this Isle somewhat answerable to the Greeke names Philippe Speusiprus Ctesippus his brother in like sort was called Horsa HARHOLD Sax. Luther interpreteth it Governour or Generall of an Armie and so would I if it were Harwold But being written Harhold Herold I rather turne it love of the Armie For Hold see Rheinhold For Hare and Here that they signifie both an Armie and a Lord it is taken for granted Yet I suspect this Here for a Lord to come from the Latine Herus See Ethelwold HERBERT Germ. Famous Lord bright Lord or Glorie of the Army HERVVIN ger Victorious Lord or Victor in the Armie HARMAN or Hermon ger Generall of an Army the same which Strato or Polemarchus in Greeke Caesar turned it into Arminius Tscudus Hence the German Dukes are called Hertogen as Leaders of Armies HERCVLES gr Glorie or illumination of the aire as it pleaseth Macrobius who affirmeth it to be proper to the Sunne but hath bin given to valiant men for their glorie HIEROME gr Holy name HILDEBERT germ Bright or famous Lord. See Maud. HILARY Lat. Merrie and pleasant HOVVEL A Brittish name the originall whereof some Britan may finde Goropius turneth it Sound or whole as wisely as he saith Englishmen were called Angli because they were good Anglers I rather would fetch Hoel from Haelius that is Sunne-bright as Coel from Caelius HVâ—H Aventinus deriveth it from the German word Hougen that is slasher or cutter But whereas the name Hugh was first in vse among the French and Oâ—frid in the yeare 900. vsed Hugh for Comfort I iudge this name to be borrowed thence and so it is correspondent to the Greeke names Elpidius and Elpis HVMFREY ger for Humfred House-peace a lovely and happie name if it could turne home-warres betweene man and wife into peace The Italians have made Onuphrius of it in Latine HVBERT Sax. Bright forme faire shape or faire hope HORATIO I know not the Etymologie vnlesse you will derive from the Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is wel sighted J IACOâ— Heb. A tripper or supplanter Whose name because he had power with God that he might also prevaile with men was changed into Israel by God See Genes ca. 32. Philo de nominibus mutatis IAMES Wrested from Iacob the same Iago in Spanish Iaques in French which some frenchified English to their disgrace have too much affected IASPER Iâ—EL See Ybel IOACHIM Heb. Preparation of the Lord. IEREMY Heb High of the Lord. IOAB Heb Fatherhood IOHN Heb Gratious yet though so vnfortunate in Kings for that Iohn of England well neare lost his Kingdome and Iohn of France was long captive in England and Iohn Balioll was lifted out of his Kingdome of Scotland that Iohn Steward when the Kingdome of Scotland came vnto him renouncing that name would be proclaimed King Robert See Iuon IOB Heb. Sighing or sorrowing IORDAN Heb The river of iudgement IOSVAH Heb As Iesuiah Saviour IOSCâ—LIN A diminitive from Iâ—st or Iustus as Iustulus according to Islebius but molefied from Iostelin in the old Netherland language from whence it came with Ioscelin of Lovan yonger sonne of Godfrey Duke of Brabant Progenitour of the honourable Percyes if not the first yet the most noble of that name in this Realme Nicotius maketh it a diminitive from Iost Iudocus IOSEPH Heb. Encreasing Philâ— or encrease of the Lord. IOSIAS Heb. Fire of the Lord. IOSVAH Heb The Lord Saviour INGEIBERT See Engelbert INGRAM Germ Engelramus in Latine deduced from Engell which signifieth an Angell as Angelo is common in Italy so Engelbert seemeth to signifie bright Angell ISAAC Heb Laughter the same which Gelasius among the Greekes ISRAEL Heb. Seeing the Lord or prevailing in the Lord See Iacob IVLIVS gr Soft haired or mossie bearded so doth Iulus signifie in Greeke It was the name of Aeneas sonne who was first called Ilus Ilus erat dum res stetit Ilia regno The old Englishmen in the North parts turned Iulius into Ioly and the vnlearned Scribes of that time may seeme to have turned Iulianus into Iolanus for that name doth often occurre in olde evidences IVON is the same with Iohn and vsed by the Welsh and Sclavâ—nians for Iohn and in this Realme about the Conquerours time Iohn was rarely found but Iuon as I have observed IONATHAN Heb. The same with Theodorus and Theodosius that is Gods gift K KENHELME Sax. Defence of his kinred Hâ—â—m Defence Luther so 〈◊〉 Happy defence Bright-helme Faire defence Sig-â—elme Victorious defence KENARD Sax. Kinde disposition and affection his kinred L LAMBERT Sax As some thinke Faire-lamb Luther turneth it Farre famous LANCELOT seemeth a Spanish name and may signifie a Launce as the militarie men vse the word now for an horseman Some think it to be no auntient name but forged by the writer of king Arthurs historie for one of his doubtie knights LAVRENCE Lat Flourishing like a Baie tree the same that Daphnis in Greeke LAZARVS Hebr Lords-help LEOFSTAN Sax most beloved LEOFVVIN Sax Winlove or to be loved as Agapetus and Erasmus with the Greekes and Amandus with the Latines LEONARD ger Lion-like disposition as Thymoleon with the Greekes or Popularis indoles as it pleaseth Lipsâ—â—s that is People pleasing disposition LEVVIS Wrenched from Lâ—dowike which Tilius interpreteth Refuge of the people LEVVLIN Brit. Lion-like the same with Leominus and Leontius LIONELL Lat Leonellus that is Little-lyon LVKE Hebr Rising or lifting vp LEODEGAR or LEGER geâ—m Gatherer of people Lipsius in Poliorceticis or Altogether popular LEODPOLD ger Defender of people corruptly Leopold In our auncient tongue Leod signified people of one Citie as Leodscip was to them Respublica The northerne Germans have yet Leud in the same sense So Luti Liâ—di Leuti and Leudi as the Dialect varieth signifies people In which sence the Normans in the life of