Hellen a British Princess he claimed a Succession to the Roman Empire and would e're long come with an Army to Rome subdue it and make it Tributary to Britain which stout Answer so dashed the Legate that he return'd much troubled and some write but upon what Certainty I know not that this King passed the Seas with a Fleet of 1000 Sail of Ships and a mighty Army subduing France Germany the Netherlands and Italy Soon after the Saxons were expelled Loth King of the Picts dyed and the Britains unwilling a Stranger should Reign over them in a manner by their Importunity compelled King Arthur to exclude Mordred now King Pictland from the Succession and to Adopt Constantine the Son of Cador Duke of Cornwal a valiant and virtuous young Man which Disappointment so vexed Mordred that after many threatning Messages finding no Redress he raised the Power of his whole Kingdom to which many Scots joyned themselves and ravaged the Northern Parts slaying and burning all in his way And tho' several Bishops on either Part laboured for a Reconciliation they could not prevail so that to decide the Controversie a dreadful Battle was fought near the River Humber and the Britains being entangled among the Bogs and Quagmires a Place that had been ever fatal to them tho' they fought like Lions yet in the end both Kings with most of their Nobles being slain with 20000 Picts and Scots and 30000 Britains the Day fell to the Picts and Scots by a crafty Device of a Scot who getting among the Britains cryed in the British Tongue Our King and his Nobles are slain every Man shift for himself which wrought such a Fear in the Army that it fell in Rout before there was any Cause for it and this Loss was so great that neither Nation recovered it in many Years The Body of King Arthur being found covered with the Heaps he had slain was honourably buried in Glastenbury Church-yard in Summersetshire and after his Death the Saxons came again and drove the Britains into the Mountains taking strong Possession of all the plain Country The Life and Glorious Actions of Charlemagne or Charles the Great who restored the Roman Empire in the West WHen the barbarous Nations as Goths Huns Sarazens Vandels Lumbards c. had torn the Roman Empire in pieces and divided it among themselves grievously Persecuting all that professed the Name of Christ GOD hearing the Cries and Groans and seeing the abundant Tears of his afflicted People raised them up Deliverers And first Charles Martell a French Prince who taking Courage to rescue his oppressed Country raised an Army of 60000 French and Germans who gave Battle to Abderamen a King of the Sarazens who had over run Franco with an Army of 400000 Men and overthrew him with the slaughter of 375000 of his Men and found him overwhelmed with a Heap of the Slain and tho' not wounded his Men in their Flight from the pursuing French Men pressed him to Death and soon after overthrew with great Slaughter another King of the Sarazens who was coming to Aid the former with an Army of 300000 Men utterly driving the Sarazens out of France and Germany for which worthy Service after his Death his Son Pepin a valiant Prince was made King and Childrick a lazy vicious Prince of the Race of Pharamond laid aside This Man did many great Actions much enlarging his Kingdom and dying divided his vast Dominions between his two Sons viz. Charles or Charlemagne and Caroloman the first being crowned at Wormes and the last at Soissons but long they agreed not for Charles being of a mild Temper and Caroloman of a turbulent Spirit he laboured to supplant him and to that end after some Contests he joyned with the Enemies of Charles went to Rome under a Pretence of Devotion labouring to make the Pope his Friend and to League himself to Didier a powerful King of the Lombards in Italy which wrought much Trouble to Charles from the Lombard and Pope But within three Years after his being crowned Caroloman dyed and then after strugling with some Rebels the whole Inheritance fell to Charles who warred with the Saxons Bavarians and other Nations sixteen Years and overcame them making them his Tributaries And when Didier the King of the Lombards went to Rome and hanged the Pope's two Secretaries for siding with Charles and caused the Pope to be deposed Charles having over come the Sons of Caroloman who raised Disturbances in France to put themselves in Possession of their Father's Estate he raised an Army and passing the Alps entered into Italy and in two great Battles defeated the Lombards besieging them and their King in Pavia which was soon surrendred to him and Didier their King was sent Prisoner to Lyons in France and so ended the Lombard Kingdom in Italy which had long flourished and been the Terror of all that Country and for this great Service Pope Adrian in a Councel held at Rome decreed That Charles should have a Right of Disposing of all the Ecclesiastical Benefits that became Vacant throughout Christendom Charles no sooner returned into France but Aldegise Son to Didier raised Commotions in Italy by the Helpe of Rogand to whom Charles had given the Country of