ranne awaie and made an outcrie in the citie how there sat a man in such a place so great as an hill the people hearing the newes ran out with clubs and weapons as if they should haue gone vnto a foughten field and 300. of them entring into the caue they foorthwith saw that he was dead and yet sat as if he had béen aliue hauing a staffe in his hand compared by mine author vnto the mast of a tall ship which being touched fell by and by to dust sauing the nether end betwéene his hand and the ground whose hollownesse was filled with 1500. pound weight of lead to beare vp his arme that it should not fall in péeces neuerthelesse his bodie also being touched fell likewise into dust sauing three of his aforesaid teeth the forepart of his scull and one of his thigh bones which are reserued to be séene of such as will hardlie beleeue these reports In the histories of Brabant I read of a giant found whose bones were 17. or 18. cubits in length but Goropius as his maner is denieth them to be the bones of a man affirming rather that they were the bones of an elephant because they somwhat resembled those of two such beasts which were found at the making of the famous ditch betwéene Bruxels and Machlin As though there were anie precise resemblance betwéene the bones of a man and of an elephant or that there had euer béene any elephant of 27. foot in length But sée his demeanour In the end he granteth that another bodie was found vpon the shore of Rhodanus of thirtie foot in length Which somewhat staieth his iudgement but not altogither remooueth his error The bodie of Pallas was found in Italie in the yeare of Grace 1038. and being measured it conteined twentie foot in length this Pallas was companion with Aeneas There was a carcase also laid bare 1170. in England vpon the shore where the beating of the sea had washed awaie the earth from the stone wherein it laie and when it was taken vp it conteined 50. foot in measuâ—â— as our histories doo report The like was seene before in Wales in the yeare 1087. of another of 14. foot In Perth moreouer a village in Scotland another was taken vp which to this daie they shew in a church vnder the name of little Iohn per Antiphrasin being also 14. foot in length as diuerse doo affirme which haue beholden the same and whereof Hector Boetius dooth saie that he did put his whole arme into one of the hanch bones which is worthie to be remembred In the yeare of Grace 1475. the bodie of Tulliola the daughter of Cicero was taken vp found higher by not a few foot than the common sort of women liuing in those daies Geruasius Tilberiensis head Marshall to the king of Arles writeth in his Chronicle dedicated to Otho 4. how that at Isoretum in the suburbes of Paris he saw the bodie of a man that was twentie foot long beside the head and the necke which was missing not found the owner hauing peraduenture béene beheaded for some notable trespasse committed in times past or as he saith killed by S. William The Greeke writers make mention of Andronicus their emperour who liued 1183. of Grace and was ten foot in height that is thrée foot higher than the Dutch man that shewed himselfe in manie places of England 1582. this man maried Anna daughter to Lewis of France before assured to Alexius whome he strangled dismembred and drowned in the sea the ladie not being aboue eleuen yeares of age whereas he was an old dotard and beside hir he kept Marpaca a fine harlot who ruled him as she listed Zonaras speaketh of a woman that liued in the daies of Iustine who being borne in Cilicia and of verie comelie personage was neuerthelesse almost two foot taller than the tallest woman of hir time A carcase was taken vp at Iuie church neere Salisburie but of late yeares to speake of almost fourtéene foot long in Dictionario Eliotae In Gillesland in Come Whitton paroche not far from the chappell of the Moore six miles by east from Carleill a coffin of stone was found and therein the bones of a man of more than incredible greatnes In like sort Leland speaketh of another found in the I le called Alderney whereof you shall read more in the chapiter of our Ilands Richard Grafton in his Manuell telleth of one whose shinbone conteined six foot and thereto his scull so great that it was able to receiue fiue pecks of wheat Wherefore by coniecturall symmetrie of these parts his bodie must needs be of 24. foot or rather more if it were diligentlie measured For the proportion of a comelie and well featured bodie answereth 9. times to the length of the face taken at large from the pitch of the crowne to the chin as the whole length is from the same place vnto the sole of the foot measured by an imagined line and seuered into so manie parts by like ouerthwart draughts as Drurerus in his lineall description of mans bodie doth deliuer Neuertheles this symmetrie is not taken by other than the well proportioned face for Recta orbiculata or fornicata prona resupinata and lacunata or repanda doo so far degenerate from the true proportion as from the forme and beautie of the comelie Hereby also they make the face taken in strict maner to be the tenth part of the whole bodie that is froÌ„ the highest part of the forehead to the pitch of the chin so that in the vse of the word face there is a difference wherby the 9. part is taken I say from the crowne called Vertex because the haire there turneth into a circle so that if the space by a rule were truelie taken I meane from the crowne or highest part of the head to the pitch of the nether chap and multiplied by nine the length of the whole bodie would easilie appeare shew it selfe at the full In like maner I find that from the elbow to the top of the midle finger is the 4. part of the whole length called a cubit from the wrist to the top of the same finger a tenth part the length of the shinbone to the ancle a fourth part and all one with the cubit from the top of the finger to the third ioint two third parts of the face from the top of the forehead Which obseruations I willinglie remember in this place to the end that if anie such carcases happen to be found hereafter it shall not be hard by some of these bones here mentioned to come by the stature of the whole bodie in certeine exact maner As for the rest of the bones ioints parts c you may resort to Drurerus Cardan and other writers sith the farther deliuerie of them concerneth not my purpose To proceed therefore with other examples I read that the bodie of king Arthur being found in the
haue at one time or other béen altogither without them First of all therfore to begin with the scriptures the most sure certeine ground of all knowledge you shall haue out of them such notable examples set downe as I haue obserued in reading the same which vnto the godlie may suffice for sufficient proofe of my position Neuerthelesse after the scriptures I will resort to the wrttings of our learned Diuines and finallie of the infidell and pagane authors whereby nothing shall seeme to want that may confute Goropius and all his cauillations Moses the prophet of the Lord writing of the estate of things before the floud hath these words in his booke of generations In these daies saith he there were giants vpon the earth Berosus also the Chalde writeth that néere vnto Libanus there was a citie called Oenon which I take to be Hanoch builded sometime by Cham wherein giants did inhabit who trusting to the strength and hugenesse of their bodies did verie great oppression and mischeefe in the world The Hebrues called them generallie Enach of Hanach the Chebronite father to Achimam Scheschai and Talma although their first originall was deriued from Henoch the sonne of Caine of whome that pestilent race descended as I read The Moabits named them Emims and the Ammonites Zamsummims and it should seeme by the second of Deut. cap. 19 20. that Ammon and Moab were greatlie replenished with such men when Moses wrote that treatise For of these monsters some families remained of greater stature than other vnto his daies in comparison of whome the children of Israell confessed themselues to be but grashoppers Which is one noble testimonie that the word Gigas or Enach is so well taken for a man of huge stature as for an homeborne child wicked tyrant or oppressour of the people Furthermore there is mention made also in the scriptures of Og sometime king of Basan who was the last of the race of the giants that was left in the land of promise to be ouercome by the Israelits whose iron bed was afterward shewed for a woonder at Rabbath a citie of the Ammonites conteining 9. cubits in length and 4. in bredth which cubits I take not to be geometricall that is each one so great as six of the smaller as those were wherof the Arke was made as our Diuines affirme especiallie Augustine whereas Origen hom 2. in Gen. out of whom he seemeth to borrow it appeareth to haue no such meaning directlie but rather of the arme of a meane man which oftentimes dooth varie differ from the standard Oh how Goropius dalieth about the historie of this Og of the breaking of his pate against the beds head of hurting his ribs against the sides and all to prooue that Og was not bigger than other men and so he leaueth the matter as sufficientlie answered with a French countenance of truth But see August de ciuit lib. 15. cap. 25. ad Faustum Manich. lib. 12. Ambros. c. and Iohannes Buteo that excellent geometrician who hath written of purpose of the capacitie of the Arke In the first of Samuel you shall read of Goliah a Philistine the weight of whose brigandine or shirt of maile was of 5000. sicles or 1250. ounces of brasse which amounteth to 104. pound of Troie weight after 4. common sicles to the ounce The head of his speare came vnto ten pound English or 600. sicles of that metall His height also was measured at six cubits and an hand bredth All which doo import that he was a notable giant and a man of great stature strength to weare such an armour and beweld so heauie a lance But Goropius thinking himselfe still to haue Og in hand and indeuouring to extenuate the fulnesse of the letter to his vttermost power dooth neuerthelesse earnestlie affirme that he was not aboue three foot more than the common sort of men or two foot higher than Saule and so he leaueth it as determined In the second of Samuel I find report of foure giants borne in Geth of which Ishbenob the first that would haue killed Dauid had a speare whose head weighed the iust halfe of that of Golias◠the second called Siphai Sippai or Saph 1. Par. 20. was nothing inferiour to the first the third hight also Goliah the staffe of whose speare was like vnto the beame of a weauers loome neuerthelesse he was slaine in the second battell in Gob by Elhanan as the first was by Abisai Ioabs brother and the second by Elhanan The fourth brother for they were all brethren was slaine at Gath by Ionathan nephew to Dauid and he was not onlie huge of personage but also of disfigured forme for he had 24. fingers and toes Wherby it is euident that the generation of giants was not extinguished in Palestine vntill the time of Dauid which was 2890. after the floud nor vtterlie consumed in Og as some of our expositors would haue it Now to come vnto our christian writers For though the authorities alreadie alleged out of the word are sufficient to confirme my purpose at the full yet will I not let to set downe such other notes as experience hath reuealed onelie to the end that the reader shall not thinke the name of giants with their quantities and other circumstances mentioned in the scriptures rather to haue some mysticall interpretation depending vpon them than that the sense of the text in this behalfe is to be taken simplie as it speaketh And first of all to omit that which Tertullian Lib. 2. de resurrect saith S. Augustine noteth how he with other saw the tooth of a man wherof he tooke good aduisement and pronounced in the end that it would haue made 100. of his owne or anie other mans that liued in his time The like hereof also dooth Iohn Boccace set downe in the 68. chapter of his 4. booke saieng that in the caue of a mountaine not far from Drepanum a towne of Sicilia called Eryx as he gesseth the bodie of an excéeding high giant was discouered thrée of whose teeth did weigh 100. ounces which being conuerted into English poise doth yeeld eight pound and foure ounces after twelue ounces to the pound that is 33. ounces euerie tooth He addeth farther that the forepart of his scull was able to conteine manie bushels of wheat and by the proportion of the bone of his thigh the Symmetricians iudged his bodie to be aboue 200. cubits Those teeth scull and bones were and as I thinke yet are for ought I know to the contrarie to be seene in the church of Drepanum in perpetuall memorie of his greatnesse whose bodie was found vpon this occasion As some digged in the earth to laie the foundation of an house the miners happened vpon a great vault not farre from Drepanum whereinto when they were entred they saw the huge bodie of a man sitting in the caue of whose greatnesse they were so afraid that they
