quotidie multiplicentur pareutum verò mors irremediabilis est quia nequeunt restaurari Chronicaâ— Thomae Walsingham Mr. Fullers good thoughts in worst times Occasion Meditat. 9. See Dr. Powâ—is Preface to the History of Wales and his Notes on â—hoyds History of Wales p. 376 377 and Judge Dederidges Principality of Wales p. 4 5 6. Cambdens Britannia in Yorkeshire â—aletudine usus est satis prespâ—ra animo magno cui cunque enim rei operam dabat eam facilâ— imbiâ—â—bat prudentia summa religionis studiosissimus insolentiae sacerdotum inimicus acerrimus quam ex opibus cum primis prosicisci putabatâ— quam obâ—rem legem ad manumortuam perpetuasse fertur at ita corum luxurieâ— coercâ—retur Polyd. Vâ—rg Ang hist l. 18. Cambdens Britannia in Cumberland Fuit prudens in gerendis negotiis ab adolescentia armorum dedâ—us exercitio quo in diversts regionibus eam famam militiae acquifierat quà totius orbis Christiani sui temporis principes singulariter transcendebat Elegantis erat formae staturae procerâ—e qua humero supra communi populo praeâ—minebat Chronica Thomâ—â— Walsingham He was called Edward Long-shankâ— Ne vestigium majestatis regiaâ— desidâ—rii ullum apud populum remaneret sedem lapâ—deam in qua insidentes Reges coronari salebant ex Scotia deferendam Londinum curavit quae etiâ—am nunc ad Westmonast â—rium servatur Polyd. Virg. Ang. hist. l. 1â— Initio sui principatus cisi ad lenitatem suaptò natura prâ—pensus â—rat quorundam tamen suorum consiltariorum coâ—rcitus monitis ut bonam indolem ostentaret gravitatem probitatem â—nodestiam praesâ—â—crre caepit veriâ—n baud omnino potuit ita coerceri quin brevi tempore petulantiam ac vanitatem sensim quidem primò occultè velut juvenili errore complexus suerit c. Polyd. Virg. Ang. hist. l. 18. Sir Thomas More Cuâ— Isabella Râ—gina Oxoniâ— esset una cum 〈◊〉 magno exercitu stipaâ—â— Episcopas concionem habuit in qua themate assumpto Dolet mihi caput oâ—â—endere conatus est caput insanum nec adhibitis opportunis remediis convalesceâ—s corpori dominari non debere Godw. de praesul Aâ—g Vide plura ibid. Speed Queen Isabel being to repass from Zeland into England with an Army in favour of her son against her husband had utterly been cast away had she come unto the Port intended being there expected by her enemies but fortune against her will brought her to another place where she safely landed Montaigne his Essayes l. 1. c. 33. Polyd. Virg. Ang. hist. l. 19. p. 382. commends her Speed Hollinsh Quo genere moriis Edwardus interierit non facile constat fama exit in vulgus illum dum ventrem purgaret fuisse veru transfixum per cluâ—es Polyd Virg. Ang hist l. 18. Fuerat nempè Rex iste inter â—mnes Reges orbis Principes gloriosus benignus clemens magnificus Belliger suit insignis fortunatus qui de cunctis congressibus in terrâ— in mari semper triumphali gloria victoriam reportavit Walsingh Hist. Ang. Edwardus tertius regnum saelicissimum rebus maximis à se gestis gloriofissimum ad annum secundum supra quinquagesimum produâ—it Godw. de praesul Ang. comment p. 119. Huic regi absque caeteris naturae ornamentis cum primis formae dignitas suffragabatur ingenium providum perspicax ac mite nihilporrâ— non sapienter non conâ—ideratè agebat homo permodestus frugi illos summè diligebat honoribusque ornabat ac amplificabat qui probitate modestia atque vitae innocentia allos antecederent Militaris disciplinae apprimè scâ—ens fuit ut res ab co gestae testimonio sunt Polyd. Virg. Ang. hist. l. 19. Il gaigna deux memorables batailles en France prist la ville de Calais deux grands Roys prisonniers rendit son nom redoutable à tous ses Voisins Histoire d'Angleterre Par du Chesne Floruere faelicia arma Edovardi tertii Regis qui de Iohanne Gallorum Rege capto speciocissimè triumphavit Ab hoc Edovardo Garcitenii equestris ordinis ceremoniam institutam ferunt Pauli Iovii Britanniae descriptio Hic est ille Edovardus qui Caletum urbem in continenti Galliae plures menses obsessum atque expugnatum Philippâ— Galliae Regi abhinc ducentis ser nè annis ademit Id. ib. Speed Id. ib. It was confirmed by thirty Parliaments in the succession of eight Kings This was the first Parliament we read of Sir Edward Cooks 4th part of Institutes Stow. He quartered the Arms of France with England Speed Gersey and Gernsey parcels of Normandy belong to the King of England Proâ—ssards Chron. c. 130. Daâ— hist. Speed Iohn de Serres The King of Bohemia was there slain whose plume of Ostridge feathers won then by the black Prince hath ever since been the cognizance of the â—rinces of Wales His eldest son sirnamed the Black Prince the mirrour of Chivalry not for his colour but dreaded in Battels He at the Battell of Câ—essy which bare two thirds of 8500 men fought with little less then 90000 and not many years after being fewer by three fourths The Welch his enemies in the Battell of Poicticrs he took King Iohn of France prisoner invironed by all the Princes Nobility of that Kingdome A young Prince twice a Conquerour having vanquished his enemy both by valour and courtesie 〈◊〉 Serres French Hist oâ— Iohn King of France Lhoâ—d in his History of â—â—ales calls him the 〈◊〉 of Chivalry of all Europe a Prince saith he of such excellent demeanour so valiant wise and politick in his doings that a perfect representation of Knighthood appeared most liveâ—â— in his person Seâ— more there p. 384 385. In the year 1â—49 〈◊〉 instituit Garterium ordinem cui â—auius deinde accessit honor 〈◊〉 maximos quosque Reges non penâ—tucâ—rit in id ventre Collegium â—olyd Vng. hist. l. 19. Vide plura ibi◠〈◊〉 hist. Belg. 〈◊〉 24. p. 285 286. In Richardo fuit forme gratia animus non vilis quem consociorum perversitas improbitas insulsitas extiuxitâ— fuit item summa infelicitas qui in talent calâ—â—itatem inâ— cidit ut in maximi beneficii pertenâ— accepeâ—it abdicare se imperio pro quo â—ortaies soleant 〈◊〉 omnia proâ—icere Polyd Virg. Ang. hist. l 21. He may be compared to Lewis the tenth of France called Huâ—â— which signifies mutiny because of his â—arbulent disposition this Montford gave the King 〈◊〉 Dan. hist. fâ—l 172. Cambd. Brit 〈◊〉 Worcestershire Mr. Bacons Uniform Government of England part 2. c. 1. Sir Iohn Arundel had two and fifty new suits of Apparel of cloath â— gold or tissue Hollinsh Chron. in Rich. the second Daniels third Book of Civil Wars â—ambd Briâ—annia in Surâ—ey Bellum Baroniâ—um Haywards life and Raign of Henry the fourth Haywards life and Raign of K. Henry the fourth Inter flores regia dignitas penes Rosam est Apud Anglos regia Rosa
CHOICE OBSERVATIONS OF ALL THE KINGS OF ENGLAND FROM THE SAXONS To the Death of KING CHARLES the First COLLECTED Out of the best Latine and English VVriters who have Treated of that Argument By EDVVARD LEIGH Esquire and Master of Arts of Magdalen Hall in Oxford LONDON Printed for Ioseph Cranford at the Sign of the Gun in St. Pauls Church-yard 1661. TO HIS SACRED MAJESTY CHARLES the Second King of Great-Bâ—ittain France and Ireland Most Gracious Soveraigne I Hope this Dedication of these my Collections concerning all the Kings of England to your Sacred Majesty from the first of them of whom there is any thing credible in story to the decease of your Royall Father will not be interpreted either a fruit of ambition or over-bold presumption I have had the honour formerly to dedicate Books to very eminent Societies and Persons but never to any so signally eminent and publike a Person as your Majesty And should not have taken the confidence to have begun now but that in regard of the Argument I treat of I thought there was an obligation upon me and that of right such a Work was to be presented onely to Him who is the just and unquestionable Successour to all those Kings I here mention I finde it usuall with those who either wrote Chronicles in generall or the reigns of some particular Princes to inscribe the Name of the King or Prince then living to their Works I wish my Observations were as choice as the subject is sutable Since Cadwallader the last King of the Britains there was none born Prince of Great-Britain but your Majesty Hactenus Anglorum nulli was therefore the Motto on the Medals made in memory of your Birth-day the 29th of May 1630 with three Laurels upon them betokening three Kingdoms May your raign be as prosperous and happy as your birth was glorious and illustrious your deliverance by Sea at your entrance into Scotland and your escape by Land at Worcester-fight and after in England and your happy restitution to your Kingdom was wonderfull and conspicuous Kings have their regal Titles and Ornaments To the Kings of Spain from the time of Alphonsus King of Castile about 800 years agoe for expelling the Arians was given the Title of Catholike as Michael Ritius a Neapolitan writeth To the French King the Title of most Christian from the time of Philip the Emperour about 400 years since as recordeth Nicol Gillius To our King Henry the 8th of England for his Book of the Sacraments against Luther Pope Leo the 10th gave the Title Defender of the Faith which his Successors have since enjoyed though in another sense than it was first intended Henry the 5th reigning amongst us his Subjects gave him the Title of Grace Under Henry the Saint the 6th Excellent was added to Grace Under Henry the 8th the acclamation of Majesty began a little after excellent Majesty most excellent and at last Sacred Majesty which now is generally used Kings are crowned enthronized and anointed the Crown was a sign of a Military dominion the Throne of sedentary or judiciall the Oyl of Religious and sacred power A King by vertue of his Kingly Office hath two things to perform 1. To govern 2. To defend His Governing also divideth it self into two branches First To direct Secondly To recompence He directeth by appointing what shall be done and forborn of all his subjects in his Jurisdiction He recompenceth or requiteth by punishing those which disobey the Laws with such punishments as himself thinketh good to appoint and to signifie to them in his penalties by which he ratifieth his Laws and by rewarding those which keep the Laws with such rewards as he seeth fit to specifie in his Statutes and in generall by making them partakers of the wealth peace quietness and happiness of his government He defendeth his subjects against the hostility of open enemies and the injuries of their fellow-subjects It was an excellent speech of Henry the Great King of France your Grand-father by the Mothers side When I was born there were a thousand other souls more born what have I done for God more than they Learned King Iames your Grand-father by the Father in his Book dedicated to Prince Henry would have him to remember that he differed not in stuff but in use from the rest of the people and that by Gods Ordinance Kings as well as others are bound to read the Scriptures Deut. 17. 18 19 20. and some think that Book of the Kings and Chronicles especially worthy their diligent perusall others would have them study well the 101 Psalm Next the Scriptures Ecclesiasticall History is to be preferred some highly commend Polybius as usefull for Kings to read and Causabon dedicating it to Henry the 4th King of France much magnifieth that Book and likewise the reading of History in generall The Chronicles and Annals of their own Predecessors surely must needs be both delightfull and profitable for them Your Majesty may observe many things in them well worthy imitation in Learned and valiant Alfred how thriftily he spent his time how he encouraged Learning and Learned men in little Edgar great Canutus William the Conquerour the many worthy Henries and Edwards your own wise Grand-father and Father of happy memory Yet in the whole series of the Kings and Queens of England as others have made severall parallels of some of our English Kings I have not found a fitter parallel in every respect for your Majesty than Queen Elizabeth I will not speak of her skill in the modern Languages and how she often answered Embassadors her self nor how gracious and gentle a Princess she was to her very enemies wherein your Majesty is not unlike to Her What troubles and hazards did she undergo before she came to the Crown with what joyfull and generall acclamations was she received into this Metropolis I need not apply this to your Majesty it s sufficiently obvious to every vulgar capacity how you agree herein After her Coronation being presented with a Bible as she passed by the little Conduit in Cheapside she received the same with both her hands and kissing it said That it had ever been her chief delight and should be the rule by which she meant to frame her Government Your Majesty in your entring into the City at the presentment of the Bible to you by the Reverend London Ministers used this speech worthy to be written in Gold I thank you for this Book above all other gifts and assure you I shall make it my first care to set up Gods Worship and service this is the Book must guide us all and I will make it the rule of my Life and reign Queen Elizabeth was a couragious and stout spirited Princess In 88 when the Spaniard was coming she went to the Army at Tilbury-Camp riding with a Truncheon or baston in her hand to the severall Companies and by her presence
and speech encouraged both Commanders and souldiers saying to them as I have heard If her brother Philip came she would give fire to the first Piece against him I might alledge the testimony of your greatest enemy in confirmation of your Majesties valour at Worcester-battle Kings bear a double image of God as they are men and as they are Magistrates The Scripture saith Those which rule over men should be just ruling in the fear of God One saith They should labour to be more religious and pious toward God than ordinary persons because of the great need they have of his illumination in their counsels of his conduct in their enterprises of his force in their executions and of his provident care in their various occurrents dangers difficulties The Kings seat was so set in the Temple that all might see him there Ezek. 46. 10. 2 Chron. 6. 12 13. 2 King 11. 14. 23. 3. that by his example the devotion of his people might be stirred up God having done such great things both abroad and at home for your Majesty expecteth great things from you I shall humbly implore the Almighty that he would so guide you in all your wayes that you may make his Interest your great interest by reforming what is amiss in Court and Kingdom by promoting his pure worship encouraging the power of godliness and all such as walk according to Scripture-rule are peaceable and hold the Fundamentals by discountenancing Atheisme errour and profaneness the fruits of abused peace and prosperity altering the old speech for the better Exeat aula Qui vult esse pius into impius So shall White-Hall answer its name and your Majesty approve your self to be what your Father desired Charles the Good which is the earnest prayer of Your Majesties most humbly devoted and Loyall subject Edward Leigh TO THE CURTEOUS AND CANDID READER Reader I Here present thee with Choice Observations of all the Kings of England I suppose the Subject will not be unpleasing to an Englishman if the work be answerable to the Title I have excerped my Materials out of the best Latine Writers the Monks to whom we are especially beholding for the History of our Kings of England and chiefest English Chroniclers and Annalists and such as have written of a few or any one of our English Princes Bedes Historia Gentis Anglorum set out by Wheelock of whom Petavius in his History of the world lib. 8. cap. 4. saith thus Bede made his Brittain famous with no lesse Godlinesse and Learning than History who even unto the year 735 hath concluded the Christian beginnings of that Nation Rerum Anglicarum Scriptores post Bedam praecipui in Latine in folio set out by Sr Henry Savill containing the History of Gulielmus Malmesburiensis Henry Huntington Roger Hoveden and others Anglica Normannica Hibernica Cambrica a veteribus Scripta in Latine also in Folio put out by Camden Matthew Paris his Works set out by Dr Watts who is a faithfull Historian and hath written the Reigns of the first seven Kings after the Conquest Of the English Chroniclers Speed Martin and Baker seem to be the best Voluminous Hollingshead Stow and How are not much esteemed by the Learned Sr John Hayward hath written well of the three Norman Kings and Edward the sixth he hath written briefly also of Henry the eourth Godwin of Henry the eighth Edward the sixth and Queen Mary and also of the Bishops of England in Latine and English Sr Robert Cotton of Henry the third Habington of Edward the fourth Sr Thomas More of Richard the third both in Latine and English and Buck my Lord Bacon excellently of Henry the seventh my Lord Herbert of Henry the eighth Camden Annals of Queen Elizabeth and Dr Heylin as is said of King Charles the first History is both pleasing and profitable especially the memorable things of all our own Kings and Governours who have for so many years Raigned amongst us Examples of Superiours especially are very prevalent which of the Rulers believed in him One saith if King Edward the sixth had lived