terrible threatning destruction to this countrey by thy dreadfull appearance In the person of Kyng Edward ceased by his deathe the noble progenie of the West Saxon Kings which had continued from the first yeare of the raigne of Cerdicke or Cerditius the space of fiue hundred .47 yeares complete And from Egbert two hundred sixtie sixe yeres as by William Harrisons Chronologie is easie to bee collected whose positions as most exact for the computation of the tyme I chiefly followe MOreouer sith the progenie of the Saxon Kyngs seemeth wholly to take ende w t this Edward surnamed the Confessor or the third of that name before the Conquest we haue thought good for the better help of memorie to set downe in order the names as well of those that reigned among the West Saxons who at length as yee haue hearde obteyned the whole Monarchie as also of them which ruled in the other seaueÌ„ kyngdomes before the same were vnited vnto the sayd Kingdome of the West Saxons Mat. VVest The line of the Kentish kings Hengest Oisc Oth or Occa Ermenricus Ethelbert the first Christian Eadbalde Ercombert Egbert Lothair Eadricke VVithred and Sywarde Ethelbert Eadbert Ethelbert Eadbert Pren Cuthred Baldred Athelstan From this Athelstane the kingdome of Kent was translated vnto the kings of the West Saxons Of the Kings of Mercia Crida or Creodda VVibba Cearli Penda Peada or rather VVeada that was the first Christian Alfhere Ethelfred Kinred Ceolred Ethelbalde Beornred Offa surnamed Magnus or the great Egfrid Kenulfe Kenelme Ceolulf Bernulf Ludican or Ludicene VViglaf Bertulf Burthred From this Burthred was the Kingdome of Mercia transposed ouer to the kings of the west Saxons Of the Kings of VVest Saxons Cerdic or Cerdicius Kenric Ceauline Ceolric Ceolulf Kinegilse or Quicheline the first Christian Kinewalke Sexburga Eascwine Keniwine Ceadwalla Inas Ethelhard Cuthred Sigebert Kineulf Brithric Egbert Ethelulf Athelbalde Ethelbert Ethelred Alfred or Alvred This Alfred or Alvred was the first Monarke of the Englishe kings whose succession continued vnto the coÌ„ming in of William the CoÌ„querour Of the Kings of Northumberland Ida Adda Glap Theodwald Fretewulfe Theodoricke Athelfride Edwine the first Christian king of Deira Eaâ—…ifride Oswalde Oswie Aelfride Egfride Ealfride Osred Kenrede Osrike Ceolwulfe Eadbert Osulfe Acthelred Mollo Ealdred Aetheldred Alfwolde Osred Ethelred agayne Osred Eardulfe Alfwolde Eandred Aethelred Readwulf Osbert Ella Egbert Ricsie Egbert Cuthred Of the Kings of Deira Ella This Ella raigned in Deira whylest eyght Collaterall kings raigned in Bernicia Aethelfride Eadwine Osricke Oswine The kingdome of Deira was translated from Oswine to Oswie K. of Bernicia and by this meanes y e kingdom of y e NorthuÌ„bers was vnited Whose bounds did exteÌ„d froÌ„ HuÌ„ber northwards to the Scottishe sea and in the end came vnder the power of the West Saxons Of the Kings of East Angles Vffa Titellus Redwalde VVibert Corpenwalde the firste Christian Sigebert Egricke Anna Aethelhere Aethelwalde Ealdulphe Ealswalde Beorna Aethelred Aethelbert Eadmund Gytro the Dane From Gytro the Dane the kingdome of the East Angles was translated to the West Saxons Of the Kings of the East Saxons Earkenwine Sledda Sebert the firste Christian Sexred and Siwarde Sigebert the little Switheline Sigehere and Sebba Sigeharde and Seofride Offa Selred Suithred From this Suithred y e kingdome of the East SaxoÌ„s was translated to the West Saxons Of the Kings of the South Saxons Ella Cissa Ethelwalde the firste Christian Berthune Aldhune From this Aldhune the kingdome of the South Saxons was traÌ„slated to the west Saxons Here is to be remembred that as partly before is expressed Mat. VVest wee finde in some olde Wryters howe the fyrst Kings of seuen of these Kingdomes of the Germaine Nation that bare rule in this Isle fetched theyr pedegrees from one Woden who begatte of Frea his wyfe seuen sonnes that is to witte 1. Vecta of whom came the kings of Kent .2 Fethelgeta or Frethegeath from whome the kings of Mercia discended .3 Balday of whose race the Kings of the West Saxons had theyr originall .4 Beldagius auncetour to the kings of Bernicia and the Northumbers .5 Wegodach or Wegdagus froÌ„ whom came the kings of Deira .6 Caser from whom proceeded the kings of the East Angles .7 Nascad alias Saxuad of whom the kings of the East Saxons had their beginning And here you must note that althoughe the kings of the .viij. kingdome that is of the South-Saxons or of Sussex were discended of the same people yet were they not of the same line By other it should seeme that Woden had but fiue sonnes as Vecta great Grandfather to Hengest Wepedeg antecessor to the kings of the East Angles Viclac from whom proceeded the kings of Mercia Saxuad from whom the kings of Essex came Beldeg of whose generatioÌ„ proceeded the kings of the South Saxons West Saxons and the Northumbers Simon Dun. Moreouer there bee that bring the genealogie from Noe or Noah Iohn Textor the son of Lamech which Noe was the .ix. in discent froÌ„ Adam Woden the .xv. froÌ„ Noah as thus Noe was the father to Sem y e father of Bedwi the father of Wala the father of Hatria or Hathra the father of Itermod y e father of Heremod the father of Sheaf or Seaf the father of Seldoa or Sceldua the father of Beatu or Beau y e father of Teathwij alias Tadwa or Teathwy the father of Geta reputed for a God among the Gentiles the father of Fingodulph otherwise Bodulfe the father of Fritwolfe otherwise Frinin the father of Freolaf alias Freolater the father of Frethwold or Friderwald the father of the aforenamed Woden or Othen Harolde Harold King Edwarde departed this life An. christ 1065. after the account of the church of England KIng Edwarde beeing thus departed this life the Peeres of the lande were in great doubt and perplexitie to whom they might best coÌ„mit the royall gouernmeÌ„t of the realm Mat. VVest Polidor For ther was not any among them that had iust title thereto or able and apt to take the charge vpoÌ„ him for although Edgar surnamed Edcling Edeâ—â— the 〈…〉 â—â—d hath one 〈◊〉 â—… is come of the kings bloud the sonne of Edward the Outlaw that was sonne of Edmond Ironside was
tyll they came to ioyne at hande strokes and then preassed eche syde vpon hys counterparte wyth Swordes Axes and other hand weapons right egrely VVil. Mal. Mat. VVest Some of the Englishe men got them to the height of an hill and beate backe the Normans that forced themselues to wynne the hill of them so that it was long ere the Normans could preuaile beeing oftentymes driuen downe into the bottom of the valley beneath At length the English men perceyuing themselues to bee ouermatched and beaten downe on euerye side The English men put to fight and therevnto greatlye discouraged wyth slaughter of theyr King beganne first to giue ground and after to scatter and to runne away so that well was him that might then escape by flight after that they had fought the most part of all that Saterday Eron de Bello VVil. Geme VVil. Malm. The Normās fall into a ditch The Normans followed the chafe with suche egre rashnesse that a great number of them falling with theyr Horses and armour into a blinde ditche shadowed with Reede and Sedges which grewe therein were smouldred and pressed to death ere they coulde be succoured or get any reliefe The next day the Normans fell to gathering in the spoyle of the fielde burying also the deade bodies of their people that were slaine at the battaile gyuing licence in semblable maner to the English men to doe the like Of the death of Harolde diuerse report diuersly Giral Camb. insomuch that Girald Cambren sayth how after king Harold had receyued many woundes and lost his left eye hee fledde from the fielde vnto the Citie of Westchester and liued there long after an holy life as an Anker in the Cell of S. Iames fast by Saint Iohns Church and there made a godly ende But the saying of Girald Cambren in that poynt is not to be credited bycause of the vnlikely hoode of the thing itselfe VVil. Mal. Hen. Hunt Mat. VVest and also generall consent of other wryters who affyrme vniuersally that he was killed in the battayle first beeyng stryken through the left eye by the scull into the brayne with an arrow wherevpon falling from his horse to the grounde hee was slaine in that place after hee had reigned nine Monethes and nine dayes as Floriacens◅s doth report He was a man of a comely stature Floriac Simon Dun. and of a haute courage and albeit that for his valyancie he was highly renowned and honoured of all men yet through his pryde and Ambition he lost the hartes of many Hen. Hunt Polidor The Chronicles of Normandie haue of Englishmen slaine 67974. and of Normans 6013. There was slaine in this battaile besides king Harolde and his two brethren Gyrth and Leofrike what on the one side and on the other aboue twentie thousande menne And finally hereby the bloud of the Saxons ceassed to raigne in Englande after they had continued possession of the same from the fyrst comming of Hengist which was about the yeare of our Sauiour .450 alias .449 vntill that present yeare of King Harolds death 1066 which chaunced in the yeare .1066 So that from the beginning of Hengist hys raigne 616 vnto Haroldes death are reckened .616 yeares or after some 617. as by supputation of the time will easily appeare By all the which time there raigned kings of the Saxons bloud within this lande except that for the space of .xx. yeares and somewhat more the Danes had the dominion of the Realme in their possession for there are reckened from the begynning of King Suenois reigne which was the first Dane that gouerned England vnto the last yeare of King Hardicnute the last Dane that ruled here .xxviij. yeares in whiche meane space Egelred recouering the Kingdome reigned two yeares and after him his sonne Edmonde Ironside continued in the rule one yeare so that the Danes had the whole possession of the lande but .xxv. yeares in all The bodie of king Harold is buried at Waltham The bodie of king Harolde being founde among other slaine in the fielde was buryed at Waltham within the monasterie of the holye Crosse which her before had founded endowed to the behoofe of futhe Canons as he had placed there with fayre possessions Verily as some wryters haue reported there was nothing in this manne to bee in any wyse dispraysed if his ambitious mynde coulde haue been stayed from coueting the Kingdome and that hee could haue beene contented to haue liued as a subiect Ex. 6. libro Policraticon siue de nugis tutialium ◅oh◅n Sarisb Among other manifest proufes of his highe valiancie this is remembred of him that beeing sent agaynst the Welchmen as before is partly mentioned hee knowing theyr readie nymblenesse in seruice and howe with their light armed menne they were accustomed to annoy and distresse those that shoulde assayle them hee likewise to matche them prouided light armed men for the purpose and so being furnished with suche bandes of nymble men and light Souldiers hee entered vpon the Mountaynes of Snowdone and there remayned amongest the enimyes for the space of two yeares Hee sore afflicted the Welche Nation tooke their Kings and sent theyr heades vnto the King that sent him aboute this businesse and proceeding in suche rigorous manner as mighte moue the hearers to lament and pitie the case hee caused all the masle kinde that might be mette with to be miserably slaine and so with the edge of his sworde he brought the Countrey to quiet and wythall made this lawe that if anye Welcheman from thencefoorth shoulde presume to passe the limittes ouer Offes ditch with any weapon about him he should lose his right hand To conclude by the valiant conduct of this Chieftaine the Welche men were then so sore brought vnder that in maner the whole Nation might seeme to faile and to be almost vtterly destroyed And therefore by permission of the king of England the women of Wales ioyned themselues in mariage with English men But to returne where we left Nowe forsomuch as it pleased God by hys hidde and secrete iudgemente so to dispose the Realme of Englande and in suche wise as that the gouernaunce thereof shoulde fall after thys maner into the handes of William duke of Normandie I haue thought good before I enter further into this Historie beeing nowe come to the conquest of the Realme made by the foresayde Duke of Normandie to set down his pedigrew thereby to shewe howe he discended from the first Duke of that Countrey who was named Rollo and after by receyuing baptisme cleped Robert The sayde Rollo or Rou was sonne to a greate Lorde in Denmarke called Guyon who hauing two sonnes the sayde Ron and Gourin and being appoynted to depart the Countrey as the lottes fell to him and other according to the maner there vsed in time when their people were encreased to a greater number than the Countrey was able to sustaine refused to obey that order
of the battaile he was one of the forwardest captaines against them â–ª vnto this Oswalde was sente a Scottishman calleâ—… Corman to instruct the Northumberland men in the faith after him Aydan as in the englishe historie ye may reade more at large Finally he was slain by PeÌ„da king of Mertia as in y e same historie appereth His death chanced in y e third yere of Donnewald the Scottish king 12. H.B. who sore lamented the same as of that prince whoÌ„ he loued right entierly Neither lyued king Donnewalde anye long tyme after the deathe of hys deare freende For that in the fifteenth yeare of of his reigne being got into a boate to fish in the water called Lochtay for his recreatioÌ„ his chaÌ„ce was to be drowned by reson the boate soonk vnder him Donwald the Scottish king drowned 645. H.B. Certain days after his body being fouÌ„d and takeÌ„ vp was buried amongst his auncetors in Colmekil in the yeare of our Lorde .647 About the same time ther liued in France .iij. brethren of greate holinesse of life being sonnes vnto Philtan king of Ireland the which he begot of his wyfe Galghetes descended of the lynage of the kings in Scotlande The names of which .iij. brethren were as followeth Furseus Foilanus Foâ—…lianus and Vltanus Furseus professing him self a monke of S. Benets order â–ª passed ouer into Fraunce there to set forth enlarge that profession being receyued of king Clowys began the fundation of a monasterie there called Latinie in the which he placed Monkes of that order and began to sowe in those parties the seedes of the Gospel but not without the darnell of mens traditions as Io. Bale sayth in the .xiiij. centurie of the Brittish writers His two brethren Foillan Vltan folowed him ouer into France and both by worde and example instructed the FrenchmeÌ„ to imbrace the faith of Christ to renounce y e religion of the Gentils so y t it seemeth as yet such as professed themselues to be monks men of religioÌ„ as they were called had not left of to labor in the Lords vineyard spending their tyme in reading the scriptures to instruct teach others and to exercise Prayer and thankesgiuing So as no small number by their wholsome doctrine and good example were conuerted to the christian faith Anno .854 Sigebertus Fossense monasterium Foillan at length was martired in a monasterie whiche he hadde founded in France called Fosse Sâ—…ife aboute the celebrating of the feast of Easter About the same tyme there was also a conteÌ„tion amongst them in Albion for keeping of the Easter day the Scottishe byshops some of the Brytons varying in their account from all other prelates of the West but at length through perswasion of the Pope they confessed their error if it ought so to be taken and coÌ„sented to celebrate that feast according to the accompt of other nations These things chaunced in the days of king Donwald Ferquhard Ferquhard the seconde of that parte treated king of Scotlande Ferquhard being king was 〈…〉 he was 〈◊〉 he sheweth liberaâ—…tie AFter the decesse of Donwalde his nephewe Ferquhard the sonne of his brother the other Ferquhard succeeded in gouernemente of the Realme a man of quicke liuely spirit but enclined neuerthelesse rather vnto euill than vnto good specially after he had atteyned the crowne in somuch as it was commonly spoken of him that from a liberal and most gentle humane person he was sodenly changed into an insatiable most cruell monster Before he came to y e crown he was liberall beyonde measure There was no gentleman y t wanted money eyther to redeeme his lands engaged or to bestow in dower for the mariage of his daughter but if he had wherwith to helpe him hee might accompte him selfe sure thereof Priests and other deuoute persons specially such as were poore and in any necessitie he oftentimes most bountifully releeued to their greate ease and comfort To be briefe suche a readinesse was in him to help al meÌ„ that as was thought he could better be contented to want himself thaÌ„ to see other men haue neede of any thing y t was in his possession so that al men iudged him most worthy of all princely authoritie But after he was once placed in the kingly seate he so altered his conditions that men coulde not but wonder muche therat Where before he was knowne to be liberal wel disposed righteous sober and a reformer of offeÌ„ces he was now forthwith become couetous wicked towards god a tormentor of the iust righteous people and insatiable in all vnlauful affections That which before time he had giuen vnto any of y e nobilitie Giftes are required as a loan he now without al shame most vncurteously demaunded to be to him restored alledging that he did but lend it for the time And such as went about to delay restitution preteÌ„ding any excuse Loe what a pretence couetousnes hath he caused their goodes to be confiscate and also their bodies to be coÌ„mitted to prison Now and then he found meanes without cause or matter to put some of them to cruel death For their goodes sake prelates are troubled Suche of the Prelates as he vnderstode to be wealthy he rested not till he had piked one mater or other vnto them wherby they were sure to forfaite all their treasure vnto his coffers that neuer myght be filled The bishops of the realme The kyng is excommunicated namely those two reuerend fathers Colman Fynnan perceyuing such wickednes in the prince blamed him sharply sundry times for the same at length bicause they saw howe he regarded not their admonishments he was by them excoÌ„municate whereof he so little passed The king is hunting that when other wente vnto the church to heare diuine seruice he woulde get him to the woodes forrests to hunt the harte or some other game Neither were suche wanting as were willing to keepe him companie He was a glutton so redy is the nature of man at all tymes to follow liceÌ„tious libertie He vsed also contrary to the custome of his countrey to eate .iij. meales a day hauing such number of dishes and abundance of delicate fare as the like had not bene vsed at any tyme before those dayes in that realme and all to serue his greedy appetit together with theyrs that followed his companie Of wines and other strong drinkes he would participate abundantly at all times and places without regard of health or honor A drunckard he was also being exceedingly giuen vnto moste beastly drunkennesse He customaryly vsed to sit at supper till it were very late in the night hauing his banketting dishes and cuppes to come in one after an other till he were so mistempered that being layde to sleepe he would streyght vomite out such heauy gorges as he had in suche most gluttenous wise receiued Herevnto he was so drouned in the
Mordacke the Scottishe king ended his lyfe He repayred sundrie Churches and religious houses whiche being defaced with violence of the enimies inuasions in tyme of warre had not beene reedified by hys auncesters But amongst other hee bestowed muche coste vppon the Churche where the bodie of Saint Ninian lyeeth in the Towne aunciently called Candida Casa now Whitterne or Qhuitterne Candida Casa nowe called Whitterne Saint Bede calleth that place Pictiminia and the Byshoppe whiche at the same tyme helde the Church there hee nameth Acta auouching how he was the first that was Bishop thereof after the dayes of Saint Ninian Whiche if it bee true it muste needes bee that afterwardes some vacation happened in that Sea for a time sith it is notified in the Scottish histories that the westesterne Iles Galloway and other regions neare adioyning were subiect vnto the Bishop of Sodor whose Sea is in the I le of Man vnto the dayes of Malcolme the thirde who restored rather than ordeyned the Bishops Sea in Candida Casa againe after suche vacation as before is specified A peaceable prince The league which his predecessours Eugenius and Mordacke had kept with theyr neighbours the Brytaynes Englishmen and Pictes he duely lykewise obserued His chiefe studie was to purge his realme of all such as were knowne to be open baret◅ers and offenders in any wise agaynst the peace and cōmon quiet of his subiects so that causing sundrie notable ensamples of iustice to bee executed vpon such euill doers he was had in such reuerende dread◅ amongst his subiects that none of them durst once whisper any euill of him Neyther had they verily any cause so to doe whilest he looked to the administration himselfe Foure gouernors vnder the king But after he was once fallen into age he appoynted foure Peeres of his realme to haue the chiefe gouernaunce vnder him as Dowalde the Treasurer of Argyle Collane of Athole Mordacke of Galloway his Lieutenants and Conrath the Thane of Murrey lande These hauing the procuration of all things touching the gouernment of the Realme Vniust gouernment vsed not themselues so vprightly in many poynts as they ought to haue done but winked nowe and then at faultes and trespasses committed by their kinsfolkes and alyes permitting the nobilitie to liue according to theyr olde accustomed maner of licencious libertie to the small ease or commoditie of the other inferiour estates Donalde of the Westerne Iles a man of goodly personage but of disposition inclyned to all naughtinesse Donalde of the Iles mainteyneth robbers mainteyned a great number of Robbers and spoylers of the countrey liuing only vpon ◅a◅ine Fo◅ look what they wanted they woulde not fayle to catche it if it were in anye place abrode where they might lay handes on it so that al the husbandmen and commons of Galloway The oppression of the commons of Galloway in which Countrey they most haunted were brought into wonderfull thraldome and miserie Neyther did Mordacke the kings Lieutenant there Mordacke the kings Lieutenant beareth with offenders goe about to chastice such insolent misdemeaners eyther for that hee was of Donaldes alyance eyther else priuie to his doings and partaker of the spoyle The people hereby vexed with continuall iniuries brought manye pitifull complayntes afore Mordacke who nothing regarded their lamentable suites and supplications but the more they complayned the worse were they handled Neyther was there any hope of redresse of amendment till Eugenius the .viij. was admitted to the kingly administration after the death of king Ethfine who in the latter ende of his dayes continually beeing sicke and diseased could not attende to take order for the publike gouernment The decease of Ethfine by reason whereof such wilfull misorders ensued Hee dyed in the yeare of our Lorde .764 762. H. B. after he had continued his raigne ouer the Scottishmen the space of .xxx yeares his bodie being buried in Colmekill with all funerall obsequies After he had taken both him and his chiefest complites he put them openly to death Donald and his complices put to death neither so satisfied he caused Mordacke to be arreyned who confessing himselfe partly guiltie of suche things as were layde to his charge for mainteyning of the foresayd Donalde Mordack lieutenant of Galloway is put to death The cōmons recompenced he likewise suffered death and his goodes beeing valued and deuided into partes were bestowed amongst the commons of Galloway in recompence of suche losses as through his contriued falshood they had susteyned Also he put Dowalde Collan and Conrath vnto their fines for that they did suffer Donalde so to rob and spoyle without chasticement A righteous king Through which causing of iustice thus to be executed in reliefe of his commons he wan him wonderfull loue not onely in Galloway but also throughout all his Realme Offenders put in feare and therewith were offenders put in such feare that they durst in no place commit any such like misorders against the simple and meaner people And for the more increase of his subiectes wealth he also continued the league with the Picts Brytaynes and Englishe men accordingly as his late predecessour had done But yet as the nature of man through licencious libertie is euer readie to offende in one poynt or other so came it to passe by thys worthie Prince Eugenius who in such wise as is before expressed raigning in peace quietnesse amongst his louing subiects Eugenius is peruerted with sensual lust concupiscence yet fell into most vile lust to accomplish his vnsaciable fleshly concupiscence seeking al meanes he could deuise to defloure yōg virgins and honest matrones and that as well those of the nobilitie as other And such companions as could best further his purposes in that behalfe and deuise new meanes and wayes of fleshly company those he set by and greatly made of deliting altogither to haue them in his company A filthie delite Thus being drowned in leacherous lust and filthie cōcupiscence he fell dayly into more grieuous vyces Couetousnesse ◅inked with crueltie as into excessiue couetousnesse and beastly crueltie consenting to make away his wealthie subiects to the end he might enioy their goodes This wickednesse remained not long vnpunished for the Lordes and peeres of his realme perceyuing how he proceeded dayly in his abhominable and tyranlike doings not once giuing eare to the wholesome aduertisements eyther of God or man Eugenius is murthered they slue him one day amongst them as he sate in iudgement aboute to haue condemned a great riche man though not guiltie in the crime whereof he was accused They caused also immediately a great cōpany of those mates to be apprehended which had bene of his counsell prouokers vnto all his wicked vile doings Which to the great contentation of the people were hanged as they had wel deserued The ende of Eugenius the viii And such was the ende of
agaynst theyr Christian neighbors but it should make most of all say they for the aduancement of the whole ChristiaÌ„ coÌ„mon wealth wheras otherwise throgh their insolent doings such force as was alreadie prepared against the Sarasins the common enimyes of the Christians shoulde be called backe therewith to keepe off the sayd Englishe men to the great daunger of those partes of Christendome vpon which the Sarasins then bordered as neignbours This message being heard with good deliberation by such as were present The Ambassadors are honorably enterteined the Ambassadours themselues beeing honorable personages graue of countenance were receyued most louingly of the king and lodged in his owne pallaice hauing all the chear honorable intertainmeÌ„t that might be deuised but touching their message there were sundrie disputatioÌ„s amongst the nobles whether she concluding of such a league as they requyred were expedient for the Scottish common wealth or not And for that y e matter seemed to be doubtfull the king thought it necessarie to haue the deuice of his Counsell and thervpon calling them togither and appoynting diuerse of them to goe with the Ambassadors on hunting to shew them some sport whilest he consulted with the residue bycause he wold not haue them present he commanded one Colman gouerne of Mar a man of great authoritie amongst the Scottish men for his approued wisedome to say first his mind touching the request of those French Ambassadours who therupon standing forth began as foloweth No man ought to maruaile I perceyue king Achaius if many of this our Nation be desirous to haue this league concluded with the French men as they that are perswaded howe nothing can be better nothing more profitable more honourable or more pleasant to almightie god than to ioyne in league and friendship with a Nation of greatest power and wealth in these dayes of all other within the boundes of Europe Due consideratins for by that meane shoulde the Scottish name be highly renowmed spoken of through the whole world But truly these considerations contenting so wel at the first are not so much to be regarded as the euils which hereafter may grow therevpon For surely a naughtie and pernicious ende fo this determination shall manifestly teach vs though to late howe farre we haue gone beside the way of reason in establishing this league if we once consent to conclude the same Is it any other thing I beseech you to make a league and to ioyne in societie with the French men agaynst our neighbours the Englishmen whose friendship might be most expedient for vs then euen to haue from henceforth a nere and in maner a domestical enimie at hand An enemy at hand Friendes farre off wheras our supposed friends shall be farre of from vs and seperate from our countrey by a great and large sea at whose pleasure also we must make warres agaynst our neighbours and fight for other mens safegardes putting our bodies in hazard of death and wounding for their cause which dwell nothing neare vs yea and in their quarell to commit our kingdome goods and liues vnto extreeme perill of vtter destruction 〈◊〉 â—…sell of 〈◊〉 I shoulde thinke it good therefore to take better aduisement and deliberation herein least whilest we seeke for vainglorie and counterfeyte honour we do not through prouoking the English men out next neighbors lose our owne liberties goe with so much trauaile by our elders for the which they so often fought with the Brytaynes Romaines Picts and finally with the SaxoÌ„s Can there be any thing more pernicious vnto a free natioÌ„ and people borne in libertie than to measure lawes of peace chances of warre and in fine libertie itâ—…elâ—… by the lust and pleasure of another nation and so to enter as it were into bondage for the auoyding whereof not onely men but also all other lyuing things are readie to fight euen to the vttermoste If the Frenche menne in the chiefest heate and moste earnest brunt of the warre which we shall fake in handâ—… for theyr sake according to the articles of the league shall chance in forsake vs and conclude some maner of peace or league with oure enimies leauing vs in all the whole daunger shal we haue any iudge afore whome wee maye bring them to answere for theyr default and by whose authoritie they may bee constrayned to see vs satisfyed for such losse and iniuryes as wee shall happely sustayne at the Englishe mennes handes Are we of that force and power to reuenge our wronges vppon them after wee are vanquished and in manner brought to vtter coÌ„fusion by those warres which wee shall enter into for theyr cause If euer wee bee brought vnto that poynte as God forbyd we shoulde that through want of substance and decay of force the Frenche men shall also vtterly forsake vs and that thereby we shall not be able to resist the Englishe puissance afore whome I beseech you shall we accuse them for breaking of this league We shall dayly haue to doe wyth our enimies after the conclusion of the league if it bee concluded at all and but seldome tymes wyth our friendes In the middest of our enimies we shall be still occasioned to practise for our defence where we haue a long way both by sea and land to passe ouer to our friends in case any neede shall inforce vs thervnto coÌ„modities are brought to vs out of Spaine Fraunce and Germanie not such as we desire but onely such as the Englishe men doe permit Againe when our Marchants shall passe into Fraunce what hauens shall wee leaue them to resort vnto in time of daungerous tempests â–ª which often chaunce to all suche as vse sayling Either must they perish and bee cast awaye through rage of seas eyther else fall into the handes of our enimies togither with all theyr goodes and fraught What discommodities hereof shal rise your grace most prudetn Prince and you right circumspect Counsaylers doe well ynough perceyue I therefore would thinke it expedient that we should continue in y e former peace concluded with the Brytaines Saxons Picts according to the custome of our late predecessors who sawe well ynough what was most beneficiall for the wealth of the Scottish nation and not to couet a newe amitie with an vnknowne people hauing deserued little or nothing as yet at our handes whose intent I cannot but haue in suspition sithe they seeke for amitie so farre of except wee shall manifestly resolue wyth our selues to employe and leoparde doth life and libertie for the safegarde of the French men without regarde of our owne Colmans couÌ„sel is misliked Many in that assemblie shewed themselues sore offended with Colmans wordes supporting the league with the French men to be both honorable and necessarie Then one Albian a man of great nobilitie whome the king had lately before instituted hys lieutenant in the Iles spake in this maner If it were possible that there might be one sure and