on the other and is called the Waie The Weie or the Waie rising by west commeth from Olsted soone after taking the Hedleie brooke withall which riseth in Wulmere forrest and goeth by Hedleie and Frensham hasteth by Bentleie Farnham Alton Waiberleie Elsted and so to Pepper harrow where it ioineth with the Thuresbie water which commeth not farre off from a village of the same denomination From hence also it goeth to Godalming and then toward Shawford but yer it come there it crosseth Craulie becke which rising somewhere about the edge of Sussex short of Ridgewtjc goeth by Uacherie parke Knoll Craulie Bramleie Wonarsh and so into the Waie From hence then our riuer goeth to Shawford and soone after méeting with the Abbinger water that commeth by Shere Albirie and the chappell on the hill it proceedeth to Guldeford thence to Stoke Sutton in the parke Send Woking and at Newarke parke side taketh in a brooke that riseth of two heads whereof one dooth spring betwéene two hils north of Pepper harrow and so runneth through Henleie parke the other aboue Purbright and afterward ioining in one they go foorth vnto Newarke and being there vnited after the confluence it goeth to Purford court to Bifler Waifred Oteland and so into the Thames From Oteland the Thames goeth by Walton Sunburie west Moulseâ—e Hampton and yer it come at Hampton court on the northside and east Moulseie on the other it taketh in the Moule water which giueth name vnto the two townes that stand on each side of the place where it falleth into our streame It riseth in Word forrest and going by Burstow it méeteth afterward with another gullet conteining a small course from two seuerall heads whereof one is also in the forrest aforenamed the other runneth from Bebush wood and comming by Iseld méeteth with the first aboue Horleie and so run on in one chanell I saie till they ioine with the Moule water whereof I spake before After this confluence in like sort it is not long yer the Moule take in another from by north which commeth from about Mesham on the one side and another on the other side running by Ocleie and Capell and whereinto also a branch or rill commeth from a wood on the northwest part Finallie being thus increased with these manie rilles it goeth by east Becheworth west Becheworth and ouer against the Swalow on the side of Drake hill taking in another that coÌ„meth thither from Wootton by Darking and Milton it runneth to Mickleham Letherhed Stoke Cobham Ashire parke east Moulseie and so into the Thames which after this coniunction goeth on to Kingston and there also méeteth with another becke rising at Ewell south of Nonsuch Certes this rill goeth from Ewell by the old parke then to Mauldon so to Kingston towne The Thames in like maner being past Kingston goeth to Tuddington Petersham Twickenham Richmond and Shene where it receiueth a water on the northwest side which comming from about Harrow on the hill and by west of the same goeth by Haies Harlington Felthan and Thistle worth into the Thames The next fall of water is at Sion néere vnto new Brainford so that it issueth into the Thames betwéen them both This water is called Brane that is in the Brittish toong as Leland saith a frog It riseth about Edgeworth and commeth from thence by Kingesburie Twiford Periuall Hanwell and Austerleie Thence we followed our riuer to old Brentford Mortlach Cheswtjc Barnelmes Fulham and Putneie beneath which townes it crossed a becke from Wandlesworth that riseth at Woodmans turne and going by Easthalton méeteth another comming from Croidon by Bedington and so going on to Mitcham Marton abbeie and Wandlesworth it is not long yer it fall into the Thames Next vnto this is Mariburne rill on the other side which commeth in by S. Iames so that by this time we haue either brought the Thames or the Thames conueied vs to London where we rested for a season to take view of the seuerall tides there of which each one differeth from other by foure twentie minuts that is fortie eight in a whole daie as I haue noted before except the wether alter them Being past London and in the waie toward the sea the first water that it méeteth withall is the Brome on Kent side west of Gréenewich whose head is Bromis in Bromleie parish and going from thence to Lewsham it taketh in a water from by east and so directeth his course foorth right vnto the Thames The next water that it méeteth withall is on Essex side almost against Woolwich and that is the Lée or Luie whose head riseth short of Kempton in Hertfordshire foure miles southeast of Luton sometime called Logodunum or Logrodunum going through a péece of Brokehall parke leauing Woodhall parke on the north and Hatfield on the south with another parke adioining it goeth toward Hartford towne But yer it come there it receiueth a water peraduenture the Marran rising at northwest in Brodewater hundred from aboue Welwin northeast of Digeswell and going to Hartingfeld burie where the said confluence is within one mile of the towne Beneath Hatfield also it receiueth the Beane as I gesse comming from Boxwood by Benington Aston Watton and Stapleford and a little lower the third arme of increase from aboue Ware which descendeth from two heads whereof the greatest commeth from Barkewaie in Edwinster hundred the other Sandon in Oddesey hundred and after they be met beneath little Hornemeade they go togither by Pulcherchurch or Puckrich Stonden Thunderidge Wadesmill Benghoo and so into the Lée which from hence runneth on till it come at Ware which was drowned by the rage of the same 1408 and so to Amwell where on the north side it receiueth the water that commeth from little Hadham through a péece of Singleshall parke then by great Hadham and so from Widford to the aforesaid towne From hence also they go as one to old Stansted called Le Veil branching in such wise yer it come there that it runneth through the towne in sundrie places Thence it goeth foorth to Abbats Stansted beneath which it méeteth with the Stoure west as I remember of Roidon This Sture riseth at Wenden lootes from whence it goeth to Langleie Clauering Berden Manhuden Birchanger where it taketh a rill comming from Elsingham Stansted Mountfitchet The 〈◊〉 it hieth on to Bishops Stourford Sabrichfoord and beneath this towne crosseth with another from the east side of Elsingham that goeth to Hatfield Brodocke Shiring Harlo so into the Stoure and from whence they go togither to Eastwic Parâ—edon and next into the Lée These things being thus performed the Lée runneth on beneath Hoddesdon Broxburne and Wormleie where a water breaketh out by west of the maine streame a mile lower than Wormeleie it selfe but yet within the paroch and is called Wormeleie locke It runneth also by Cheston
direct their course toward Peuenseie beneath which they meet with another rising at Foington and thence go in one chanell for a mile or more till they fall togither into Peuenscie hauen The Cuckmer issueth out at seuerall places and hereof the more easterlie branch commeth from Warbleton ward the other from Bishops wood and méeting beneth Halling they run in one bottome by Micham Arlington Wellington old Frithstan and so into the sea Unto the water that commeth out at Newhauen sundrie brookes and riuerets doo resort but the chiefe head riseth toward the west somewhat betwéene Etchinford and Shepleie as I heare The first water therefore that falleth into the same on the east side issueth out of the ground about Uertwood and running from thence by Langhton and Ripe on the west side it falleth into the aforesaid riuer beneath Forle and Glime or thrée miles lower than Lewis if the other buttall like you not The next herevnto hath his head in Argas hill the third descendeth from Ashedon forrest and ioining with the last mentioned they crosse the maine riuer a little beneath Isefield The fourth water commeth from Ashedon forrest by Horstéed Caines or Dusestate Caines and falleth into the same likewise east of Linfield Certes I am deceiued if this riuer be not called Isis after it is past Isefield The fift riseth about Storuelgate and meeteth also with the maine streame aboue Linfield and these are knowen to lie vpon the right hand as we rowed vp the riuer On the other side are onelie two whereof the first hath his originall neere vnto Wenefield and holding on his course toward the east it meeteth with his maister betweene Newicke and Isefield or Ifield as some read it The last of all commeth from Plimodune or Plumpton and hauing met in like sort with the maine riuer about Barcham it runneth foorth with it they rest in one chanell by Barcham Hamseie Malling Lewis Piddingburne and so foorth into the maine The next riuer that we came vnto west of Brighthemston is the Sore which notwithstanding I find to be called Brember water in the ancient map of Marton colledge in Oxford but in such sort as I take it as the Rother or Limen is called Appledoure streame bicause of the said towne that standeth thervpon But to procéed it is a pleasant water thereto if you consider the situation of his armes and branches from the higher grounds verie much resembling a foure stringed whip Whereabout the head of this riuer is or which of these branches may safelie be called Sora from the rising in good sooth I cannot say For after we had passed nine or ten mils thereon vp into the land suddenlie the crosse waters stopped vs so that we were inforced to turne either east or west for directlie foorth-right we had no waie to go The first arme on the right hand as we went riseth out of a parke by south of Alborne and going on for a certeine space toward the northwest it turneth southward betwéene Shermonburie and Twinham and soone after méeteth with the Bimar not much south from Shermonburie whence they run togither almost two miles till they fall into the Sore That on the west side descendeth from about Billingeshirst going toward the east it crosseth with the fourth which riseth a litle by west of Thacam east from Pulborow and so they run as one into the Sore that after this confluence hasteth it selfe southward by Brember Burleis the Combes and yer long into the Ocean The Arun of which beside Arundell towne the castell and the vallie wherin it runneth is called Vallis Aruntina