of Warin fitz-Gerald a sonne called Baldwin the third Earle of Deuon who changed his anncesters Escuchion from a griffon golde in a field gules vnto a shield golde charged with a Lyon azure He had issue two children Baldwin the last Earle of this familie and Isabell that was maryed to William de Fortibus Earle of Albemarle and of Deuonshire in her right Pag. 144. HEre doe you wrong this discent of the Earles of Deuonshire making Baldwin Ryuers to be the first Earle of Deuonshire and Lord of Twyfferton and Plympton in king Henry the first his time when as it is very manifest that Richard Ryuers father of this Baldwin was the same person vnto whome king Henry the first gaue Twifferton Plimpton and the yle of Wight with the Earledome of Deuonshire and not to Baldwin his sonne whome you name as is very well prooued by the booke of Brightley and Forde where those of that familie doe lye buryed as also by your owne Testimonie against your selfe in the tittle of Iles in your booke Pag. 710. Secondly to your affirmation that Baldwin the third Earle of Deuon did change his Auncestors Escucheon gules a griffon gold vnto a shield golde a Lyon azure I answere it is a fault in a meane person to be founde vntrue in his reportes much more in you to publish in print such an vntrueth as this for you can not euer prooue the said shielde gules with the griffon golde to haue bene borne or vsed by any of the said familie or any other Armes at all of theirs can you shewe vntill that Baldwin the third did vse for his Armes the foresaid Lyon azure vpon golde Thirdly because in the beginnning of this succession of Earles of Deuon you abridged vs of the first now to make amendes for the same and to fill vp the number againe you doe here name for an Earle of Deuon William de Fortibus who neuer as yet attayned vnto that dignitie And therefore no reason why you should thus adde or substracte to or from noble persons dignities at your pleasure But here peraduenture yee will say Isabel the wife of the aforenamed William de Fortibus did in her widowhood write her selfe Countesse of Albermale and Deuon and Lady of the I le which if I graunt vnto that she did it was in respect that she was the onely heire then left aliue of that honorable familie and yet will not that make a necessitie that her husband must be Earle of Deuon THe Barony of Stoke-Curcy was so named of the Lordes thereof It was the seate of William Curcy that was Sewer vnto king Henry the first He had issue William whose daughter Auice was wife to Warin Fitz-Gerald and their daughter and heire was maryed to Baldwin Riuers Earle of Deuon Of this familie of Curcies did discend Iohn Curcie which by warlike force ouercame Vlster in Ireland Pag. 157. YOur errors here committted are these first you make William de Curcy that was Sewer to K. Henry the first to haue issue a sonne named William which is vntrue for that he dyed without issue and left Robert de Curcy his brother his heire Secōdly you say the said Williā de Curcy had a grand-childe by his sonne William called Auice maryed to Warrin Fitz-Gerald who had issue a daughter and heire maryed to Baldwin Earle of Deuon In which you are also deceiued For the first William as I saide before had not any issue at all and therefore no such grand-childe And where you affirme the said Warin Fitz-Gerald to haue issue by Auice his wife but one onely daughter it is manifest that he had issue a sonne named Warin Fitz-Gerald who had issue the third Warin Fitz-Gerald But for your better instruction herein and to correct this your errour I will set you downe the truth of this discēt as followeth Robert de Curcy a great Baron and Councellour vnto William Rufus had issue two sonnes William and Robert William the eldest sonne dying without issue Robert his brother succeded him in his dignitie and was a witnesse to the Charter of king Stephen of landes that hee gaue to the Abbay of Westminster by the name of Robert de Curcy the kings Sewer After whose death Robert de Curcy his eldest sonne Sewer to king Henry the second being slaine in Ireland without anie issue William the seconde sonne succeeded and was a witnesse to the Charter of king Henrie the second of landes and liberties that he gaue to Saint Peters at Westminster He had issue Iohn de Curcy gouernour of Vlster in Ireland in the time of king Iohn who hauing no issue left his rich patrimonie to Alice or Auice his sister then the wife of Warin Fitz-Gerald which Warin was a witnesse to the Charter of king Iohn of his submission to the Pope 1212. Hee had issue by his said wife the second Warin Fitz-Gerald Lord of Harewood father to the third Warin THe greatest glorie of Bridgewater was that king Henrie the seuenth honoured it with the title of an Earldome by making Giles Dawbeney Gentleman of his Chamber Earle thereof whose onely daughter and heire was maried to I. Bourchier the first earle of Bath of that familie Pag. 161. IF the making of Gentlemen heretofore hath beene greatly misliked by her Maiestie in the kinges of Armes much more displeasing I thinke it will be to her that you being no Officer of Armes should erect make and put downe Earles and Barons at your pleasure publishing in print falslie their admittance or depriuation as in this place you haue done making Giles Dawbeney to be created Earle of Bridgewater by King Henrie the seuenth when as the said King neuer aduaunced him nor any other to that dignitie neither was the said Giles euer anie Earle during his life And therefore here haue you no great cause to boast of your skill in Heraldie But to pleasure you I will bring you to the marke whereat your vnaduised penne hath roued which is to Henrie Dawbeney whome king Henrie the eight on the 21. day of Iulie in the 30. yeare of his reigne did at his Mannor of Ocking create Earle of Bridgewater which Henry was both the first and last that euer caried that title of dignitie and died without issue All which I hope you will confesse to bee true and acknowledge your fault HVngerford was a familie of great account euer since the time of King Edward the third for Thomas Hungerford was grandfather to Walter Lord Hungerford Treasurer of England Which Walter enriched his familie by marying Katherin Peuerell she being descended from the Moyles and Courtneys His son Robert also enlarged the same more by marying with Eleonore the daughter and heire of William Lord Mollins who was beheaded at New-castle in the ciuill warres betwixt the families of Lancaster and Yorke He had issue Thomas that was slaine at Salisbury in the life of his father yet left hee issue one sole daughter called Marie that was