a little longer his only example had bred such a Race of worthy learned Gentlemen as this Realm never yet did afford Here are examples of all sorts good and bad to be followed and eschewed Some loose vain and licentious others learned wise valiant minding the publick welfare of the Nation The Pope could but little prevaile here in England during the Raign of King Edward the third and Richard the second Henry the eighth cast him out then when he had too great power and command over other Princes As he cast out the Pope so did his children Edward the sixth and Queen Elizabeth cast out Popery out of England and so freed us from his spirituall bondage as the other did from his Temporall May their memory be therefore still precious amongst us as the Reformation we enjoy chiefly by their means is a singular blessing Let Him be accounted our English Josias and Her our English Deborah on whom those Verses were made Spains Rod Romes Ruine Netherlands Relief Earths Joy Englands Gem Worlds Wonder Natures chief Prince Henry likewise eldest Son to King James was a virtuous and hopefull Prince had he not been taken away in the flower of his youth he would its thought have much opposed the Pope and Spaniard I have read somewhere of him that he would not swear no not at his Sports and Recreation and being demanded the reason tâ—ereof he said they were not of that weight as to draw an oath from him I hope therefore this Nation having had such worthy Princes and not being ignorant of the slavery they formerly indured when the Pope called England his Ass will never be so foolish as to turn back again into Egypt As long as Mr Foxe his Martyrology is so common to be read eighty eight and the fifth of November are so fresh in our remembrance let us valew the losse of Rome here amongst us no more than that Emperour Honorius did of whom Zonaras writes that he had a Hen called Roma and it being told him Rome was last he was troubled and said She was here even now yea said the other the Hen is here but the City is lost he was then well pleased Our Countriman Beda hath prophetically expounded that Roman S. P. Q. R. of our Englishmen travelling to Rome Stulâ—us Populus Quaerit Roman Though perhaps in some cases one may go too far from Rome yet since some of our Bishops formerly have written well against Antichrist and others have made the Pope to be Antichrist and since also the Iesuites are still busie amongst us I wish there may be no unwarrantable compliance either with the Romish Doctrine or Rites Thomas Lever who Preached before King Edward the sixth and escaped the fury of Queen Maries dayes is commended by Bullinger in his Epistle to Hooper He was the first
setled constant Preacher at the Temple Father Lever for so by my Father and others I alwayes heard him stiled Mr Gatakers Discourse Apologeticall against Lilie I have two Sermons of his Preached in the same year at Pauls 1550 one in Pauls Church the other at the Cross St Thomas Chaloner was ordinary Embassadour from Queen Elizabeth into Spain almost four years Ubi saith Camden de Republica Angâ—icana instauranda terso erudito Carmine quinque libros composuit dum ut ille dixit hieme in furno aestate in horreo degeret which is thus Englished by one Darcie who first after a fashion Translated Camden into English though it be better rendred since St Tho. Chaloner wrote a Book whilst he was in Spain which he Entitled Hieme in furno aestate in horreo not so jolly an Inscription as that Libell Intituled The Arraignment of Persecution c. Printed for Bartholmew Bang-Priest and are to be sold at his Shop in Tolleration-street at the Sign of the Subjects Liberty right opposite to Persecution Court 1645. I remember I have heard a story of a valiant man that thus answered one inquiring after his name and lodging My name is Dangerfiel'd I lye at the Sign of the Sword and Buckler over against the Bleeding-Heart in Gunpowder Allie But too much of this I hope this Book with the other already out will give some light to the knowledge both of the Kings and Kingdome of England in confidence whereof I rest Thy hearty well-wisher Edward Leigh Choice Observations OF ALL THE KINGS of ENGLAND FROM THE SAXONS To the Death of King CHARLES I. CHAP. I. ENgland was five times plagued by other Nations First By the Romans Then by the Scots and Picts Thirdly By the Saxons Fourthly By the Danes Fifthly By the Normans The Nation of the Saxons was generally most warlike and martiall They gave unto those Saxons their first original who now inhabite the Dukedome of Saxony They left very few Cities Towns Villages Rivers Woods Fields Hils or Dales in Brittain which they gave not new names unto As the name of Oxford or Oxenford on the River of Thames after the Town of like name in Germany situated on the River of Oder Our Hereford near unto Wales after Herâ—ord in Westphalia And so in like manner may be said of Stafford Swinford Bradford Norden Newarke Bentham Oxenbridge Buchurst Sconethorp Holt Mansfield Swinefield Hamsteed Radcliffe Rosendale and many more After that these Nations had now gotten sure sooting in the possession of Brittain they divided it into seven Kingdoms and established an Heptarchy in which notwithstanding the Prince which had the greatest power was called King of the English Nation So that in this very Heptarchy there was alwayes Monarchy The Saxon Government is usually divided into the Heptarchy Monarchy In the Heptarchy are these seven petty Kingdomes 1. Kent 2. Sussex 3. East Sax. 4. East Angles 5. Mercia 6. Northumberland 7. West Sax. In Kent with Hengist the first Invader seventeen or eighteen are said to raign South Sax from Ello to Adhamus had about ten Kings of which Adlewolf was first Christened East Sax from Erâ—hwin to Swithred had thirteen Kings whereof Sigby the third was first baptized The East Angles had fourteen Kings Mercia twenty Kings Christianity was first received by Penda that founded Peterborough as Ethebald did the Monastery of Crowland and Ossa of St. Albans Northumberland about twenty foure Kings West Saxon nineteen Kings CHAP. II. Hengist VVHen he first arrived in England he was a goodly young Gentleman under the age of thirty yeares and of an excellent wit He was brought up in the service of the Emperour Valentinian the third and last of that name Verstegan He deserveth to be reputed the first Monarch of the English Nation Non minus acer ingenio quam alacer in praelio Malmesburiensis de Gestis Regum Anglorum He sailed out of Holland into Brittain he built the Castle of Leiden in Holland The Saxons had only the Isle of Thanet first given them where they first landed Hengist after obtained of King Vortiger the property of so much ground as he could enclose with a Buls Hide which cutting into thongs he there built the Castle called Thong-Castle by Sittingbourine in Kent Why our first Progenitors Hengist and Horsa took their names of an Horse for both their names in the Saxon tongue do signifie an Horse surely I know not unless it were for a fore-token of their warlick prowess according to that Verse of Virgil. Bello armantur equi bella haec armenta minantur l. 3. Aineid Hengist and Horsus Brittains harmes Their Ensâ—gnes signing both their names The Saxon Horse their Armes Brave Warriours hither came Slatyers Palae-Albion Ode 7. p. 157. Krantzius in hist. Saxon. l. 2. telleth us that the Saxon-Princes in Germany before they became Christians gave a black Horse for their Escutcheon but being baptized a white Horse with reference haply to Rev. 6. 2. The Saxons to the number of nine thousand came in certain long Vessels they called Keeles with their leaders two Brothers Hengist and Horsa nobly descended whose Ensign as it was an usuall and honourable device of antiquity alluding to their names their Banner being a white or silver Horse in a Field Gules Arms which the noblest Families of Saxons and others thence descended have born They were not all one people but consisted of three severall Nations viz. the Angles the Iutes and the Saxons but they were all the inhabitants of some part or other of Denmarke Aysâ—u He raigned thirty four yeares CHAP. III. ELLA THe first King of the South-Saxons and second Monarch of the English men He raigned six yeares Cherdik The first King of the West-Saxons and third Monarch of the English men He raigned twenty one yeares Kenrik The second King of the West-Saxons and fourth of the English men He raigned twenty six yeares Cheuline The third King of the West-Saxons and fifth Monarch of the English men He raigned thirty one yeares Ethelbert The fifth and first Christian King of Kent and the sixth Monarch of the English men He was eminent for first receiving the Christian faith brought from Rome by Austin and for converting â—ebert King of the East-Angles to Christianity and assisting him in building St. Pauls in London and St. Peters in Westminster That the Christian Religion was here in Brittain before the coming of Austin the Monk may be proved out of Beda who maketh mention of Brittish Bishops but nameth none of them Hist. Ang. l. 2. c. 2 Eusibius in vità Constantini l. 3. c. 18. saith that this Country was Christian three hundred yeares before Mr Saller in his Rights of the Kingdome saith The first times of Christian Religion here were much higher then Austin the Father who might have been great Grandfather to Austin the Monk He brought the Lawes of his Country into their own mother-tongue and
it is reported that a Virgin * might travell alone in his dayes through all his Dominions without any violence offered and that Bracelets of gold were hanged in the high wayes and no man so hardy as to take them away William the first so well provided for execution of Justice upon offenders that a young maiden well charged with gold might travell in any part of the Realm without any offer of injury unto her Hayw. He permitted none in office in Court or elsewhere unless he were learned which incited his Nobles to the earnest pursuit of learned Arts and to train up their children in good letters He caused all former Lawes to be surveyed and made choice of the best which he translated into the English tongue He begins his Lawes with a religious Majesty Loquutus est Dominus ad Mosem hos sermones c. and cites all the Decalogue Abbot Ethelred gives this encomium of his Lawes Leges Christianissimas scripsit promulgavit in quibus fides ejus devotio in Deum sollicitudo in subditos misericordia in pauperes justitia circa omnes cunctis legentiâ—us patet He had so great a love to learning that he made a Law that all Freemen of the Kingdome possessing two Hides of Land should bring up their sons in learning till they were fifteen years of age at least that so they might be trained to know God to be men of understanding and to live happily He bestowed the sixth part of his riches and Rents upon the poor strangers of the Countrey and sent every year little less to forraign Churches without the Realm Dalechamps Christian hospitality c. 3. He was very learned a quality rare in his time and as Solomon Alexander the Great Iulius Caesar Augustus and our Charlemagne saith Andre Du Chesne he joyned learning and valour and was clement liberall pious and devout and adorned with all royall vertues and endowments I may in some respects compare him with Almansor the learned and victorious King that conquered Spain He was at fifteen years so skilfull in the seven liberall Sciences that they who were the most learned in them spake of them in his presence with much fear and bashfulness for at every other word he corrected the imperfections which proceeded out of their ignorance At the five and twentieth year of his age he spake eleven languages reading and writing them as perfectly as the very Naturals themselves He divided the dayes of the week after this manner The Friday for matters of his Religion in which he was very devout The Saturday for matters of Justice The Sunday for matters of Warre The Munday for the government of his Kingdomes The Tuesday and Wednesday for his recreations and private affairs And the Thursday for matters of learning He chastised theeves so severely that none durst take any thing from other neither in City nor in Countrey as well in deserts as in peopled placeâ— And in so great awe they were of him that if any one had lost ought in the street or Market-place none durst meddle therewith otherwise than to leave it at the next Shop and cause it to be cryed till the owner were found to whom it was to be restored None ever â—ought for alms or succour at his hands whether he were Moor Christian or Jew that went away unrelieved He was worthily called the Conquerour being never overcome He won eighty six Battels by Sea and by Land and took five Kings subdued three parts of the world Asia Africke and Europe His life and death by Ashley Alfred's Arms are to be seen in the publike Hall of University-Colledge in Oxford The Archdeacon of Huntington speaking of the continuall travail he had during his Raign relates these Verses of him Nobilitas innata tibi probitatis honorem Armipotens Aelfrede dedit probitasque laborem Perpetuumque labor nomen cui mixta dolori Gaudia semper erant spes semper mixta timori Si modo victor eras ad crastina bella pavebas Si modo victus eras ad crastinâ— bella parabas Cui veâ—tes sudore jugi cui â—â—eca cruore Tincla jugi quâ—â—ntum sâ—t onus regnare probarunt Non fuit immensi quisquam per climata mundi Cui tot in adversis vel respirare liceret Nec tamen aut ferro contritus poncre ferrum Aut gladio potuit vitae finisse labores Iam post transactos vitae regnique dolores Christus ei sit vera quies sceptrumque perenne He raigned twenty seven years say some twenty eight saith Powell the writer of his life Ingulphus saith he died in the twenty ninth year of his Raign CHAP. VI. EDWARD the elder THe twenty fourth King of the West-Saxons and twenty fifth Monarch of the English men Fuit Edwardus forma eximia ac per omnes aetatis gradus decentissima Polyd. Virg. Ang. hist. l. 6. Before the conquest of the Normans there were in England three Edwards 1. This Edward the elder 2. Edward the Martyr 3. Edward the Confessor We have had more Kings of England of this name than of any other nine in all three before the conquest and six after it Verstegans Etymology of our Saxon proper names Henry the name of seven Emperours of Germany eight Kings of England four Kings of France four Kings of Castile Phillips his new world of English words He was heir apparent to his Father Alfreds valour and vertues as well as to his Crown Some say he was the great Iustinian of our Nation Our Laws being suppressed by the Danish Kings were revived and reinforced in the time of Edward the Confessor whence they had the name of Edward the Confessors Laws He raigned in great Warres and honour the space of twenty four years So Henricus Huntingdoniensis saith Paternum regnum tenuit 24. annis Ethelstan or Adelstan The twenty fifth King of the West Saxons and the twenty sixth Monarch of the English men He was crowned at that Kingly Town Kingston In Regia villa in Regem levatur Rog. de Hoveden He began his Kingdome with War and ended in peace and tranquillity He was the worthiest Prince saith Lhoyd of Saxon bloud that ever raigned Being seduced by the bad Counsell and false suggestions of one of his favourites he banished his Brother Edwin unjustly commanding him to be sent to Sea with only one servant and in a Boat without Oar or Sail wherein he perished His Cup-bearer after in his service upon festivall stumbled with the one foot and recovering himself with the other pleasantly said You see how one Brother helpeth another upon which speech the King with grief and touch of heart called to mind the death of his innocent Brother occasioned by his wicked Counsell and forthwith commanded execution to be done on him the procurer and himself was ever after more tender and carefull toward his other Brethren Leyland in his new years gift to King Henry