Carolus Magnus were called Nortleud The names wherein Leod are found seeme translated from those Greeke names wherein you shall finde Dâ—mâ—s and Lâ—â—s as Demosthenes that is Strength of the people Dimochares that is Gratious to the people Demophilus that is Lover of the people Nicodemus that is Conqueror of people Lâ—â—medon that is Ruler of people Lâ—odâ—mas that is Tamer of people c. LIVIN germ The same with Amatus that is Beloved Kilianus M MADOC Brit from Mad that is Good in the Welsh as Caradoc from Câ—â—â— that is Beloved The same with Agathias in Greek Dict Walicum MALACHIAS hebr My messenger MANASâ—â— hebr not forgotten MARCâ—LLVâ— lat Plutarch out of Pâ—ssidoâ—ius doâ—â—vetâ— it from Mars as martiall and warlike other from Marculus that is an Hammer The latter times turned it to Martell and Mallet which diverse tooke for a surname because they valiantly didde hammer and beate downe their adversaries See Malmes pag. 54. MARMADVC germ Mermachtig as some coniecture which in olde Saxon signifieth More mightie being sweetened in sound by processe of time A name vsuall in the North but most in former times in the noble
Pace had a sonne at his circumcision named Haly hee would be called Aven Pace concealing Haly but his sonne howsoever hee were named would be called Aven-Haly c. So Surnames passing from father to sonne and coÌ„tinuing to their issue was not antiently in vse among any people in the world Yet to these single Names were adioyned oftentimes other names as Cognomina or Sobriquetts as the French call them and By-names or Nicke-names as we terme them if that word be indifferent to good and bad which still did die with the bearer and never descended to posteritie That we may not exemplifie in other nations which would afforde great plenty but in our own King Eadgar was called the Peaceable king Ethelred the Vnreadie king Edmund for his Valour Iron-side king Harold the Hare-foote Eadric the Streona that is the Getter or Streiner Siward the Degera that is the Valiant King William the first Bastard king William the second Rouse that is the Red king Henry the first Beauclarke that is Fine Scholler so in the house of Aniou which obtained the Crowne of England Geffrey the first Earle of Aniou was surnamed Grisogonel that is Grey-cloake Fulco his sonne Nerra his grand-childe Rechiâ— for his extortion Againe his grand-childe Plantagenet for that he ware commonly a broome-stalke in his bonnet His sonne Henry the second king of England Fitz-Empresse because his mother was Empresse his sonne king Richard had for surname Corde-Lion for his lion-like courage as Iohn was called Sans-terre that is Without land So that wheras these names were never taken vp by the sonne I knowe not why any should thinke Plantagenet to be the surname of the royall house of England albeit in late yeeres many have so accounted it Neither is it lesse strange why so many should thinke Theodore or Tydur as they contract it to be the surname of the Princes of this Realme since king Henry the seaventh For albeit Owen ap Merâ—dith Tydur which married Katharine the daughter of Charles the sixth king of France was grandfather to king Henry the seventh yet that Tydur or Theodore was but the Christian name of Owens grandfather For Owens father was Meredith ap Tydur Ap Grone Ap Tydur who all without Surnames iterated Christian names after the olde manner of the Britaines and other nations heeretofore noted and so lineally deduced his pedegree from Cadwallader king of the Britans as was found by Commission directed to Griffin ap Lewellin Gitteu Owen Iohn King and other learned men both English and Welsh in the seaventh yeare of the said king Henry the seventh Likewise in the line Royall of Scotland Milcolme or Malcolme was surnamed Canmore that is Great head and his brother Donald Ban that is White Alexander the first the Prowde Malcolme the fourth the Virgine William his brother the Lion As amongest the Princes of Wales Brochvail Schitrauc that is Gaggtothed Gurind Barmbtruch that is Spade-bearded Elidir Coscorvaur that is Heliodor the Great house-keeper and so in Ireland Murough Duff that is Blacke 〈◊〉 Roo that is Red Nemoliah that is full of wounds Patric Ban that is White Gavelcâ— that is Fetters To seeke therefore the auntient Surnames of the royall and most antient families of Europe is to seeke that which never was And therefore greatly are they deceived which thinke Valoys to have beene the surname of the late French kings or Borbon of this present king or Habsburg or Austriac of the Spanish king or Steward of the late kings of Scotland and now of BRITAINE or Oldenburg of the Danish For as all know that have but sipped of Histories Valoys was but the Apponage and Earledome of Charles yonger sonne to Philip the second from whome the late kings descended so Borbon was the inheritance of Robert a yonger sonne to saint Lewes of whom this king is descended Habsburg and Austria were but the olde possessions of the Emperors and Spanish Kings progenitours Steward was but the name of office to Walter who was high Steward of Scotland the progenitour of Robert first King of Scots of that family and of the King our Soveraigne And Oldenburg was but the Erledome of Christian the first Danish king of this family elected about 1448. But yet Plâ—â—tagenet Steward Valois Borbon Habsburg c. by prescription of time have prevailed so farre as they are now accounted surnames But for surnames of Princes well said the learned Marcus Salon de Pace Reges cognomiue now vtâ—ntur qâ—â—ia vt Regum familiae agnationes memoriae conserventur 〈◊〉 cognomina non sunt necessaria prout in alijs inferioribus quorum ipsa cognomina agnationum ac familiarum memoriâ—â— tutantur About