the Parliament Anno 25. of Henry the sixt by the name of Robert Lord Mollens And after the death of the forenamed Walter the said two Roberts were both at one time of the Parliament Anno 29. of Henry the sixt the father by the name of Robert Lord Hungerforde senior and the sonne by the Name of Robert Hungerforde Lord Mollens Iunior Which I take to be so strong a proofe as vpon the sight hereof you will recant and subscribe to the same VVIdehay was the auncient seate of the Barons Saint Amend whose inheritance and dignitie came to Gerald Braybrooke in right of his wife And Elizabeth his grand-child by Gerald his sonne transported the same to William de Beauchampe who left issue but one onely sonne which was a bastard Pag. 207. VVHat an vngodly course is this you take to depriue noble men both of their honor and honestie framing to some vnnaturall mariages falsifying the discentes of other and making legitimate heires illegitimate which abuses by reason of my oath taken at my creation I may not let passe without telling you thereof Vnderstand therefore that where you affirme William Beauchamp Lord Saint Amond who maryed Elizabeth grand-childe to Gerald Braybrooke to haue issue one onely sonne and he a Bastard therein doe you greatly both wrong and scandalize him for he had in lawfull matrimonie by his said wife Richard Beauchamp Lord Saint Amond his legitimate sonne that succeeded him in the dignitie of Saint Amond and maryed Anne the daughter of Sir Walter Wrotesley knight And therefore very vntruely haue you charged the said William to haue had any such Bastard THe Barons of Windsore tooke their original from William the sonne of Other that was Constable or keeper of Windsore Castle in the time of king William the first from whome also are discended the Fitz-Geraldes in Ireland Earles of Kildare and Desmond as Robert Glouer called Somerset the most studious and skilfull in Heraldie of all that societie hath proued Pag. 213. HEre would you impeache the credite of that worthie Officer of Armes Robert Glouer in making him the Authour of your imagined dreames he hauing vnder his owne hand in the Petigree of the honorable Lord Windsor both denyed that William de Windsor was sonne to Other keeper of the Castle of Windsor as also that the Earle of Kildare and Desmond were discended from the said William By which your vntrue misse-alledging the said Somersets workes to serue your turne you shewe your selfe very vngratefull towardes him out of whose bookes in the custodie of the late Lorde Treasorer you gathered the flowers wherewithall you haue made your vnperfect garland which you in your last edition so much haue boasted of But here would I not that you or any other should misconceaue my meaning that I thinke or iudge Somerset Herald hath written or set downe in his said bookes any of these vntruthes but rather that you not rightly vnderstanding them nor able to discerne the true vse of his trauels haue thorough ignorance committed these your errors in affirming William de Windsor to be sonne to Other and auncester to the Earles of Kildare and Desmond in Ireland of which two pointes you cannot prooue any one for the originall auncester of these before spoken of was Walter the sonne of Other and not William sonne of Other for Walter had two sonnes William of whome are discended the Lordes of Windsor and Gerald who was auncester to the Geraldines Earles of Kildare and Desmond And where you make William de Windsor to be sonne of Other therein are you also deceiued for the same William you speake of was sonne of Walter and grand-childe to Other as doth appeare by the Charter of king Henry the second here following HEnricus rex Angliae Dux Normanniae Aquitaniae Comes Andegauiae Archiepiscopis Episcopis c. Henry king of England Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine and Earle of Aniou to all Archbishops Byshops c. Knowe ye that I haue giuen and graunted to William de Windsor as his inheritance all the landes which before were the possessions of William sonne of Walter his father and of Walter sonne of Other his grandfather Wherefore I will c. that he hold it as his fee and inheritance c. peaceably freely and honorably euen as his father and grandfather held the same in the time of king Henry my grandfather and of my predecessors in woodes and plaines c. Witnesses William my brother Reignald the Earle and Ioceline Baillol c. VVIlliam Rufus king of England made William Earle Waren first Earle of Surrey whose armes were a shield gold checked azure He had issue a sonne and a grand-childe of the same name succeeding him but the last had issue onely a daughter who marrying first with William sonne of king Stephen and after with Hamelin base sonne of Geffrey Plantagenet honored both her husbands with this title Hameline begot on her William Earle of Surrey who marryed the eldest daughter and coheire of William Earle of Penbrooke widow of Hugh Bygot This William was father of Iohn who begat William father of Iohn Afterwardes king Henry the fourth aduaunced Thomas Beauford to that title and dignitie making him after Duke of Exceter and Lord Chauncellor of England Pag. 223. ALthough I omit here to tell you that the first William Earle Warren was made Earle of Surrey by William Conquerour and not by VVilliam Rufus yet will I by your patience put you in minde of an other error by you here cōmitted of more importance which is if you remember in the title of the Earles of Norffolke Pag. 370. You there haue made Roger By got Earle of Norffolke to be husband vnto Maude the eldest daughter and coheire of VVilliam Marshal Earle of Penbrooke and now in this place you make the said Maude to be the widowe of Hugh Bygot father of the foresaid Roger which I take to be incest for the sonne to marry his owne mother And therefore least all their modest posteritie might blushe at such an incestuous Oedipus as your poeticall fansie hath brought vpon the stage I would wishe you to correct this your tragicall fable KIng Richard the second made Thomas Holland Earle of Kent being his halfe brother by the mother Duke of Surrey who being atteinted Thomas Beauford was aduanced to that dignitie by king Henry the fourth and after made Duke of Exceter and Chauncellor of England He dyed as Walsingham saith Anno 1410. Pag. 223. VVHere you say that Thomas Beauford after the attainder of Thomas Holland was aduaunced to the dignitie of Duke of Surrey and dyed Anno 1410. as VValsingham saith To the first I answere the said Thomas Beauford was neuer dignified with the title of Duke of Surrey by K. Henry the fourth or any other king And to proue the same I finde that the saide king in the 13. yeare of his reigne did create the said Thomas Earle of Dorset in which
A DISCOVERIE OF CERTAINE ERROVRS PVBLISHED IN PRINT IN the much commended Britannia 1594. Very preiudiciall to the discentes and successions of the auncient Nobilitie of this Realme By Yorke Herault Quam quisque norit artem in hac se exerceat TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE ROBERT EARLE OF ESSEX Earle Marshal of England Viscount Hereford and Bourchier Lo. Ferrers of Chartley Bourchier and Louayne Knight of the most Noble order of the Garter c. Lord generall of her Maiesties Forces in her Realme of Irelande And to all other the Nobilitie of England RIght Honorable hauing vpon deligent search apprehended within the compasse of my profession and science of Heraldry certaine errours in descentes and successions such as may be scandolous to the gray heares of Antiquitie and preiudiciall to the branches of our Nobilitie I thought it my duetie to present them as Captiues at your Honors feete being the vndoubted Champion of trueth and the worthy Marshall of all Heroike magnanimitie and honour vnto whom I humble my selfe for a fauourable censure and protection of this my poore seruice As no childe is so deformed but the father commonly hath a naturall affection towardes it so these errours will no doubt be both fathered and fauoured of the Author whose reputation for Learning is so great and beard of Antiquitie lately growne so long that the goodly Britannia Mother of vs all is become his daughter trayned vp and taught to speake Latine in his Schoole onely she lisps and makes no good congruitie in these principles of Herauldy For which I challendge him not that my exception and challendge is about the wordes and tearmes of our Arte that is the least but touching the falsifiyng of Noble discentes depriuing some Nobles of issue to succeede them who had issue of whom are discended many worthie families Naming others to haue but one sole Daughter and heyre when they had diuers