go saith the King for he hath slain mine enemy Seeing one cut up a very fat Stag in his presence said he How easily and happily hath this creature lived yet he never heard Mass. Mr. Fox seems to approve of this speech as deriding the Mass though others say it was an Atheisticall speech In his Raign the Citizens of London first obtained of the King to choose yearly a Maior In whose time also the Bridge of London was first builded of stone which before was of wood Most Writers testifie that he was poysoned by a Monk of Swinsted-Abbey in Lincolnshire who to poyson him wittingly and willingly poysoned himself He died in the year of his age fifty and one and after he had raigned seventeen years six moneths and twenty seven dayes He lieth buried at Worcester-Colledge in the Quire there King HENRY the third He was happy in his Uncle the Earl of Pembroke the guide of his infancy and no less for thirty years whilest De Burgo the last servant of his Fathers against the French both in Normandy and England with Bigot Earl of Norfolke and others of like gravity and experience did manage the affairs The Author of the troublesome life and Raign of King Henry the third He was of a middle stature Robustus viribus sed praeceps in factis Matthew Paris He was crowned at Glocester by Peter Bishop of Winchester and Iosceline Bishop of Bath in the presence of Walo the Popes Legate Octob. 28. 1216. And after peace concluded with the Barons by Stephen Langton Archbishop of Canterbury at Westminster on Whitsunday an 1219. In his Raign the Popes authority in England was at the highest He heard three Masses a day In a solemn conference between him and St. Lewis King of France the only devout Kings of that age when the French King said he had rather hear Sermons then Masses our King replied that he had rather see his loving friend meaning Christs reall presence in the Sacraments then to hear never so much good of him by others in Sermons He had a son by Elenor his wife whom he named Edward for the memory of Edward the Confessor who raigned a little before that the Normans vanquished England At whose birth appeared a Star of great magnitude for some dayes before the Sun rising which moved swiftly one while making a shew of fire another while leaving smoak behind it by which prodigy saith Polydore Virgil the future amplitude of Edward the father and the smalness and vanity of his son which he begat afterwards was declared as it were by an Oracle He had another son Edmund Crouchbacke so called not because he was crooked or deformed but because he wore the Cross upon his back or on his Buckler which he wore constantly at his back to shew that he had vowed to go to Ierusalem to recover the holy Sepulchre In the year 41 of his Raign the King held a Parliament at Oxford which was called Insanum Parliamentum that is to say the mad Parliament For in this Parliament were made many Acts against the Kings prerogative and pleasure for the reformation of the state of the Land which after turned to the confusion and hurt of the Land and the death and destruction of many noble men so that by occasion thereof began that hatefull strife called at this day the Barons War whereof ensued much trouble and mischief He was pressed by his Nobles Bishops and others to pass the great Charter in the ninth year of his Raign His son Edward the first in the twenty fifth of his Raign confirmed the great Charter The great Charter of England passed from this King for which the English men had no less striven than the Trojans for their Helena Lambard saith he may call that great Charter of the Liberties of England the first Letters of manumission of the people of this Realm out of the Norman servitude Matthew Paris the learned Monk of Saint Albans lived in his time and was highly esteemed by him Et cum esset cum ipso continue in mensa in palatio in thalamo qui haec scripsit direxit scribentis calamum satis diligenter amicahiliter In another place he speaks of his bold reproving the King Verstegan sayes the Sidneys are of a French extraction that they came over into England in Henry the thirds dayes Arms as honourary dignities and generous distinctions between family and family and person and person have been undoubtedly born from his time since which there is sufficient proof of them and though long before that many Families might be rich potent and noble yet some of them either had no Arms as many yet in Ireland have not or else kept no constant Coat but gave sometimes their paternall otherwhiles their maternall or aadopted Coats Mr. Waterhouse his discourse of Arms and Armory He raigned fifty six yeares and twenty dayes the longest number of years that ever any King of England raigned CHAP. XVII King EDWARD the first HE was absent in the holy Land when his father died At his first coming to the holy Land he rescued the great City of Acon from being surrendred to the Sultan after which out of envy to his valour one Anzazim a desperate Saracen who had often been employed to him from their Generall being one time upon pretence of some secret message admitted alone into his chamber with a poysoned knife gave him three wounds in the body two in the arm and one in the armpit which had been mortall if out of unspeakable love the Lady Elenor his wife had not suckt out the poison of his wounds with her mouth and licked them with her tongue and thereby effected a cure which otherwise had been incurable So soveraign a medicine saith Speed is a womans tongue annointed with the vertue of loving affection Leaving Garrisons in fit places for defence of the Countrey he with his wife Elenor takes his journey homewards and first passing by Sicilie was there most kindly received by Charles King of that Island where he first heard of his fathers death which he took more heavily far then he had taken the death of his young son Henry whereof he had heard a little before at which when King Charles marvelled he answered that other sons might be had but another father could never be had He was protected by the divine hand from his Childhood being young and playing one time at Chess with a friend in the midst of his game without any apparent occasion he removed himself from the place where he sate when suddenly there fell from the roof of the house a great stone which if he had stayed in the place but never so little had beaten out his brains The like is recorded of Luther that as he was sitting in a certain place upon his stool a great stone there was in the Vault over his head
where he sate which being stayed miraculously so long as he was sitting as soon as he was up immediately fell upon the place where he sate able to have crushed him in pieces Fox Martyrolog Having prepared a great Fleet of Ships for a journey into Flanders and being at Winchelsey where the Ships were to meet it happened that riding about the Harbour his Horse frighted with the noise of a Wind-mill which the wind drove violently about scrambled up and leapt over the mud-wall of the Town so as neither the King nor Horse was to be seen but every one judged the King could not choose but be thrown and killed yet such was the divine providence over him that the Horse lighted upon his feet and the King keeping the Saddle returned safe He was crowned at Westminster together with his wife Queen Elenor by Robert Kilwarthy Archbishop of Canterbury He ingeniously surprized the Welch into subjection proffering them such a Prince as should be 1. The son of a King 2. Born in their own Countrey 3. Whom none could taxe for any fault The Welch accepted the conditions and the King tendered them his son Edward an Infant newly born in the Castle of Carnarvaâ— Wales was united to the Crown of England in the eleventh year of his Raign who thereupon established the Government thereof according to the Lawes of England A wise a just and fortunate Prince who in regard of his Princely vertues deserveth to be ranged among the principall and best Kings that ever were A right noble and worthy Prince to whom God proportioned a most princely presence and personage a right worthy seat to entertain so heroicall a mind For he not only in regard of fortitude and wisdome but also for a beautifull and personall presence was in all points answerable to the height of royall Majesty whom fortune also in the very prime and flower of his age inured to many a Warre and exercised in most dangerous troubles of the State whilest she framed and fitted him for the Empire of Brittain which he being once crowned King managed and governed in such wise that having subdued the Welch and vanquished the Scots he may justly be counted the second ornament of Great Brittain No Realm but did resound first Edwards praise No praise was ever won with more deserts And no deserts though great could counterpoise Much less out-balance his heroick parts Mars taught him Arms the Muses taught him Arts Whereby so great he grew that might there be A love on earth that earthly love was he Sir Francis Huberts History of Edward the second In the long Warres he had with Robert King of Scotland having by triall found how greatly his presence advantaged the success of his affairs and how he was ever victorious in any enterprise he undertook in his own person when he died he bound his son by solemn oath that being dead he should cause his body to be boiled untill the flesh fell from the bones which he should cause to be interred and carefully keeping the bones ever carry them about him whensoever he should happen to have Warres with the Scots as if destiny had fatally annexed the victory unto his limmes Mountaigne his Essayes l. 1. c. 3. Baliol King of Scotland came to Newcastle upon Tine where King Edward then lay and there with many of his Nobles swears fealty and doth homage to him as his Soveraign Lord. Afterward there grew a great dissention between him and the King and the two Nations which consumed much Christian bloud and continued almost three hundred years King Edward entered Scotland with a great Army King Baliol was taken prisoner The marble Chair in which the Kings of Scotland used to be crowned was also brought thence to Westminster and placed there amongst the Monuments where it still continues Ni fallat fatum Scoti quocunque locatum Invenient lapidem regnare tenentur ibidem Except old sawes do fain And Wizards wits be blind The Scots in place shall raign Where they this stone shall find Of his Warres with the Scotch and his victories over them see Ayscâ— his History of the Warres Treaties Marriages and other occurrents between England and Scotland from King William the Conquerour untill the union of them both in King Iames. In his twelfth year the Justices Itinerants began In his time Iohn Baliol King of Scots builded Baliol-Colledge in Oxford Walter Merton Lord Chancellour of England and after Bishop of Rochester founded Merton-Colledge in Oxford One made this Epitaph of him Dum viguit Rex valuit tua magna potestas Frauâ— latuit pax magna fuit regnavit honestas He raigned thirty four yeares seven moneths one and twenty dayes and lived sixty eight years and twenty dayes EDWARD the second He degenerated wholly from his fathers vertues and esteemed not the good advertisements and precepts which he gave him before his death He granted the Charter to London to elect yearly one of the City at their own pleasure to be their Maior He was the first of the King of Englands children which bore the title and quality of the Prince of Wales Since whose time the eldest sons of the Kings of England were called Princes of Wales as the eldest sons of the Kings of Franâ—e are called Dolphins and of Spain Infants He was called Edward of Carnarvan for the Welch men after Leolines death were earnest with the King for a Prince of their own Countrymen the King told them they should have a Prince there born that could speak no English which they being contented with he named his Infant son who was born there the Queen being brought to Carnarvan He divided Wales incorporated into England into Shires and Hundreds His great affection to Pierce Gaveston and Spenser his Favourites was a means of stirring up the Barons against him It is thy sad disaster which I sing Carnarvan Edward second of that name Thy Minions pride thy States ill managing Thy Peers revolt the sequell of the same Thy life thy death I sing thy sin thy shame And how thou wert deprived of thy Crown In highest fortunes cast by fortune down Sir Francis Huberts History of Edward the second Nine Kings had raigned since the conquest here Whom I succeeded in a rightfull line My father all domestick tumults clear Did warre and win in fruitfull Palestine This Northern Sun even to the East did shine The French were fearfull hearing but his name French Scots and Turks aeternized his fame He married Isabel daughter to King Philip sirnamed le Bean the fair and heir to France all her brothers being dead without issue Gourney most barbarously caused the miserable King to sit on a Mole-hill whilest the Barber shaved him and to take cold water out of a ditch to wash him withall which the patient King seeing told them That in despight of them he would have warm water at his Barbing and there withall shed abundance of tears Being deposed from his Kingdome
through the crafty complotting and practising of his wife he was made away in Bâ—rkley-Castle in Glocestershire by the wicked subtilty of the Bishop of Hereford who wrote unto his Keepers these few words without points between them Edwardum occidere nolite timere bonum est that by reason of the divers sense and construction both they might commit the murder and he also cleanly excuse himself Cambdens Britannia in Glocestershire Vide Gatakeri Adversaria miscel c. 16. Never was the fallacy of pointings or ambiguity of phrase more mischievously used to the destruction of a King or the defence of the contrivers then in this hainous parricide To shed King Edwards bloud Refuse to fear I count it good Where the Comma or pause being put after nolite bid them not to make him away but after timere insinuates a plain encouragement to the fact The Sphinx who is said to be the Author of this ambiguous riddle sent by the Lord Mortimer was Adam de Tarleton who utterly denied any such intention when the murderers for their own justification produced the writing it self under Queen Isabels Seal and the Seals of the other conspirators To which effect came Letters from the Court written by Tarleton at the Queens command In such a cloudy and ambiguous sort That divers wayes one might them understand By pointing them that if they should be scann'd He and his Letters might be free from blame And they Delinquents that abus'd the same The words were these Kill Edward do not feare 'T is good which being comma'd diversly As pleas'd the Reader double sense may bear O Art Thou art the earths chief treasury But being imploy'd to practise villany What monstrous births from thy fair womb do spring So Grammar here is made to kill a King Sir Francis Huberts History of Edward the second There was such a terrible famine in his reign that horse dogs yea men and children were stolen for food and which is horrible to think the theeves newly brought into the Gaol were torn in pieces and eaten presently half alive by such as had been longer there There was in the Castle of Nottingham and at this day is a certain secret way or mine cut through a rock upon which the said Castle is built an issue whereof openeth toward the River of Trent which runs under it and the other venteth it self far within upon the surface and is at this present called Mortimers hole through this the young King Edward the third well armed and strongly seconded was conducted with drawn swords by some of his trusty and sworn servants up to the Queens chamber whose door so fearless is blinde affection was unshut and with her was Mortimer the Kings master as the rumour spread him ready to go to bed whom with the slaughter of a Knight and one or two that resisted they laid hold upon This was not reputed a slender enterprise in regard that in Mortimers retinue were not fewer they say then one hundred and fourscore Knights besides Esquires and Gentlemen He was after hanged at Tyburn K. Edward the second favoured learning as by the erection of Orial-Colledge in Oxford and St. Maries Hall which were of his foundation it may well be gathered He was stifled in his bed and a red hot iron thrust up into his Fundament He lived forty three years and raigned nineteen EDWARD the third He was upon his fathers resignation proclaimed King of England He was not fifteen years old when he began to raign He was of an exceeding comely personage of a pregnant wit courteous gentle of great temperance If we respect either valour prowess length of Raign acts of Chivalry or the multitude of famous Princes his children left behind him he was one of the noblest Kings that ever England had Dolemans Conference touching Succession to the Crown part 1. c. 3. Cambden in his Britannia in Northumberland calls him our Hector He was the greatest scourge to the Nation of Scotland of any King of England either before or after him Ayscu He saith there also that if this King had a while longer pursued the conquest of Scotland he had easily brought the same under his soveraignty and that he esteemed in regard of the difficulty of holding long his possessions within the French dominions the Realm of Scotland a more convenient and fit member of the Crown of England then the one half of France how farre soever exceeding the other in wealth and magnificence He brought Cloathing first into this Island transporting some families of Artificers from Gaunt hither Upon the grievances of his people pestered with the doublings of Lawyers he commanded that Pleas should from thenceforth be made in English not in French He placed Richard his Grandchild and next heir apparent in his solemn feast at Christmas at his Table next unto himself above all his Uncles being the sons of that King and men much renowned for their prowess and vertue Judge Dâ—dridges Epist. Dedicat. to the Principality of Wales The Law of Magna Charta was about a dozen severall times confirmed by this King during the years of his Raign In the fiftieth year of Edward the third all the Lords appeared in Parliament in person and not one by Proxy At which Parliament as appears in the Parliament-Roll so many excellent things were done as it was called bonum Parliamentum the good Parliament He disposed of Ecclesiasticall dignities received homage and fealty from his Prelates who writ that so much admired Letter to the Pope for the Liberties of the English Church Cui pro tunc Papa aut Cardinales rationabiliter respondere nescicbant Walsing an 1343. The house of Valois triumphantly raigned in France ever since the Raign of Edward the third at which time it was then but an Earldome and descended from a second brother was of meer purpose by the French advanced to the throne under pretences of the â—alique Law made by Pharamond only to suppress the immediate right and title of King Edward the third who was descended of the French Kings eldest daughter and heir whereby he justly claimed the Crown of France though that very Law made King Edwards title the stronger as himself truly pleaded he being the male albeit his right descended by the female Rex sum regnorum bina ratiâ—ne duorum Anglorum regno sum Rex ego jure paterno Matris jure quidem Francorum nuncupor idem Hinc est armorum variatio facta meorum The date of this title of France was in the year 1337 the which Enlgand holds to this day and our Kings the Realm in effect saith Iohn de Serres At the great battell of Cressy in France the Commanders about the Prince sent to King Edward to come up with his power to aid them the King asked the messenger whether his son were slain or hurt the messenger answered no but he was like to be