the yeare of our Lord 1000. that we may not minute out the time surnames beganne to be taken vp in France and in England about the time of the Conquest or else a very little before vnder King Edward the Confessor who was all Frenchified And to this time doe the Scottishmen referre the antiquitie of their surnames although Buchanan supposeth that they were not in vse in Scotland many yeares after But in England certaine it is that as the better sort even from the Conquest by little and little tooke surnames so they were not setled among the common people fully vntill about the time of King Edward the second but still varied according to the fathers name as Richardson if his father were Richard Hodgeson if his father were Roger or in some other respect and from thenceforth beganne to be established some say by statute in their posteritie This will seeme strange to some Englishmen and Scotishmen which like the Arcadians thinke their surnames as ancient as the Moone or at the least to reach many an age beyond the Conquest But they which thinke it most strange I speake vnder correction I doubt they will hardly finde any surname which descended to posteritie before that time Neyther have they seene I feare any deede or donation before the Conquest but subsigned with crosses and single names without surnames in this manner in England Ego Eadredus confirmavi ✚ Ego Edmundus corroboravi ✚ Ego Sigarius conclusi ✚ Ego Olfstanus consolidavi c. Likewise for Scotland in an old booke of Duresme in the Charter whereby Edgare sonne of King Malcolme gave lands neere Coldingham to that Church in the yeare 1097. the Scottish Noblemen witnesses therevnto had no other surnames than the Christian names of their fathers For thus they signed S. ✚ Gulfi filij Mâ—niani S ✚ Culverti filij Donecani S ✚ Olavi filij Oghe c. As for my selfe I never hitherto found any hereditarie Surname before the Conquest neither any that I know and yet both I my selfe and divers whom I know have pored and pusled vpon many an old Record and Evidence to satisfie our selves heerein and for my part I will acknowledge my selfe greatly indebted to them that wil cleare me this doubt But about the time of the Conquest I
backe vnto his flocke Whereuppon the King sent vnto the Pope the armour that he was taken in and willed his Ambassadour to vse the words of Iacobs sonnes vnto their father when they had solde away their brother Ioseph Hanc invenimus vide vtrum tunica filij tui sit an 〈◊〉 This wee found see whether it be the coate of thy sonne or no. Nay quoth the Pope it is not the coate of my sonne nor of my brother but some impe of Mars and let him procure his deliverie of he will for I wil be no meane for him When the French king and king Richard the first beganne to parlee of peace his brother Iohn who had falsely and vnnaturally revolted vnto the French king fearing himselfe came in of his owne accord and suppliantly besought Richard brotherly to pardon his manifolde offences that he had vnbrotherly committed against him hee rehersed the straight league of brotherly piety he recounted the many merits of his brother he bewailed with teares that hitherto he had beene vnmindefull of them as an vnnaturall and vnthankefull person Finally that hee dooth live and shall live hee dooth acknowledge that hee hath received it at his handes The king being mollified with this humble submission saide God graunt that I may as easily forget your offences as you may remember wherein you have offended IN the wofull warres with the Barons when king Iohn was viewing of the Castle of Rochester held against him by the Earle of Arundel he was espied by a very good Arcubalister who tolde the Earle thereof and saide that hee would soone dispatch the cruell tyrant if he would but say the word God forbid vile varlet quoth the Earle that we should procure the death of the holy one of God What saide the souldier he would not spare you if hee had you at the like advantage No matter for that quoth the Earle Gods good wil be done and be wil dispose and not the King Math Paris When one about him shewed him where a noble man that had rebelliously borne armes against him lay verie honourably intoombed and advised the king to deface the monument he said No no but I would al the rest of mine enemies were as honourably buried Idem When diverse Greekes came hither and offered to proove that there were cettaine â—rrours in the Church of England at that time hee reiected them saying I will not suffer our faith established to be called in question with doubtful disputations Fragm antiquum aeditum à P. Pithaeo Yet when the saide king Iohn sawe a fatie Bucke haunched he saide to the standers by See how faire and fatte this Buâ—ke is and yet hee never heard Masse all his life long But this may be forged to his disgrace by the envious Math. Paris IN a solemne conference betweene king Henry the third of England and Saint Lewes king of France the onely devout kings of that age when the French king saide He had rather heare Sermons than heare Masses Our king replied which some will smile at now but according to the learning of that time That he had rather see his loving friend meaning the reall presence in the Sacrament than to heare never so much good of him by others in sermons This I note because it was then thought facetious which I doubt not but some wil now condemne as superstitious Gâ—â—l Rishanger Pecham that Opticall Archbishop of Canterbury who writte Perspectiva Communis when Pope Gregorie the tenth who had created him Archbishop commaunded him to pay foure thousand markes within foure moneths vnder paine of excommunication hee that came vnto the See then deepely indebted saide Beholde you have created me and