or Arundale in English is a goodlie water and thereto increased with no small number of excellent pleasant brookes It springeth vp of two heads whereof one descendeth from the north not far from Gretham and going by Lis méeteth with the next streame as I gesse about Doursford house The second riseth by west from the hils that lie toward the rising of the sunne from East maine and runneth by Peterfield The third commeth from Beriton ward and ioineth with the second betwéene Peterfield and Doursford after which confluence they go togither in one chanell still toward the east taking a rill with them that cōmmeth betwéene Fernehirst and S. Lukes chappell southwest of Linchmere and meeting with it east of Loddesworth as I doo read and likewise sundrie other in one chanell beneath Stopham to Waltham Burie Houghton Stoke Arundell Tortington ford Climping all on the west side and so into the sea Hauing thus described the west side of Arun let vs doo the like with the other in such sort as we best may The first riuer that we come vnto therfore on the east side and also the second rise of sundrie places in S. Leonards forrest ioining a little aboue Horsham they méet with the third which commeth from Ifield parke not verie farre from Slinfeld The fourth hath two heads whereof one riseth in Witleie parke the other by west neere vnto Heselméere chappell and meeting by west of Doursfeld they vnite themselues with the chanell growing by the confluence that I spake of beneath Slinfeld a little aboue Billingshirst The last water commeth from the hils aboue Linchemere and runneth west and south and passing betwéene Billingthirst and Stopham it commeth vnto the chanell last mentioned and so into the Arun beneath Stopham without anie further increase at the least that I doo heare of Burne hath his issue in a parke néere Aldingburrie or rather a little aboue the same toward the north as I haue since beene informed and running by the bottomes toward the south it falleth betwéene north Berflete and Flesham Erin riseth of sundrie heads by east of Erinleie and directing his course toward the sunne rising it peninsulateth Seleseie towne on the southwest and Pagham at northwest Deel springeth about Benderton and thence running betwéene middle Lauant and east Lauant it goeth by west of west Hampnet by east of Chichester or west of Rumbaldesdowne and afterward by Fishburne where it meeteth with a rill comming north west from Funtingdon a little beneath the towne then running thus in one streame toward the sea it méeteth with another rillet comming by north of Bosham and so into Auant gulfe by east of Thorneie Iland The Racon riseth by east of Racton or Racodunum as Leland calleth it and comming by Chidham it falleth into the sea northeast of Thorneie aforesaid The Emill commeth first betwéene Racton and Stansted then downe to Emilsworth or Emmesworth so vnto the Ocean separating Sussex from Hampshire almost from the very head Hauing in this maner passed along the coasts of Sussex the next water that I remember riseth by east of the forrest of Estbirie from whence it goeth by Southwike west Burhunt Farham and so into the gulfe almost full south Then come we to Bedenham creeke so called of a
they beat vpon the Test not verie farre from Murseling From thence the Test goeth vnder a pretie bridge before it come at Redbridge from whence it is not long yer it fall into the hauen The next riuer that runneth into this port springeth in the new Forrest and commeth thereinto about Eling not passing one mile by west of the fall of Test. From hence casting about againe into the maine sea and leauing Calde shore castell on the right hand we directed our course toward the southwest vnto Beaulieu hauen whereinto the Mineie descendeth The Mineie riseth not far from Mineiestéed a village in the north part of the new Forrest and going by Beaulieu it falleth into the sea southwest west as I take it of Exburie a village standing vpon the shore Being past the Mineie we crossed the Limen as it is now called whose head is in the verie hart of the new Forrest sometime conuerted into a place of nourishment for déere by William Rufus buieng his pleasure with the ruine of manie towns and villages as diuerse haue inclosed or inlarged their parks by the spoile of better occupiengs running southwest of Lindhirst the parke it goeth by east of Brokenhirst west of Bulder finallie into the sea south and by east of Lemington I take this not to be the proper name of the water but of the hauen for Limen in Gréeke is an hauen so that Limendune is nothing else but a downe or higher plot of ground lieng on the hauen neuerthelesse sith this denomination of the riuer hath now hir frée passage I think it not conuenient to séeke out any other name that should be giuen vnto it The next fall that we passed by is namelesse except it be called Bure as it descendeth from new Forrest so the next vnto it hight Mile as I haue heard in English Certes the head thereof is also in the southwest part of the said Forrest the fall not far from Milford bridge beyond the which I find a narrow going or strictland leading fro the point to Hirst castell which standeth into the sea as if it hoong by a thred from the maine of the Iland readie to be washed awaie by the continuall working and dailie beating of the waues The next riuer that we came vnto of anie name is the Auon which as Leland saith riseth by northeast and not far from Woolfehall in Wilthshire supposed to be the same which Ptolomie called Halenus The first notable bridge that it runneth vnto is at Uphauen thence foure miles further it goeth to little Ambresburie and there is another bridge from thence to Woodford village standing at the right hand banke and Newton village on the left The bishops of Sarum had a proper manor place at Woodford which bishop Shaxton pulled downe altogither bicause it was somewhat in ruine Thence it goeth to Fisherton bridge to Cranebridge old Salisburie new Salisburie and finallie to Harnham which is a statelie bridge of stone of six arches at the least There is at the west end of the said bridge a little Iland that lieth betwixt this and another bridge of foure pretie arches and vnder this later runneth a good round streame which as I take it is a branch of Auon that breaketh out a little aboue soone after it reuniteth it selfe againe or else that Wilton water hath there his entrie into the Auon which I cannot yet determine From Harneham bridge it goeth to Dounton that is about foure miles and so much in like sort from thence to Fordingbridge to Kingwood bridge fiue miles to Christes church Twinham fiue miles and streight into the sea and hitherto Leland of this streame which for the worthinesse thereof in mine opinion is not sufficientlie described Wherefore I thinke good to deliuer a second receiued of another which in more particular maner dooth exhibit his course vnto vs. Certes this Auon is a goodlie riuer rising as I said before néere vnto Wolfe hall although he that will séeke more scrupulouslie for the head in déed must looke for the same about the borders of the forrest of Sauernake that is Soure oke which lieth as if it were imbraced betwéene the first armes thereof as I haue beene informed These heads also doo make a confluence by east of Martinshall hill and west of Wootton From whence it goeth to Milton Powseie Manningfield abbeie Manningfield crosse and beneath Newington taketh in one rill west from Rudborow and another a little lower that riseth also west of Alcanninges and runneth into the same by Patneie Merden Wilford Charleton and Rustisall Being therefore past Newington it goeth to Uphauen whereof Leland speaketh to Chesilburie Compton Ablington little Almsburie Darntford Woodford old Salisburie and so to new Salisburie where it receiueth one notable riuer from by northwest another from north east which two I will first describe leauing the Auon at Salisburie for a while The first of these is called the Wilugh whereof the whole shire dooth take hir name and not of the great plentie of willowes growing therein as some fantasticall heads doo imagine whereof also there is more plentie in that countrie than is to be found in other places It riseth among the Deuerels and running thence by hill Deuerell Deuerell long bridge it goeth toward Bishops straw taking in one rill by west another from Upton by Werminster at northwest From Bishops straw it goeth to Norton Upton Badhampton Steplinford and Stapleford where it meeteth with the Winterburie water from by north descending from Maddenton by Winterburne From Stapleford it hasteth to Wishford Newton Chilhampton Wilton and thither commeth a water vnto it from southwest which riseth of two heads aboue Ouerdonet After this it goeth by Wordcastell to Tisburie and there receiueth a water on ech side whereof one commeth from Funthill the other from two issues of which one riseth at Austie the other at Swalodise and so keeping on still with his course our Wilugh runneth next of all by Sutton Thence it goeth to Fouant Boberstocke Southburcombe Wilton where it taketh in the Fomington or Nader water Westharnam Salisburie and Eastharnam and this is the race of Wilugh The other is a naked arme or streame without anie branches It riseth aboue Colingburne Kingston in the hils and thence it goeth to Colingburne the Tidworths whereof the more southerlie is in Wiltshire Shipton Cholterton Newton Toneie Idmerson Porton the Winterburns Lauerstocke and so into Auon east of Salisburie And thus is the confluence made of the aforesaid waters with this our second Auon whereinto another water falleth calleth Becquithes brooke a mile beneath Harneham bridge whose head is fiue miles from Sarum and thrée miles aboue Becquithes bridge as Leland dooth remember who noteth the Chalkeburne water to haue his due recourse also at this place into the aforesaid riuer Certes it is a pretie brooke and riseth six miles from Shaftesburie and in the