overlaid Well then said the King return and tell them who sent you That so long at my son is alive they send no more to me whatever happen for I will that the honour of the day be his And so at last the English obtained the greatest victory they ever yet had against the French There were there found the dead bodies of eleven great Princes and of Barons Knights and men of Arms above one thousand and five hundred of the Commons above thirty thousand Not one man of honour or note slain upon the English side King Edward after the Battell aftectionately embracing and kissing his victorious son said Fair son God send you good perseverance to so prosperous beg innings you have nobly acquit your self and are well worthy to have the governance of a Kingdome entrusted to you for your valour Sir Eustace Rihamant in the encounter at Calis-Gate between Sir Walter Manny and the Lord Charney met with King Edward who disguising himself in common armour served under the banner of Sir Walter Manny and fought so stoutly with him that he stroke the King twice down on his knees but in the end the King took him prisoner and then he yeelded his Sword to the King but knowing what he was said thus Sir Knight I yeeld me as your prisoner upon which cause the King came after supper to him and with a merry countenance said thus to the Knight Sir Eustace you are the Knight in the world that I have seen most valiant either in assault of enemies or defence of himself I never â—ound Knight that gave so much ado body to body as ye have done this day wheâ—efore I give you the prize above all the Knights of my Court by right sentence and herewithall the King being bare-headed having a Chaplet of fine pearls that he ware on his head took the same Chaplet from off his head being fair goodly and rich and said to the Knight I give you this Chaplet for the best doer in Arms in this journey past of either party and I desire you to bear it this year for the love of me I know well you be fresh and amorous and oftentimes are among doubty Knights and fair Ladies yet say wheresoever ye come that the King of England did give it you and I quite your prison and ransome depart to morrow if it please you whereupon the Knight did not only wear the same Chaplet in remembrance of so gracious a benevolence of so worthy a Prince but also did bear after in his Arms three Chaplets garnished of pearls Fern his Glory of Generosity p. 210 211. Mr. Wren in his Monarchy asserted p. 125. saith The successes of the English in France alwayes followed the person of the Prince with us Edward the third and Henry the fifth wise and valiant Princes gaining Richard the second and Henry the sixth weak Princes losing with them Iohn and Charles the sixth men of no ability losing Charles the fifth and Charles the seventh brave Princes recovering Edward the black Prince of Wales who so long governed our Countrey of Guienne a man whose conditions and fortune were accompanied with many notable parts of worth and magnanimity having been grievously offended by the Limosins though he by main force took and entered their City could by no means be appeased nor by the wailfull out-cries of all sorts of people as of men women and children be moved to any pitty they prostrating themselves to the common slaughter crying for mercy and humbly submitting themselves at his feet untill such time as in triumphant manner passing through their City he perceived three French Gentlemen who alone with an incredible and undaunted boldness gainstood the enraged violence and made head against the fury of his victorious Army The consideration and respect of so notable a vertue did first abate the dint of his wrath and from these three began he to relent and shew mercy to all the other inhabitants of the Town Michael Lord of Montaigne his Essayes l. 1. c. 1. Having had great victories against the French and other neighbouring Nations he instituted the Order of the Garter and consecrated it to St. George He appointed a Garter to be the Ensign of this Order wrought richly with gold and precious stones which should circle the leg beneath the knee and on it to have these words apparently discerned Honi Soit Qui Mal Y â—ense Shame to him which evil thinks The number of these Knights are twenty six whereof the King himself is the chief These Knights wear the Ensign of Saint George fighting with a Dragon fastened to a rich Chain or Collar which weighed and was worth eighty pounds of English money See Montaigne his Essayes l. 2. c. 7. of the words of honour About this time the famous Dr. Iohn Wicklef a man of sharp wit profound learning and of great judgement did in the University of Oxford publickly maintain sundry Propositions and dogmaticall points against the Church of Rome His followers were in the phrase of those dark dayes called Lollards whereas in truth they endeavoured to extirpate all pernicious weeds which through time sloath and fraud had crept into the field of Gods Church Such was this Kings courtesie friendly behaviour toward the two captive Kings of France and Scotland while they remained together in England as that hereby he won their love and favour for ever after as appeared by their repair hither to visit the King and Queen and to recreate and solace themselves in their company Thus it came to pass that their captivity here turned more to their own advantage and the peaceable enjoying of their estates after the same then if it had never hapned unto them Mr. Thomas May wrote his victorious Raign in Verse in seven Books He raigned almost one and fifty yeares and lived about sixty five who of all the Kings of the Realm saith Mr. Fâ—x unto Henry the eight was the greatest bridler of the Popes usurped power whereby Iohn Wicklef was maintained with aid sufficient CHAP. XVIII RICHARD the second HE descended from four Edwards of which the first three were succeeding Kings the fourth Prince of Wales sirnamed the black Prince who dying before his father Edward the third did not attain the Crown The Civil Warres of England by Sir Francis Bâ—ondi an Italian He was crowned in the eleventh year of his age and sufficiently shewed the miserable condition of such States as are governed by an Infant King He was the goodliest personage of all the Kings that had been since the conquest The beautifull picture of a King sighing crowned in a Chair of Estate at the upper end of the Quire in St. Peters at Westminster is said to be of him which witnesseth how goodly a creature he was ilâ— outward lineaments Speed He had nothing worthy his great fortunes but his great birth When he had with full hand bestowed upon Simâ—â—â— Montford Earl of Leicester
all the benefits he could yea and given his own sister iâ— marriage he raised a most dangerous War and spoiled shamefully a great part of England under pretence of restoring the Commonwealth and maintaining liberty neither left he any thing undone to bring the King under to change the State of a Mâ—â—â—rchy to bring in an Oligarchy But in the 〈◊〉 after that fortune had for a good while favourably smiled upon him he was slain at Eveshâ—m in Worcestershire with many other of the Barons his Complices by the prowess of Prince Edward 〈…〉 〈…〉 Although the Kingdome endured great Crosses in the affairs of State under this King yet some have thought that it found as great a blessing in matters of Religion which in those dayes took so deep root in this our Land by the preaching of Iohn Wickliffe that the branches thereof did spread themselves even over the Seas Speeds Chronicle He was the onely Son of that famous Cheiftain the black Prince of Wales a renowned son of a renowned father but as a plant transplanted into a savage soyl in degree and disposition wholly degenerate retained a tincture of the light inconstancy of his Mother and the luxuriousness of his great Grandfather Edward the second and running his course came to his end He had in his Court a thousand persons in ordinary allowance of diet three hundred servitors in his Kitchin above three hundred Ladies Chamberers and Landerers His Apparel was sumptuous and so was it generally in his time he had one Coat of gold and stone valued at thirty thousand Marks One interview with the French King at Ards when his Wife Isabel was delivered unto him cost three hundred thousand Markâ— Queen Anne his Wife Daughter to the Emperour Charles the fourth first taught English women the manner of sitting on horseback which now is used whereas before-time they rode very unseemly astride like as men do The Civil Wars in England had their beginning from his bad Government Henry the fourth did first commence them and Henry the fifth suspended them but they again brake forth under Henry the sixth Wat Tyler the Master of the Kentish Rebels was slain with a Dagger by William Walworth Mayor of London close by the Kings side in the Kings defence who was therefore Knighted and the City since giveth for Arms the Dagger He was first deposed then slain Men are easily emboldened saith Guicciardine c. 3. of his History of Italy against a Prince that is fallen into contempt The most current report at that time went that he was Princely served every day at the Table with abundance of costly meats according to the order prescribed by Parliament but was not suffered to taste or touch any one of them and so perished of famine Mr. Fox saith he was at Pamfret Castle famished to death Sir Pierce of Extone at last killed him though he with an Axe wrested out of one of their hands first killed four of those which came with him to murther him At the point of his death he groaned forth these words My great Grandfather King Edward the second was in this manner deposed imprisoned and murthered by which means my Grandfather King Edward the third obtained possession of the Crown and now is the punishment of that injury powred upon his next successor Well this is right for me to suffer but not for you to do your King for a time may joy at my death and enjoy his desire but let him qualifie his pleasures with the expectation of the like justice for God who measureth all our actions by the malice of our minds will not suffer this violence unrevenged He lived three and thirty years raigned two and twenty and three moneths Thus far the Plantagenets have continued in an unquestionable right line now follows the division of the houses of Lancaster York three of each succeeding in their order Of Lancaster Henry the fourth sirnamed Bulling brook Henry the fifth of Monmouth Henry the sixth of Windsor Of Yorke three others succeeded upon a better title 1. Edward the fourth 2. Edward the fifth 3. Richard the third HENRY the fourth He was son to Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster from the loynâ— of whom the greatest number of the Kings of England Spain Portugall since his time as also several other persons of eminent dignity are descended Mr. Dugdalâ—s History of St. Pauls Cathedrall He was annointed with an oyl which a certain religious man gave unto Henry the first Duke of Lancaster Grandfather to the King by the mothers side when he served in the Wars of King Edward the third beyond the seas together with this Prophesie that the Kings which should be annointed therewith should be the Champions of the Church There was a great contest then between the white and red Rose the houses of Yorke and Lancaster The red Rose prevailed now he being the first renowned King of the house of Lancaster He first studied a popular party as needing all to support his titles There was in his Raign a Parliament held at Coventry called Parliamentum indoctorum the lack-learning Parliament either for the unlearnedness of the persons or for their malice to learned men During the time of this Kings Raign execution by fire was first put in practice within this Realm for controversies in points of Religion He shed the bloud of Gods Saints and raigned neither long nor hâ—pâ—ily Mr. Foxâ—aith â—aith his time was full of trouble bloud and misery He was the first of the Kings of England saith he that put out his hand to the shedding of the bloud of the Saints since the conquest Humphrey his son was by his brother King Henry the fifth created Duke of Glocester he was Protector of the Kingdome of England for twenty five years in the time of King Henry the sixth He was a man who nobly deserved of the Commonwealth and of learning as being himself very learned and a magnificent Patron and benefactor of the University of Oxford where he had been educated and was generally called the good Duke Speed This Duke Humphrey purchased a wonderfull number of Books in all Sciences whereof he freely gave to a Library in Oxford a hundred and twenty nine fair Volumes Bales Conclusion to Leylands New years gift to King Henry the eight One saith all the Henries of the house of Lancaster even to Henry the seventh were most eminent for great vertues Henry the fourth for his behaviour and courtesie Henry the fifth for his valour and magnanimity Henry the sixth for his justice and piety The renowned Prince King Henry the fifth during the life of his father was noted to be fierce and of wanton courage One of his servants whom he favoured was for felony by him committed arraigned at the Kings Bench whereof the Prince being advertised and incensed by light persons about him in furious rage came hastily to the Barre