Friuli but by the Care and Vigilence of the French Governours Rogan was taken and by the King's Command lost his Head which ended the Sedition And being now at Leasure he resolved to War on the Sarazens and Moors who coming over to Africa had strongly possessed themselves of all Spain and overthrew them in several Battles taking the Cities of Pampelona and Saragosa and many other strong Places putting those he found therein to the Sword for their Cruelty towards the Christians but Agoland a Sarazen King taking the Advantage of streight Passages in the Mountains fell upon Milon the Brother of Charles and slew him with most Part of his Army and elevated with this Victory he marched into France and besieged Agen in Gascoine but Charles soon overtook him yet his Troops with long Marches were so weary that they were not at that time in a Condition to fight yet Agoland propos'd a Way to decide the Difference viz. That a Troop on either Party should fight it out and the Sarazen promised to turn Christian if his was beaten and his Troop being worsted and mostly slain he did become a Christian in Shew but seeing the King at Dinner and a Table in the same Room at which many poor Men fed of the King's Bounty he demanded what they were to which Charles answered They were God's Ministers Nay then said the impious Sarazen your God must needs be very poor himself seeing his Ministers are so very poor and contemtible and so departed But Charles to be revenged of him followed him into Spain overthrew him in a great Battle and brought away his Head as a Trophy of his Victory Thus this great Man having extended his Dominions very largely was by Pope Leo whom he had delivered from his Enemies crowned
Emperour of the West and having settled his Empire over many Nations in Peace he betook himself to a quiet Life he caused Lewis his Son to be crowned Emperour of the Romans giving him good Exhortations to govern well that great People committed to his Charge with a Regard to the Christian Religion Piety and Mercy having got him by his Sword and Prudence the Dominion over all France Germany Italy Hungary Poland and Part of Spain and so in the midst of his Devotions he died in the 71 Year of his Age when he had reigned 47 Years and was a while layed in State and then buried in a stately Monument in the Church of Aix In a Chappel himself had founded a little before for that Purpose IX The Life and Glorious Actions of Godfrey of Bulloign Duke of Lorain who conquered the Holy Land and was crowned King of Jerusalem SInce many People have heard of a Holy War and yet but few can tell to what Purpose it was made or in what Region I shall here for their better Instruction set forth a satisfactory Relation of it in the Life and noble Actions of one of the famous Worthies of the World Godfrey Duke of Bulloign Lorain and Verdon It so happened for the Lukewarmness of the Eastern Christians and their furious Contests about Niceties in Religion which caused a general Decay of Piety amongst them that God suffered them at first to be over-run and their Countries taken from them by the barbarous Sarazens and they being subdued by the Turks all manner of Cruelties were used towards the Christians that still inhabited amongst them in great Numbers which made them groan under their heavy Bondage and cry to God for Succour in their Distress when the Patriarch of Jerusalem and other good Men assembling it was resolved to send one Peter a French Man who had taken upon him the Life of a Hermit with their Supplications to the Western Christians beseeching them in the Bowels of Mercy and Compassion to look with Eyes of Pity on their Sufferings and with an armed Power rescue them and the Holy City of Jerusalem out of the Hands of the merciless Enemies of the Name Christ this Man after a tedious Travel and escaping many Dangers came to Rome Anno 1093 Vrbin the Second being then Bishop of that See to whom he delivered the Patriarch's Letters and gave a full Account of the Matter so moving that the Bishop could not refrain from Tears and summoning a Councel at Placentia whither most of the Christian Princes and Prelates were invited where appearing in full Assembly the Pope with moving Orations causing the Patriarch's Letters to be read and Peter to declare the cruel Usage the Eastern Nations suffered at the Hands of their Infidels the Princes were so inflamed with a Zeal of Delivering their suffering Brethren that with one Consent they agreed to raise Forces immediately and march to Jerusalem which unanimous Agreement the Pope no sooner perceived but with Tears of Joy in his Eyes he cried out It is the Will of God which Motto they put afterward in their Standard and so the Counsel ending every one repaired to their Country to raise Forces which were to wear Red Crosses on their Breasts to distinguish them And the Chief of these were Godfrey of Bulloign and his two Brothers Baldwin and Eustace Hugh Earl of Vermondois the French King's Brother Robert Duke Normandy Son to our King William Sir-named the Conqueror Stephen Earl of Chartes and Blois Hugh Earl of St. Paul Raymond Earl