that runneth thither from Dent towne beneath Sebbar they continue their course as one into the Burbecke from whence it is called Lune From hence it goeth to Burbon chappell where it taketh in another rill comming from by east then to Kirbie Lansdale and aboue Whittenton crosseth a brooke comming from the countie stone by Burros and soone after beneath Tunstall and Greteie which descending from about Ingelborow hill passeth by Twiselton Ingleton Thorneton Burton Wratton and néere Thurland castell toucheth finallie with the Lune which brancheth and soone after vniteth it selfe againe After this also it goeth on toward New parke and receiueth the Wennie and the Hinburne both in one chanell of which this riseth north of the crosse of Greteie and going by Benthams and Roberts hill aboue Wraie taketh in the Rheburne that riseth north of Wulfecrag After this confluence also aboue New parke it maketh his gate by Aughton Laughton Skirton Lancaster Excliffe Awcliffe Soddaie Orton and so into the sea Thus haue you both the descriptions of Lune make your conference or election at your pleasure for I am sworne to neither of them both The next fall is called Docker and peraduenture the same that Leland dooth call the Kerie which is not farre from Wharton where the rich Kitson was borne it riseth north of Docker towne and going by Barwtjc hall it is not increased before it come at the sea where it falleth into the Lune water at Lunesands Next of all we come to Bitham becke which riseth not far from Bitham towne and parke in the hilles where about are great numbers of goates kept and mainteined and by all likelihood resorteth in the end to Linsands Being past this we find a forked arme of the sea called Kensands into the first of which diuerse waters doo run in one chanell as it were from foure principall heads one of them comming from Grarrig hall another frō by west of Whinfield ioining with the first on the east side of Skelmere parke The third called Sprot or Sprota riseth at Sloddale commeth downe by west of Skelmer parke so that these two brookes haue the aforesaid parke betwéene them fall into the fourth east of Barneside not verie farre in sunder The fourth or last called Ken commeth from Kentmers side out of Ken moore in a poole of a mile compasse verie well stored with fish the head whereof as of all the baronie of Kendall is in Westmerland going to Stauelope it taketh in a rill from Chappleton Inges Then leauing Colnehead parke by east it passeth by Barneside to Kendall Helston Sigath Siggeswijc Leuenbridge Milnethorpe and so into the sea Certes this Ken is a pretie déepe riuer and yet not safelie to be aduentured vpon with boates and balingers by reason of rolling stones other huge substances that off annoie trouble the middest of the chanell there The other péece of the forked arme is called Winstar the hed wherof is aboue Winstar chappell going downe almost by Carpmaunsell Netherslake it is not long yer it fall into the sea or sands for all this coast a gulfe from the Ramside point to the Mealenasse is so pestered with sands that it is almost incredible to sée how they increase Those also which inuiron the Kenmouth are named Kensands but such as receiue the descent from the Fosse Winander and Sparke are called Leuesands as I find by sufficient testimonie The mouth or fall of the Dodon also is not farre from this impechment wherefore it is to be thought that these issues will yer long become verie noisome if not choked vp altogither The Winander water riseth about Cimbarlrasestones from whence it goeth to Cangridge where it maketh a méere then to Ambleside and taking in yer it come there two rilles on the left hand and one on the right that commeth by Clapergate it maketh as I take it the greatest méere or fresh water in England for I read it is ten miles in length Finallie comming to one small chanell aboue Newbridge it reacheth not aboue six miles yer fall into the sea There is in like sort a water called the Fosse that riseth néere vnto Arneside and Tillerthwates and goeth foorth by Grisdale Satrethwate Rusland Powbridge Bowth and so falleth with the Winander water into the maine sea On the west side of the Fosse also commeth another through Furnesse felles and from the hilles by north thereof which yer long making the Thurstan lake not far from Hollinhow and going by Bridge end in a narrow chanell passeth foorth by Nibthwaits Blareth Cowlton Sparke bridge and so into the sea Hauing passed the Leuen or Conisands or Conistonesands or Winander fall for all is one I come to the Lew which riseth at Cewike chappell and falleth into the sea beside Plumpton The Rawther descending out of low Furnesse hath two heads whereof one commeth from Penniton the other by Ulmerstone abbeie and ioining both in one chanell they hasten into the sea whither all waters direct their voiage Then come we to another rill southwest of Aldingham descending by Glaiston castell and likewise the fourth that riseth néere Lindell and running by Dawlton castell and Furnesse abbeie not farre from the Barrow head it falleth into the sea ouer against Waueie and Waueie chappell except mine aduertisements misleade me The Dodon which from the head is bound vnto Cumberland and Westmerland commeth from the Shire stone hill bottome and going by Blackehill Southwake S. Iohns Uffaie parke Broughton it falleth into the faltwater betwéene Kirbie and Mallum castell And thus are we now come vnto the Rauenglasse point and well entred into Cumberland countie Comming to Rauenglasse I find hard by the towne a water comming from two heads and both of them in lakes or pooles whereof one issueth out of Denocke or Deuenocke méere and is called Denocke water the other named Eske from Eske poole which runneth by Eskedale Dalegarth and soone after meeting with the Denocke betwéene Mawburthwate and Rauenglasse falleth into the sea On the other side of Rauenglasse also commeth the Mite brooke from Miterdale as I read Then find we another which commeth from the hils and at the first is forked but soone after making a lake they gather againe into a smaller chanell finallie meeting with the Brenge they fall into the sea at Carleton southeast as I wéene of Drig The Cander or as Leland nameth it the Calder commeth out of Copeland forrest by Cander Sellefield and so into the sea Then come we to Euer water descending out of a poole aboue Coswaldhow and thence going by Euerdale it crosseth a water from Arladon and after procéedeth to Egremond S. Iohns and taking in another rill from Hide it is not long yer it méeteth with the sea The next fall is at Moresbie whereof I haue no skill From thence therefore
Grimsdale Kirke Andros Beaumont falleth into the sea beneath the Rowcliffe castell And thus much of the Eden which Leland neuerthelesse describeth after another sort whose words I will not let to set downe here in this place as I find them in his commentaries The Eden after it hath run a pretie space from his head méeteth in time with the Ulse water which is a great brooke in Westmerland and rising aboue Maredale a mile west of Loder it commeth by the late dissolued house of Shappe priorie théee miles from Shappe and by Brampton village into Loder or Lodon Certes this streame within halfe a mile of the head becommeth a great lake for two miles course and afterward waxing narrow againe it runneth foorth in a meane and indifferent bottome The said Eden in like sort receiueth the Aimote about thrée miles beneath Brougham castell and into the same Aimote falleth the Dacor becke alreadie touched which riseth by northwest in Materdale hils foure miles aboue Dacor castell and then going through Dacor parke it runneth by east a good mile lower into Eimote a little beneath Delamaine which standeth on the left side of Dacor In one of his bookes also he saith how Carleill standeth betwéene two streames that is to saie the Deua which commeth thither from by southwest and also the Logus tha descendeth from the southeast He addeth moreouer how the Deua in times past was named Uala or Bala and that of the names of these two Lugibala for Caerleill hath beene deriued c. and thus much out of Leland But where he had the cause of this his coniecture as yet I haue not read Of this am I certeine that I vse the names of most riuers hete and else-where described accordinglie as they are called in my time although I omit not to speake here and there of such as are more ancient where iust occasion mooueth me to remember them for the better vnderstanding of our histories as they doo come to hand Blacke Leuen and white Leuen waters fall into the sea in one chanell and with them the Lamford and the Eske the last confluence being not a full mile from the maine sea The white and blacke Leuen ioining therfore aboue Bucknesse the confluence goeth to Bracken hill Kirkleuenton and at Tomunt water meeteth with the Eske In like sort the Kirsop ioining with the Lidde out of Scotland at Kirsop foot running by Stangerdike side Harlow Hathwater and taking in the Eske aboue the Mote it looseth the former name and is called Eske vntill it come to the sea Hauing thus gone thorough the riuers of England now it resteth that we procéed with those which are to be found vpon the Scotish shore in such order as we best may vntill we haue fetched a compasse about the same and come vnto Barwike whence afterward it shall be easie for vs to make repaire vnto the Thames from which we did set forward in the beginning of our voiage The first riuer that I met withall on the Scotish coast is the Eske after I came past the Solueie which hath his head in the Cheuiot hilles runneth by Kirkinton and falleth into the sea at Borow on the sands This Eske hauing receiued the Ewis falleth into the Solueie first at Atterith After this I passed ouer a little créeke from Kirthell and so to Anand whereof the vallie Anandale dooth séeme to take the name There is also the Nide whereof commeth Nidsdale the Ken the Dée the Crale and the Bladnecke and all these besides diuerse other small rilles of lesse name doo lie vpon the south of Gallowaie On the north side also we haue the Ruan the Arde the Cassile Dune the Burwin the Cluide wherevpon sometime stood the famous citie of Alcluide and whereinto runneth the Carath the Hamell the Dourglesse and the Lame From hence in like maner we came vnto the Leuind mouth wherevnto the Blake on the southwest and the Lomund lake with his fléeting Iles and fish without finnes yet verie holesone dooth séeme to make his issue This lake of Lomund in calme weather ariseth sometimes so high and swelleth with such terrible billowes that it causeth the best marriners of Scotland to abide the leisure of this water before they dare aduenture to hoise vp sailes on hie The like is seene in windie weather but much more perillous There are certeine Iles also in the same which mooue and remooue oftentimes by force of the water but one of them especiallie which otherwise is verie fruitfull for pasturage of cattell Next vnto this is the Leue the Rage the Long the Goile the Heke which for the excéeding greatnesse of their heads are called lakes Then haue we the Robinseie the Foreland the Tarbat the Lean and the Abir wherevnto the Spanseie the Loine the Louth the Arke and the Zefe doo fall there is also the Sell the Zord the Owin the Newisse the Orne the Lang the Drun the Hew the Brun the Kell the Dowr the Faro the Nesse the Herre the Con the Glasse the Maur the Urdall the Fers that commeth out of the Caldell the Fairsoke which two latter lie a little by west of the Orchades and are properlie called riuers bicause they issue onelie from springs but most of the other takes bicause they come from linnes and huge pooles or such low bottomes fed with springs as séeme to haue no accesse but onelie recesse of waters whereof there be manie in Scotland But to procéed Hauing once past Dungisbie head in Cathnesse we shall yer long come to the mouth of the Wifle a prettie streame comming by south of the mounteins called the Maidens pappes Then to the Browre the Clin the Twin whereinto runneth three riuers the Shin the Sillan and Carew the Nesse which beside the plentie of samon found therein is neuer frosen nor suffereth yce to remaine there that is cast into the poole From thence we come vnto the Narding the Finderne the Spaie which receiues the Uine the Fitch the Bulich the Arrian the Leuin and the Bogh from whence we saile vntill we come about the Buquhan head and so to the Downe and d ee which two streames bring forth the greatest samons that are to be he had in Scotland and most plentie of the same Then to the north Eske whereinto the Esmond runneth aboue Brechin the south Eske then the Louen and the Taw which is the finest riuer for water that is in all Scotland and wherevnto most riuers and lakes doo run As Farlake Yrth Goure Loich Cannach Linell Loion Irewer Erne and diuerse other besides small rillets which I did neuer looke vpon Then is there the lake Londors vpon whose mouth saint Andrewes dooth stand
