his sonne who inclosed y e same with a depe dyche and grauÌ„ted to the inhabitantes therof great fredom And after builded a church ouer y e place of his sepulture and ordeined there an house of monkes enduyng them with fayre possessioÌ„s And after it was vsed y e kings of EnglaÌ„d wheÌ„ thei wer crouned sent for an offering their crounes vnto S. Edmondes shryne and redemed the same with a good price The englyshe men sente agayne for Etheldred out of Normandye who by the healpe of the Normans and present assistance of his commons expelled Canutus but shortly Canutus returned agayne into Englande where he spared nothynge that myght be destroyed with sworde fyre In whiche tyme king Etheldred ended his lyfe when he had reigned .xxxviii. yeares and was buried in the Northe Isle of Paules churche in London aboue the aultar Fabian saythe that in the seconde yeare of this kynges reigne a great part of the citie of London was wasted with fyre but how it beganne hys aucthor telleth not But ye shal vnderstand that this day the citie of London had moste housyng and buyldynge from Ludgate towarde Westminster and littell or none where the chiefe or hart of the citie is now except in diuers places was housynge but they stoode without order So that many townes cities as CaÌ„terbury York and dyuers other in Englande passed London in buyldyng at those dayes as I haue sene sayth Fabyan by an old boke somtime in the Guyld halle of London named Domes daye But after the conquest it increased and shortly after passed and excelled all the other Aboute the .viii. yeare of this kyngs reign dyed Ethelwald byshop of Wynchester who was born in Wynchester and ther buylded an abbey of Nunnes as sayth Fabyan AFter y e deth of Etheldred great variance fell betwene y e englishe meÌ„ for the election of theyr kyng for y e citezens of London with certayn other named Edmund the son of Etheldred a yong man of lusty and valiant courage in martiall aduentures both hardy and wyse and one that could very well endure all paynes Wherefore hee was surnamed Ironsyde but the more part fauored Canutus the Dane By meanes wherof betwene those two princes were foughten many great battayles in the which either party sped diuersly to the great slaughter of theÌ„ that toke their partes But lastly it was agreed that the two Captayns shold try theyr quarell betwene them selues onely In which fight although Edmund semed to haue the vpper hand yet be condisceÌ„ded to deuyde the realm and make Canutus felow with him in the kingdom whyche agreement was at laste concluded In this tyme there was an englishe Earle called Edricus which by hys falshode had wrought muche hurte to hys naturall country and lastelye was aucthor of the deth of the noble Edmund And therof himself brought fyrst knowledge to Canutus the Dane sayinge in this wyse Thus haue I doone Canutus for the loue of thee To whom hee answered sayinge For my loue thou hast murdered thyne owne soueraigne Lord whome I loued most entierly I shall in rewarde therof exalt thy head aboue all the lordes of Englande And foorthwith commanded hym to be headed and his head to be set vpon a spear on the hyghest gate of London These princes reygned together .ii. yeares Thys Edmund was buryed at Glastenburye VUhen Canutus was stablished in the kyngdom he had knowledge how Olanns king of Norway in his absence inuaded the couÌ„trey of Denmarke wherfore in all hast he sped him thitherward by the maÌ„hod of the english souldiors obteined of them a noble victory recouered Norway to his seignory wherfore when he returned into England he demeaned him toward all men as a sage gentle moderat prince and so continued .xx. yeares Canutus called a parliameÌ„t at OxeÌ„ford where it was decreed that english men and Danes should hold the lawes of Edgare late kyng Canutus subdued the Scots wherby he was king of .iiii. kingdoms y t is to say of England ScotlaÌ„d Denmark Norway After that he weÌ„t into Denmark and so to Rome And after returned again into England Where he kept all his life tyme good iustice and did many charitable dedes And after his deathe was buried in s. Swithins at Winchester Of this Canutus Polidore hath writen a notable history in y e end of his vii boke of the historie of England HArold the sonne of Canutus by hys wyfe Elgina for hys swyftnes surnamed Harefote began hys reygne ouer thys realme of England In the begynning hee shewed some token of crueltie in that he banyshed his stepmother Emma and tooke from her suche iewelles and treasure as she hadde He reigned iii. yeares Hee was buryed at Westmynster and after at S. Clementes without Temple barre HArdikenitus king of Denmarke after the deathe of Harolde was ordeyned kyng of Englande He for the iniurie done to his mother Emma caused the corps of Harolde to be taken out of the sepulchre and smyting of the head caste it with the body into the ryuer of Thames where by a fysher it was taken vp and vnreuerently buried at S. Clementes as afore is sayd He burdeined his subiectes with eractions and tribute and in meat and dryncke was so prodygall that hys tables were spreade .iiii. tymes in the day and the people serued with great excesse whan he had reigned .iii. yeares he dyed sodeinly at Lambeth not without suspection of poysonynge and was buried at Winchester Hardikenitus beyng deade the Danes were beaten slayn and dryuen out of this lande into theyr owne countrey xxviii yeares after that Swayn began fyrst to reigne EDwarde the sonne of Egelrede or Etheldred by the aduice of Goodwyne and Leofricus Erle of Chester after the deathe of Hardikenitus was sent for out of Normandie to take on him the goueruaunce of this realme of Englande whiche hee guyded with much wisdome and iustice from whom issued as out of a fountaiue very godlinesse mercie pitie and liberalitie towarde the pore and gentylnes and iustice towards all men and in all honest lyfe gaue moste godly example to hys people He discharged the englyshmen of the great tribute called y e Dane gelt whiche was often before time leuied to y e impouerishyng of the people He subdued the Wesâ—hemen whiche rebelled and made warre vpon their borders The .xvi. yere of this kyng Edward died y e good Erle Leofricus erle of Mercia of Chester who was buried in the abbey of Couentrie which he hym selfe had caused to be buylded He purchased many great priuileges for the aforesaid towne of Couentrie Willyam bastard duke of Normandie about this tyme came with a goodly company into England and was honorablye receyued to whom the kynge made great cheere And at his returne enriched hym with great gyftes pleasures and as som write made promise to hym that if he died without issue the same