sometyme let fal againe with a sway downe vpō the pauement After this beeing brought to an open place where moste resort of people was they crowned him with an hote Iron for that as was sayde a Witche had tolde him The prophecie of a Witche that before hys death he shoulde be crowned openly in sight of the people Through whose illusion being deceyued hee lyued vnder vayne hope to attaine the Crowne dyrecting all hys ymaginations to compasse the meanes thereto Thus was hee serued on the fyrst day On the second he was drawne with his complyces layde on Hyrdels rounde about the towne at an horse tayle The thirde day hys belly was rypt and his bowelles taken forth and throwne in the fyre flickering before hys eyes and then was hys heart pulled forth of his bodie and throwne likewise in the fire and last of all his heade was cut off and his bodie deuided in foure quarters Robert Stewarde executed His nephew Robert Stewarde was not altogither so cruelly executed But Robert Graham for that it was knowne that he slue the king wyth his owne handes The ordering of Robert Grahams execution was put into a Carte the hande that did the deede being fastened to a payre of Gallowes whiche were reared vp in the same Carte and then were three persons appointed to thrust him through in all partes of his bodie wyth hote Irons beginning firste in those places where it was thought no hastye death woulde thereof ensue as in the legges armes thighes and shoulders and thus was hee caryed through euery streete of the towne and tormented in most miserable wise and at length had his belly ript and was bowelled and quartered as the other were before Christofer Clawn also Christopher Clawn and other that were of counsayle in the conspiracie were putte to moste shamefull kyndes of deathes as they had iustlye deserued fewe or none lamenting theyr case In the dayes of King Iames the first Straunge sightes sundrie straunge and monstruous things chaunced in Scotland At Perth there was a Sowe that brought forth a lytter of Pygges with heades lyke vnto Dogges Pigges with heades like to Dogges A Cow also brought forth a Calfe A Calfe with a heade like a Colte hauing a head like a Colt In the Haruest before the Kings death A blasing starre a blasing Starre was seene wyth long streaming beames And in the Winter following A great frost Ale and wine sold by pound weight the frost was so vehement that Ale and Wine were solde by pounde weight and then melted agaynst the fire A sworde was seene glyding vp and downe in the ayre A sword seene in the ayre to the no lesse dreade than wonder of the people This Iames at his comming to mans state proued a stoute Prince The daughter of the Duke of Gelderlād maried to Iames the seconde and maried the daughter of the Duke of Gelderlande as after shall appeare In the beginning he had some trouble and businesse by reason of the great authoritie and rule which the high Barons of the Realme sought to beare and maintaine as the Dowglasses and other but in the ende he subdued them all Shortly after his coronation bycause he was not of himselfe able to gouerne by reason of his tender age Sir Alexander Leuingston gouernour Sir William Creichton L. Chancellor the nobles and estates of the Realme chose sir Alexander Leuingston of Calender knight gouernor of the king and realme and sir William Creichton knight was confyrmed in his office to enioy the same as before he had done the king being committed to his keeping togyther with the Castell of Edenbourgh Archebald Erle of Dowglas remayned in his countreys of Dowglas Annardale Disobedience in the Dowglas and would neither obey-gouernor nor Chancellor whereby great trouble was raysed within the realme Within a short time also the gouernor and chancelor were deuided The gouernor with the Queene remayned at Striueling but the Chancelor had the K. still with him in the Castel of Edenburgh what the one cōmaūded to be done the other forbad wherby neither of them was obeyed nor any executiō of iustice put in practise so that through all the countrey reif spoyles and oppression were exercised without feare of punishment 1437 The Queene perceyuing such mischiefe to raigne throughout all parties of the realme deuised a meane to aduance the gouernors side and herevpon with a small companie repayred to Edenbourgh A policye wrought by the Queene where she to bring her purpose to passe did so muche by great dissimulation that she perswaded the Chācellor to suffer hir to enter the Castell and to remaine with the king but within three dayes after she feyned one morning to go on pilgrymage vnto the white Kirke and caused the king hir son to be handsomly couched in a Trounke as if he had beene some fa◅dell of hir apparell and so packed vp sent him by one of hir trustie seruauntes layde vpon a Sumpter horse vnto Lieth The king was conueyed vnto Striueling from whence he was conueyed by boat vnto Striueling where of the gouernor he was ioyfully receyued commending the Queene highly for hir politike working in deceyuing so wise a man as the Chauncelor was Then raysed hee a great power of his friendes and well willers and besieged the Chauncellor in the Castell of Edenbourgh The Byshop perceyuing in what daunger he stood through the womans deceyt sent to y e Erle of Dowglas desiring his assystaunce agaynste the Queene and gouernor But the Earle refused either to helpe the one or the other alledging that they were both ouer ambicious in seeking to haue the whole gouernment of the Realme in their handes The Chauncellor then perceyuing himselfe destitute of all helpe An agreement made made agreement with the gouernor vnder certain conditions that he should retaine still the Castell of Edenbourgh in hys possession and likewise continue still in his office of Chancellor The Earle of Dowglas departeth this life at Lestelricke 1439 Shortly after the Earle of Dowglas deceassed at Lestelrig in the yeare .1439 agaynst whō aswell the gouernor as Chancellor had conceyued great hatred He left behinde him a sonne begot of the Erle of Crawfords daughter named William a child of fourtene yeares of age who succeeded hys father in the Earledome of Dowglas appearing at the first to be well inclyned of nature but afterwardes by euill companie hee waxed wylde and insolent About this season Iames Stewarde sonne to the Lorde of Lorne maryed the Queene Dowager and sauoured the Earle Dowglas in his vnruly demeanor wherevpon both the sayd Iames and his brother William with the Queene The Queene imprisoned were committed to prison in the Castell of Striueling by the gouernors appoyntment but shortly after they were released by the sute of the lord Chancelor Sir William Creichton and Alexander Setō of Gurdun who became sureties for their good abearing
alledge The yeere next following 1459 at the Queene of Englandes desire to supporte hir againste the house of Yorke King Iames with a great army entred England but after that the Queene in the meane time had slayne the Duke of Yorke and gote the vpper hande of hir enimies at the same Queenes request hee retired into Scotlande againe Neuerthelesse shortly after when y e Erles of March and Warwike sought still to mayneteyne their quarrell against the Queene of Englande she was constreyned to withdraw into the North partes 1460 and to desire King Iames to approche eftsoones with his armie vnto the bordures whiche he did meaning to winne the Castels of Roxburgh and Warke whiche were amongst other things promised to bee deliuered vnto him by King Henry and so comming to Roxburgh laide his armie round about that Castell and planted his seege in full warlike manner Here the King hauing greate experience in knowledge of shooting greate artillerie departed from his campe accompanyed with the Earle of Angus and others and came to the trenches where the great ordynaunce was planted which he caused to be shot off King Iames the second is slayne Aand here by great misfortune this worthy Prince Iames the seconde was slayne by the slice of a great peece of artillerie which by ouercharging chanced to breake and slewe not only the King standing somewhat neere it but also hurte the Earle of Angus with other being a notable president from hencefoorth how such great Princes approch so neere within daunger of such peeces of ordynance when they are so shotte off He was thus killed the third day of August Alias .17 in the yeere of his life .29 of his raigne .24 and after the incarnation .1480 1480 The buriall of Iames the seconde His body was buried with all funerall obsequies according to his estate within the Monasterie of Holyroode house at Edynburgh the people generally lamenting his deathe with no lesse sorowe and dolefull mone The lamentation of the people than as is seene in a priuate house for the deceasse of the welbeloued maister and owner thereof In time of warre amongst his subiectes in the campe he behaued himselfe so gently towards all men The amiable conditions of Iames the seconde that they seemed not to feare him as theyr king but to reuerence and loue him like a father He would ride vp and downe amongst them and eate and drinke with them euen as he hadde bin felowlike with the meanest The issue of Iames the seconde Iames the third King of Scotland Alexander Duke of Albany He had issue by his wife Queene Mary three sonnes and two daughters His eldest sonne named Iames succeeded him in the Kingdome the seconde named Alexander was created Duke of Albany and his third sonne called Iohn 〈◊〉 Erle Mar. was made Earle of Mar. The eldest of his daughters the Hamilton had in mariage as before is and also after shall bee mentioned Some straunge sightes there appeared before the death of this King Iames the second for the day before he was slayne 〈…〉 a blasing Starre was playnely seene which signified as was thought the death of the sayd King In the yeere before the seege there was in Dundee an Hermophrodite that is a person with both shapes An Hermophrodite that is â–ª a person 〈◊〉 both 〈◊〉 and woâ—â— but esteemed for a woman onely till it was proued that lying with hir masters daughter nightly where she dwelt she had gote y e yong Damosell with childe for the whiche acte bycause she had counterfeted hir selfe a woman and yet had wrought the part of a man she was condemned to be buried quicke and suffered according to that iudgement About the same time there was a certayne theefe â—…ted 〈◊〉 that vsed 〈◊〉 kill 〈◊〉 persons aâ—… to eate them that with his familie liued apart from the company of men remayning secretely within a denne in Angus called Fenisden who vsed to kill yong persons and to feede on their flesh for the whiche abhominable offence being apprehended with his wife all his familie they were burnt to death one of his daughters that was vnneth .12 monethes of age only excepted the which being preserued and brought vp in Dundee before shee came to the age of twelue yeeres 〈◊〉 daughter â—…eth to the 〈◊〉 practise shee was taken in the like crime for the whiche hir father dyed wherevpon shee was iudged to be buried quicke and going to execution when the people in great multitude followed hir in wondering at so horrible an offence committed by one of hir age and sexe shee turned to them that thus detested hir wicked doing Hir words going to execution and with a countenance representing hir cruell inclination sayde to them what neede you thus to rayle vpon me as if I had done an heynous acte contrary to the nature of man I tell you that if you knew how pleasant mans fleshe is in tast there would none of you all forbeare to eate it And thus with an impenitente and stubborne minde she suffered the appoynted execution Donald of the Iles eftsoones rebelleth Moreouer shortly after Donald Lord of the Iles and Earle of Rosse who had serued obediently in the army at Roxburgh and was as outwardly appeared well reconciled began of newe to vse his olde manners spoyling and harrying the whole countrey of Athole and tooke the Earle thereof and the countesse his wife captiues with him into the Iles. To represse his iniurious attemptes the Regents were preparing an army but therewith came true aduertisements that the sayd Lord of the Iles and other the principall offendors of his company were striken through the hand of God with a certayne frensie or madnesse Donald became mâ—…dde and had lost all their shippes and spoyles in the sea so that y e Earle of Athole and his Lady were restored and those frentike persons were brought vnto Saint Brides Kiâ—…ke in Athole 〈…〉 Hector Boetâ—…us continued the Scoâ—â—ished historie He was killeâ—… for the recouery of their health but it woulde not be Donalde himselfe was afterward slayne in the Castell of Inuernes by an Irishman that was a minstrell In the yeere .1461 1461 Henry King of England â—â— safecunduct 〈◊〉 into Scotlande Henry the sixte King of Englande beeing vanquished by hys aduersarie Edwarde the fourth purchased of King Iames the thirde a safecunduct for him selfe and a thousande Horse to enter into Scotlande and herevppon hee came to Edynburgh and was lodged in the house of the Friers Preachours with hys wife Queene Margaret and hys sonne Prince Edwarde There was also with him the Duke of Excetor and the Duke of Sommerset with many other of the English nobilitie The Queene with hir son went into France The Queene went into Fraunce for ayde to trie what purchase for ayde support againste hir husbandes enimies she might make there amongst hir owne friendes and kinsmen The
aduised before they had ioyned w t him in a pight field but true it is that after y e Duke had remayned there so long as vitayles might be had recouered frō any part he retyred with his army backe into Englād not without some losse of mē horse spoiles which y e Scots vnder the Erle of Huntley others tooke fro the Englishmē in that their retire specially as they passed ouer the riuer of Tweede After the Englishmē were thus departed withdrawē home foorth of Scotlād king Iames being of an high manly courage in reuenge of the harmes done by the Englishmē within his countrey thought good y t his whole army should passe forwarde inuade England himself to go therwith in proper person And herein he requested the cōsent of his nobilitie who after long resoning good aduisement takē in the mater gaue answere to the king in this sort y t they could not thinke it good that they should passe within Englād to seeke battayle y e king himself being with thē considering y t his .ij. sonnes were lately disceased so y t he had no successiō of his body for in case that they lost the field as the chaūce of battell is most vncertaine then the king of England hauing great substance might therewith folow the victory put the realme of Scotlande in greate hazarde Therefore they thought it sufficiently to defend their owne boundes to constrayne the enimie for feare to leaue the inuasion therof as presently they had done and declared that they were determined to haue giuen battayle to theyr enimies if they had cōtinued within the realme and doubted not by the helpe of God they hauing so iust a cause and being inuaded in theyr countrey but that they shoulde haue obteyned the victory The King hearyng theyr determination albeit his high courage pressed him to inuade The king breaketh vp his army yet the approued witte of his nobles and Coūsellours caused him to follow their aduise and so returned with his army backe againe the first of Nouember the army of England being first discharged and the Duke of Norffolke in his returne towardes London The king goeth to the west borders Shortly after the kyng of Scotlande went himself in person vnto the West marches of his realme where the Lord Maxwell was Warden whom togither with the Erles of Cassels and Glencarne and certaine other Lordes there with him the king appointed to inuade the English marches on that side taking with them the power of the bordurers and sente also with them Oliuer Sincler Oliuer Sincler the residue of the Gentlemen of his housholde These Erles Lordes entring into Englande on S. Katherines euen beyng the .xxiiij. of Nouember began to burne certayne townes vpō the water of Eske but as soone as the scrye was raysed in the countrey The Lorde Wharton the Lord Quharton Warden of the west marches of Englande sodenly raysed the power of the countrey and came to a little hill where they shewed themselues in sight vnto the Scottishe army The Scottishe Lordes perceyuyng the Englishmen gathered assembled thēselues togither and enquired who was Lieutenaunt general there by the Kings appointmēt and incontinently Oliuer Sincler was holden vp on twoo mennes shoulders The enuy of the Lordes agaynst Oliuer Sincler where he sheweth foorth the Kings commission instituting him Liuetenant to the Kyng of that armie but how soeuer that was redde the Erles and Lordes there present thought themselues embased too much to haue suche a meane Gentleman aduaūced in authoritie aboue them all and therefore determined not to fight vnder suche a Captayne but willyngly suffred themselues to be ouercome The Scottes discomfited by the English men and so were taken by the English men not shewyng any countenaunce of defence to the contrary and without slaughter of any one person on eyther side The kyng being in Carlauerocke vpon the borders not farre from Soloway Mosse when this misfortune fell vpon his men after he heard thereof he was maruellously amased the more in calling to remembrance the refusall made by his Nobles assembled with him in campe at Fala vpon his request to inuade Englande The griefe of the king for the ouerthrow of his men Herewith such an impression entered his minde that he thought with himself that all his whole nobilitie had conspyred agaynst him and therevpon tooke such a vehement and high displeasure increased with a melancolious thought that he departed sodenly from thence to Edenburgh and after remoued to Faulkeland where he remayned as a man desolate of comforte beyng sore vexed in spirite and bodie and woulde not permitte any maner of person to haue accesse vnto him his secrete and familiar seruants only excepted And as he was thus vnquieted The birth of the Scottes Queene newes was brought him that the Queene his wyfe was brought to bedde of a fayre yōg Princesse the .vij day of December the whiche newes he lyked very euill and added the griefe thereof to his former displeasantnesse in so muche that he perceyued the ende of his lyfe to approche and withall sayde that hee sorsawe great trouble to come vpon the realme of Scotlande for the pursuit whiche the King of England was like to make therevpon agaynst the same to the end hee might bryng it vnder his subiection eyther by mariage or by some other meane It was reported that he was disquieted with some vnkindly medicine but how soeuer the matter was he yeelded vp his sprite to almighty God departed this worlde the .xiiij. of December in the yeare of oure redemption .1542 the .xxxiij. yeare of his age The death of the King of ◅tes and .xxxij. of his raigne Shortly after hys departure hys body was conueyed from Falkeland vnto Edenburgh in most honorable wife the Cardinall the Erles of Arrane Arguile Rothes Marshall and dyuers other noble men being present and with all funerall pomp as was requisite it was buried in the Abbey Church of Holy Roode house beside the body of Queene Magdalene daughter to the King of Fraunce his first wife There was greate lamentation and moue made for his death throughout all parts of his Realme for hee was very well beloued among hys subiectes Queene Mary THe Eternall God calling to his mercy Iames King of Scotland the fifth of that name Mary his only daughter and heire began hir raigne ouer the Realme of Scotland the eyghtenth day of December in the yere of our Lord .1542 1542 Frauncis the firste of that name then raigning in Fraunce and Henry the eyght ouer the Englishmen She was not past seuen dayes olde when hir father departing this life left vnto hir his kingdome hir mother lying in childbed in the Castel of Lithquo The Lorde Leuingston of which place y e Lord Leuingston being Captayne had the charge committed to him both of the daughter and mother with the mothers good
The names of the chiefe townes in Connaght Aloane Galuoy Anry Louaghryagh Clare Toame Sligagh Rossecomman Arctlowne The names of the chiefe townes in Meeth Trymme Doonshaghlenne Rathlouth Nauanne Abooy Scryne Taraugh Kemles Doonboyne Greenock Duleeke The names of the townes in Westmeeth Molingare Fowre Loughfeude Kylkenywest Moylagagh Deluynne In the xxxiiij 1542. yeare of the reigne of King Henry the eight it was enacted in a parliament holden at Desâ—…yeâ—…re before Syr â—…thouâ—…e Setitleger knight Lorde deputie of Irelande that Méeth shoulde be deuided and made two shyres one of them to bée called the countie of Méeth the other to be called the county of West méeth and that there shoulde be two shayeles and offycers conuenyent within the same shyres as is moâ—… exprest in the acte The names of the chiefe hauen townes in Irelande Loughfoyle The Banne Wolderfrith Craregfergus Strangforde Ardglas Lougheuen Carlingforde Kylkeale Dundalk Kylclogher Dunnany Drogheda Houlepatrick Nany Baltray Brymore Balbriggen Roggers towne Skerrish Rushe Malahyde Banledooyle Houth Dublynne Dalkee Wickincloa Arckloa Weisford Bagganbun The Passage Waterforde Dungaruan Rosse noua Youghylle Corck mabegge Corck Kynsale Kyerye Rosse Ilbere Dorrye Baltynymore Downenere Downesheade Downelounge Attannanne Craghanne Downenâ—…bwyne Balyneskilyliodge Daugyne â—…house Traly Senynne Cassanne Kylnewyne Lymmetick Innyskartee Belalenne Arynenewyne Glanemaughe Ballyweyham Bynwarre Dowrys Woran Roskam Galway Kyllynylly Innesbosynne Owran Moare Kylcolken Burske Belleclare Rathesilbene Byerweisowre Buraueis hare Ardne makow Rosbare Kilgolynne Wallalele Rabranne Strone Burweis now Zaltra Kalbalye Ardnock Adrowse Sligaghe Innes Bowsenne Camb. lib. 1. Top. dist 2. rub 3. 4. Cambriense obserued in his time that when the sea doth ebbe at Dublyue it ebbeth also at Bristow and floweth at Mylford Weisford At Wyckloâ—… the son â—…bbeth wheâ—… in all other partes â—…f commonly floweth Furthermore thâ—… he 〈◊〉 that the ryuer which â—…uÌ„â—…eth by Wâ—…ycklâ—… vpoâ—… 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 〈…〉 the next hauâ—… towne the ryuer 〈…〉 when the 〈…〉 wryteth 〈…〉 Archâ—…â—…â—…ethâ—… rocke and whâ—… the sea â—…eth inâ—… side therof it 〈…〉 the other 〈◊〉 â—…st Cambrienâ—…e â—…er with dyuers Philosophicall â—…lons 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 by obseruing the 〈…〉 is the empresse of â—…yâ—…ure But the 〈…〉 leaue for the schoole streetes Of the estâ—… gâ—…nd wonderfull places in Irelande Cap. 4. I Thinke it good to begâ—…ne with S. Patrike his Purgatorie S. Patrike his Purgatorie partly bycause it is most notoriously knowen partly the more that some wryters as the auctor of Polichroâ—…icon and others that were miscaryed by 〈◊〉 séeme to make great doubt where they néede not For they ascribe the finding out of the place not to Patrike that couerted the countrey but to another Patricke aâ—… Abbat whâ—…̄ likewise they affirme to haue done employed in conuerting the Islande 〈◊〉 heatheâ—…rie to Christianitie But the auctor that broacheth this opinion is not founde to carie any such crediâ—…e wyth him as that a man may certainly affirme it or probably coniecture it vnlesse we relye to the olde wythered woorme eaten Legend loded with as many lowde lyes as lewde lines The better and the more certaine opinion is that the other Patricke founde it out in such wise as CambrieÌ„se reporteth Camb. lib. â—… Topog. dist 2. rub 6. There is a poole as lake sayeth he in the partes of Vlster that enuironneth an Island in the one part whereof there standeth a Churche much lightned with the brightsome recourse of Aâ—…gelles the other part is onely and gastly as it were a bedlem allotted to the visible assemblies of horrible and grisly bugges This part of the Islande contayneth nyne caues And if any dare be so hardye as to take one night his lodging in any of these Innes which hath béene experimented by some rashe and harebrayne aduenturers straight these spirites claw him by the back and tugge him so ruggedly and tosse him so crabbedly that nowe and then they make him more francke of his bumme then of his tongue a payment correspondent to his intertaynemeÌ„t This place is called S. Patricke his purgatorie of the inhabitours For when S. Patrike laboured the conuersion of the people of Vlster by setting before their eyes in great heate of spirite the creation of the worlde the fall of our progenitours the redemption of man by the blessed and precious bloude of our Sauiour Iesus Christ the certayntie of death the immortalitie of the soule the generall resurrection our latter dumbe the ioyes of heauen the paynes of hell howe that at length euery man small and great young and olde riche and poore king and keaser potentate peasaunt must eyther through God his gracious mercy be exalted to the one to floorish in perpetuall felicitie or through his vnsearcheable iustice tumbled downe to the other to be tormented in eternall miserie these and the like graue and weightie sentences wherewith he was aboundantly stored so farre funcke into their heartes as they séemed very flexible in condescending to hys behest so that some proofe of his estraunge preaching coulde haue béene veryfied Wherevpon wythout further delay they spake to the prelate in this wyse Syr as we like of your preaching so we dislyke not of our libertie You tell vs of many gye gawes and estraunge dreames You woulde haue vs to abandonne infidelitie to cage vp our libertie to bridle our pleasure For which you promise vs for our toyle and labour a place to vs as vnknowen so as yet vncertayne You sermon to vs of a dungeon appointed for offenders and miscredentes In deede if we coulde finde that to be true we woulde the sooner be weaned from the swéete napple of our libertie and frame our selues plyaunt to the will of that God that you reueale vnto vs. s Patricke coÌ„sidering that these sealy soules were as all dulcarnanes for y e more part are more to be terryfied from infidelitie through the paynes of hell then allured to Christianitie by the ioyes of heauen most heartily besought God sort stoode wyth his gracious pleasure for the honour and glorie of his diuine name to giue out some euident or glimsing token of the matter they importunatly requyred Finally by the especiall direction of God he founde in the North edge of Vlster a desolate corner hemmed in rounde and in the middle thereof a pit where he reared a Church called Reglis or Reglas Reglasse at the East end of the Churchyarde a doore leadeth into a closet of stone lyke a long ouen which they call S. Patricke hys purgatorie for that the people resorte thither euen at this day for pennaunce and haue reported at their returne estraunge visions of paine and blisse appearing vnto them Polichr lib. â—… 36.1138 The auctor of Polichronicon wryteth that in the reigne of king Stephane a knight named Owen pilgrimaged to this purgatorie being so appalled at the straunge visions that there he sawe as that vpon his returne from thence he was wholly mortyfied and sequestring himselfe from the worlde he spent the