the water there beginneth to be called Hulne as I haue said alreadie From hence also it goeth through Beuerleie medowes and comming at the last not farre from an arme led from the Hulne by mans hand and able to beare great vessels almost to Beuerleie towne which in old time either hight or stood in Deirwald vntill Iohn of Beuerleie whom Leland nameth out of an old author to be the first doctor or teacher of diuinitie that euer was in Oxford and as it should séeme also by an ancient monument yet remaining to be of an hostell where the vniuersitie college now standeth therefore they write him Somtime fellow of that house began to be of fame of whom it is called Beuerleie as some affirme to this daie In déed all the countrie betwéene the Deirwent the Humber was sometime called Deira and the lower part Caua Deira in respect of the higher soile but now it is named the east Riding But what is this to my purpose The Hulne therefore being come almost to Beuerleie towne méeting thereabout also with the Cottingham becke comming from Westwood by the waie it hasteth to Kingston vpon Hulne or Hull and so into the Humber without anie maner impeachment The Fowlneie riseth about Godmanham from whence it goeth by Wighton Hareswell Seton Williams bridge and soone after spreading it selfe one arme called Skelfleet goeth by Cane Cawseie to Brownefléet and so into the Ouze The other passeth by Sandholme Gilberts dike Scalbie chappell Blacketoff and so into the aforesaid Ouze leauing a verie pretie Iland which is a parcell as I heare of Walding fen more though otherwise obscure to vs that dwell here in the south The Darwent riseth in the hilles that lie west of Robin Whoodes baie or two miles aboue Aiton bridge west from Scarborow as Leland saith and yer it hath run farre from the head it receiueth two rilles in one bottome from by west which ioine withall about Longdale end Thence they go togither to Broxeie and at Hacknesse take in another water comming from about Silseie Afterward it commeth to Aiton then to Haibridge and there crosseth the Kenford that descendeth from Roberteston After this also it goeth on to Potersbrumton where it taketh in one rill as it dooth another beneath running from Shirburne and the third yet lower on the further banke that descendeth from Brumton From these confluences it runneth to Fowlbridge Axbridge Yeldingham bridge so to Cotehouse receiuing by the waie manie waters yéelding great plentie of delicate samons to such as fish vpon the same Leland reckoning vp the names of the seuerall brookes numbreth them confusedlie after his accustomed order The Darwent saith he receiueth diuerse streames as the Shirihutton The second is the Crambecke descending from Hunderskell castell so called Tanquam à centum fontibus or multitude of springs that rise about the same and goeth the Rie which comming out of the Blackemoore passeth by Riuers abbeie taking in the Ricoll on the left hand then the Seuen the Costeie and Pickering brooke The Seuin also saith he riseth in the side of Blacke-moore and thence goeth by Sinnington foure miles from Pickering and about a mile aboue a certeine bridge ouer Rie goeth into the streame The Costeie in like sort springeth in the verie edge of Pickering towne at a place called Keld head and goeth into the Rie two miles beneath Pickering about Kirbie minster Finallie Pickering water ariseth in Blackemoore and halfe a mile beneath Pickering falleth into Costeie meeting by the way with the Pocklington becke and an other small rill or two of whose names I haue no knowledge Hitherto Leland But in mine opinion it had béene far better to haue described them thus Of those waters that fall into the Darwent beneath Cotehouse the first commeth from Swenton the second from Ebberston the third from Ollerston the fourth from Thorneton Pickering and the fift on the other side that commeth thither from Wintringham For so should he haue dealt in better order and rid his hands of them with more expedition referring the rest also vnto their proper places But to procéed after mine owne maner Being past Cotehouse yer the Darwent come at Wickham it crosseth the Rie which riseth of two heads and ioining west of Locton they run through Glansbie parke Finallie receiuing the Costeie it méeteth at the last with an other streame increased by the fals of six waters and more yer it come into the Darwent The most easterlie of these is called Seuen and riseth as is aforesaid in Blackemoore from whence it goeth by Sinnington Murton Normanbie Newsound How and so into the Rie The second named Dou hath his originall likewise in Blackemoore and descending by Rasmore Keldon and Edston where it receiueth the Hodgebecke that commeth by Bernesdale Kirkedale Welburne it goeth to Sawlton and there taketh in first the Ricoll that goeth by Careton and whereof Ridall as some thinke but falslie doth séeme to take the name Then Fesse which riseth aboue Bilisdale chappell and méeteth with the Rie at the Shaking bridge from whence they go togither vnder the Rie bridge to Riuis abbeie and thence after it hath crossed a becke from the west through a parke of the earle of Rutlands to Newton Muniton and so to Sawton or Sawlton as I doo find it written Here also it taketh in the Holbecke brooke that commeth thithex from by west by Gilling castell and Stangraue from whence it goeth on to Brabie next into the Seuen then into the Rie and so into the Darwent which from thence dooth run to Wickham Being past Wickham it méeteth with a water that commeth thereinto from Grinston to Setterington at southeast and thence it goeth on the Malton and Malton where the prouerbe saith that a bushell of rie and an other of malt is woorth but six pence carie awaie whilest you may so as you can kéepe them from running through the sarkes Sutton Wellam Furbie and Kirkeham receiuing by the waie one rill on the one side and an other on the other whereof this commeth from Burdfall that other from Conisthorpe From Kirkeham it goeth to Cramburne and Owsham bridge crossing by the waie an other brooke comming from saint Edwards gore by Faston then to Aldbie Buttercram aliàs Butterham bridge Stamford bridge Kexbie bridge Sutton Ellerton Aughton Bubwith Wresill Babthorpe and so into the Ouze wherewith I finish the description of Darwent sauing that I haue to let you vnderstand how Leland heard that an arme ran some time from the head of Darwent also to Scarborow till such time as two hils betwixt which it ran did shalder and so choke vp his course The Fosse a slow streame yet able to beare a good vessell riseth in Nemore Calaterio that is Galters wood or Cawood among the wooddie hilles and in his
from southwest whereof one branch commeth by Marton the other by Thorneton which meete about Broughton then another from northeast that runneth by Skipton castell After this confluence it hasteth by manifold windlesses which caused thirteene bridges at the last to be ouer the same within a little space to Newbiggin Bradleie and Kildwijc by south east whereof it méeteth with one water from Mawsis and Glusburne or Glukesburne called Glike another likewise a little beneath from Seton beside two rilles from by north after which confluence it runneth by Reddlesden and ouer against this towne the Lacocke and the Woorth doo meet withall in one chanell as the Moreton water dooth on the north although it be somewhat lower Thence it goeth to Rishfoorth hall and so to Bungleie where it taketh a rill from Denholme parke to Shipeleie and there crossing another from Thorneton Leuenthorpe and Bradleie it goeth to Caluerleie to Christall and so to Léedes where one water runneth there into by north from Wettlewood two other from by south in one chanell wherof the first hath two armes of which the one commeth from Pudseie chappell the other from Adwalton their confluence being made aboue Farnesleie hall The other likewise hath two heads whereof one is aboue Morleie the other commeth from Domingleie and méeting with the first not far southwest of Leedes they fall both into the Air and so run with the same to Swillington and there taking in the Rodwell becke south of the bridge it proceedeth to Ollerton Castleford Brotherton Ferribridge there receiuing the Went a becke from Pontefract or Pomfret which riseth of diuerse heads wherof one is among the cole pits Thence to Beall Berkin Kellington middle Hodleseie Templehirst Gowldall Snath Rawcliffe Newland Armie and so into the Ouze with an indifferent course Of all the riuers in the north Leland in so manie of his bookes as I haue séene saith least of this Mine annotations also are verie slender in the particular waters wherbie it is increased wherfore I was compelled of necessitie to conclude euen thus with the description of the same and had so left it in déed if I had not receiued one other note more to ad vnto it euen when the leafe was at the presse which saith as followeth in maner word for word There is a noble water that falleth into Air whose head as I take it is about Stanford From whence it goeth to Creston chappell to Lingfield and there about receiuing one rill neere Elfrabright bridge and also the Hebden by northwest it goeth to Brearleie hall and so taking in the third by north it proceedeth on eastward by Sorsbie bridge chappell and there a rill from southwest and so to Coppeleie hall Beneath this place I find also that it receiueth one rill from Hallifax which riseth from two heads and two other from southwest of which one commeth by Baresland and Staneland in one chanell as I read So that after this confluence the aforesaid water goeth on toward Cowford bridge and as it taketh in two rilles aboue the same on the north side so beneath that bridge there falleth into it a pretie arme increased by sundrie waters coÌ„ming from by south as from Marsheden chappell from Holinesworth chappell and Kirke-Heton each one growing of sundrie heads whereof I would saie more if I had more intelligence of their seuerall gates and passages But to proceed From Cowford bridge it runneth to Munfeld and receiuing yer long one rill from Leuersage hall and another from Burshall by Dewesburie it goeth on northeast of Thornehull south of Horbirie thornes and thereabout crossing one rill from by south from Woller by new Milner Dam and soone after another from northwest called Chald rising in the Peke hils whereon Wakefield standeth and likewise the third from southeast and Waterton hall it goeth by Warmefield Newland Altoâ—â—es and finallie into the Aire west of Castelworth as I learne What the name of this riuer should be as yet I heare not and therefore no maruell that I doo not set it downe yet is it certeine that it is called Chald after his coÌ„fluence with the Chald and finallie Chaldair or Chaldar after it hath ioined with the Air or Ar. But what is this for his denominations from the head It shall suffice therefore thus farre to haue shewed the course thereof and as for the name I passe it ouer vntill another time The Trent is one of the most excellent riuers in the land not onelie for store of samon sturgeon and sundrie other kinds of delicate fish wherewith it dooth abound but also for that it is increased with so manie waters as for that onelie cause it may be compared wither with the Ouze or Sauerne I meane the second Ouze whose course I haue latelie described It riseth of two heads which ioine beneath Norton in the moore and from thence goeth to Hilton abbeie Bucknell church and aboue Stoke receiueth in the Foulebrooke water which commeth thither from Tunstall by Shelton and finallie making a confluence they go to Hanfleet where they méet with another on the same side that descendeth from Newcastell vnder Line which Leland taketh to be the verie Trent it selfe saieng that it riseth in the hils aboue Newcastell as may be séene by his commentaries But to proceed At Trentham or not farre from thence it crosseth a riueret from northeast whose name I know not thence going to Stone Aston Stoke Burston the Sandons and Weston a little aboue Shubburne Hawood it receiueth the Sow a great chanell increased with sundrie waters which I will here describe leauing the Trent at Shubburne till I come backe againe The Sow descendeth from the hilles aboue Whitemoore chappell and goeth by Charleton and Stawne and beneath Shalford ioineth with another by northeast that commeth from bishops Offeleie Egleshall Chesbie Raunton After this confluence also it runneth by Bridgeford Tillington Stafford beneath which towne it crosseth the Penke becke that riseth aboue Nigleton Berwood aboue Penke bridge vniteth it selfe with another comming from Knightleie ward by Gnashall church Eaton and so going foorth as one it is not long yer they fall into Sow after they haue passed Draiton Dunstan Acton and Banswich where loosing their names they with the Sow the Sow with them doo ioine with the Trent at Shubburne vpon the southerlie banke From Shubburne the Trent goeth on to little Harwood meeting by the waie one rill at Ousleie bridge and another south of Riddlesleie thence by Hawksberie Mauestane Ridware and so toward Yoxhall where I must state a while to consider of other waters wherewith I meet in this voiage Of these therefore the lesser commeth in by south from Farwall the other from by west a faire streame and increased with two brooks whereof the first riseth in Nedewood forrest northeast of Haggersleie parke whereinto falleth another west of Hamsteed Ridware called Blith
