certaine predictions in Rome happening were so respected and generally expounded That Nature was about to bring forth a King that should raigne ouer the whole world And albeit these and other Heathen Writers ascribe these things either to Augustus himselfe or to some of his fauorites yet wee see them accomplished in none other but Iesus Christ the Messiah our blessed Sauiour in whom only the Kingdome of God began with the vtter subuersion of all their heathenish Oracles which at his birth or at furthest at his death ceased all and gaue place to HIS eternitie Which time of his birth by the Scriptures most certaine account was from the worlds creation 3927. and is set by the Britaine 's in the fourteenth of their Cunobelines raigne and by other authenticke Writers in the two and fortieth of Augustus Caesar euen in the top of that Empires greatnesse when Rome was with an vniuersall subiection acknowledged the absolute Lady of the knowne earth For so in S. Luke wee read that this Augustus then first taxed the world A text most strong for the full dissolution of the foure foregone kingdomes represented in Daniels Image by the fall of this stone Christ the rocke and stay of our eternall happinesse 7 This Emperour raigned in great honour the space of fifty six yeeres and was obeyed both by the Easterne Indians and the Northerne Scythians with the subiection of the Parthians a fierce and vntamed people and generally with the loue of all Hee was a Prince indued with great wisdome magnanimitie and Iustice yet faulty in this that he tooke from Tiberius Nero his wife Liuia both great with child and hauing also formerly borne him a sonne Deuout hee was in the worship of the Romane Gods amongst whom in the Capitoll he built an Altar vnto the Hebrew childe with this inscription The Altar of the first begotten Sonne of God being thereunto mooued by the Oracle of Apollo that had answered his owne destruction by the birth of this childe Of Stature he was but low and of a good complexion gray-eied his haire somewhat yellow and his body freckled with spots which as his flatterers would haue the world beleeue were in forme like starres Predictions foreshewing his gouernment and death are alleged the which I willingly ouerpasse holding most of them rather fantasies then truth At his death hee demanded of the standers by whether he had well acted the enterlude of his life vpon the stage of this world and died fourteene yeeres after Christ his incarnation leauing after him so honourable an estimation of his glory that as the succeeding Emperours in remembrance of Iulius Caesar gloried to be called Caesars so they euer held the name of Augusti to be sacred and only befitting persons destinated to imperiall Maiestie And both their names were inserted into the number of the moneths that the honour of them both might neuer perish while Times euiternitie should endure TIBERIVS CHAPTER IV. AVgustus Caesar thus gloriously raigning and peaceably dying had ordained for his successour Tiberius Nero the sonne of Tiberius the Patritian and of Liuia his wife whom as we said before he had taken for his Empresse and by whose incitements and continuall instigations that matter was procured though Suetonius thinketh it was by Augustus his owne ambitious conceit to make himselfe the sooner missed and the more lamented in leauing his sonne so vnlike him to succeed whose conditions as they stood vpon their owne basis hee knew to bee both reprooueable and also contemptible 2 But before the death of Caesar could be diuulged to write his imperiall stile as it were in blood he began with the murder of young Agrippa the sonne of Iulia daughter to Octanian and once his owne wife and continued his raigne with such tyrannie that many he slaughtred without respect of person or cause and in his loosest lasciuiousnesse thought of nothing but how to subuert the Nobilitie for rare it was in his daies that any such died a naturall death and maintaining a race of men Promoters as Tacitus tearmes them found out for a common ouerthrow and destruction of others allured them by rewards to accuse the rich though guiltlesse only this fauour granted to the condemned that if they slew themselues before the day of execution their bodies should haue buriall their goods not confiscate and their testament stand good in law 3 A great dissembler he was seeming euer to hate those vices which in truth he loued and to loue those vertues which he did most deadly hate and for life and libidinous filthinesse so extreme that a Christians pen may not expresse when the Heathen themselues doe blush to name such things as hee shamed not openly to commit his publike drunkennesse and continuall banquettings whereat hee spent whole daies and nights together without intermission caused exchange of names from Tiberius Nero to Biberius Mero Dissolute and carelesse he was in gouernment though some haue accounted him a wise and politicke Prince for the Prouinces he left to defend themselues and yet daily charged them with larger Tributes to their great impouerishment and almost vtter ruine 4 In this state amongst others neglected Britaine stood wherein Tiberius neither maintained garrison nor attempted alteration and whereby as it may be thought their owne Lawes and Princes bare sway among themselues howsoeuer the cause for Tribute was ballized betwixt them And most certaine it is the Britaines if not in subiection yet were well affected to the Romanes as appeareth by Tacitus in the kinde entertainments and in releeuing their shipwracked souldiers that in crossing the Seas were by tempest driuen vpon their Coasts and courteouslie sent thence by their petty Kings vnto Germanicus their Generall Notwithstanding Ieffrey Monmouth seemeth to affirme the contrary that bringeth the raign of one Guiderius and the valour of Aruiragus the sonnes of Cunobeline of whom more heereafter to withstand the Romish Command and vtterly to refuse the paiment of Tribute banding both against Tiberius as also against Caligula and Claudius the Emperours succeeding 5 Other remembrances of these times concerning vs finde we none besides that which is common to all namely the death of our Saviour Christ which vnder this Tyrant and in his eighteenth yeere was accomplished by the proceeding of his as wicked Deputy Pontius Pilate who both adiudged him to die and to bee guiltlesse of deseruing death whereby was wrought the mysterie of our Redemption with such signes and euidences of his Deitie that the wicked Iudge himselfe wrote thereof to Tiberius and hee to the Senate to haue him consecrated among the Roman Gods Which they refused to doe that the wisdome and diuine power of God in the doctrine of Saluation should not need the allowance and commendation of men as Eusebius hath well obserued 6 Finally when hee had raigned hated of all men
West The Princes of Wales doe homage to William Math. Paris Henry Hunt Simon Dun. Will. Malmes Math. Paris Polydor. An D. 1077 Robert warreth for Normandy Will. Malmes Mat. Paris Simon Dun. King William wounded and vnhorsed He bandeth his sonne Will. Malmes An. D. 1708 The Tower of London built Iohn Stow. Regist Epist. Roâ—… Stephenide Will. Malmes Florentius Wigor England Suruaie and generall Iudgement Ingulfus Higden Stow calleth that booke Doâ—…us Dei. Ingulfus Geruasius Tilburiens Robert Glocestrens Englands exactions Iohn Castor Iohn Rowse Englishmens reproch Mat. Paris in Gâ—…d Conq. Simon Dunel Malcolme inuadeth England Cambden in Ottaâ—… Simon Dun. Danes prepare against William Mat. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 â—…ance of in â—…ame 〈◊〉 King Williams depopulations Cambd in Hantshire Gualter Mâ—… King William the father or wild Beasts Iudgements of God â—…n King Williams 〈◊〉 in New Forest Cambden Matth. Paris Calamities falling on the Land All things degenerate Roger Wendouer Marianus Pope Gregories Buls against maried Priests Matth Paris in Gâ—… Conq. Inhibiting of married Priests a new deuice and inconsiderate Popish Continency hypocriticall Odo King williams brother affecteth the Papacy King william condemneth his brothers Ambitions His sacrileges His Oppressions His Trecheries His imprisonment His Auarice Wil. Malmsb. Matth. Paris Some write King William tooke Physicke to take downe his great fat belly Higden William Malmes King Williams Oath Stow saith two Anchorits King Williams last Will and Testament Ex Libro Cadomensis Monast. His last Speecâ—… on point of death Of his Sinnes Of his Norman troubles Of his Normans qualities Of his friends Kindreds vnkindnesse Of his English Conquest Outward triumphes leaue inward horrâ—…s His workes of deuotion His Counsell to his Children The dispose of his States Of Normandy Of England King Williams Legacie to his sonne Henry He writeth into England King Williams death With such doctrine was good deuotion abused contrary to the prescript of God Isai. Chap. 33. 16. Princes friends His Corps forsaken of all sorts The qualities of Court-Kites His Hearse also abandoned of al. His buriall place denied him Annoiance at his funerall Hence Stowe notes their report for fabulous who wrot that his Body was found vncorrupt 500. yeeres after his death His description for lineaments and qualities Will. Malmes Rand. Higden Polyc. lib. 7. cap. 4. Stow ex libro Richmond King Williams Charter to Hunter Lambert Peramb Ingulfus Hollins Lamb. Peramb Iohn Leland Wil. Malms Roane Bartel-Abbay so called of a battell there sought against Harold Will. Newbery Math. Paris in Will Conq. Charta de Bello Selby Abbay Exeter Priory Iohn Stow. Saint Stephens in Cane William Malmes King William regardfull of matrimonial agreement Robert A cruell reuenge of one brother on another Henry slaine let his GraÌ„drathers New-forest Richard Richard slaine 〈◊〉 his fathers New-Foâ—…est William Rufus or the 〈◊〉 Henry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Annales S. Augustus Cantâ—…ar M. S. Cecily She is vailed a Nunne Constanâ—… The Earldome of Richmond erected Alice Saint William Archbishop of Yorke Gundred Ela. Margaret William Rufus Monarch 40 An. D. 1087 William Rufus comes into England Ypodigma Neustria Simon Dunel The Peeres wish well to his Elder brother Mat. Paris Ypodigm Lanfranke and Wulstane sway the Peeres for Rufus William Gemit Matth. Paris His Coronation His disposition An. D. 1088 Rand. Higden in Polychr lib. 7. cap. 5 Robert possessed of Normandy His disposition Odoes emulation against Lanfrank Polyc. lib. 7. cap. 5. He conspireth against the King Inuireth Robert to try for the Crowne Duke Roberts hopes for England His wants His supply by morgage of his Land Odo the ringlealeader for Duke Robert Rob. Mowbray and other his associates Wil. Malms Simon Dun. Bristow fortified against King William Henry Hunt Duke Robert verie faire for the Kingdome Wil. Genetic King William promiseth to mollifie his Laws He waxeth strong Odo his great heart taken downe Simon Dun. An. D. 1089 * This Castle some lay was built by Odo but it appears to haue been built by William Conquerour Domesday-book Will. Gemet Niding a word of Reproch Camb. in Kent Matth. Paris Odo leaues England Rufus pretendeth submissiuenesse to his brother Polychr lib. 7. c. 3. Math. Paris William Rufus a cunning Time-seruer Faire words appease fooles and often deceiue the wise Lanfranke dieth King William an ill manager of Ecclesiasticall promotions Gâ—…rn Dor. Pope Vrbâ—… not at leasure then to remedy Church wrongs An. D. 1090 Ypodigma Neustria King William enters Normandy Peace made betwixt the King and Duke Will Gemet Matth. Paris Ypodig Neust. Math. Paris Both Brethren oppugne Henry the younger brother Willi. Gemet King William endangered in a Siege King William preferres him that ouerthrew him Williams Oath Edmerus saith his oath was By Gods face An. D. 1091 Ran. Higden in Polychr lib. 7. c. 5. A friendly Enemie An vn-brotherlie Brother Will. Gemet The three brethen reconciled Ypodigm Neustr. Chron. Wallia Warre bewixt Rise Prince of Southwales and 〈◊〉 Rob. Fiftz-hammon â—…ides 〈◊〉 Rob. Fitz. hammon and his followers possesions in Walles The Knighs who attended Fitz hammon An. D. 1092 Gemet Malcolme King of Scotland enters England with a power King William 〈◊〉 Malcolme meete enter League Ypodigm 〈◊〉 â—…stria Mat. Paris King William and Duke Robert at variance againâ—… Carleil reedified Peopled with a Southerne Colony Endowed with large Privilegio An. D. 109 King William falleth sicke and voweth 〈◊〉 Matth Paris Henry Hunt Polychron lib. 7. â—…p 6. Ger. Dorob Godwin in his Catalogue of Bishops Hic humâ—…lis diues res mira potens pausâ—… vltor Compatiensâ—…â—…itis cum pateretur erat Ypodigâ—… Neustri King William regaineth his health and loseth his good purposes Goodwin in the life of Anselme Polychron lib. 7. cap. 7. Rand. Higd. King Malcolme commeth to Glocester Will. Gemet Departeth discontent William Malmes Polydor. Raiseth a power William Gemet Is slaine with his son the Prince Simon Dun. Earl Mowbraies greatnesse suspected by the King Math. Paris Is taken and imprisoned Ypodigm Neustr. Hector Bâ—…s lib. 12. cap. 12. Malcolme slaine vnder shew of submission The name of Percyes ancienter theÌ„ Perceing of Malcolmes eâ—…e Uide Cambd. in Northâ—…m Gemetâ—…icensis Saâ—…nt Margaret Edgar Ethelings Sister dieth for griefe of her husbands death few such Saint-like wiues Hector Boetius Math. Paris The English Monarchs of Wales An. D. 1094 Wil. Malmsb. Ran. Hagd Simon Dun. A breach againe betwixt the two Brethren but made vp for a time King William refuseth the censure of his Arbitrators Bothparts againe in Armes King William preuailes by money Math. Paris The French King leaues his friend for money The warres for the Holy Land Theod. Biblian Duke Robert going to Ierusalem morgageth his Dukedome Henry Hunt Will Thorne Paul Aemil. Will. Gemet King Williams extreame exactions Math. Paris Not sparing Churches and Monasteries Aedmerus An. D. 1095 His expedition for Wales The Welsh fly to their Mountains An. D. 1096 Anglesey inuaded Mat. Paris An. D. 1097 Cruelty