the southe part which part is the front and begynnyng of the Land and endeth narow or as it were in a straighte So the circuit or compasse of the Iland is .xviii. C. myles which is .200 lesse than Caesar doothe recken or accompt Thus muche I haue thought good to take out of Polydore touchynge the diuision of England with the forme and situation of the same Much other good matter that author doth alledge whiche here for breuitie I doo omitte referring those that desyre to know farther herof to that boke where he shall fynde the style and story bothe pleasant and profitable The Race of the kinges of England since Brute the fyrste of this Realme and in the margent are placed the yeares before Christ his byrth when euery kyng began their Reignes tylye come to Cimbilinus in whose tyme Christe the Sauioure of the world was born and then foloweth the yeares from Christ his byrthe AFter the commune and best allowed opinion of the moste ancient and best approued Authours Brute the sonne of Siluius Posthumius arryued in this Ilande at a place now called Toâ—nes in Deuonshire the yeare of the worlde .2855 the yeare before Christes natiuitie .1108 wherin he fyrst began to Reigne and named it Britayn which before was called Albion And therin he builded the noble Citie of London and named it new Troy buildyng there a Temple to Appolyn wherein he placed an Archeflamyn He deuided the same Iland among his thre sonnes vnto Locrine he gaue the midle part of Britayn now called Englande with the superioritie of al this Ile Unto Camber he gaue Wales and to Albanact Scotland After whiche partition he deceassed when he had reigned xxiiii yeres and was buried at London then called new Troy as is aforesayd Locryne the eldest sonne of Brute reigned .xx. yeres he chased the Hunnes whiche inuaded this Realme and pursued them so sharply that many of theÌ„ with their kyng were drowned in a ryuer whyche departeth Englande and Scotland And for so much as the kyng of Hunnes named Humbar was there drowned the ryuer is tyll this daye named Humbar so saythe Hardyng Fabian and other This king Locryn had to wyfe Gwendolynâ— daughter of Corineus duke of Cornewall by whom he had a sonne named Madan he also kept as paramor the beautiful lady Estrilde by whom he had a daughter named Sabryne And after the death of Corineus duke of Cornewal he put from him the sayd Guendolyn and wedded Estrylde but Gwendolyn repaired to Cornwall where she gathered a great power and fought with king Locryn and siue him he was buryed at Troynouant She drowned the ladye Estrylde wyth her doughter Sabrine in a ryuer that after the yong maydens name is called Seuerne Gwendolyne the daughter of Corineus and wyfe to Locryne for so much as Madan her sonne was to yong to gouerne the land was by common assent of all the Britaynes made ruler of the whole Isle of Britayn whiche she well and discretely ruled to the comforte of her subiectes .xv. yeares and then lefte the same to her sonne Madan Madan the sonne of Locryne and Gwendolyne was made ruler of Britayne of hym is lyttle memorie made by any wrtters but that he vsed greate tyranny among his Brytons And that beyng at his disport of huntyng he was deuoured by wyld wolues when he had reigned .xl. yeres He left after hym .ii. sonnes as is reported in Polycronica named Mempricius and Manlius Mempricius the sonne of Madan beyng Kyng by treason slewe his brother Manlius after whose death he lyued in more tranquillitie wherthrough he fell in slouth and so to lechery takynge the wyues and doughters of his subiectes and lastly becam so euyl that he forsoke his wyfe and concubines and fell to the synne of Sodomie with beastes wherby he became odible to God and man And goyng on huntyng lost his company and was destroyed of wyld wolues wherof the lande was then full when he had reigned .xx. yeres Ebranke the sonne of Mempricius was made ruler of Britayn he had as testifieth Policronica Gaufride and other .xxi. wiues of whom he receued .xx. sonnes and .xxx. daughters whiche he sent into Italye there to be maryed to the blood of the Troyans In Albanye now called Scotland he edified the castell of Alclude which is Dumbritain he made the castle of Maidens now called Edenbrough he made also the castel of Bamburgh he buylded Yorke citie wherin he made a temple to Diane and set there an Archeflame and there was buried when he had reigned .lx. yeares About the yeare of the world .3000 according to the prophecie of Helie half the yeares of the world were fulfylled whyche was the yeare before Christes byrthe .963 Brute Greneshield the sonne of Ebranke ruled this lande .xii. yeares and was buried at Yorke leuyng after him a sonne named Leill Leill the sonne of Brute Greneshield beyng a iust man and louer of peace in his tyme buylded Carleile and made there a temple placyng therein a Flamyn to rule the same accordyng to the lawes of theyr gods at that tyme and there was buryed when he had ruled Britayn .xxv. yeares Lud Rudibras the sonne of Leille buylded Canterbury Winchester and Shaftsburye wherein he buylded .iii. temples and placed in the same .iii. flames lyke as byshoppes now be he reigned .xxix. yeares and left a sonne after him named Bladud Bladud sonne of Lud Rudibras who had longe studied at Athens broughte wyth hym .iiii. Philosophers to keepe schole in Britayn for the which he builded Stamford and made it an vniuersitie as saythe Merlyn wherein he had great numbre of scholers studyinge in all the .vii. liberall sciences whiche vniuersitie dured to the commynge of S. Augustine At whiche tyme the byshop of Rome interdited it for heresies that fell among the Sarons and Britons together mixt so saith Hardyng He builded Bathe and made there a temple to Apollo and placed there a Flamyn he made there the hote bathes and practised his necromancye He decked hymselfe in fethers and presumed to flye in the ayre and fallynge on hys temple of Apollo brake his necke when he had reigned .xx. yeares Leire sonne of Bladud succeded hys father he buylded Caire Leyr now called Leicester and made there a Temple of Ianus placyng a Flamyn there to gouerne the same he had .iii. daughters Gonorell Ragan and Cordelle Whiche Cordelle for her wysedom and vertue towardes her father succeded hym in the kyngedome When he had reygned .xl. yeare he deceassed and was buried at Leycester Cordyla the youngest daughter of Liere succedynge her father was sore vexed by her two nephues Morgan of Albanie and Conedagus of Camber and Cornewall who at the lengthe tooke and caste her in pryson where she beyng in dispayre of recoueryng her estate as testifieth Galfride slewe her selfe