that gaue authoritie to the cleargie to punish whoredome who at that time found fault with the former lawes as being too seuere in this behalfe For before the time of the said Canutus the adulterer forfeited all his goods to the king and his bodie to be at his pleasure and the adulteresse was to lose hir eies or nose or both if the case were more than common whereby it appéereth of what estimation mariage was amongst them sith the breakers of that holie estate were so gréeuouslie rewarded But afterward the cleargie dealt more fauourablie with them shooting rather at the punishments of such priests and clearkes as were maried than the reformation of adulterie and fornication wherein you shall find no example that anie seueritie was shewed except vpon such laie men as had defiled their nuns As in theft therfore so in adulterie and whoredome I would wish the parties trespassant to be made bond or slaues vnto those that receiued the iniurie to sell and giue where they listed or to be condemned to the gallies for that punishment would proue more bitter to them than halfe an houres hanging or than standing in a shéet though the weather be neuer so cold Manslaughter in time past was punished by the pursse wherin the quantitie or qualitie of the punishment was rated after the state and calling of the partie killed so that one was valued sometime at 1200 another at 600 or 200 shillings And by an estatute made vnder Henrie the first a citizen of London at 100 whereof else-where I haue spoken more at large Such as kill themselues are buried in the field with a stake driuen through their bodies Witches are hanged or sometimes burned but théeues are hanged as I said before generallie on the gibbet or gallowes sauing in Halifax where they are beheaded after a strange maner and whereof I find this report There is and hath beene of ancient time a law or rather a custome at Halifax that who soeuer dooth commit anie fellonie and is taken with the same or confesse the fact vpon examination if it be valued by foure constables to amount to the sum of thirtéene pence halfe penie he is foorthwith beheaded vpon one of the next market daies which fall vsuallie vpon the tuesdaies thursdaies saturdaies or else vpon the same daie that he is so conuicted if market be then holden The engine wherewith the execution is doone is a square blocke of wood of the length of foure foot and an halfe which dooth ride vp and downe in a slot rabet or regall betwéene two péeces of timber that are framed and set vpright of fiue yardes in height In the neather end of the sliding blocke is an ax keied or fastened with an iron into the wood which being drawne vp to the top of the frame is there fastned by a woodden pin with a notch made into the same after the maner of a Samsons post vnto the middest of which pin also there is a long rope fastened that commeth downe among the people so that when the offendor hath made his confession and hath laid his necke ouer the neathermost blocke euerie man there present dooth either take hold of the rope or putteth foorth his arme so neere to the same as he can get in token that he is willing to sée true iustice executed and pulling out the pin in this maner the head blocke wherein the ax is fastened dooth fall downe with such a violence that if the necke of the transgressor were so big as that of a bull it should be cut in sunder at a stroke and roll from the bodie by an huge distance If it be so that the offendor be apprehended for an ox oxen shéepe kine horsse or anie such cattell the selfe beast or other of the same kind shall haue the end of the rope tied somewhere vnto them so that they being driuen doo draw out the pin wherby the offendor is executed Thus much of Halifax law which I set downe onelie to shew the custome of that countrie in this behalfe Roges and vagabonds are often stocked and whipped scolds are ducked vpon cuckingstooles in the water Such fellons as stand mute and speake not at their arraignement are pressed to death by huge weights laid vpon a boord that lieth ouer their brest and a sharpe stone vnder their backs and these commonlie hold their peace thereby to saue their goods vnto their wiues and children which if they were condemned should be confiscated to the prince Théeues that are saued by their bookes and cleargie for the first offense if they haue stollen nothing else but oxen sheepe monie or such like which be no open robberies as by the high waie side or assailing of anie mans house in the night without putting him in feare of his life or breaking vp of his wals or doores are burned in the left hand vpon the brawne of the thombe with an hot iron so that if they be apprehended againe that marke bewraieth them to haue beene arraigned of fellonie before whereby they are sure at that time to haue no mercie I doo not read that this custome of sauing by the booke is vsed anie where else than in England neither doo I find after much diligent inquirie what Saxon prince ordeined that lawe Howbeit this I generallie gather thereof that it was deuised to traine the inhabiters of this land to the loue of learning which before contemned letters and all good knowledge as men onelie giuing themselues to husbandrie and the warres the like whereof I read to haue beene amongst the Gothes and Uandals who for a time would not suffer euen their princes to be lerned for weakening of their courages nor anie learned men to remaine in the counsell house but by open proclamation would command them to auoid whensoeuer anie thing touching the state of the land was to be consulted vpon Pirats and robbers by sea are condemned in the court of the admeraltie and hanged on the shore at lowe water marke where they are left till three tides haue ouer washed them Finallie such as hauing wals and banks néere vnto the sea and doo suffer the same to decaie after conuenient admonition whereby the water entereth and drowneth vp the countrie are by a certeine ancient custome apprehended condemned and staked in the breach where they remaine for euer as parcell of the foundation of the new wall that is to be made vpon them as I haue heard reported And thus much in part of the administration of instice vsed in our countrie wherein notwithstanding that we doo not often heare of horrible merciles and wilfull murthers such I meane asiare not sildome séene in the countries of the maine yet now and then some manslaughter and bloudie robberies are perpetrated and committed contrarie to the lawes which be seuerelie punished and in such wise as I before reported Certes there is no greater mischéefe doone in England than by robberies the first by yoong shifting
Ireland and there prouiding 18 ships of rouers returned landing in Wales ioined himselfe with Griffin the king or prince of Wales and did much hurt on the borders about Hereford of which place Rafe was then earle that was sonne vnto Goda the sister of K. Edward by hir first husband Gualter de Maunt. This earle assembling an armie came forth to giue battell to the enimies appointing the Englishmen contrarie to their manner to fight on horssebacke but being readie on the two twentith of October to giue the onset in a place not past two miles from Hereford he with his Frenchmen and Normans fled and so the rest were discomfited whome the aduersaries pursued and slue to the number of 500 beside such as were hurt and escaped with life Griffin and Algar hauing obteined this victorie entered into the towne of Hereford set the minster on fire slue seuen of the canons that stood to defend the doores or gates of the principall church and finallie spoiled and burned the towne miserablie The king aduertised hereof gathered an armie ouer the which Harold the sonne of earle Goodwine was made generall who followed vpon the enimies that fled before him into Northwales staied not till hauing passed through Stratâ—luid he came to the mountaines of Snowdon where he pitched his field The enimies durst not abide him but got them into Southwales whereof Harold being aduertised left the more part of his armie in Northwales to resist the enimies there with the residue of his people came backe vnto Hereford recouered the towne and caused a great and mightie trench to be cast round about it with an high rampire and fensed it with gates and other fortifications After this he did so much that comming to a communication with Griffin and Algar at a place called Biligelhage a peace was concluded and so the nauie of earle Algar sailed about and came to Chester there to remaine till the men of warre and marriners had their wages while he went to the king who pardoned his offense restored him to his earledome After this in the verie same yeare being the 15 of king Edwards reigne as some writers affirme Siward the noble earle of Northumberland died of the slix of whom it is said that when he perceiued the houre of death to be néere he caused him selfe to be put in armour set vp in his chaire affirming that a knight and a man of honour ought to die in that sort rather than lieng on a couch like a féeble and fainthearted creature and sitting so vpright in his chaire armed at all points he ended his life and was buried at Yorke O stout harted man not vnlike to that famous Romane remembred by Tullie in his Tusculane questions who suffered the sawing of his leg from his bodie without shrinking looking vpon the surgeon all the while hauing no part of his bodie bound for shrinking The said Siward earle of Northumberland was a man of a giantlike stature thereto of a verie stout and hardie courage because his sonne Walteif was but an infant and as yet not out of his cradell the earledome was giuen vnto earle Tostle one of Goodwins sonnes Edward the sonne of Edmund Ironside is sent for to be made heire apparant to crowne his death the deceasse of Leofrike earle of Chester the vertues and good deeds of him and his wife Gudwina Couentrie free from custome and toll churches and religious places builded and repared Algar succeedeth his father Leofrike in the earledome he is accused of treason and banished he recouereth his earledome by force of armes Harold is sent with a power against Griffin king of Wales the countrie