in Britaine besides the honour and renowne of that voiage and sight of that Country vntill then vnknown to the Romans And againe saith hee Caesar departed thence hauing done no memorable act which caused the Britaines to be secure and carelesse to prouide themselues against his second arriuage Whereby is apparant euen by Romane Writers both the bold resistance that the Britaine 's made and the deare subiection that the Romans bought But in matters so farre past it is hard for mee to auouch any thing resoluedly vnlesse I could meet with that aged Britaine whom M. Aper conferred with heere in Britanny as Quintilian writeth who auowed that hee was in the British Campe when they did beat Caesar from the shoare 13 Neither will I vrge that for truth which Authours haue left vs in their reports concerning the many prodigies before going and forewarning his death things rather to be accounted the superfluities of their owne pens and vaine imageries euer working vpon accidentall euents and ascribing issued successe to a supernaturall cause Such conceit had Caesar of himselfe that for his fortunes hee would bee stiled amongst the Gods and his deitie to that credulous generation was further strengthned by the appearance of a blazing starre which mooued no doubt an ouer-large opinion of his humane power and caused his glorie much to surmount it selfe And therefore lest ignorance should any way blemish his immortalitie they haue fained the manner of his dying best pleasing to himselfe and many ominous signes to foreshew the same all which he either lightly despised or carelesly neglected as they would haue their Readers beleeue 14 Such was that of Spurina his diuiner that forewarned him of great danger which should not passe the Ides of March. And Suetonius out of Cornelius Balbus reporteth that in the ancient Monuments of Capuae discouered but few moneths before was found a Table of brasse wherein was written the manner of his murder and the reuenge that should follow his owne dreames the night before wherein he seemed to flie in the clouds and to shake hands with Iupiter as also his wiues that thought him stabbed in her armes and to lie all bloody in her bosome Besides many other obseruances both of beasts and birds and that in such plentie that it yeelded sufficient matter for Ouid the Poet to furnish and fill vp the latter part of his last booke of Metamorphosis His feature qualities and fortunes are by them thus described Of personage to be tall strong and well limmed faire and full faced with blacke eies and bald headed to couer which he vsually wore the Triumphant Lawrell Garland He was well learned and therewithall very eloquent and although so great a warriour thirsting after fame yet would he be easily reconciled to his enemies yea and often times seeke the meanes first himselfe And hee held it no lesse valour to subdue his wrath then his enemie as likewise in his disasters hee was of great temper and moderation insomuch that Seneca writeth of him that whiles he was in Britaine hearing newes of his daughters death which was lamented as a great losse to the whole State hee conquered that sorrow as easily and as quickly as hee subdued all things where euer he came And of his other moderatenesse Cotas who then held the second place of honour and command in the Armie writeth that though Caesar was then so great and glorious a Commander yet he was so farre from outward pompe as that when he came into Britannie hee had onely three seruants to attend him 15 In his enterprises hee was both valiant and fortunate and is therefore singled out for an Idea or Paterne of an absolute Generall especially for foure militaric properties very resplendent in him first laboriousnesse in his affaires secondly courage in his dangers thirdly industrious contriuing of what he vndertooke fourthly quicke dispatch in accomplishing what hee had once begun In all which he proceeded with such successe that in fiftie seuerall battles by him fought he alwaies preuailed one only excepted as both Pliny Solinus and others haue recorded Foure times hee was created Consul and fiue times entred Rome in triumph bearing still the stile of Perpetuall Dictator And therfore with lesse dishonour did nations subiect themselues vnto him and this of Britaine with them whose lot being cast among the hazards of the world was drawen with an equall chance as the rest and yeelded their freedomes with as hard conditions as did Countries of more extent and Kingdomes of greater account But most especially the decree of God could not bee gaine-stood who had foreshewed by his Prophets the rising of these Chittims and them a meanes to make the metalline image dust OCTAVIVS AVGVSTVS CHAPTER III. AFter the death of Caesar thus slaine in the Senate Octauian the grand-childe of Iulia Cesars sister whom hee had adopted and declared his heire returned vnto Rome from Apollonia where he studied Philosophie intending to prosecute the reuenge of Caesars death where falling at oddes with Marcus Antonius a man of great spirit and power and setting himselfe against Brutus and Cassius with their Complices for the murder of his vncle secretly wrought the friendship of the Citizens before whose eies also Caesars wounds seemed yet to bleed 2 These factions thus begun grew to such height that in the Senate-house their causes were pleaded and by the instigation and eloquence of Marcus Tullius Cicero Antonius was proclaimed enemie to the State against whom Octauian was sent with Ensignes of Consul and title Propraetor being yet not twentie yeeres of age which duty and office he so well discharged in the parts of a valiant Captaine that Antony was forced out of the field albeit in this battle the one Consul was slaine and the other deadly wounded For which seruice so effected he entred Rome in Triumph though the glory thereof was much blemished being obtained but in an intestine and ciuill warre Marcus Antonius to recouer himselfe and make good his cause ioined friendship with Marcus Aemilius Lepidus Captaine of the horse who together interposed themselues against Octauians proceedings but by mediation of friends all three were reconciled and iointly erected that forme of gouernment which thence was named the Triumuirat for the establishment whereof they had seuerall iurisdictions assigned them to Lepidus Africa whereof he was present Gouernour to Antony the Countries as well of Greece as Asia that lay betwixt the Ionian Sea entring at the gulfe of Venice vnto the riuer Euphrates and vnto Octanian all these West parts of Europe amongst which this our Britaine was one 3 In these ciuill broiles and bandings of great men as Tacitus termeth it the State of Britaine lay long forgotten and stood in peaceable termes Augustus thinking it wisdome saith he to restraine the infinite desire of inlarging the Romane Empire whose extent was growen to that vast
so farre the law of Nature alloweth euery man that he may defend himselfe being assailed and to withstand force by force Had I at first yeelded thy glory and my ruine had not beene so renowned Fortune hath now done her worst wee haue nothing left vs but our liues which if thou take from vs our miseries end and if thou spare vs wee are but the obiects of thy Clemencie 16 Caesar wondring to see such resolutions and so free a minde in a Captiue estate pardoned Caractacus his wife and brethren who being vnbound did their reuerence to Agrippina the Empresse that sate aloft on a Throne Roiall This Conquest and Triumph ouer Caractacus ministred matter of discourse and admiration thorough out all Rome and the Lords of the Senate held it no lesse honourable then that of P. Scipio who triumphed ouer Syphax the Numidian King or that of Perses whom Paulus Aemilius vanquished or then any other King that had beene taken in warre or exhibited to the view of the people Then were also publicke Triumphall honours decreed for Ostorius whose fortunes vntill then had beene very prosperous but now began to be doubtfull or rather to decline either because Caractacus the foile of his glory was remoued and thereupon as though all had beene subdued a more carelesse seruice entertained or else the courage of the Britaine 's was more inflamed to reuenge through the feruent compassion of the fall of so mightie a King 17 For immediately they enuironed the Camp-master and the Legionary Cohorts which were left to build fortresses in the Country of the Silures whom with eight Centurions and the forwardest Souldiers they slew and had put all the rest to the sword if rescue had not speedily come from the villages and forts adioining The Forragers also and troope of horse that were sent to aid them they put to flight These affronts touched Ostorius to the quick and lest their aids should grow to a greater head he sent forth certaine light-harnessed companies which with the Legionary Souldiers vndertooke the battle and with small oddes was it continued till the night came and parted them diuers other Skirmishes afterwards were made though for the most part in woods and marishes whence taking their aduantage in sallying forth they many times preuailed sometimes by strength sometimes by meere courage and sometimes by chance neither were they alwaies commanded by their Captaines but many times fought voluntary and without warrant 18 The principal motiue that induced the rest to take Armes was the example of the Silure who were most resolutely bent as beeing exasperated by certaine speeches that the Romane Emperour himselfe had vsed which was that as the name of the Sugambri was destroied and the people transported into Gallia so the memorie of Silures should vtterly bee extinguished And in this heate as men desperate whose destinies were read and lots cast already they intercepted the scattered troopes of the Romanes that vncircumspectly wasted and spoiled the Country taking of them many prisoners and recouering rich booties which they sent and distributed amongst their neighbours whereby many other were drawne to reuolt These proceedings sate so neere Ostorius his heart who with long cares and trauels had wearied his spirits spent the strength of his bodie and thereunto had now added the discontentment of his minde that in these vexations hee gaue vp the Ghost the Silures reioicing that so worthy and victorious a Captaine was fallen in their warres 19 But Claudius Caesar lest the Prouince should make head presently sent Aulus Didius for his Lieutenant into Britaine where notwithstanding all his haste he found all out of frame For Manlius Valens with his Legion had encountred the Britaines with ill successe yet not so bad as the Ilanders gaue foorth thinking thereby to terrifie their new-established Gouernour which report himselfe also in policie was contented to augment thereby to purchase more praise in appeasing so dangerous stirres or if hee could not to retaine his own credit without his valours impeachment These resisters had made many inroads into the subdued Countries against whom vpon his first arriuall Didius entred the field and for a while kept them in awe 21 For the Silures were not altogether quieted a Legion commanded by Caesius Nasica fought luckily against the Britaines In all which stirres Didius in person was absent as being stricken in yeares and hauing receiued many honours held it sufficient to execute his charge by the assistance of others The State of Britain thus standing let vs so leaue it during this Emperours raigne which now began to draw towards his last period by the working of Agrippina his wife and by her vpon this occasion 22 It chanced Claudius in his wine to cast forth a word of great suspition in saying That it was fatall vnto him first to beare the leaudnes of his wiues then to punish them She knowing her selfe guiltie in disinheriting of Britannicus who was Claudius his owne sonne for the adoption of Nero who was hers besides other insolencies wherewith she might bee taxed sought therefore to cleare her owne way by taking him out of the way and with Locusta a woman skilfull in poisoning and Zenophon a Physition as large of conscience conferred for the maner of his death who in fine concluded that poison was the surest and the least in suspect or at leastwise the most difficult to be proued against her 23 This then resolued they temper poison in a Mushrom whereof he greedily did eate and shortly after ended his life the thirteenth day of October when hee had raigned thirteene yeares eight moneths and twentie daies the yeare of Christ his incarnation fiftie sixe and of his owne age sixtie foure He was of stature tall and of a pleasing Countenance full of Maiestie and comely gray haires his Head continually shaking somewhat stammering in his speech very learned but therewithall very forgetfull and altogether ruled by his wiues and domesticall Seruants the two ordinary banes of most men who are aduāced to any eminent place of gouernement cōmand 24 This Emperour saith Seneca might make his boast that he was the first conquerour of the Britaines for Iulius Caesar did but shew their Iland vnto the Romans whereas Claudius made their necks yeeld to the chaines of their captiuities And Aegisippus saith thus of Claudius His witnesse is Britan which liued without the world but now by him reduced vnder the Romans Empire and those whom the former ages knew not neither themselues any seruitude are now by him both made knowen and seruants to the Romans And againe As great a matter it was to passe those Seas as to haue triumphed ouer those Britains wherein saith he euen the elements haue done homage vnto Claudius In ioy whereof and reuerence to the Gods in his triumph he mounted the staires of the Capitoll vpon his aged knees being