strong power came to London where they caused the kyng to cal a parliameÌ„t whereof hearynge Alexander Neuyll Archbyshop of Yorke Syr Lionel Uere Marques of Deuelen syr Mychael de la Poole ChauÌ„cellour erle of Suffolk fearyng punyshment fled the lande and died in straunge countreys The kynge by counsayle of the aboue named lordes duryng the parliament caused to be taken syr Robart Triuilian chiefe Iustice of Englande syr Nycholas Brembre late Maior of LondoÌ„ syr Iohn Salysbury knyght of houshold syr Iohn Beauchampe Stewarde of the kyngs house syr Symon Burley syr Iames Bernes and syr Robert Belknappe knyghtes and a sergeaunt of armes named Iohn Uske the whiche by authoritie of the sayde parliament were conuict of treason and put to death at the towre hyll at Tyborne And Iohn Holt Iohn Locton Rychard Gray Wylliam Burgth and Robert Fuithorpe iustice with the other foresayde lordes which before had voyded the land were banished and exiled for euer Anno. 12. Sir Nych Twyford M. Tho. Austen S. Adam Gathill S. This yere the kyng kepte a great iustes in Smythfielde whiche continued xxiiii days This yere on the fifth day of August was the battayle of Ottyrborn where syr Henry Percy slewe the erle Douglas of Scotland and after was taken prisoner Anno. 13. WilliaÌ„ Uenour M. Iohn Walcot S. Iohn Loueney S. An esquier of Nauarre accused an englyshe esquire called Iohn Welshe of treason for the triall whereof a daye of fyght was betwene them taken to bee fought in the kyngs palais at westminster where they fought a strong fyght but Iohn Welshe was victor and constrayned the other to yelde Where he was dispoyled of his armour and draweÌ„ to Tyborn and hanged for his vntruth Anno. 14. Adam Bawme M. Iohn Francis S. Tho. Uiuent S. The duke of Lancaster vncle to king Richard sayled with a company of souldiours into Spayn to claym the realme of Castâ—le for so muche as he had taken to wife the eldest daughter of kyng Peter that was expelled his kyngdom by Henry his bastard brother be conquered the countreye of Galice and made league with the kyng of Portugall but by great mortalitie whiche fell among his people he was fayne to dismysse his armye and shortly after loste all that euer he had wonne Anno. 15. Iohn Hind Draper M. Io. Chadworth S Henry Uamer S A bakers man bearynge a basket of horsebread in Fletestrete one of the bishop of Salisburies meÌ„ toke out a lofe y t baker requyryng his lofe the byshops man brake the bakers head whervpon folowed suche parties takyng that the Maior and Sheriffes and all the quyete people of the citie coulde not order the vnrulynes of the multitude there gathered togyther but that they woulde haue hym deliuered to them who brake the bakers heade or els to breake open the gates of the sayde byshops palaice who was the kynges high treasorer for the whyche the kynge seased the liberties of the Cytie and discharged the Maior and Sheriffes of the rule of the Citie and committed the gouernement therof to a knight of the court called sir Edward Dalingerige The citisens making great sute and labour to obtein the kynges fauoure coulde not thys yere obteyne it Anno. 16. William Stonden Grocer M. Gilbert MaÌ„field S Tho. NewingtoÌ„ S Thys yere by the great sute labour of doctor Grauesend then byshop of LoÌ„don the liberties were shortly restored in reward of whiche paynes he desyred the Maior wyth the citisens of London in their liueries to resort yerely on their ix pryncipall dayes to the Churche of Poules vnto the graue of the same byshop after his decease who lyeth in the myddle of the west end of the sayd churche and there to say De profundis c. As ye may reade in Robert Fabyan Anno. 17. Iohn Hadley Grocer M. Drew BareÌ„tin S. Rich. whittington S. A truce prolonged betwene France and Englande for .iiii. yeares Thys years dyed Quene Anne wyfe to kynge Rychard Anno. 18. Io. FreÌ„che Mercer M Wil. BramtoÌ„ S. Tho. Knolles S. Aboute thys tyme was Wikliffe famous in England King Richard made a voiage into Ireland which was more chargeable then honorable And this yeare was greate tempest of wynde in England Anno. 19. Wil. More Uintener M Roger Elys S wil. SheringhaÌ„ S A truce for .xxx. yeares was made betwene England and France and kyng Richard toke to wife Isabell the daughter of Charles the Frenche kyng Anno. 20. AdaÌ„ bame goldsmith M Tho. Wilford S. williaÌ„ Parker S. The duke of Gloucester king Richardes vncle wyth the Earle of Arundell and other was put to cruel death for so muche as they rebuked the kyng in certayne matters ouer lyberally Anno. 21. Richard WhittingtoÌ„ Mercer M. williaÌ„ AskhaÌ„ S. Io. wodcock S. Thys yeare deceased Iohn of Gaunt duke of Lancaster He was buryed in Poules Churche on the Northe syde of the quyer The Duke of Hereforde and also the Duke of Norffolke were bothe banyshed the lande Anno. 22. Drew BareÌ„tin Goldsmith M. Iohn wade S Io. warner S Kynge Rycharde lette the realme of Englande to ferme to syr Wyllyam Scrope Earle of Wyltshyre and to .iii. knyghtes Busshy Bagot and Grene. And then in Apryll he wente wyth an armye into Irelande leauynge for hys Lieuetenaunte in Englande syr Edmund of Langley hys vncle and Duke of Yorke Kynge Rycharde beyng occupyed in Irelande Henry Bolynbrooke Duke of Hereforde and of Lancaster whyche was banyshed into France beynge sente for of the Londoners came into Englande wyth a smalle power and landed in Holdernesse in Yorkeshyre to whome the Communes gathered in greate number whereof Kynge Rycharde hearynge aboute September he returned and landynge at Mylforde hauen he went to the Castell of Flynt in Wales where he rested hym entendynge to gather more strengthe In the whych tyme Henry Duke of Lancaster came vnto Brystowe where he tooke syr Willyam Scrope Ealre of Wylteshyre and Treasourer of Englande syr Iohn Bushy and syr Henry Greene. Syr Iohn Bagot was there taken but he escaped and fledde the other .iii. were iudged and put to execution Kynge Rycharde beyng in the castell of Flynte hys noble menne forsakynge hym was taken and by Henry duke of Lancaster sente to the tower of London where shortly after he yelded vp and resigned to the saide Henry all hys power and Kyngely tytle to the Crowne of Englande and Fraunce knowledgynge that he worthyly was deposed for his demerites and mysgouernyng of the Common weale King Henry the fourthe Anno Regni .1 HEnry the fourthe was ordeyned Kyng of Englande more by force as it appeared then by laufull succession or election Whyche thynge tourned hym to muche vnquyetnesse and caused often rebellyon in thys Realme of courage he was noble and valyaunt and after the Ciuile warres were appeased shewed hym selfe very gentill and louyng to hys subiectes He began hys reygne