of Tholouse Robert Earl of Flanders with a great Number of Nobles and Gentlemen who landed with an Army of 300000 valiant Men on the Shoars of Asia striking Terror to their Enemies and marching on besieged the City of Nice the Capital City of Bythinia which Solimon the Turkish Sultan of Persia came with a a huge Army to relieve but was utterly defeated with such Slaughter that the Fields were covered with Blood and the Bodies of the Slain After which the Christians returned again to their Siege and Duke Godfrey with an Arrow killed a mighty Giant-like Turk who had manfully defended the Breach tho' twenty Arrows were sticking in his Breast and killed the Assailants in great Numbers with huge Stones which he threw at them and soon after the City was taken and delivered to Emanuel the Greek Emperor in Lien of the Supplies of Provision he was to furnish the Army withal This City taken they marched towards Syria in two Bodies the one commanded in Chief by Duke Godfrey and the other by the Duke of Normondy and the Earl of Flanders and in their Way being encountred by 300000 Turkish and Persian Horsemen they soon put them to the Rout with incredible Slaughter And having taken Tripolis a strong City in Syria they advanced towards Antioch but Peter the Hermit who had got together a great Multitude of Men out of the Territories of the Church and from Monasteries whose Business was rather Eating than Fighting advancing too far before the Army and falling into an Ambush of the Enemy most of them were slain with their Leader But the Army coming before the City of Pisidia it surrendred But new Duke Godfrey going into the Woods to recreate himself narrowly missed being slain by a monsterous Bear whom he found assaulting one of his Soldier who went to cut Wood but though the Bear got him down he drew his Sword under his Thigh by which he wounded himself and lost much Blood yet running it into the Belly of the Bear he killed her and on the like Occasion at another Time he hearing a Lyon roar piteously in a Forrest and going to see what the Matter was found a huge Serpent had twisted itself about the Lyon's Legs and with his poisonous Sting was darting at his Head to kill him but the Duke pitying the noble Lyon with his huge Sword cut off the Sepent's Head and relieved the Lyon who in Gratitude far surpassing most Men ever after during his Life followed him hunted wild Beast for him and fawned on him like a Spannel often defending him against his Enemies The Christians having conquered Siletia and a great Part of Armenia besieged the City of Antioch in which was a strong Garrison and at their first setting down before it Duke Godfrey with a selected Party only with their Swords in their Hands defeated an Army of the Turks who say in Ambush to surprize his Soldiers sent to fetch Provision for the Army at Port Simon brought thither by Ships from Genoa and Pisons which the Pope had sent for the Relief of the Christians in Syria and after a teâ—ious â—â—â—ge took Antioch and from thence marched towards Jerusalem overâ—â—â—wing â—ome Armies of Turks by the Way when in one Battle a Giâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Tâ—â—k seeing Duke Godfrey beat down Multitudes before him came on a â—aâ—y all foaming to encounter him with his mighty Cimiter but after a fierce Encounter the Duke with a forcible Stroak of his Sword cut his Shoulder down to his Wast so that he fell dead from his Horse The Army coming within sight of the Holy City Jerusalem fell on their Knees with devout Prayers for God's Assistance vowing never to depart till they had taken it and such was their resolute Courage that they no sooner came to the Walls but immediately many scaled them and beat the Defendants from the Battlements leaping into the City and tho' these were not seconded for want of Leaders they sold their Lives at a dear Rate After this they lay'd a formal Siege and it being extream hot Weather they suffer'd much thro' Thirst for the Brook Kedron was dried up and the Infidels had poisoned all the Wells yet that of Siloe had worked out the Poison and the Water was become wholesom yet it yielded but little however they made many terrible Assaults and at length enter'd by main Force putting all the Turks and Sarazens to the Sword And in Solomon's Temple found vast Riches whilst the Christians there embraced the Soldiers with Tears extolling them as their Deliverers Now the City was taken the Princes resolved to settle a Christian King therein and the Lot fell upon the Duke of Normandy but he minding his Intetests nearer home refused it Then with a unanimous Consent they chose Duke Godfrey King though he modestly refused so great an Honour however it being pressed upon him he accepted it but would not be crowned with a rich Crown that was offered him saying God forbid that any Christian King should wear a Crown of Gold where his Saviour for the Redemption of Mankind had worn a Crown of Thorns And the Princes having overthrown the Sultan of Egypt who too late coming to relieve the City most of them took Leave of the King and retutned home who being busied in enlarging his Frontiers fell sick and dyed in the first Year of his Regin and his Brother Baldwin succeeded him FINIS