Land and onely diuided asunder by a narrow partition of ground the same was both garded and fortified with Castles and Garrisons so that the Romanes were absolute Lords of all the South-side and had cast the Enemie as it were into another Iland 7 In this state stood this Prouince of Britaine at the death of Titus whose short raign hath left no long matters of discourse and his Acts greater vnder other Emperours then when he was Emperour himselfe yet that little time wherein he gouerned was with Iustice Liberalitie and Loue of all A great Enemie he was to Promoters Pettifoggers and Extortours of penall lawes which Cancker-wormes of Common-wealths and Caterpillers to Courts of Iustice he caused to bee whipped and banished out of Rome Louing and familiar hee was to all his Subiects and so desirous to giue them satisfaction that his vsuall saying was No man ought to goe sad from the speech of a Prince Mercifull he was to the poore and so readie to do them good that one day being spent by him without any notable action in sorrow he said I haue quite lost a day He died the thirteenth of September the yeare from Christs Natiuitie eightie three when he had raigned two yeares and two moneths and in the two and fortieth yeare of his age beeing poisoned by Domitian his Brother and Successour FLAVIVS DOMITIAN CHAPTER XIV DOmitian attaining the Empire by the death of Titus wrought by himselfe as farre differed from him in vertuous conditions as he was linked neere him in consanguinitie of blood His youth not spent in Armes with his Father and Brother but inertiously consumed in lasciuiousnesse and penurie 2 At Rome hee was in the Vitellian troubles where with Sabinus his Vncle he had beene murdered had not the Sexton of the Capitoll hid him in his house and in the habit of a Minister vnknowen thence escaped which place afterwards when hee came to be Emperour he gorgeously built for a Temple to Iupiter his supposed Preseruer and consecrated himselfe in the lap of that heathenish Idoll Hee very speedily apprehended the hope of an Empire for no sooner was his Father made Emperour but that hee assumed the name of Caesar and in Rome caried himselfe with such prodigalitie and so liberally made promises of the Imperiall Offices that his father hearing thereof said he maruelled why his sonne sent not one to succeed him in his place But to dissemble and cloake his idle conceits he gaue himselfe to the study of Poesie although with little affection as the end prooued for which notwithstanding both Pliny and Martial doe highly commend him as it is the manner of men to admire the very shadow of a good quality in Princes and great ones and so doth Iuuenal and Suetonius praise his braue minde for his shewes in the Amphitheater wherein not only men but women also were brought and forced to fight for their liues with wilde beasts a cruell spectacle neuerthelesse and vnbeseeming to humanity 3 His first entrance into state and dignitie was neither greatly applauded nor gainsaid hee seeming to carrie an equall mixture and his vertues to hold leuell with his vice But Ambition now supported with Soueraignty did quickly set the scale onely for the worse side The affaires of the Empire hee altogether neglected and impatient of labour or affection to Armes daily retired into a priuate chamber or Gallery wherein hee vsually applied himselfe onely to catch Flies and with the point of a bodkin to pricke them thorow whereupon one being asked what company was with the Emperour replied Not so much as a flie In which princely exercise let vs a while leaue him and returne to his better emploied Lieutenant Agricola 4 Who now in the fifth yeere of his gouernment tooke the seas and with many prosperous conflicts subdued some adiacent places and people before that time vnknowen and furnished with forces those parts of Britaine which lay coasted against Ireland to which Countrey also hee had a minde and would often say that if the Romans were therin planted the Libertie of the Britaines would soone be banished quite out of sight and out of hope 5 Now in the sixth yeere of his Prefecture because a general rising of al the farther Nations beyond Bodotria was feared and passages were all beset with power of the Enemies he manned a Fleet to search the creekes and harboroughs of the ample Region beyond it and with his Armie marched further North. The Britaines heereat especially at sight of their ships much amazed and troubled knowing now that the secrets of their Seas were all discouered and no refuge left if they were ouercome armed themselues with great preparation and the Caledonians a most puissant and strong Nation in those parts the formost who as challengers braued the Romans so boldly and in such manner that some counselled the Generall to retire his forces on this side Bodotria and rather of his owne accord to depart then to bee repelled with shame 6 Agricola whose courage could not be clouded with any dastardly feare held on his intents and hearing by prisoners taken the manner of his Enemies proceedings ordereth his host accordingly diuiding his armie into three battles and so lay entrenched the weakest whereof containing the Ninth Legion the Britaines by Night assailed and hauing slaine the Watch brake into their Campe with a furious noise to whose rescue Agricola sent his Light horsemen and a Band of foot whose Ensignes and Armour glittering in the appearance of day so rebated the edge and further purposes of the Britaines that they gaue backe to the gates of the Trench where in the straits the conflict was sharpe and cruell till in the end they were forced to quit the field Vpon this battle so manfully fought and so famously won the Romans presuming that to their prowesse all things were now easie and open cried to lead into Caledonia and to finde out the limits of Britaine with a course of continued Conquests and those which erewhile were so wary and wise waxt forward and bold after the euent and grew to speake bigly such being the hard condition of Warres that if ought fall out well all challenge a part misfortunes are onely imputed to one Contrariwise the Britaines presupposing that not valour but skill in the Generall by vsing the occasion had carried it away abated no whit their wonted courage but armed their youth transported their Children and Wiues into places of safety and sought by Assemblies Religious rites to establish an Association of the Cities together And so for that yeere both parties did depart incensed to further preparations 7 In the beginning of the next Agricola sending his Nauie before which by vnexpected spoiling in seuerall places should induce a greater and more vncertain terrour followed himselfe with his Armie by Land hauing drawne to his partie some of the valiantest Britaine 's whom by long experience in
the Senate in eternall memorie of his goodnes recalled from banishment the Christians seuerally dispersed and suffred them to enioy the freedome of their profession At which time Iohn the Euangelist returned from Pathmos wherein he had beene confined vnto Ephesus a Citie in ◅sia the lesse And Nerua raigning only one yeare foure mone◅s and nine daies died of a passionate anger conceiued against a Senator in the yeare of Christ his incarnation ninetie nine the twentie seuenth day of Ianuary seuentie sixth of his own age TRAIAN CHAPTER XVI VNto Nerua succeeded Vulpius Traian in the Roman Empire borne neere vnto Seuill in the Territories of Spaine of a noble familie but was much more ennobled in himselfe for his princely endowments which moued Nerua in his life time to adopt him into so high a calling and the whole Senate after his death ioifullie to confirme his Election and so often to honour him with the title of the Most Excellent Prince in publike dedications as on the Coine aboue 2 Hee raised the Romane Empire vnto the very highest pitch of glory and spread the power of their Command into the largest circuit that euer before or since hath beene possessed For the Kingdome of Dacia hee subdued Armenia Parthia and Mesopotamia made subiect Assyria Persia and Babylon conquered passed Tigris and stretched the confines of the Roman Empire vnto the remotest dominions of the Indies which neuer before that time had heard of the Roman Name And indeed if wee looke vpon his politicke managing of the gouernment he may seeme in comparison of others a right worthy memorable and louely Prince of much affabilitie and familiaritie euen with his inferiours and of such cariage towards his Subiects as he himselfe would wish his Prince he said to vse towards him if he were a Subiect A great obseruer also of Iustice insomuch that when he inuested any Pretor in giuing him the Sword he commanded him to vse the same euen against his owne person if he violated Law or Equitie But yet against the good Christians he vsed neither of both nay hee stirred vp their Third Persecution wherein Ignatius and many other worthy Saints of God receiued the Crowne of Martyrdome in such cruell manner as that his other vertues are much clouded by that taxation for mollification whereof he was compassionately intreated by Plinius Secundus his Tutor whose Epistles to that purpose are yet extant 3 The Iewes in his time rose vp in armes against the Gentiles and in Cyrene Aegypt and Cyprus slew a great number against whom Traian sent his Captaines with forces sufficient and in diuers parts of the Empire put the Iewes to death in such infinite numbers as that Massacre is accounted the greatest Execution that euer had beene in the world God suffring this their punishment to light vpon them for their infidelitie and obstinacie against his Christ. 4 Finally after his Conquests in the East returning towards Rome at Seleucia in Asia the lesse himselfe was conquered by the stroke of death by a fluxe the seuenth day of August after he had raigned nineteene yeeres six moneths and fifteene daies the yeere of our Redemption one hundred and eighteene and of his age sixtie foure whose ashes brought to Rome were inclosed within the Crowne of a goodly Pillar wrought of one intire stone containing one hundred forty foot in height 5 Of stature he was bigge of complexion swarthie thinne of haire both head and beard a hooked nose brode shoulders long hands and a pleasant eie whose liuely Image was borne in Triumph after his death and that in most glorious and pompous manner in celebration of his great renowne and fame attained in his life 6 How silent soeuer writers haue beene for this Emperours affaires in this our Iland yet it is to be thought that vnto this as wel as vnto other Prouinces both Propretors Lieutenants Presidents Pretors and Proconsuls were sent and euery Citie to haue their municipall Magistrates The Pretor that yearely proclaimed solemne Sessions wherin himself sate aloft vpon a high tribunall seate and guarded with his lictors about him in great estate did execute his authoritie throughout his owne iurisdiction and determined all causes brought before him where rods and axes were prepared for the common people that were enforced to receiue a new Ruler euerie yeare And surely as this yoke of bondage was grieuously borne of euery Prouince vpon whose necke it was imposed laid So the Britaines vnderwent the weight of that subiection with such vnwillingnes that in the time of this Traian they reuolted and rebelled though presently suppressed as it is euident out of Spartianus 7 The care that this good Emperour had for the weale of his Subiects is proiected by his prouidence in making waies passageable from place to place whereof remaine many testimonies by those his Causeies drawne with wonderfull diligence euen thorow the whole Iland which now though dismembred and cut in peeces by the Countrie people wherethorow they passed yet doe many remnants thereof remaine especially in pastures or by-grounds out of the rode way with bankes so high that euidently they shew themselues Of these Causeies Gallen writeth as followeth The waies saith he Traian repaired by pauing with stone or raising with bankes cast vp such peeces of them as were moist and miry by stocking vp and ridding such as were rough and ouergrowne with bushes and briers by making bridges ouer Riuers that could not bee waded thorow where the way seemed longer then needed by cutting out another shorter if any where by reason of some steepe hill the passage were hard and vneasie by turning it aside thorow easier places now in case it was haunted with wilde beasts or lie waste and desert by drawing it thence thorow places inhabited and withall laying leuell all vneuen and rugged grounds Along these Causeies the Emperour caused to bee set little pillars or Columnes with numerall Characters cut in thē to signifie how many miles was from place to place Of these Sidonius Apollinaris writeth thus Antiquus tibi nec teratur agger Cuius per spatium satis vetustis Nomen Caesareum viret columnis Breake not the ancient Causeies strong Whereon the Columnes stand along Nor names of Caesars doe not wrong HADRIAN CHAPTER XVII AFter the decease of Traiane his Nephew Aelius Hadrianus by the consent of the Armie who swore to him obedience was proclaimed Emperour the Senate likewise confirming their choice as beeing a man indued with gifts both of Art and Nature answerable to the fortunes of his Estate His birth was of Spaine in the Citie Italica neere vnto Cicill where Traian was born his Father Noble and his Mother in Cales descended of an honourable stocke 2 A great Mathematician he was skilfull in Arithmeticke Geometrie Astronomie and Iudicious Astrologie learned in the Greeke and Latine Tongues in which languages he wrote both Poesie
Prouince at that time had been in hazard to be lost vpon which distractions no lesse then fifteene hundred Souldiers at once went out of the Land to Rome to complaine their wrongs vnto Commodus where charging Perennius to bee the stirrer of these troubles with an intent thereby to raise himsefe or his sonne to the Emperiall Maiesty a string that cannot be touched without sound in a Soueraignes eare they were so farre heard and beleeued that Perennius was to them deliuered to be put to death which accordingly they accomplished with all extremity 7 Then was sent for Lieutenant into Britaine Heluius Pertinax a man of low birth but high Fortunes being risen from the state of a common Souldier to the dignity of a Consull and had been Commander before that time ouer many Prouinces Him had Perennius discharged from Britaine and with disgracesent and confined into Liguria where hee was borne whose credit Commodus again with such fauors repaired that he gaue him the Sirname Britannicus which glorious title also himselfe had taken about the yeere 184. At his first entrance and ariuage he assaied by rough hand to suppresse the rebellions of the Army and aduentured his person so farre in some tumults that he was stricken downe and left for dead but afterwards proceeding with better aduice he composed those troubles with most seuere punishments of the principall offenders whereby notwithstanding he presently grew odious to all and thereupon so far feared his own safety that he made suit to the Emperor to be discharged of his Lieutenantship 8 Vnto him succeeded Clodius Albinus in the Gouernment of Britaine a man of great birth forward enough and fortunate for which the Emperor Commodus either vpon fauor or feare did honour him with the title of Caesar though Albinus seemed vnwilling to accept of the same and afterwards discouered his disposition more openly in approuing the Ancient and free state of the Romans For vpon a false report of the death of Commodus he made an Oration to the Legions in Britanny in fauour of the Senate whole kind of Gouernment he much commended and preferred before the rule of the Emperors Of which his affection when Commodus vnderstood he sent Iulius Seuerus in all hast to