kyng put downe the priorie of Chrichurche in London and all the Chanons of the same place the kynge sent to other places of the same Religion This yere in August and September the kyng repayred the towre of Lōdon and made there muche buyldyng The fyrst of September was my lady Anne Bulleyne made Marques of Penbroke at Wyndsore The .vii. daye of October the kynge went to Caleys and to Bulloyne and came ouer agayne the .xiii. daye of Nouember followyng Anno. 24. Syr Steuē Pecocke Haberda M. Rich. Rainold S. Iohn Martyn S. Nich. Pynchō S. The .xv. daye of December was a great fyre at the byshop of Lyncolnes place in Holborne whyche dyd muche hurte The .xvii. daye of Marche was Edward Haule gentylmā of Graies Inne chosen to be common sargeant of the citie of London Whiche Edward Haule made the notable boke of Chronicles The .x. day of Aprill was a dole geuē at saint Marie Audries in Southwark at the whiche was so muche preace of poore people that there was smouldred iiii men .ii. women a boie starck dead This yere on saint Erkenwaldes daie kyng Henry had maried the lady Anne Bulloyne at Caleyce and the .xii. daye of Aprill beynge Easter eue next followyng she was proclaymed Queene of Englande The .12 day of May one Pauiar being the town clerke of Londō hōg him self This yere on Whitsonday beyng the last day of May was y e lady Anne Bulleyn solemnely honorably crowned at Westminster The .xvii. day of Iuly were two marchantes slaine on the water of Thames toward Westminster by one Wolfe his wyfe who suffered for the same as ye shall here after The .7 day of Septēber was the lady Elizabeth daughter to king Hēry borne at Grenewich there christened at the fryers church the .x. daye of September The .5 day of October was a great fire at Baynardes castell did great hurt The .24 day of October being sonday ther was a scaffold set vp at Pauls cros and theron stode a nonne named Anne Barton of Courtopstrete besyde Canterbury and twoo Monkes of Canterbury and two obseruaunt fryers and the parson of Aldermary in London called maister Gold an other priest-confessour to the sayde nonne and twoo laye men and there preached at that time the byshop of Bangor called the abbot of Hyde where he shewed their offences and so from thence they were sent to the tower of London Anno. 25. sir Christoper Askew Draper M. Wil. Formā S. Tho. Kitson S. This yere Pope Clement cursed king Henry and the realme of Englande This curse was hanged on a churchdore at Dunkirke in Flaunders and taken downe by one William Locke a Mercer of London The .xxviii. daye of Ianuary was a great fyshe taken at Blackwall called a whale and was brought vp to westmynster to the kyng to see so brought downe to broken wharffe and there cut out Commissioners were sent all ouer England to take the othe of all persons to the acte of succession for the refusall of whiche othe doctour Fysher byshop of Rochester syr Thomas More late lorde Chancellor of England were sent to the tower of London The fyrst day of April wer Wolf and his wyfe hanged on two gybets at the turnyng tree in Lambeth marshe for murdryng of the two marchant strangers afore named The .xx. day of Aprill were .ii. monkes of Canturbery .ii. obseruant friers the persone of Aldermary in London and the Nonne called the holye Mayde of Courtopstrete in Kent all these were drawen from the tower of London vnto Tyborne and there hanged and beheaded and their heades set on London bridge and other gates of the Cytie of London and their bodies buried The .xx. daye of Aprill all the craftes and companies in London were sworne to the Kyng and to the Quene Anne and their heyres The .xxvi. yere of the kyngs reigne the .xv. day of May was a great fyre at Salters hall in Breadstrete and much harme doone The .v. day of Iune were all seruants and prentices of the age of .20 yeres or aboue sworne to the Kyng and Quene Anne his wife and to the issue of them The .ix. day of Iuly was the lord Dacres of the north arrained at Westminster of hygh treason where he so wittyly and directely confuted hys accusers that to theyr great shame he was found by his peres not gyltie The .xxii. day of Iuly was one Iohn Frith a yong man of excellent wyt and learnyng burned in Smythfield for his opinions concerning the sacrament and with hym a yong man called Andrewe Hewet a taylours seruant The .xi. day of August was all the places of the obseruant Friers as Grenewyche Canterburye Rychmounte Newarke and newe castell put downe and Austen Friers sette in their places and the same obseruauntes were put in places of gray fryers The .xiii. daye of Auguste was a greate fyre at Temple barre and muche hurte doone and certayne persones burned The .xvi. daye of Auguste was burned the kyngs stable at Charyng crosse otherwyse called the mewes wherein was burned many great horses greate store of haye The .xxi. day of September doctour Taylour maister of the Rolles was discharged and for hym maister Thomas Cromwell was appointed and sworne the .ix. day of October who afterward bare great rule Anno. 26. Sir Iohn Champneis skinner M Nicol. Lewson S. Wil. Denham S. In Nouember was held a parliament wherin the byshop of Rome with all his authoritie was cleane banyshed this realme and commandement geuen that he shoulde no more bee called Pope but byshop of Rome that the kyng should be reputed and taken as supreme heads of the Churche of England hauyng ful aucthoritie to reforme all errors hereses and abuses in the same Also the first fruites and tenthes of all spirituall dignities and promotions were granted to kyng Henry by acte of parlyament The .xxix. day of Aprill the pryor of the Charter house of London the prior of Beual the prior of Exham and a brother of the same called master Reignoldes and a prieste called mayster Iohn Haile vicar of Thistilworth wer al condemned of treason and iudged at westminster to be drawen hanged and quartered at Tyborne who were there executed the fourth daye of May and theyr heades and quarters set on the gates of the citie of London and at the Charter house of London was set one quarter The .viii. day of May the kyng commanded all about his court to poll their heades to geue them ensāple he caused his owne head to be polled likewise The .xxv. day of May was a great examination of heretikes borne in Hollād there was examined .xix. men and .vi. women of the same countrey borne The seconde day of Iune Edwarde Halle the famous Chronicler was chosen an vnder sheriffe of London by the Maior and common counsell