wasted and the people forced to yeeld they renounce Griffin their king kill him and send his head to Harold Griffins brethren rule Wales after him by grant of king Edward Harolds infortunate going ouer into Normandie the earle of Ponthieu taketh him prisoner and releaseth him at the request of William duke of Normandie for whose vse Harold sweareth to keepe possession of the realme of England the duke promiseth him his daughter in mariage The sixt Chapter NOt long after in the yeare 1057 Aldred bishop of Worcester was sent ouer vnto the emperour Henrie the third to fetch Edward the sonne of Edmund Ironside into England whome king Edward was desirous to sée meaning to ordeine him heire apparant to the crowne but he died the same yeare after that he was returned into England This Edward was surnamed the outlaw his bodie was buried at Westminster or as others say in the church of S. Paule within London The same yeare that is to say in the seuentéenth yeare or in the sixtéenth yeare of king Edwards reigne as some write Leofrike the noble earle of Chester or Mercia that was sonne to duke Leofwine departed this life in his owne towne of Bromelie on the last day of August and was buried at Couentrie in the abbeie there which he had builded This earle Leofrike was a man of great honor wise and discréet in all his dooings His high wisdome and policie stood the realme in great stéed whilest he liued He had a noble ladie to his wife named Gudwina at whose earnest sute he made the citie of Couentrie frée of all manner of toll except horsses and to haue that toll laid downe also his foresaid wife rode naked through the middest of the towne without other couerture saue onlie hir haire Moreouer partlie moued by his owne deuotion and partlie by the persuasion of his wife he builded or beneficiallie augmented and repared manie abbeies churches as the said abbeie or priorie at Couentrie the abbeies of Wenlocke Worcester Stone Euesham and Leof besides Hereford Also he builded two churches within the citie of Chester the one called S. Iohns and the other S. Werbrough The value of the iewels ornaments which he bestowed on the abbeie church of Couentrie was inestimable After Leofriks death his sonne Algar was made earle and intituled in all his lands and seigniories In the yeare following to wit 1058 the same Algar was accused againe through malice of some enuious persons of treason so that he was exiled the land wherevpon he repaired againe vnto his old friend Griffin prince of Northwales of whome he was ioifullie receiued shortlie after by his aid also by the power of a nauie of ships that by chance arriued in those parts at that selfe same season vnlooked for out of Norwaie the said Algar recouered his earledome by force as some haue written King Edward about the twentith yeare of his reigne as then remaining at Glocester appointed earle Harold to inuade the dominions of Griffin king of Wales Harold taking with him a power of horssemen made spéed and came to Rutland and there burned Griffins palace and also his ships and then about Midlent returned againe into England After this about the
duke William as to adopt him his heire which promise should séeme to be made in time of his banishment when he stood in néed of his friendship as the maner of men in such cases is to promise much how so euer they intend to fulfill But rather it maie be thought that king Edward had made no such promise at all but perceiued the ambitious desire of duke William and therefore would not that anie occasion should be ministred vnto him to take hold of Wherefore he was loth that Harold should go ouer vnto him least that might happen which happened in déed In the foure and twentieth and last yéere of king Edward his reigne or therabout there fell variance betwixt the two brethren earle Harold and earle Tostie at Windsor where the court then lay in so much that earle Harold caught Tostie by the haire of the head in the kings presence and stroke him Heervpon Tostie departing from the court in great anger came to Hereford in the marches of Wales where Harolds seruants were preparing for the kings comming to their maisters house which seruants he tooke and slue chopping them in péeces and threw into this hogshead of wine a leg into that barrell of sider an arme into this vessell of ale an head and so into the lomes of meth and tubs of brine and other liquor he bestowed the parts of the dead carâ—asses of his brothers seruants sending the king woord that he had prouided at his brothers manor against his coÌ„ming good plentie of sowse powdred meat whatsoeuer he should find beside The rumor of this cruell deed sprang ouer all the realme wherevpon the Northumbers whome he had gouerned for the space of ten yéeres verie cruellie tooke occasion to rebell against him and slue his seruants both Englishmen and Danes spoiled his houses and tooke awaie his horsses his armour and all other his goods and houshold stuffe The chiefest cause as is remembred by some writers that mooued the Northumbers thus to rise and rebell against Tostie was for the detestable murther of certeine gentlemen of their countrie seruants vnto Gospatrike whom the queene in behalfe of hir brother had caused to be slaine in the court by treason in the fourth night of Christmas last past and also in reuenge of other noble men which in the last yéere Tostie himselfe had commanded to be murthered in his owne chamber at Yorke whither he had allured them to come vnder colour of concluding a peace with them Also the gréeuous paiments wherewith he charged the people of that countrie set them in a great rage against him But the king aduertised héereof liked not their dooings for that they had doone it without commandement or commission and therefore sent earle Harold with an armie to chastise them but they were strong inough to withstand him as those which were assembled in armour togither with the people of Lincolneshire Notinghamshire and Darbishire and hauing with them Marcharus or Malcharus the sonne of earle Algar were come as farre as Northhampton doing much hurt in the parts therabouts Howbeit to haue the kings peace they offered to returne home so that they might haue an other earle appointed them for that they plainlie protested that they being freemen borne and bred out of bondage might not suffer anie cruell gouernor to rule ouer them being taught by their ancestors either to liue in libertie or to die in defense thereof If therefore it might please the king to assigne Marcharus the son of earle Algar to be their ruler he should see how obedient subiects they would prooue shew themselues to be when they should be vsed after a reasonable and courteous manner All things considered their request seemed reasonable or at least it was thought necessarie that it should be granted And so was Marcharus or Malcherus made earle of Northumberland Tostie in great displeasure with his wife and children sailed ouer into Flanders and there remained till after the deceasie of king Edward Finallie after that this courteous prince king Edward had reigned thrée and twentie yeeres seuen moneths and od daies he departed this life at London the fourth of Ianuarie and was buried in the church of Westminster which he had in his life time roiallic repared after such a statelie sort as few churches in those daies were like therevnto within this realme so that afterwards the same was a patorne for other to be built after the same forme This Edward was a prince of such a vertuous disposition of mind that his fame of holinesse sprang ouer all He abhorred warres and shedding of bloud in so much that when he liued as a banished man in Normandie he had this saieng oftentimes in his mouth that he had rather liue a priuate life for euer than to obteine the kingdome by the slaughter and death of anie man He could not abide to haue the people oppressed with tributes or exactions in so much that he caused the paiment called Danegilt which had continued for the space almost of fortie yéeres to ceasse It hath beene said that when the collectors of this monie or some other subsidie had got an huge quantitie of treasure togither they brought it vnto him and laid it altogither vpon an heape so to delight his eies but he declaring that he saw a diuell plaieng and fetching gambols about that heape of monie commanded that it should be had awaie and restored againe to them of whome it was leauied In diet and apparell he was spare and nothing sumptuous and although on high feasts he ware rich apparell as became the maiestie of his roiall personage yet he shewed no proud nor loftie countenance rather praising God for his bountifull goodnesse towards him extended than estéeming heerein the vaine pompe of the world The pleasure that he tooke chieflie in this world for refreshing of his wits consisted onelie in hawking and hunting which exercises he dailie vsed after he had first beene in the church at diuine seruice In other things he seemed wholie giuen to a deuout trade of life charitable to the poore and verie liberall namelie to hospitals and houses of religion in the parties of beyond the sea wishing euer that the moonks and religions persons of his realme would haue followed the vertue and holinesse of life vsed amongst them of forren parties As hath béene thought he was inspired with the gift of prophesie and also to haue had the gift of healing infirmities and diseases He vsed to helpe those that were vexed with the disease commonlie called the kings euill and left that vertue as it were a portion of inheritance vnto his successors the kings of this realme He was warned as hath béene reported of his death certeine daies before he died by a ring that was brought him by certeine pilgrims comming from Hierusalem which ring he had secretlie giuen to a poore man that asked his charitie in the name of God and saint
tributes and paiments He caused indeed eight markes of siluer to be leuied of euerie port or hauen in England to the reteining of 16 ships furnished with men of warre which continued euer in a readinesse to defend the coasts from pirats To conclude with this Harold his spéedie death prouided well for his fame bicause as it was thought if his life had béene of long continuance his infamie had been the greater But after he had reigned foure yeeres or as other gathered three yéeres and thrée moneths he departed out of this world at Oxford was buried at Winchester as some day Other say he died at Meneford in the moneth of Aprill and was buried at Westminster which should appeare to be true by that which after is reported of his brother Hardiknoughts cruell dealing and great spite shewed toward his dead bodie as after shall be specified Hardicnute is sent for into England to be made king alteration in the state of Norwaie and Denmarke by the death of king Cnute Hardicnute is crowned he sendeth for his mother queene Emma Normandie ruled by the French king Hardicnute reuengeth his mother exile vpon the dead bodie of his stepbrother Harold queene Emma and erle Goodwine haue the gouernment of things in their hands Hardicnute leuieth a sote tribute vpon his subiects contempt of officers deniall of a prince his tribute sharpelie punished prince Edward commeth into England the bishop of Worcester accused and put from his see for being accessarie to the murthering of Alfred his restitution procured by contribution Earle Goodwine being accused for the same trespasse excuseth himselfe and iustifieth his cause by swearing but speciallie by presenting the king with an inestimable gift the cause why Goodwine purposed Alfreds death the English peoples care about the succession