as a creature doth desire to be perfected by his creator so I doe in my oppressions flie vnto your Holmesse to be recreated Archiep. Cantuar. Sewall Archbishop of Yorke much agrieved with some practises of the Popes collectors in England tooke all patiently and saide I will not with Chaâ— discover the nakednes of my father but cover and conceale it with Sem. As Constantine the Great saide that hee would cover the faults of Bishops and Fathers of the Church with his Imperiall robe Mat. Paris Pope Innocentius the fourth when he offered the kingdome of Sicil and Naples to Richard Earle of Cornewall with many impossible conditions You might as well say de the Earles Agent at Rome say to my Lord and Maister I sell or give you the Moone climbe vp catch is and take it Anonymus qui incipit Rex Pictorum Alexander successor to Innocentius sent vnto the saide Earle Richard to borrow a great masse of money but the Earle answered I wil not lend to my superior uppon whome I cannot distraine for the debts This Richard is reported by the saide Author to have had so great treasure that hee was able to dispend for tenne yeeres an hundred markes a day which according to the Standard of that time was no small summe Idem In the raigne of king Henry a Bishop of London stoâ—â—ly withstoode the Popes Nunciâ— that would have levied exactions of the Cleargie Whereupon the Nâ—â—ciâ— complained vnto the king who shortly menaced the Bishop and tolde him he would cause the Pope to plucke his peacockes toile but the Bishop boldely answered the King that the Pope and he being too strong for him might bereave him of his bishoprick by might but never by right and that although they tooke away his Mitre yet they would leave him his Helmet Lib. Cantuar. Wicked rather than wittie is that of a Deane high treasurer of England that had demeaned himselfe so well in his office that when he died he made this wicked will I bequeathe all my goodes and possessions vnto my liege Lords the King my body to the earth and my soule to the divell Idem VVHen Edward the first heard of the death of his onely sonne hee tooke it grievously as a father but patiently as a wise man But when hee vnderstoode shortely after of the departure of his father king Henry the third he was wholy deiected and comfortlesses whereat when Charles king of Sicile with whome he then soiourned in his returne from the holy land greatly marvelled He satisfied him with this God may send more sonnes but the death of a father is irrecoverable Waâ—singham This is that king Edward the first who as in lineaments of body he surpassed all his people being like Saul higher than any of them so in prudence conioyned with valour and industry he excelled all our Princes giving ther by sure ankerholde to the governement of this realme waving vp and downe before most vncertainely Which hee effected not so much by establishing good lawes as by giving life vnto his lawes by due execution And as my Author saith Iudices potissimùm iudicans quos constituit indices aliorum Who addeth also this of him Nemâ— in consilijs illo argutior in eloquâ—â— torrentiâ—r in periculis socurior in prosperis â—â—utiâ—r in adversis
alienated from Richard the third to speake his minde frankely vnto him in matters of State the Bishoppe aunswered him In good faith my Lord I love not much to talke with Princes as a thing not all out of perill although the words be without fault Forasmuch as it shall not be taken as the partie meant it but as it pleaseth the Prince to construe it And ever I thinke on Aesopes tale that when the Lien had proclaimed that on paine of death there should no horned beast abide in that wood one that had in his forehead a bounch of flesh fledde away a great pase The Foxe that sawe him ruune so fast asked him whither he made all that haste hee answered In faith I neither wote nor recke so I were once hence because of this proclamation made of horned beasts What foâ—le quoth the Foxe thou mayest well enough abide the Lion meant not by thee for it is no horne that is vppon thy head No Mary quoth hee that wote I well enough but what and hee call it an horne where am I then Tho Moore Sir Thomas Rokesby being controlde for suffering himselfe to be served in treene Cuppes answered These homelie cuppes and dishes pay truly for that they containe I had rather drinke out of treene and pay golde and silver than drinke out of golde and silver and make woodden payment VVHen Richard the third was slain at Bosworth and with him Iohn Howard Duke of Norffolke King Henry the seaventh demaunded of Thomas Howard Earle of Surrey the Dukes sonne and heire then taken prisoner how he dâ—rst beare Armes in the behalfe of that tyranne Richard He answered He was my crowned King and if the Parliamentary authority of England sette the Crowne vppon a stocke I will fight for that stocke And as I fought then for him I wiâ— fight for you when you are established by the said authoritie And so hee did for his sonne King Henry the eight at Flodden field Anonymus When Margaret the widdow of Charles the Hardie Duke of Bargundie and sister to king Edward the fourth envying much the happy estate and raigne of Henry the seaventh descended of the adverse family of Lancaster had at sundry times suborned two rascalles to counterfeit the persons of her two brothers sonnes thereby to withdrawe the hearts of his subiects and raise vproares in his realme the king sent over vnto Philippe the Duke of Burgundie doctour Warrham afterward Archbishop of Canterbury to informe him of her treachery This Doctour in the latter â—â—d of his Oration thus nipped the seditious Dutchesse That within few yeeres after shee was past threescore yeeres of age she had brought foorth