in London had bene vsed at Mydsomer and of long tyme before had ben layde downe was nowe agayn vsed bothe on the euen of sainct Iohn at Mydsommer and on the euen of saincte Peter next folowyng in as beautyfull maner and in as good order as it hadde bene accustomed before tyme. The laste day of Iuly Stephen Gardyner byshop of Winchester was for a sermon made before kyng Edward and the Counsell wyth the nobilitie sent to the tower of London where he remained all this kynges reigne Thys yeare in London was greate mortalitie by the pestilence Wherfore a commauundemente was geuen to all Curates and other hauyng to doo therwyth that no corps shoulde bee buried before .vi. of the clocke in the morning nor after .vi. of the clocke at nyght and that there shoulde at the buryeng of enery corps bee ronge one belle at the leaste the space of three quarters of an hower Anno. 2. sir Henry Amcottes fishmōger M. Williā Locke S. Iohn Oliffe S. Sir Thomas Seimour hygh Admirall of Englande brother to the Lorde Protectour and the Kynges vncle had maryed Quene Katherine late wyfe to Kynge Henry she conceyuynge a stomacke agaynste the Lorde Protectors wyfe And there vppon also in the behalfe of theyr wyues dyspleasure and grudge beganne betweene the twoo brothers whyche at the lengthe brake out to the trouble of the whole realme and the confusion of theym bothe For the twenty day of Marche in the third yeare of Edwarde the syrt was the lord admyrall beheaded at Tower hyl And it was then sayde of many the fall of the one brother woulde bee the ruine of the other as afterwarde it happened This yeare about Whitsontide and so foorthe vntyll September the commons in most part of this realme mads sundry insurrections and commotions Amongest whome dyuers of the commons of Cornewall and Deuonshyre rose agaynst the nobles and gentilmen and in sundrye Campes besyeged the towne of Excester whyche was valyantly defended Also they of Norffolke and Suffolke encamped them selves in a wood called saynt Nycholas woode nere vnto Norwiche declaryng them selues to be grieued with parkes pastures and inclosures made by the gentilmē who required the same to be disparked set among the commons They of Deuonshyre dyd not only require that but also their olde relygion and the arte of syre articles to be restored Into Deuonshyre against Humfrey Arundell and his rebelles was sent the lorde Russell lorde preuye seale with a nūber of souldiours The lorde Graie was also sent with a number of straungers which were horsemē where in dyuers conflictes they slewe many people and spoiled that countrey Into Norfolk against captaine Kite a Tanner and his company syr Iohn Dudley erle of Warwycke went with an armie where both he hym selfe and a great number of gentlemen that were with hym metynge with the rebelles were in suche daunger as they had thought all to haue dyed in the place but God that confoundeth the purpose of rebelles brought it so to passe that as well there as in all other places they were partely by power constrayned partly by promis of their pardō perswaded to submitte them selues to their prynce and delyuered their chiefe capitaynes to punyshment but yet after the losse of many thousādes of Englishmē The kyng of Fraunce perceyuinge suche sedicion and trouble in England as is before mencioned and takyng greuously the losse of Bulleyne dyd not omitte the occasion but in y e meane time assaulted certayne holdes about y e town builded of the Englyshemen for the defence of the same and namely tooke the forte called newe hauen and thereby muche indamaged the Englyshe garryson that laye at Bulleyne The losse of this was layde to the lorde Protectour because he hauynge the chief gouernement of the Realme dyd not see those partes better furnyshed in conclusion the Erle of Warwycke as chiefe with the consent of other nobles of the Realme by open proclamatiō accused him of misgouernement as well in this as in dyuers other matters Wherefore when he fled with the yonge kynge to Wyndsour castell they caused hym to be set from thēce and brought as a traytour to the tower of London the .xiiii. daye of October Anno. 3. Syr Rouland Hill Mercer M. Iohn Yorke S. Rych Turke S. This syr Rouland hyll to the great prayse of his vocation and to the synguler comfort of the weale publyque of his countrey erected many notable monumentes and good dedes whiche here are not to be vnremembred so many at the least as be come to my knowledge to the intent that lyke as suche without doubte be immortalized in the euerlastyng worlde they may not also be forgotten in this transitory passage where they be vsed and practysed as well to the reliefe of the poore as to the great commoditie of trauelers and maintenaunce of learnyng whiche amonges other be these At his costes and charges he caused to be made a causye commonly called ouerlane pauement in the highe waye from Stone to Nantwiche in length .iiii. myles for horse and man safely to passe with also diuers lanes on bothe sydes the same causye he caused lykewyse a causye to bee made from Dunchurche to Bransen in Warwickshyre more then two myles of lengthe and gaue .xx. pounde in money towarde makynge of a brydge called Roytten brydge three myles from Couentree He made the hyghe waye to Kylborne nere vnto London he made foure brydges two of them of stone conteynynge xviii arches in them bothe the one of them ouer the ryuer of Seuerne called Acham bridge the other Terne bridge for that the water of Terne renneth vnder it y e other two of timbar at Stoke built new a good part of Stoke church Moreouer he buylded one notable free schole in Drayton in Shropshyre of cōtinuānce for euer with maister Ushar and sufficient stypendes for them bothe besydes conuenient lodgynges for the the same and one yerely rent to mayntayne and repayre the same schole house and other the roumes for euer For the maintenaunce whereof he hath assured landes to the parysh of Drayton of .22 pounde by the yere he also purchased a free fayre to the sayd towne with a free marked wekely and a free market for cattell euery .xiiii. dayes He gaue to the Hospital of Christes churche in Londō in his lyfe tyme fyue hundred pounde in ready money and one hundred pounds at his decease to the poore of the same cytie of London besyde the fyndynge of certayne scholers at the vniuersities of Oxenforde and Cambrydge and studentes in the Innes of courte c. Upon a sondaye beyng the .xix. daye of Ianuary were murdered in London betwene Newgate and Smythfielde two capitaines that had serued the king in his warres at Bulleyne and other where the one was called Gambo the other Filicirga both Spaniardes this murder was cōmitted by Charles Gauaro a Flēmyng who came in poste frō Barwyke to London