Sonnes and Daughters Denying Barons and Earles that were and making Barons and Earles of others that were not mistaking the Father for the Sonne and the Sonne for the Father affirming legittimate children to be illigittimate and illigittimate to be legittimate those to be basely borne who were in deede discended of very honourable Parentage assigning Armes and ensignes of Honour to others not their owne Lastly the framing incestious and vnnaturall mariages making the Father to marrie his Sonnes wife and the Sonne his owne Mother These and such like matters of importaunce are the errours that I haue examined and attached to abide your Honours censure and reformation For whom with bowed hart and knee I pray to God for all increase of honor harts contentment and happie victorie Your Honours in all duetie Ra. Brooke Yorke Herault at Armes TO MAISTER CAMDEN WHere as You expect thankes at the handes of her Maiesties Heraults for entermedling so sparingly and gently with that which appertaineth to their profession Contrarie to your expectation and answerable to your deserts my selfe being the most vnable haue vndertaken to answere your vnkinde speeches as also your vntrue and erronious writing touching matters of our profession and science published in your Britannia In deede you dealt but sparingly and after a sort gently as you say in the handling of our misteries at the first but in your fourth and last Edition though your Preface spake as it did sparingly still yet your Booke hath swelled with large additions of Herauldrie in which you haue by your patience been too busie and venterous except your proceedinges in those poyntes had been more firmely grounded vpon experience And I doubt not but the grouth and encrease of your Booke hath sprung from some of those Heraults labours which you so much holde in scorne Nay it can not be denyed but since the death of Glouer late Somerset Herault 1588. you haue gleaned not onely handfuls but whole sheaues out of his industrious collections being reserued in the Librarie of that Honorable Lord Treasurer deceased and by that meanes incommoned to your vse and free recourse I would his Gloues might haue fitted your handes in such sort as you might haue smoothly carried them away his Notes I meane I wish you had neither misunderstood nor misreported as contrariwise you haue in such palpable maner that me thinks euer hereafter you should distrust your selfe in the search of such mysticall poyntes without the aduice of an Herault better experimented then your selfe I prognosticate alreadie what entertainement in these mine aduertisementes I shall haue It will be obiected from your selfe that I vnderstande not your Booke I confesse mine intelligence not so great but my feare is the greater and my care the more to vnderstande you by helpes so that the trust in my selfe is the lesse And this suspition I hope will force me to make sure worke in that I vndertake Valure they say may be too bolde and Learning too full of quillities the one standing more vpon the brauerie of his fyght then the goodnes of the quarrell the other more vpon the generalitie of his knowledge then the trueth of his cause The mother tongue of euery Nation as you affirme is the best conseruer of Originall names And your selfe endeuour to get a more ample credite in Historie by auouching that you haue read ouer many home-bredd Historinas By your example therefore I am induced to beleeue that English Authors and English Heraults though they haue concealed their trauayles from the worlde and not published a Rapiamus generall vpon euerie light occasion are to be credited for the trueth of English successions discentes and reportes of all honorable designementes Againe who is more vnfit to describe the trueth of actions in their proper nature then such affectate Nouices as haue their mouthes and pennes running ouer with the foaming Muste of vn-refined Eloquence who chouse rather to let the trueth of the matter slip then to abate one title of their selfe-pleasing phrase Therefore I haue heard meny great statsmen affirme that the Court hath affourded more absolute Wisemen for any actiue employment in the Common-wealth then the Schooles which falleth out especially because to these proceedinges of the one in Arte there hath not been added some lecture of discretion to qualifie the same withall which is to be had dayly by examples and practise in the other And doubtles for a meere Scholler to be an Historian that must take vp all by hearesay and vncertaine rumors not being acquainted with the secretes and occurrences of state matters I take it as many others affirme with me verie vnfit and dangerous I hope you will in some sort acknowledge this to be true if indifferently you take a viewe of these errours by your selfe committed a man of so rare knowledge and singular industrie Yet no one man so generally well seene in all thinges but an inferior person in some one speciall matter may goe beyonde him In regarde whereof contemne not these few Collections of mine wherein I haue not vaunted my Learning
but cleared the trueth according to the oth and profession of an Herault vnlesse learnedly with trueth you confute the same Vntill then I bid you farewell A DISCOVERIE OF DIVERS ERRORS PVBLISHED IN PRINT ANNO 1594 preiudiciall to the discents and successions of most of the auncient Nobilitie of this Realme TVtburie castle was built by Henry Lo. Ferrars a Norman vnto whome William the first gaue large possessions which Robert Earle Ferrars and Derbie his grand-child by his sonne Robert lost by reuolting the second time from king Henrie the third Pag. 447. THe Catholike credite of your great learning which might haue beene a clubbe to daunt the courage of vnlettered Heraulds and cause them to retire the fielde from encountring with you hath beene the drumme that hath summoned me out not as a champion but as a defendant by my oth and profession for the triall of the truth and defence of the vnspotted honour of Armes and auncient Nobilitie The sacred bodie of my sweete and natiue Countrie Britannia I embrace The phrases of your scholler-like language I esteeme as gorgeous ornaments vpon a Matrone that is naturallie beautifull the reliques of industrious Leyland together with his farre-fetched and deare bought Antiquities I admire almost I had saide adore but for religion sake Onlie the disgrace of auncient Herauldie wherwith England hath much flourished in former age the empeachment of manie illustrious families the misreport of many honorable discents and the daungerous errors auouched by your lowd-sounding pen I must repeale and reuerse with a writ of Quo warranto least in time the countenance of your world-wondred and selfe-conceited knowledge cause naked truth to be helde in scorne of others as it is in captiuitie by your selfe My humble requestis that the honourable beholders of our combat blush not nor the scholasticall Readers bite the lippe to see an English Herauld encounter with an antique Hercules Let not the fore-running breath of deepe renowmed science blow vp the weight of long experience you may enioy the reputation of Artes but in Armes and Herauldie we except against your skill And because I intend onely a freedome of truth in matter of mine own profession you shal vnderstand that I wil not intermeddle with any other the commendable discoueries of Antiquitie beeing without the lists and compasse of mine exception but onelie where the auncient pedegrees of honourable families are either clipped or strange feathers imped into their traines there am I bold to note the defects and to declare the excesse that may