to the crowne moonke Brightwalds dreame and vision touching that matter Hardicnute poisoned at a bridall his conditions speciallie his hospitalitie of him the Englishmen learned to eate and drinke immoderatlie the necessitie of sobrietie the end of the Danish regiment in this land and when they began first to inuade the English coasts The xv Chapter AFter that Harold was dead all the nobles of the realme both Danes Englishmen agréed to send for Hardiknought the sonne of Canute by his wife quéene Enma and to make him king Héere is to be noted that by the death of king Canute the state of things was much altered in those countries of beyond the seas wherein he had the rule and dominion For the Norwegians elected oen Magnus the sonne of Olauus to be their king and the Danes chose this Hardiknought whome their writers name Canute the third to be their gouernor This Hardiknought or Canute being aduertised of the death of his halfe brother Harold and that the lords of England had chosen him to their king with all conuenient speed prepared a nauie and imbarking a certeine number of men of warre tooke the sea and had the wind so fauorable for his purpose that he arriued vpon the coast of Kent the sixt day after he set out of Denmarke and so comming to London was ioifullie receiued and proclaimed king and crowned of Athelnotus archbishop of Canturburie in the yere of our Lord 1041 in the first yéere of the emperour Henrie the third in the 9 yeere of Henrie the first of that name king of France and in the first yéere of Magâ—â—nloch alià s Machabeda king of Scotland Incontinentlie after his establishment in the rule of this realme he sent into Flanders for his mother queene Emma who during the time of hir banishment had remained there For Normandie in that season was gouerned by the French king by reason of the minoritie of duke William surnamed the bastard Moreouer in reuenge of the wrong offered to quéene Emma by hir sonne in law Harold king Hardicnute did cause Alfrike archbishop of Yorke and earle Goodwine with other noble men to go to Westminster and there to take vp the bodie of the same Harold and withall appointed that the head thereof should be striken off and the trunke of it cast into the riuer of Thames Which afterwards being found by fishers was taken vp and buried in the churchyard of S. Clement Danes without Temple barre at London He committed the order and gouernement of things to the hands of his mother Emma and of Goodwine that was erle of Kent He leuied a sore tribute of his subiects here in England to pay the souldiers and mariners of his nauie as first 21 thousand pounds 99 pounds and afterward vnto 32 ships there was a paiment made of a 11 thousand and 48 pounds To euerie mariuer of his nauie he caused a paiment of 8 marks to be made and to euerie master 12 marks About the paiment of this monie great grudge grew amongst the people insomuch that two of his seruants which were appointed collectors in the citie of Worcester the one named Feader and the other Turstane were there slaine In reuenge of which contempt a great part of the countrie with the citie was burnt and the goods of the citizens put to the spoile by such power of lords and men of warre as the king had sent against them Shortlie after Edward king Hardicnutes brother came foorth of Normanâ—ie to visit him and his mother quéene Emma of whome he was most ioifullie and honorablie welcomed and interteined and shortlie after made returne backe againe It should appeare by some writers that after his comming ouer out of Normandie he remained still in the realme so that he was not in Normandie when his halfe brother Hardicnute died but here in England although other make other report as after shall bée shewed Also as before ye haue heard some writers seeme to meane that the elder brother Alfred came ouer at the same time But suerlie they are therein deceiued for it was knowne well inough how tenderlie king Hardicnute loued his brethren by the mothers side so that there was not anie of the lords in his daies that durst attempt anie such iniurie against them True it is that as well earle Goodwine as the bishop of Worcester that was also put in blame and suspected for the apprehending and making away of Alfred as before ye haue heard were charged by Hardicnute as culpable in that matter insomuch that the said bishop was expelled out of his see by Hardicnute and after twelue moneths space was restored by meanes of such summes of monie as he gaue by waie of amends Earle Goodwine was also put to his purgation by taking an oth that he was not guiltie Which oth was the better allowed by reason of such a present as he gaue to the king for the redéeming of his fauour and good will that is to say a ship with a sterne of gold conteining therein 80 souldiers wearing on each of their armes two braceiets of gold of 16 ounces weight
a triple habergion guilt on their bodies with guilt burgenets on their heads a swoord with guilt hilts girded to their waâ—â—es a battell are after the maner of the Daues on the left shoulder a target with bosses and mails guilt in their left hand a dart in their right hand and thus to conclude they were furnished at all points with armor and weapon accordinglie It hath beene said that earle Goodwine minded to marie his daughter to one of these brethren and perceiuing that the elder brother Alfred would disdaine to haue hir thought good to dispatch him that the other taking hir to wife hée might be next heire to the crowne and so at length inioy it as afterwards came to passe Also about that time when the linage of the kings of England was in maner extinct the English people were much carefull as hath béene said about the succession of those that should inioie the crowne Wherevpon as one Brightwold a moonke of Glastenburie that was afterward bishop of Wincester or as some haue written of Worcester studied oftentimes thereon it chanced that he dreamed one night as he slept in his bed that he saw saint Peter consecrate annoint Edward the sonne of Egelred as their remaining in exile in Normandie king of England And as he thought he did demand of saint Peter who should succéed the said Edward Wherevnto answer was made by the apostle Haue thou no care for such matters for the kingdome of England is Gods kingdome Which suerlie in good earnest may appeare by manie great arguments to be full true vnto such as shall well consider the state of this realme from time to time how there hath béene euer gouernours raised vp to mainteine the maiestie of the kingdome and to reduce the same to the former dignitie when by anie infortunate mishap it hath beene brought in danger But to returne now to king Hardicnute after he had reigned two yéeres lacking 10 daies as he sat at the table in a great feast holden at Lambeth he fell downe suddenlie with the pot in his hand and so died not without some suspicion of poison This chanced on the 8 of Iune at Lambeth aforesaid where on the same day a mariage was solemnized betwéene the ladie Githa the daughter of a noble man called Osgot Clappa and a Danish lord also called Canute Prudan His bodie was buried at Winchester besides his fathers He was of nature verie curteous gentle and liberall speciallie in keeping good chéere in his house so that he would haue his table couered foure times a day furnished with great plentie of meates and drinks wishing that his seruants and all strangers that came to his palace might rather leaue than want It hath béene commonlie told that Englishmen learned of him their excessiue gourmandizing vnmeasurable filling of their panches with meates and drinkes whereby they forgat the vertuous vse of sobrietie so much necessarie to all estates and degrées so profitable for all common-wealths and so commendable both in the sight of God and all good men In this Hardicnute ceased the rule of the Danes within this land with the persecution which they had executed against the English nation for the space of 250 yeres more that is to say euer since the tenth yeere of Brithrike the king of Westsaxons at what time they first began to inuade the English coasts Howbeit after others they should séeme to haue ruled here but 207 reckoning from their bringing in by the Welshmen in despite of the Saxons at which time they first began to inhabit here which was 835 of Christ 387 after the comming of the Saxons and 35 néere complet of the reigne of Egbert ¶ But to let this peece of curiositie passe this land felt that they had a time of arriuall a time of inuading a time of ouerrunning and a time of ouerrunling the inhabitants of this maine continent Wherof manifest proofes are at this day remaining in sundrie places sundrie ruines I meane and wastes committed by them vpon the which whensoeuer a man of a relenting spirit casteth his eie he can not but enter into a dolefull consideration of former miseries and lamenting the defacements of this I le by the crueltie of the bloudthirstie enimie cannot but wish if he haue but Minimam misericordiae guttam quae maiorest spatioso oceano as one saith and earnestlie desire in his heart that the like may neuer light vpon this land but may be auerted and turned away from all christian kingdomes through his mercie whose wrath by sinne being set on fire is like a consuming flame and the swoord of whose vengeance being sharpened with the whetstone of mens wickednesse shall hew them in péeces as wood for the fornace Thus farre the tumultuous and tyrannicall regiment of the Danes inferring fulnesse of afflictions to the English people wherewith likewise the seuenth booke is shut vp THE EIGHT BOOKE of the Historie of England Edward the third of that name is chosen king of England by a generall consent ambassadours are sent to attend him homewardes to his kingdome and to informe him of his election William duke of Normandie accompanieth him Edward is crowned king the subtill ambition or ambitious subtiltie of earle Goodwine in preferring Edward to the crowne and betraieng Alfred the Danes expelled and rid out of this land by decree whether earle Goodwine was guiltie of Alfreds death king Edward marieth the said earles daughter he forbeareth to haue carnall knowledge with hir and why he vseth his mother queene Emma verie hardlie accusations brought against hir she is dispossessed of hir goods and imprisoned for suffering bishop Alwine to haue the vse of hir bodie she purgeth and cleareth hir selfe after a strange sort hir couetousnesse mothers are taught by hir example to loue their children with equalitie hir liberall deuotion to Winchester church cleared hir from infamie of couetousnesse king Edward loued hir after hir purgation why Robert archbishop of Canturburie fled out of England into Normandie The first Chapter IMmediatlie vpon the deth of Hardiknought and before his corps was committed to buriall his halfe brother Edward sonne of king Egelred begotten of quéene Emma was chosen to be K. of England by the generall consent of all the nobles and commons of the realme Therevpon where ambassadours sent with all spéed into Normandie to signifie vnto him his election and to bring him from thence into England in deliuering pledges for more assurance that no fraud nor deceit was ment of the Englishmen but that vpon his comming thither he should receiue the crowne without all contradiction Edward then aided by his coosine William duke of Normandie tooke the sea with a small companie of Normans came into England where he was receiued with great ioy as king of the realme immediatlie after was crowned at Winâ—hester by Edsinus then archbishop of Canturburie on Easter day in the yeare of our Lord 1043