take charge of the Armie and Albinus retired himselfe from all publike affaires vntill the death of Commodus which not long after followed and was wrought vpon this occasion He hauing assigned many to die and to that end had inrolled their names in a scroll it chanced Martia his Concubine to light on the same wherein she saw her selfe allotted for one And reuealing this his purpose to others that stood in the same list and in the like danger they together thought best to secure their owne liues by his death and with poison stabs and strangling made him away when he had liued one and thirty yeeres foure moneths and viciously raigned thirteen yeeres eight moneths and fifteen daies the yeere of Christs natiuity one hundred ninety and three the night before the Kalends of Ianuarie 9 Of stature he was indifferently tall of a fine constitution of Body very faire of complexion with cleere eies and golden locks neither in person nor in Princely parts resembling his Father How ioifull the death of this Tyrant was both to People and Senate their execrations pronounced against him and their assemblies in the Temples to giue thanks for their deliuerance do manifest as is at large reported by Lampridius who wrote his life and stiled by al Host is humani Generis The enemy of Mankind The very name of the diuell PVBLIVS HELVIVS PERTINAX CHAPTER XXI VPON the person of this Heluius Pertinax of whom we are now to speake Fortune as it seemeth meant to make the full experience of her power and from a very slender foundation to raise the building of her owne Pride His birth was but poore and parents as meane whose Father from a seruile condition got to be free and traded in Mercery wares for his liuing himselfe educated according to his birth rose by degrees to mount the Chaire of all wordly glory and to be the Monarch of the whole world 2 At first a Schoole-master and taught the Grammar next a Ciuil-Lawyer and pleaded causes in Courts and lastly a Martial-man and serued in Campe where Fortune attended him with such fauourable successe that within fiue daies out of the ranck of a common Souldier he was preferred to bee Captaine of a Cohort in the Syrian warres against the Parthians which ended he was imploied into Britannie Missia and Germany and also had charge in chiefe of a Fleete vpon the Flemmish Seas he serued likewise in Dacia with such honourable proofe of his valour as that wise Emperour Marcus Aurelius held him in high esteeme and afterward made him Senator of Rome Then was hee assigned Gouernour of all Syria and Asia the greatest place of Credit and reputation that might be and from thence sent againe in-into Britaine chosen out as the principall man of note for to stay the Commotions there raised against Commodus where in the Field he was left for dead but thence also returning after hee had gouerned foure seuerall Consular Prouinces was created Preconsull of Africa and immediately after Praefect of Rome Neither yet made he his stand there though the greatest of any subiectiue degree till hee had mounted the Throne of Maiesty and had obtained the command ouer All which fell to his lot by the death of Commodus and by the meanes of Martia Aelius Laetus and other Conspirers of his end 3 For the Murther being done in the dead of the night Laetus in great haste repaired to Pertinax his lodging at whose sight the Old man in bed expected nothing but Death as supposing him sent from Commodus to no other end But Laetus salutes him by the vnexpected name of Emperour carrying him with acclamations vnto the Army and in the morning to the Senate where of them all with great ioy he was confirmed Augustus 4 His first businesse was to bridle the Licencious liues of the Praetorian Cohorts iniuries done by them vnto the Romane Citizens which gained him such hatred that it was cause of his death For these men growne disordered and lawlesse in the raigne of Commodus held themselues wronged to be nowlocked vnder the constraint of Lawes ciuil Gouernement and these only enuied the peace prosperity of Pertinax whereas all the Prouinces abroad at the very hearing of his Election and fame of his Imperiall vertues laid a side their weapons and disired to embrace peace with a Prince so nobly qualified 5 The first that conspired against his life was one Falco whom notwithstanding he freely forgaue yet punished certaine Souldiers thereto accessary whereupon the rest assembling themselues in tumultuous and furious manner with their drawn swords inuaded his Palace Hee seeing their purposes sought no escapes
Northumberland and receiued Baptisme himselfe at the hands of Bishop Finnan and at the place called The Wall procured vertuous Cedda to be his assister for the plantation of the Gospell in his Kingdome He was murdered by two of his kinsmen who as Beda saith were Brethren no other cause moouing them but his ouermuch lenitie and clemencie He raigned by the foresaid account sixteene yeeres leauing issue a young sonne named Selred that succeeded Seofrid in that Kingdome SWithelme succeeded his brother in the Prouince of the East-Saxons nothing being mentioned of his life or raigne besides his Baptisme by Bishop Cedda and that his God-father at the Font-stone was Edelwald King of the East-Angles SIghere the sonne of Sigebert the little entred his raigne ouer the Kingdome of the East-Saxons the yeere of our Lord 664. and was the eighth King of that Prouince in part whereof Sebba his nephew raigned with better commendations then Sigehere at his beginning had done for Beda reporteth that vpon a great mortalitie and plague to appease the wrath of his Gods Sighere became an Apostata and forsooke the faith of Christ wheras SEbba continued constant with those in that Prouince vnder his Iurisdiction yet by the diligent care of Wulfere King of the Mercians Sighere and his people were reclaimed throwing downe the Temples and Altars erected to Idolatrie and opening againe the Christian Churches for the Saints assemblies that so saith hee they might rather die in hope of the Resurrection then wallow in sinne and liue in Idolatrie His wife was Oswith the daughter of Edelfrith King of Northumberland whom Capgraue maketh a Saint and Abbesse of Berking neere London euen in the daies of her husband SEbba the Brother of Segebert the Little and Sonne of Seward as we haue said succeeded as sole King in the Prouince of the East-Saxons and with much equitie and administration of Iustice raigned therein thirty yeeres towards the end whereof the better to prepare his mind for contemplation he relinquished his Princely Robes and put on the Habit of Religious Profession in the Monastery of S. 〈◊〉 in London as Radulphus de Diceto with others at tirme Wherein this penitent King liuing a while in fasting and praiers died the yeere of Christ 693. whose body was intombed in a Coffin of Gray Marble the Couer copped and as yet standing in the North wall of the Chancell of the same Church A miracle thereof Beda reporteth needlesse either then to be wrought or now of vs repeated were it not to point at the blindnes wherein euen good men were then led and thus it is They hauing prepared a Tombe-stone to lay his body in found it too short by the quantitie of an hands bredth and hewing it longer yet would not serue therefore they minding to bow vp the knees laid the body therein and suddenly it lengthned of it selfe with more then was sufficient But surely howsoeuer this tombe was then set on this Monkish tenter it is now since shrunke againe in the standing and exceeds not in measure fiue foot in length His wife but vnnamed hee likewise instigated to leaue the momentanie pleasures of princely State for that which is permanent which thing with much adoe he lastly obtained leauing her to follow him in his vertuous deuotions and his two sonnes to succeed him in his kingdome SIgherd the Sonne of King Sebba whom Beda maketh a Monke with his Father followed him also in the succession of the East-Saxons Kingdome the time of whose entrance is set in the yeere of Christs Incarnation 694. and his death in 701. no other mention being made either of Acts Wife or Issue SEofrid the Sonne of King Sebba and Brother to King Sigheard either ioyntly raigned with him or successiuely after him of whom I finde nothing mentioned worthy inserting hauing had neither Wife nor issue that are recorded OFfa the Sonne of Sighere and of Queene Oswith his Wife a man noted for his comely feature and sweet countenance succeeded King Seofrid in the Kingdome of the East-Saxons the yeere of grace 701. He both enlarged with buildings and enriched with lands the goodly and beautiful Church of Westminster but after he had ruled eight yeeres being moued with a supposed religious deuotion hee abandoned Kineswith his wife the daughter of Penda the Mercian King his lands kinne and Country and with Kenred King of Mercia and Edwine Bishop of Worcester went to Rome where he was shorne a Monke and in that habit died leauing his Cosen Selred to succeed in his kingdome His wife Kineswith after his departure with the like penancie vowed her selfe a vailed Nunne in the Abbey of Kineburg whereof his sister was Abbesse who had been wife to Alfrith King of Northumberland SElred the Sonne of Sigebert the Good who was murthered for his ouermuch clemencie attained to the Kingdome of the East-Saxons in the yeere of grace 709. His raigne was long though his acts are little spoken of either that others worther affaires filled the pens of those Story-writers or that his time was so peaceable and vnactiuely spent that it ministred not matter whereof to indite Hee raigned 38. yeeres and died Anno 746. without relation either of Wife or Children SVthred after the slaughter of Selred was made King of the East-Saxons which title hee retained vntill that Egbert King of the West-Saxons taking Armes against him expulsed him out of that Kingdome as also the same yeere he did Baldred King of Kent which was in the yeere of Christs Incarnation 827. and made it a Prouince annexed vnto the West-Saxons after it had stood in state of a Kingdome 281. yeeres THE KINGDOME OF NORTHVMBERLAND CIRCVIT AND CONTINVANCE WITH THE SVCCESSIONS AND ISSVES OF THOSE KINGS VNTO THE LAST SVBVERSION THEREOF BY KING EGBERT CHAPTER IX THis Kingdome of Northumberland consisted at first of two distinct Prouinces whereof the one was called Deira and the other Bernicia and were gouerned sometimes by their Kings seuerally and sometimes vnder one as successe of warre or other casualties incident did afford The royall descents of whose Kings are brought by Florentius both from the Fourth and Fifth Sonnes of Prince Woden after this manner Ella vnder whom the Kingdome of Deira beganne was the sonne of Iffi who was the sonne of Wuskfrea the sonne of Wilgils the sonne of Westorwalchna the sonne of Seomel the sonne of Suearta the sonne of Saepugell the sonne of Seabald the sonne of Siggeot the sonne of Suebdeg the sonne of Siggar the sonne of Weadeg the fourth sonne of Woden And the descent of Ida the raiser of the Bernicians kingdome is brought from Bealdeag the fifth sonne of Woden for Bealdeag was father to Brand whose sonnes were Beorn and Freodegar the latter of which twaine was the progenitour of Cherdik the first West-Saxon King and his brother Beorn begat another Beorn also and hee Wegbrand
so great so blinde I might say a deuotion was in their hearts and so holy a reuerence held they of the place Vnto this King Ceolnulph the said Venerable Beda a Priest in the Monasterie of Peter and Paul at Werimouth neere vnto Durham a great Clerke and Writer of the English Historie dedicated the same his Worke which he continued till the yeere seuen hundred thirty one and from the first entrance of the Saxons containing 285. yeeres according to his owne account EGbert the sonne of Eata who was brother to King Kenred succeeded his vncle Ceolnulph in the Kingdome of Northumberland and ruled the same with the like peace and pietie the time of twenty yeeres and then following his example also forsooke the world and shore himselfe a Monke as diuers other Kings in those daies had done whereof Simon Dunelmensis writeth and noteth their number to bee eight as Inas King of the West-Saxons Ethelred and Kenred Kings of Mercia Sigebert King of the East-Angles Sebbi and Off a Kings of the East-Saxons and Ceolnulph and this Egbert Kings of the Northumbrians These forsaking the world as they tooke it left the Charge that God vpon them had imposed whose authoritie in earth they swaied and wherein they might much more haue aduanced Gods glory and Christs Gospel then for a more easie and priuate life not warranted by his word but rather disliked and perhaps foreshewed by those heauenly creatures the Sunne and Moone which in those daies were fearefully darkned and for a time seemed to haue lost their light for Anno 733. 18. Calend. Septemb. the Sunne suffred so great an Eclipse that the earth seemed to bee ouer-shadowed as with sack-cloth And Anno 756. 