make a worthie progenie seeme some monstrous ofspring if the truth bee not vnfolded What cause I haue to vndertake this charge may appeare by these fewe erronious slippes gathered out of manie in your Britannia In the detection whereof I haue not followed your Methode a long by the Riuers side from shire to shire and towne to towne for that were a iourney too tedious and out of my way but I haue fastened first vppon that noble Ferrarian line whose present issue so glorious at this time seemeth to commaund a redresse of that iniurious obscuritie wherewith your superficiall skill or rather ignorance hath somewhat eclipsed the former excellencie thereof First therefore I am prest to encounter you at the castle of Tutburie in the honour of whose founders I am to spend my first breath and valour to the ende I may reuiue the race of them which you haue ouerthrowne by falsifying and extinguishing foure discents in seuen If you demaund how I answere in making Robert Earle Ferrars grand-childe of Henrie Lord Ferrars the Norman to bee that Robert which did forfait all his landes to king Henrie the third when in truth it was the said Roberts great great grand-child And therefore to build vp againe this honourable discent and succession of the Earles Ferrars which you haue ruinated I will first begin with Henry Lord Ferrars the Norman vnto whom by the booke of Domesday William the Conquerour gaue manie large possessions in the counties of Stafford Leicester Bedford Glocester Oxford Bucking and Barkshire He had issue Robert Earle Ferrars who founded the Abbay of Muriuall in king Henrie the first his time and died the 19. of king Stephen whose eldest sonne William Earle Ferrars and Lord of Tutburie being slaine in his lodging in Lumbards streete in London without issue Robert his second son succeeded and was Earle Ferrars Lord of Tutburie and Oucam He kept the towne of Leicester for king Henrie the second against the yong king and had issue William Earle Ferrars and first earle of Derbie who maried Margaret daughter and heire of William Peuerell Lord of Nottingham and died the 12. of Henrie the thirde leauing issue William the second Earle Ferrars and Derbie his sonne who tooke to wife Agnes the third sister and coheire of Ranulph Earle of Chester and Lincolne and died 1242. vnto whome succeeded the thirde William Earle Ferrars and Derbie who maried Margaret daughter and coheire of Roger Quincy earle of Winchester On whom he be got Robert Earle Ferrars and Derbie who in the fiftie yeare of king Henrie the third was taken prisoner at the battell of Chesterfield and imprisoned in the castle of Chipenham where he for the obtaining of his liberty made assurance before Iohn Chishall then Lord Chancelor of England of all his lands except Chartley and Bolbroke to Lorde Henrie sonne of the king of Romanes William Valence Earle of Penbroke Iohn earle Warren Surry William Beauchamp earle of Warwicke Roger Somery Thomas Clare R. Walleron Roger Clifford Hamon le Strange Bartholomew de Sudley Robert Bruse Barons his suerties for the paiment of 50000. poundes on a day at one entire paiment to Lord Edmond the Kings sonne Which day paiment being broken and not performed the said Lord Edmond by the surrender of the sureties aforesaid tooke possession of those his lands and enioyed the same during his life and after left them to his heires the same being then valued at two thousand pounds by the yeare And this is that Robert whom you verie vntruly haue set downe to be grand-child to Henrie Lorde Ferrars that liued in the time of the Norman conquest he being the seuenth in line all discent from him as by your owne words in the title of Derby pag. 430. it may appeare where you confesse William to be the father William the grandfather of this Robert that forfeited his lands in king Henrie the third his time Now to let you knowe the inconuenience arising hereby It is the concealment and losse of three most notable inheritrices that were married vnto three of these Ferrarian Earles The first was the daughter and sole heire of William Peuerell Lord of Nottingham whose sonne was honoured with the title of earle of Notingham The second was the sister and coheire of Ranulph Earle of Chester and Lincolne who inriched this familie with the Castle and honour of Chartley. The third being the daughter and coheire of
Earle of Kent dyed without issue as you here report hee did then doth the now Lord de La-ware wrong to quarter the said Huberts Coate of Armes pretending thereby to bee his heire But whether the said honourable person doth wrong therein or you wrong him in so saying Let vs examine this matter a little better First it doth appeare in a summons of the Nobilitie of this realme for the leuying of an army against Llewellin Prince of Wales in the fift yeare of king Edward the first that Iohn de Burgo Baron of Lammale grandchilde to Hubert by his sonne Iohn was by the name of Iohn sonne of Iohn de Burgo called thereunto Also by an inquisition taken after the death of the said Iohn in the same kings reign it was found that Deruergulda the wife of of Robert Fitz-Walter Lord of Woodham and Hawise the wife of Robert Greylie of Manchester were the daughters and heires of the said Iohn de Burgo and that the foresaide Hawise did holde of the inheritance of Hubert de Burgo her great grandfather the Mannor of Werkerley in Northamptonshire and the Mannor of Portland in Essex Which discent being thus farre prooued to Greyley I doubt not but you will confesse that Ioan the onelie daughter of the saide Robert Lord Greyley was married to Iohn Lord de La-ware Which done I hope you will yeeld your selfe to haue erred herein and acknowledge the said noble person now to be right heire and that the said Hubert died not without issue as you very daungerously haue affirmed he did HErbert married the sister of William Earle of Hereford and in her right was Lord of Deane from whom is discended the noble familie of the Herberts From hence also if we shall credite the heraulds and Escucheons of Armes Anthonie Fitz-Herbert that great lawier and Lord chiefe iustice of England tooke his originall But I thinke he rather descended from the worshipfull familie of the Fitz-Herberts in Derbishire Pag. 267. YOur often and suspitious obiections whereby you call in question the credit of her Maiesties Heraulds as though you iudged them scarce worthy to be belieued doth proceed as I suppose from a malignant humour in you rather then from any grounds or sufficient reasons that might moue you thereto But I trust those of discretion will sooner giue credit vnto them in matters that they shall auerre by good warrantise and authoritie then to you who ground your contradicting arguments vpon heare sayes and opiniatiue imaginations And where you charge the Heraulds to haue made Anthonie Fitz-Herbert that was Lorde chiefe Iustice of England to bee discended from that familie of Herberts which married the sister of William Earle of Hereford I say they haue done therein like honest and learned Officers of Armes and those that haue or shall deriue the saide Anthonie or anie of that familie of Fitz-Herberts from anie other originall then that aforesaid they haue and shall erre from the trueth IN the time of king Edward the first the barons of Winterborne were the Bradstones from whom by the Ingeldesthorpes and Neuils the Viscount Montacute and the Baron of Wentworth are discended Pag. 271. YOur Barons of Winterborne must be turned out of the plurall into the singular number and where you make them Barons in the reigne of king Edward the first therein are you much deceaued for Thomas Bradston the