his Mother Wife and Daughters but he refused all unless he would surrender up the whole Empire of Persia Upon which Darius resolving to try another Field raised an Army of 400000 Foot and 100000 Horse but in his March heard his Wife was dead and that Alexander had buried her very honourably and wept at her Funeral using the rest very courteously which made him confess he was truly conquered since after so many Battles his Enemy had overcome him in Kindness and that it was some Comfort to him in his Misery to be subdued by so noble an Adversary However another bloody Battle was fought on the Plains of Arbella where the Persians and Scithians at first prevailed and with barbarous Shouts run on the Plunder but suddenly an Eagle hovering over the Head of Alexander it was taken by his Men as a Presage of Victory which reviving their fainting Spirits made them fall on so desperately that with the Battle they won him the Empire of the East for Darius flying was taken by Neorbarzanes and Bessus two of his own Princes bound in Chains and laid on a Waggon thinking with the Head of their King to purchase their own Conditions with Alexander but being hotly pursued they mortally Wounded him and left his Body on the Land where he expired and was magnificently buried by Alexander who took Possession of the Persian Empire Alexander having gotten the Empire of Darius warred on many Nations and coming to the great Indian Sea after he had overcome King Porus who made a stout Resistance he wept because as he supposed there were no more Countries to conquor and in his return Kings submitted every-where to him and Thelestus Queen of the Amazons came with 5000 Virgins arm'd to request him to lye with her that she might have a Son by so Great a Conquerour and had her Wish Peace being now pretty well settled Alexander laying aside the Macedonian Fashion followed the Persian Mode as well in Apparel as in Riot and Luxury making many drunken Banquets in one of which he killed Clytus an aged General who had done him great Service in his Wars but being sober he exceedingly mourned his Death refusing Food for four Days but afterward putting many of his Lieutenants to Death upon little Pretences and growing Outragious in his Actions Antipater Lieutenant of Macedon fearing his own Life caused his Son Cassander who waited on the King to Poison him at one of his Banquets and so dying without an Heir his mighty Empire was divided amongst his great Captains and his Body carried to Egypt and there buried III. The Life and glorious Actions of Julius Caesar the first Emperour of Rome JVlius Caesar the great Roman Captain and Emperour of the World descended of the Julian Family so called from Julius Ascunius the Son of Aeneas of Troy and Caesar from his being cut from his Mother's Womb began very early to climb to the highest Honours being made Priest of Jupiter at sixteen Years of Age and though he was grievously persecuted by Syla who foreseeing his rising to Greatness labour'd to destroy him often saying There were many Mariuses in that Boy he escaped his Hands and studied at Rhodes under A. Molon the famous Orator where he grew so perfect that on all Occasions he had moving Words at Command which mightily favoured his Purpose and once appeas'd a Mutiny in his Army when the Soldiers in their Rage and Fury sought his Life And having passed the Offices of Questor in Spain and Tribune of the People he gained by his fair Speeches and Liberality so much Love amongst the Vulgar that they every-where extolled him to the Skies especially when he had successfully fought against and overthrown the Lieutenants of Mithridates King of Pontus and turned many to their Alliance who were wavering and ready to Revolt And to strengthen his Alliance he married Cornelia Daughter to Cinna who had been four times Consul by whom he had a Daughter named Julia after married to Pompey the Great when coming to the Temple of Hercules and seeing the Statute of Alexander the Great he wept because he had lived to his Age and had done nothing to compare with him And ever after it put such an Aspiring into his Mind that he grew restless till he subdued to himself the Roman Empire far larger in Extent than that that Alexander had possessed After he had done many obliging things to bind the Affection of the People of Rome to his interest he was made Consul with Bibulus and soon so prevailed over his Partner that he laid him aside and acted alone in all Publick-Affairs managing the Farms and Revenues of the Roman People to great Advantage causing Cato to be violently pulled out of the Senate house and committed for interrupting him for which he incurred his mortal Hatred ever after And his Wife dying he married Calphurnia Daughter of Piso which so strengthen'd his Alliance that he awed the Senate Soon after he went with the Consullary Army over the Alps subdued France then Gallia and a great part of Germany and sailing over into Britain after many dangerous Battles fought