two monsters Lambert and Peter and not in the nine and tenth moneths as women naturally doe but in the hundred and fourescore moneth for they were both about fifteene yeeres of age when shee brought them abroade as it were out of her belly neither were they Crisomers but such childe-choppers that as soone as ever they were borne they were able to wage warre with a mighty King Th More The earle of Kildare being charged before king Henry the seaventh for burning the Metropolitane Church of Cassilles in Ireland and many witnesses procured to avouch the trueth of the Article against him hee sodainely confessed it to the great wondring and detestation of the Counsell Then it was looked how he should iustifie that fact By Iesus quoth hee I would never have done it if it had not beene tolde me that the Archbishop had beene within it And because the Bishop was one of the busiest accusers present merrily laughed the king at the plainnesse of the man to see him alledge that intent for excuse which most of all did aggravate his fault When among many articles the last article exhibited by the Irish against that Earle of Kildare the last was Finally All Ireland cannot rule this Earle Then quoth the King shall this Earle rule all Ireland and shortly after hee made him Deputie thereof When one reprooved King Henry the seaventh for his slownesse in making warres on those that wronged him he answered If we Princes should take every occasion that is offered vs the worlde should never be quiet but wearied with continuall warres When a Gentleman none of the wisest tolde King Henry the seaventh that hee found sir Richard Grâ—ftes who was made Banneret at the battell of Stoke to be a very wise man The King answered Hee doubted not that but marvelled much how a foole could knowe a wiseman It hâ—ppened that there was fallen in communication the story of Ioseph how his maister Putiphars wife a great mâ—n with the King of Aegipt would have pulled him to â—eâ—bâ—d â—nâ— he fled away Now Maister Mâ—â—o hee was the King Almoner quoth king Henry the seaventh You be a tall strong man on the one side and a cunning Doctor on the other side what would you have done if you had not beene Ioseph but in Iosephs steade By my troth fir quoth he and it like your Grace I cannot tell what I would have done but I can tell you what I should have done Tho Moore The Lady Margaret Countesse of Richmond mother to king Henry the seaventh a most worthy Patronesse of good Letters would often say On the condition that Princes of Christendome would combine themselves and march against the common enemy the Turke shee would most wilâ—ingly attend them and be their Laundresse in the campe There was a poore blind man in Warwick-shire that was accounted verie cunning in prognosticating of weather vpon a day Empson a great lawier as hee road that way sayd in scorne of his cunning I pray you tell me father when doth the Sunne change The chafed old man that knew his corrupt conscience answered when such a wicked Lawier as you goeth to heauen Doctor Collet the Deane of Paules said that if the Clergie were naught the Laitie were worse for it could not otherwise be but the laye men must ever be one degree vnder the Clergie for surely it can be no 〈◊〉 that our Sauiour sayth himselfe who sayth of the Cleargie that they be the salt of the earth and if the salt once appall the world must needes waxe vnsauerie and he sayeth that the Clergie bee the light of the world and then sayeth he if the light bee darkened how darke will then the darkenesse be that is to wit all the world beside whereof he calleth the Clergie onely the light Cardinall Wolsey his teeth watering at the rich Bishopricke of Winchester sent one vnto Bishop Foxe who had advaunced him vnto the kings service for to move him to resigne the Bishopricke because extreame age had made him blind the which message and motion Foxe did take in so ill part that he willed the messenger to tell the Cardinall thus from him that although olde age bereaving me of sight I know not white from blacke yet I can discerne truth from falshoode and right from wrong yea and that now I
of Flaunders nephew to this King William the Conquerour sonne to Robert who vnhappy in his state loosing the hope of the Kingdome of England dying of a wound in his hand was not altogether vnhappy in his Poet which made him this Epitaph Vnicus ille ruit cuius non terga sagittam Cuius nosse pedes non potuere fugam Nil nisi fulmen erat quoties res ipsa mouebat Et si non fulmen fulminis instar erat King Henry the first for his learning surnamed Beauclerc had this flatterng Epitaph as Poets could flatter in all ages Rex Henricus obit decus olim nunc dolor orbis Numina flent numen deperijsse suum Mercurius minor eloquio vi mentis Apollo Iupiter imperio Marsque vigore gemunt Anglia quae curá quae sceptro Principis huius Ardua splenduerat tam tenebrosa ruit Haec cum rege suo Normania cum Duce marcet Nutrijt haec puerum perdidit illa virum Of him also another composed these in respect of his peaceable gouernment and the troubles which ensued vnder King Stephen both in England and Normandie Anglia Iugeat hinc Normannica gens fleat illinc Occidit Henricus modò lux nunc luctus vtrique Vpon William sonne of King Henry the first and heire apparent of this Realme drowned vpon the coast of Normandie I haue found this Epitaphe Abstulit hunc terrae matri maris vnda nouerca Proh dolor occubuit Sol Anglicus Anglia plora Quaeque priùs fueras gemino radiata nitore Extincto nato viuas contenta parente But well it was with England in that he was so preuented which threatned to make the English draw the Plough as Oxen. Hypodigma Mawd daughter to the foresaid King wife to Henry the Emperour