8. Calend. Decemb. the Moone being in her full appeared both darke and bloudy for a Starre though there be none lower then the Moone seemed to follow her and to depriue her of light but passing before her shee againe recouered her former brightnesse This King Egbert had a brother that bore the same name and was installed Arch-bishop of Yorke where he erected a beautifull Librarie a worke well befitting a Noble Prelate and plentifully stored it with an infinite number of learned bookes His sonne was Oswulph that succeeded in the Kingdome OSwulph when his father Egbert had put off the Robes of Maiestie and clad himselfe with a Monkes Cowle ascended the Throne of Northumberland and sa◅e therein only one yeere for before hee had made attempt of any memorable act he was traiterously murdered by his own seruants at Mikilwongton the ninth Kalends of August leauing the Crown vndisposed of vntill the Nones of the same moneth in the next yeere EDitwald or Mollo was then made King of Northumberland and with great valiancie defended his Subiects Some say that at the end of six yeeres hee resigned his gouernment yet others affirme his raign to be eleuen yeeres and lastly that hee was slaine by Alured his Successour ALured the murderer of his Lord and Master beganne his raigne ouer the kingdome of Northumberland the yeere of Christs Incarnation seuen hundred sixty fiue and continued the same with such dislikes that hee lastly was expelled out of the Prouince by his own subiects enforced to abandon the same He was the son of Ta◅win the son of Bie◅hom the son of Bofae the son of Ailrick the naturall son of Ida the first King of Bernicia And the sonnes of this Alured were Osred afterwards King of Northumberland and Alhnud slaine by the Danes and canonized a Saint EThelred the sonne of Mollo was aduanced to the Regiment of Northumberland and in the fifth yeere of his raigne was driuen out of the same by Edelbald and Herebert two Dukes that warred against him who hauing discomfited and slaine his Generall and souldiers in a fierce battel so weakened the hopes of King Ethelred that he fled his Country and left the Kingdome in a miserable estate through the dissensions of those ambitious Princes ALfwald the brother of the foresaid King Alered aspiring to the Soueraignty of the Northumbrians ruled the same in great Iustice to his worthy commendations notwithstanding the wickednes of his people was such that without all guilt he was traiterously murthered by the conspiracie of Siga 23. Sept. the yeere of Christs Incarnation seuen hundred eightie eight after he had raigned eleuen yeeres and his body buried at Hexhaem His sonnes were Alfus and Alfwin both slaine by King Ethelred OSred the sonne of King Alured tooke vpon him the Rule of Northumberland the yeere of grace seuen hundred eightie nine and the same yeere finished his gouernment thereof being expelled by his subiects and depriued of all kingly authority EThelred the sonne of Mollo reuoked from exile wherein he had liued the space of twelue yeeres was againe restored to the Crowne but he minding the iniuries that his Lords had formerly done him sought the reuenge by their deaths as also to establish his Throne the surer slew Alfus and Alfwin the sons of Alfwald as wee haue said the right heires to the Crowne and inticing Osred the former deposed King into his danger commanded him to be put to death at Cu◅burge the fourteenth of September and yeere of Christ seuen hundred ninety two And to strengthen himselfe the more against all his opposites the same yeere he married Lady Elfled the second Daughter to great Off a King of Mercia forsaking his former Wife without any iust cause giuen on her part These things sate so neere the hearts of his subiects that after seuen yeeres from his second establishment they rebelliously rose in Armes and at Cobre miserably slew him the eighteenth day of Aprill the yeere of Christ Iesus 794. AFter whose death the Northumbrians were sore molested with many intruders or rather Tyrants that banded for the soueraignty the space of thirty yeeres The first whereof was Oswald that held the title of King only twenty eight daies then was forced to saue his life by flight vnto the King of the Picts Next Ard◅lfe a Duke reuoked from exile then Alfwold E◅red Ethelred Readulph Osbert and Elle slaine by the Danes in Yorke at a place frō Elle his slaughter called to this day Elle-Crofte and the Kingdome yeelded to the protection of Egbert King of the West-Saxons who was now become Englands first absolute Monarch as holding all the rest of the Kings no longer for his Associates but his subiects in the yeere nine hundred twentie six after it had stood in forme of a Kingdome three hundred seuenty nine yeeres and was made a Prouince and ioined with the rest vnto the English Monarchie THE CIRCVIT AND SVCCESSORS OF THE MERCIAN KINGDOME VNTILL IT WAS SVBIECTED TO THE WEST-SAXONS CHAPTER X. THis Kingdome of Mercia contained more Counties and the skirts of that royall Tent were spread with a wider compasse then any
Ensigne as that which here is called Tufa Iustus Lipsius in his Commentarie vpon that place in Vegetius lib. 3. cap. 5. where the seuerall Ensignes of the Romans are recited doth declare correcting that place of Vegetius where Rufa was set for Tufa by this place of Bede and in the same shewing that Tufa signified a Ball as the Ball by the example of Augustus was an Ensigne of Monarchie or absolute gouernment 9 But as the Sunne hath his rising his height and descent and euer is moouing in the circle of his celestiall orbe so man hath his birth time being and death and till then is neuer staied in one certaine point Kings therefore as they be Kings are the Suns of their owne world but as they are men goe to the shadow of death neither can the strength of their power wisdome or policie loue or applause stay the hand heere that holds the fatall knife for so in this King Edwin wee see raised aboue hope to attaine the Diademe and ruling in loue and liking of the people was notwithstanding cut off in the midst of his glorie and greatnesse of strength 10 For Penda the stout Mercian enuying his peace and Cadwallo the Britaine seeking to receiue his right ioined in friendship against this Monarch and met him as his enemies in the face of a Field The plaine was large and called Hethfeild where after a long and most bloudie fight king Edwin was slaine with prince Offryd his sonne his whole Host put to the sword or most shamefull flight which chanced the fourth of October the yeere of our Lord six hundred thirty three the sixth of his Christianitie the seuenth of his Monarchie the seuenteenth of his kingdome and the forty seuenth of his age His bodie was lastly buried in S. Peters Church at Streaâ—…shall after called Whitby His Wiues 11 Quenburg his first wife was the daughter as Beda reporteth of Ceorle but as all other Writers doe witnesse of Crida King of Mercia She was married vnto him in the beginning of his youth and when he was dispossessed of his inheritance by the Tyrant Etheifrid as we haue said with him shee liued a great part of his banishment and in the Court of Redwald King of the East-Angles deceased before her husband could recouer his Kingdome 12 Ethelburg surnamed Tate was the second wife of this King who was the daughter of Ethelbert King of Kent and of Queene Berta his first wife She was married vnto him in the yeere of grace six hundred twentie fiue being the second of his Monarchy and was his wife six yeeres but suruiuing him and desirous to liue a religious life shee returning into Kent withdrew her selfe to a place not far from the Sea side called Lymming wherein shee built a Monasterie of Nunnes and among them spent the rest of her life and therein died and was there buried His Issue 13 Offride the eldest sonne of King Edwine and Quenberg his first wife was borne in the time of his fathers exile among the East-Angles He was baptized in the faith of Christ by Paulinus the first Archbishop of Yorke and was slaine the same day and in the same battell that his father was He had a sonne named Iffy who was baptized also by Bishop Paulins and after the death of his father and grand-father for feare of King Oswald was conueied ouer the Seas into France to bee brought vp in the Court of King Dagobert where he died in his childhood and was there honourably interred 14 Edfrid the second sonne of King Edwine and Lady Quenberg his first wife was borne in the time of his fathers exile and baptized with his brother Offrid by Bishop Paulinus After his fathers death for feare of King Oswald hee fled to Penda King of Mercia who was his fathers enemie and his mothers kinsman by whom hee was most treacherously murthered He left behind him a son named Hererik who by his wife Bertswith had issue the vertuous learned lady Hilda Abbesse of Streansbalch Queen Hereswith her sister the wife of Ethelbere King of the East-Angles brother to King Anâ—…a by whom shee had issue Ald wolfe Elswold and Beorne all three succeeding Kings of the East-Angles 15 Ethelme the third sonne of King Edwine and the first of Queen Ethelburg his second wife was baptized by Paulinus Arch-bishop of Yorke not long after his father and halfe-brethren but in short space after his baptisme he departed out of this world euen in the time that he wore the white attire which in those daies was vsed to bee worne by such as were newly baptized for a certaine space His body was with all due funerall obsequies enterred within the new Church of S. Peter in the Citie of Yorke which his father had newly founded 16 Vskfrea the fourth sonne of King Edwine and the second of Queene Ethelburg his second wife and the last and youngest of them both bare the name of his fathers great grandfather He was baptized by the Arch-bishop Paulinus at one time with his brother Ethelme After the decease of his father his mother carried him with her out of Northumberland into Kent and from thence conueied him ouer into France with his Nephew Iffy the sonne of his halfe-brother Offrid where hee continued in the custodie of King Dagobert being his mothers cosen-german and there died and was honourably buried in a Church with his Nephew Iffy 17 Eanfled the elder daughter of King Edwine and Queene Ethelberg his second wife was borne the night following that her father was wounded and baptized hee being a Pagan Shee was afterwards married to Oswy the fourth King of Northumberland and tenth Monarch of the Englishmen as shall bee said 18 Etheldrid the younger daughter the fifth and last-borne child to King Edwine and of Queene Ethelburge was baptized at the same time with Ethelwe and Vskfrea her brethren She died an infant the white clothing not yet put off which in those daies was vsually worne at certaine set times after their baptisme and was with like funerall obsequies buried by her brother Ethelwe in the Church of S. Peters in Yorke which their father had founded OSVVALD KING OF NORTHVMBERLAND AND THE NINTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISHMEN HIS RAIGNE WIFE AND ISSVE CHAPTER XXI OSwald the fifth King of Deira the ninth of Bernicia the third of Northumberland and the ninth Monarch of the Englishmen began his raigne the yeere of Christs incarnation six hundred thirty foure He with Eanfrith and his brethren the sonnes of wilde Ethelfrid and Osrik also the sonne of Alfrid King Edwins Vncle had been secured in Scotland all his raigne and among the Red-shanks liued as banished men where they learned the true religion of Christ and had receiued the Lauer of Baptisme But Edwines death wrought and divulged these Princes returne again to their Country and the Northumbrians Kingdome lately gouerned by one was now againe diuided into two seuerall parts as formerly it had been 2
a new as firme a league as they could during that martiall pilgrimage 18 Tancred was at that time king of Sicilia by vsurpation after the death of William who had married Ioan sister of king Richard whom at that time vpon displeasure and quarrell being prisoner Tancred set at liberty sending her in honourable manner to her brother and did yeeld to sundry Articles and also present paiments of ample summes Feare wrought on both parts for Richard being among strangers and not very sure of the French seised vpon a strength of the Griffons people much redoubted in those parts till the arriuall of the English in a tumult tooke the City of Messana it selfe where he displaied his Enâ—…ignes till for the French Kings loue hee was content to disaduance them and to entrust the City to the Knights Templars and Hospitalers vntill Tanâ—…red had fulfilled all such things as Richard did challenge to bee due being many 19 Vpon great deliberation therefore the Sicilan King made answere that hee had already paide to his sister late Queene of that Iland a very great quantity of coine in recompence of her Dowry or Ioincture and would satisfie all his other demands concerning the Legacies intended by his Predecessor king William to the Father of king Richard as far as hee ought according to the custome of that kingdome and thereupon gaue vnto him for the quit-claime of his sisters Ioincture twenty thousand ounces of gold and farther to bee acquitted of all other claims pretences as also in consideration that Arthâ—…r Duke of Britain nephew next heire of king Richard if Richard died without issue shold take to wife the daughter of K. Tancred he paid him other twenty thousand ounces of gold and of his owne accord and for King Richards loue and for the loue of the English Nation which saith our Author was then in greatest reputation through the kingdome of Sicilie as also to bee the more assured of performance he gaue him other twenty thousand ounces of gold besides afterward foure great Ships called Vrsers 〈◊〉 fifteene Gallies 20 King Richard on the other side not to bee wanting to any matter which in honor and equitie might bee expected of him besides letters Patents hee put in vpon their Oaths for his sureties two Arch-bishops and two Bishops of his owne there present and twentie great Lords and principall men his subiects whose names because many of their posterities doe yet stand are heere inserted out of the saide letters Patents as they are vpon record in Houeden Iordanus de Hâ—…z his Constable Wilielâ—…us de Curci Richardus de Camuilla Girardus de Talebot Robertus Sabluil Guido de Croâ—…n Guarinus filius Geroldi Bertramus deVerdun W. Chamberlangus de Tankeruile Robertus de Nâ—…uo-burgo Hugo Bardolf Wigain de Cheresburg Gilbertus de Wascuil Hugo le Bruin Iohannes de Piller Amaâ—…ri de Muntford Andreas de Châ—…uenni 〈◊〉 de Forz Gaufridus de Rancuâ—…e Amaâ—…ri Torell and other not named 21 Moreouer for finall assurance he offereth that Pope ClemeÌ„t should vndertake for performance of his part in the said agreement and that the said Clement would accordingly vndertake hee requests him by most officious letters giuing him leaue without any reluctation to put his dominions vpon any his breach vnder seuerest censures 22 This peace and accord being happily thus concluded King Tancred hauing most roially and louingly feasted the King of England for three daies and three nights in a Castle of his discouered vpon the way at Tauernium in his returne a foule and vnprincely conspiracie of Philip whome one of our Writers cals the vain-glorious King against the head and safety of King Richard which comming to bee scanned betweene the two Kings the French charged the English with picking of quarrels and added that vnlesse Richard maried his sister Alice according as hee ought hauing beene contracted long before together he would be his enemy while he breathed whereunto King Richard being pressed did replie That his sister during the time of her abode in England had a child by his Father Henry King of England which he was ready to proue by many witnesses there present so that King Richard had farre more cause then a suspition of dishonesty which some write to refuse the marriage This falling out so shamefully Philip vpon certaine conditions betweene Richard and him left him at liberty to take a