with the Britains he subdued a great Part of this Island in his three Expeditions and laid a Tribute of 3000 Pound Weight of Silver on the Natives to be paid Yearly to the Romans And when he had warred ten Years successfully abroad hearing that Pompey had made a great Party against him in the Senate and that they were about to divest him of all his Honours and calling him home as a private Man appointing Domitius his Successor in Gallia he was much disturbed and setling his Affairs as well as he could resolved to march with his Army to Rome though upon a Table of Brass placed on the other side the River Rubicon whereon was engraven an Act of the Senate that no Roman should pass that River homeward Armed when encamping on the Bank of that River he paused a while saying to those about him Thus far we are safe and may return if we please If we pass this Bridge we shall have nothing to trust to but our Arms. When he had spoke these Words there appeared a Person of remarkable Stature and Beauty playing melodiously on a Reed which made many flock about him when snatching a Trumpet out of one of their Hands he stalked through the River sounding a Charge whereat Caesar seemed to be much amazed though it was thought to be a Device of his to draw on his Men more willingly and crying out Come then it is decreed 〈◊〉 go where the Progenies of the Gods and the Iniquities of our Enemies 〈◊〉 and immediately causing his Eagles to advance he passed the forbiddes River at the Terror of whose Approach Petreus Affâ—â—nas young Syla and most of Pompey's Lieutenants in Italy deserted the Towns and fled and the Massilians and some others that made Resistance were reduced into which Towns Caesar putting Garrisons marched to Rome for Fear of whom Pompey and the
from him so that he sell by the Sword of the Ammonites And David took Barsheba to be his Wife and after the Prophet had reproved him he wept bitterly but that Child dying he begot on her Solomon who after was King of Israel Yet God punished him for this Sin by the Ravishment of his Daughter Tamar the Murther of his Son Amnon and lastly by the Rebellion of his Son Absolom who drove him almost out of his Kingdom and was contrary to the King's Command after a great Defeat slain by Joab as he hung by the Hair of the Head in an Oak whose Death David lamented in a very sorrowful manner till Joab rebuked him and compelled him to speak comfortably to the People whose Sorrow had utterly disheartened them After this Victory won David was carried back with the Consent of all the People to Jerusalem where having pardoned Shimei that cursed him in his Flight angry with Joab he made Amasa Captain of his Host who had headed Absolom's Army but Joab slew him in the way as they were marching in pursuit of Sheba a Captain who had rebelled whom he besiged in Adelda where his Head by the Perswasion of a Woman of that City was cut off and thrown over the Wall upon which Joab raised the Siege Yet David having numbred the People against the Advice of his Councellors to know what Strength he had God was displeased and sent a Pestilence that consumed a great number of them And now David having reigned eleven Years in Peace betook himself to Piety and Devotion writing his Hymns and Psalms in the Praise of God and preparing Materials to build the Temple and when he had reigned forty Years he died in the seventy second Year of his Age appointing his Son Solomon to succeed him in the Throne VI. The Life and valiant Actions of Judas Maccabeus Captain of the Israelites against Atiochus the Persecuting King of Syria AMong other famous Worthies of the World who stood as a Bulwark in the Defence of their Country and by true Valour with small Numbers got almost incredible Victories over the Multitude of their Enemies I must worthily rank Judas Maccabeus the renowed Captain of the Jews In the youthful Days of this valiant Heroe some of the looser sort of the Jews being punished for their Disorders and the Neglect of their Religion fled to Antiochus Epiphanius who reigned over Syria and a great part of Asia being one of those Greek Captains who had parted Alexander's Empire amongst them This cruel King they earnestly solicited to invade Jerusalem who in the Year of the World 3796 sent a great Army to invade the Land of Judea who slaughtered all that fell in their way burning and destroying their Towns and Strong-holds and had Jerusalem betrayed to him by the Factious Party who over-powering the others open'd the Gates and let in the Army where they sacrilegiously robbed the Temple carrying away the Golden Table Candlesticks and Censures with all other Vessels and Things of Value dedicated to the Worship of God raising a cruel Persecution against the believing Jews who refused to fall down and Worship their Idols fleying some alive roasting and broiling others boiling some in Cauldrous and putting the seven Sons of the Maccabes to horrible Torments by broiling them on Grid-irons and frying them in Brass Pans alive c. which Torments they overcame with a admirable Patience Constancy and Courage till Death eased them and gave