mother to King Henry the 2. who intitled her selfe Empresse Augusta for that she was thrice solemnly crowned at Rome as R. de Diceto test fieth Anglorum Domina because she was heire apparent to the crowne of Englād was very happy in her Poet who in these 2. funerall verses contained her princely parentage match issue Magna ortis maiorque viro sed maxima partu Hic iacet Henrici filia sponsa parens Alberic Vere graundfather to the first Earle of Oxford and his sonne William were buried together Anno 1088. with this Epitaphe at Colne where he was founder afterward Monke as it is in the Annales of Abingdon En puer en senior pater alter filius alter Legem fortunam terram venêre sub vnam In which the maker seemed to imitate that of Conrad the Emperour at Spires in Germany Filius hîc pater hîc annus hî proauus iacet istic Thomas Beket Arch-bishop of Canterbury had these Epitaphes expressing the cause the time place of his death made by his especiall fauourer Pro Christi sponsa Christi sub tempore Christi In templo Christi verus amator obit Quinta dies natalis erat flos orbis ab orbe Carpitur et fructus incipit esse poli Quis morritur praesul cur pro grege qualiter ense Quando natali quis locus ara Dei For Theobald of Bloys Earle of Champaine nephew to King Henry the first Giraldus Cambrensis Bishop of S. Dauids in Walles made this Ille comes Comes ille pius Theobaldus eras quem Gaudet habere polus terra carere dolet Non hominem possum non audeo dicere numen Mors probat hunc hominem vita fuisse Deum Trans hominem citraque Deum plus hoc minus istud Nescio qui◠neuter inter vtrumque fuit Vitalis Abbot of Westminster which died in the time of the Conquerour had this Epitaph Qui nomen traxit a vita morte vocante Abbas Vitalis transijt hicque iacet And for Lawrence Abbot of the same place which died 1176. was made this alluding to his name Pro meritis vitae dedit isti Laurea nomen Detur ei vitae laurea pro meritis These two happely may finde as much fauour with some if one word do not preiudice as that auncient one of Floridus so highly commended Quod vixi flos est seruat lapis hic mihi nomen Nolo Deos manes flos mihi pro titulo Geruays de Bloys base sonne to King Stephen and Abbot also of the same church was buried with the foresaid in the cloyster with this De Regum genere pater hic Geruasius ecce Monstrat defunctus mors rapit omne genus William de Albeney Erle of Arundel and Butler to the King was buried at Wimodham which he founded with this Hunc Pincerna locum fundauit hîc iacet alla Quae dedit huic domui tam sine fine tenet That mighty Monarch King Henry the second which by his owne right adioyned Anioy Maine and Tourain by his wife Aquatine Poyctov and by conquest Ireland to the Crowne of England and commanded from the Pyrene mountaines to the Orcades had this Epitaph according to his greatnesse Rex Henricus eram mihi plurima regna subegi Multiplicique modo Duxque Comesque fui Cui satis ad votum non essent omnia terrae Climata terra modo sufficit octo pedum Qui legis haec pensa discrimina mortis et in me Humanae speculum conditionis habe Sufficit hic tumulus cui non suffecerat orbis Res breuis ampla mihi cui fuit ampla breuis Rosamond the faire his paramour daughter to Walter Lord Clifford and mother to William Longspee the first Earle of Sarisbury aeternised by maister Daniels muse had this nothing answerable to her beauty Hac iacet in tumba rosa mundi non Rosamunda Non redolet sed olet quae redolere solet William Longspee Earle of Sarum base sonne to King Henry the second by this Lady had an Epitaph not vnlike to that of his mother Flos comitum Willielmus cognomine longus Ensis vaginam caepit habere breuem The glory of that magnanimous and lionlike prince king Richard the first renowned for his Conquest of Cyprus The king whereof he tooke and kept in setters of siluer and for his great exployts in the holy land stirred vp the wits of the best Poets in that age to honor him with these Epitaphs which follow when he was slaine in viewing the Castle of Chaluz in Limosin Hic Richarde iaces sed mors si cederet armis Victa timore tui cederet ipsa tuis Another also writt of him Istius in morte perimit formica leonem Proh dolor in tanto funere mundus obit An English poet imitating the epitaph made of Pompey his children whose bodies were buried in diuerse contries made these following of the glory of this one king deuided in three places by his funerall Viscera Carccolum corpus fons seruat Ebrandi Et cor Rothomagum magne Richarde tuum In tria diuiditur vnus qui plus fuit vno Non vno iaceat gloria tanta loco At Font Euerard where
matched in our age which was written in the time of King Henry the 6. ouer the entrance into the Reccipt at Westminster to admonish accontants to be circumspect in entring as Ianus with his two heads and as vigilant in ending Exchequer accounts as Argus with his hundred eyes Ingrediens Iani rediture sis aemulus Argi. RYTHMES RIming verses which are called Versus Leonini I know not wherefore for a Lions taile doth not answere to the middle parts as these verses doe began in the time of Carolus Magnus and were onely in request then and in many ages following which delighted in nothing more then in this minstrelsie of meeters I could present you with many of them but few shall suffice when as there are but few now which delight in them In the praise of Miles Earle of Hereford was this penned in respect he was both martiall and lettered Vatum ducum gloria Milo cuius in pectore Certant vires studia Certat Hector cum Nestore Virtutum priuilegia Mente geris corpore Teque coronat arbore Mars Phoebi Phabus propria Walter de Mapes Archdeacon of Oxford who in the time of King Henry the second filled England with his