wife where he thought good but neuer as it may seeme forgaue him his euill will while they two liued together 23 And because acts of Christian remorse and humility are too rare among the Great ones of this vaine world it were a crime to pretermit the exemplar humiliation of this famous General K. Richard at this time who to vse my Authors words inspired with diuine grace and studying to fitte himselfe for the great attempt he had in hand was stung at the soule with so iust compunction for his sinnes that calling before him his Archbishoppes and Bishoppes into a Chappell at the house where he was lodged without the walles of Messana hee blushed not to make a penitent confession of his manifolde excesses humbly praying God of mercy and them as his subordinate Ministers of Absolution God saith Houeden respected him with eies of Mercy and gaue him a penitent heart so that from thenceforth hee proued a man fearing God eschuing euil and doing good O foelicem illum c. O happie he who so fals that he may rise more strong O happy he who after penitence relapseth not into fault and ruine 24 Wherupon addicting his mind to diuine contemplations meditation of the christian Church whose Champion now he was hee desired conference of one Ioachim a CisterciaÌ„ Abbot whose great learning and deepe vnderstanding in the Scriptures with an opinion of a Propheticall inspiration made him so famous ouer the world that King Richard sent for him being theÌ„ in Calabria neer Sicilie whom at his comming he heard preaching and expounding the Apocalypse of S. Iohn touching the afflictions of the Church and of Antichrist which saith hee was then borne and in the City of Rome and shall bee aduanced in the See Apostolicke of whom the Apostle said he should extoll himselfe aboue all that is called God and that the seuen Crownes were the Kings and Princes of the earth which obeyed him Surely neere about this very time hapned that in Rome which might seeme to giue great probability to that Abbots opinion especially if Emperours and Kings bee truely called Gods ouer whom Antichrist also should extol himself for in the same moneth that Richard left Messana was the Coronation of Henry the Emperour and his Empresse Constantia in S. Peters Church where Pope Celestine the very next day after his own consecration to the Papacie sate in his Pontificall chaire holding the Emperiall golden Crowne betwixt his feete and the
Scotland why they should make that a quarrell which was a meere calumnie And to take away all pretence of feare from the Conspirators hee sends to the Earles of Northumberland and Worcester and to the hot Lord Percie a safe conduct vnder his roiall Seale by which he secures their accesse but vnbridled rashnesse saith Walsingham despising the roiall clemencie did put on the rigour of rebellion Meane while the King armes with all speed against the enemie the rather at the counsell of George Earle of Dunbar who like a valiant man at Armes and a wise friend aduised him so to doe before their aduersaries numbers were too mightily augmented The King with his sonne the young Prince of Wales and a very noble fellowship was now aduanced within sight of Shrewsbury as the gallant Percie stood ready to assault the Towne But so soone as the roiall Standard was discouered that enterprise was left off and he drew out his people being about fourteene thousand choice and hardie bodies of men to try the fortune of war against a well tride warrior 35 Peace notwithstanding by the exceeding tendernesse of the King had ensued but that the mischeeuous Earle of Worcester by misreporting and falsifying his Soueraignes words did precipitate his Nephew into sudden battell If there were any praise or good example to bee drawne out of so detested bloodshed as that of ciuill warre we would willingly describe vnto you the order and actions but we cannot too soone passe ouer such mournfull obiects which are rather to bee celebrated with teares then triumphes There is no doubt but Percie Dowglas and the rest fought terrible Why should we admire that in them So doe Lyons Tygers Beares and yet wee admire them not Where was dutie where conscience where the other respects of which onely we are called men Let none of vs honour or imitate them in whose eyes the price of English blood is so vile as that for priuate fansies they can bee content to confound all regards and make sport for common foes with mutuall massacres Therefore wee will content our selues with the knowledge of Gods part in this daies worke who gaue the garland to the King though the first arrowes flew from the Percies Archers 36 The Kings courage was not small in the fight as neither was the danger the yong Prince of Wales also being then first to enter himselfe into the schoole of blood and battell gaue no small hopes of that perfection which afterward shone in him being wounded with an arrow in the face The Lord Percy and Earle Dowglas then whom the wide world had not two brauer Champions in steed of spending themselues vpon the multitude set the point of their hopes vpon killing the King as in whose person they were sure ten thousand fell For this cause they most furiously rushed forward with speares and swords but the noble Earle of Dunbarre discouering their purpose drew the King from the place which he had chosen to make good and thereby in likelyhood for that present saued his life for the Standard royall was ouerthrowne and among other valiant men the Earle of Stafford Sir Walter Blunt the Kinges Knight and the Standard-bearer himselfe was slaine such was the fury of these sodaine thunderbolts That day the Dowglas slew with his owne hands three in the Kings Coat-armour perhaps some in Heralds Coats though Boetius yet saw a fourth Sure it is that manie of the subiects thought the King was slaine and not a few ranne out of the field Who notwithstanding like a valiant Prince did reenforce the fight performing maruels in armes with his owne hands The slaughter could not be small on both sides the Archers shooting so continually and the men of armes doing their vtmost for about the space of three whole houres 37 That which gaue an end to this wofull worke was the death of Hotspur who ryding in the head of the battell in defiance of danger and death was by an vnknowne hand suddenly killed with whose fall as if his whole army had had but one heart the courages of all others fell into feete which now altogether they trusted to But the King abhorring to make farther execution of the misguided multitude suffered them to shift for themselues The Earles of Worcester and Dowglas Sir Richard Vernon the Baron of Kindlaton and diuers others were taken Of the Kings side was slaine besides the Earle of Stafford ten new Knights whose names as dying in an honest cause deserue immortality and were Sir Hugh Shorly Sir Iohn Clifton Sir Iohn Cokain Sir Nicholas Gausel Sir Walter Blunt Sir Iohn Caluerly Sir Iohn Massie Sir Hugh Mortimer Sir Robert Gausell and Sir Thomas Wendesley who dyed of his hurts not long after as most of the other did about the Standard all which fighting for their spurs as being knighted but that morning bought them with the honourable losse of their whole bodies there were also slaine many Esquires Gentlemen and about one thousand and fiue hundreth common souldiers besides three thousand sorely wounded On the other part omitting that second Mars the Lord Percy who drew a ruine after him sutable to his Spirit and greatnesse there fell most of all the Esquires and Gentlemen of Cheshire to the number of two hundred and about fiue thousand common souldiers This battell was stricken neere to Shrewsbury vpon a Saturday the one and twentieth of Iuly and the Eue of Saint Marie Magdalen 38 The Earle of Worcester the seducer and destroier of his noble Nephew Hotspur and therefore if but for that very worthy to haue dyed Sir Richard Vernon Knight and the Baron of Kinderton had their heads cut off vpon the Monday following Hotspurres body had beene buried by permission but vpon other aduise the King caused it to be drawne out of the graue beheaded quartered and the parts sent into diuers Citties of the Kingdome The Earle of Northumberland pretending to come with forces to the Kings aide was empeached by the Earle of Westmorland and Robert Waterton who had raised a great host Northumberland taking neither of them for friend wheeles about and returnes to his Castle of Warkworth But what can be secure to a subiect against the victorious armie of a martiall King The Earle knew as much manifestly feeling the irrecouerable maimes of his house in the losse of his sonne and brother and therefore shaped his course accordingly The King therefore being altogether as prudent as fortunate hauing setled the state ofthings in the Marches about Shrewsbury sets forward to the City of Yorke from thence to take order for such perils as he foresaw might happen He setled himselfe the more seriouslie and entirelie to this needfull worke for that his Ambassadors had effected an abstinence from warre with France till the first of March which pausing space though it might seeme little was not a little welcome to the King the Realme of England being then
read the Articles of peace and demanded the Kings whether these were done with their full consents Which granted by both either of them laying their one hand vpon the Missall and the other vpon the Holy-Crosse tooke their solemne Oathes to obserue the same And then falling into a more familiar and Courtly Complementall conference King Lewis told K. Edward that he would one day inuite him to Paris there to Court his faire French Ladies with whom if hee committed any sinne he merrily told him that Cardinall Bourbon should be his Confessor whose penance would be the easier for that Bourbon vsed to busse faire Ladies himselfe which no sooner was spoken or howsoeuer meant but Edward was as forward of thankes and acceptance and indeed so ready that King Lewis rounding Commines his bosome seruant in his â—…are told him flatly he liked not Edwards forwardnes to Paris too many English Princes hauing beene there before and â—…s the conference ended and king Edwards busines in France hee returned into England and into the City of London was receiued little lesse then in triumph-wise 99 But though Edwards fortunes thus outwardly flourished yet inward feares nipped his still troubled mind one branch hauing sappe whose growth hee much feared would shadow his Crowne which was Henry Earle of Richmond aliue and at liberty in the Duke of Britaines Court. To bring therefore his purpose to passe hee sent D. Stillington and others Ambassadors vnto Frances Duke of Britaine with store of gold and good words as that hee meant to match his eldest daughter Lady Elizabeth vnto the young Earle of Richmond whereby all cause of dissentions might at once be cut off the Duke thinking no danger where the water went smooth easily consented to shippe him thereon but ere the prey was embarked hee had knowledge that the voyage should cost young Henry his life wherefore in all hast hee sent his Treasurer Peter Lâ—…doys to preuent it who secretly told Richmond what marriageâ—…d Edward intended whereat the distressed Earle amazed was put to his shifts and for want of better tooke Sanctuary at S. Malâ—…s where the English his conductors lay for a wind 100 The Earle thus escaped the Ambassadors complained to the Duke imputing the fault as far as they durst vnto him who had not dealt liâ—… a good Marchant to take their money and to retain the warâ—… his answere was the deliuery was good but themselues negligent Factors that made not the commodity to their best aduantage And yet for the loue hee bare to their King hee vndertooke that Richâ—…nd should be sure kept either in Sanctuary or else in prison whence as hee promised hee should not escape And so with a 〈◊〉 in their â—…re they returned hauing cleared Edward of 〈◊〉 â—…ney and care for sure keeping of Henry who though hee weresore displeased with Stillingtons simplicity yet the promises that the Duke of Britaine had made much mitigated and eased his mind 101 And now the Realme quiet no warre in hand nor none towards but such as no man looked should happen hee framed himselfe so to the peoples affections and held their hearts not in a constrained feare but with as louing and ready obedience as any King attaining the Crowne by his sword euer had Nor was euer any Prince more familiar with his Subiects then this King Edward was who now hauing his tribute truly paid from France and all things prospering as was desired he set heart vpon pleasure which hetherto had beene afflicted with continuall turmoile yea and often laid from him the state of a Prince and would accompany and conuerse with his meane subiects a loadstone that doth naturally attract the English hearts among many others we of London remember this to our grace Vnto Windsore he sent for the Lord Maior of London the Aldermen and others vpon no other occasion then to hunt in his company and himselfe to be merry with them As also at another time he did the like in Waltham where he gaue them most familiar intertainment and sent to the Lady Mairesse and her sisters two harts sixe Buckes and a Tunne of wine which wanne more loue then manifold their worthes 102 Somewhat he was giuen to Court and conuerse with faire Ladies which fault was well noted and preuented by King Lewis for his French dames but in England he had liberty with very large scope for besides the Lady Lucy and others by whome he had issue three concubines he kept and those of three diuers and seuerall dispositions as himselfe would often confesse one the merriest another the wiliest and the third the holiest harlot in his realme as one whom no man could get out of the Church vnlesse it were to his Bed the merriest was Shores wife of whom hereafter we shall speake the other two were greater Personages but in their humility are content to bee namelesse and to forbeare the praise of those properties 103 This fault of the King did not greatly offend the people for one mans pleasure could not extend to the displeasures of manie it being done without violence and in his latter daies lessened and well left But a farre more greater sinne and reproach he fell into among his other Princely disports For being on progresse in Warwickeshire and hunting in Arrow Parkâ—… belonging to Thomas Burdet Esquire with the death of much Game he slew a White Bucke greatly esteemed of the said Burdet who vnderstanding thereof wished his hornes in his Belly that moued the King to kill the same Bucke whereof he was accused and condemned of treason his wordes being drawne to wish the â—…ornes in the Kings bellie for which beheaded hâ—… was at Tiburne and buried in the Gray-Fryers Church at London 104 But a more lamentable tragedie happened vnto the land by the death of George Duke of Clarence the Kings second brother who being accused of high Treason was committed to the Tower where he soone-after ended his life His attainder was that the said Duke had caused diuerse of his seruants to enforme the people that Thomas Burdet his seruant likewise was wrongfully put to death and further laboured through their reports to make the world beleeue tâ—… K. Edward wrought by Nigrâ—…cie and vsed to poison such 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And alâ—…o thaâ—… 〈◊〉 sâ—…id Duke vpon purâ—… to exalt himselfe and his heires to the 〈◊〉 digâ—… 〈◊〉 â—…sely 〈◊〉 vntruly pubâ—…d that the 〈◊〉 was a â—…ard and therefore not capable of raigne Moreouer thâ—… he induced diâ—…e of the Kiâ—…aturall subiects to be sworne vpâ—… the 〈◊〉 Sâ—…ent vnto him and his heires withâ—…â—…ny other reseâ—…ations of their allâ—…e for which intent as there was alleaged hee had gotten an exemplification vnder the great Seale of King Henry the sixt that if the said king and his sonne Prince Edward died without issue male the said Duke and his heires should inioy the Crowne For these in