should dispossess his children of the Crown was consenting to his death interpreting G. to be George Duke of Clarence which fell out to be Glocester to whose tyranny he left them by this ungodly means He vanquished in nine Battels himself being present The Scene of his fortune had more changes then any King of England yet except his Competitor Lust was reputed his bosome-sin God severely punisht him in his sons who were both dispossest of their Kingdome and their lives by their unnaturall Uncle there being so much appearance of right by their fathers incontinency that even an Act of Parliament was made to bastardize them He was the first of our Kings since the Conquest that married his Subject His usuall Oath was By Gods blessed Lady He sate on the Kings Bench in open Court three dayes together in Michaelmas Term anno 〈◊〉 of his Raign to understand how his Laws were executed Have we not seen the late King of England Edward the fourth of that name heir of the house of Yorke utterly destroy the house of Lancaster under the which both his father and he had lived many yeares Farther the said King Edward having done homage to King Henry the sixth being of the house of Lancaster did he not afterward hold him prisoner many years in the Tower of London the chief City of the Realm where in the end he was put to death Phil. de Commines hist. l. 5. c. 18. He saith that their King Lewis the eleventh of France in wisdome and sense far surmounted King Edward Lib. 6. c. 2. and l. 5. c. 13. he saith of Lewis undoubtedly he was one of the wisest and subtilest Princes that lived in his time That very day wherein an honourable peace was concluded between Edward the fourth and King Lewis the eleventh upon subscribed Articles it chanced a white Dove as Commines writes to repose her self upon King Edwards pavilion whereupon though many gathered an argument yet since she sate not equally between both the Kings I like much better of a Gascoines observation who having been present at the sight reported unto Philipde Commines as himself records that the Dove repaired to King Edwards Tent only to this intent to refresh and prune her self after a great rain because the Sun was warmest there Howards Defensative c. 24. Richard Nevill Earl of Warwicke was a man of an undaunted courage but wavering and untrusty the very Tennice-Ball in some sort of fortune who although he were no King was above Kings as who deposed King Henry the sixth a most bountifull Price to him from his royall dignity placed Edward the fourth in the royall Throne and afterwards put him down too restored Henry the sixth again to the Kingdome enwrapped England within the most wofull and lamentable flames of Civill War which himself at the length hardly quenched with his own bloud In his spirit birth marriage and revenue he was mighty which raised his thoughts above proportion The greatest and busiest Subject our later age hath brought forth That make-King Warwick having the English Crown Pinn'd on his sleeve to place where he thought best Who set up Princes and did pull them down How did he toyl the Land with his unrest How did his Sword rip up his mothers brests Whose greatness and his popularity Wrought both his own and others tragedy Sir Francis Huberts History of Edward the second Cecil Dutchess of Yorke his mother lived in Henry the sevenths Raign and died at her Castle of Barkhamsted being of extream years who had lived to see three Princes of her body crowned and four murthered He being near his death told his friends that if he could as well have foreseen things as now to his pain he proved them he would never have worn the courtesie of mens knees with the loss of so many heads He raigned two and twenty yeares one moneth and five dayes EDWARD the fifth He was scarce eleven years old when his father died and succeeded him in the Kingdome but not in the Crown for he was proclaimed King but never crowned and indeed it may not so properly be called the Raign of Edward the fifth as the tyranny of Richard the third He hearing that his Uncle had left the name of Protector and taken upon him the title of King and was with full consenting of the Lords to be crowned within a few dayes following with the same Crown and in the like Estate as had been provided for his solemnity the dejected Innocent sighed and said Alass I would my Vncle would let me enjoy my life yet though I lose both my Kingdome and Crown He and his brother Richard were murthered in the Tower Tâ—win brethren in their deaths what had they done O Richard sees a fault that they were in It is not actuall but a mortall one They Princes were 't was their original sin Why should so sweet a pair of Princes lack Their Innocents-day in th' English Almanack Aleyns History of Henry the seventh RICHARD the third He was king in fact only but Tyrant both in title and regiment He was ill featured of limmes crook-backed hard favoured of visage malicious wrathfull envious It is for truth reported that the Dutchess his mother had so much ado in her travail that she could not be delivered of him uncut and that he came into the world with the feet forward and as the same runneth also not untoothed whether men of hatred report above the truth or else that nature changed her course in his beginning which in the course of his life committed many things unnaturally Buck that writes his Raign writes favourably of him but the Chroniclers generally condemn him He was brother to King Edward the fourth and having most wickedly murthered his Nephews usurped the Kingdome by the name of King Richard the third and after two years lost both it and his life in a pitched field He slew with his own hands King Henry the sixth being prisoner in the Tower as men constantly said and that without commandement or knowledge of King Edward the fourth who undoubtedly if he had intended his death would have appointed that Butcherly office to some other then his own brother He slew also that Kings son in the presence of Edward the fourth Was the contriver of the death of the Duke of Clarence his brother He bare a white Bore for his Cognisance The Lord Lovell Sir Richard Ratcliffe and Sir William Catesby were chief rulers under him of the which persons was made a seditious Rime and fastened upon the Cross in Cheapside and other places of the City It was this The Cat the Rat and Lovell the Dog Rule all England under a Hog For which one Colingborne was executed A Prince who deserved to be ranked among the worst men and the best Kings Yet Sir Francis Bacon in his History of Henry the seventh saith that his good Laws were but the brocage of an usurper
how many of note this Divine hath written against and what paradoxall if not heterodoxall tenets he hath often laboured to maintain sometimes against the determinations of a Parliament rightly so called I wonder at that passage of his near the conclusion of his Novice-Presbyter instructed The great knower of hearts and searcher of the reins in whose presence I write knoweth that if himself would be pleased to discharge me of the service of contradicting and opposing men and dispose of me in a way of retirement were it never so private and obscure where I might only contest with my own weakness and errors he should give me one of the first-born desires of my soul in the things of this life into my bosome He may do well to weigh those places Exod. 22. 28. 1 Sam. 26. 9. Prov. 24. 21. Eccles. 10. 20. The Greek word for King notes him that is the stay or foundation of the people He is called 1 Pet. 2. 13. the Supreme or Superiour The Greek word signifies one that hath above others in matter of Authority and Supremacy The Generals Commission the Covenant the Parliaments Declarations and Engagements both to the King and Scots were for the preservation of the Kings person Even Mr. Goodwin in his Anticavallierismâ— and Mr. Burroughs in his Lord of Hosts though they justified the Warre yet they shewed their dislike of any injury to the Kings person I may justly vindicate the Parliament of England from having any hand in this abominable action Nunquam in te peccavit Britannia tua sed nec in Parentem sola colluvies illa de formis nefariorum tâ—nebrionum haec cuncta execranda procudit D. Creyghtoni Dedicâ—t hist. Concilii Tridentini Some object that every Monarch hath his power from the consent of the whole body therefore the whole body hath a power above the power of the Monarch and to this purpose they alleadge that Maxime Quicquid efficit tale est magis tale All Government they say is for the good of the governed and Salus populi suprema lex That Maxime even in naturall causes is subject to divers restrictions and it holds not in this particular The Guardian is for his sake that is under age yet he hath power over him Of the right interpretation of the other Maxime Salus populi suprema lex See Dr. Sanderson de Obligat Consc. Praelect 9 10. Not that Prince which is most potent over his Subjects but that Prince which is most potent in his Subjects is truly potent witness that incomparable Princess of happy memory Queen Elizabeth It was also our King Charles his own Golden Maxime The peoples Liberty strengthens the Kings Prerogative and the Kings Prerogative is to defend the peoples Liberty Let us leave the Doctrine of King-killing to Mariana the Iesuite to defend and the perpetration of such a horrid act to Ravilliac and such monsters of men Of Marianas Doctrine and of the Iesuites opinion of the lawfulness of deposing Princes that are hereticall See in Dr. Taylors collection of Polemicall and Morall Discourses his Sermon preached upon the fifth of November on Luke 9. 54. I shall close up all with Davids patheticall speech 2 Sam. 1. 20. Tell it not in Gath publish it not in the streets of Askeloâ— lest the daughters of the Philistims rejoyce lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph As I have severall times in the Parliament so I thought sit here to give in my testimony against that unsound opinion and abominable practice Had I been sooner freed out of the Kings-head in the Strand where I with many other worthy Secluded Members were confined for not going along with the rest of the House in their intended evill designe I had published a Treatise against King-killing which I had formerly composed before that Fatall stroake Finis Errata PAge a line 15. read Hervord p. 3. l. 22. Ethelbald p. 4. margin Histoire d' Angleterre p. 9 l. penult ult r. Aidan p. 10. l. 4. p. 9. l. 9. r. Oswalstre p. 16. marg l. 10. r. nami illi argentei l. 11. r. pontificius quaestor l. 11 12. dele qui publicé bonas artes profiterentur quô multi doctrina clari confluérunt docendi gratta p. 20. marg dele Vid Asser c. p. 29. l. 9. r. sica p. 28. l. penult r. upon a. p. 34. l. e 30. r. this l 31. r. all p. 44. marg l. 20 21. r. ipse suae p. 51. l. 4. r. He refused p. 61. l. 36. r. cotraderet p. 68. marg l. 20. dele non p. 73. marg l. 1. r. plerisqué p. 81 l. 15. r. one one one c. p. 85. l. 29. r. of p. 90. l. 21. r. Cyrus p. 95. marg l. ult r. loquentem p. 106. marg l. 8. r. Episcopus p. 116. m. l. 11. r. Polyd. p. 111. l. 14. r. Civilis p. 129. l. 6. r. Westminster An Alphabeticall Table expressing or pointing to the chief things contained in this Treatise A ALfred his severall Names page 20 The first annointed King of England ibid. His Vertues p. 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Arthur King and Prince p. 154 155 B Bastards many of them famous p. 56 Benevolence by whom that Tax was devised p. 156 Black Prince a valiant person why so called p. 113 115 Bush Why Henry the 7th bore the Hawthorn-Bush with the Crown in it p. 151 C Canutus p. 42 43 44 45 Magna Charta often confirmed p. 111 City of London gives the Dagger for its Arms and why p. 100 D Danes long molested England p. 37 38 47 E Edgar p. 33 34 35 36 37 38 Edward the elder p. 27 More Kings of England of that name than of any other name p. 27 Edward the Confessor p. 48 49 50 51. Edward the first p. 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 Edward the second p. 104 to 109 Edward the third p. 109 to 117 Edward the fourth p. 136 to 146 Edward the fifth p. 146 147 Edward the sixth from p. 170 to 178 Egbert p. 15 16 England five times plagued by other Nations p. 14 Called so first by Ethelbald p. 11 18 Ethelbert p. 7 18 Ethelred p. 10 18 19 Ethelwolfe p. 16 17 Ethelston p. 28 G The order of the Garter instituted by King Edward the third p. 115 116 The King of Heralds called Garter ordained by Henry the fifth p. 132 Guild-Hall in London in what Kings raign erected p. 128 H L. Hastings a speciall judgment on him p. 149 Harlos whence p. 55 Hengist why so called the first Monarch of the English p. 4 5 The Heptarchy of the Saxons p. 2 3 Henry the first p. 73 to 81 Henry the second p. 84 to 86 Henry the third p. 94 to 98 Henry the fourth p. 122 to 129 Henry the fifth p. 129 to 134 Henry the sixth 134 to 139 Henry the seventh p. 150 to 160 Henry the eighth p. 160 to 170 Humble King rare p. 10 Humphrey Duke of Glocester
former marriage unlawfull He never spared mâ—n in his anger nor woman in his lust Sir Naunton's Frag. Regal in Q. E. Accuratè vacábat literis vacabat animi gratia musicae legebat studiosè libros divi Thomae Aquinatis hoc agebat hortatu Volsaei qui totus erat Thomisticus Polyd. Virg. Ang. hist. l. 27. Mr. Seldens Titles of honour part 1. c. 4. Titulus iste Cothurnus est cuilibet pedi cuilibet fidei aptari potest non minus Papae qui â—edit quà m vestrae Didoclav praefat ad Altare Damascenum * Lib. 1. de schismate Anglicano My Lord Herberts life of Henry the 8th Neque Romanam Ecclesiam ab Anglia expulisset Henricum nisi prior clemens Henricus à Romana ejecisset Ecclesia Barclasi vind pâ—o Regibus advers R. Bellarm. Sanderus de schism ate Anglicano l. 1. Dii boâ—i quomodo hic vivunt gentes Lever saith he did more then any Prince in Christendome before him ever did the Pope being then so great Lever in his history of the Defender of the Catholick faith speaks much of the suppressing of Abbeys And Iura Cleric 3. More See the Preface to Sir H. Spelmans Book De non temerandâ—â— Ecclesiâ— * An old Priest â—lwayes read Mumpsimus Demine for Sumpsimus whereof when he was admonished he said That he had now used Mumpsimus thirty years and would not leave his old Mumpsimus for their new Sumpsimus Pacaeus de fructu qui ex doctrina percipitur Cum ab Iuae tempore ad hanc inquit Sleidanus Comment l. 9. atatem usque Britannia Romanis Episcopis eam pecuniam dependisset Henricus scilicet 8. omnium primus inhibuit eam amplius persolvi Selden Analect Anglo brit l. 2. c. 4. Vide Spelman de Consil. p. 312 374. Stowes Chron. in the life and Raign of Q. Eliz. He prepared the way to Reformation as his own power and profit was concerned in it He excluded the Popes Authority and caused himself to be declared supreme head of the Church of Ireland Lever in his history of the defenders of the Catholick Faith compares him with Frederick Barbarossa the Emperour of Germany Sir Walter Rauleighs Preface to his hist. of the world He spake French perfectly could declaim in Latin ex tempore and that without any sticking or stammering he understood Greek Spanish and Italian a flowing kind of eloquence he had yet grave and polite such as became a Prince alwayes measuring his words by the thing he spake of Dr. Hackwels Apology of Gods providence in the government of the world l. 1. c. 11. Sect. 12. See more there A piis atque eruditis praeceptoribus D. Coxo Johanne Checo Graecis Latinisque literis institutus tum saâ—a Religione ad praescriptam divini verbi normam imbutus aetatem longe suam doctrinae virtuteque superavit Anglicanam Ecclesiam rudem adhuc informem tam accuratè sincera Religious perpolivit omnesque faces pontificias expurgavit ut à piis omnibâ—â— alter Josias merito dictus fit Josc Antiq. Brit. Magno miraculo humanarum rerum tanti ingenii tantae expectationis pâ—â—r educabatur c. Hier Card. de Edv. 6. Rege Dr. Cox was â— utor also to Q Eliz. who recalled him from beyond seas restored him to many Church-dignities and appointed him to preach that day she went to her first Parliament Engl. Eliz. * Had he lived he would no doubt have made a full Reformation of those foul corruptions that remained and yet remain to this day and would have reduced all the Churches in his Dominioâ—s unto the Primitive and Apostolicall Order and Discipline as Bucer in his Book De Regno Christi written to him earnestly desired Whetenhall of the abuse now in question in the Church of Christ. Haywards life and Raign of Edward the sixth Of all the Papists in his Raign there was not one man lost his life To the godly there was no danger unless it were by wealth and prosperity Fox his Act. and Mon. A. D. 11â—0 Speed Vide Humfredum de Nobilitate l. 2. p. 232 233. Fox Martyr vol. 3. p. 431. Ipse Rex â—â—orum or efid o nuditus aut Sitiosorum immannati ex positus immaâ—â—rè morbo an veneno incertum praeripitur incredibili ob eximias supra aetatem virtutes desiderio apud populum relicto Apparatus ad Cambdâ—â—i Annales Queen Mary caused â—et to be beheaded She was married to Philip the second King of Spain who was long but well proportioned Some of her Coin was called Philip and Mary Speed Non natura sed pontificiorum arte ferox Id. ib. Lever compares her to the Queen mother of France Katherine de Medicis The suffering in her dayes did more settle and enlarge the bounds of the Gospel then all the preaching did in King Edward the sixth his Raign Dr. Ames Mr. Bacoâ—â— Uniform Government of England part 2 c. 34. Whose Raign was polluted with the bloud of so many Martyrs unfortunate by the frequent insurrections and made inglorious by the loss of Calais Nullus toto terrarum orbe angulus est quo non percrebuit admirabilis tua praeter invictam animositatem pictatem cruditio tam Latinè disertae ut exterorum Regum legati docti inprimis homines velut attoniti obstupescant quasi haerente in faucibus voce obinutesâ—â—nt re auditâ Had. Jun. Epist. Mariae Angliae Reginae Two hundred and eleven years It was lost in less then eight dayes It was 〈◊〉 won by Edward the third being the eleventh King from William the Conqueâ—our and lost by her the eleventh from Edward Capto summa celeritate Calâ—to quem portum Galliae portam aâ—pâ—llare consueverant Angliae Reges quo quamdiu potirentur tamdiu gâ—stare se â— cingulo claves Galliae dictitahant quicquid Gallis creptum ducentos per annos Angli fâ—liâ—iter obtinuer ant incontinenti paucorum dierum spatio Galliae regno restituere atque ad veteres terminos intra occanum se recipere coacti sunt Stradae de bello Belgic Dec. 1. l. 1. Though many persecutions have lasted longer yet none since Diâ—â—â—esians time â—ageâ— so terribly Dr. Heylius Eccles restaur See more there Dr Hackwelâ— Apol. of Gods providence in the Government of the world l. 4. c 11. Sect. 12. Seâ— more there Vide Cambde ni etiam Aâ—arat ad Annales The Orâ—tion is in Hâ—kâ—nsh Chron. â—â—de Saviii Orat. corom Regâ—na Elâ—z Oxon. â—habiâ—a Stradae de bello Belgic Decas 2. l. 1. p. 11. Vide Parkerum de Politcia Ecclesiast Christi l. 2. c. 38. There was between these two Princes â— concurrence and sympathy in their natures and affections together with the celestiall bond conformity in Religion which made them one and friends for the King ever called her his sweetest and dearest sister Sir Robert Nauntons Fragmenta Reg. Cambdens Britannia in Surrey Câ—mb Brit. in Wilâ—shire Gainsfords Glory of England l. â— c. 2. 〈◊〉 Biâ—dulphs Travels p.