aboade battayle eche man recoueryng hys owne wyth the state of gouernement Thus in effecte haue the Irish writers reported of Turgesius a Norwegian whether he did reygne before the supposed tyme of 〈◊〉 or whether that hee came thyther as Lieuetenaunt to him whiche if it shoulde bee true no doubte the same Gurmonde was some Kyng of the Danes or Norweygians and not of the Affricanes as some of our countreymen name hym Which errour is soone committed in takyng one Heathenishe nation for an other Gurmonde as those haue doone that haue named the Hungarians when they inuaded Gallia before they were Christians Sarazins And so lykewyse might that authour who so euer he was whom Geffrey of Monmouth foloweth fynding Gurmonde written to be a king of the myscreantes mistake the Norwegians for Affricanes bicause both those nations were Infidels and therefore sith haply the Affricanes in the dayes when that Author lyued bare al the brute aboue other Heathenishe nations then as the Turkes do nowe he named them Africanes Howe soeuer it was certayne it is that the Danes or Norwegians made sundrie inuasions into Irelande and that at seuerall tymes But for Turgesius whether hee were an absolute Kyng or but a Lieutenant of some armye vnder some other king named Gurmonde or peraduenture Gormo as suche names are soone corrupted I can not affirme bycause that no certayne tyme is sette downe in the Chronicles whyche are written of those Nations whereby they maye bee so reconciled together as suffiseth to warrant any lykely coniecture in this behalfe But if I shoulde saye with the Readers licence what I thinke this Gurmonde what so euer he was made no suche conquest of Irelande nor of this our Ile of Britayn as by some writers is supposed but yet myght he peraduenture lande in Wales and eyther in fauoure of the Saxons then enimyes to the Britons or in hatred of the Christian name persecute by cruell warres the Brytishe nation and vse suche crueltie as the Heathenishe nations then were accustomed to practise agaynst the Christians in all places where they came and chaunced to haue the vpper hande The chiefest cause that moueth me to doubte therof is for that I fynd not in any of our approued auncient Englishe writers as Bede Malmesburye Huntingdon Houeden or suche lyke anye playne mention made of hym whereby I may be throughly induced to credite that whyche I fynde in Geffrey Monmouth and others recorded of hym except his name be mistaken and so therby some errour crept in which I am not able to resolue But sith we are entred to speake thus farre of the Norwegians heere by the waye I haue thoughte it not impertinente to the purpose of thys Irishe historie to write what wee fynde recorded in the Chronicles of those northernlye Regions Denmarke Norwey Alber. Crants Saxo Graâ—â— and Sweden written by Saxo Grammaticus Albertus Crantz and others concernyng the sundry inuasions made by the Danes Norweygians or Normans whether we lyst to cal them into Irelande Fridley or Fridlenus king of Denmarke Fridlenus that succeded Dan the thirde of that name surnamed the swift arriuing in Irelande Dublyn besieged besieged the citie of Dublyn and perceyuing by the strength of the walles that it wold be an hard matter to wynne it by playne force of hand without some cunning policie he deuised to catche a sorte of swallowes that had made their nestes in the houses within the towne tyed wylde fire to their wyngs and therwith caste them vp and suffered them to flye their wayes Dublyn set on fyre and vvâ—â— by the Danes whervpon they comming to theyr nestes set the houses on fire whiche whyles the citziens went aboute to quenche the Danes entred the citie and wanne it After this the Danes went to Dublin Dublin wonne which towne they easily tooke and founde suche store of riches and treasure therein that euery man hadde somuche as hee coulde wishe or desire so as they needed not to fall out among themselues for the partition sith there was so muche for each mans share as hee coulde conueniently carrie away Thus hath Saxo Grammaticus written in effect of Starcaters comming into Irelande of whome the Danish writers make such mention both for his huge stature and greate manhoode Some haue thoughte that Starcater was the very same man whiche the Scottes name Finmackcole of whome in the Scottishe Historie we haue made mention but where as the Scottish writers affirme that he was a Scottishman borne the Danish writers reporte that hee was borne in Eastlande among the people called Estones Reignirus the sonne of Siwardus Reignirus the second King of Denmarke hauyng atchieued sundry victories in Englande and Scotlande and subdued the Isles of Orkney hee passed likewise into Irelande Melbrick K. of Irelande slayne slewe Melbricke King of that lande and tooke the Citie of Dublin by siege where hee remayned the whole tearme of twelue moneths before he departed from thence Gurmo the third of that name king of Denmarke After this Gurmo the third of that name king of Denmarke although an Infidell hymselfe and a cruell persecuter of the Christian Religion yet tooke to wife a Christian Ladie named Thyra He marieth Thira daughter to Etheldred King of Englande Canute and Harolde daughter to Etheldred King of EnglaÌ„d who had issue by him two sonnes Knaught or Canute and Harold prouing men of high valiancie and notable prowes in so muche that after the atchieuing of dyuers worthy victories againste the enimies neere home they made a voyage into Englande not sparing to inuade the Dominions of theyr Graundfather King Etheldred who rather reioycing than seeming to be offended with those manlike enterprises of his cousins proclaymed them hys heyres to succeede after hym in all hys landes and dominions although of ryghte the same were to descende fyrst vnto theyr mother Thira The yong menne beeyng encouraged with theyr Graundfathers bountifull magnificence attempted the inuasion of Irelande They inuade Irelande Canute is slayne where at the siege of Dublin Canute or Knought the elder brother was shotte into the body with an arrowe and dyed of the wounde howbeit hys deathe was kept close by hys owne commaundemente gyuen before hee dyed till hys people hadde gote the Citie into their possession But the gayne was small in respect of the losse whiche was thoughte to redounde vnto the whole Danishe nation by the deathe of that noble yong Gentleman Canute who for hys hygh prowesse and valiancie was most tenderly beloued of all menne but namely of his father King Gormo in so muche that hee sware to kill hym with hys owne handes who so euer shoulde first tell hym newes of hys deathe This Gormo was nowe a man farre striken in age and blinde hauyng small ioy of anye worldly pleasures otherwise than to heate of the welfare prosperous proceedings of his sonnes When therefore hys wife Queene Thira hadde perfect aduertisemente of hir
Citie of Lymerike but also all Irelande greatly agaynst the kings honour and his owne promised fidelitie The king crediting such reports Foure Commissioners sent into IrelaÌ„d to enquire of Reymondes demeanor sent ouer foure commissioners into Ireland to examine the matter to make a true certificat of the state of that land The names of those commissioners were these Robert Poer Osbert de Herloter Adam de Gernemuth and William de Bendenges Two of them he appoynted to returne backe to bring Reymonde with them the other two hee commaunded to remaine there with the Erle As Reymond then was readie to passe the sea to come ouer staying only for a prosperous wind there came messengers from them that lay in Lymerike Donald Prince of Thomond bringing word y t Donald prince of Thomond had besieged theÌ„ with an infinit multitude of people and bycause they had spent all their prouisioÌ„ of vitails there was no remedie but to succor them with speed for otherwise they could not endure agaynst the force of their aduersaies The Earle carefull to send ayde to relieue his men thus brought into that extremitie vpon mouing the matter to his men of warre whome he ment to sent forward about that enterprise The loue which the soldiers bare to Reymond hee found them so dismayd for the departing of Reymonde that with one generall voyce they flatly denied to go on that iourney without him The Erle conferring vpon this refusall of his men of warre with the Commissioners it was agreed by their consents that Reymonde shoulde haue the leading of the army vnto Lymerike and so setting forward with .lxxx. knightes two C. other horsemen and three hundred archers beside such Irishe men as he tooke with him vnder the conduct of Murchard Kenceili Murcharde Kenceili Dunald of Ossorie with this power he went first vnto Casshell hearing by the way that the enimies hauing left the siege of Lymerike were layde in the pase of Casshell which being of it selfe a very combersom strayt hard to get through by nature of the place they had made it much more noysome to those that should atteÌ„pt to passe that way in laying trees ouerthwart and casting ditches a trauerse which they feÌ„ced with hedges plashed aloft vpon the rampire The EnglishmeÌ„ deuided their army into three wards the vantgard being led by Meiller rushed forth to the hedge with such violeÌ„ce that they bare down tore the same in peeces as it had bin some strange tempest of wind with their swords they made way opened y e passage not without great slaughter of them that stood there at defence agaynst them 1â—â—5 The passage being thus wonne and the enimies put to flight on Easter eueÌ„ vpon the Tuesday in Easter weeke they came through like victorers vnto Lymerike and as it was wonne vpoÌ„ a Tuesday as before ye haue heard so nowe it was likewise rescued vpon a Tuesday The kings of 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 come to a parley with Reymond After this the king of Connagh and the king of Thomond came to a parley with Reymonde about .xvj. myles distant from Lymerike beyond Kelleleonyne in one selfe day though not togyther nor in one selfe place They grew in both the places to this effect in their talk that either prince deliuering hostages renued their othes of fidelitie vnto the king of Englande and so in louing wife they departed eche from other The same time Dermote or Dermucius Macharthy Dermucius Marcharthy prince of Desmond vexed by his sonne Kormac Oletham prince of Desmond was by his eldest son Kormac Oletham in maner expulsed out of his countrey wherevpon he sued vnto Reymond for ayde against his vnnaturall son Reymond moued aswel at the ernest prayer as promise of large entertainment toke vpon him that enterprise and turning his victorious ensignes towards Cork he so vsed the matter that his armye was in short space greatly enriched what with spoile wages plenty of vitailes which they recouered in those parties in such wise that they sent great abuÌ„dance vnto Limerik for Dermote Macharthy by y e help of Reymond restored now wholy again vnto his dominion sought to pleasure him and his coÌ„pany in all things he might The crafty dissimulation of the sonne to intrappe the father But yet Kormac vnder colour of peace led forth his father Dermote craftily with fayre wordes till he got him into his hands committed him to prison but within a while after the father recoÌ„pensing his sonne with like curtesie practised his sonnes death To what ende it came whilest he so remayned in prison and bringing his purpose to passe was so deliuered About the kalends of Iune 1177 Richard Strangbow Erle of Pembrooke departed this life wherof Reymond aduertised consulting with his trustie friends betaketh Lymerike to the keeping of Donald prince of Thomonde as to one of the kings faythfull Barons receyuing of him both pledges and swearing him also to preserue that Citie froÌ„ hurt and to restore it to the king of Englands vse whensoeuer he was thervnto required This done he with the army departed towards Leynister to defend that countrie and the hauen townes there for the more suretie of the English possessions in Ireland But he was no sooner come to the further end of the bridge but the other end next to the Citie was broken downe The treason of Donalde and the English men might behold fire set in foure corners of the Citie to their great grief which was done by treason of Donald shewing a tast what credit was to be giuen vnto the people of that nation by that his disloyall periurie and breach of othe so lately taken without all feare of Gods vengeance to folow or shame of the world that might be imputed to him amongst men of honest respect At Reymonds comming to Dublin Earle Strangbow buried the bodie of the Earle was buried in Christes Church within that Citie the Archebishop Laurence doing the office of the funerals For the Earle in his life time had commaunded that his bodie shoulde be kept aboue grounde till Reymond were come and till his comming the Earles death in deede was kept secrete so that few vnderstood thereof This Earle was of colour ruddye and freckled with great eyes of a feminine vysage small voyce shorte necke of stature tall and a goodly personage lyberall and curteous and where substaunce wanted to shewe his franke heart hee supplyed it with gentle wordes more readie to obey than to commaunde At home more lyke a Souldier than a Captayne but abrode in the warres he shewed himselfe a Captayne and not a Souldier Although he neuer would enterprise any exployt of himselfe without the aduice of other being once ioyned in fight with his enimies he stoode as an assured standard for his people to haue recourse to for their safetie And howsoeuer the chance of battail turned he was euer constant and stable neyther
armie as to his contentation should seeme good The Deputie vpon the receyte of these letters Iames Butler Earle of Ormond sente for Iames Butler Earle of Ormonde and Osserie a noble manne no lesse politique in peace than valiaunt in warre made hym priuye to the Kyng hys pleasure and wythall in his Maiesties name dyd caste the charge hereof vppon the sayde Earle as one that for hys tryed loyaltie was willing and for his honour and valour able to attempt and atchieue so rare and famous an exployte The Lorde of Ormonde as wylling to obey as the Gouernour was to commaunde leuyed of hys Tenauntes and Reteynours sixe hundred Gallowglasses foure hūdred Kearnes three score Horsemen and foure hundred and fortie shot so in the whole he mustered on Osmantowne greene neare Dublyn fiftene hundred souldiours The Lorde Depu◅ie yeelding hys honour suche thankes in woordes as hee deserued in deede leuyed in the Pale fifteene hundred Souldiours more to bee annexed to the Earle hys companye Ouer them he constituted Sir Iohn Trauerse Capitayne Sir Iohn Trauerse knight but the Earle of Ormonde was made Generall of the whole armie When the Souldiours were wyth Munition and victualles aboundauntlye furnyshed the Earle of Ormonde and the Earle of Lennox tooke shypping at Skerish hauing in theyr companie twentie and eight Shippes well rigged sufficiently manned and stronglye appoynted From thence they sayled Northwarde and roade at anchor without the hauen of Oldfleete beyond Karregfergus Where hauing remayned hulling wythoute the mouth of the Hauen contrarye to the aduise of the Maisters of theyr Shippes who prognosticated the speedie approche of a storme The Earle of Ormonde and the Earle of Lennox in danger to bee drovvned and therefore did wishe them to take a good harborrowe it happened that the sayde nyght there arose so boysterous a Tempest that the whole fleete was lyke to haue beene ouerwhelmed The Maryners betaking theyr passengers and themselues to the mercye of God dyd cutte theyr mayne Mastes lette shippe theyr Anchors and were weather driuen to the hauen of Dunbrytaine in Scotlande where as they were like to runne their shippes on ground and consequently they all shoulde either haue beene plunged in the water or else haue beene slaine on the lande by a greate number of Scottes that awayted theyr approche God with hys gracious clemencye preuenting theyr imminent calamitie sent them not onely a wished calme but also a prosperous gale of wynde that blewe them backe in safetie to the Irishe coast from whence they were scattered The Earle of Lennox aduertised by certain of his friendes that met with him on the Sea that the Scottes contrarie to theyr promise dealt verie doubly with him for although they gaue theyr woorde to surrender vppe to hym the Castell of Dunbrytaine yet they did not onelye fortifie that Holde but also were readie to encounter wyth his Souldiours vppon theyr arryuals he concluded to returne to Irelande The Earle of Ormonde verie loath that so greate an attempt shoulde take so little effecte dealt wyth him verie earnestly notwithstanding his counsayle were bewrayed to inuade hi◅ enimies and his Lordshippe should be sure to finde the armie so forwarde in assisting hym in so famous an enterprise as they would shew themselues more willing to bicker wyth hys foes in Scotlande than without skirmishing to returne to Irelande For the Earle of Ormonde was of this nature The Earle of Ormonde his propertie that as hee woulde not beginne any martiall broyle rashly or vnaduisedly so be woulde not seeme to put it vppe lightly or easily Further whereas the Earle of Lennox stood in hope that the Lorde of the out Isles would ayde hym it was thought by Ormonde not to be amysse to expect his comming and so ioyning his company to the armie there rested no doubt but that the Scottishe enimies woulde bee forced to plucke in theyr hornes although at the first blush they seeme to put a good face on the matter The Lorde of the out Iles sayleth to the Erle of Lennox Lennox somwhat with this perswasion caryed gaue his consent to expect the Lorde of the oute Isle his determination who notwithstanding all the fetche of the enterprice were discried would not slip from his word but personally sayled to the Irish fleete with three Gallies verie well appoynted The noble man was with such martiall triumphes receyued as warlike souldiours coulde on the sea afoord him But of al others both the Earles gaue him heartie interteynment for his true and honourable dealing that to bee as good as his woorde woulde not seeme to shrinke from his friend in this his aduersitie And shortly after as they craued his aduise what were best to bee done eyther to lande in Scotlande or else to returne homewarde hys flatte resolution was at that tyme to retyre bycause theyr drift was detected theyr feyned friendes fainted the Castels were fortified and the Shoares on all partes wyth swarmes of Scottes peopled Wherefore he thought it better policie to giue out in open rumours that they meant not at any hande to inuade Scotlande but to retire to their Countrey And after that the Scottishe Souldiours shoulde be dismyst which woulde bee incontinent vpon theyr returne by reason of the excessiue charges then myght the Earle of Lennox with lesse preparation and more secrecye gyue a freshe onsette that the enimyes shoulde sooner feele his force than heare of his arriuall Ormonde and Lennox vpon this determination landed with the greater parte of the armie and appoynted the Shippes to bende theyr course to Dublyn Ormonde and Lennox land The Lorde of the out Isles and his three Gallyes sayled with the Fleete for he was not able by reason of the feeblenesse of his bodie to trauaile by lande The Lord of the out Iles dyeth or scantly further to prolong his life whiche hee ended at Howeth presently vppon hys arriuall and was with greate solemnitie buryed in Saint Patricke his Church at Dublyn vppon whose death this Epitaph was framed Vique manuque mea patriae dum redditur exsul His Epitaph Exsul in externa cogor ipse mori Both the Earles marched wyth the armye on foote to Carregfergus where they brake company The Irish skirmish vvith the Erle of Lennox For Lennox and sir Iohn Trauerse taking as hee thought the shorter but not the safer way trauayled through the Ardes with the number of fiue hundred Souldiours where the Irishe inhabitantes skyrmished with them and put them to suche strayte plunges for they woulde gladly haue seene what a clocke it was in theyr Budgets as they wished they had not parted from the rest of the army The Earle of Ormonde with his Souldiours which were a thousande fiue hundred as before is expressed marched on foot to Belefast which is an arme of the sea a quarter of a mile broade or little lesse and albeeit their weather were bitter and ouer nipping and no small parcell of the water
stoode by him I deliuer my selfe an vnworthie and grieuous sinner vnto you the ministers of God by this corde beseeching our Lorde Iesus Christ whiche pardoned the theefe confessing hys faultes on the Crosse that throughe your prayers and for his great mercyes sake it may please him to bee mercifull vnto my soule wherevnto they all answered Amen Then sayde he vnto them drawe me out of this bedde with this Corde and lay me in that bedde strewed with Ashes which he had of purpose prepared and as he commaunded so they did He is drawne out of his bed a thing vnlike to be true and they layde at his feete and at his heade two greate square stones And thus hee beeyng prepared to death he willed that his bodie after his deceasse shoulde be conueyed into Normandie and buryed at Rouen And so after he had receyued the Sacrament of the bodie and bloud of our Lorde hee departed this life as afore is sayde His death about the .xxviij. yeare of his age Thus dyed this yong King in hys flourishing youth to whome through hys owne iust desertes long lyfe was iustly denyed sithe hee delyghted to begynne his gouernement wyth vnlawfull attemptes as an other Absolon agaynste hys owne naturall Father seeking by wrongfull violence to pull the Scepter out of his hande Hee is not put in the number of Kings bycause he remayned forthe more parte vnder the gouernaunce of his father and was taken oute of this lyfe before hys father so that hee rather bare the name of king as appoynted to raigne than that he maye bee sayde to haue raigned in deede His body after his death was coÌ„ueyed towards Rouen there to be buried accordingly as hee had wylled Nic. Triuet but when those that had charge to conuey it thyther were come vnto the Citie of Mauns the Bishoppe there and the Cleargie would not suffer them to go any further wyth it but committed it to buryall in honourable wyfe within the Church of Saint Iulian. When the Citizens of Rouen were hereof aduertised they were sore offended with that doing streyght wayes sent vnto them of Mauns requyring to haue the corps dâ—…liuered threatning otherwise with manye earnest othes to fetche it from them by force King Henrie therefore to sette order in thys matter commaunded that the corps of his sonne the King shoulde bee deliuered vnto them of Rouen to be buryed in theyr Citie as he himselfe had willed before his death And so it was taken vp and conueyed to Rouen The bodie of the yong kiâ—â— lastly buried at Rouen where it was eftsoones there buryed in the Churche of oure Ladie King Henrie after his sonne the king was thus deade enforced hys power more earnestly than before to winne the Citie and Castell of Lymoges whiche hee hadde besieged â—…ymoges renâ—â—ed to king â—…enrie and at length had them bothe rendred ouer into hys handes with all other Castelles and places of strength kept by his enimies in those partyes of the which some he furnished with garnisons and some hee caused to bee razed flatte wyth the grounde There rose aboute the same tyme occasion of strife and variaunce betwixt king Henry and the Frenche King aboute the enioying of the Countrey lying about Gysors cleped Veulquesine â—…eulquesine on thys syde the Ryuer of Hept whiche was gyuen vnto King Henrie the Sonne in consideration of the maryage had betwixt hym and Queene Margaret the Frenche Kinges sister For the Frenche King nowe after the death of hys brother in lawe King Henrie the sonne requyred to haue the same restored vnto the Crowne of France but king Henrie was not willing to depart with it The kings of â—…ngland and â—…rance talke â—â—gither At length they mette betwixt Trie and Gysors to talke of the matter where they agreed that Queene Margaret the widow of the late deceassed king Henrie the sonne shoulde receyue yearely during hir lyfe .1750 poundes of Aniouyn money at Paris of king Henry the father and his heires in consideration whereof shee shoulde release and quiteclayme all hir right to those lands that were demaunded as Veulquesine and others Shortly after Geffrey Earle of Brytayne came to his father and submitting himselfe was reconciled to him and also to his brother Richard Earle of Poictou An. Reg. 30 Also I finde that king Henrie at an enteruiew had betwixt him and the French king at their accustomed place of meeting betwixt Trie and Gisors on Saint Nicholas day did his homage to the same French king for the lands which he held of him on that side the sea which to doe till then he had refused The same yeare king Henrie helde his Christmasse at the Citie of Mauns Also when the king had agreed the Frenche king and the Earle of Flaunders 1184 for the controuersie that chaunced betwixt them about the landes of Vermendoys he passed through the Earle of Flanders Countrey and comming to Wysande tooke shippe and sayled ouer into Englande landing at Douer the tenth day of Iune with his daughter the Duches of Saxonie The duchesse of Saxonie deâ—…iuered of a â—…onne the which was afterwardes deliuered of a sonne at Winchester and hir husbande the Duke of Saxonie came also this yeare into Englande and was ioyfully receyued and honourably interteyned of the king his father in lawe There died this yeare sundry honorable personages as Simon Erle of Huntington that was son to SimoÌ„ Erle of Northampton after whose decease the king gaue his erledome vnto his brother Dauid or as Radulfus de Diceto sayth Death of noble men bycause the said Simon died without issue the king gaue the Erledom of Huntingt vnto Wil. king of Scots son to Erle Henry that was son to K. Dauid Also the Erle of Warwik died this yere Thomas Fitz Bernard L. chiefe iustice of the Forests which roumth Alain de Neuill had enioyed before him But now after the death of this Tho. Fitz Bernard The gouernment of the forests deuided the k. diuided his forests into sundrie quarters to euerie quarter he appointed foure iustices two of y e spiritualtie two knights of the temporaltie beside two generall wardens that were of his owne-seruants to be as surueyers aboue all other Foresters of vert venison whose office was to see that no misorder nor spoyle were committed within any groundes of Warren coÌ„trarie to the assises of Forests There dyed this yeare also diuerse Prelates as foure Bishoppes to witte Gerald surnamed la Pucelle Bishop of Chester Walranne Bishop of Rochester Ioceline Bishop of Salisburie and Bartholmew bishop of Exeter There died also diuerse Abbots vpon the .xvj. of Febuarie died Richard Archbish of Canterburie in the .xj. yeare after his first entring into the gouernment of that sea His bodie was buried at Canterburie He was noted to be a man of euill life and wasted the goodes of that Churche inordinately It was reported that before his death
themselues to the Frenche King who taking a greate pryde in his doings for that victorie passed ouer Loyre and wanne the Citie of Towrs wherein hee placed a garnison and so hauing spedde hys businesse wyth good successe bringeth home hys armie laden wyth prayes and booties Polidor King Henrie beeing thus put to the worse and not perceyuing anye readie meane howe to recouer his losses beganne to despayre in hymselfe and therefore of necessitie thought it best to seeke for peace The Earle of Flaunders seeketh to agree the Parties but hys suyte was in vaine for the enimie hauing now the aduantage would not graunt to agree vpon any reasonable conditions At the last Philip the Earle of Flaunders Mat. Paris and William Archbishoppe of Reymes with Hugh Duke of Burgoyne came to king Henrie to moue wayes of agreement and to conclude the same betwixte hym on the one partie and the French King and Earle Richarde on the other parte Earle Richarde had the Brytaynes and them of Poictou confederate wyth him vnder such conditions as hee myght not agree with his father without that they mighte bee comprysed in the agreemente A peace concluded At length they agreed vpon conditions not altogither aduauntageable to the King of Englande yet in the ende Chateau Raoul was restored to king Henrye wyth all that had beene taken from him sithe the tyme that the Frenche king and hee tooke vppon them the Crosse On the other part King Henrye did homage to the Frenche King whiche in the beginning of thys warre he hadde surrendred and renounced Thirty thoâ—…sand to the king and .xx. to the Baron of France 〈◊〉 He was bounde also to paye to the Frenche King twentie thousande Markes for the ayde whiche Earle Rycharde had receyued of him Moreouer to resigne and acquite vnto the Frenche King Ger. Do. all that whiche eyther he or hys predecessours helde or possessed within Aluergne Other Articles there were which king Henry agreed vnto sore agaynst hys will as the delyuery of the Ladie Alice or Adela and suche other which as not muche materiall wee passe ouer This peace was concluded not farre from Towrs â—…g Houed Gisors saith â—…er Do. in a place appoynted conuenient for both the Kings to meete in aboute the feast of the Apostles Peter and Paule And as writers recorde there chaunced great thunder and lightning at the very tyme when the two kings came to enteruiew and talke togither â—…ange thunâ—…r and lightâ—…ng so that the leit bolt light betwixt them two And yet notwythstanding suche thunder and lightning the ayre was cleare and nothing troubled The two Kings departed in sunder through feare thereof for that day and on the next day the like chaunce happened greatly to the terrour of them both Which moued King Henrie the sooner to condifcende to the agreement Moreouer this is not-to-bee forgotten that when all matters were quieted and accorded amongst them King Henrie requyred to haue all theyr names delyuered vnto him in wryting which had promised to take part were ioined as confederates with the French king and Erle Richard This was graunted and when the rolle was presented vnto him he founde his son Iohn the first person that was named in that register wherewith he was so troubled and disquieted in his mynde that comming to Chinon hee felte such griefe hereof that hee cursed euen the verye day in whiche he was borne and as was sayde gaue to hys sonnes Gods cursse and hys the whiche hee woulde neuer release although he was admonished to do it both of sundry Bishops and other religious and godly men Thus hath Houeden Howbeit it is not like that Earle Richarde at this tyme had procured hys brother Iohn to bee confederate with hym in hys rebellious dealings but rather bycause Earle Rycharde had some suspition leaste his father woulde make Iohn hys heyre and successour in the kingdome it might bee a pollicie wrought by the Frenche king and Earle Richarde to alienate his fathers minde from the sayd Iohn These euils were esteemed to fall vnto king Henrie by the iust iudgement of God for that being admonished dyuerse wayes as well by diuine Reuelation as by the wholesome aduise of graue menne as Hugh Bishoppe of Lincolne and others hee woulde not refourme hys lycencious appetyte of heaping vppe sinne vpon sinne but styll wallowed therein to his owne destruction Wherevpon beeing brought to suche an extremitie as ye haue heard hee was taken with a grieuous sickenesse which bringing him to vtter desperation of recouering of health he finally departed this lyfe though more through verie anguishe and griefe of hys late losse and troubles susteyned than by the force of hys bodily disease King Henrie departeth this life as wryters haue affyrmed But howsoeuer it was he ended nowe his life the sixth of Iuly in the .lxj. yeare of his age and after he had raigned xxxiiij yeares nine Monethes and two dayes whiche was in the yeare after the byrth of oure Sauiour .1189 and of the creation of the Worlde .5155 And here may be thought that the raigne of the Normans and French men ouer the realme of England tooke ende a hundred .xxij. yeares after the comming in of the Conquerour for those that raigned after this Henrie the seconde wee may rightly esteeme them to bee Englishemen bycause they were borne in Englande and vsed the English tongue customes and maners according to the nature and qualitie of the Countrey His bodie was buryed at Founteverarde whiche is an Abbey situate not farre from the Towne of the Eagle wythin the Duchie of Alancon Immediately vpon his death those that were about him applyed theyr market so busily in catching and filching awaye things that lay readie for them His surname whereof it came that the kings corps lay naked a long time tyll a childe couered the nether partes of his bodie with a short Cloke and then it seemed that his surname was fulfilled that hee had from hys childhood which was shortmantell being so called bycause hee was the first that brought shorte clokes one of Anion into England As his sonne Richarde mette the corpse going towardes the buryall sodainly there issued bloud oute of the deade bodyes Nosthrillos whiche was taken for a signifycation that it abhorred the presence of so wicked a Sonne whiche in hys lyfe tyme hadde so persecuted the father His death was signified by a marueylous straunge woonder A straunge maner of fight betwixt fishes for a fewe dayes before hee dyed all the fishes in a certayne Meere or Poole in Normandie leapt forth on lande in the nighte season and fought togyther with suche a noyse that a great multitude of men came running thither to beholde the wonder and coulde not finde one fishe aliue in the Meere He had issue by hys wyse Queene Elonor The issue of Henrie the seconde His sonnes as may appeare by that whiche alreadie is rehearsed â—…foure sonnes Henrye Rycharde