him and the Earle and therefore sore offended at Landose whom he suspected to be deepe in the deed he sent for Edward Wooduile and Edward Pownings two English Esquires vnto whom he deliuered a summe of money which he had promised to Earle Henrie with a conuey vnto all the rest of the English to depart Vannes bearing all their charges till they came to their Earle in France Neither was King Charles backward to forward Earle Richmond against the Tyrant and Vsurper of the English Crowne And the more to ioy Henry Iohn Earle of Oxford imprisoned by King Edward the fourth in the Castle of Hammes with Captaine Blunt his keeper and Sir Iohn Fortescue Porter of Callis came vnto Earle Henry to take their fortunes in following of his This Earle of Oxford as we haue seene was a continuall aider of King Henry the sixt against his opposite K. Edward and had done many seruices in the Lancastrians cause till destiny had cast downe the hopes of their side Him therefore Earle Henry made his chiefe Counsellor for warre as for experience policy valour and faith in that busines no man was more meete Whose prowesse further appeared when Earle Henry wan the wreath at Bosworth field where in the Front of that Battell he lead the band of Archers and euer after liued in great fauour with this King Henry the seuenth and in great honour died the fourth yeere of King Henry the eight In the like trust for Counsell and fauour with these Kings was Richard Fox Doctor of Diuinitie who being then a student in Paris was found by Earle Richmond to be the chiefest man for imploiment in his French busines which he so prudently and faithfully effected as the Earle being King acknowledging him one of his principall aduancers made him of his Priuie Councell Lord Priuie Scale and raised him to very great places in Church and Common-wealth and lastly to testifie in what deere esteeme hee held him made him Godfather to his sonne Prince Henrie who was after King of England with whom in great reuerence he liued a long time euen till his eye-sight failed through age and did many workes of piety whereof Copus Christi Colledge in Oxford is and shall be for euer a noble witnes and his honorable care of reuerend antiquity in preseruing the bones of many Saxon Kings and by him bestowed in faire Monuments in the Cathedrall Church of Winchester shall neuer want due celebration amongst all that honour antiquity and glorious studies But from these worthy Subiects we returne againe to their soueraigne King Henry 41 Whose beginnings thus forwarded by the Duke of Britaine and the French King drew many English into France and filled the heart of the Vsurper with an extreme feare therefore to accomplish by pollicy what was doubtfull by armes he sought to baite his hooke yet another way The title hee knew stood with the daughters of King Edward his sonnes being murdered and among them to Ladie Elizabeth the eldest whose marriage he well saw must bring Henry the Crowne But that once diuerted his streame of it selfe could beare no great floate nor bring any inundation into the Land and therefore Queene Elizabeth in Sanctuary must be Courted that her daughters might come to Court and there be regarded according to their degrees This so cunningly was carried by men that could carry themselues to fit womens affections that the King was purged of the murder of her sonnes shee made to beleeue that her selfe was respected a Dowager Queene and sister in law to the present King and that himselfe had a Prince and many Princely Peeres most fit matches for those Princes her daughters that her sonne Thomas Marquesse Dorset whilst he followed the Runaway Henry left his honorable preferments intended to himward and lastly requiring a reconciliation with the Queene forgaue all iniuries vttered against him out of her womanish passions with a most willing heart and indeed these messengers were such Crafts-masters as they brought Queene Elizabeth into a fooles Paradise and made her beleeue that their words were his heart Whereupon forgetting all things passed before as the murder of her sonnes the dishonour of her husband the bastardy of their Children and her owne scandall for Sorcery nor remembring the faithfull promise shee made to Lady Margaret Earle Henries mother shee deliuered her fiue daughters as lambes committed to the rauening wolfe in which act of hers is seene the weakenes of that Sexe and the ambition whereunto by nature they are inclined for presently vpon the deliuery of her daughters shee sent priuily for the Lord Marquesse Doset her sonne then residing in Paris willing him to desist from the Earles Faction and come vnto King Richard who promised him preferment and that her selfe and daughters were in high fauour all iniuries on both parts forgiuen and forgotten 42 This entrance made vnto the Tragedy intended to furnish the stage and finish the Scene of her owne life the next Actor must be Queene Anne who onely now stood in the Tyrants way her death he meant should giue life to his intruded regencie and adde a further Claime and strength to the possession which he already had by matching with his Neece the next heire vnto the Crowne the Lady Elizabeth the let onely resting that himselfe had a wife her death therefore must immediately bee sought yet so as the honorable repute of his name should no waies be impeached euer carrying himselfe in outward semblance for a good religious honest man and much desirous that his people should account him so First therefore he began to lament the barrennes of his wiues wombe and the great dangers that the Realme was like to sustaine if himselfe should die Issulesse complaining often thereof vnto his Nobility but most especially vnto Archbishop Rotherham lately released out of prison whereby the Prelate coniectured Queene Anne had not long to liue Then refrained he her bed vnder pretext of Penancy taking her defect as a scourge for his owne sinnes which day and night he sought to expiate by praiers His next pollicy was how her death might be wrought with the least suspect of wrong and how taken when shee was gone Therefore as an assay to the Peoples taste he caused it to be giuen forth that Queene Anne was dead which was so commonly divulged that the rumour thereof came to her owne eare and shee hauing had sufficient experience of her husbands proceedings feared this to be one of his plots mistrusting and not without cause that her life was in danger whereupon all dismaid with a lamentable countenance shee came to the King and with weeping teares demanded what offence shee had done that the sentence of death was giuen against her already Richard made it strange to see her so perplext and with louing words and smiling semblance bad her liue to scandalize report and to thinke that many
twenty yeeres and called Ralfe Wilford who for falsly assuming the name title of the said Earle being thereunto taught and suborned a practise which well declared that the malitious Dutchesse of Burgundie did still liue was hanged at S. Thomas Waterings by Southwarke vpon Shrouetuesday 60 This new deuise to vncrowne King Henry so wakened his owne feares and the eies of the Castilians who had secretly agreed to marry their Princesse Katherine to our Prince Arthur that there seemed no sure ground of succession if that the Earle of Warwicke were not made away A fearefull case where the false reason of State shall faine to it selfe an impossibility of well doing without shedding innocent blood and shall therefore resolue to found vpon so crying a sinne the hope of perpetuity in succession sith nothing is truer thâ—… that sinne was â—…uer an vnsure basis to settle lasâ—…ing workes vpon But ô the narrow capacities of the most seeing men the confidence whereof did vndoubtedly lead this King heerein not iustifiable howsoeuer excusable in respect of humane frailty which might propound to it selfe many feares and respects both publike and priuate to conniue at the plotted death or rather formall murder of this harmelesse Gentleman whose wrong may yet moue the hardest to compassion as it afterwarde stirred God in iustice to reuenge prospering no part of that great worke which was thereupon thus corruptly sought to be perpetuated That noble Lady Katherine herselfe was hereof so sensible that when the diuorce was afterward prosecuted against her by King Henry the eight her second husband shee is reported to haue said That it was the hand of God for that to cleere the way to her marriage that innocent Earle of Warwicke was put to vnworthy death Neither let licentious Practises vouch the singular Act of Salomon in taking away the life of his elder brother Adonias to colour this homicide for he that will argue from particular facts in Scripture shall not onely leaue no Adonias liuing but perhaps no Salomon To worke this young Warwickes ruine the mischeiuous and dismall wretch Perkin becomes an occasion if not an instrument for he by his supple insinuations and flowing promises had corrupted his keepers the seruants of Sir Iohn Digbie Knight Lieutenant of the Tower who as was affirmed meant to haue murdered their master and then to haue set Perkin and the Earle at large to which practise of escape the poore Earle is said to haue consented Perkin for this conspiracie had his triall at Westminster and hee together with one Iohn à Waters who had beene sometime Maior of Corke in Ireland were condemned and being drawne to Tiborne had the sentence of death executed vpon them Perkin at the Gallowes did reade his former confession taking on his death that the same was true and vnder-went his punishment with patience Walter Blewet and Thomas Astwood being two of the conspirators for the other two Strangewates and Long Roger being the Lieutenants men also were not executed nor for so much as wee haue read arraigned not long after receiued the reward of their offence at the same place 61 Iustice thus tooke hold at last of Perkin Warbecke on whom the Prouerbe which saith that Pride is the Vsher of shame was worthily verified Neither could the world accuse King Henrie for his death vnlesse it were for that he had not hanged him sooner but suffered him to liue till hee had drawne after him a greater ruine in Warwicks person then in all the former tragedies For this Earle being a chiefe Prince of the blood and next heire Male of his house to the Crowne of England a crime of which his birth onely made him guilty and not any fact of his being thus charged to haue giuen assent to Perkins plot of escape he was publikely arraigned before the Earle of Oxford then High Steward of England by the name of Edward Plantaginet Earle of Warwicke and indited for minding to haue escaped as they said out of the Tower and consequently according to the dreadfull licence of inferences among our English pleaders in cases of death to depriue King Henry of his royall Crowne and dignity and to vsurpe the Title and soueraigne office prosecuting their bloody Poetry with the like sanguinary syllogismes though vtterly without measure or fashion The Earle doubly betraied first by the setters of the snare and then by their silly or deceitfull perswasions who were put about him confesseth the enditement and submitteth himselfe to the Kings mercie that is offered vp his head to be a slipperie foundation of King Henries farther purposes for sentence of death was thereupon pronounced as against a Traitour This one practise seemes sufficient if not to cast vpon Henry the Title of a shrewd and perillous man yet to raise a doubt whether as one writes hee was more sincere and entire then Ferdinando King of Spaine vpon whom saith that Authour he did handsomely bestow the enuie of the death of Edward Plantagenet Earle of Warwicke The life therefore of this Prince according to rigour of lawe being thus in his power the King gently pardoned all the paines but the losse of his head which was cut off vpon a scaffold at Tower-hill and then another gratious fauour his body was not buried in the Chappel of the Tower or in any other common place but at Bisham by his Ancestors Iealous saith one the King was ouer the greatnes of his Nobilitie as remembring how himselfe was set vp and much more did this humour encrease in him after he had conflicted with such Idols and Counterfeits as Lambert Simenel and Perkin Warbeck The strangenes of which dangers made him thinke nothing safe This Earle was the last heire male of the blood and surname of Plantagenet whose race as it was a long time glorious for giuing Kings to England euen from King Henry the second so in the end chiefly for the house of Yorke it became hatefull as it seemes to God and man for the most horrible and inextinguible deadly fewdes murder periuries and other horrors committed within it selfe which as then not fully expiated lay heauily vpon the head of this Earle and finally threw open all those fences which the possession of Maiestie and numerositie of issue had for sundry ages cast about it letting in thereby the surname of Tydder being but two descents English and which now after three descents and fiue Princes is also vanished Now among those few great workes of peace which ensued their firebrands of warre we must remember the marriage of Prince Arthur with the Princesse of Spaine Lady Katherine The interim from Warwicks death till then brought forth a verie great plague whereof in London there are said to haue died about thirtie thousand The King and Queene remoue to Callais in May and returned in Iune The maine busines was to reuiew and ratifie the state of amity and negociations betweene the