left nothing unattempted which might advance the glorious Gospel of Christ. He built St. Augustines a goodly Church in Canterbury He built also St. Pauls Church in London and St. Andrews in Rochester He died in the three and twentieth year of his Monarchy and the fifty sixth of his Kingdome of Kent Redwald The third King of the East-Angles and seventh Monarch of the English men Of this Redwald Cambden reporteth out of Bede that he was baptized and that to make sure as he thought of the right way of worship he had in the same Temple one Altar for Christian Religion and another for sacrifice to Devils He raigned eight yeares and was King of the East-Angles thirty one Edwine The Great King of Northumberland and the eighth sole Monarch of the English men He was slain in Battell by Penda and Cadwallo the seventh year of his Monarchy the seventeenth of his Kingdome He lived fourty eight yeares Oswald King of Northumberland and the ninth Monarch of the English men He was a religiouâ— King and took such care for the coâ—version and salvation of his Subjectâ— that he sent into Scotland for aid and a Christian Bishop to instruct his Northumbrians in the Gospel of truth Mira fuit in homine sanctitas mirum pietatis studium nulli unquam malum pro malo reddidit sed Christi regis summi exemplum imitatus ijs etiam bene precabatur beneque volebaâ— Ã quibâ—â—s accepisset injurias Polyd. Virg. Ang. Hist. l. 4. p. 82. He left the name to Oswalster in Shropshire Of this Oswald as also of Stephan King of Hungary it is storied that their right hands though dead never putrified because they had been much exercised in almes-deeds Bed hist. Angl. l. 3. c. 6. Bonsinius Quis suit Alcides quis Caesar Julius aut quit Magnus Alexander Alcides se superasse Fertur Alexander mundum sed Julius hostem Se simul Osuualdus mundum vicit hostem He died in the 23. year of his Monarchy and the 56. of his Kingdome of Kent Oswy King of Northumberland and the tenth Monarch of the English men He was Brother to Edwin and Oswald He founded the Cathedrall Church in Litchfield for a Bishops See Upon an occasion Oswin humble â— himself before the holyman Adrian who upon sight thereof wept and gave this reason of his weeping I know this King will not live long and this reason of his reason for I never before this saw an humble King He lived fifty seven yeares and raigned the space of twenty eiâ—ht yeares Wulphere The sixth King of the Mercians and the eleventh Monarch of the Englâ—â—â— men He becoming a â—hristian destroyed all those Temâ—les wherein his Heathen Gods had been worshipped converting them all into Christian Churches and religious Monasteries He raigned King over the Mercians seventeen yeares and Monarch of the English fuily four Ethelred The seventh King of Mercia and twelfth Monarch of the English A modest Prince which loved better to preserve then to encrease his power by Arms. He raigned above thirty yeares Kenred The eighth King of Mercia and the thirteenth Monarch of the English men He raigned in peace four yeares then weary of Government and desirous of contemplation be sought a more private and religious life and thereupon appointing â—helred his Cosen-germane to rule in his place in the fifth year of his Raign abandoned his Kingdome and Country and departed to Rome and in a Monastery in that City was made Monk Chelred The ninth King of the Mercians and the fourteenth Monarch of the English He had got as great reputation of military valour as any Prince of his time if he had not died so soon He raigned only seven yeares Ethelbald The tenth King of the Mercians and the fifteentth Monarch of the English A peaceable Prince but was over amorous Boniface the Archbishop of Mentz an Englishman by Nation sent an Epistle to him This is one passage in it Quapropter â—â—li charissime paeniteat te memora quam turpe sit ut tu qui multis gentihus dono Dâ—â— dominaris al injuriam ejus sis libidinis servus The Epistle is full of good counsell to be seen in Malmesbury He ruled forty two yeares Offa. The eleventh King of the Mercians and the sixteenth Monarch of the English men He was a warlike Prince and for the most part fortunate He built a Church in Warwickeshire where the adjoyning Town from it and him beareth the name Off-Church and caused a great Ditch to be made large and deep from Sea to Sea betwixt his Kingdome and Wales whereby he might the better defend his Country from the incursions of the Welsh men And this Ditch is to be seen in many places as yet and is called Offas Ditch at this day Lords History of Wales The Ditch began at the River Dee by Bassing-werke between Cheâ—ter and Ruthlan and ran along the hils sides to the South-Sea a little from Bristow reaching above a hundreth miles in length Id. the description of Wales He first gave the Peter-pence to Rome and was himself at the length shorne a Monk He raigned thirty nine yeares Egfrid The twelfth King of the Mercians and the seventeenth Monarch of the English He re-establisht the priviledges and liberties of all the Churches which his Father had supprest He raigned only four moneths he was taken away by sudden death in the hundreth fourty first day after his Fathers decease Kenwolfe The thirteenth King of the Mercians and the eighteenth Monarch of the English men At home he was an example of piety peace justice and Religion abroad temperate humble and courteous without vain ostentation or ambitious conceits In Warres he was stout and victorious in peace studious to enrich his Subjects he carried himself so at all times that envy could not touch him with her tongue Bede dedicateth his Ecclesiasticall History to him He raigned twenty two yeares CHAP. IV. OF the Saxons that reigned sole Kings of this Island 1. Egbert raigned thirty seven years 2. Ethelwulf the son of Egbert twenty years 3. Ethelbald the eldest son of Ethelwulf five years 4. Ethelbert the second son of Ethelwulf five years 5. Ethelred the third son of Ethelwulf five years 6. Alfred the youngest son of Ethelwulf five years 7. Edward sirnamed the elder twenty three years 8. Aethelstane the eldest son of Edward sixteen years 9. Edmund the second son of Edward six years 10. Edred the youngest son of Edward nine years 11. Edwin the elder son of Edmund four years 12. Edgar the younger son of Edmund sixteen years 13. Edward the elder son of Edgar forty years 14. Ethelred the younger son of Edgar thirty seven years 15. Edmund the son of Ethelred in whose time the Danes possessed the greatest part of England Egbert The eighteenth King of the West-Saxons the nineteenth but first sole and absolute Monarch of the English men Upon
Edwards Laws These Laws are partly Ecclesiasticall partly Civill Lambard de priseis Anglorum legibus mentions Leges boni Regis Edwardi quas Gulielmus Bastardus postea confirmavit In these Laws it is observable 1. That all capitall corporall pecuniaty punishments fines for criminall offence◠〈◊〉 all reliefs services and duties to the King are reduced to a certainty not leâ—t arbitrary to the King his Justices or other Officers for the Subjects greater liberty ease and security 2. That they protect preserve the possessions priviledges persons of the Church and Clergy from all invasion injury violence and disturbance The Raign of this King was very peaceable He first used the broad Seal His Wife was named Editha the vertuous Daughter of an infamous Father Earl Godwin Sicut spina Rosam genuit Godwinus Editham His unnaturall dealing with his good Mother Emma and vertuous Wife Editha in whose breast there was a School of all liberall Sciences saith William Malmesbury cannot be excused For upon a poor surmise of Incontinency with Alwin Bishop of Winchester his Mother in his presence was put to the Ordalium to pass blindfolded between nine glowing Coulters which she did without hurt His refusing carnall copulation with his Queen either out of a vowed virginity as most Historians conclude or out of a detestation of Earl Godwins trayterous race quod Rex religiosus de genere proditoris haeredes qui sibi succederent corrupto semine regio noluerit pâ—â—râ—ari as Ingulphus Matthew Westminster and others record whereby he exposed the Kingdome for a prey to the ambitious pretenders aspiring after it The King after this craved mercy and pardon from his Mother for the infamy and injury done unto her for which he was disciplined and whipped by his Mother and all the Bishops there present The first curing the Kings Evil is referred to him and thence to have continued to his successors Solebat Rex Edwardus divinitus solo tactu sanare strumosos hoc est strumam patientes Est enim srruma morbus quem Itali scrophulaâ— vulgo vocant à scrophis quae ea mala scabie afflictantur Polyd. Virg. Ang. hist. l. 8. Struma gutturis vitium quod nonnulli scrophulam dicunt solo tactu in quam plurimis sanasse dicitur Lil. Ang. Reg. Chronicon He raigned twenty three years and six moneths and died in the Painted Chamber at Westminster He built St Peters Church in Westminster and was there buried In hoc Rege linea Regum Angliae defecit quae à Cerdicio primo Westsaxonum Rege ex Anglis quingentis septuaginta uno annis non legitur interrupta praeter paucos Danos qui peccatis exigentibus gentis Anglorum aliquandiu regnaverunt Harold The second of that name the thirty eighth Monarch of the English men Son of Earl Goodwin a man of excellent parts and approved valour He driven by tempest into Normandy was affianced to Adelizi the Dukes fifth Daughter He covenanted with the Duke to make him successor to Edward in the Kingdome of England Mr. Fox's Acts and Monuments vol. 1. Mr. Cambden in his Brittannia Holinshed Sir Iohn Hayward Sir Richard Baker incline to this opinion that Harold by his might power craft policy usurped and invaded the Crown without any right against his Oath After Edwards death the Duke sent to him to put him in mind of his Covenant and Oath but Harold replied that this Oath being constrained did no way binde The Duke William landing in Sussex to cut off all occasion of return he fired his own Fleet and upon the shore erected a fortress to be if need were a retiring place for his Souldiers Harold and he fighting seven miles from Hastings in Sussex Harold was slain and his Army vanquished His overthrow was a just punishment of God upon him for his perjury He raigned but nine moneths and nine dayes In him was compleated the period of the Saxons Empire in Brittain after they had continued from their first erected Kingdome by Hengisâ— in Kent the space of six hundred and ten years without any interruption saving the small inter-Raigns of three Danish Kings The Normans were a miâ—â— people of Norvegians Suevians and Danes That Province in France was then called Neustria and now Normandy of the name Norman given unto them because they came out of the North parts The Normans laboured by all means to supplant the English and to plant their own language amongst us and for that purpose they both gave us the Lawes and all manner of pastimes in the French tongue as he that will peruse the Laws of the Conquerour and consider the terms of Hawking Hunting Tenice Dice-play and other disports shall easily perceive Lamb's Perambulation of Kent CHAP. XI WILLIAM the first sirnamed the Conqueror RObert Duke of Normandy the sixth in descent from Rollo riding through Falais a Town in Normandy espied certain young persons dancing near the way And as he stayed to view a while the manner of their disport he fixed his eye especially upon a certain Damsell named Arlotte of mean birth a Skinners Daughter who there danced among the rest The frame and comely carriage of her body the naturall beauty and graces of her countenance the simplicity of her rurall both behaviour and attire pleased him so well that the same night he procured her to be brought to his lodging where he begat of her a Son who afterward was named William The English afterwards adding an aspiration to her name according to the naturall manner of their pronouncing termed every unchast Woman Harlot He seized the Crown of England not as conquered but by pretence of gift or adoption aided and confirmed by nearness of bloud and so the Saxon Laws formerly in force could not but continue and such of them as are now abrogated were not at all abrogated by his conquest but either by the Parliaments or Ordinances of his time and of his successours or else by non-usage or contrary custome Mr. Seldens review of his History of Tythes c. 8. see more there He never made the least pretence claim or title to the Crown and Realm of England only as an absolute Conquerour of the Nation but meerly by title as their true and lawfull King by designation adoption and cognation seconded with the Nobles Prelates Clergy and peoples unanimous election And although it be true that this Duke ejected Harold and got actuall possession of the Throne and Kingdome from him by the sword as did Auâ—elius Ambrosius and others before and King Henry the fourth Edward the fourth and Henry the seventh yet that neither did nor could make him a King by conquest only no more than these other Princes seeing the end of this Warre was not against the whole English Nation the greatest part whereof abetted his interest but only against the unjust usurper and intruder King Harold and his adherents Although the Laws of this Kingdome
his Father At a time upon the repulse of a certain suit the Archbishop brake forth into discontentment expostulated sharply against the King and in a humorous heat offered to depart But the King stayed him fell down at his feet desired pardon and promised satisfaction in the best manner that he could The Nobility which were present put the Archbishop in minde that he should cause the King to arise nay answered the Archbishop let him alone let him still abide at St. Peters feet So with much ado he was appeased and entreated to accept his suit By reason of sickness he kept his chamber a long time whereat the French King scoffing said The King of England lyeth long in Childbed Which when it was reported unto King William he answered When I am Churched there shall be a thousand lights in France alluding to the lights that Women used to bear when they were Churched and that he performed within few dayes after wasting the French Frontiers with fire and sword Malmesb. de Wilielmo primo l. 4. Some of the Earls conspiring against him he perceiving his estate to be now brought into no small danger and loath to put all upon the hazard and fortune of a Battell against men so well provided and with desperation armed as a man perplexed entred into consultation with Lâ—nfrancke then Archbishop of Canterbury what course were now best for him to take for the appeasing of these so great and dangerous troubles By whose advice he came to a parl with the English Nobility where after much reasoning and debating of the matter a peace was at length concluded and agreed upon so that the English men laying down their Arms the Conquerour in the presence of the Archbishop Lanfrancke and others took a solemn Oath upon the holy Evangelists and all the reliques of the Churches of St. Albans from thence forth to observe and keep the good and ancient Laws of the Realm which the noble Kings of England his Predecessors had before made and ordained but especially those of St. Edwarâ— of all others supposed to be most equall and indifferent for the geneâ—all good of the people He courteously received and honourably maintained Edgar Etheling in his Court allowing him a pound weight of silver every day to spend a rare example of a victorious Conqueror shewed upon a man so unconstant who twice had broken his Oath of fidelity and dangerous to be so near unto his person being as he was a competitor of his Crown During all his Raign either the sword was not put up into the scabbard or if it were the hand was alwayes upon the hilt ready to draw it So unwilling on the one part were the English men to bear the yoke and so haughty on the other part were the Norman Conquerors that to be called an English man was in their eyes a great concumely insomuch as it made some of the more light-conceited of the English to seek to better their esteem by imitating the Normans both in apparrell and language which among the graver sort bred the Proverb that Jack would be a Gentleman if he could speak French He favoured learned men and drew out of Italy Lanfrancke Anselme Durand Trahern and divers others famous at that time for learning and piety 'T is better with William Hunter than with William the Conqueror 'T is better to have a name in the Book of Martyrs than in the Book of Chronicles Mr. Nortons life of Mr. Iohn Cotton Perceiving his own defects in some points for want of learning he did exhort his children oftentimes to learning with this saying An unlearned Prince is a crowned Ass which speech took great impression in his son Henry This is one speciall honour attributed unto him that from him we begin the Computation of our Kings of England From the Normans bearing of Armes began amongst us Ab eo posteriores series Regum inchoavere perinde acsi de integro ille regnum ipsum instituâ—isset Regesque qui seâ—uti sunt usi similiter sunt ut nunc utuntur insignibus Regiis quae dedisset Polyd. Virg. Ang. hist. l. 9. Nostrates priusquam in Angliam penetrasset Wilielmus primus hunc armorum cultum à Normannis videntur accepisse Spelmanni Aspilegia p. 40. Vide etiam p. 44. He ended his life upon the ninth day of September full both of honour and of age when he had raigned twenty years eight moneths and sixteen dayes in the threescore and fourth year of his age His dead body was not only abandoned but left almost naked upon the ground Being conveyed from Roan where he died to Cane one Fitz Arthur denied the King buriall in the Abbey-Church as ground which was wrongfully taken by the King from his Father till he had a hundred pounds paid him for it Mr. Ienkyn in his Exposition of the Epistle of Iude vers 4. p. 351. saith Of our twenty five Monarchs since the Conquest thirteen taking in three who are thought to be poysoned are said to have had violent and untimely deaths CHAP. XII K. William the second sirnamed Rufus or the Red. KIng William the first took to wife Matilde daughter to Baldwin Earl of Flanders a man for his wisdome and power both reverenced and feared even of Kings but because she was his Cousin-germane he was for his marriage excommunicate by his own Uncle Mauger Archbishop of Roan Hereupon he sued to Pope Victor and obtained of him a dispensation and afterwards so wrought that by a provinciall Counsell his Uncle Mauger was deprived of his dignity This King had by his Wife four sons Robert Richard William and Henry Robert his eldest son sirnamed Courtcuise by reason of the shortness of his thighs succeeded him in the Duchy of Normandy He was a man of exceeding honourable courage and spirit for which cause he was so esteemed by the Christian Princes in the great Warre against the Saracens that when they had subdued the City and Territory of Hierusalem they offered the Kingdome thereof first unto him The King of England to whom the Schola Salernitana was dedicated was this Robert eldest son of the Duke of Normandy which begins thus Anglorum Regi scribit Schola tota Salerni and it seems to be written when this Robert returned out of Palestina into Apulia and by reason of a Fistula from his poysoned wound he had consulted with the School of Salerne concerning it and preserving his health Neither doth that hinder that this Book is written to the King of England but Robert never raigned here for the Kingdome of right belonged to him which his younger Brother William Rufus possessed in his absence and for recovering of that he warred with his Brother but was overcome by him Richard had raised the good expectation of many as well by his comely countenance and behaviour as by his lively and generous spirit But he died young by misadventure