meriments confessed his loue to good liquor with the causes in this maner Mihi est propositum in taberna mori Vinum sit appositum morientis ori Vt dicant cùm venerint Angelorum chori Deus sit propitius huic potatori Poculis accenditur animi lucerna Cor imbutum nectare volat ad superna Mihi sapit dulcius vinum in taberna Quà m quod aqua miscuit praesulis pincernn Suum cuique proprium dat natura munus Ego nunquam potui scribere iciunus Me iciunum vincere posset puer vnus Sitim iciunium odi tanquam funus Vnicuique propriumdat natura donum Ego versus faciens vinum bibo bonum Ft quod habent melius dolia cauponum Tale vinum generat copiam sermonum Tales versus facio quale vinum bibo Nihil possum scribere nisi sumpto cibo Nihil valet penitus quod iciunus scribo Nasonem post caelices carmine praeibo Mihi nunquam spiritus prophetiae datur Nisi tunc cùm fuerit venter bene satur Cum in arce cerebri Bacchus dominatur In me Phoebus irruit ac miranda fatur The infirmity and corruption of our nature prone to sensuality he acknowledgeth thus Via lata gradior more iuuentutis Implico me vitijs immenor virtutis Voluptatis auidus magis quam salutis Mortuus in anima curam gero cutis Mihi cordis grauitâs res videtur grauis Iocus est amabilis dulciorque fauis Quicquid Venus imperat labor est suauis Quae nunquam in mentibus habitat ignauis Quis in igne positus igni non vratur Quis in mundo demorans castus habeatur Vbi Venus digito iuuenes venatur Oculis illaqueat facie praedatur This lustie priest when Pope Innocent the third forbade the Clergie their wiues became Proctor for himselfe and them with these verses desiring onely for his fee that euery priest with his sweet hart would say a Pater noster for him Prisciani regula penitùs cassatur Sacerdos per Hic et Haec olim declinatur Sed per Hic solummodo nunc articulatur Cum per nostrum praesulum Haec amoueatur Ita quidem presbyter caepit allegare Peccat criminaliter qui vult seperare Quod Deus iniunxerat faeminam amare Tales dignum duximusâ—fures appellare O quam dolor anxius quà m tormentum graue Nobis est dimittere quoniam suaue O Romane pontifex statuisti prauè Ne in tanto crimine moriaris caue Non est Innocentius immò nocens verè Qui quod facto docuit studet abolere Et quod olim inuenis voluit habere Modò vetus pontifex studet prohibere Gignere nos praecipit vetus Testamentum Vbi nouum prohibet nusquam est inuentum Praesul qui contrarium donat documentum Nullum necessarium his dat argumentum Dedit enim dominus maledictionem Viro qui non fecerit generationem Ergo tibi consulo per hanc rationem Gignere vt habeas benedictionem Nonnè de militibus miliâ—es procedunt Et reges à regibus qui sibi succedunt Per locum à simili omnes iura laedunt Clericos qui gignere crimen esse credunt Zacharias habuit prolem â—t vxorem Per virum quem genuit adeptus honoreâ— Baptizâ—uit enim nostrum saluatorem Pâ—reat qui teneat nouum hunc errorem Paulus caelos rapitur ad superiores Vbi multas didicit res secretiores Ad nos tandem rediens instruensque mores Suas inquit habeat quilibet vxores Propter haec et alia dogmata doctorâ—â— Reor est mâ—lius et magis decorum Quisque suam habeat et non proximorum Ne incurrat odium iram eorum Proximorum faeminas filias neptes Violare nefas est quare nil deceptes Verè tuam habeas haâ— delâ—â—les Diem vt sic vltimum tutius expectes Ecce iam pro clericis multum allegaui Nec non pro presbiteris plura comprobaui Pater noster nunc pro me quoniam peccaui Dicat quisque presbiter cum sua suaui Mery Michaell the Cornish poet piped this vpon his pipe for mery England but with a mocking compassion of Normandy when the French vsurped it in the time of K. Iohn Nobilis Anglie pocula prandia donat et aera Terra iuuabilis et sociabilis agmine plena Omnibus vtilis Anglia fertilis est et amaena Sed miserabilis et lachrimabilis absque cateruà Neustria debilis et modo flebilis et quia serua He begged his exhibition of King Henry the third with this distich Regie rector miles vt Hector dux vt Achilles Te quia sector melle â—vector mel mihi stilles The same Michael highly offended with Henry of Aurench the kings Poet for disgracing Cornwall thought to draw bloud of him with these bobbing times Est tibi gamba capri crus passeris et latus apri Os leporis catuli nasus dens et gena muli Frons vetulae tauri caput et color vndique Mauri His argumentis quaenam est argutia mentis Quod non a monstro differs satis hic tibi monstro If you please to heare a solemne plea at Reasons barre betweene the Eye the Heart runne ouer this which a contriman of ours made in time of king Henry the 3. Quisquis cordis et oculi Non sentit in se iurgia Non nouit qui sunt stimuli Quae culpae seminaria Causam nescit periculi Cur alternant convitia Cur procaces aemuli Replicent in se vitia Cor sic affatur oculum Te peccati principium Te fontem te stimulum Te mortis voco nuntium Tu domus meae ianitor Hosti non claudis ostium Familiaris proditor Admittis aduersarium Nonnè fenestra diceris Quod mors intrat ad