lasting Joys for short Pain He 〈◊〉 threw the Altars slew the Priests and strangled their Children in the Arms of their weeping Mothers and prophanded the Temple of God with abominable Sacrifices In the time of this Dissolation in the Holy City and others God stired up the Spirit of Matthias Father of Judas Maccabeus to begin the Deliverance of his People from the Cruelties of the Heathen Tyrant This Man was a Priest who with his valiant Sons and other Godly Jews retired to the City of Modin where he was soon summoned to surrender and submit himself and all with him to the Tyrant's Mercy but he refused and calling the People together repeated all the miseries and Cruelties the Nation of the Jews had suffer'd exhorted them to be couragious and trust in God as he and their Fathers had done in the like Distress and revenge them on their Merciless Enemies with other encouraging Words which made them take Heart and resolve to stand in Defence of their Religion and Lives and fight on the Sabbath-day if they were assaulted which before they had refused for fear of breaking it suffering their Throats to be cut without Resistance their Enemies hunting 'em out in Woods and Caves whether they were fled and chusing for that Purpose to fall on them on that Day And whilst they were thus consulting an irreligious Jew to please the King's Commissioners prâ—â—â—â—tly stept forth and slewis Swine on the Altar to do Sacrifice to Jupiter when Matthias in his Zeal slew the Jew and overthrew the Altar and slaying Appolonius the King 's Captain and other Soldiers that resisted he cryed out All you that are affected to the Law of your Fathers and to the Service of God follow me Upon this he assembled a great Company overthrew his Enemies Armies and slaughter ed Multitudes of them putting to Death many of the Apostate Jews but being very aged he recommended to them as their Captain his Son Judas Macchabeus and when he had exhorted them to be Couragious and expect the Divine Assistance he gave up the Ghost Judas after his Father's Death took on him the full Command and overthrew Antiochus his Lieutenant of Samaria and slew him with most of his Army taking great Spoil After this Seron Governour of Coelosyria came upon him with a great Army when Judas encouraging his Men to trust in God who with a small Force could confound the Mighty and to fight like valiant Men he fell like a Tempest on the General and in a bloody Battle slew him and 800 Syrians getting great Spoil of their Tents and Armour These unexpected Defeats so enraged Antiochus that he commanded Lysias Governour of Egypt to march with all the Power of that Country and utterly destroy the Jews or sell them for Slaves to those that would give most and utterly to lay Jerusalem wast Upon this Lysia raised a huge Army and sent them under the leading of Ptolomy Nicanor and Georgias three prime Captains and Men of great Authority with the People whereupon Judas and his Men called on God for Assistance proclaiming a Fast and humbling themselves before him and then fell upon their Enemies with great Fury with only 3000 Men so that he soon put them to the Rout covering the Field with dead Bodies and slew them in the Pursuit to the Plains of Idumea and then returned to the Spoil and soon after overthrew Lysias who invaded Judea with an Army of 60000 Foot and 5000 Horse with a mighty Slaughter so that Lysias returned to
Antioch to recruit his broken Army whereupon Judas exhorted the People that as an Acknowledgment of God's Favour and Goodness in giving them so many Victories they should go up to Jerusalem purge the Temple and offer Sacrifice which they did with much Devotion giving Praise and Thanks to Almighty God for their Deliverance rebuilding the Altars and repairing the Breaches After this he set upon his Enemies and wasted them round about Jerusalem relieving those Jews that were distressed by their Enemies by his Brother Simeon whom he sent with an Army unto Galliles and other places obtaining these and many other gallant Victories with little Loss of Men which made Antiochus storm and in the End send Bacchides the Great Marshal of his Army with a mighty Force even all the Strength of Syria and Judas having but few in number many being fled for Fear nevertheless contrary to the Mind of his Captains who desired him to retreat till he was better recruited gave Battle and the Jews fought like Lions selling their Lives at a dear Rate yet being over-powered by Numbers and enclosed with the Multitude of their Enemies Judas after he had slain many of the Enemies weary with Killing fainted and fell to the Ground where he was slain But Simeon and Jonathan recovered his Body and buried it VII The Life and famous Actions of Arthur King of the Britains who subdued the Pagan Saxons and drove them out of the Land with many other great Exploits ARthur of famous Renown and Memory the Worthy King of the Britains of whom so many wonderful Stories are related as likewise of his valiant Knights of the Round Table was according to true History passing others over the Son of Vter Pendragon got on the fair Igrene