ecclesiastical persons towards y e ayde of y e ChristiaÌ„s then being in y e holy land al such as wel of y e nobilitie as other of the meaner sort which had taken vpoÌ„ them y e crosse secretly laide it downe were compelled eftsones to receyue it now again Voseaâ—… weather There chanced also this yeare wonderfull tempests of thunder lightning hayle abundance of rayne in such wise y e mens minds were greatly astonied therwith meddows and marsh grounds were quite ouerflowen bridges broken and borne downe and greate quantitie of corne and hay lost and carried away dyuers men and women drowned Margaret mother of Constance Duches of Britayne sister to William King of Scottes and mother to Henry Boun Erle of Hereford deceassed Fabiâ—… This yere also by the councell and aduice of the Burgesses of London there were chosen fiue and thirtie of the most substanciall and wisest men which after the report of some writers were called the councel of the Citie of London out of whiche number the Maior and Bailifes were yerely chosen Math. 〈◊〉 120â—… In the yere .1202 K. Iohn held his Christmas at ArgeÌ„ton in NormaÌ„dy and in the Lent following he and the French K. met togither nere vnto y e Castell of Gulleton and there in talke had betweene them he commanded K. Iohn with no small arrogancie contrary to his former promise to restore vnto his nephew Arthur Duke of Britaine all those landes now in his possession on that side the Sea which K. Iohn earnestly denied to doe The Frâ—… K. beâ—… to maâ—… againâ—… Iohn wherevpon the French K. immediately after began war against him tooke Buteuaunt Angi and the Castel of Linos Moreouer he besieged y e Castel of Radepont for y e space of eight days till K. Iohn came thither forced him to repart with much dishonor Howbeit after this the FreÌ„ch K. wan Gourney then returning to Paris he appointed certaine persons to haue y e gouernaÌ„ce of y e foresaid Arthur Duke of Britain then sent him forth with two C. men of armes into Poictou y t he might bring y e countrey also vnder his subiection â—…lidor â—…ugh Earle of â—…arche Hereupon Hugh le Brun Erle of Marche vnto whom Queene Isabell the wife of King Iohn had beene promised in mariage before that king Iohn was motioned vnto hir and therefore bare an inwarde displeasure towards the king of England for that he had so bereft him of his promised spouse being now desirous to procure some trouble also vnto king Iohn ioineth himself with Arthure Duke of Britaine The Poictaâ—…ns reuolt froÌ„â—…ing Iohn and findeth meanes to cause them of Poictou a people euer subiect to rebellion to reuolt from king Iohn and to take armor agaynst him so that the yong Arthur being encouraged with this newe supplie of associates first goeth into Touraine and after into Aniou â—…rthure proâ—…imeth himselfe Erle of â—…niou c. compelling both those countreyes to submit themselues vnto him and proclaymed hymself Erle of those places by commission graunt obteyned from king Philip. King Iohn hauing got this victorie and taken his nephew Arthure he wrote the maner of that his successe vnto his Barons in England in forme as followeth Iohn by the grace of God king of England and Lorde of Irelande to all his Barons sendeth greeting Knowe ye that we by Gods good fauour are in sounde and perfect health and thorowe Gods grace that maruellouslye worketh with vs on Tuesday before Lammasse day wee being before the Citie of Mauns were aduertised that our mother was besieged in Mirabeau and therefore we hasted so fast as we possible might so that wee came thither on Lammasse daye and there wee tooke our nephew Arthure Hugh le Brun De Castre Eralde Andrewe de Chauenye the Vicont of Chateau Eralde Reymonde de Tovars Sauary de Mauleon and Hugh Bangi and all other enimies of Poictou that were there assembled agaynst vs 252. knightes or men of aâ—…mes beside demelances to the number of two hundred knightes and aboue so that not one of them escaped Giue God therefore thankes and reioyce at our good successe The Frenche king at the same time lying at siege before Arques immediately vpon the newes of this ouerthrowe raysed from thence and returned homewardes destroyed all that came in his waye till hee was entred into his owne Countrey It is sayde that king Iohn caused his nephew Arthure to be brought before him at Falaise An. Roâ—… and there went aboute to perswade him all that hee coulde to forsake his friendship and alliance with the French king and to leane and sticke to him being his naturall vncle but Arthur like one that wanted good counsel and abounding too much in his owne wilfull opinion made a presumptuous answere not onely denying so to do but also coÌ„maunded King Iohn to restore vnto him the realme of Englande with all those other landes and possessions which king Richarde had in hys hand at the houre of his death For sith the same apperteyned to him by right of inheritance he assured him except restitutioÌ„ were made the sooner hee shoulde not long continue in rest and quiet King Iohn being sore amoued with such words thus vttred by his nephew appointed as before is sayde that he shoulde be straytely kept in prison as first in Falais and after at Roan within the new Castell there It was also bruyted that his bodie was buryed in the Monasterie of Saint Androwes of the Cisteaux order But when the Brytaines were nothing pacifyed but rather kindled more vehemently to worke all the mischiefe they could deuise in reuenge of their Soueraignes death there was no remedie but to signifie abroade againe that Arthure was as yet lyuing and in health And when the king heard the truth of all thys matter he was nothing displeased for that his commaundement was not executed sithe there were diuerse of hys Captaynes which vttered in plaine wordes that he shoulde not finde knightes to keepe his Castelles if he dealt so cruelly with his nephew For if it chaunced any of them to bee taken by the king of Fraunce or other their aduersaryes they shoulde be sure to tast of the like cup. But nowe touching the maner in very deede of the ende of this Arthur wryters make sundrie reportes But certaine it is that in the yeare next ensuyng hee was remoued from Falais vnto the Castell or Tower of Rouen oute of the which there was not â—…ye that woulde confesse that euer he saw him aliue Some haue written that as hee assayed to haue escaped â—…ut of prison and prouing to climbe ouer the walles of the Castell hee fell into the Ryuer of Sayne and so was drowned Other write that through verie griefe and languor hee pyned away and died of naturall sicknesse But some affyrme that King Iohn secretely caused him to be murthered and made away so as it is
furie menaced that he would not depart from thence till he had wonne the Castel and put all them within to death and began to assayle it with more force than before he hadde done The Barons also which at this season lay at London made a rode vnto Cambridge and toke the Towne and after wente foorth into Northfolke and Suffolke as it were to gather vp such scrappes as the Frenche had left spoyling those countreys very pitifully with Churches and all They canstreyned the Townes of Yermouth â—…mouth â—…wich and â—…peswich â—…nsomed Dunwiche and Gippeswiche to pay to them great summes of money by way of raunsoming And at length returning by Colchester they vsed the lyke practise there From thence they returned to London and shortly after vnder the conduit of the Earle of Neuers vpon a sodayne they wente vnto Windesor and layde a strong siege about that Castel In the which was Captayne Ingelarde de Athie with sixtie valiaunte Knightes and other men of warre of their suite the which manfully stoode at defence In the moneth of August Alexander K. of Scotland came through the countrey vnto the siege of Douer there did homage vnto Lewes â—…xander K. Scottes 〈◊〉 homage K. Lewes as in right of hys tenure holden of the kings of England and then returned home but in his comming vp as hee came by Castell Bernarde in the Countrey of Halywerkfolke whiche apperteyned vnto Hugh de Baliole hee lost his brother in law the Lorde Eustace de Vesey â—…is Eustace 〈◊〉 married sister of Alexander who was striken in the forehead with a quarrell as he rode in company of the King neere vnto the same Castell to viewe if it were possible vpon any side to winne it by assault About the same tyme or rather in the yeare last past as some holde it fortuned the Vicount of Melune a French man to fall sicke at London Mat. Paris and perceyuing that death was at hand hee called vnto hym certayne of the Englishe Barons whyche remayned in the Citie The Vicount of Mâ—…lune discouereth the purpose of Lewes vpon safegard thereof and to them made thys protestation I lament sayth he for your destruction and desolation at hand bycause ye are ignorant of the perils hanging ouer youre heads For this vnderstande that Lewes and with him sixteene Earles and Barons of Fraunce haue secretely sworne if it shall fortune him to conquere thys Realme of England and to be Crowned king to kyll or banishe and confyne all those of the Englishe nobilitie whyche nowe doe serue vnder hym and persecute theyr owne Kyng as Traitors and Rebels and furthermore dispossesse all theyr linage of suche inheritances as they nowe holde in Englande And bycause sayth hee you shall not haue doubt heereof I which lye heere in the poynte of death doe now affirme vnto you and take it on the perill of my soule that I am one of those sixteene that haue sworne to performe thys thyng and therefore I aduise you to prouide for youre owne safeties and also of your Realme which you nowe destroy and that you keepe this thyng secrete whych I haue vttered vnto you After thys The Vicount of Melune dyeth he straight wayes dyed When these wordes of the Lord of Melune were opened vnto the Barons they were and not without cause in greate doubt of themselues for they sawe howe Lewes had already placed and set Frenchmenne in most of suche Castels and Townes as he hadde gotten the right wherof indeede belonged to them And againe The English nobilitie beginneth to mislike with the marche which they had made with Lewes it greeued them much to vnderstande how besides the hatred of theyr Prince they were euery Sunday and holyday openly accursed in euery Churche so that many of them inwardly relented and coulde haue bin contented to haue returned to King Iohn if they had thought that they should thankfully haue bin receyued The death of Pope InnoceÌ„t In this yeare about the seuententh of Iuly dyed Pope Innocente whose deathe being knowen in England all they greatly reioyced thereof that were enimies to Kyng Iohn for they were in great hope that his successor would haue rather enclined to their parte than to the Kings but it fell out otherwise Honorius the third chosen Pope for Honorius the thirde that succeeded the same foresayde Innocente maynteyned the same cause in defence of Kyng Iohn as earnestly or rather more than his predecessor hadde done sending with all speede hys Bulles ouer into Englande to confirme Gualo in hys former authoritie of Legate commaunding him with all endeuour to proceede in hys businesse in maynteyning the Kyng agaynste Lewes and the disloyall English nobilitie that ayded the sayde Lewes But nowe to our purpose The siege reiâ—…d from Windsor The Barons in the meane time that lay at siege before the Castell of Windesor hearing of that hauocke whych Kyng Iohn had made in y e East partes of the Realme secretly in the nyght season raysed their Campes and leauing theyr tentes behinde them with all speede made towards Cambridge But King Iohn by faythfull espials hauing aduertisement of their intent which was to get betwixt him and the places of his refuge he withdrewe and was got to Stanford ere they mighte reach to Cambridge so that missing their purpose after they had taken some spoyles abroade in the Countrey they returned to London King Iohn from Stanforde marcheth towarde Lincolne bycause hee hearde that the Castell there was besieged Gilbert de Gaunt 〈◊〉 from the 〈◊〉 of K. Iohn but those that had besieged it as Gilbert de Gaunt and others hearing that K. Iohn was comming towards theÌ„ durst not abide him but fled and so escaped The K. then turned his iourney towards the marches of Wales there did much hurt to those places y t beloÌ„ged to his aduersaries After this also with a great puissant army he wente eftsoones Eastwards passing through the Countreys came again into the Counties of Northfolke Suff. wasting afflicting al that came in his way and at length comming to Linne Lynne The Abbeâ—… of Peteâ—… and Croâ—… spoyled Bernewe was there ioyfully receiued Then keeping forth Northwards hee spoiled the townes Albeyes of Peterburgh and Crowland Here at Crowland a number of the kings enimies were withdrawen into y e Church but Sauary de Mauleon being sent forth to seke them found them there in the Church y t morrow after S. Michael drew theÌ„ out by force spoiled the house and getting a greate bootie and pray of Cattell and other riches hee with his people conueyed the same away at his departyng after he hadde ransacked euery corner of the Churche and other the houses and places belongyng to that Abbey Thus the Countrey beeyng wasted on eache hande the Kyng passeth forwarde tyll he came to Wellestreme sandes where in passing the washes â—…e losse of 〈◊〉 Kyngs â—…ages hee lost a great
heerewith certaine writings indented were drawen and engrossed to the which interchangeably they set their seales After that the Earle of Careleill was returned home he called to Careleill all the chiefe persons of the countrey as well spirituall as temporall and there rather through feare than otherwise he constreyned them to receyue an othe that they shoulde ayde and assist him to their powers to see all the couenauntes abouesayde performed and kept After that these things were knowen to the King and Realm although some of the commâ—…altie liked wel inough of the matter bycause they hoped thereby to remayne in peace specially those of the North partes the King yet hys conâ—…ll and not without cause were sore offended for that he whom the King had so lately aduaunced shoulde confederate hymselfe with the Scottes to the priâ—…r of the King and hys Crowne concluding any couenauntes of peace without his consente wherevpon reputing hym for a ranke Traytor the K. 〈◊〉 vnto the 〈◊〉 Antony Lucy to apprehende the sayde Vâ—… some meanes if he might and for his paâ—… should not faile to be well rewarded 〈…〉 The Lord Lucy watching his tâ—…e 〈…〉 Earles men were gone some whither 〈◊〉 and but few left about him the morrow 〈◊〉 feast of S. Mathew the Apostle hee 〈◊〉 â—…stell of Careleil as it were to talke with the 〈◊〉 of some busines as his maner was at otherâ—… to doe He had with him sir Hugh Lowâ—… Richard DeÌ„ton sir Hugh Morâ—…by 〈◊〉 and four Esquires beside other priuily 〈◊〉 that leauing some at euery gate and dorâ—… 〈◊〉 entred hee came into the hall and there 〈◊〉 East â—…diting letters arrested him Hâ—… when certayne of the Earles seruauntes 〈◊〉 wife and cried treason treason the porter 〈◊〉 inner gate would haue shut it vppon theâ—… 〈◊〉 were thus entred but sir Richard Dâ—… 〈◊〉 that porter with his owne handes and thâ—… 〈◊〉 not one more slaine by them in y e appreheÌ„â—… of the Earle for all other his seruants yâ—… 〈◊〉 selues and the house vnto the saide Lorde â—…y withoute more resistance one of his sittâ—… yet that sawe these doings got away 〈◊〉 all speede ranne to the peele of Heyhead and â—…wed vnto the Earles brother Mighâ—… Huâ—… by what was chanced to the Earle 〈…〉 whâ—… 〈◊〉 the sayâ—… Mighell forthwith fledde into Scoâ—… and with him sir William Blount Knighâ—… 〈◊〉 Scottishman and diuers other that wiâ—… 〈◊〉 Earles priuie counsell The Lord Lucy 〈◊〉 wayes sent a messenger to y e King vnto 〈◊〉 aduertising him how he had taken the Earle 〈◊〉 therefore required to vnderstande fuâ—… of 〈◊〉 Kings pleasure The King forthwith 〈…〉 Lorde Geffrey Seroobe Iustice with a 〈◊〉 of armed men vnto Careleill the whiche 〈◊〉 thither on Saint Chaddes day and the 〈◊〉 after being the thirde of Marche hee set in â—…ment vpon the said Earle in y e Castell of Câ—…lâ—…ll and there as out of the Kings 〈◊〉 pronounced sentence againste him 〈…〉 flest that he should be disgraded of his 〈◊〉 by the taking away from him the sworde 〈◊〉 the King had gird him with and likewiâ—… Knighthood by cutting off his spurres stâ—… hys heeles and that after this hee shoulde bee 〈◊〉 from the Castell through the Citie vnto y e 〈◊〉 of execution where felons were accustomed of suffer and there to bee hanged The Eâ—… Caâ—… 〈◊〉 an after hâ—… 〈◊〉 his head to be sent vnto London there 〈◊〉 set aloft vppon one of the turreâ—…s of the Towne and his quartes to be deuided one to be set vp at Caâ—…all an other at New castell vpon Tyne the third at Bristow and the fourth at 〈◊〉 When he had heard this iudgement he 〈◊〉 you haue deuided my body at your pleasure and I committe my soule to God and being according to the iudgement drawen to the place where hee suffered â—…constancie 〈◊〉 death hee neuer shranke at the matter but boldly behaued himselfe declaring at the very houre of his deathe that his intention in concluding the agreement with the Scottes was good and proceeding not of any euill meaning but teÌ„ding onely to the wealthe and quietnesse of the Realme Neyther coulde such Friers as were permitted to come to him before his arreignemeÌ„t to heare his confessioÌ„ get any thing more of him but that his meaning was good and that whych he had concluded with the K. of Scots was not done vpon any euill purpose whereby any hurte mighte ensue eyther to the K. or to the Realme Thus haue wee thoughte good to shewe the cause of this Earles death as by some writers it hath bin registred â—…ian â—…ton although there bee that write that the ouerthrowe at Beighland chaunced thorough his fault by misleading a great part of the Kings host and ther therefore the King beeyng offended with him caused him to be put to death albeit as I thinke no suche matter was alledged against him at the time of his arreignement â—…dor About this season was y e fundation begun of S. Michaels colledge in Cambridge by one sir Henry Stanton knight ChaÌ„cellor of y e Escheker â—…eâ—…thwel â—…ssioâ—… meere to â—…e of peace About the feast of the Ascention there came as commissioners from the King of England vnto Newcastell Aymerie Earle of Pembroke and the Lord Chamberlain Hugh Spenser the yonger and other four personages of good accompte And from the King of Scottes there came y e B. of S. Andrewes Thomas Randolfe Earle of Murrey other four of good credite to treate of peace or at the leastwise of some long truce through y e good wil and plesure of God y e author of al peace and quietnesse they concluded vpon a truce â—…uce conâ—…ded to endure for thirtene yeres and so about y e feast of S. Barnabe the Apostle it was proclaymed in both Realmes but so yet that they might not traffike togither bycause of the excommunication wherewith the Scottes were as yet entangled although as some write about the same time the interdict wherein the Realme of Scotlande stoode bounde â—…idor â—…c Boetius was by Pope Iohn relessed About the same time The Lorde Mortimer breketh of out of the towes the L. Roger Mortiâ—…er of Wignor giuing his kepers a drink y e brought theÌ„ into a sound and heauie sleepe escaped out of the Tower of London where he was prisoner This escape of the L. Mortimer greatly troubled y e K. so y e immediately vpon the first newes he wrote to all the Sherifes of the Realm that if hee chanced to come within their roomthes they shuld cause hue crie to be reised so as hee mighte be staied and arrested but he made such shift that he gote ouer into France where he was receyued by a L. of Picardie named Mounsier Iohn de Fieules who had faire lands in England therfore the K. wrote to him reprouing him of vnthankfulnesse coÌ„sidering he had bin euer ready to pleasure him and to aduance his profites
same Herevpon their chiefe captaine Wat Tyler a verie craftie fellow and indued with much witte if he had well applied it sayde that peace indeed he wished but so yet as the conditions might be indited to his purpose He was determined to feede forth the king and his counsaile bycause he was of greater force than they with cauils and shiftes till the next day that in the night following hee might the more easilye haue compassed his resolution The wicked purpose of the rebels whiche was hauing all the poorer sort of the Citie on his side to haue spoiled the Citie and to set fire in foure corners of it killing first the king and the Lordes that were aboute him but hee that resisteth the prowd and giueth his grace to the humble would not permit the vngracious deuises of the naughtie lewde patrone to take place but sodainly disappoynted his mischieuous drift for whereas diuerse fourmes of Charters hadde beene drawne according to the effecte of the agreement with the Essex menne and none of them might please this Lordelye fellowe at length the king sent to him one of his knightes called sir Iohn Newton to requeste him to come to the king that they might talke of the articles whiche he stoode vpon to haue inserted in the Châ—… of the which one was to haue had a commission 〈◊〉 put to death all Lawyers Escheaters The rebelâ—… 〈…〉 law abâ—… and oâ—… which by any office had any thing to do with the lawe for his meaning was that hauing made all those away that vnderstoode the lawes all things should then be ordered according to the will and disposition of the common people It was reported in deede that he shoulde say with greate pride the day before these things chaunced putting his handes to his lippes that within foure dayes all the lawes of Englande shoulde come forth of his mouth Arrogant aâ—… prâ—…e wâ—… of a vyllaâ—… When therefore the sayde de Iohn Newton called vpon him to come away to the king he answered as it were with indignation If thou sayth he hast so much haste to returne to the king thou mayst depart I wil câ—…e at my pleasure When the knight therefore 〈◊〉 come from him he followed indeed but 〈◊〉 slowly And when hee was come neare to the place in Smithfields where the king then was with certaine Lordes and knightes and other companie about him the sayde Sir Iohn Newton was sent to him againe to vnderstande what he ment And bycause the knight came to him on horseback and did not alight from his horse Wat Tyler was offended and sayde in his fâ—…rie that it became him rather a foote than horsebacke to approche into his presence The knight not able to abide such presumptuous demeaner in that proâ—… and arrogant person shaped him this anâ—…er It is not amisse that I being on horsebacke shoulde come to thee sitting on horsebacke with whiche wordes Wat Tyler taking indignation drâ—…we out his dagger menacing to strike y e knight calling him therewith trayter the knight disâ—…yning to be misused at the handes of such a ryâ—…aâ—…d wâ—… him that hee lyed falsely and with that plâ—…d forth his dagger Wat Tyler being among hys men shewed that he woulde not beare that iniurie and forthwith made towardes the knight to runne vpon him The king perceyuing the knight in daunger bad him alight from his horse 〈◊〉 deliuer his dagger to Wat Tyler but when that woulde not pacifie his prowde and high â—…de but that hee woulde â—…des flie vpon 〈◊〉 William 〈◊〉 worth 〈◊〉 of Loâ—… a 〈◊〉 coâ—…gloâ—… the Maior of London William Waâ—…h and other knightes and Esquieres that 〈…〉 the king tolde him that it shoulde 〈◊〉 shame 〈◊〉 them all if they permitted the knight in theyr presence before the eyes of their Prince so to 〈◊〉 murthered wherefore they gaue counsaile to succor him forthwith to apprehend y e vâ—…e naughty ribauld The king though he was 〈…〉 yeares yet taking courage to him commaunded the Maior to arrest him The Maior being a maÌ„ of incomparable boldnesse forthwith riâ—…esh to him and arrested him in reaching him such a â—…low on the head y t he sore astonied him therw t streight wayes other that were aboute the king The death of War Tâ—…let â—…e of the â—…ls as Iohn Standish an Esquier diuerse more of the kings seruants drew their swords thrust him through in diuerse parts of his bodie so that he fell presently from his horse downe to the earth died there in the place When the commons behelde this they cryed out our captain is traiterously slain let vs stande togither and die with him let vs shoote reuenge his death manfully and so bending their bowes made them redy to shoot The king shewing both hardinesse wisedome at that instant more than his age required set his spurres to his horse rode to them saying what is the matter my meÌ„ what meane you The K. perswadeth the rebels will you shoote at your king be not troubled nor offended at the death of a traytor rybauld I will be your king captaine and leader follow me into the fieldes and you shall haue all things that you can desire This did the king to the ende he might appease them least they should haue set fire on the houses there in Smithfield haue attempted some further mischief in reuenge of the displeasure which they tooke for the death of their chiefe leader They moued with these the kings words followed him and the knights that were with him into the open fields not yet resolued whether they should set vpoÌ„ the king and slea him or else to be quiet and to returne home with the kings charter In the meane time the Lord Maior of London was returned into the Citie with one man onely attending vpon him and cryed to the Citizens Vehement words of the Maior of London to the Citizens crying 〈◊〉 â—…de against the rebels Oh ye good and vertuous Citizens come forth out of hand helpe your king readie to bee slaine and helpe me your Maior standing in the same perill or if yee will not helpe mee for some faults committed by me against you yet forsake not your king but helpe and succour him in thys present daunger When the worshipfull Citizens and other that in their loial hearts loued the king had hearde these wordes incontinently they put themselues in strong and sure armor to the number of a thousand men An army with 〈◊〉 a captain and gathering themselues togither into the streetes taried but for some lord or knight that might conduct them to the King and by chaunce there came vnto them sir Robert Knolles whom all of them requested y t he would be their leader least comming out of array order they might the sooner be brokeÌ„ who willingly led one part of them and certaine other knights led other of them clad in faire bright armor vnto the