and Rochester bee in Kēt Essex Middlesex part of Hertford belongeth to the bishoprike of London The bishop of Chicester hath Suffer Wynchester hathe Hampshire Surrey and the Isle of Wight Salesbury hath Dorsetshire Barkshyre and Wylteshire Excetor hath Deuonshire Cornwall Bathe and Welles hath Somersetshyre Worcester hath Glocestershyre Worcestershyre and part of Warwikeshire Hereforde hath parte of Shropshire and Herefordshire Couentre and Lichfelde Staffordeshyre and thother parte of Warwikshire Chestre hath Cheshire Darbyshire a piece of a Lancashyre nere the ryuer of Kepel The Diocesse of Lincolne which is the greatest hath eight shyres lieng betweene thei Thames and Humbre as Lincolne Northampton Leycester Rutlande Huntingdon Bedforde Buckyngham Oxford the residue of Hertfordshire The byshoprike of Ely hath Cantabridgeshire the Isle of Ely Suffolke and Norffolke be in the circuite of Norwiche Diocesse And thys is the Prouynce of the Archebyshop of Canterburye whyche is the primate of all England wyth Wales whyche hathe iiii diocesses as hereafter shall be declared The byshop of Yorke hath Yorkeshyre Notynghamshyre and a piece of Lancastshyre The byshop of Durham hath the bishoprike so commonly called and Northumberland Carlisle conteineth Cumberlande and Westmerland And this is the other prouince of tharch byshop of Yorke whiche is another prymate of England was of long tyme also primate of all Scotlande but these Diocesses take theyr names of the cities where those seas be placed The chiefe wherof is London where in the beginnyng was the Archebyshops sea but afterwardes transposed to Canterbury a Citie in Kent placed in a soyle amiable and pleasant London standethe in Middlesex on the northside of the Thamis That moste excellent and goodly ryuer beginneth a little aboue a village called Winchelcombe in Oxfordshyre styll increasyng and passeth fyrst by the vniuersitie of Oxēford so with a meruailous quiete course by London and and then breaketh into the frenche Ocean by mayne tydes whyche twyse in xxiiii howers space doth ebbe and flowe more then .lx. myles to the great cōmoditie of trauailers by whiche all kyndes of marchandise bee easylye conueyde to London the principall store and staple for all cōmodities within this Realme Uppon the same ryuer is placed a stone bridge a woorke very rare and meruailous whyche brydge hathe .xx. arches made of .iiii. squared stone of height .lx. foote and of breadth .xxx. foote distant one from an other .xx. foote compacte ioyned together with vaultes and Sellars Upon bothe sydes be houses buylded that it seemeth rather a continuall streete then a brydge The Ocean sea doothe bounde Englande the fyrst part of Britain east and South Wales and Cornewall west The ryuer of Twede deuideth England and Scotland north The length of the Island begynneth at Portsmouth in the South part and endeth at Twede in the north conteinyng 320. myles This Realme aboue other is moste fruitfull on this syde Humbre for beyonde it is fuller of mountaynes And althoughe to the beholders of that countrey a far of it may seme playn yet it is full of many hylles and those for the moste part voyde of trees the valeys wherof be very delectable inhabited for the most part by noble men who accordyng to auncient and olde ordre desyre not to dwell in Cities but neere vnto valleys and ryuers in seueral vyllages for aduoidyng of vehement wyndes because that Ilande naturally is stormye Humbre hath his beginnyng a little on this side York by by runneth southward thē holdeth his course eastward so into the mayn sea greatly increaced by the ryuers of Dune Trent Trent beginneth a lyttle from Stafforde runnyng through Darbyshyre and Leycestershyre passing by Lichfield and Notyngham on the ryght hand and Dune on the lefte so that bothe those ryuers dooe make an Ilande whyche is called Aurolme and then ioynyng together on this syde Kyngston vpon Hull a goodly marchant towne they falle into Humbre by whych ryuer they may aryue out of France Germanie and Denmarke England is fruitefull of beastes and aboundeth with cattell wherby thinhabitātes be rather for the most Grasiers then ploughmē because they geue them selues more to fedyng then to tyllage So that almoste the thyrde parte of the countrey is imployed to cattell dere red and fallow gores wherof there be store in the northe partes conyes for euery where there is ioly maintenāce of those kyndes of beastes because it is fulle of greate woddes wherof there ryseth pastyme of huntyng greatly exercised specially by the nobilitie and gentlemen Of Scotland an other parte of Britayn I purpose to say nothyng because I haue promised onely and briefly to remembre thaffaires of myne owne countrey as beste trauailed and acquainted with the knowledge of the same Wales the .iiii. part of Britayne lyeth vpon the lefte hand whiche like a Promontarie or forelande or an Isle as it were on euery syde it is compassed with the mayne sea excepte it be on the easte parte with the Ryuer of Sabrine commonly called Seuerne whiche deuideth Wales from England Although some late writers affirme Hereforde to bee a bound betwene Wales and England say that Wales begynneth at Chepstolle where the Ryuer Ueye augmented wyth an other ryuer called Lugge passyng by Hereforde dooth runne into the sea which riuer riseth in the myddle of Wales out of that hill but vncertain whether oute of that sprynge that Sabrine dothe whiche Corn. Tacitus calleth Antona For euen to that place there goth a great arme of the sea which passyng through the land westward on the right hande leaueth Cornewall and on the left Wales Whiche Topography or description although it be newe yet I thoughte good to folowe Therefore Wales is extended frome the towne of Chepstol where it beginneth almost by a straight line a lytle aboue Shrowsbury euē to Westchester northward Into that part so many of the Britains as remayned alyue after the slaughter and losse of their countrey at the length beyng dryuen to theyr shyftes dyd repaire as ancient writings report where partly through refuge of the mountaines partly of the woddes and marshes they remained in safetie which part they enioy euen to this daye That lande afterwardes the englyshe men dyd call Wales and the Britaius the inhabitauntes of the same Walshmen for amonges the Germaynes Walsman signifieth a strāger an alien an outborn or strange man that is suche a one as hath a contrarye language from theirs for Wall in their tongue is called a stranger born as an Italian or Frencheman whyche differ in speeche from the Germane Man signifieth Homo which is a mā in english Therfore englishmen a people of Germany after they had wōne Britain called the Britains which escaped after y e destructiō of their cuntrey after their countrey maner walshmen because they had an other tong or spech besides theirs the land which they inhabited Wales which name afterwardes both to the people and