as he was hunting within the New-Forrest before he had made experiment of his worth He was buried at Winchester with this inscription Hic jacet Richardus filius Wilielmi senioris Berniae Dux To Henry the King gave at the time of his death five thousand pounds out of his treasure but gave him neither dignity nor Lands foretelling that he should enjoy the honour of both his Brothers in time and far excell them both in dominion and power He succeeded his Brother William in the Kingdome of England and wrested Normandy out of the possession of Robert When William the first drew near his end he commended the Kingdome of England to his second son William with many blessings admonitions and prayers for his prosperous success He dispatched him unto England with Letters under his own Seal to Lanâ—rancke then Archbishop of Canterbury whose authority was great with the Clergy and people of the Realm It was conjectured by some that the King was guided in this choice no less by his judgment then by his affection because he esteemed the fierce disposition of his son William more fit to govern a people not well setled in subjection then the flexible and mild nature of his eldest son Robert Cambden saith he was berest of the Kingdome of England because he was born before his Father was King Milles gives two reasons why the Conquerour preferred his younger son unto the Kingdome before his eldest Partly for his disloyalty and disobedience and partly doubting lest through the facility of his nature he should give occasion unto the English men to take heart unto them and to rebell against him whereas William his younger Brother was a man of more rough and harsh nature and therefore fitter as his Father thought to bear rule and command over a warlike and new conquered people Sir Iohn Hayward in the life of William the second discusseth that controversie whether Kings may prefer younger sons and quite disinherit elder sons of the Kingdome and resolves it negatively The Glossographer upon the Decrees noteth that the son of a King may be called King during the life of his Father as wanting nothing but administration A little before his Fathers death William journeyed toward England and quickly arrived at the Port called Whitesand where he received the first report of his Fathers death Hereupon with all speed he posted to Lanfrancke delivered his Fathers Letters and forthwith was declared King and not long after was crowned at Westminster His hair was deeply yellow by reason whereof he was called Rufus say Polyd. Virgil and others He doubted of some points of Religion then professed namely of praying to Saints worshipping of reliques and such like He endeavoured to abate the tumorous greatness of the Clergy at that time and attributed not so much to the See of Rome as divers Kings before him had done He restrained his Subjects from going to Rome and withheld the annuall payment of Peter-pence and was often heard to say that they follow not the trace of St. Peter they greedily gape after gifts and rewards they retain not his power whose piety they do not imitate Albeit he promised to the English whilest his first fears and jealousies continued that they should enjoy free liberty of hunting yet did he afterwards so severely restrain it that the penalty for killing a Deer was death During Lanfranckes life he so lived that he might have been a mirrour of Princes though afterwards he gave himself to sensuall lust and covetousness Matthew Paris condemns him much It is reported that when his Chamberlain upon a certain morning brought him a new pair of Hose the King demanded what they cost and the Chamberlain answered three shillings hereat the King grew impatient and said What heavy beast dost thou take these to be convenient Hose for a King Away beggar and bring me other of a better price Then the Chamberlain departed and brought a far worse pair of Hose for a better could not at that time be found and told the King that they cost a mark The King not only allowed them for fine enough but commended them also as exceeding fit He walled the City of London and built the great Hall at Westminster which is two hundred seventy foot in length and seventy four foot in breadth He set forth a Proclamation that none should go out of the Realm without his license by which he drew much money from many From thence the custome or Law of Ne exeas Regno seems to have taken its beginning His usuall Oath was by St. Lukes face Malmesb. Coming to imbarque at Dartmouth the Mariners told him the weather was rough and there was no passing without imminent danger Tush said he set forward I never yet heard of King that was drowned Answerable to that of Iulius Caesar which enforced a poor Pilot in the like case to launch forth and in the rage of the storm comforted him with saying Caesarem Caesaris fortunam veâ—is Charles the fifth in the Battell of Tunis when he was advised by the Marquess of Guasto to retire his person when the great Ordnance began to play said Marquess thou never heardst that an Emperour was slain with a great shot Sir Walter Tyrell aiming at the Deer where the King was hunting within the New-Forrest with an Arrow and looseing his Bow either too carelesly at the Deer or too steadily at the king saith Polydore Virgil struck him therewith full upon the brest The King having so received the wound gave forth a heavy groan and presently fell down dead So much of the Arrow as was without his body was found broken whether with his hand or by his fall it is not certainly known He raigned in great variety of opinion with his Subjects some applauding his vertues others aggravating his vices twelve yeares eleven moneths wanting eight dayes and was at his death forty and three years old Sir Iohn Hayward in his life p. 219. CHAP. XIII King Henry the first sirnamed Beauclerke HE apprehending the opportunity of Duke Roberts absence did forthwith seize upon the treasure of the King and thereby also upon his State and so was crowned at Westminster by Maurice Bishop of London because Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury was then in exile For his learning he was called Beauclerke fair Clerk or fine Scholar brought up in the study of the liberall Arts at Cambridge He was sirnamed Leo justitiae in all Stories one of the most noble Princes that ever raigned in this Realm Sir Thomas Eliots Governour Cambden urgeth this against him as if his justice was by the common people deemed cruelty Cambd. Rem He was excellent in wit eloquent in speech and fortunate in Battell and for these three he had three notable vices covetousness cruelty and lechery Stowes Chron. By his example the young Nobility of the Realm began to affect a praise for learning insomuch as
to say that he had no purpose to keep a wife he must pay for a faculty to keep a wife if he would Quymund his Chaplain observing that unworthy men for the most part were advanced to the best dignities of the Church as he celebrated divine service before him and was to read these words out of St Iames 5. 17. It rained not upon the earth three years and six moneths he did read it thus It rained not upon the earth one one years and five one moneths The King observed this reading and afterwards rebuked his Chaplain for it But Quymund answered that he did it of purpose because such readers were soonest preferred by the King The King smiled and in short time after preferred him to the government of St. Frideswides in Oxford He died in the sixty seventh year of his age when he had raigned thirty five years and four moneths wanting one day He was buried at Reading which he had founded In him ended the line of the Norman Kings as concerning their heirs males after whom came in the French men by the title of the heirs generall CHAP. XIV King STEPHEN VIr solertis ingenii militaris artis peritissimus Polyd. Virg. He was of a comely stature of a good complexion and of body strong very skilfull in martiall affairs gentle courteous and exceeding bountifull not noted for any speciall vice but that upon an ambitious desire to raign he brake his Oath which he had made with Maud the Empress He was a most worthy Souldier and wanted nothing to have made him an excellent King but a just title And therefore hee was driven perforce to defend his usurped Authority by the sword which must needs procure him the hatred of many He was crowned at Westminster upon Saint Stephens day in presence of but three Bishops few of the Nobility and not one Abbot by William Archbishop of Canterbury with great solemnity Having his sword continually out and so many defections and rebellions against him he never put any great man to death Of Roger Bishop of Salisbury in this Kings Raign it is reported that he was so pressed with the miseries of a long imprisonment Vt vivere nolâ—â—erit mori nesciâ—rit That live he would not die he could not In his dayes flourished divers famous learned men but especially Historiographers viz. William of Malmesbury Henry Huntington Simon of Durham Gessrey of Munmouth and others Though his Raign were rough and tempestuous by reason of his perpetuall debates and contests with Maud the Empress and her Son concerning the title yet were there more religious Convents erected in his time then either before or after Although he had continuall Warres yet he required few or no tributes from the people He raigned almost nineteen years lived forty nine and was buried in the Abbey of Feversham in Kent which he had founded The Normans thus expiring give way to the Dynasty of the Plantagenets Before the division of the Houses of Yorke and Lancaster there run on evenly in an unquestionable line eight Kings in this manner 1. Henry the second 2. Richard the first 3. Iohn 4. Henry the third 5. Edward the first 6. Edward the second 7. Edward the third 8. Richard the second Henry the second The first King of this Island sirnamed Plantagenet from Plantagenista so called as some say for wearing a slip or stalk of Broom in his Cap or Hat toward his latter dayes in penance and contrition for his past sins He undertook to go to the holy Sepulchre in the poor and despised habit of a Broom-man and to signifie himself so bore a Broom-stalk in his Cap. Others say it was because he scourged himself with the stalks of Broom which grew upon the Plains where once the holy City stood Bucks Preface to his great Plantagenet Henry Duke of Anjou by his Father Geffery Plantagenet succeeded Stephen in the Kingdome of England by agreement whom he preceded by right as being son and heir of Maud sole daughter and heir of King Henry the first and was crowned at Westminster by Theobald Archbishop of Canterbury and was a greater Prince then any of his Ancestors He was sirnamed Court-mantle because he was the first that brought short Cloaks out of Anjou into England He was wise and learned He never ware Glove except he bare a Hawk on his fist and never sate but at his meat and delighted in hawking hunting riding and in all honest exercises Our English Chronicles do blame him for refusing to take the protection and defence of the distressed Christians in Ierusalem offered unto him by Heraclins the Patriark the troubles that befell him at home are ascribed to that cause In his time there were eleven hundred and fifteen Castles in England He caused them to be demolished He first kept Lions and made of the Arms of Normandy viz. the two Leopards and of the single Lion Aquitain one Coat so Arms for England as it is yet worn He associated his son Henry in the Government an act without example in this Kingdome The young King shewed shortly after That a Crown was no State to be made over in trust At the Feast of his solemnity the King to honour his son would needs carry up the first dish to his Table Roger Archbishop of Yorke standing by and saying merrily to the new King Gaude optime filio non est enim alter in toto orbe Princeps qui talem habeat in mensa administrum What an honour is this to you to have such a waiter at your Table Why saith he what great matter is it for him that was but the son of a Duke to do service to me that am the son of a King and Queen Which the old King hearing began to repent him now it was too late of that he had done He loved women too much especially one Rosamond the fair daughter of Walter Lord Clifford This his Concubine was a very beautifull young Lady of unparalleld wit He usually termed her the Rose of the world his Rose The true Etymology of her name is Rosemouth and seemeth to have been given in regard of her sweetness or colour of the lips or it may have been in recommendation of sweetness and eloquence of speech King Henry had made for her a Labyrinth at Woodstocâ— so that no man or woman might come to her but he that was instructed by the King or such as were right secret with him It was commonly said that at last Queen Elenor came to her by a Clew of Thread or Silk and so dealt with her that she lived not long after But when she was dead she was buried at Godstow in an house of Nunnes beside Oxford In whose Epitaph a Latin Poet not understanding the true Etymology of the name makes Mund which here is mouth to be Mundus and so calls her the Rose of the world Hic jacet in tumba Rosa mundi non