sonnes elected subdued and slaine 1. Aureolus in Illyris 2. Gallienus in Rome 3. Odenatus in the East Odenatus ouercommeth the Persians Galieâ—… seeketh Odenatus his death Apoc. 4. 3. Trebeâ—… Pollio Strange sighâ—…s in the Heauens Great and mighty Earth-quakes Galiâ—… staied the perâ—…cutions of thâ—… Christians Eusâ—…b Eccles. â—…st lib. 7. cap. 12. Apoc. 1. 16. Thirty Emperoâ—… 〈◊〉 oncâ—… Pomp. Laetus a Panlus Oros. b Cassidor c Iornandes Eusebius Apoc. 6. 4. Galienus times prophesied of by the Euangelist S. Iohn Galienus his death and continuance of his raigne An. Do. 269. His descent Aurel. Victor Flauius Claudius his vertues Iornandes Gothes inuade the Empire Paul Orosius Two thousand saile of Gothes Claudius Letter to the Senate Gothes vanquished Flauius Claudius died a naturall death His personage and qualities An. Do. 271. Eutropius Quintiliâ—… brother to the last Emperour Quintilius cut his own veines and so bled to death He raigned but seuenteen daies An. Do. 271. Aurelianus his descent Fla. Vâ—…p Aurelianus comparable with Caesar and Alexander Aurelianus inlarged the walles of Rome Chap. 37. Sabellicus saith she both tired him and put him to flight also Zenobia her Letter to Aurelianus * The great Citie Palmyra saith Iosephus was built by King Salomon whence their Nation tooke the name It bordered vpon the Parthians Kingdome in the middle betwixt it and the Roman Empire Ouid. Metam li. 6. * Tomyris was a valiant Scythian Queene who slew King Cyrus and all his Host and filling a vessell with their bloud did cast in Cyrus head saying Bloud hast thou thirsted now drinke therof thy fill To this doth Zenobia allude Zenobia vanquished Zenobia het beautie Flau. Vopisc Euseb. Eccl. Hist. lib. 7 cap. 39. Paul Orosius Aurelianus at first a fauourer now a persecutor of the Christians Aurelianus scard with a Thunderbolt from heauen Psal. 2. 10. Aurelianus slaine Entropius Aurelianus His feature of body and minde 〈◊〉 An. Do. 276. Aurelianus being dead no man sought to be Emperour Senate and Souldiers strain courtesie who shall choose the Emperour Eusebius Vopiscus Orosius Oneuphrius Claudius Tacitus elected Emperor Claudius Tacitus his vertues Claudius Tacitus his care to preserue the works of Cornelius Tacitus Eutrop. l. 9. Aurel. Victor Vopiscus Claudius Tacitus his Raigne An. Do. 277. Florianus made himselfe Emperour Florianus his death Chap. 38. Eutrop. lib. 9. Vopiscus Florianus his raigne An. Do. 277. Probus called the father of his Countrey and the highest Bishop His desceâ—… Sabellicus Probus comparable with Hannibal and Caesar. Probus slayeth 400000. Germans Henr. Mutint Saturninus cho sen Emperour His speech to his Electors Saturninus his death Vopiscut Bonosus and Proculus rebell against Probus Sabellicus Bonosus death Sabellicus Sabellicus Victorinus a Moore his Stratagem Hist. Mag. Brit. lib. 3. cap. 10. Vandals and Burgundians sent to inhabite in Britaine Vopiscus Sabellicus Wine made in England Probus his death Vopiscus Entropius Eusebius Eccl. hist. lib. 7. cap 29. Anno 282. Flauius 〈◊〉 Vopiscus Uictor 〈◊〉 Orosius Cardâ—… and Numerianus Casars Carinus slaine by a thunderbolt Hierome Paulus Orosius Eutropius Flauius Vopiscus Eutrop. Signonâ—… Oâ—…pbet Pomp. Laetus An. Do. 286. An. Do. 291. Beda hist. Angl. lib. 1. cap. 6. * Now called Bâ—…leyn in Picardy Carausius defendeth his vsurpation seuen yeers Maximianus against Carausius Ninius A perfidious friend Allectus slaine Walbrooke in London of Gallus 〈◊〉 Tâ—…eb Mamertinus Panegyâ—… Orat. The Emperours extolled for recoucting Britain Mamertinus Paneg Grat. Many Artificers in Britaine Gâ—… Damasâ—… Sabellicus Eusebius Beda Rad. de Dicetâ—… The Christians torments for ten yeeres together Beda hist. Angl. lib. 1. cap. 7. S. Albane put to death at Saint Albans Iob. Capgraue Amphibole a Britaine put to death Iulius and Aaron at Leicester At Lichfeild grâ—… multitudes in Cambden Ioh. 19. 17. Ioh Rossâ—… Wâ—…wicens in lib. de 〈◊〉 â—…pis Beda hist. Angl. lib. 1. cap. 6. Apoc. 13. Dan. 7. Ezek. 38. 2. The violent deaths of many Emperors Psal. 45. 5. The first Seale Apoc. 6. The second Seale The third Seale The fourth Seale The fifth Seale The sixth Seale Exod. â—…9 Numb 17. Iosh. 3. 4. Iob 29 9. Euseb. eccles lib. 8. cap. 1. 2. 3. Euseb. hist eccles lib. 8. cap. 1. Amos 1. 3. Euseb. eccles hist. lib. 8. cap. 2â—… Euseb. eccles hist. lib. 8. cap. 14. Fox Act. pag. 119. 123. Euseb. eccles hist. lib. 8. cap. 19. Dioclesians practise The Pope an imitator of him and not of Christ. Dioclesian and Maximianus resigned vp the Empire the 9. Cal. of May in the yeere of Christ 304. Galerius and Constantius Emperors The Christians inioy peace Constantine the Great elected Caesar. Euseb. eccles hist. lib. 〈◊〉 cap. 16. Pomp. Latâ—… 2. Kin. 10. 20. Constantius policie to trie who were true Christians Constantius his wiues Eutropius Nicephor lib. 7. cap. 18. Beda hist. Angl. lib. 1. cap. 8. Holinsh. Chron. lib. 4. cap 26. Cambd. Brit. pa. 74 Baronius A Church builded by Helena in the place where our Sauiour suffred Helena buildeth another Church where the Inne stood in which our Sauiour was laid in a Cratch Ambrose his Oration vpon Theodosius Ioseph Antiq. lib. 20. cap. 2. Helena Queene of Ad abâ—…na a vertuous woman also Constantine escapeth Galerius His preuenting pursuit He commeth safe to Yorke to his father Constantius his speech to his sonne Constantius his raigne death Pomp. Laetus Socrates Eccl. lib. 1. cap. 2. An. Do. 306. Euseb. Eccl. Hist. lib. 8. cap. 14. Socrat. Eccl. lib. 1. cap. 〈◊〉 Panegyricke Oration vnto Constantine the great Eutropius Constantines descent Sabelâ—…icus Maximianus put to death by Constantine Niceph. li. 7. c. 2â—… Eutropius lib. 11. Zosoâ—… lib. 1. ca. 5. Socrat. lib. 1. ca. 2. Vâ—…spurgens Chron. Paul Diac. li. 11. Euseb. ecles hist. lib. 9. cap. 9. Sabellicus Constantines repose Pomp. Laetus Maxentius trusteth to Sorcerers Sabellicus An inscription made on memory of Maxentius ouerthrow The memoriall of his victorie ouer the Frankners Cambd. Brit. Licinius put to death at Nicomedia and his sonne after Anno 326. Sigonius In hist. tripart Eusebius Cambden in his Britannia Amianus Marcill Nineteene thousand foote and seuenteene hundred horsemen maintained in ordinary in Britaine Sabellicus A Iewish Doctor thus described this Citie in an epistle which himselfe deliuered to our English Ambassador remaining in Constantinople in Anno 1594. Hier. in his additions to Eusebius Constantinople built by Constantine Wil. Malmsbury Constantine the establisher of Christianity Ambrose vpon the death of Theo. Rufâ—… Cassiod Eusebius eccles hist. Hieromâ—… Eusebius Sigonius Constantine buried at Constantinople Socrates lib. 1. cap. 26. Eusebius in viâ—… Const. lib. 4. Sabellicus Constantines successors An. Do. 337. Constantinus his part of the Empire Constans his part of the Empire Constantius his part of the Empire Constantinus slaine Socrates lib. 2. c. 3. Cassiod trip Hist. A Councell against the Arrians called by Constans Constans slaine Amianus l. 20. c. 1â—… Fl. pop Nepohanus p. F. Aug. Simon Dunelm I. Stow. Galfridus
Saxons enter Britaine vnder Hengist Horsa W. Malmesbury Beda 1. 15. Saxons ouercome the Enemie and free the Britains A composition betwixt Saxon and Britaine * Britaines Witichindas Hengist had the whole possession of Kent Fabian The King giueth himselfe to securitie Ioâ—… Stow. Hengist seasteth the King The King in loue with Rowena In the Fictious of Virg. 〈◊〉 1. Caxton 〈◊〉 Mark 10. Vortigern would needs haue Rowena to wife Will. Malmesb. de Regibus Verstegan Restit cap. 〈◊〉 Tacit. destri Cer. cap. 2. Crantzius Pagan Germans account of tyrannoâ—…s beasta Hengist and Horse their Atâ—… The 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arâ—… The Duke of Sauoy his Armes Chron. Sax. Hengist his Country and parentage Floren. Wigoru Beda hist. Ang. li. 2. ca. 15. Hengist his first rising Ninius Octa and Ebissa a tettor to the Britaines The Nobilities complaint Vortigern reproued by the Bishop of London He continueth in his folly His subiects disclaime their obedience They chuse Vortimer Catigern and Horsa their single fight Iohn Stowe Cits-Cotihouse Catigern his Monument Beda hist. Aug. lib 1 cap. 15. Horsted the place of Horsa his Monument The Battels betweene Britaines and Saxons The Saxons driuen ouer Seas Vortimer poisoned by Rowena Leiden Castle in Holland begunne by Hengist Iohn Dousa Hengists landing resisted by the Britaines Matth. Westm. Hengist vseth treacherie At Salisbury-Plain the Britaines and Saxons treat of agreement Will. Malmesb. de regibus The Saxons suddenly murder the Britaines Randulp Higden Polychr li. 5. cap. 1. Diuers countries deliuered to the Infidels Beda hist. Angl. lib. 1. cap. 15. Great spoile and desolation ouer all the Land The Britaines abandoned the Land Beda hist. Angl. lib. 1. cap. 17. Pelagianisme brought into Britaine by Agricola The Heritikes conuicted The principall cause of the Britaines miseries Vortigern flieth into Wales Merlin the Welsh Wizard He builded a Castle there The differing opinions where this Castle was built Faustus spent his life in continuall praier Aurelius Ambrosius Captaine of the Britaines Beda hist. Eccles. Angl. lib. 1. ca. 16. Aurelius Ambrosius and Vter Pendragon returne out of Britaine Armorica A Battle at Maesbell Hengist discomfited Geffry ap Arthur Matth. Westminst Polydore Hengist raigne Geffry ap Arthur Arthurs acts augmented with fables The Saxons often at dissension among themselues The mightiest of the Saxon Kings alwaies King of the Englishmen Onely the East-Saxons intruded not on their neighbours dominions 1. An. Do. 455. Kent in the daies of Iulius Caesar the Seat of foure Kings Hengist his raign and death Of Hengist see more in the succession of the English Monarchy cap. 12. 2. An. Do. 488. Petrus Albinus Eske the second King of Kent Retained prisoner in Yorke His raigne and death Beda hist. Angl. lib. 2. cap. 5. 3. An. Do. 512. Octa his raigne 4. An. Do. 532. Florent Wigâ—… Iâ—…erik the sonne of Eske Iâ—…erik his children 5. An. Do. 561. Ethelbert the sonne of Iâ—…erik Cheulin inâ—…adeth his Territors Ethelbert the fifth Monarch of the Englishmen His first wife and children by her In the life of Saint Weâ—…rg His second wife 1. Cor. 5. 1. Repetition auoided in this Historie Beda Hist. Eccles Angl. lib 2. cap. 5. Heâ—…r 〈◊〉 6. An. Do. 617. Beda hist. â—…ccles Aug. lib. 〈◊〉 cap. 5. Edbald his sâ—… ther dead refused the doctrine of Christ. He married his Mother in Law Edbald often plagued Reclaimed from Idolatry by the Archbishop His Wife His Daughter His Sonnes and their issue Edbald his liberalitie to the Church Beda hist. Angl. lib. 1. cap. 6. His raigne and buriall 7. An. Do. 641. His care of Gods worship Beda hist. lib. 2. c. 〈◊〉 His Wife and issue Kent diuided into Parishes His raigne and death 8. An. Do. 665. Egbert his murther The fact reuealed Wil. Malmesbury de gestiâ—… rerum Anglorum Their bodies solemnly buried Dopnena their sister Her religiousnes Egbert his raigne and death Beda hist. eccles Ang. lib. 4. cap. 5. 9. An. Do. 673. Lothaire intrudeth into the Kingdome Matt. Westminst Lothaire slaine Beda hist. Eccles. Angl lib. 4. ca. 5. 26. His raigne Lothaire maketh but a â—…est of murder His buriall 10. An. Do. 686. Beda hist. Angl. lib. 4 cap. 26. Edrik his raigne His death Ceadwalla and Mollo inuade Kent Mollo burned to death 11. An Do. 693. Wigtred his meanes of attaining the Kingdome His bounty to the Church Beda Hist. Eccles. Angl. lib. 4. c. 26. lib. 5. cap. 9. His raigne and death 12. An. Do. 726. Edbert a vertuous prince His raigne Two blazing Starres His Buriall 13. An. Do. 749. Ethelbert his raigne His death His buriall 14. Alrik the last of lincall succession All the Kings of Kent after Alrik vsurpers 15. An. Do. 794. His imprisonment His releasement His raigne 16. An. Do. 797. His raigne 17. An. Do. 805. Baldred tooke vpon him the kingdome of Kent Egbert Monarch of the English-men This kingdomes beginning continuance and end The limits of this kingdome An. D. 488. The Inhabitants chased into a wood The diuers opinions of Ellas first entrance Maâ—… omitteth this Kingdome Ella his raigne and death 2. An. Do. 514. Cissa Succeeded Chichester and Chisburis founded by Cissa Stow. Cissaes Raigne 3. Liber Historialis S. Swithune VVâ—…ion Beda lib. 4. ca. 13. 〈◊〉 Edilbâ—…es Godfather Ebba the wife of VVolfere Beda loâ—…o ciâ—…ato Selsee in Sussex Cap. 15. His raigne and death Beda hist. l. 4. c. 13. Ceadwald driuen backe Beda Hist. Eccles. Angl. lib. 4. cap. 15. The continuance and end of this Kingdome The VVest Saxons the first that brought the Heptarchy to a Monarchy Florent Wâ—… 2. An. Do. 495. The time when Cherdik entred into Britaine An. Do. 508. The circuit of this kingdome The first Kings raigne issue and death 3. An. Do. 535. Kenrik his battels â—…anbery in Oxsordshire His issue Cheaulin Cuthwolfe and Cuâ—… Cearlike the son of Cuthwolfe rebelleth against his Vncle. Chedwall the most renowned King of the West-Saxons 4. An. Do. 561. Cheaulin the time when he began to raigne An vnquiet and ambitious neighbour Wimbledon cap. 5. Sect. 5. Stowe Ouerthrowne by Cealrik His raigne His issue Cuth and Cuthwin Cuth a vaâ—…nt vvarrior Slaine 〈◊〉 Fethanleygh 5. An. Do. 592. Cearlik the 〈◊〉 King of the West-Saxons His raignes continuance 6 Chelwolfe when he began to raigne VVest-Saxons inusded by three sundry Enemies Hen Huntingd. His death 7. An. Do. 611. Kingils his comming to the Kingdome Quinchelinus his associate Wil. Malmsbury Marianus Florent Wigorn. Their victorie ouer the Britaines Kingils conuerted to Christianitie the first of all the VVest-Saxons Kings Beda hist. Angl. lib. 3 cap. 7. Oswald a witnes at his baptizing His gift to Kingils 8. An. Do. 643. Beda hist. Angl. lib. 3. cap. 7. Kenwald reâ—…th the Christian faith He 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 out of his Kingdome Roâ—… ald wonne to the faith of Châ—…ist His vvorks of deuotion 〈◊〉 Malmsbury His raigne and death Vita Alel His Wife gouerneth the kingdome An. Do. 674. She becomes a Nunne