bring to passe and one of them whose name was Richarde Friseby beeing asked what hee would do if King Richarde had bin aliue present with them answered stoutly that he would fighte againste any man in his quarrell euen to death heerevpon he was condemned drawen hanged in his Friers weede A gray Fryer hanged in his habite to the great confusion of his breethren but they made earnest instance to haue his body taken downe and buried with Diriges and exequies and had theyr sute graunted Sir Roger Claringdon Sir Roger of Claringdon Knighte was also put to deathe aboute this conspiracie with two of his seruants the one an esquier the other a yeman Hee was base sonne as was reported vnto Edward eldest sonne to King Edward the thirde surnamed the blacke prince On Corpus Christi daye at euensong time The deuiâ—… prepareâ—…â—…lykenesse of a Grey Frier the Deuill as was thought appeared in a towne of Essex called Danburie entring into the Church vnlikenesse of a grey Frier behauing himselfe very outragiously playing his partes like a Deuil indeede so that y e parishioners were put in a maruellous great fright At the same instante there chanâ—…ed suche a tempest of wind thunder and ligâ—…â—…g that the highest part of y e roofe of that Church was blowen bowne and the Chancell was all to shaken rent Eight 〈◊〉 executed torne in peeceâ—… Within a small while after righte of those grey Friers that had practised treason against the king were brought to open iudgement and conuicted were drawen and headed at London and two other suffered at Leicester all whiche persons had published K. Richarde to be aliue Owen Glendofier according to his accustomed manner robbing and spoyling within the English bordures caused all the forces of the shire of Hereforde to assemble togither againste them vnder the conduct of Edmond Mortimer Earle of Marche but comming to trie the matter by battayle whether by treason or otherwise so it fortuned that the Englishe power was discomfited The Earle of Marche taken prisoner in â—…taile by Owen Glendowâ—… the Earle taken prisoner and aboue a thousande of his people slayne in the place The shameful villanie vsed by the Welchwomen towardes the dead carcases was suche as honest eares woulde be ashamed to heare and therefore we omitte to speake thereof The dead bodies might not be buried without great summes of money giuen for libertie to conuey them away The suspiâ—… of king Heâ—… grouÌ„ded vpon a guiltie conscience The K. was not hastie to purchase the deliuerance of the Earle of Marche bycause his title to the Crowne was well inough knowen and therefore suffered him to remaine in miserable prison wishing both the saide Earle and all other of his lignage out of this life with God and his Sainctes in Heauen so they had bin out of the way for then all hadde bin well inough as he thought The kings daughter â—…ried into Gâ—…manie But to lette these things passe y e K. this yere sent his eldest daughter Blaunche accompanyed with the Earle of Somerset the Byshop of Worcester the Lorde Clifford and other into Almaigne which brought hir to Colein and there with great triumph she was married to Wil. Duke of Bauiâ—… son and heire to Lewes the Emperor About midde August the King to chastice the presumptuous attemptes of the Welchmen went with a great power of men into Wales to pursue the Captaine of the Welch Rebels Owen Glendower but in effect he lost his labor for Owen conueyed himselfe out of the way into his knowen lurking places and as was thoughte through arte magike he caused such foule weather of windes Intemperaâ—… weather tempest raine snowe and haile to be raysed for the annoyance of the Kings army that the lyke had not bin heard of in such sort that the Kyng was conâ—…ned to returne home hauing caused his people yet to spoyle and brenne firste a great part of the Countrey The same time the Lord Edmonde of Langley Duke of Yorke departed this life The decesse of the Duke of Yorke and was buried at Langley with his breethren The Scottes vnder the leading of Patricke Hepborne of the Hales the yonger enâ—…ing into England Scottes ouerthrowens were ouerthrowen aâ—… Nesbet in the marches â–ª as in the Scottish Chroni ye may finde more at large This battell was fought the two and twentith of Iune in this yeare of our Lord 140â—… Archebald Earle Dowglas sore displeased in his mind for this ouerthrowe procured a commission to inuade EnglaÌ„d and that to his cost as ye may likewise reade in the Scottishe histories Scottes vanâ—…shed at â—…on for at a place called Homildon they were so fiercely assayled by the Englishmen vnder the leading of the Lorde Percye surnamed Henrie Hotespâ—…e and George Earle of Marche that with violence of the Englishe shotte they were quite vanquished and put to flight on the Rood day in haruest with a greate slaughter madâ—… by the Englishmen We know that the Scottishe writers note this battell to haue chaunced in the yeare 140â—… but wee following Thomas Walsingham in this place and other Englishe writers for the accompt of times haue thought good to place it in this yeare .1402 as in the same writers we find it The number â—…ayne There were slaine of men of estimation sir Iohn Swinton sir Adam Gordon Sir Iohn Leuiston Sir Alexander Ramsey of Dalehousy and three and twentie Knights besides ten M. of the commons and of prisoner â—…mongst other were these â—…soners â—…keâ—… Mordack Erle of Fife son to the gouernour Archembalde Erle Dâ—…glas which in the fight lost one of his eyes Thomas Earle of Murrey Robert Erle of Angus and as some writers haue the Earles of Atholl and Menteith with fiue hundred other of meaner degrees After this the Lord Percy hauing bestowed the prisoners in sure keeping entered Tiuidale wasting and destroying the whole Countrey and then besieged the Castell of Cocklawes The Castell of Cocklawes â—…ed by 〈◊〉 L. Percy wherof was Captaine one Sir Iohn Grenlow who compounded with the Englishmen that if the Castel were not succoured within three monethes then he woulde deliuer it into their hands The first two monethes passed and no likelihood of rescue appeared but crothes thiâ—…d moneth was expired the Englishmen being sent for to go with the K. into Wales reyfed theyr siege and departed leauing the noble men prisoners with the Earle of Northumberlande and with his son the L. Percye to keepe them to the kings vse In this meane while such as misliked with the doctrine and Ceremonies then vsed in the Church ceassed not to vtter their conscieÌ„ces The prosessors of Wickclafes doctrine though in secret to those in whome they had affiance but as in the like cases it commonly happeneth they were bewrayed by some that were thought chiefly to fauour their cause as by Sir Lewes Clifford knight who hauing leaneâ—… to y e
inuentions caused many to belieue the brute reised by y e Countesse of Oxforde for the whiche they came into trouble were apprehended and committed to prison The Countesse hir selfe was shut vp in close prison and all hir goodes were confiscate The Countes of Oxforde committed to prison and hir Secretarie drawen and hanged that had spred abroade this fained reporte in going vppe and downe the Countrey blowing it into mens eares that King Richard was aliue His secretarie executed affirming that he had spoke with him in suche a place and suche a place apparrelled in this raymente and that rayment with such like circumstances About the feast of Sainte Iohn Baptist at the kings commaundement the Earle of Northumberlande came to Ponfret The Earle of Northumberlande cometh to the king and broughte with him his nephewes his nephewes sonnes whereby hee cleared himselfe of a greate deale of suspition many doubting before his comming that he had giuen euill counsell to the yong mē whereby to moue them to Rebellion Sir William Clifford br◅geth Serlo to the king and to withstand the King Sir William Clifford also came with the Earle and brought the foresaid Serlo with him whome he had apprehended vppon hys comming to hym at Berwike in hope to haue founde succoure at his handes in consideration whereof the King pardoned the sayde Sir William Clifforde of his disobedience shewed in keeping the Castell of Berwike against hym in whyche doing he had committed manifest treason This Serlo beeing knowen to bee the men that had beene the chiefe murtherer of the Duke of Gloucester Serlo examined for the duke of Glo◅cesters death when he was made away at Calais was diligently examined who were helpers with hym in the execution thereof and after what sorte they made him away Serlo knowing there was no way with him but deathe would not vtter and other but confessed for hys owne parte hee was worthy for the wicked deede to dye tenne thousande deathes and shewed suche outward appearance of repentaunce that many sore lamented his case and promised to hyre Priestes to sing Masses as the manner was for hys soule of theyr owne costes and charges He was condemned to dye at Ponfret and was drawen from thence through euery good Towne through whiche those that hadde the conueyance of him He is drawen through euery good towne He is executed at London passed with him till they came to London where hee was executed and confessing euery thing to be true cōcerning his wicked pretence as before is recited and further that when he perceyued how their counterfaite practise would come to light and be openly reuealed he meant to haue retourned into Fraunce but wanting money he thoughte to haue bin relieued with some portion at the hande of the sayde Syr William Clyfforde and this caused hym to come vnto Berwyke to shewe hym his necessitie who to make his owne peace didde apprehende hym and present hym to the king as before ye haue heard An. reg 6. King Henrie wantyng moneye in the feaste of Saint Faythe the Virgin assembled at Couentrie hys hyghe Courte of Parliamente in the whiche the Lorde Stephen Scrope of Masham and the Lorde Henry Fitz Hugh obteyned first to haue places of Barons Moreouer it is to bee noted that thys was called the lay mannes Parliamente The lay mens Parliament bycause the Sheriffes were appoynted to haue a speciall regarde that none shoulde bee chosen Knightes for the Counties nor burgesses for the Cities and Townes that hadde anye skill in the lawes of the lande Thys was done and when they came togither to talke of the waightie affayres of the Realme specially howe the King mighte bee relieued with money to beare suche charges as hee was knowen to bee at as well in defending the Realme from the Scottes and Welchmenne at home as from the Britaines Flemings and Frenchmen abroade it was thoughte most expediente that the Spiritualtie shoulde bee depriued of theyr temporall possessions Strife betwixt the laitie and spiritualtie to the reliefe of the Kings necessitie Heerevpon rose great altercation betwixt the Cleargie and the laitie the Knightes affirming that they had oftentimes serued the King not onely with theyr goodes but also with their persons in great daungers and ieoperdies whylest the Spiritualtie sate at home and help the king nothing at all The Archbishop of Caunterbury aunswereth for his breethren Thomas Arundell Archebyshop of Caunterburie stoutely aunswered heerevnto that the Cleargie hadde alwaye gyuen to the King as muche as the laytie hadde done considering they had oftner gyuen theyr tenthes to hym than the laytie theyr fifteenes also that more of theyr tenauntes wente forthe into the Kyngs warres than the tenauntes of them of the lay fee. Beside thys they prayed daye and night for the Kyngs good successe agaynste his enimies Sir Iohn Cheyny speaker of the Parliament The Archb. ◅eth When the speaker named sir Iohn Cheynie in replying by playne speache seemed little to esteeme suche prayers of the Church the Archbishoppe was sette in a great chafe and with sharp wordes declaring what hee thoughte must needes followe both of the Kyng and Kyngdome when prayers and suffrages of Churchmenne came to be so little sette by hee grewe to suche impatiencie that hee flatly tolde the speaker that although hee seemed little to esteeme of the Religion of the Cleargie hee woulde not haue him to thynke that hee shoulde take awaye the possessions of the Churche without fyndyng suche as woulde seeke to withstande hym He spake like a Lorde for if sayde hee the Archebyshoppe of Caunterburie maye liue thou shalte haue here takyng awaye of any manner thyng that hys is After this when the Archebyshoppe perceyued that the Kyng winked at these matters hee rose from hys place and comming before the Kyng kneeled downe and besought hym to consider howe through the fauour and grace of the almightye God hee hadde atteined to the Kyngdome and therefore hee ought to remember hys firste purpose and intente whyche was to saue vnto euery man hys ryght so farre as in hym laye Hee willed hym lykewise to haue in consideration the othe which he willingly hadde receyued that is that hee shoulde aduaunce the honor of the Churche and the Ministers thereof cherishe and maynteyne Also to haue in mynde the daunger and dishonor that redounded to suche as brake their othes so that hee besoughte hym to permitte and suffer the Churche to enioye the priuiledges and liberties whyche in tyme of hys predecessors it hadde enioyed requesting hym to stande in a◅e of that Kyng by whome all Kyngs dyd raigne and to feare the censures and condemnation that those incurred whyche tooke and deteste from the Churche anye good or right belonging to it who most certaynely sayde hee are accursed When the Archebyshoppe hadde vsed this or the lyke speeche The Kings aunswere to the Archb. the Kyng commaunded hym to goe to hys feate
was made Gouernour there till the Kyng hadde restored the Citizens to theyr auncient liberties This commotion was begonne for certayne newe exactions whyche the Pryour claymed and tooke of the Citizens Indirect meanes sought to reforme vvrongs contrarye to theyr auncient freedome But thys was not the way to come to their right and therefore they were worthily corrected Whylest the warres ceassed by occasion of the truce An. reg 25. the myndes of men were not so quiet but that such as were bent to malicious reuenge soughte to compasse their prepensed purpose 〈◊〉 agaynst forreyn foes and enemies of their countrey but againste their owne countrey menne and those that hadde deserued verye well of the common wealthe and this specially for lacke of stoutnesse in the Kyng who by his authoritie myghte haue ruled bothe partes The descriâ—… of Kyng Henry the â—…e and ordered all differences betwixte them as might haue stande wyth Reason but where as hee was of suche pacience and integritie of lyfe as nothing seemed to hym woorthie to be regarded but that apperteyned vnto Heauenly matters and health of hys soule the sauyng whereof hee esteemed to bee the greatest wysedome and the losse therof the extremest folly that might be The Queene contrary wyse was a woman of a greate witte and no lesse courage Description of the Queene desyrous of honoure and furnyshed wyth the giftes of reason policye and wysedome but yet to shew hir selfe not altogether a man but in some one poynte a verie woman oftentymes when she was vehemente and fully bente on a matter she was sodeynly lyke a Weathercocke mutable and tournyng Thys woman disdaynyng that hir husband should be ruled rather than rule could not abyde that the Duke of Gloucester shoulde do all thinges concernyng the order of weyghtye affayres least it myghte bee sayde that she had neyther wytte nor stomacke whyche woulde permitte and suffer hir husbande beeyng of perfecte age lyke a young pupill to bee gouerned by the disposition of an other manne Althoughe thys toye entred fyrste into hir brayne thorough hir owne imagination yet was shee pricked forwarde to reforme the matter both by suche of hir husbandes counsell as of long tyme had borne malice to the Duke for his playnenesse vsed in declaryng theyr vntrouth as partely yee haue hearde and also by the aduertisement giuen to hir from Kyng Reygner hir father aduysyng hir that shee and hir husbande shoulde in anye wyse take vppon them the rule and gouernance of the Realme and not to bee kepte vnder as wardes and desolate Orphanes What needeth many wordes The Queene taketh vppon hir the gouernment and dischardgeth the Duke of Gloucester the Queene persuaded by these meanes firste of all excluded the Duke of Gloucester from all rule and gouernaunce not prohibiting suche as shee knewe to bee hys mortall foes to inuente and imagine causes and griefes agaynst hym and hys in so much that by hir procurement diuers noble men coÌ„spired against him of the which diuers writers affirme the Marques of Suffolk and the duke of Buck. to be the chief not vnprocured by y e Cardinall of Winchest the Archbishop of Yorke Dyuers Articles were layde agaynste hym in open counsel and in especially one that he had caused menne adiudged to dye to bee put to other execution than the lawe of the land assigned for surely the duke being very wel learned in the lawe ciuill detesting malefactors punishing offences gat greate malice and hatred of suche as feared condigne rewarde for their wicked dooings Althoughe the duke sufficiently aunswered to all things against him obiected yet bicause his death was determined his wisdome little helped nor his innocencie nothing auailed But to auoyde the daunger of some tumulte that might be reysed if a Prince so well beloued of the people shuld be openly executed they determined to worke their feats and bring him to destruction ere he shuld haue ani knowledge or warning thereof So for the furtherance of their purpose 1447 A parliament 〈◊〉 Edâ—…desbury a parliament was summoned to be kepte at Berry wheather resorted all the peeres of the realme and amongst them the duke of Glocester which on the second day of the session was by the lorde Beaumond then high conestable of England acompanied with the duke of Buckingham and others arrested apprehended and put in warde and all his seruauntes sequestred from him and .xxxij. of the chief of his retinew wer sent to diuers prisons to the greate admiratioÌ„ of the people The duke the night after he was thus committed to prison The Duke of Gloucester soâ—…ly â—…rtheâ—…ed beeing the .xxiiij. of February was founde deade in his bedde and his body shewed to the lordes and commons as though hee had dyed of a palsey or of an impostume but all indifferent persons as saithe Hall well knewe that hee dyed of some violent deathe some iudged him to be strangled some affirme that an hotte spit was put in at his fundement other write that he was smouldered betwene .ij. fetherbeds and some haue affirmed that hee dyed of verye griefe for that he might not come openly to his answere His deade corps was conueied to S. Albons and there buried After his death none of his seruaÌ„ts suffred although â—…ue of them to wit sir Roger ChaÌ„berlain knight Middleâ—…on Herbert Arteise esquiers and Richard NedhaÌ„ gentleman were arreigned condempned and drawen to Tiborne where they were hanged let downe quick striped to haue bin bowelled and quartered but the Marques of Suffolke coÌ„ming at that instant brought their pardons shewed the same openlye and so theyr lyues were saued Dukes of Glocester vnforâ—… Some thinke that the name and title of Gloucester hathe bene vnluckye to diuerse whiche for their honoures haue bene erected by creation of princes to that stile and dignitie as Hughe Spenser Thomas of Woodstocke son to Kyng Edwarde the thirde and this Duke Humfrey Whiche .iij. persons by miserable deathe â—…ished their dayes and after them king Richarde the thirde also Duke of Gloucester in ciuill war was slaine and brought to death so that this name of Gloucester is taken for an vnhappy stile as the prouerbe speaketh of Seians horse whose rider was euer vnhorsed and whose possessor was euer brought to misery But surely by the vnworthy deathe of this noble Duke and politike gouernor the publike wealthe of the Realme of Englande came to greate ruyne as by the sequele of this pamphlet may more at lardge appeare There is an olde said saw that a man intendyng to auoyde the smoke falleth into the fyre So heree the Queene mindyng to preserue hir husbande in honoure and hirselfe in auctority consented to the deathe of this noble man whose only deathe brought that to passe whyche shee hadde moste cause to haue feared whyche was the deposing of hyr husbande the decay of the house of Lancaster whyche of likelyhâ—… hadde not chaunced if this Duke hadde liued for then durste not the
communing and therevpon praying them to spare him for a little while departed thence And soone after one houre betweene tenne and eleuen he returned into the Chamber among them al changed with a wonderful soure angrie countenance knitting the browes frowning and fretting and gnawyng on his lyppes and so satte hym downe in his place all the Lordes muche dismayde and sore marueyling of this maner of sodaine chaunge and what thing should him ayle Then when he had sitten still a while thus he beganne What were they worthie to haue that compasse and ymagine the destruction of me being so nere of bloud vnto the king and Protector of his royal person and his realme At this question al the Lordes sat sore astonied musing much by whom this question should be ment of whiche euery man wyst himselfe cleare Then the Lorde Chamberlaine as he that for the loue betwene them thought he might bee boldest with him aunswered and sayde that they were worthie to be punished as heynous traitors whatsoeuer they were And all the other affyrmed the same That is quoth he yonder sorceresse my brothers wife and other with hir meaning the Queene At these wordes manye of the other Lordes were greatly abashed that fauoured hir But the Lord Hastings was in his minde 〈◊〉 content y t it was moued by hir thaÌ„ by any other whoÌ„ he loued better Albeit his heart soâ—…wâ—… grudged that he was not afore made of 〈…〉 in this matter as he was of the taking of hir â—…red and of their putting to death which were by his assent before deuised to be beheaded at Ponâ—…fret this selfe same day in which he was not ware that it was by other deuised that himselfe shâ—… be beheaded the same day at London Then sayd the Protector ye shall all see in what wise tâ—… sorceresse and that other Witche of hir couâ—… Shores wife with their affinitie haue by theyr sorâ—…erse and witchcraft wasted my bodie â—…ad therewith he plucked vp his dubled sleeue to hys elbow vpoÌ„ his left arme where he shewed a â—…rish withered arme and small as it was neuer other And therevpon euery mans minde sore misgaue them well perceyuing that this 〈◊〉 was but a quarell For they well wyâ—… 〈…〉 Queene was too wise to goe aboute anye 〈◊〉 folly And also if shee woulde yet woulde â—…eâ—… of all folke least make Shores wise of â—…oâ—…uâ—… whome of all women shee moste hated 〈◊〉 Concubine whom the king hir husband had 〈◊〉 loued And also no man was there present but well knewe that his arme was euer suche since hys byrth Naythelesse the Lorde Chaâ—… 〈◊〉 whiche fro the death of King Edwarde 〈◊〉 Shores wyfe on whome hee somewhat 〈◊〉 in the Kings lyfe sauing as it is sayd he â—…haâ—… while forbare hir of reuerence Edwarde the 〈◊〉 or else of a certayne kynd of fidelitie to his 〈◊〉 aunswered and sayde certainlye my Lorde if they haue so heynously done they be worthie â—…nous punishment What quoth the Protectour thou seruest me I wene wyth iffes and wyth andes I tell thee they haue so done and that I will make good on thy bodie traytour and therewith as in a greate anger he clapped his fyst vpon the bourd a great rappe At which token giuen one cried treason withoute the Chamber Therewith a doore clapped and in come there rushing men in harnesse as many as the chamber myght holde And anone the Protectour sayd to the Lord Hastings I arrest thee Traytour What mee my Lorde quoth he yea thee traytour quoth the Protector And another let flie at the Lorde Stanley The Lord StaÌ„â—…â—…eded whiche shrunke at the stroke and fell vnder the Table or else his heade had beene cleft to the teeth for as shortly as he shranke yet came the bloud about his eares Then were they all quickly bestowed in diuerse Chambers except the Lorde Chamberlaine whome the Protectour hade speede and shrine him apace for by Saint Paule quoth hee I will not to dinner till I see thy head off It booted him not to aske why but heauily tooke a priest at auenture and made a short shrift for a longer would not be suffered the Protector made so much hast to dinner which hee myghte not goe to till this were done for sauing of hys othe So was hee brought forth into the greene beside the Chappell within the Tower and hys heade layd downe vpon a long logge of tymber and there stryken off and afterwarde his bodie with the heade enterred at Windsore besyde the bodie of king Edwarde whose both soules oure Lorde pardon A marueylous case is it to heare eyther the warnings of that he shoulde haue voyded or the tokens of that hee coulde not voyde for the selfe night next before his death the Lorde Stanley sent a trustie secrete Messenger vnto him at midnight in all the hast requyring him to rise and ryde away with hym for hee was disposed vtterlye no longer to byde hee hadde so fearefull a dreame 〈◊〉 Lorde â—…deyt â—…e in whiche him thought that a Boare with his tuskes so rased them both by the heades that the bloud ranne about both theyr shoulders And forasmuch as the Protector gaue the Boare for his cognisaunce this dreame made so fearefull an impression in his heart y e he was throughly determined no loÌ„ger to tarie but had his horse readie if the Lorde Hastings would go with him to ride yet so farre the same night that they shuld be out of daunger ere day Ha good Lorde quoth y e Lord Hastings to this messenger leaneth my Lorde thy maister so much to such tryfles and hath such fayth in dreames whiche eyther hys owne feare fantasteth or doe ryse in the nyghtes rest by reason of his day thoughtes Tell hym it is plaine witchcraft to beleue in such dreames whiche if they were tokens of things to come why thinketh he not that we might bee as lykely to make them true by our goyng if wee were caughte and brought backe as friends fayle fleers for then had the Boare a cause likely to race vs wyth hys Tuskes as folke that â—…de for some falsehoode wherefore eyther is there no perill nor none there is in deede or if any bee it is rather in going than byding And if wee should needes cost fall in perill one way or other yet hadde I lieffer that manne shoulde see that it were by other mennes falsehoode than thinke it were eyther by our owne faulte or faynt heart And therefore go to thy maister man and commende mee to him and pray him be merie and haue no feare for I ensure him I am as sure of the man that he woteth of as I am of mine own hande God send grace sir quoth the messenger and went his way Certaine is it also that in ryding towardes the Tower the same morning in which he was beheaded hys Horse twise or thrise stumbled wyth him almost to the falling which thing albeit eche man wote wel dayly happeneth to them to whome
no such myschaunce is towarde yet hath it beene of an olde ryte and custome obserued as a token oftentymes notably foregoyng some great misfortune Nowe this that followeth was no warning but an enuious skorne The same morning ere hee was vp came a knight vnto him as it were of courtesie to accompanie him to the Councell but of truth sent by the Protectour to hast him thitherwards with whom he was of secret confederacie in that purpose a meane man at that time and nowe of great authoritie This knight when it happed the Lord ChaÌ„berlayne by the way to stay his horse and commane a while wyth a Priest whome he mette in the Tower streete brake his tale and sayde merily to him what my Lord I pray you come on whereto talke you so long wyth that Priest you haue no neede of a Priest yet and therewyth hee laughed vpon him as though he would say ye shall haue soone But so little wyst the tother what he ment and so little mistrusted that he was neuer meryâ—…r nor neuer so â—…ll of good hope in his lyfe which selfe thing is 〈◊〉 a signe of chaunge But I shall rather set anye thing passe me than the vaine suretie of mannes minde so neare his death Vpon the verie Tower Wharfe so neare the place where his head was off soone after there met he with one Hastings a Pâ—…rseuaunt of his owne name And of theyr meeting in that place hee was put in remembraunce of another tyme in whiche it had happened them before to meete in like maner togither in the same place At which other time the Lorde chamberlaine had beene accused vnto King Edwarde by the Lorde Ryuers the Queenes brother in suche wise as hee was for the while but it lasted not long farre fallen into the kings indignation and stoode in great feare of himselfe And forasmuche as hee now met this Purseuaunt in the same place that ieopardie so well passed it gaue him great pleasure to talke with him thereof wyth whome he hadde before talked thereof in the same place while he was therein And therefore he sayd Ah Hastings art thou remembred when I met thee here once with an heauie heart Yea my Lorde quoth he that remember I well and thanked bee God they gat no good nor you no harme thereby Thou wouldest say so quoth hee if thou knewest as much as I knowe which few know else as yet and mo shall shortly That ment hee by the Lordes of the Queenes kyndred that were taken before and should that day be beheaded at Pomfret which he well wyst but nothing ware that the Axe hung ouer his owne heade In fayth man quoth he I was neuer so sorie nor neuer stoode in so greate dreade in my lyfe as I did when thou and I mette here And lo howe the worlde is turned nowe stand mine enimyes in the daunger as thou mayest happe to heare more hereafter and I neuer in my lyfe so mery nor neuer in so great suretie O good God the blindnesse of our mortal nature when he most feared he was in good suretie when hee reckened himselfe surest he lost his life and that within two houres after The discriptioÌ„ of the Lord Hastings Thus ended this honourable man a good Knight and a gentle of greate authoritie wyth his Prince of lyuing somewhat dissolute plaine and open to his enimie and secrete to hys friend easie to beguile as he that of good heart and courage forestudied no perilles a louyng man and passing well beloued verie faythfull and trustie ynough trusting too much Nowe flewe the fame of this Lordes death swiftly through the Citie and so foorth further about like a wynde in euerie mans eare But the Protector immediately after dinner entending to sette some colour vpon the matter sent in all the hast for many substantiall men out of the Citie into the Tower And at theyr comming himselfe with the Duke of Buckingham stoode harnessed in olde yll faring Bryganders suche as no man shoulde wene that they woulde vouchsafe to haue put vpon theyr backes except that some sodaine necessitie had constrayned theÌ„ And then the Protector shewed them that the Lorde Chamberlayne and other of his conspiracie had contriued to haue sodainly destroyed him and the Duke there the same day in the couÌ„cell And what they intended further was as yet not well knowne Of whiche their treason hee neuer had knowledge before tenne of the clocke the same forenoone whiche sodaine feare draâ—… them to put on for theyr defence such harnesse as came next to hande And so had God holpen theÌ„ that the mischiefe turned vpon them that would haue done it And this hee requyred them to report Euery man aunswered him fayre as though no man mistrusted the matter which of troth no man beleeued Yet for the further appeasing of-the peoples mynde hee sent immediately after dinner in all the haste one Heraulte of Armes The protecâ—… Proclaâ—… with a Proclamation to be made through the citie in the kings name conteyning that the Lord Hastings with diuers other of his traiterous purpose had before conspired the same day to haue slaine the Lorde Protectour and the Duke of Buckingham sitting in the Councell and after to haue taken vpon them to rule the king and the Realme at theyr pleasure and thereby to pill and spoyle whome they lyste vncontrolled And much matter there was in that proclamation deuised to the slaunder of the Lorde Chamberlain as that hee was an euill Counsailer to the kings father intising him to manye things highly redounding to the minishing of his honour and to the vniuersall hurt of his realme by his euil company sinister procuring vngracious ensample as well in many other things as in the vicious liuing and inordinate abusion of his bodie both with many other also specially with Shores wife which was one also of his most secret counsaile of this heynous treason with whome he lay nightly and namely the night last past next before his death so that it was the lesse maruaile if vngracious liuing brought him to an vnhappie ending which he was now put vnto by the most dread commaundement of the kings highnesse and of his honourable and faythfull counsayle both for his demerits being so openly taken in his falsly conceyued treason and also least the delaying of his extention myght haue encouraged other mischieuous persons partners of his conspiracie to gather and assemble themselues togither in making some greate commotion for his delyuerance whose hope now being by his well deserued death politikely repressed all the realme should by Gods grace rest in good quiet peace Now was this Proclamation made within two houres after that he was beheaded it was so curiously indited and so faire written in parâ—…hment in so wel a set hand therwith of it selfe so long a proces y t euery childe might well perceiue that it was prepared before For all the tyme betwene his death the