contrey dyd remayn By this meanes the Britaynes with theyr kyngedome loste their name But they whiche affirme that name to be deriued of their kyng or queene without doubte be deceiued The countrey soyle towardes the sea coaste and in other places in the valleys and playnes is most fertile which yeldeth bothe to man and beaste great plentie of fruite and grasse but in other places for the moste parte it is bareyne and lesse fruitfull because it lacketh tyllage for whiche cause husbandmen do lyue hardly eating Oten cakes and drinkyng milke myxte with water and sowre whay There be many townes and strong castels and .iiii. Bishoprikes if the byshoprike of Hereforde be couÌ„ted in England as y e late writers declare The fyrst byshoprike is Meneue so called of Meneua whiche at this day they call Sainct Dauids a Citie very auncient situated vpon the sea coast and bouÌ„deth westward toward Ireland An other is Landaeffe the thirde Bangor and the fourthe All Saint Asaph whiche be vnder Tharchbyshoppe of Canterburye The walshmen haue a language from thenglishmen which as they say that fetche their Petigree frome the Troianes do the partly sounde of the Troian antiquitie and partly of the Greeke But how soever it is the walshemen do not pronounce their speache so pleasantely and gentilly as thenglyshmen dooe because they speake more in the throte contrary wise thenglishemen rightly folowynge the Latines do expresse theyr voyce somewhat within the lyps which to the hearers semeth pleasant swete And thus much of wales the third part of Britaine Nowe foloweth the fourthe and laste parte of Britayne named Cornewall This part beginneth on that syde whiche standeth toward Spayn westward Toward theast it is of bredth .iiii. score and tenne myles extendyng a lyttle beyonde saynt Germains which is a very famous village situated on the right hand vpon the sea coast where the greatest breadth of that countrey is but .xx. myles for thys parcell of lande on the right hand is compassed with the coaste of the mayne sea and on the left hande with that arme of the sea whiche as before is declared parteth the lande and runneth vp to Chepstoll where the couÌ„trey is in fourme of a Horne For at the fyrst it is narowe and then growethe broader a little beyonde the said towne of saint Germaine Eastwarde it bordreth vpon England West south and Northe the mayne sea is rounde about it It is a very barreyn soyle yeldynge fruite more through trauaile of the tyllers and husband men theÌ„ through the goodnes of the grouÌ„d but there is great plentie of leade and tyn in the myning and dyggyng wherof doth specially consist the liuynge sustentation of thinhabitants In this only parte of Britayn euen to this daye continueth the nation of the Britaines whiche in the begynnynge brought out of Gallia occupied inhabited that Ilande yf credite maye be geuen to them whyche reporte the firste inhabitantes of Britaine to come out of the Cities of Armerica The argumeÌ„t profe wherof is because y e Cornishmen do speake y e langage which the Britains vse now in France whom the Britons do cal BritonaÌ„tes This thing to be more true an old ancient chronicle dothe declare wherin I found written not Cornubia but Cornugallia compounded of Cornu a horne the forme wherof that countrey hath and of Gallia out of which contrey thinhabitantes came fyrst the maner of which name is not to be mislyked Their tongue is farre dissonant from englishe but is muche like to the Walshe tongue because they haue many wordes coÌ„mune to both tonges yet thys difference there is betwene them when a walsheman speaketh the Cornyshe man rather vnderstandeth many woordes spoken by the Walshman then the hole tale he telleth whereby it is manyfest that those thre people dooe vnderstande one an other in like maner as the Southerne Scottes doo perceiue and vnderstand the Northern But it is a thyng very rare and meruailous that in one Iland there should be such varietie of speches Cornewall or Cornugall is in the Diocesse of Excetour whyche was ones woorthye to bee counted the fourth part of the Iland as well for the contrarietie of language as for the fyrst inhabitantes thereof as is beforesayde Afterwardes the Normans which constituted a kyngdom of all those thre partes reckned Cornewall to bee one of the counties or shires of the contrey Thus muche of the particular descryption of Britayne that the whole bodye of the realm by the membres may be the better knowen to some peraduenture that neuer heard the same before The forme of the Iland is triquetra or thre cornered hauyng three corners or three sydes Two wherof that is to say The corner toward theast and thother toward the weast bothe extending northwardes are the longest The third syde whiche is the south syde is farre shorter then thother for the Iland is greater of length then of bredth And as in the other two partes is conteyned the lengthe euen so in the laste the breadth In whyche place the breadthe begynneth and so continuyng from the South parte to the north it is but narowe The fyrste and ryght corner of whyche Ilande eastwarde is in Kente at Douer and Sandwyche From whence to Caleys or Boloygne in France is the dystance of .xxx. myles From this Angle which is agaynst Fraunce to the thyrde Angle whyche is in the Northe in Scotlande the mayne whereof boundeth vpon Germany but no land seene and there the Iland is lyke vnto a wedge euen at the very angle of the land in Scotland The length wherof is .vii. hundreth myles Agayne the lengthe from this Corner at Douer in Kent to the vttermost part of Cornewall beynge saynt Myghels mount whych is the west part or weste angle is supposed to bee .300 myles FroÌ„ this left Angle beyng the west part and thuttermoste parte of Cornewall whiche hath a prosâ—ect towards Spain in whyche part also standeth Irelande sytuated betwene Britayne and Spayn to the northe angle in the further parte of Scotlande in which part the Ilande doth end the leÌ„gth is .viii. hundred miles in whiche parte there be very good hauens and saufe harboroughes for shyppes and apt passage into Ireland beyng not past one day saylyng but the shorter passage is from Wales to Waterforde a towne in Ireland vppon the sea coast muche lyke to that passage betwene Douer and Calaice or som what more but y e shortest passage of all is out of Scotlande From this last Angle to Hampton whiche is a towne vpon the sea coast with a hauen so called toward the southe and therefore called South-hampton betwene the Angles of Kent and Cornewall they doo measure by a strayght lyne the whole lengthe of the Ilande and doo say that it conteyneth 800. myles as the breadth from Meneua or Saint Dauids to Yarmouth whiche is in the vttermost part of the Iland towardes the East doth conteyn .200 miles for the breadth of the Iland is in