Vale Vale Salue anima nos eo ordine quo natura iusserit sequemur With H. M. H. N. S for Hoc monumentum haeredes non sequitur When they would not haue their heires entombed therein with Rogo per Deos superos inferosque ossa nostra ne violes And most commonly with Sit tibi terra leuis in these notes S. T. T. L. And somtime with Quietem posteri non inuideant But omitting this discourse I will offer vnto your view a Century of choise Epitaphes of our nation for matter and conceit some good some bad that you may see how learning ebbed and flowed most of them recouered from the iniury of time by writers And will beginne with that at Rome as most auncient erected to the memory of a Britanne who after the maner of the time tooke a Romane name M. VLPIO IVSTO Q. SIG. AVG. MILITAVIT AN. XXV VIXIT XLV NATIONE BRITTO â—EC M. VLSIVS RESPECTVS VEH. AVG. AMICO OPTIMO DE SE BENE MERENTI Arthur the valerous vpholder of the ruinous state of Britaine against the Saxons about the yeare 500. was buried secretly at Glastenburie least the enimie should offer indignity to the dead body and about 700. yeares after when a graue was to be made in the Churchyard there a stone was found betweene two Pyramides deepe in the ground with a crosse of lead infixed into the lower part thereof and inscribed in the inner side of the crosse in rude Characters which the Italians now call Gotish letters HIC IACET SEPVLTVS INCLYTVS REX ARTVRIVS IN INSVLA AVALONIA Vnder which in a trough of Oke were found his bones which the Monkes translated into the church and honoured them with a tombe but dishonored him with these horne pipe verses Hic iacet â—rturus flos regum gloria regni Quem morum probitas commendat laude perenni Augustine the first Archbishop of Canterbury who first preached Christ to the English nation conuerted the Kentishmen reuiued Christianity in this Isle which flourished among the Britaines many years before his coÌ„ming was buried at Canterbury in S. Peters Porch with this Epitaph Hic requiescit dominus Augustinus Dorobernensis Archiepiscopus primus qui â—lim huc a beato Gregorio Remanae vrbis pontifice directus a Deo operatione miraculorum suffultus Aethelbertum regem ac gentem illius ab idolorum cultu ad Christi fidem perduxit completis in pace diebus officij sui defunctus est septimo Kalendas Iunias eodem rege regnante In the same place were interred the sixe succeeding Archbishops for whom and Augustin making the seauenth were these verses as coÌ„mon to them all written on the wall with this title as I finde them in Geruasius Dorobernensis Septem primae ecclesiae Anglorum columnae Augustinus Laurentius Mellitus Iustus Honorius Deus-dedit Theodorus Septem sunt Anglis primates protopatres Septem rectores caelo septemque triones Septem cisternae vitae septemque lucernae Et septem palmae regni septemque coronae Septem sunt stellae quas haec tenet area cellae But Theodore the last of the 7. which first taught Greeke in England and died in the yeare 713. had this seuerally inscribed vpon his tombe Scandens alma nouae foelix consortia vitae Ciuibus Angelicis iunctus in arce poli Cedwall King of the West Saxons went to Rome in the yeare 689. there being Baptized renounced the world ended his life and lieth buried with this Epitaph Culmen opes sobolem pollentia regna triumphos Exuuias proceres mania castra lares Quaeque patrum virtus quae congesserat ipse Caedwal armipotens liquit amore Dei With some more which you may see in Paulus Diaconus and Beda King Eadgar surnamed the Peaceable the great patron and fauourer of Monkes deserued well for his foundation of so many Abbayes this Epitaph Autor opum vindex scelerum largitor honorum Sceptriger Eadgarus regna superna petit Hic alter Salomon legum pater orbita pacis Quòd caruit bellis claruit inde magis Templa Deo templis monachos monachis dedit agros Nequitiae lapsum iustitiaeque locum Nouit enim regno verum perquirere falso Immensum modico perpetuumque breui To the honor of King Alfred a godly wise and warlike prince and an especiall aduancer of learning was made this better then that time commonly afforded Nobilitas innata tibi probitatis honorem Armipotens Alfrede dedit probitasque laborem Perpetuumque labor nomen cui mixta dolori Gaudia semper erant spes semper mixta timori Si modò victor eras ad crastina bella pauebas Si modó victus eras in crastina bella parabas Cui vestes sudore iugi cui sica cruore Tincta iugi quantum sit onus regnare probarunt Non fuit immensi quisquam per climata mundi Cui tot in aduersis vel respirare liceret Nec tamen aut ferro contritus ponere ferrum Aut gladio potuit vitae finisse labores Iam post transactos vitae regnique labores Christus ei sit vera quies et vita perennis It is meruailous how immediately after this time learning decayed in this Kingdome for Iohn Erigena alias Scotus fauoured of Charles the Bald King of France and the forsaid King Alfred for his learning when he was stabbed by his schollers at Malmesbury was buried with this rude rough and vnlearned verse Clauditur in tumulo Sanctus Sophista Iohannes Qui ditatus erat iam viuens dogmate miro Martyrio tandem Christi conscendere regnum Quo meritis regnant sancti per secula cuncti And from this time learning so lowe ebbed in England that betweene Thames Trent there was scant one found which could vnderstand Latin and that you may perceiue when as Hugolin Treasurer to King Edward the Confessor had these most sillie verses in grauen vpon his monument in the olde Chapter house of Westminster Qui ruis iniustè capit hic Hugoline locus te Laude pia clares qnia martyribus nece clares But shortly after the Conquest learning reuiued as appeareth by these that follow which were cast in a more learned mould than the former King William surnamed the Conqueror for his conquest of England was buried at Caen in Normandie with this Epitaph discouered in the late ciuill warres of France but mentioned in Gemeticensis Qui rexit rigidos Normannos atque Britannos Audacter vicit fortiter obtinuit Et Caenomanenses virtute contudit enses Imperijque sui legibus applicuit Rex magnus parua iacet his Gulielmus in vrna Sufficit magno paruae domus domino Ter septem gradibus se voluerat atque duobus Virginis in gremio Phoebus et hic obijt Vpon Stigand Archbishop of Canterbury degraded for his corruptioÌ„ I finde this most viperous Epitaph in an olde Manuscript Hic iacet Herodes Herode ferocior huius Inquinat infernum spiritus ossa solum William the Valiant Earle