and specially when they thinke to haue any comforte or fauoure tooke on them so highly and wroughte suche maisteries that the King was fayne to ride thither in his fyrste yeare and to put some in execution and stay the Countrey or else no small mischiefe had ensued Nowe fell there mischieues thicke Sir Thomas More againe And as the thing euill gotten is neuer well kepte thorough all the tyme of his reigne neuer ceassed there cenell death and slaughter till his owne destruction ended it But as hee finished his tyme with the best death and the most righteous that is to wit his owne so beganne hee with the most piteous and wicked I meane the lamentable murther of his innocent nephues the yong kyng and his tender brother whose death and final infortune hath nathelesse comen so farre in question that some remayn yet in doubt whether they were in his dayes destroyed or no. Not for that onely that Perkyn Werbecke by manye folkes malice and moe folkes folly Perkyn Werbecke so long space abusing the worlde was as well with princes as the poorer people reputed and taken for the younger of these two but for that also that all things were in late dayes so couertly demeaned one thyng pretended and another meant that there was nothing so playne and openly proued Close dealing is euer suspected but that yet for the common custom of close and couert dealyng men hadde it euer inwardly suspect as many well counterfaited Iewels make the true mystrusted Howbeit concerning the opinon with the occasions mouyng eyther partie we shall haue place more at large to intreate if we hereafter happen to write the tyme of the late noble Prince of famous memorie King HeÌ„rie the seauenth or percase that history of Perkin in any compendious processe by it selfe But in the meane time for this present matter I shal rehearse you the dolorous ende of those babes not after euery way that I haue heard but after that way that I haue so hearde by suche men and by suche meanes as me thinketh it were hard but it should be true Then all the other beeing remoued from them The yong 〈◊〉 and hys 〈◊〉 murâ—…d this Myles Forrest and Iohn Dighton about midnight the selie children lying in theyr heddes came into the chamber and suddaynely lappe them vp amoÌ„g the clothes so to bewrayâ—…ed them and intangled them keeping downe by force the fetherbed and pillowes hard vnto theyr mouthes that within a while smothered and stifled their breath fayling they gaue vnto God their innocente soules into the ioyes of Heauen leauing to the tormentors their bodyes dead in the bedde Which after that the wretches perceâ—…â—…ed firste by the strugling with the paines of death and after long lying still to bee throughly dead they layde theyr bodyes naked out vppon the bed and fetched Sir Iames to see them whiche vpon the sight of them caused those murtherers to burie them at the staire foote meetely deepe in the grounde vnder a greate heape of stones Then rode Sir Iames in great hast to Kyng Richarde and shewed him all the maner of the murther who gaue him greate thankes and as some say there made hym Knight But he allowed not as I haue hearde the burying in so vile a corner saying that hee would haue them buryed in a better place bycause they were a Kings sonnes Loe the honorable courage of a King Wherevpon they say that a Priest of S. Robert Brakenbery tooke vp the bodyes againe and secretely enterred them in suche place as by the occasion of his deathe whiche onely knew it could neuer since come to light Very troth is it and wel knowen that at such time as sir Iames Tirrell was in the Tower for treason coÌ„mitted against the most famous Prince King Henrye the seauenth both Dighton and he were examined and confessed the murther in manner aboue written but whether the bodyes were remoued they could nothing tell And thus as I haue learned of theÌ„ that much knewe and little cause had to lie were these two noble Princes these innocent tender childreÌ„ borne of most royal bloud brought vp in great wealthe likely long to lyue raigne and rule in the Realm by trayterous tirannie taken depriued of their estate shortlye shut vp in prison and priuily slayne and murthered their bodies cast God wot where by the cruell ambition of their vnnaturall vncle and his dispiteous tormentors Which things on euery parte well pondered God neuer gaue thys world a more notable example neyther in what vnsuretie standeth this worldly weale or what mischiefe worketh the proude enterprise of an high heart or finally what wretched ende ensueth such dispiteous crueltie For first to beginne with the Ministers Myles Forrest at Saint Marâ—… peâ—…le 〈◊〉 away Dighton indeede yet walketh 〈◊〉 alyue in good possibilitie to be hanged are hee dye But Sir Iames Tyrrell dyed at the Tower hill beheaded for treason King Richarde himselfe as yee shall heereafter heare slayne in the fielde hacked and hewed of his enimies handes haried on Horsebacke dead his heade in despite torne and tugged like a curre dogge And the mischiefe that hee tooke within lesse than three yeares of the mischiefe that hee did And yet all the meane time spente in muche payne and trouble outwarde muche feare anguish and sorowe within For I haue hearde by credible reporte of suche as were secret with hys Chamberlayne that after thys abhominable deede done hee neuer hadde quiet in hys minde The out and inward troubles of tiranâ—… Hee neuer thoughte hymselfe sure Where hee wente abroade hys eyeâ—… whitled about hys body priuily fenced hys hande euer vppon hys dagger hys countenaunce and manner lyke one alwayes readye to strike agayne hee tooke ill rest anyghtes â—…y long wakyng and musing sore weeryed with care and watche rather slumbered than slepte troubled with fearefull dreames suddaynely sometyme stert vppe lepte out of hys bedde and ranne aboute the chamber so was hys restlesse hearte continuallie tossed and tumbled with the tedious impression and stormie remembraunce of his abhominable deede Nowe hadde he outwarde no long â—…yme in rest For heerevpon soone after beganne the conspiracie or rather good confederation betweene the Duke of Buckingham and many other Gentlemen agaynste hym The occasion wherevpon the Kyng and the Duke fell out is of dyuers folke dyuers wyse pretended Thys Duke as I haue for certayne beene enformed as soone as the Duke of Gloucester vppon the deathe of Kyng Edwarde came to Yorke and there hadde solemne funerall seruice for Kyng Edwarde sente thither in the most secrete wise he coulde one Persall his trustie seruaunte who came to Iohn Warde a Chamberer of lyke secrete trust with the Duke of Gloucester desiring that in the most close and couerte manner hee myghte be admitted to the presence and speeche of hys maister And the Duke of Gloucester aduertised of hys desire caused hym in the dead of the nyghte after all other folke auoyded
the tenth daye of May in the twelfth yeare of the kings raigne at London in a place called the Rose within y e parish of S. LaureÌ„ce Poultney in Canwike streete ward demanded of the said Charles Kniuet esquier what was the talke amoÌ„g the Londoners concerning the kings iourney beyond the seas the said Charles told him y t many stood in doubt of y e iourney least the frenchmen meant some deceit towards y e K. wherevnto the D. answered y t it was to be feared least it would come to passe according to the words of a certaine holy MoÌ„ke For ther is saith he a certain Chartreux MoÌ„ke that diuers times hath sent to me willing me to send vnto him my Chancellor and I did sende vnto him Iohn de la Court my Chaplain vnto whom he would not declare any thing til De la Courte had sworne vnto him to keepe al things secret and to tel to no creature liuing what he should heare of him except it were to me and theÌ„ the saide Monke tolde to De la Court neither y t the K. nor his heires should prosper and that I shoulde endeuour my selfe to purchase the good willes of the coÌ„munaltie of England for I the same D. and my bloud should prosper haue the rule of the realm of EnglaÌ„d Then said Charles Kniuet the Monke may be deceiued through y e Diuels illusion and that it was euil to medle w t such matters Well saide the D. it can not hurte me and so saith the enditement the D. semed to reioyce in the dukes wordes And further y e same time the D. told the said Charles that if the K. had miscaried now in his last sicknesse he would haue chopped off the heads of the Cardinall of sir Tho. Louel knight of others and also said that he had rather die for it than to be so vsed as he had bin Moreouer the â—…th day of September in the said eleueÌ„th yeâ—… of this kings raigne at Blâ—…ghe in the Câ—… of Surrey walking in the gallerie therewith George Neuill Knight K. of Burgauenny the D. murmuring against the kings counsellors and their gouernment said vnto the said George that if the kyng dyed hee woulde haue the rule of the Realme in spite of who so euer said the contrary and withal said that if the said Lâ—… Burguennie woulde say that the D. had spokeÌ„ such words he would fight with him and lay his sword vpon his pate and this he bound vp with many great othes These were the speciall articles and poyntes comprised in the enditemente and laide to hys charge but how truely or in what sort proued I haue not further to say eyther in accusing or excusing him other then as I fynde in Hall and Polidor whose words in effect I haue thoughte good to impart to y e reader without any parcial wresting of the same eyther too or fro sauing y t I trust I may without offence say that as y e rumor then went the Cardinal chiefly procured y e death of this noble man no lesse fauoured and beloued of the people of this realme in that season than the Cardinall himselfe was hated and enuyed whiche thing caused the Dukes fall the more to be pitied lamented sith he was the maÌ„ of all other that chiefly went about to crosse the Cardinall in his lordly demeanour and heady proceedings But to the purpose Shortly after that the D. had bin endited as before yee haue hearde he was arraigned in Westminster Hal The Duke of Buckingham araigned at Westminster before the Duke of Norffolke being made by y e kings letters patents high steward of EnglaÌ„d to accomplish y e high cause of appeale of y e peere or peeres of the realme and to decerne and iudge the causes of the peeres There were also appoynted to sitte as peeres and iudges vpon the saide D. of Buckingham the Duke of Suffolke The names of the Dukes peetes for hys triall the Marques Dorset the Erles of Worcester Deuonshire Essex Shrewesburie Kent Oxford and Derby the Lord of Saint Iohns the Lord de la Ware the lord Fitz Warren the Lord Willoughby the Lord Brooke the Lorde Cobham the Lord Herbert and the Lord Morley There was made within the Hall at Westminster a Scaffolde for these Lords and a presence for a Iudge rayled and counterrayled about and barred with degrees When the lordes had taken their place the Duke was brought to the barre and vppon his arraignemente pleaded not giltie and put hymselfe vpoÌ„ his peeres TheÌ„ was the enditement read which the D. denied to be true and as he was an cloquent man alledged reasons to falsifye the enditement Polidor Hall pleadyng the matter for his owne iustification very pithely and earnestly The Kings attourney against the Dukes reasons alledged the examinations confessions and proues of witnesses The D. desired that y e witnesses might be brought forth then came before him Charles Kneuet Perke de la Court Hopkins the Monke of the Priory of the Charterhouse beside Bath which like a false Hypocrite had enduced the Duke to the treason with his false forged prophesies Diuers presumptions and accusations were layd to him by Charles Kneuet which he would faine haue couered The depositions were redde and the deponents deliuered as prisoners to the officerâ—… of the Tower Finally to conclude The Duke of Buckingham conuict of treason there was he found giltie by hys peeres and hauing iudgemente to suffer as in case of treason is vsed was led agayne to his Barge and so conueyed by water to the Temple where he was set a land and there Sir Nicholas Vaux and sir Wil. Sands Baroncâ—…s receiued him and led him through the streetes of the Citie to the Tower as a cast man On Friday the seuententh of May he was with a great power deliuered to the Sheriffes of LoÌ„don who led him to the Scaffold on Tower hill about a eleuen of the clocke and there he was beheaded The Duke of Buckingham beheaded The Austeyne Friers tooke his head and body and buried them Great lamentation was made for his death but such is the ende said some of ambition false prophecies euill life and naughty counsell In this meane while were the Emperoure and the Frenche King fallen at variance so that the warre was renued betwixt them for the pacifying whereof Cardinall Wolsey sent ouer to Calais the Cardinall of Yorke was sent ouer to Calais where the Ambassadors of both those princes were appoynted to come vnto him He arriued there the second of August There went ouer with him the Erle of Worcester then L. Chamberlain the L. of S. Iohns the Lord Feerers the L. Herbert the B. of Duâ—…esme the B. of Ely the priâ—…te of Aâ—…maâ—…caâ—… sir Tho. Bulleigne sir Iohn Peche sir Io. Hussey sir Rich. Wingflew sir Henry Guilford and many other knightes esquiers Gentlemen doctors â—…peror â—…e French 〈◊〉 theyr â—…ors 〈◊〉 at Caâ—…
tayle vpon the plaine and the rerewarde wholy vpon the plaine So that by the placing and countenaunce of the English army in this wise â—â— rereward they shewed themselues in maner to compasse in the Scots battails that they shoulde no waye escape them but how little able they were to do it with power and number ye may easily 〈◊〉 Those horsemen that were so repulsed and in theyr comming backe vnorderly brake theyr array from the residue ran so hastily through the rankes of the English forewarde as it stoode that it did both disorder many feared many and was a great encouragement to the enimie The worthie Earle of Warwicke who haâ—… the guiding of this forewarde The presence of the Erle of Warwik greatly encouraged the souldiers right valiantly had conducted the same to these standing and there did very nobly encorage and comfort them with such cheerefull wordes offâ—â—â—ng to liue and on among them that doubtlesse his presence deâ—â—â—…aning himselfe in such manlike sort stood the whole coÌ„panie in great stead Neither wanted there the chearefull diligence of those Captaynes with whom his honor was furnished in that foreward likewise to encourage their handes nor the worthie behauiour of other in the battaile and rereward euery one according to his calling shewing such proufe of his duetie as the most part certainly deserued to haue their names registred in the Kalender of fame where no rust of cankred oblivion might freeout the remembrance of their roÌ„mendable demeanours and therefore if anye among them should haue shewed any lack of courage their disprayse had beene the more 〈◊〉 by others they saw such worthie example giuen But sithens there were so many that did wel and therfore deseruing a loÌ„ger processe to be made of their high valiancies shewed in that daungerous seruice than this volume may permit I will proceede to the battaile The Scottes flie Their gouernour and other the princiall captaynes that had brought them to the bargaine tooke their horses and fled amaine which other perceyuing did quickly follow and with the formost their Irishmen and therewith turned al the whole rowte cast downe theyr weapons ranne out of theyr wardes off with theyr Iackes and with all that euer they might betooke them to the race that their gouernour began The Englishe men at the first had founde them as what coulde escape so many eyes and sharpely and quickely with an vniuersall outcry they flie they flie pursued after in chase so egrely and with such fiercenesse that they ouertooke many and spared indeed but few that when they were once turned it was a wonder to see howe soone and in howe sundrie sortes they were skattered The place they stoode on like a wood of staues strewed on the grounde as Rushes in a Chamber vnpassable they lay so thicke for either horse or man Here at the first had they let fall all their pykes After that euery where scattred swordes buclers daggers iackes and all things else that was of any weight or might be any let to their course which course among them three wayes specially they made some along the sands by the Frith towards Lieth some streight toward Edenburgh whereof parte through the Parke there in the walles whereof though they be rounde about of flint stone yet were there many holes alreadie made and part of them by the hie way that leadeth along by the Abbay of holy Roode house and the residue and most part of them towardes Daketh whiche way by meanes of the Marish our horsmen were worst able to follow Sundrie shiftes some shrewde some sorie made they in their running diuerse of them in theyr courses as they were ware they were pursued but of one woulde sodainly start backe and lash at the legges of the horse or foyne him in the belly and sometime did they reache at the ryder also whereby Clement Paston in the arme and diuerse in other partes of their bodies otherwise in this chase were hurt Some other lay flat in a forrow as they were dead thereby past by of the Englishmen vntouched The Earle of Angus and as was reported the Earle of Angus confessed he couched in that sort til his horse hapt to be brought him Other some were founde to stay in the ryuer cowring downe his bodie vnder the roote of some Willow tree with skant his nose aboue water for breath Some for lightnesse cast away shooes and dublets and ranne in theyr 〈…〉 all breathlesse to fall flat downe and haue runne themselues to death Before this at the time of the onset whiche the English horsmen gaue them came Eastward fiue hundred of the Scottish horsemen vp along this Faurside bray streight vpon the Englishe ordinance and cariage The Lorde Protectour as ye haue heard most specially for doubt hereof placing himselfe by the same caused a peace or two to be turned towarde them with a few shots whereof they were soone turned also and fledde to Daketh But had they kept on their purpose they were prouided for accordingly For one person Keble a Chaplaine of his graces 〈◊〉 Keeble two or three other by and by discharged foure or fiue of the Cartes of munition and therewith bestowed pykes billes bowes and arrowes to as manye as came so that of Carters and other there were some weapones about a thousande whom parson Keeble and the other did very handsomly dispose in army and made a pretie muster To returne now after this notable strewing of their footmens weapons began a pitifull sight of the dead corpses 〈◊〉 of â—â—ghter lying dispersed abrode some their logges off some but thought and left lying halfe dead some thrust quite through the bodie others their neckes halfe a sunder manye theyr heades clouen with other thousande kyndes of kylling After that and further in chast all for the most part killed either in the head or in the necke for the horsmen coulde not well reache them lower with their swordes And thus with bloud and slaughter of the enimie this chase was continued fiue miles in length westward from the place of their standing which was in the follow fielde of Vndresse vntill Edenbourgh Parke and well nie to the gates of the towne it selfe and vnto Leith and in breadth me from myles from the Forthsandes vp toward Daketh Southwards in all which space the dead bodies lay as thick as a mâ—…n may noâ—…e cattell graâ—â—ng in a full replenished pasture The riuer ranne all red with bloud so that in the same chase were stain to the number of tenne thousande men â–ª 〈◊〉 number 〈◊〉 slain some say about fourtene thousand To conclude considering the smallnesse of the Englishmennes number and shortnesse of the tyme which was skaâ—…t 〈…〉 from one till well nie 〈◊〉 the mortalitie was so great as it was thought the like after 〈…〉 had not beene froâ—… 〈◊〉 causes 〈◊〉 in fewe 〈◊〉 were 〈◊〉 â—â—e scottish 〈…〉 One great cause why the English men spared so few of
and therby we be made rather a praâ—â— for 〈◊〉 enimies than a safetie for out selues And howe can there be but a great decay of people at the lengthe when some be ouerthrowen in 〈◊〉 some suffer for punishment some pyne for famine some dye with the camps diet some he consumed with sicknesse For although ye thynke youre selues able to matche wyth a fewe vnprepared Gentlemen and putte them from their houses that ye myghte gayne the spoyle daye iudge therfore your selues strong inough not onely to withstande a Kings power but also to ouerthrowe it Is it possible that ye shoulde haue so madde a frensy in your head that ye shoulde thinke the number ye see so strong that all ye see not should not be able to preuayle to the contrarie With what reson coulde ye thinke that if ye adde the hate brunt of battaile but yee muste needs feele the smart specially the Kings power comming againste you whiche if yee feare not belyke yee knowe not the sorce thereof And so muche the greater number is last in the Realme that both the ouercountes and the 〈◊〉 keep â—â—ties althoughe vnlyke of one Realme and what losse is not only of eyther syde but of both that doth playnly 〈◊〉 to the whole There where so great and so hort 〈◊〉 a fault is committed as woâ—â—sse can not be made 〈◊〉 of from the beginning and bringeth in withal suche penutie suche weakenesse suche disorder in the common wealth as no mischiefâ—… beside 〈◊〉 doe the lyke Cunary man thinke wyth iuste reason that 〈◊〉 shall escape vnpunished that shall escape the sworde and was manie forâ—â—mont and examples sake should bee looke vnto who haue bene eyther great boers in suche disâ—â—dred villanie 〈…〉 to suche an outgrowne mischeife seeyng the only 〈…〉 wilfull 〈◊〉 in 〈…〉 of such whole 〈…〉 good than might to abhorre for dueties sake and yll men hay 〈…〉 for lyke punishement 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 〈◊〉 vnpunished is so daunger was that the 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 of the fall of in greate 〈…〉 one and 〈…〉 And in suche a bareynnesse of victuall as must 〈◊〉 come after so comming a spoyle it must â—â—â—des be that some though fewe shal be so dipte with regarnesse of famines y t they shall not recouer again themselues is one of so 〈◊〉 a daunger So in a generall weaknesse where all shall be feebled some must needes die and so diminishe the number and abate suche strength as the realme defended it selfe withall afore Which occasion of 〈◊〉 so few comming of so great cause if ye shuld make iust amends for not of recoÌ„pence which ye could not but of punishment which ye ought how many howe diuers and how cruel deathes ought euery one of ye often suffer Howe manye came to the campe 〈◊〉 long 〈◊〉 to sodayn cease and froÌ„ meane fare to straying of victual and so fell in a maner vnwares to suche a contrary change that Nature hir selfe abyding neuer greate and sodain changes cannot beare it without some groundes entred of diseases to come whiche vncircumspect men shall sooner â—…eele than thinke of and then will scarcely iudge the cause when they shall be vexed wyth the effect It is little meruayle that Idlenesse and meate of an other mannes charge wyll soone feede vp and faâ—…te lykely menne but it is greate maruell it ydlenesse other mens meate doe not abate the same by sicknesse again and specially comming from theatie and going to the other contrarye in those who violently seeke to tourne in a momente the whole Realme to the 〈◊〉 For while their mynde chaungeth stoâ—â— obedience to vnrulynesse and tourneth in selfe from honestie to wyldenesse and theyr bodyes goe from laboure to idlenesse from small fare to spoyle of victuall and from beds in the night to cadins and from sweete houses to stinkyng campes it must needes be by changing of affections which alter the body by vsing of rest that filleth the body 〈◊〉 of mans whiche weakneth the body and with cold in the nights which acceaseth the body and with corrupt aâ—…e which infecteth the body that there folow some greâ—…ous tempest not only of couragious sicknesse but also of present death to the bodys The greatest plucke of al is that vehemonelt of plague whiche naturally foloweth the dint of hunger which when it entreth once among men what dartes of pangs what throwes of paines what shoutes of death doth it call but how many fall not astonyed with the 〈◊〉 but feeted with the pain how beateth it downe not only smal towns but also great countries This when ye see light first on your beasts whiche sacketh fodder and after fall â—â— men whose bodies gapeth for it and seethe scarcenesse of men to be by this your foule enterprise and not only other men touched with plagues but also your owne house strong with deathe and the plague also mysed of your disyng to â—â—e your selues caÌ„ ye thinke you to be any other but man quellers of other and murderers of your selues and the principals of the ouerthrow or so great a number as shall either by sworde or punishment famine or some plague or pestilence be consumed and wasted oute of the Common wealth And seeing he that decayeth the number of Cottages of Plowes in a Towne seemeth to be an enimie to the common wealth shall we not count him not only an enimie but also a murtherer of his country who by barbrayned vnrulynesse causeth the vtter ruine and pestilent destruction of so to anye thousande men Graunte this folye them and ouersighte to be suche as woorthyly yee maye counte it and I shall goe further in declaryng of other greate inconueniences whiche your dangerous and furious an misbehauior hath hurtfully brought in seing diuers honest and true dealyng men whose lyuing is by their owne prouision haue come so afore hande by tyme that they haue bene able well to liue honestlye in their houses and paye beside the rentes of their fermes truly and now haue by your crueltie and abhorred insurrections lost their goodes their cattail their Harueste whiche they had gotten before 〈…〉 to lyue here castel and 〈◊〉 be brought on this extremitie that theyr be 〈◊〉 theâ—… 〈…〉 as they were in 〈…〉 to paye there accustomable 〈◊〉 at 〈…〉 Wherby they he brought in to 〈◊〉 vnquietnisse not only 〈◊〉 what they 〈◊〉 by you but also 〈◊〉 you by whiche they haue 〈◊〉 and also in dauâ—…g 〈◊〉 luiâ—â—ng their holdes at their Loâ—â—◠〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 they shroot more 〈◊〉 than the 〈◊〉 of the lawe will grâ—â—r by Iustice 〈◊〉 whiche griefe is it to an honest 〈…〉 your and to gaue payn 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 wherwith to liue honestly in age and to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in long tyme to be sodenilye 〈◊〉 way by the did 〈◊〉 of sedition whiâ—…he 〈◊〉 he hughe to whereby it selfe althoughe â—â— into sente 〈◊〉 followed to him therby But 〈◊〉 greater griefe on got â—â—bitions rebelles to hand themselues whose they depart 〈…〉 〈◊〉 yet hughe to 〈◊〉 in