in Fraunce Anno. 6. Iohn Gidney Draper M. Hē Frowick S. Rob. Otley S. This yere a womā dwelling in white Chappell paryshe without Algate of London was in the nyght murdered by a Bryttaine or Frencheman whom she had cheryshed and brought vp of almes Who conueying suche iewelles stuffe as he myght carie was taken in Essex and brought vp to London but a sone as he came in the parishe where he had committed the murder the wyues cast vpon hym so muche fylthe and ordure of the strete that not withstanding the resistaunce made by the Cōstables they slewe hym out of hande Anno. 7. Henry Barton Skinner M. Th. Dushous S Iohn Abbot S This yere the Duke of Norfolk was lyke to haue been drowned passinge through London bridge his barge beyng set vpon the pyles whelmed ouer so that he and very fewe escaped beyng drawen vp with ropes the rest were all drowned Anno. 8. William Estefield Mercer M. Williā Russe S. Ranfe Holland S. This yere was kyng Henry crowned at Westmynster of whom Iohn Lydgate mūke of Bury made many goodly verses in prayse and commendation of hym and his coronatiō as ye may reade them in Robert Fabian bothe of this coronation and also of his coronation at Paris in Fraunce Anno. 9. Nicholas Wotton M. walter Chertsey S Robert Large S This yere at Abyngton began an insurrection of certayne lyght persones that entended to haue wrought muche mischiefe but they were quieted by the lorde protector and the chiefe authour beyng baily of the towne named Wylliam Maundeuyll a weaner otherwyse namyng hym selfe Iack sharpe of wygmores land in Wales with other were put to death This yere was one Richard Russel a woll man drawen hanged quartered at Tiborne for treason Anno. 10. Ioh. Welles Grocer M. Iohn Adyrlee S. Step. Brown S. This Iohn Wels of his goodes caused the conduit named the Standarde in cheape to be buylded in Anno .1442 This yere kyng Henry was crowned at Paris by y e Cardinal of Winchester And this yere the kyng retorned into England and so to London where he was receiued with great ioy triūphe Anno. 11. Io. Parneis Fyshmōger M. Iohn Olney S. I. Paddesley S. This yere was sene in the southwest a sterre called a Comete or blasing ster Anno 12. Ioh. Brokley Draper M. Tho. Chalton S. Iohn Kyng S. The Erle of Huntyngton was sent with a cōpany of soldiours into Fraūce where he atchieued many great feates of armes Anno. 13. Roger Otley Grocer S. Th. Barnwel S Simond Eyre S This yere was a great frost that such marchandise as came to the Thames mouth was caried to London by lande This frost endured from the xxv day of Nouember vnto the .x. day of February whiche was .x. wekes And this yere deceased Iohn Duke of Bedford regent of Fraūce after whose decease all thynges went backwarde with the Englyshemen in Fraunce Anno. 14. H. Frowick Mercer M. T. Catworth S. Ro. Clopton S. Charles of Fraunce recouered the citie of Paris and wanne by force the towne of Harflewe and of saynt Denis expelling murdering the Englyshmen in great number The Duke of Burgoyne besyegyng Calieis was fayne to flye leue muche of his ordinaunce behynde hym at the commyng of Humfrey Duke of Gloucester who pursued hym eleuen dayes and destroyed the countrey as he went vnto saynt Omers Anno. 15. Iohn Mychel M. Tho. Morsted S. Williā Gregorie S. This yere on the thyrd day of Ianuary dyed Queene Catheryne mother to kyng Henry the syxt and wyfe to Henry the fifth and lieth buried at Westmynster This yere on the fourtene day of Ianuary the gate on London brydge with the tower vpon it next to Southwarke fell downe and .ii. of the furdest arches of the sayd bridge but as God would no man therwith peryshed This yeare it was enacted by a parliament that euery alient housholder in this realme shoulde paye wekely to the Kynge .xvi. d. This yeare all the lyons in the tower of London dyed whiche had ben there a long tyme. Anno. 16. William Eastfield Mercer M. Wil. Chapman S. William Hallis S. The kyng caused a greate obyte to be kept in Poules churche for Sigismund the Emperour who was knyght of the Garter Anno. 17. Stephen Browne Grocer Mai. Hugh Dyker S. Nicolas Yod S. This yere on new yeres day a stacke of wodde fell downe at Baynardes Castell and slewe .300 men and hurt many other There was so great a dearthe in Englande that the poore people made them breade of fetches peason ferne rootes This yeare by the falle of a strayre at Bedford .xviii. persons were slayn In this yeare the Cundyte in Fletestrets was begon by sir Wylliam Eastfield late Maior of London and fynished of hys owne coste without any one peny charge to the Citie This yeare dyed Roberte Chicheley grocer and twise Maior of Lōdon who wylled in his testament that vpon hys Mynd day a good competēt dyner shold be ordeyned for .2400 poore men housholders of the Citie if they myght bee founde and .xx. li. in money distributed amongst theym whyche was to euerye man .ii. d. Anno. 18. Robert Large Mercer M. Robert Marshall S. Philyp Malyas S. A prieste was burned at the Tower hyll on the .xvii. day of Iune whiche of the common people was counted an holy man for that he said the poster n shold synke as afterwardes it dyd and suche lyke thynges they made theyr prayer to hym and arrered a greate heape of stones and pyght there a Crosse by night vntyll a commandement was geuen by the kyng to the contrary The postern of East Smythfielde agaynste the tower of London sanke by nyght the .xviii. of Iuly Anno. 19. Iohn Paddisley goldsmith M Iohn Sutton S. wil. Wetynhale S. Elianor Cobham wyfe to Humfrey Duke of Gloucester and other persons namely maister Roger Bolynbroke a cunnynge negromancer and Margerye Iourdemayn cōmonly called the witche of Eie were accused that by sorcery and enchantmentes they practised the kynges death as by an image of ware whiche through their diuelysh incantations should lytle and litle wast and consume and so lyke wyse the Kyng to weare out of his life Wherefore beyng examined conuicte Elianor Cobham was iudged to doo penaunce as to beare a taper .iii. dayes thorough the chiefest streetes of the Citie of London and so to be exiled to the Ile of Man vnder the kepyng of syr Thomas Stanley knyghte Roger Bolyngbroke was drawen hanged and quartered at Tyborne and Margerye Iourdemayn the witche was burnt in Smythfielde Anno. 20. Ro. Clopton Draper M. Wil. Combis S Richard Riche S This yeare the Towne of Depe was besieged by the Lorde Talbot and rescued by the Frenchemen Thys yere was a fray in Fletestrete betwene the Innes of Courte