first and last Baron of that surname began his dignitie at a Parlement holden at Westminster in the 21. yeare of king Edward the third and dyed aboute the 34. yeare of the said kings reigne leauing issue a daughter and heire marryed to Poole who had issue a daughter and heire marryed to Ingeldesthorpe which likewise had a daughter and heire marryed to Neuill Marquis Montacute who hauing diuers daughters his heires one of them was marryed to Browne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and an other to Stoner of whome the Lord Wentworth is discended So that hereby it may appeare that the Vicount Montacute and the Lord Wentworth are discended from Bradston by these foresaid three seuerall families whereof you haue left out Poole the first of them without which the other cannot discend from Bradstone And thus haue you through ignorance obscured and made vnperfect this honorable discent to the preiudice of many worthie families discended of the same SVdley was lately the seate of Giles Baron Chandos whose father Edmond Bruges was created Baron Chandos by Queene Elizabeth because he was discended from the auncient familie of the Chandos out of which familie issued Iohn Chandos Baron de Santo-Saluatore that famous warriour Pag. 272. YOu thinke by your perswasions to make men beleeue you haue seene that which God knoweth you were neuer neare by many a mile otherwise I take it you would not doe as heere you haue done making Edmond Bruges father of the now Lord Chandos to be the first Baron of his surname and that hee was created into that dignitie by Queene Elizabeth Because say you he was discended of the auncient familie of Chandos So that here is both a cause lay de downe a time for a colour and shadowe to this your vntrue imaginatiō to the no small preiudice of that honorable house But to manifest these your delusions and to restore againe this honorable person to his right knowe you for certaintie that Iohn Bruges the grandfather of the now Lord Chandos was the first Baron and not Edmond his father as you very vniustly haue written And for proofe here of I affirme that the said Iohn was created Baron Chandos by Queene Mary at her manner of Saint Iames the eight day of Aprill in the first yeare of her reigne 1553. as by his letters patents bearing date the same day and yeare aboue said it may appeare Which being true I would now gladly knowe heere of you how you can make good that Edmond Bruges was the first Baron and had his creation by Queene Elizabeth OVr Heralds haue thrust vpon vs William Fitz-Eustace to be the first Earle of Glocester But I suppose there was neuer any such borne I haue read in the historie of Teukesbury that aboute the time of the Conquest Bithricke a Saxon was Lorde of Glocester who was much hated of Maude the Conquerors wife because he before that despised to take her to his wife In reuenge of which disgrace she caused him to be imprisoned and dispossessed of all his honors and landes Whose titles and possessions were after giuen to Robert Fitz-Hamon the son of Hamon of Corbule whose onely daughter and heire named Sibill was marryed to Robert Fitz-Roy base sonne to king Henry the first Who was made the first Earle of Glocester commonly called the Consull of Glocester This Robert had issue William who had issue three daughters which caryed this honour by marriage vnto three families Isabell the eldest marrying with Iohn sonne to K. Henry the second honored him with that title who being after king made Almericke de
had issue Richard Earle of Clare which was slaine by the Welshmen This Richard had issue three sonnes Gilbert Earle of Clare that dyed without issue Roger Earle of Clare created Earle of Hertford by Henry the second and Robert his third sonne from whom the familie of Fitz-Walters discended Roger begat Richard Earle of Clare Hertford who marryed Amicia yongest daughter and heire of William Earle of Glocester Pag. 350. YOur historicall reportes are very changeable for in the title of Haresfield Pag. 312. you tell vs that Richard was Earle of Clare in William the Conquerors time and now here you affirme that Gilbert his sonne was the first Earle of Clare of that familie And againe in the title of Dunmowe there haue you set downe this Robert the third sonne of Earle Richard truely to be the sonne of the first Richard that came into this land with William the Conqueror but here will you haue him to be great grand-child to the same Richard Which by no meanes the now Earle of Sussex will consent vnto because thereby he shall loose two of his greattest auncestors with their wiues they being the daughters and heires of Saint-Lyce Earle of Northampton and the Lord Lucy which were both marryed the one to the said Robert and the other to Walter his sonne as more plainely doth appeare by the true discent here following Richard sonne of Gilbert Earle of Angy in Normandye was Lorde of Tunbridge and Clare in England by the gift of William the Conqueror and had issue Gilbert Earle of Clare Roger that dyed without issue 1173. and Robert who was Sewer to king Henry the first and Lord of Dunmow by the said kings gift He maryed Matilda de Sainct-Lice lady of Bradham and had issue Walter Lord and Baron of Woodham that had to wife Matilde the daughter and coheire of Richard Lucy Lord chiefe Iustice of England in Henry the seconds time Of which Walter the honorable familie of Fitz-walters tooke first their surname He dyed 1198. leauing the second Robert his sonne to succeede him who dyed in the 19. yeare of king Henry the third So that by this your mistaking you would cut off the first Robert and Walter his sonne making the second Robert to be the first that came from the maine line of the familie of Clares And for proofe hereof I wish you to examine Gemiticensis who will affirme the same to be true that I haue here said GEffery Magnauill made Walden the seate and head of his honor and Earledome Pag. 342. THe dignitie and Earledome of the Magnauills whilest they were honored with the title of Earles was Essex and not Walden Well that familie might be Lordes and owners thereof but that neuer the head of their honour and Earledome Wherefore if your Author so write hee did it rather like a nouice then an Herauld and your discretion may be suspected in that you played not rather your parte to teach him to speake more Herauld-lyke then to bring in his absurd tearmes for a testimonie amongst Earledomes and Honors THe first Earles of Essex of the Norman race was Geffrey Magnauill commonly called Mandeuill sonne of William by Margaret heire of Eudo the Sewer who was slaine in battell in king Stephens time There succeeded him two sonnes Geffrey and William from whome by a daughter that honour went to Geffrey Fitz-Pieres whose two sonnes Geffrey and William succeeded in that honor Geffrey dyed yong slayne at the Tilte William tooke parte with Lewis of Fraunce against king Iohn and dyed without issue 1227. After whome succeeded Humfrey de Bohun Earle of Hereford and Constable of England who had marryed their sister Pag. 343. YOur vndiscreete wordes vsed in this place may make those noble personages deceased to be called in question for that which nature abhorreth but it were better your penne should prooue a false witnesse then so heynous a matter true Shall we surmise as you write in this page that Humfrey de Bohun sonne of Henry did marrye his owne mother Assuredly we might seeme in so dooing not onely ouer-credulous but also irreligious Yet you say here Humfrey Bohun marryed the sister and heire of William Magnauill Earle of Essex who dyed without issue 1227. Which by no meanes we may beleeue