diuets good lawes whervnto the king before had giuen his content after would not suffer them to take place and the citie did ayd the Lords it came to an open battail wherin the lords preuailed tooke the king his son prisoners and vpon certain conditions the lords restored again the king his son to their liberties And among all other coÌ„ditions this was one that the king should not only graunt his pardon to the lords but also to the citizens of LoÌ„don which was graunted yea the same was ratified by act of parliameÌ„t But what folowed of it was if forgotten no surely nor forgiuen during the kings life the liberties of y e citie were takeÌ„ away strangers appointed to be our heads gouernors the Citizens giuen away body goods froÌ„ one persecution to another were most miserably afflicted such it is to enter into y e wrath of a prince as Salomon saith the wrath indignation of a prince is death Wherfore forasmuch as this ayd is required of the kings maiestie whose voice we ought to herken vnto for he is our high shepherd rather than vnto the lords and yet I would not wish the lords to be clearly shaken off but y t they with vs we with them may ioyne in suite and make our most humble petition to the kings maiestie that it would please his highnesse to heare such complaint against the gouernment of the L. Protector as may bee iustly alledged and proued And I doubt not but this matter wil be so pacified that neither shall the king nor yet the lordes haue cause to seeke for further ayde neither we to offend any of them both After this tale the commons stayed and the Lorde Maior and his brethren for that time brake vp and afterwarde comuned with the Lordes The Lords sate the next day in counsaile in the starre chamber Sir Philip Hoby sent â—… the king by the Lordes and from thence they sent sir Philip Hobby with their letters of credence to the kings maiestie besieching his highnesse to giue credite to that which the sayd Philip shoulde declare vnto his Maiestie in their naâ—…lies and the king gaue him libertie to speake and most gently heard all that he had to say And truly he did so wisely declare his message and so grauely told his tale in the name of the Lordes but therwithall so vehemently and grieuously agaynst the Protector who was also there present by the king that in the ende the Lord Protector was commaunded from the kings presence 〈◊〉 Lord Proâ—… comâ—â—ed to priâ—â— and shortly was coÌ„mitted to warde in a tower within the castell of Windsore called Beauchamps tower And soone after were stayed sir Thomas Smith sir Michaell Stanhope and sir Iohn Thinne knights maister Whalley maister Fisher Woulfe of the priuie Chamber Grey of Reading and diuerse other gentlemen that attended vpon the lord Protector And the same day the Lordes of the counsaile came to Windsore to the king and the next day they brought from thence the Lorde Protector and the other that were there stayed and conueyed them through the Citie of London with as much wonderment as might be 〈◊〉 Lorde â—…rnour â—…mitted to â—â—wer vnto the tower where they remayned prisoners Shortly after the Lords resorted to the tower and there charged the Protector with sundrie articles as followeth Articles obiected against the Lord Protector 1 In primis You tooke vpon you the office of a Protector and gouernour vpon condition expresly and specially that you would doe nothing in the kings affayres publikely or priuately but by the assent of the late kings executors 2 Also you contrarie to the sayde condition of your owne authoritie did stay and let iustice and subuerted the lawes as well by your letters as by your commaundements 3 Also you caused diuerse persons being arested and imprisoned for treason murder manslaughter and felony to be discharger and set at large against the king lawes statutes of this realme 4 Also you haue made and ordeyned lieutenaÌ„ts for the kings armies and other weightie affaires vnder your owne writing and seale 5 Also you haue coÌ„moned with the Ambassadors of other realmes discoursing along with theÌ„ in the waightie causes of this realme 6 Also you haue sometine rebuked checked and taunted as wel priuately as openly diuerse of the kings most honorable Counsailors for shewing and declaring their aduises and opinions against your purpose in the kings weightie affaires saying somtimes to them that you neede not to open matters vnto them and would therfore be otherwise aduised and that you woulde if they were not agreeable to your opinion put them out and take other at your pleasure 7 Also you had and held against the lawer in your owne house a rouet of Requests and therby did enforce diuerse the kings subiectes to answere for their hee holds and goods and determine the same to the subuersion of the same lawes 8 Also you being no often without the 〈◊〉 of the counsaile or the more parts of them did dispose of the offices of the kings gifts for many and graunted leases and wardes of the Kings and gaue presentaion to the kings benefices Bishoprike hauing no authoritie so to do And â—â—â—ther you old meddle w t the selling of y e kings 〈◊〉 9 Also you coÌ„manded multiplication and alcumâ—…sâ—…re to be practised to abused the kings come Also you caused a proclamation to be made concerning inclosures wherby the coÌ„mon people haue made diuerse insurrections and â—â—used open warre and distreyned and spoyle diuerse of the kings subiects which Proclamation went forth against the will of the whole Counsaile 11 Also you haue caused a commission wyth certian articles thervnto annexed to be made out concerning inclosures of coÌ„mons high wayes deraying of cottages and diuerse other things gyuing the Commissioners anthoritie to heare and determin the same causes to the subuersion of the lawes and statutes of this realme whereby much sedition insurrection and rebellion hath risen and growen among the kings subiects 12 Also you haue suffred the rebels traytors to assemble and to lie in camp and armor against the king his nobles and gentlemen without any speedie subduing or repressing of them 13 Also you did comfort and encourage diuers of the sayd rebels by giuing of them diuers sums of your owne money and by promising to diuers of them fees rewards and seruices 14 Also you in fauor of the saide rebels did against the lawes cause a proclamatioÌ„ to be made that none of the sayd rebels and traytors shoulde be sued or vexed by any person for any theyr offences in the sayd rebellion to the cleare subuersion of the same lawes 15 Also you haue said in time of the rebellion that you liked wel the doings and proceedings of the sayd rebels and traytors and said that the couetousnes of the gentlemeÌ„ gaue occasion to y e coÌ„mon people to rise saying also that better it is
to my power Nâ—…yther be I repent me of my doings but 〈◊〉 sith nowe the state of Christian 〈…〉 most neere vnto the forme order of the primatiue Church which thing I esteeme as a greate benefite giuen of God both to you and me most hartily exhorting you all that thys whiche is most purely sette forthe vnto you you will with like thankefulnesse accept and embrace and sette out the same in your liuing whiche thing if you do not without doubt greater mischiefe calamitie wil folow WheÌ„ he had spokeÌ„ these words suddainely there was a great noyse heard Great feare among the people whervpon the people were streight driuen into a great feare few or none knowing the cause wherefore I thinke it good to write what I sawe sayeth Stowe concerning that matter The people of a certaine hamlet whiche were warned to be there by seuen of the clocke to giue their attendance on the Lieutenant Stow. nowe came through the posterne and perceiuing the D. to be already on the scaffolde the formost beganne to run crying to their fellowes to follow fast after which sodainesse of these meÌ„ being weaponed w t hilles and halberts this running caused y e people which first saw them to thinke some power had come to haue reseued the D. from execution and therefore cried away away wherevpon the people ranne some one way some another many fel into the Tower ditche and they whiche tarried thought some pardon had bin brought some said it thundred some that the grounde moued but there was no such matter The Duke in the meane time standing still Graftoâ—… both in the same place mind wherein hee was before shaking his cap which he held in his haÌ„d made a signe vnto y e people y t they shoulde keepe theÌ„selues quiet whiche thing being done sileÌ„ce obteined he spake to them the secoÌ„d time in thys manner Deerely beloued frieÌ„ds The second speech of the Duke of Somerset to the people there is no such matter heere in hand as you vaynely hope or beleeue it seemeth thus good vnto almightie God whoâ—…e ordinance it is meete and necessary that we bee all obediente vnto wherefore I pray you all to bee quiet and withoute tumulte for I am euen nowe quiet and let vs ioyne in prayer vnto the Lorde for the preseruation of our noble Kyng vnto whose maiestie I wish continuall healthe with all felicitie and abundance and all manner of prosperous successe whervnto the people cryed out Amen Moreouer saieth the Duke I wishe vnto all his Counsaylers the grace and fauoure of God whereby they maye rule all things vprightly with iustice vnto whome I exhorte you all in the Lord to shew your selues obedient the whiche is also verye necessarye for you vnder the payne of condemnatioÌ„ and also most profitable for the preseruation and safegard of the Kynges maiestie And for asmuch as heeretofore I haue had oftentimes affayres with diuers men and that it is hard to please euery man that hath bene offended or iniured by mee I most humbly require and aske them forgiuenes but especially almighty God whome throughout all my life I haue most greeuously offended And vnto all other whatsoeuer they bee that haue offended me I do with my whole heart forgiue them And once agayne deerely beloued in the Lorde I require that you wyl keepe your selues quiet and still least through youre tumulte you myghte cause mee to haue some trouble whyche in thys case woulde nothyng at all proffit mee neyther bee anye pleasure vnto you for albeeit the spirit bee willing and ready the flesh is fraile and wauering and through youre quietnesse I shall bee muche more the quieter but if that you fall vnto tumulte it will bee greate trouble and no gayne at all vnto you Moreouer I desire you to beare me witnesse that I dye heere in the faythe of Iesus Christe desiring you to helpe mee with youre prayers that I may perseuer constante in the same vnto my liues ende This Duke was in high fauoure and estimation with Kyng Henry the eyght of whome bee receyued sundry hygh and great prefermeÌ„ts by reason that the sayde Kyng hadde marryed Ladye Ianeâ—…hys sister by whome he hadde issue Kyng Edwarde the sixth He was not only courteous wise and gentle beyng dayly attendante at the Courte but forward and fortunate in seruice abroade as maye well appeare in his sundrye voyages bothe in Fraunce and Scotland He was of nature very gentle and pitifull not blemished by any thing so much as by y e death of Admirall his naturall brother whiche could not haue bin broughte to passe in that sorte without his consent An. reg 6. Sir Raufe aVane and other executed The sixe and twentith of February sir Rause Auane and Sir Miles Partridge were hanged on the Tower hil Sir Michael Stahhope with Sir Thomas Arondell were beheaded there House blowen vp with gunne powder The last of Aprill through negligence of the gunnepouder makers a certayne house neere the Tower of London with three last of powder was blowen vppe and brente the gunne powder makers beryng fifteene in number were all slayne Muster of horsemen The sixteenth of May was goodly muster of horsemen made before the king in the Parke at Greenewich vnder the Kings banner his bande of pentioners in number .150 euery peÌ„tioner two great horses and a gelding the Lord Bray their Lieutenant The Lorde Marques of Winchester hygh treasorer vnder his banner the FaulcoÌ„ one hundred men The Duke of Northumberlande great maister of the Kyngs housholde vnder the white Lion and the ragged staffe fiftie The Duke of Suffolke vnder the Vnicorne in the starre a hundred and ten The Earle of Bedford Lord priuie seale vnder the goate a hundred The Marques of NorthamptoÌ„ high Chamberlayne vnder the maidenhead a hundred The Earle of Warwike maister of the kings horses vnder the white Lion fiftie The Earle of Huntingdon vnder hys banner fiftie The Earle of Rutlande vnder the Peacocke fiftie The Earle of Pembroke vnder the greene Dragon fiftie The Lorde Darcy vnder the maydens bodye fiftie The Lord Cobham vnder y e Sarazens head fiftie The Lord Clinton Lord Admirall vnder the anker fiftie The Lorde Warden of the fiue portes vnder the rose in the Sunne beames one hundred Not loÌ„g after y e death of y e said D. of Somerset his coÌ„plices it chanced y e reuereÌ„d father in God maister Doctor Ridley then Byshoppe of London Grafton to preach before the Kings maiestie at Westminster In the whiche sermon he made a frutefull and godly exhortation to the rich to bee mercifull vnto the poore and also to moue suche as were in authoritie to trauayle by some charitable way and meane to comforte and relieue them Wherevpon the Kinges maiestie beeyng a Prince of suche towardnesse and vertue for hys yeares as England before neuer brought forth and the same also being so wel reteined brought vp
talke as this prisoner is suffered some of vs will come no more at the barre and we be thus handled Bromley Throckmorton you must suffer the Quenes learned Counsell to speake or else we must take order with you you haue had leaue to talke at your pleasure Hare It is proued that you did talke with Wiat against the comming of the Spanyardes and deuised to interrupt their arriuall and you promised to doe what you coulde against them wherevpon Wiat being encouraged by you did leuie a force and attempted warre against the Queenes royall person Throckmor It was no treason nor no procurement of treason to talke agaynste the comming hyther of the Spanyardes neyther it was treason for mee to saye I woulde hynder their commyng hither as muche as I coulde vnderstanding me rightly as I meant it yea though you would extende it to the worste it was but words it was not treson at this day as the law standeth and as for Wiats doing they touche me nothing for at his death when it was no tyme to report vntruly he purged me Bromley By sundrye cases remembred heere by the Queenes learned counsell as you haue hearde that procurement which did appeare no otherwyse but by words and those you would make nothing hath bin of long tyme and by sundry well learned men in the Lawes adiudged treason And therefore youre procurement beeing so euidente as it is we may lawfully say it was treason bycause Wiat perfourmed a trayterous acte Throckmor As to the said alledged forepresidents against me I haue recited as many for me I would you my L. chief iustice shuld incline your iudgements rather after the exāple of your honorable predecessors Iustice Markā and others which did eschewe corrupte iudgementes iudging directly and sincerely after the Law and the principles in the same than after such men as swaruing from the truth the maxime and the Law did iudge corruptely maliciously and affectionately Bromley Iustice Markham had reson to warrant his doings for it did appeare a merchant of London was arraigned and slaunderously accused of treason for compassing imagining y e kings death he did say he would make his sonne heire of the Crowne and the merchant meant it of a house in Cheapeside at the signe of the Crowne but your case is not so Throckmor My case doeth differ I graunt but specially bicause I haue not suche a Iudge yet there is an other cause to restrain these your strange and extraordinarie constructions That is to say a Prouiso in the latter ende of the statute of Edwarde the thirde hauyng these wordes Prouided alwayes if anye other case of supposed Treason shall chaunce heereafter to come in question or triall before any iustice other than is in the sayd statute expressed that then the Iustice shall forbeare to adiudge the sayd case vntill it be shewed to the Parliament to trie whether it should be treason or felonie Here you are restrained by expresse wordes to adiudge any case that is not manifestly mentioned before vntill it be shewed to the Parliament ◅rtman That Prouiso is vnderstande of cases that may come in trial which hath bin in vre but the law hath always taken the procurer to be a principall offender ◅ders The lawe alwayes in cases of treason dothe accoumpte all principalles and no accessaries as in other offences and therfore a man offending in treason eyther by couert acte or procurement whervpon an open deede hath ensued as in this case is adiudged by the lawe a principall traytoure Throckmor You adiudge mee thinke procurement very hardly besydes the principall and besides the good Prouiso and besydes the good example of your best and moste godly learned predecessors the Iudges of the Realme as I haue partely declared and notwithstandyng thys grieuous racking and extending of this worde Procurement I am not in the daunger of it for it doth appere by no deposition that I procured neyther one or other to attempt any acte Stanforde The Iurie haue to trye whether it bee so or no let it weygh as it will Hare I knowe no meane so apparant to try Procurement as by words and that meane is probable ynoughe agaynst you as well by youre owne confession as by other mennes Depositions Throckmor To talke of the Queenes maryage with the Prince of Spayne and also the commyng hyther of the Spanyardes is not to procure treason to be done for then the whole Parliament house I meane the common house didde procure treason But since you wyll make no difference betwixte wordes and actes I praye you remember an Estatute made in my late Soueraigne Lorde and maisters tyme Kyng Edward the sixth whiche apparantly expresseth the difference These bee the woordes Who so euer dothe compasse or imagine to depose the Kyng of his Royall estate by open preaching expresse wordes or sayings shall for the fyrst offence lose and forfayte to the king all his their goodes and cattailes and also shal suffer imprisonmente of their bodyes at the Kings will and pleasure Whosoeuer c. for the second offence shall lose and forfayte to the Kyng the whole issues and profytes of all his or their landes tenementes and other hereditamentes benefices Prebendes and other Spirituall promotions Who soeuer c. for the thirde offence shall for terme or lyfe or lyues of suche offendour or offendors c. and shall also forfeite to the Kyngs Maiestie all his or their goodes and cattailes suffer during his or their liues perpetuall imprisonement of his or their bodies But whosoeuer c. by writing ciphering or acte shall for the firste offence be adiudged a traitour and suffer the paines of deathe Here you may perceiue howe the whole realme and all your iudgementes hathe beefore this vnderstande wordes and actes diuerslye and apparantlye And therefore the Iudgementes of the Parliamente did assigne diuersitie of punishmentes bicause they woulde not confounde the true vnderstanding of wordes and deedes appointing for compassing and imagining by worde imprisonment and for compassing and imagining by open deede paines of death Bromley It is agreed by the whole bench that the procurer and the adherent be deemed alwayes traytors when as a trayterous acte was committed by anye one of the same conspiracie and there is apparant proofe of youre adhering to Wiat both by your owne confession and other wayes Throckmor Adhering and procuring bee not all one for the statute of Edwarde the thirde doth speake of adhering but not of procuring and yet adhering ought not be further extended than to the Quenes enimies within hir Realme for so the statute doth limit the vnderstanding And Wiat was not the Queenes enimie for hee was not so reputed when I talked with him last and our speach implyed no enmitie neyther tended to anye treason or procuring of treason and therefore I pray you of the Iurie note thoughe I argue the lawe I alledge my innocencie as the best part of my defence Hare Your adhering
Popes commissioner Thomas CraÌ„â—â—â— Archbyâ—â—op of Canâ—â—â—bury conâ—â—â—ned who neuerthelesse proceeded againste hym as Iudge and conuicted hym of Heresie According to the whiche sentence the one and twentith day of Marche next followyng hee was disgraded by Edmonde Bonner and Thomas Thirleby Byshoppes of London and Ely sente downe for that purpose and hee was burned in the same place where Ridley and Latimer before hadde suffered 〈◊〉 brent Before hys deathe by the perswasion of a Spanishe Frier named Frier Iohn a reader of Diuinitie in Oxforde and by the counsayle of certayne other that putte him in hope of life and pardon hee subscribed to a recantation wherein he submitted hymselfe wholly to the Churche of Rome and continued in the same mind to outwarde appearance vntill hee was broughte out of prison to goe to the fire Afore whose execution a Sermon was made by Doctor Cole Deane of Poules in Saint Maries Churche in Oxforde And in the ende of hys Sermon the sayde Doctor Cole prayed the people to encline their eares to suche things as the sayde Cranmer woulde declare vnto them by hys owne mouth for saith hee hee is a man verye repentaunte and will heere before you all reuoke hys errors Neuerthelesse hee dyd cleane contrarye and with manye teares protestedâ—… that hee had subscribed to the sayde recantation agaynste hys conscience onely for feare of deathe and hope of lyfe whyche seemed to bee true for when hee came to the stake and the fyre kyndled hee putte hys ryghte hande into the fyre and helde it there a good space saying that the same hande shoulde fyrste burne bycause it held the penne to subscribe agaynste hys Lorde God Immediately after the deathe of the sayde Byshoppe Cranmer Cardinall Poole made Archbyshop of Canterbury Cardinall Poole was made Archebyshoppe of Caunterburye who duryng the lyfe of the other woulde neuer be consecrated Archebyshoppe Who so desireth to see more of thys matter maye see the same at large in the Booke of the Monumentes of the Churche Persecution for religion where you shall also fynde that about thys tyme many were in trouble for Religion The eyght and twentith daye of the aforesayde moneth of Marche Newgate set on fire by the negligence of the keepers mayde of the gaole of Newgate in London who lefte a Candle where a greate deale of Strawe was the same was sette on fyre and brente all the tymber worke on the Northe syde of the sayd gate The Sommer nexte followyng was a newe conspiracie broughte to lyghte whyche was A conspiracy to haue raised warre in the Realme agaynst the Queene for mayntenaunce whereof theyr fyrste enterprise was to haue robbed the treasurie of the Queenes Exchequer at Westminster as it fell out afterwardes in proofe The vtterer of whyche conspiracie was one White who at the beginning was made priuie to the same wherevpon dyuers of the conspiracie namely Henrye Peckham Danyell Dethicke Vdall Throckmorton and Captayne Stanton were apprehended and dyuers other fled into Fraunce Moreouer Sir Anthony Kingston knight was accused and apprehended for the same Sir Anthony Kingston departeth thys lyfe Execution and dyed in the way comming to London The eyght and twentith of Aprill Throckmorton and Richarde Veale were drawen to Tiborne and there hanged and quartred The nintenth of May Stanton was likewise executed Ro. Greene. The eyght of Iune Rossey Dedike and Bedell suffered at Tiborne for the same offence Stow. The eyghtenth of Iune one Sands yonger son to the Lord Sands was executed at Saint Thomas Waterings for a robberie committed by him and others to the value of three M. pound The seuen and twentith of Iune eleuen men and two women were hadde out of Newgate and in three cartes conueyd to Stratford the bowe where for Religion they were brente to ashes An. reg 4. The eight of Iuly in the beginning of thys fourth yeare of y e Queenes raigne Henry Peckham and Iohn Danyell were executed Execution and after they were dead were headed on the Tower hill theyr bodyes were buryed in Barking Church This yeare the hote burning feuers and other straunge diseases which began the yeare before Great deathe consumed much people in all parts of Englande but namely of most auntient and graue men so that in London betwene the twentith of October and the last of December there dyed seauen Aldermen whose names were Henrye Heardson Sir Richard Dobbeslate Maior sir William Larston late Maior Sir Henrye Hoblethorne late Maior Sir Iohn Champneis late Maior Sir Iohn Aileph late Sheriffe and Sir Iohn Gressam late Maior Aboute this time came to London an Ambassador to the Queene from the Emperoure of Cathai Moscouia and Russelande An Ambassador out of Muscouia 1557 who was honorably receiued by the Merchants of London hauing trade in those Countreys who bare all hys costes and charges from the tyme of his entrie into Englande out of Scotlande for thither by tempest of weather he was driueÌ„ and there forced to land And after hys message and Ambassade done to the Queene hee departed agayne with three fayre Shyppes from Grauesende into hys Countrey when hee had remayned heere by the space of two monethes and more Also aboute thys tyme the Lorde Sturton for a verye shamefull and wretched murther committed by hym vppon two Gentlemen the father and the sonne of the surnames of Hargill beeyng hys neere neighbors was apprehended and committed to the Tower of London And although the Queene seemed to fauour hym muche as one professing the Catholyke Religion yet when shee vnderstoode the trueth of hys vile deede shee abhorred hym and commaunded that hee shoulde be vsed accordyng to Iustice wherefore shortly after he was brought to Westminster and there araigned and founde giltie and hadde iudgemente as a murtherer to be hanged And for the same fact were lykewise condemned foure of his seruantes and the seconde daye of Marche nexte following the sayde Lorde with hys sayde seruauntes were conueyde by the Queenes guarde from the Tower of London through the Citie hee hauyng hys armes pinioned at hys backe and hys legges bounde vnder the Horse bellie and so caryed to Salisbury where the sixth daye of Marche nexte hee was hanged in the market place The Lorde Stutton hanged and his foure seruauntes were hanged in the Countrey neere vnto the place where the murther was committed Thys yeare for the more parte A great deartâ—… and after great plentyâ—… there was in Englande a greate dearthe namely of corne for Wheate and Rye were commonly solde for fyue shillings and syxe shilings a busshell and in some places at hygher prices But in the later ende of the yeare toward Haruest the price fell so muche and specially after newe corne was come into the Barne that within lesse space than eyghte weekes from syxe Shyllyngs it fell to syxteene pence a busshell and lesse Thys presente moneth of Marche The returne of
on the morrow following Faleise and afterwards Saint Loe with diuers other Townes and Castels yeelded likewise vnto him The tenth of March the great galley and the Foystes were sent away from Newhauē with a Canon and shotte powder vnto Humfleu where they mette with Monsieur de Mouy that came thither with a faire company of horsmen and dyuers footemen French and of Enlishmen Captayne Tutty with his two hundred and Captayne Fisher with his hundred The Canon which came from Newhauen The Canon layd to the Castell of Hunfleu was immediately planted and about tenne of the clocke in the forenoone it was shotte off and after it had bin sixe times discharged they within began to parley and in the ende It is yeelded they agreed to yeelde vp y e Castel vnto Monsieur de Mouy with condition that their Souldiers and men of warre might depart only with their rapiers and daggers leauing all the residue of their monables behinde them And according to this capitulation Captayne Lion with his hundred Souldiers and Captayne Nicholas with hys hundred and fiftie other Souldyers which were within departed and left the Castel vnto Monsieur de Mouy whereby hys Souldyers as wel Englishe as others gayned greately by the spoyle A proclamation The twelfth of March a Proclamation was made in name of the Lord Lieutenant that no Souldier shoulde drawe weapon to doe hurte therewith to anye of the Frenche within the Towne of Newhauen or limits of the same nor to molest them nor to spoyle nor take anye thing violently away from any of them nor to breake downe their houses nor to carrie away their timber on payne of death A proclamatiō◅n the Frenche dogs name There was also a Proclamation made in name of the King and Admirall that no Captayne Burgesse Souldier Marriner or other of the French nation within the towne or without shoulde drawe any weapon nor pike anye quarrell nor vse any iniurious words agaynste anye man to moue them to wrath specially against the Englishmen on payne of deathe nor that any burgesse or inhabitant of what qualitie or condition soeuer except Captaynes Gentlemen and Souldiers receyuing pay shoulde beare any weapon on the like paine sir Adrian Poynings The fiue and twentith of Marche Sir Adrian Poynings Knight Marshall of Newhauen departed from thence and returning into England remayned there still Whereas Monsieur de Beauvoys had by the Admirall Chatillions commaundemente charged by publique Proclamation The Frenche appointed to depart out of Newhauen all Straungers forreyners and Frenche Souldyers to departe the Towne by the three and twentith of Marche last past and that all other hauing their wiues and families should depart with them within four dayes after the same Proclamation to giue ayde for the conseruation and keeping of the Townes of Hunflew Caen Bayeux Falaize Saint Lo and other places lately brought into the obedience of the King vnder the authoritie of the Prince of Conde vnder payne for making default to be taken as good prisoners of warre to those that shoulde apprehend them Proclamation was also therevpō made in the Lord Lieutenants name the sixe and twentith of Marche beeing Friday that it shoulde bee lawfull to the Queenes Maiesties subiects and friends to apprehende and take as their good and lawfull prisoners all suche as contrary to the former Proclamation shoulde remayne in the Towne of Newhauen after fiue of the clocke after noone of the day then nexte following beeing Saterday those persons only excepted whose names had bin presented and enrolled in hilles remayning with the Lord Lieutenants Secretary Prouided that no person seasing vppon the body of anye suche offendor should by vertue or colour thereof spoile any of their houses meddle with their goodes or monables without order and meane of Iustice vpon payne of death On the Sonday yet beeing the eyght and twentith of March another Proclamation was made to giue respite to the saide Straungers forreyners and French Souldiers vntill foure of the clocke in the after noone of the same daye And further there was another Proclamation published thys Sonday that none shoulde seaze vppon anye of those Straungers forreyners or Frenche Souldyers by colour of the two former Proclamations vntill the Lorde Lieutenauntes pleasure shoulde more fully bee knowen therein The thirtith of Marche beeyng Tewsday An other proclamation Proclamation was eftsoones made that where all forreyners being not any of the Burgesses or proper inhabitauntes of the sayd Towne of Newhauen nor of the garrison or armye of the Englishmen in the same Towne had bin warned by seuerall Proclamations to departe the Towne and yet the same Proclamations notwithstanding a greate number made their abode still in the Towne in contempte of those Proclamations The Lord Lieutenant by this Proclamation gaue full power and authoritie to the sayde Prouost Marshall of the garrison of the Englishmen in that Towne to apprehende and take as good and lawfull prisoners all suche forreyners as well Souldyers and Marriners as other without exception whyche shoulde bee founde in the Towne at anye tyme after fyue of the clocke in the after noone on Saterday then nexte commyng Monsieur Beanvoys and hys familie and all Ministers then beeyng within the Towne beeyng neuerthelesse cleerely excepted and dyuers prouisions also included in this selfesame Proclamation for the mitigating of extremities by wrong interpreting thereof in behalfe of them that were to departe as also that the gayne that shoulde come by euery particular prisoner so arrested by the Prouost Marshall shoulde returne to anye of the Queenes Maiesties subiectes by whose meane and procuremente y e same prisoner was detected and caused to be apprehended On Monday the fifth of Aprill the Reingraue with foure hundred Horsemen and about fiue hundred footemen came downe the hill betwixt Saint Addressez and Englefielde where Sir Hugh Paulet knight met with him by appointment of the L. Lieutenant accompanyed with .40 horsemē and a M. English footmen after they had talked togither by the space of an houre they departed the one from the other maister Paulet returning to Newhauen and the Reingraue to Mondeuille the place where he vsually remained Execution On Easter euen two souldyers that had serued vnder Captayne Parkinson were hanged in the market place of Newhauen for running away to the Reingraue and vnto Dieppe Another also that serued vnder Captain Tourner was condemned for the lyke offence but pardoned through the great clemency of the L. Lieutenant A Proclamation The .28 of Aprill Proclamation was made y e al the Papists and the wiues and children of al them that were departed forth of Newhauē and made their abode at y e present in Monstreuilliers Harflen or else where abrode in the Countrey and lykewise all other whome the last Proclamation for their anoiding out of the towne in any wise touched shoulde depart on Saterday then next ensuing on paine to haue their bodyes arrested as