Daughter to the Duke of Cornwal and tho' he was born out of Wedlock yet afterward Vter married his Mother and left him Heir to his Kingdom tho' he had two Sisters one married to the King of the Scots and the other to the King of the Picts which Kings were highly displeased that Arthur who was not Legitimate should succeed to the Crown in bar of their pretended Right and the Saxons who a considerable time before had been called in by Vortegern under the Leading of their two Captains Hihgest and Horsa as Aid against the Picts and Scots who miserably harazed the Britains when the Romans withdrew their Forces to support their tottering Empire having of Servants forcibly possessed themselves of most of the East and Northern Parts of what is now called England Loth the Pictish King who had married the eldest Sister finding he could not by his Ambassadors prevail with the Britains to admit him their King but that they had accepted Arthur they disdaining to submit to a Stranger when they had so Valiant and Worthy a Native to defend them he joyned League with the Saxons soliciting the King of Scots to do the like resolving utterly to exterpate the British Name from off the Face of the Earth The Knowledge of this Confederacy soon rouzed King Arthur when leaving the Pleasures of his Court and having raised an Army of his own Subjects and received some Forces from Armorica or Little Britain in France he marched couragiously against the Eastern Saxons to give them Battle e're the Picts should joyn their Forces and meeting their Army very numerous about ten Miles from London he vanquished them in two bloody Battles and made them become his Tributaries and receive over them such Governours as he appointed with many other hard Conditions After this he took London and held a kind of a Parliament of the British Estates wherein it was agreed to recruit the Army and speedily march Northward against those beyond the River Humber when in Yorkshire he fought the Picts and Saxons who had joyned their Armies and overthrew them with a terrible Slaughter pursuing the flying Saxons to York where he besiged them but Scarcety and Sickness growing in his Army and hearing great Multitudes of Picts and Saxons who had passed the Seas from Germany under Occa their Captain were coming to Relieve them he broke up the Siege and retired into Wales but early in the Spring marched to London and settling Affairs with the Saxons of Kent marched Northward and overthrew Colgern and Occa two Captains that were ravaging the Country and took the City of York sparing the Lives of the Inhabitants and concluded a League with Loth King of Picts wherein it was concluded that Mordred Loth's eldest Son should succeed Arthur in the Kingdom of Britain and in the mean time with Joynt Forces help to expel the Saxons and that Mordred should marry the Daughter of Gawolum a noble Britain and the Children to be brought up by the Grandfather in Britain And in this League was included the King of Scots who at King Arthur's Desire joyned their Forces near Tinmouth where they overthrew the Saxons with a terrible Slaughter killing Colgern and Childrick two of their chiefest Captains so that the remaining Saxons were so disheartened that most of them left the Kingdom others submitted to live peaceably under such Governours as should be appointed them and turned Christians at least in Shew and such as stayed after Proclamation and refused to be Baptized suffered Death Then the King repaired several Churches the Pagan Saxons had ruinated But the Saxons of the Isle of Wight joyning with those of Kent and Sussex fell surprizingly upon the Britains that inhabited amongst them flew them and made Spoil of their Goods but the King with the Aid of the Picts and Scots marched against them who feignedly sent their Supplications to him to treat about their departing the Land but whilst they were Treating they fell upon the advanced Part of the King's Army and killed many of them and tho' their Commanders sent to excuse it as done rashly by some who were ignorant of the Treaty the King resolved to Punish such Treachery which he did by setting upon them with such Fury that few of their great Army escaped the Slaughter and many urg'd by the devouring Sword behind threw themselves into the River to avoid it and were drowned and so the Land was cleared of all but those who complied to the Terms beforementioned And in this Battle with his Sword called Callibourn some Histories say he slew 800 but this looks something incredible but certain it is he returned Victorious from twelve set Battles besides Skirmishes the 1st at the River Gleyn 2 3 4 and 5 at the River Douglass in Lenox 6 at the River Bassus 7 in the Callidonian Wood 8 near the Castle of Guiven 9 at Carleon 10 near Richwood 11 on a Hill called Agued Cathbergain and 12th at Bath or Bathen Hill Some Authors mention he had several Battles with the Danes and Norwigians and drove those Invaders out of the Land and when Lucius Hiberius the Roman Legate came to demand Tribute for Britain King Arthur stoutly answered That from Constantine the Great Son of