because the match were against nature if it be true that Henry Bohun marryed with that sister and heire of William Magnauill aforesaid which is so vndoubted a trueth that voluntarily it drops out of your owne penne Pag. 479. of your booke in the title of the Earles of Hereford Besides that it is most euident that the saide Henrie in the right of his wife aboue mencioned was the first Earle of Essex of that familie as appeareth by a Charter of king Henrie the thirde in the 25. yeare of his reigne concerning lands that he gaue to the Abbay of Westminster whereunto the said Henrie was a witnesse by the name of Henrie de Bohun Earle of Hereford and Essex and Constable of England And further to manifest that it was not Humfrey the sonne of this Henrie that married with Matilda Know you that she died 1236. in the one and twentie yeare of king Henrie the third which was during the life of the said Henry her husband and foure years before he was a witnesse to the kings Charter aforesaide AFter the death of the familie of Bigots and Vffords Richard the second aduanced Michael De-la-Poole from a Marchant to the Honour and dignitie of Earle of Suffolke and Lorde Chauncellor of England King Henrie the sixt created William his sonne first Marques and after Duke of Suffolke He was beheaded on the Seas and left issue Iohn who married the sister of king Edward the fourth Pag. 357. VVHat is it that you will not vndertake to write and publish of a meane person when you verie vniustly haue wrōged that honorable familie of De-la-Pooles reporting Michael De-la-Poole the first Earle of that name to haue beene aduaunced by Richard the second from a Merchant of Hull Pag. 549. to the dignitie of Earle of Suffolke he being a knight of the noble order of the Garter by the Satutes whereof none can bee elected vnlesse hee be borne gentle three discents both of father and mother Also it doth appeare by an inquisition taken the 9. of Edwarde the third that sir William De-la-Poole knight Banneret father of this Michael was sonne and heire of sir William De-la-Poole knight All which testimonies might haue satisfied you or any other reasonable person both to haue thought and written more reuerentlie of him But not herewith contented you after depriue him the saide Michaell both of his sonne and eldest grandchild which succeeded him in the said dignitie the one after the other by the names of Michaell the second and Michaell the thirde placing in their rowmes as immediate successor and son to the foresaid first Michaell William De-la-Poole duke of Suffolke his second grandchilde In both which points howe much you haue
erred to the great preiudice of the honourable Lord viscount Monta-cute the Lord Cobham and the Baron Wentworth with manie other now liuing descended of the same honourable familie the true discent here following will explaine Michael De-la-Poole Lord Wingfield Earle of Suffolke and knight of the noble order of the Garter sonne and heire of Sir William De-la-Poole knight Banneret and of Katherine his wife sister of sir Iohn Norwich knight had issue Michaell De-la-Poole the second Earle of Suffolke who died at Haresflew 1415. leauing issue two sonnes Michaell De-la-Poole Earle of Suffolk that died at the battell of Agincourt in the 3. yeare of Henry the fift without issue William De-la-Poole Marques and afterward Duke of Suffolke who was beheaded on the seas 26. of king Henrie the sixt whom you make sonne to his grandfather Michaell the first of that name And for the better satisfying of the world that this Michaell De-la-Poole the first Earle of Suffolke of that familie was not basely descended nor a marchant of Hull as you and others after you haue written I haue hereto added a deede of the said Michaels before he was Earle which doth proue his father mother brother sister and children MIchael De-la-poole dominus Wingfield c. I Michael De-la-Poole Lord Wingfield doe confirme certaine landes to the religious house of Saintcleare neare vnto Kingstone vpon Hull the which lands were before giuen by sir William De-la-Pole knight my father to pray for the good estate of king Richard and for Michaell De-la-poole Iohn Thomas William Richard and Margaret my children and for sir Edmond De-la-Poole knight my Brother and Margaret Neuill my sister and for the soules of sir William De-la-Poole my father and Katherin my mother c. Witnesses Alexander Archbishop of York Henrie Percie Earle of Northumberland Thomas Sutton Robert de Hilton and Walter Fawconbridge knights with manie others Dated at Hull the first of March the seuenth yeare of the reigne of King Richard the second HEngham the Barons thereof were called the Barons of Rhia who discended from Iohn Marshall nephew of William Marshall Earle of Penbroke by his brother to whome King Iohn gaue the lands of Hugh Gurney a traitor togither with the daughter and coheire of Hubert de Rhia From the Marshals the same came to the Morleys and from them by the Louels to Parker now Lord Morley Pag. 360. NOw comming to speake of the Barons of Rhia let mee by your patience put you in minde of a late conference had before the now right honourable Earle marshall of England concerning the true coates of the two families of Bygot Earle of Norfolke and Marshall Earle of Penbroke Master Garter hauing before that time set downe and quartered in diuerse noble personages atchieuements for Marshals coate quarterly gold and vert a Lion passant Gules a coate latelie deuised and for Bygots coate perpale golde and vert a Lion rampant Gules neither of them both being in truth their right coates My selfe being commaunded to say what I knew touching these matters shewed for Marshals coate one faire deed with a seale of Armes thereto of Iohn Marshall father of William Marshall Earle of Penbroke and Anselme that was father to Iohn Marshall Baron of Rhia on which seale was written Iohn Marshall and in his shield or escucheon a bend fuzulie Also I shewed a transcript of an other deed of the said Iohn in which was written Iohn sonne of Iohn the Kinges Marshall with the same Armes of a bend fuzulie testified vnder the hand of an Officer of armes long before that time deceased Lastly I shewed an old roll of Armes wrought in colorus in Henrie the thirds time wherein was the same coate viz. Gules a bende fuzulie golde and ouer the heade thereof written the name of Marshall All which proofes notwithstanding your selfe being there then present verie stedfastlie denied the same to bee the coate of Marshall Earle of Penbroke affirming that bend fuzulie to be the peculiar coate of Marshall Baron of Rhia who was as you then said of no consanguinitie to Marshall Earle of Penbroke For further maintaining of which your speach you then shewed two newe petegrees lately contriued and made by your consent declaring the saide two Marshals to bee seuerall families and not one Since which time perusing well your Britannia fol. 360 I finde the same there auouched by yourselfe for truth which at that time you so confidently denied before the said Earle Marshall viz. That Iohn Marshall Baron of Rhia was nephew to William Marshall Earle of Penbroke by his brother which is quite contrarie to your speeches before vsed By this your information of these Marshals to be seuerall families without which you had no colour to maintaine your errour for that the Barons of Rhia alwayes vsed for their coate of Armes the said bend fuzulie the right coate of Marshall is like now to bee neglected and the Lion in the parted field vsed in stead thereof the same being the peculiar coate borne by Marshall and Bygot when they were Marshals of Englnd and not belonging to