endeth his lyfe in grieuous tormentes 249 30. Swanus besiegeth LoÌ„doÌ„ and is repulsed 247.96 Swale riuer 162.13 Swineshed Abbey in Lincolnshire 605.41 T. TAle how king Alureds body walked a nights after his death 218.82 Tale how king Kenelmes death was signified at Rome 205.55 Tacuinus ordeyned Archbishop of Canterburie 191.103 Tacuinus Archb. of Canterburie dieth 193.27 Thomas Talbot 396.58 a Tancrede concludeth an affinitie and league with King Richarde the first 488.150 Taluan Earle of Sagium deliuereth certaine Castels to King Henrie the seconde 410.3 Tailbourgh fortresse subdued 4â—…3 90 Tale of a knightes dreame that wore a long heare â—…64 72 Tame foules flie too the woods and become wild 314.30 Tailleux william a Chronicler of Normandie cyted 293.60 Tale of a King giuen too Saint Edwarde by a Pilgrim that came from Ierusalem 279.89 Talbot william defendeth Hereforde in the ryght of Mawd the Empres. 368.74 Tale of King Arthure conueyed awaye by Fairies 136.20 Tale of a Calfe restored to lyfe by Saint Germaine 122.43 Tallages and vniust impostes layde downe 319. 41. Tankeruile william chaÌ„berleyne and Lieutenant to King Henrie the first 359.70 Tables Dice and Cardes forbidden 466.28 Taurus nephew too Hanniball 15.3 Tay riuer 69.88 Tarapha cited 1.97 Tancred elected King of Sicill 480.104 Talbot George Earle of Shrewesburie and hys sonne Lord Straunge at Stoke field 1430.14 Talbot Gilbert Knight sent intoo Flaunders 143â—… 4â—… Tallages of Bridges and Streetes betwene Englande and Rome dimmished 262.5 Tale howe Dunstan sawe the diuell 228.90 Tale howe Swanus was slaine with Saint Edmonds knife 249.87 Tamer riuer 241.42 Tate or Tace looke Ethelburga Tamer Riuer a confine betweene the Englishmen and Cornishmen 226.103 Tankeruile yeelded to the Lorde Talbot pag. 1262. col 1. lin 34. Tamworth towne 1416.57 Talbot George Earle of Shrewesburie and Lord stewarde of housholde to Henrie the eigth 1464.5 Talbot George Earle of Shrewsburie captaine of the foreward in the wing to Turwin 1478.36 Talbot Humfrey knight Marshall of Calais sent into Flaunders 1435.50 Talbot George Earle of Shrewsbury his faithful diligence in the tyme of the rebellion in the north 1567.50 Talbot George Earle of Shrewsburie Lieutenaunt Generall of the north partes 1522.52 Talbot Gylbert Knight Ambassador to the Pope 1461.19 Tankeruile wonne by Edwarde Dudley 1821.30 recouered by the Reingraue 1821.18 Table of golde 850.20 a Taxe of the Spiritualtie 799 20. b. 828. a 810.20 a Tax leuied of the thirtenth part of euery maÌ„s goods in Englande by King Iohn 564.13 Earle of Tankeruile taken prisoner at Caen. 930 55. a. Tale how the diuel laughed at Dunstanes banishment 230.100 Tame Robert Knight 1450.14 Tadcaster a town .1820.40 Tenants not to bee troubled for their Lords debt 451.26 Tempest great 1821.47 Tempestes and much hurt thereby 1839 Tearme of Trinitie adiourned by reason of the warres 1601.40 Tempest of weather at the battaile of Cressy 933 24 b. Tenham spoiled by the erle of Albemarle 618.40 Templers sent from Pandolfe the Popes Legate in Fraunce too King Iohn 574.83 Temple of peace nowe Blackwell hall in London builded 23.16 Tacitus cited 4.77 and 51.26 and. 52.58 and. 69 14. Tempest most straunge at London 633.97 Tenth part of all spirituall liuing graunted too the Pope 628.35 Tempest sore vpon Christmasse day the lyke hath not beene hearde of 421.9 Temples builded in Brytain by Cunedagius â—â— 40 Temple of Claudius and Victoria builded 54.45 Tempeste in Brytayne hurtyng the Romaines 37.29 Terre filius howe to bee vnderstoode 6 9â—… Temples dedicated too Idolles conuerted too the seruice of almightie God 91.88 Tempest 1833.26 and 1834.13 Tempest of thunder and lightnings 726.9 Teuide riuer 55.63 Tempest 556 2â—… Tertullian cited 53.28 Temnesford castell builded and destroyed 222.85 Tearmes ordeyned to bee kept foure tymes in a yeare 303.40 Tenth of all moueabl-e goodes to bee payed towardes the iourney into the holye lande 466.8 and. 481.8 Tempests 1076.1 b. 1084.35 a. Tempest of wind 2088.51 a Tenchard Thomas knight causeth the Archduke to stay 1459.17 Terrouan besieged and won 937.43 b Tenantius looke Theomantius Theis riuer 219. â—…6 Tedder Iasper Earle of Pembroke created duke of Bedford 1426.33 vncle to K. Henrie the .vij. ibid. sent with a power to represse the insurrection of the Lord Louell and others 1427 4â—… the which hee doth with effect 1428.10 sent with a power against the counterfeit Erle of warwike 1430. discoÌ„fiteth the army of the counterfeyte 1431.30 TeÌ„plers apprehended 448 32. a. their lands giuen to the hospitalere 874.26 a Terme Michaelmasse adiourned to y e sixth of Nouember 1870.37 Tirrell walter escapeth away by flight 334.48 Terme Michaelmas none kept 1873.50 Hillarie terme kept at Hertfort castell 1834.26 Tempest horrible 1773.43 Tempest 1835.50 1835. 54. and. 1868.42 1870. 58. and. 1872.47 Terme Michaelmasse not kept 1839.12 Terme begon at Oxford adiorned to west 1504.20 Tempest of weather 794.1 b. 797.56 a. 848.28 a TeÌ„pest of winds 89â—… 16 b Tearme adiourned to saint Albons 1591.18 Terwin rased 1485.28 Terme adiourned 1536.17 Tenerchbray Castel besieged 345. â—…3 Tempest Nicholas put to death 1570.12 Tempest of winde and ram doing exceding much hurt 743.6 Tenth payed 825.23 b. 810.8 b Tenour of the profession which the Archbishop of Yorke maketh too the Archbishop of Canterburie 350.72 Tempest of horrible thunder and lightning in winter 365.18 Tesra williaÌ„ prohibited to gather money 844.43 a Teukesburie 1337.52 field 1338.30 Teeth fewer than afore time 945.13 b Terme kept at Yorke sixe yeares 840.12 a Tirrel Iames Knight Capitaine of Guisnes sent into Flanders 1435 47. Title pretended to y e crown of Englande by Lewes the French kings sonne 599.30 Tides two at London in one houre 1870.40 Tirell Iames knight attainted beheded 1457.40 Tindall william burned 1764.26 his byrth and workes ibid. Tinmouth 325.12 Tinmouth Castell taken by King william Rufus 326.5 Tillage coÌ„manded 1500.1 Tileburg vpon Thames 174.46 Tickhill Castell fortified agaynst king Henrie the first 339.62 Title too the Crowne of Fraunce 905.50 b Titus Emperor of Rome dieth 73.44 Tithings and hundreds first deuised in England and why 217 Tileres Gilbert owner of Danuile Castel 428.88 Tineas king of Babilon 15.39 Triphon slain by Hercules in Egypt 5.106 Tâ—…o Vulfingacester 162.77 Timagines first bringeth the Greke letters froÌ„ the Druides to Athens 3.80 Tiler wat slain 1029.1 a TinninghaÌ„ burnt 227.73 Titus Liuius cited 27.70 Prior of Tiptre thronged to death 1090.30 a Tilâ—…ey Abbey founded 394.25 Tithes too bee payed too Churches in Irelande 420.108 Tirrell walter a Frenche knight sleaeth K. williaÌ„ with an arrow 334.39 Tine riuer 140.8 Tine riuer 76.50 Tine riuer 302.61 Tinemouth 202.45 Theobald Earle of Charters maketh warres vpoÌ„ Haruie de yuon 411.60 Theobald Earle of Bloys maketh attonement betwene the kings of England France 412.107 Thunder and lightning continuing xv dayes 641.113 Theadford towne 230.9 Three things to bee foreseene by them that shall giue battaile 375.70 Thames frozen so that meÌ„ passe ouer on foote and horsebacke 383.105 Three
made a perpetuall circulation or reuolution of our soules much like vnto the continuall motion of the heauens which neuer stande stil nor long yeeld one representatioÌ„ and figure They brought in also the woorshipping of many goddes and their seuerall sacrifices Oke honored wheron mistle did grow so doe our sorcerers euen to this day thinking some spirits to deale about the same for hidden tresure they honoured likewyse the Oke wheron the Mistle groweth and daily deuised infinitie other toyes for errour is neuer assured of hir owne dooinges wherof neyther Samothes nor Sarron Magus nor Druiyus did leaue them any prescription These things are partly touched by Cicero Strabo Plinie Sotion Laertius Theophrast Aristotle and partly also by Caesar and other authours of later time who for the most part do coÌ„fesse y t the chiefe schoole of the Druiydes was holden here in Britaine whether the Druiydes also themselues that dwelt amoÌ„g the Galles woulde often resorte to come by the more skill and sure vnderstanding of the misteries of that doctrine Estimation of the Druiyâ—… or Drâ—… priestâ—… Furthermore in Britaine and among the Galles and to saye the truth generally in all places where the Druiysh religion was frequented such was thestimatioÌ„ of the Priestes of this profession that there was little or nothing done without their skilfull aduise no not in ciuill causes pertayning to the regiment of the common wealth and countrey They had the charge also of all sacrifices publicke and priuate they interpreted Oracles preached of religion and were neuer without great numbers of yoong men that hearde theÌ„ with great diligence as they taught froÌ„ time to time Touching their persons also Immuâ—…ty of the clergy â—â—ter vndâ—… Idolaâ—… then vnder the gospell they were exempt from all temporal seruices impositioÌ„s tributes and exercise of the warres which immunitie caused the greater companies of Schollers to flocke vnto theÌ„ from all places learne their trades Of these likewise some remayned with them seuen eyght tenne or twelue yeares still learning the secretes of those vnwritten mysteries by heart which were to be had amongst them and commonly pronounced in verses And this policie as I take it they vsed onely to preserue their religion from contempt where into it might easye haue fallen if any bookes thereof had happened into the hands of the commoÌ„ sorte It helped also not a little in y e exercise of their memories where vnto bookes are vtter enemies insomuch as he that was skillfull in the Druiysh religion would not let readily to rehearse many hundredes of verses and not to fayle in one tytle in the whole processe of this his laborious repetition But as they dealt in this order for matters of their religioÌ„ so in ciuill affaires historical Treatises setting downe of lawes they vsed like order and letters almost with the Grecians wherby it is easy to be séene that they retayned this kinde of writing froÌ„ Druiyus the originall founder of their religion and that this yland hath not béene voyde of letters and learned men euen sith it was first inhabited After the death of Druiyus Bardus Bardus his sonne and fift king of the Celtes succéeded not onely ouer the sayde kingdome but also in his fathers vertues whereby if is very likely that the winding and wrapping vp of the sayde Religion after the afore remembred sorte into Verse was first deuysed by hym for he was an excellent Poet and no lesse indued with a singular skill in the practise and speculatioÌ„ of Musicke of which twoo many suppose him to be the very author and beginner although vniustly sith both Poetry Song was in vse before the floude Gene. 4. vers 21. as was also the Harpe and Pype which Iubal inuented and coulde neuer be performed without great skil in musicke But to procéede as the chiefe estimation of the Druiydes remained in the ende among the Britons only for their knowledge in religion so dye the same of the Bardos for their excelleÌ„t skill in musike and Heroicall kind of song which at the first contayned only the high misteries of their religion There was little difference also betwéene them and the Druiydes â—…he Barâ—… degeâ—…rate till they so farre degenerated from their first institutioÌ„ that they became to be minstrels at feastes droncken meetings and abhominable sacrifices of the Idols where they sang most commonly no diuinitie as before but the noble actes of valiaunt princes and fabulous narratioÌ„s of the adulteries of the gods Certes in my tyme this fonde vsage and therto the very name of the Bardes are not yet extinguished amoÌ„g the Britons of Wales where they call their Poetes Musiciâ—…ns Barthes as they doe also in Irelande There is moreouer an Islande appertinent to the region of Venedotia wherinto the Bardes of old time vsed to resorte as out of the waye into a solitarie place there to write and learne their songes by hearte and meditate vppon such matters as belonged to their practises And of these Lucane in his first booke writeth thus among other the like sayinges well towarde the latter ende also saying â—…cane â—… 1. Vos quoque qui fortes animas belloque peremptat Laudibus in longum vates dimittitis euum Plurima securi fudistis carmina Bardi Et vos barbaricos ritus moremque sinistrum Sacrorum Druiydae positis reque pistis ab armis Solis nosse Deos coeli numina vobis Aut solis nescire datum nemora alta remotis Incolitis lucis Vobis authoribus vmbrae Non tacit as erebi sedes ditisque profundi Pallida regna petunt regit idem spiritus artus Orbe alio Longae canitis si cognita vitae Mors media est certe populi quos despicit arctos Foelices errore suo quos ille timorum Maximus haud vrget leti metus inde ruendi In ferrum mens prona viris animaeque capaces Mortis ignuum est redituirae parcere vitae Thus we see as in a glasse the state of religion for a tyme after the first inhabitacion of this Islande but howe long it continued in such soundnesse as the originall authors left it in good sooth I caÌ„ not say yet this is most certaine that after a time when Albion arriued here the religion earst imbraced fell into great decaye for wheras Iaphet and Samothes with their childreÌ„ taught nothing else then such doctrine as they had learned of Noah so Cham the great grandfather of this our Albion and his disciples vtterly renouncing to followe their steps gaue their mindes wholly to seduce and leade their hearers hedlong vnto all error Wherby his posteritie not only corrupted this our Islande with most filthie trades and practises but also all mankinde generally where they became with vicious life and most vngodly behauiour For from Cham and his successours procéeded at the first all sorcery witchcraft what doctrine ChaÌ„ and his disciples taught and the execution of vnlawfull
them deliuered the other to the Scottish king The noble corage of king Edgar willing him now to assay his strength that they might shew by proufe whether of them ought to be subiect to the other start not away but trie it with me saith he for it is a shame for a king to be ful of brags at bankets and not to be ready to fight when triall should be made abrode The Scottish king herewith being astonied and maruellously abashed fell downe at his feete and with much humilitie confessed hys fault desired pardoÌ„ for the same which vpoÌ„ such his humble submission K. Edgar easily granted This noble prince had two wiues Egelfrida or Elfrida surnamed the white the daughter of a mightie duke named Ordmer by whome he had issue a sonne named Edward that succeeded him His seconde wife hight Alfreda the daughter of Orgar duke of Druon or Cornewall as some haue by whom he had issue EdmoÌ„d that died before his father and Egelthred which afterwardes was king Also he had issue a daughter named Editha begotten base of his concubine Wilfrid as before ye haue heard The state of the realme in king Edgars dayes was in good poynt VVil. Mal. for both the earth gaue hir encrease very pleÌ„teously the Elaments shewed themselues very fauourable according to the course of times peace was mainteyned and no inuasion by forraine enimies attempted For Edgar had not onely all the whole I le of Britain in subiection but also was ruler souerain Lorde ouer all the kings of the out Iles that lie within the seas about all the coasts of the same Britain euen vnto the realme of Norway He brought also a great part of Irelande vnder his subiection with the citie of Dublin Ireland subiect vnto king Edgar as by autentike recordes it doth and may appeare Edwarde Aboute the beginning of his raigne a blasing Starre was serue VVil. Mal. signifying as was thought the miserable haps that followed And first there ensued barrennesse of ground and thereby famine amongst the people and morraine of Cattaile Also Duke Alpher or Elpher of Mercia Alfer or Elfer duke of Mercia and other Noble men destroyed the Abbayes which King Edgar and Bishoppe Adelwold had builded within the limittes of Mercia The Priestes or Canons whiche had beene expulsed in Edgars tyme out of their Prebendes and Benefices beganne to complaine of theyr wrongs that were done to them in that they had beene put oute of possession from theyr lyuings alledging it to bee a great offence and miserable case that a straunger should come and remoue an olde inhabitant for such maner of doing coulde not please God nor yet hee allowed of anye good man whiche ought of mason to doubt least the same should hap to him whiche hee might see to haue beene an other mans vndoing Aboute thys matter was harde holde for many of the Temporall Lordes Iohn Capg VVil. Mal. Ran. Higd. Mat. VVest Sim. Dunel and namely the same Alpher iudged that the Priestes hadde wrong In so muche that they remoued Monkes oute of theyr places and brought into the Monasteries secular Priestes with theyr wyues But Edelwyn Duke of the East Angles and Alfred his brother with Brightnoth or Brighnode Earle of Essex withstoode thys doing and gathering an armie with great valiancie mainteyned the Monkes in their houses within the Countrey of East Angles Sim. Dunel Herevpon were Councels holden as at Winchester at Kyrthling in East Angle and at Calne At Winchester when the matter was brought to that passe that the Priestes were lyke to haue had theyr purpose Polidor an Image of the Roode that stood there in the Refectory where they sat in couÌ„saile vttered certaine wordes in this wise God forbid it shoulde bee so God forbid it shoulde be so A pretie shift of the Monkes to disappoint the Priests Polidor ye iudged well once but ye may not change well againe as though sayth Polidore Virgill the Monkes had more right which had bereft other men of their possessions than the Priestes which required restitution of their owne But sayth he bycause the Image of Christ hanging on the crosse was thought to speake these words such credite was giuen thereto as it had beene an Oracle that the Priests had theyr suite dashed all the trouble was ceassed So the Monkes held those possessions howsoeuer they came to them by the helpe of God or rather as sayeth the same Polidore by the helpe of man For there were euen then dyuerse that thought this to be rather an Oracle of Phebus than of God that is to vnderstande not published by Gods power but by the fraude and craftie deceyte of men Here as they were busied in arguing the matter eyther part laying for himselfe what coulde be sayde Dunston was sore reuiled and had sundrie reproches layde against him but sodainly eueÌ„ in the verie heate of theyr communication the ioystes of the lost fayled and downe came all the companie so that many were slaine and hurt but Dunstan alone standing vpon one of the ioystes that fell not he escaped safe and sounde And so this myracle with the other made an ende of the controuersie betweene the Priestes and Monkes Dunstan by working myracles had his will when argumentes â—…ayled all the English people following the minde of the Archbishop Dunstan who by meanes thereof had his will In this meane while king Edwarde ruling himself by good counsaile of such as were thought discrete and sage persons gaue great hope to the worlde that he woulde walke in his fathers vertuous steppes as alreadie he well beganne and bearing alway a reuerence to his mother in lawe and a brotherly loue to hir sonne Egeleed vsed himselfe as became him towardes them both Afterwarde by chaunce as hee was in hunting in a Forrest neare to the Castell of Corfe Polidor VVil. Mal. where hys mother in lawe and his brother the sayde Egelred then soiourned when all his companie were spredde abrode in following the game so that hee was left alone hee tooke the way streyght vnto his mother in lawes house to visite hir and hys brother The Queene hearing that he was come was right glad thereof The wicked purpose of Queeen Alâ—â—l for that shee had occasion offered to worke that which she had of long time before ymagined that was to slea the king hir sonne in lawe that hir owne sonne might enioy the garlande She therefore requyred him to alight which he in no wise woulde yeeld vnto but sayde that he had stolne from his companie and was onely come to see hir and his brother and to drinke with them and therefore woulde returne to the Forrest againe to see some more sport The Queene perceyuing that hee woulde not alight caused drinke to be fetched and as he had the cup at his mouth by hir appoynment one of hir seruauntes stroke him into the bodie with a knife The shamefull murther
of K. Edwarde wherevppon feeling himselfe wounded hee sette spurres to the horse thinking to gallop away and so to get to his companie But being hurt to the death he fell from his horse so as one of his feete was fastened in the styrrop by reason whereof his horse drew him forth through woods and launds and the bloud whiche gushed out of the wounde shewed tokē of his death to such as followed him and the way to the place where the horse had left him Mat. VVest Fabian Simon Dun. VVil. Malm. That place hight Corphes gate or Corues gate His bodie being founde was buried without any solemne funeralles at Warham For they that enuyed that hee shoulde enioy the Crowne enuied also the buriall of his bodie within the Church but the memorie of his fame coulde not so secretely bee buried vp with the bodie as they imagined For sundrie myracles shewed at the place where his bodie was enterred made the same famous as diuerse haue reported for there was sight restored to the blind health to the sicke Myracles and hearing to the deafe which are easilyer to be tolde than beleeued Queene Alfride also woulde haue ridden to the place where he lay mooued with repentaunce as hath beene sayde but the horse wherevpon she rode woulde not come neare the graue for anye thing that could be done to him Neither by changing the sayde horse coulde the matter be holpen For euen the same thing happened to the other horses Herevpon the woman perceyued hir great offence towardes God for murthering the innocent and did so repent hir afterward for the same y t besides y e chastising of hir body in fasting and other kinde of penance shee employed all hir substance and patrimonie on the poore and in buylding and reparing of Churches and Monasteries Buylding of Abbayes in those dayes was thought to be a full satisfaction for all maner of sinnes Two houses of Nunnes shee founded as is sayde the one at Warwell the other at Ambresburie and finally professed hirselfe a Nunne in one of them that is to say at Warwell whiche house shee buylded as some affyrme in remembrance of hir first husbande that was slaine there by K Edgar for hir sake as before is mētioned The bodie of this Edwarde the seconde and surnamed the Martyr after that it had remayned three yeares at Warham where it was first buryed was remooued vnto Shaftesburie and with great reuerence buried there by the forenamed Alfer or Elfere Duke of Mercia who also did sore repent himselfe in that hee had beene agaynst the aduauncement of the sayde king Edward as yet haue hearde Elferus But yet did not he escape worthie punishment for within one yeare after he was eaten to death with Lite if the Historie he true King Edward came to his death after he had raigned three yeres or as other write three yeres and .viij. Polidor VVil. Mal. Monethes Whatsoeuer hath beene reported by writers of the murther committed in the person of this king Edwarde sure it is that if he were hast begotten as by wryters of no meane credit it should appeare he was in deede great occasion undoubtedly was giuen vnto Queene Alfred to seeke reuenge for the wrongful keeping backe of hir sonne Egelred frō his rightful succession to the crowne but whether that Edwarde was legitimate or not she might yet haue deuised some other lawful meane to haue come by hir purpose not so to haue procured the murther of the yong Prince in such vnlawfull maner For hir doing therein can neither be worthily allowed nor throughly excused although those that occasioned the mischiefe by aduauncing hir stepsonne to an other mans right deserued most blame in this matter Egelredus This Egelred or Etheldred was the .xxx. in number from Cerdicius the first King of the West Saxons through his negligente gouernment the state of the common wealth fell into such decay as wryters doe report that vnder him it may bee sayde howe the kingdome was come to the vttermost poynt or period of olde and feeble age For whereas whilest the Realme was deuided at the first by the Saxons into sundrie dominions it grew at length as it were increasing from youthfull yeares to one absolute Monarchie which passed vnder the late remembred Princes Egbert Adelstane Edgar and others so that in their dayes it might be said how it was growne to mans state but now vnder this Egelred through famine pestilence and warres the state thereof was so shaken turned vpside downe and weakened on eche parte that rightly might the season be likened vnto the olde broken yeares of mans life which through feeblenesse is not able to helpe it selfe Dunstan the Archbishop of Canterbury was thought to haue foreseene this thing and therfore refused to anoynt Egelred king whiche by the murther of his brother shoulde atteyne to the gouernment but at length he was compelled to it and so he sacred him at Kingston vpon Thames as the maner then was on the .xxiiij. day of Aprill assysted by Oswalde Archbishop of Yorke and ten other Bishops VVil. Mal. But as hath beene reported Dunstan then sayde that the English people shoulde suffer condigne punishment generally with losse of auncient liberties which before that tyme they had enioyed Dunstan also long before prophecied of the flouthfulnesse that should remaine in this Ethelred For at what time he ministred the sacrament of Baptisme vnto him shortly after he came into this world he defyled the Font with the ordure of his wombe as hath beene sayde wherevppon Dunstan beeing troubled in hys mynde By the Lorde sayth he and his blessed mother this child shall proue to be a slouthfull person It hath bene written also that when he was but tenne yeares of age and heard that his brother Edwarde was slaine he so offended his mother with weeping bycause she coulde not still him that hauing no rodde at hande shee tooke Tapers or Sizes that stoode before hir and bet him so sore with them that she had almost killed him whereby he coulde neuer after abyde to haue any such Candles lighted before him Polidor This Egelred as writers say was nothing giuen to warlike enterprises but was slouthfull a louer of ydlenesse and delyting in ryotous lustes which being knowne to all men caused him to be euill spoken of amongst his owne people and nothing feared amongst straungers Herevpon the Danes that exercised roauing on the Seas beganne to conceyue a boldenesse of courage to disquiet and molest the Sea coastes of the realme insomuche that in the seconde yeare of this Egelreds raigne Ran. Higd. 980 they came with seuen Shippes on the Englishe coastes of Kent and spoyled the Isle of Tennet the Towne of Southampton and in the yere following they destroyed S. Petrokes Abbay in Cornewall Sim. Dunel Porthlande in Deuonshire and dyuerse other places by the Sea syde specially in Deuonshire and Cornewall Ran. Higd. Also a great part of