learned himself and was a great Benefactor to the Vniversity of Oxford p. 123 I Queen Jane p. 178 179 Jests witty and merry speeches p. 21 29 35 81 92 158 163 165 166 167 175 176 185 188 207 211 King John p. 93 94 Ironside why so called p. 40 A stout Judge p. 124 125 126 K Kings-Evil when first cured in England p. 51 King of Heralds ordained by whom p. 132 L Laws the best made in the time of Richard the second and Henry the seventh p. 148 155 956 M Queen Mary p. 179 to 183 Murder punished remarkably p. 149 150 N Neote me of the first Divinity-Readers in Oxford p. 17 Normans what p. 53. We re-received our Laws and names of sports from them ib. p. 54 O Offa first gave the Peter-pence to Rome p. 12 Offas Church aud Offas Ditch ib. Oswald p. 9 Oswy ib. p. 9 10 P Parliament the first in the raign of Edward the third p. 111 Parliamentum bonum ib. Parliamentum indoctorum p. 122. Insanum Parliamentum p. 96 Plantagenet whence p. 84 Q Vertuous Queens p. 98 178 179 183 to 200 R Richard the first p. 89. 90 91 92 Richard the second p. 117 to 122 Richard the third p. 146 to 150 Rosamand what it signifies p. 86 87 The comely riding of women when it began in England p. 120 S Saxons a warlike people p. 12. They gave names to many Cities Towns Rivers Woods Fields in Engl. ib. Why Saxon Princes had their Name from a Horse and gave a Horse for their Escucheon p. 4 5 Schola Salernitana dedicated to Robert Son to William the Conqueror p. 67 68 Stephen p. 82 83 Stuart whence p. 200 T Thong Castle why so called p. 4 Tudors why so called p. 150 151 V Great Victory of the English over the French p 112 113 University Colledge in Oxford founded by King Alfred p. 22. There are his Armes in the Hall p. 25 W Earle of Warwick a person of great power in Edward the fourths reign p. 200 Women whether the Rule of Women be lawfull p 179 William the first p. 54 to 66 William the second p. 66 to 73 Wolves how destroyed in England p. 34. Wicklef in the Reign of Edw. the third p. 116 Y Yeomen of the Guard instituted by Henry the seventh p. 151 FINIS Beda to King Ceolwolph Speed his History of Greatbrittain to King Iames. Howe his Annals or Continuation of Stow and Bacons Henry the 7th to your Father when Prince * It was illustrious both in respect of the bright Star which then appeared at high-noon in the presence and sight of all See Stella meridiana also in respect of your near alliance to the greatest â—rinces of Christendom Doway Notes on Iosh. 3. 8. a See Dr Basire of Sacriledge b Montacuâ—ii Antidiatribae ad Diat 1. Bulengeri C Hookers Ecclesiasticall Policy l. 8. It is by divers Charters granted to the Church of Westminster to be locus Coronationis Regis repositorium Regalium Liber Regalis The Sword presents the Princes power the Crown their glory B. Bilson in his Sermon before K. Iames at his Coronation See the 〈◊〉 of Worcester 〈◊〉 Sermon at the Coronation King Iames commâ—ndeth Caesar above all proâ—â—e Writers both for the sweet slowing of thâ— style and the worthiness of the maner it self * Henry the first the fifth the seventh the eighth Edward the first the third the sixth especially who first began our happy Reformation in Religion At the Coronation of King Ioash the High-Priest delivered him the Testimony not only that he might know and do it himself but take care as much as lie in him that it might be known and observed by the people Dr Hardy his Apostolicall Lyturgy revived on 2 King 11. 12. Read the Scriptures diligently and with an humble spirit and in it observe what is plain and believe live accordingly Dr Ier. Taylors Letter to a person newly converted to the Church 2 Sam. 23. 3. a Molinier in his Essayâ—â— All that we beg at the hands of our Superiors is a liberty to worship God according to his word that we may have no thing imposed upon us but what we may be directed in our compliance with by the rule of Scripture we desire that men may not command where God is silent The Examinat of Dr Heylins History of the Reformar of the Church of England Those of the Presbyterian judgement that out of a reall tenderness cannot comply in all particulars will beyond doubt receive from his Majesty such savour and indulgence as may abundantly suffice to their relief Mr L'estrange his Holy Cheat. p. 78. of the 2d Edition See Mr Wheare De Methodâ— legendi Historias pag. 52. Daniel doth very well so far as he goes He is continued by Trussell Historia est testis temporum lux veritatis vita memoriae magistra vitae nuncia vetustatis Cicero l. 2. De Oratore * Regis ad exemplum totus componitur orbis a Aschams Schoolemaster l. 1. p. 20. * It was a very pious care and of singular example in so young a Prince to intend endeavour the reformation of Religion and the Church within his Realms For which even at this day we have cause to acknowledge the good providence of Almighty God in â—aising him up to become so blessed an instrument of his glory and our good BP Sandersons Episcopacy not prejudicial to Regall Power In the time of King Edward there was more I suppose than what one calls it a wambling toward the Genevah Discipline but neither very earnest nor very popular a Annal Tom◠〈◊〉 p. 33. b Whereas the Papists unjustly charge the Protestant Churches with Schism for departing from their Communion it could not but be a great scandall to them to confirm them in that their uncharitable opinion of us if we should utterly condemn any thing as unlawfull because it had been used in the times of Popery or abused by the Papists B. Sanders Epise not prejudiciall to Regall Power c As Father Gilpin and Father Latimer Annal. Rerum Anglicarum parte prima p. 101 102. Mr Lyfords Conscience Informed touching our late Thanksgivings Fox his Acts and Monumenâ— vol. 1. Cambd Brit. Englâ—sh Saxons Saxons eâ—oient tous extremeâ—ent belli queux comme esâ—rit Zosine lâ— plus vaillants renommez de tous les Germanis en grandeur de Courage en forces de â—â—â—ps en patience au â—ravail Histoire Dâ— Angleterre Par Andre Da Chesne l. 6. p. 1â—6 Verstigans Antiq 〈◊〉 tamen in 〈…〉 dominium Hexaâ—châ— ab 〈◊〉 Anglorum 〈◊〉 primordiis 〈…〉 dictum coâ—rcebantur Sold. Analect Angloâ—bris l. 2. â— 4. The first King of Kent became the first Monarch of the English men Camâ—â— Bâ—it English Saxons Histoire 〈◊〉 Angâ—â—t re lar 〈◊〉 â—â—Chesâ—e l 6. p. 1◠〈◊〉 Brit English Saxons Hengist signifieth â— stoned Horse Equus bellicosorum Saxoniae principum antiquissimum insigne pugnaâ—itâ—â—is celeretatis
Honor deliciae Anglorum Malmesbury Or as Ingulphus ter meth him Honor Rosa Regum In his time all Ecclesiasticall Orders flourished learned and vertuous men were highly esteemed all Civil and forrign Warres ceased and he was called the King of Albion being no less powerfull by Sea than by Land Mexia's Treasury of time vol. 2. l. 7. c. 1. He was Angliciorbis flos decus nâ—â—n minus memâ—rabilis â—â—nglis quam Cyrus Persis Romulus Romanis Alexander Macedonibus Arsaces Parthis Carolus Magnus Francis as Malmesbury Abbot Ethelred Florentius Wigorniensis Simeon Dunelmensis Henry Huntingdon Matthew Westminster Râ—ger de Hoveden and others record of him Immediately after his death Res spes Anglorum retro sublapsae sunt totius Regni status est perâ—urbatus post tempus laetitiae quod illius tempore vigebat pacified caepit tribulatio undique advenire as Malmesbury Wigorniensis Hoveden Simeon Dunelmensis and Bromton observe Such an incomparable loss was the death of so just pious and prudent a King to the whole Nation Qui 〈◊〉 vitiâ— posâ—e◠〈◊〉 virtutibus deleviâ— when most others do quite contrary He raigned sixteen yeares and two moneths in great tranquillity and honour and died in the 37th year of his age After Edgar's death the Danes so plagued this Realm that there was nothing setled in it either in Church or State till finally they obtained the Kingdome The Danes raigned in England 25. years But Speed saith they molested England for two hundred eighteen years See Ayscu his Declaration of the first Inhabitants of this Island The Danes by strength caused Husbandmen to ear and sow the land and to do all other vile labour that belonged unto Husbandry and the Dane held his wise at pleasure with daughter and servant When the Husbandman came home he should scantly have of his own as his servants had so that the Dane had all at his commandement and did eat and drink his fill of the best when the owner had scant his fill of the worst Besides this the common people were so oppressed by them that for fear and dread they called them in every such house as they had rule of Lâ—rd Dane But in process of time after the Danes were voided the Land this word Lord Dane was in derision and despight of the Danes turned by English men into a name of reproach called Lurdane which yet is not forgotten for if one English man will rebuke another he will say Thou art but a Lurdane Grafton Edward sirnamed the Martyr The thirty first Monarch of the English men He began his Raign at twelve years of age Adolescens summae sanctitatis frugi ea modestia regnare caepit ut omnibus charissimus esseâ— quippe qui paternas virtutes gnaviter imitabatur Polyd. Virg. Ang. hist. l. 6. The end of this young King was lamentable being stabbed by his Stepmothers treachery when he was drinking a cup of wine on Horseback when he in kindness came to visit her through which wound fainting and falling from his Horse he was dragged to death by his foot intangled in the stirrop He raigned three years and six some say eight moneths CHAP. VIII ETHELRED FOx calls him Egelred or Elred The two and thirtieth Monarch of the English men He was a man neither for ward in action nor fortunate in proceedings and therefore commonly called the unready He defiled the Font at his Baptism with his ordure whereupon Dunstan being troubled in his mind by the Lord said he and his blessed mother this childe shall prove a sloathfull person He was half Brother to King Edward who was treacherously murdered and so much lamented his Brothers murder saith Malmesbury l. 2. c. 10. being then but a childe of ten years old and so detested it that his Mother Elfrida falling therewith in a rage took wax Candles having nothing else at hand wherewith she scourged him so sore well near till he swouned that after the same he could never abide any wax Candles to butâ— befor him Of his Laws vide Lambardum de priscis Anglorum legibus The Danes grew upon him so fiercely that he was forced to purchase his peace from them with great summes of money to the undoing of his poor Kingdome To put a period to this insufferable vassâ—lage a bloudy massacre was executed upon them by the Kings secret Commission on St Brices day but such bruitish courses never find a wished close He most unfortunately raigned thirty seven years and nine dayes Edmund sirnamed Ironside The thirty third Monarch of the English men and the third son to Ethelred He was of personage tall for courage hardy strong of limmes and well could endure the travels of Warre whence some conceive that sirname was given him not for that he used to go alwayes in armour as some would have it He fought with Cnute a royall single duâ—ll first on horseback then on â—oot in the Isle of Olerenge or Olney near Glocester in the midst of Severn in the view of both their Armies with extraordinary courage and equall success till they were both quite tired but neither of them vanquished At last upon Cnuâ—es motion they began to parly in a friendly manner and divided the Realm between them Edmund enjoying that part which lay coasted upon France and Canutus entred upon the rest But Ironside enjoyed not long his part for Duke Edrick a very compound of treasons contrived the end of renowned Edmund who being retired to a place for natures necessity he thrust from under the draught a sharp spear into his body and having thus murthered him he cut off his head presenting it to Canutus with this â—awning salutation All hail thou now sole Monarch of England for herâ— behold the head of thy Co-partner which for thy sake I have adventured to cut off Canutus though ambitious enough of Soveraignty yet abhorring in his heart so detestable a murther and knowing that he who was faithless to his naturall Soveraign would never be faithfull to him a stranger commanded his head to be divided from his shoulders and placed upon the highest gate in London Mors hujus Principis sanè miserabilis fuit tum quod florem ejus aetatis rapuerit tum quod totum regnum in praeceps dederit His Raign continued only seven moneths in which time he fought seven or eight Battels in defence of his Countrey People and their Liberties By his untimely death the Saxonâ—Monarchy â—Monarchy was devolved to the Danes CHAP. IX The Danes Monarchs CANUTUS THe first Danish King raigning in England and the thirty fourth Monarch of the English men He is more truly called Cnute Cui ex magnitudine rerum gestarum magni nomen accessit Krantzii hist. Daniae l. 4. A valiant and prudent Prince This Invader of Ironside's Kingdome the better to secure his Empire against Prince Alfred and Edward Edmunds Brothers married Emma his Queen After this marriage to
establish his Monarchy over England he endeavoured by all means to reconcile the English to him 1. By advancing some of the English Nobility to places of honour and trust 2. By granting to the English equall rights and priviledges with his Danes in consessu in consilio in praelio and advancing them both alike 3. By favouring and inriching the English Clergy and Church-men and manifesting extraordinary piety devotion bounty in repairing building endowing Monasteries and Churches throughout the Realm 4. By easing them of his Danish Forces 5. By ratifying all their former good old fundamentall Laws rights liberties priviledges which they used enjoyed under their Saxon Kings by enacting other good wholsome Laws repealing all unjust Laws and redressing all exactions and grievances A company of flatterers which extolled his greatness and power to be unmatchable he caused to place him in a chair where the Sea ebbs and flowes at South-hampton that by the disobedience of the Tide that would not stop at his command but presumed to dash his royall garments they might learn how low man is at the highest and not to applaud his fortune but fear his fall He acknowledged God alone to be King of this great Element because the Sea is his and he made it The flatterers of Alexander the great made him believe that he was the son of Iupiter but being one day sore hurt and seeing the blood gush out of his wounds What think you of this said he unto them Is not this blood of a lively red hew and meerly humane He was the greatest Prince of power that ever before him raigned over the English people England Denmarke Norway some adde also part of Sweden together with Scotland were wholly subject unto him Filiam suam Imperatori Romano cum ineffabilibus divitiis maritavit Hunting hist. l. 6. In a Parliament at Oxford he made good Laws whereof these were some that concern Religion First For the celebration of divine service it was ordained that all Ceremonies tending to the increase of reverence and devotion should be used as need required Secondly That upon the Sabbath day all publick Fairs Markets Synods Huntings and all secular actions should be forborn unless some urgent necessity should require it Thirdly That every Christian should thrice in the year receive the blessed Sacrament of the Lords Supper Fourthly That a married woman convict of adultery should have her nose and ears cut off Krantzius much extols him as the most famous of the Kings of Denmarke He was a just Prince in all saving his tyranny against the two young Princes the sons of Edmond The lustre of this new erected Monarchy had no sooner displayed its beams in Canutus but like an unthrifty Taper it began to glimmer in Harold and absolutely expired in Hard knute who dying issueless the current of royalty ran back again into the channell of the Saxon bloud which flowed in the veinsâ— of Edward sirnamed the Conâ—essor Philpot's Preface to his Villare Cantianum After he had in great glory reigned about nineteen years he deceased at Shafiesbury in the County of Dorset and was buried in the Church of the old Monastery at Winchester where Queen Emma made her abode ever after Harold The second Danish King raigning in England and the thirty fifth Monarch of the Land He was called Hare-foot by reason of his swiftness Canutus had him by a Concubine a Shoomakers daughter This base son of Cnute dispossessed his legitimate son Harde-Cnute of the Crown of England contrary to Cnutes will and contract banished and spoiled Queen Emma of her treasure and Jewels oppressed the people with taxes and was soon cut off by death without any issue He was an oppresser of his people and vitious He raigned four years and four moneths He was neither in Warres so hardy nor in Government so prosperous as his Father Canutus before him had been Harde-Canute The third Danish King that raigned in England and the thirty sixth Monarch of the English men For his noble courage he was called Harde-Canutus The first great Prince of the house of Burgundy was Philip sirnamed the Hardy His recalling his Mother Emma and half Brother Edward and entertaining them respectively deserves commendation His Epicurism left an ill custome to all posterity Four times a day his Table must be covered to invite men to intemperancy through which at a marriage he is thought to have choaked himself at Lambeth most rejoycing to be rid of him in memory whereof Hock-tide a Feast of scorning or triumphing was a long time continued after The English men learned of him their excessive gormandizing and unmeasurable filling of themselves with meates and drinkes At the death of this King died all rule of the Danes in this Land after they had miserably afflicted the Kingdome for the space of two hundred and forty yeares though in Regall government but only six and twenty under these three last Kings He raigned two yeares lacking ten dayes The Danes ruled in this Land almost thirty yeares and raged without all rule about three hundred and fifty Lamberts Perambulation of Kent CHAP. X. Edward the Confessor THe son of King Ethelred the thirty seventh Monarch of the English men He was born at Islip near unto Oxford and tenderly educated by Queen Emma his Mother and after his Fathers death for safety sent into France He was the last King of the Saxon race Such was the opinion conceived of his holiness of life as that shortly after his decease he was canonized amongst the Saints and named Edward the Confessour To gain the more love of his Subjects at his first entrance he remitted the taxe of forty thousand pounds yearly gathered by the name of Dane-gilt so grevous to the Commons Fertur Edwardus Confessor teste Ingulpho cùm se daemonem vidisse super dcervo Daingeldi exultantem protestatus esset aspectunique exhorruisset collecium illico restitui jussâ—sse retento ne iota uno feram exactionem perpetuum relaxasse Spelmanni Glossarium Danegaldi redditio propter pyratas primitus statuta est Hoved. dnnal pars posrerior p. 603. vide plura ibid. He collected the Laws of his predecessors into a body for the administration of justice which some say are the ground of our Common-Law though the pleading be altered since the Norman conquest He found the Realm governed by three different Laws the West-Saxon Law the Mereian Law and the Dane Law Out of these three Lawes partly moderated and partly supplied he composed one body of Law commonly called St Edwards Laws which were of so great equity that when they were abrogated by the Conquerour and the Crown fell into controversie between Maud the Empress and King Stephen the people alwayes inclined to favour that part who put them in fairest hope of restitution of those Laws And afterwards in many Civil dissensions the greatest demand of the people appeareth to have been the restitution of King