anie one priuate name as by many other good proofes it may appeare And because I would not haue any heareafter to stand doubtfull which of vs both are to be beleeued touching these two Marshals to bee discended of one parent I will here set downe the record that doth warrant the same Which being proued I trust you will shew vs some reason why the yonger brother did beare the bend fuzulie if not discended to him from his father That done I will then shew you proofe howe and when both the elder Marshall and Bygot did beare the Lion on the parted field which you missed to find in Master Somersets Notes and Master Leylands twelue bookes lent you by master Iohn Stow in whose custodie I haue seene diuerse of them being most excellent and rare works touching the description of this Countrey written not vpon here-say and reportes but vpon his eye-sight and long trauell from towne to towne and place to place vpon the Kings charge and Commission which Bookes I wish might bee published in the right Authours name EX Rotulo cartarum de Anno quinto Regis Iohannis Iohannes Mariscallus nepos Guilielmi Marescalli comitis Penbroc Habet terras in Norfolke Suffolke quae fuerunt Hugonis de Gornaco proditoris regis terram quae fuit Hugonis de Angee in Norfolke Kantelee Castre c. Testibus I. Norwich Episcopo Gulielmo Marescallo Comit. Penbroc Galfrid filio Petri Comit. Essex Roberto filio Rogeri Hugone de Neuill Dat. apud Merleberge 16. Ianuarii KIng Stephen gaue Norwich to his sonne William from whom king Henrie the second tooke it againe and kept it himself although that Henrie his sonne called the yong King had when hee had aspired vnto the crowne with great protestation promised the same vnto Hugh Bygot whom he had drawne vnto his faction Bygot notwithstanding following the yong kings side who
coulde not containe his hope offered touching the kingdome within the bounds of right and reason grieuouslie afflicted this citie And afterward being made Earle of Norfolke he is thought to haue builded that Castle vpon a high hill neare to the Church which being maruailous deepely entrenched about was in those dayes thought impregnable But Lewis the Frenchman to whom the seditious Barons of England had sworne their fidelitie easilie tooke the same by composition We thinke in deed that Bygot did build this Castle because we haue seene their Lyons saliant in the same forme engrauen in stone as the Bygots vsed them in their seales before they obtained the honour of Marshals Pag. 363. IF your wordes here had beene but coniecturall or gathered by reports as in many other places they are you should haue lesse discredited your selfe then by affirming you had seene that which in truth you did neuer see for where you say We thinke that the Bygots builded this Castle because wee haue there seene Lions saliant in the same forme engrauen in stone as the Bygots vsed in their seales before they obtained the honour and office of Marshall certaine it is that on the said Castle there are no Lions saliant nor any such Ensigne or token as the Bygots did beare in seale or shield or any Armes at all And for that you did of late as before vpon conference had before the now Earle Marshall of England affirme the saide Lious saliant vpon the Castle walles of Norwich to bee the true Armes of the Bygots before they came to bee Marshals of England my selfe hauing seene diuerse deedes of the said Bygots to prooue the contrarie the Seales whereof were Shieldes charged onelie with a plaine Crosse which coate you then auouched to be the Armes of Vlster whervpon I for my better satisfaction therein did ride to Norwich for to search the truth of your speach and going into the said castle I founde ouer the first gate two great stones fixed of some yarde square and vppon each of them a Lyon passant cowardie their tayles turning vnder their bellies and comming ouer their backes but in no Shielde or Escucheon And seeking more diligentlie all other places about the saide Castle I did finde ouer the hall doore other two like stones with a Lyon also vppon each of them but contrarie to the former for these were passant regardants with their tayles ouer their backes and the endes in their mouthes yet neither in Shielde nor Escucheon And therefore no such coate armour is there vppon the Castell of Norwich as you sayde you had seene that the Bygots did vse in their Shieldes and Seales In consideration of this my great paines and iourney I desire but that you will from hencefoorth make a difference betweene the Antique fictions of a caruers braine and the right ensignes of our auncient Nobilitie which you say Were in King Henrie the thirds time but euerie mans owne inuentions they being long time before the honorable rewardes and tokens of valorous persons VVOrmegay commonly called wrongay was giuen by William the third Earle Warren and Surrey to Reignald de Warren his younger brother by whose grandchilde Nicholea daughter of William his sonne it was forthwith translated to the Bardolphs who bare for their armes in a shield Azur three Cinkfoyles golde a great part of whose inheritance togither with the dignitie fell to William Philips and by his daughter vnto the viscount Beaumount Pag. 369. YOur bare imagination coÌ„cerning the gift of Wormegay by William Earle Warren to his yonger brother is nothing probable for Reignald de Warren had the same by marriage with the daughter heire of William de Wormegay not by any gift of his brother And where you affirme the said Reignald had a grandchild by his sonne William named Nicholea married to Bardolph I say he neuer had anie such grandchild but two others called Beatrix and Isabell which Beatrix was married to Bardolph as by the testimonie of seuerall deedes here following it may appeare NOtum sit omnibus tam praesentibus quam futuris quod ego Reginaldus de Warren c. Be it knowne vnto all men aswell present as they that shall be hereafter that I Reignald de Warren haue giuen my church of PlumbtoÌ„ to the Canons of Southwark for the health of my soule and of Alice my wife William my sonne Isabel the Countesse my mother and William Earle Warren my brother and of William de wormegay father of Alice my said wife c. SCiant praesentes futuri quod ego Gulielmus de Warren c. Let those men know that are present and they that shall come hereafter that I William de Warren do giue and confirme to the Canons of Southwarke thirtie Acres of land in â—otisâ—ray for the health of mine owne soule my father Reignald my mother Alice and my wife Beatrix my sonne Reignald and my daughters Beatrix and Isabell and for all my auncestors c. VVIlliam the Conquerour made Raph the first Earle of Norfolke who as I haue saide stirring vp newe Rebellion had for his successor Hugh Bygot Earle of Norfolke who had the third pennie of the said Countie as appeareth in his Charter of creation giuen him by king Henrie the first whose stewarde he was After whom in direct succession from father to sonne followed Hugh that tooke part with Henrie the yong king against king Henrie the second his father Roger which flourished in king Iohns time Hugh who died in the yeare of our Lord 1225. Roger who in right of his wife brought into his familie the Honor of Marshall of England for he married Maude the eldest daughter and one of the heires of William Marshall Earle of Penbroke by whom he had issue Roger earle of Norfolke who being wounded with running at the tilt died without issue and Hugh Bygot Lord chiefe Iustice being slaine in the battell of Lewis his sonne Roger was placed after his vncles death in the Earldome of Norfolke and dignitie of Marshal who incurring the displeasure of king Edward the second was inforced to passe ouer all his honours and almost his whole inheritance to the king Pag. 370. THe errors herein are these first you say that Hugh Bygot was Earle of Norfolke and had the third pennie of that Countie as appeareth by his Charter of creation giuen him by king H. the first For answere I say you haue not seene nor can proue any such Charter as you here auouch neither was he the said Hugh or any of that familie Earle before the first yeare of king Stephen who then made him Earle of Norfolke because he being present at the death of king Henrie the first testifie before the Archbishop of Canterburie and other the Barons of this realme that hee heard king Henry vpon his death bed say his will was that his Nephew Stephen and not Maude his daughter should succeede him in his kingdome of England Secondly where you reckon a confused
said Walleron But to reforme this your errour I wish you to vnderstande that the foresaid Walleron had issue Robert Earle of Millent Worcester and Lord of Ponttadomara which Robert did remaine heere in England and maried an English woman named Mauld Lady of Estrumenister Moreys and Rydlestone And by her had issue Henrie Peter Mabell and Mary the two sonnes and the youngest daughter dying without issue Mabell the eldest daughter was married to William de Vernon alias Ryduers Earle of Deuonshire and had issue Bauldwyn Earle of Deuonshire and Mary first married vnto Sir Robert Courteney by whom she had issue of whom all the Courteneys are descended After she married Peter de Prouz a noble Gentleman of Deuon to which Peter the said Robert Earle of Millent and Worcester did by his deede giue in franke marriage with the said Marie his grand-child the third part of all his Land in England and vnto Bauldwin his gran-child by his daughter Mabell all his Land in Normandie with the Mannors of Estrumenister Moreyes and Riddleston in England So that heere you are not onely found to faile in your affirmation that there was not any Earle of Worcester betweene the said Walleron in King Stephens time and Thomas Percy who had that dignitie of Richard the second But also in saying his issue returned to their auncient Patrimonie in Normandie when it is manifest that his sole heire continued here and left issue of whom are discended many of our noble Families at this present THe first Lord of Gillesland was William Meschines brother to Ranulfe Earle of Carlell Pag. 604. AS you did begin at the first so haue you in your Booke continued vnto the ende making to some Nobles vnnaturall mariages and to others vnlawfull issue In this place you haue made the sonne to be brother to his owne father by affirming William Meschines Lord of Gillesland to be brother to Ranulph Earle of Carlell And to prooue that the saide William was sonne of Ranulph Earle of Carlell and not his brother I will first for the better vnderstanding of the reader hereof set downe a briefe of the said Williams discent beginning at Hugh Lupus his vncle the first Earle of Chester whose sister Margaret was married to Ranulph Earle of Carlell and by him had issue two sonnes Ranulph the first of that name and thirde Earle of Chester and William Mischines Lord of Gilleslande and that this is true which heere I haue incerted reade this Deede following which done I trust you will not onely recant your errour but also acknowledge from whence you haue receaued the trueth hereof NOtum sit omnibus me Ran. Comit. Cestrae concessisse quando feci transferri corpus Hugonis Comitis auunculi mei a cimiterio in Capitulum c. Be it knowne vnto all mem That I Ranulph Earle of Chester haue graunted at such time as I caused the body of Hugh the Earle my vncle to be translated from the Church yard into the Chapter house That on the day of my death I should giue togither with my body to the Church of S. Werburge Vpton in pure Almes free from euery thing for the soule of the foresayd Hugh and the health of my soule and the soules of all my kinsfolkes And whereas Hugh the Earle before had graunted to the Church of S. Werburge at the feast of the translation of the same the Priuiledge of a Fayre I also do graunt and confirme the same Moreouer William Meschinus my brother hath geuen the Church of Destart Mathew of Ruelant hath giuen the Church of Thurstanestone c. An inforced Conclusion WHen as I had collected readie for the Presse so many of your defectes and errors published in your so highly commended Britannia as might well haue satisfied the worlde that I vndertooke not this worke in vaine nor yet without good cause me moouing thereunto Then was I stayed in the printing thereof by the disturbance and indirect dealing of your friendes the Stationers who heretofore haue made no small gaine of your foure former Impressions and thereby constrayned abruptly heere to make an ende suppressing a great part of my first pretended purpose yet before I doe ende I thinke it my duetie heere to put the Nobilitie in minde that your Booke now going in hand may be both seene and alowed before it goe to the Presse by such as haue both skill and authoritie so to doe I meane the Earle Marshall and not to passe as before it hath done to the preiudice of so many honourable Families And to the ende the worlde may know with whose plumes you haue heretofore fethered your nest besides the Heraults I haue hereunto annexed a New-yeeres gyft dedicated to king Henrie the eight in the. 37. yeere of his reigne by that worthy and learned Englishe Antiquarie Maister Iohn Leyland concerning his sixe yeeres trauayle and laborious Iourney for the search of Englandes Antiquities vpon the sayd Kinges commission and charges by which it may appeare vnto the indifferent Reader who was the first Author and contriuer of this late borne Britannia either he whose name is cleane razed and blotted out or you that haue both taken the tytle and whole credite thereof to your selfe Also I may not heere let passe the wordes of Maister Iohn Bale in his declarations vpon the same worke dedicated to King Edward the sixt which are these following Blessed be the man which shall set this worthy worke abrode and contrarywise Cursed be he for euer and euer that shall in spight of his Nation seeke thereof the distruction Iohn Leylands nevv yeeres Gyft giuen of him to King Henrie the. viii in the. 37. yeere of his reigne concerning his laborious Iorney and search for Englandes antiquities WHere as it pleased your Highnesse vpon very iust considerations to encorage me by the authoritie of your most gratious Commission in the XXXV yeere of your prosperous reigne to peruse and diligently to search all the Libraries of Monasteries and Colledges of this your noble Realme to the intent that the Monuments of auncient Writers as well of other Nations as of your owne Prouince might be brought out of deadly darknesse to liuely light and to receiue like thankes of their posteritie as they hoped for at such time as they employed their long and great studies to the publique wealth Yea and furthermore that the holy Scripture of God might both be sinceerely taught and learned all maner of superstition craftie coloured doctrine of a route of Romane Byshops totally expelled out of this your most catholique Realme I thinke it now no lesse then my very duetie briefly to declare to your Maiestie what fruite haue sprung of my laborious iourney and costly enterprise both rooted vpon your infinite goodnesse liberalitie qualities right highly to be esteemed in all Princes and most specially in you as naturally your owne well knowne proprieties First I haue conserued many good Authors the which otherwise had bin like