Sibilla a deuine Prophesiar writer Merilinus Ambrosius a man of hye knowledge spirit A description of Oske Two Riuers nere together of seuerall natures shewes a strange thing King Edward the fourth and his children as some affirme and King Richard the third were borne here Castle StrogeÌ„ doth yet remaine three myle from Oske but the Castle is almost cleane downe In the Duchie of Lancaster these three Castles are but not in good plight any way The Duke of Yorke once lay here and now the Castell is in Maister Roger Willyams hands A description of Carleon Maister Morgan of Lanternam in a fayre house dwelles two mile from Carleon A plaine and true rehearsall of matter of great antiquitie A fayre Fountaine now begun A free Schoole now erected by Maister Morgan of Lanternam A gird to the flatterers and fauners of present tyme. A house of reformatioÌ„ newly begun likewise The Bishop of Landaffe still lying in the Towne We praise and extoll strange Nations and forget or abase our owne Countries In Arons the Martyrs Church King Arthur was crowned Three Archbishops Yorke London and CarleoÌ„ crowning King Arthur Arthur was great that coÌ„manded such solemnitie The true Authors are in the beginning of this booke for profe of this Another notable solemnitie at a Coronation In Iulius Church the Martyr the Queene was crowned An honor rare and great yet seldome seene A deepe and large round peece of grouÌ„d shewes yet where Arthur sate A Church on a hil a mile of Saint Gillyans is a faire house where Sir William Harbert dwelles Wonderfull huge and long pauements The notablest seate to behold being on the top that may be seene The Castle almost downe The flowing water may easily be brought about both Towne and Castle A great beautie of grounds waters groues other pleasures for the eye to be seene from the old Castle of Carleon I haue seene Caues vnder ground at this day that goe I know not how farre all made of excellent work and goodly great stones both ouer head and vnder foote close and fine round about the whole Caue The name so mightie argues it was a mightie and noble towne Two hundred Philosophers were norished in Carleon Yeeld right as well to our elders daies as to our present age Allobroges Allobroges Sybilla her prophesies touching the Britaines An exhortatioÌ„ of Howell The sentence and resolution of the King of Albania Vaticinia Sibille de Britonibus Exhortatio Hoeli Sententia regis Albaniae Analles sue gentes A Hill most notable neere CarleoÌ„ a myle froÌ„ the towne A very high Hill of a marueilous streÌ„gth which was a strong Forâ—â—n Arthurs daies Bellinus MaÌ„gnus made this called Bellingstocke A wonderfull high mountaine with the like maner of defence The towne of Neawport On a round hill by the Church there is for Sea and Land the most princely sight that any man liuing at one instant may with perfect eye behold The Towne hath Marchants in it A Castle is at the end of this Towne and full by the Bridges and Riuer Greenefield Castle that was the Duke of Lancasters Eboyth is the Riuers name that runneth here For Riuer wood pasture ayre walke pleasure this place passeth A true iudgement of the commodities in Wales if the people there would be laborous Nychill The people of wales in many places thriues by labour daylie and gets great gayne through tillage I haue knowen many places so barraine that they haue sought for come farre of who now are able to liue without helpe of any other Countrey It stands ouer two little Riuers called Ceybbie and Ceyuennie of which Ceyuenie Aborgeuenie tooke the name The Bridge of stone a eleuen fayre arches and a great bridge of stone to come drylie to that bridge Of the bountie of tyme past and the hardnes of our age A fayre and noble Castle belonging to the auncient house and race of the honorable the Lord of Aborgaynie The bountie of the Castle and Countrie A goodly and stately peece of worke as like to fall as be repayred againe Any heart in the world would pittie the decay of Castles in MoÌ„mouth shiere In this church was a most famous worke in maner of a genealogie of Kings called the roote of Iesse which worke is defaced and pulled downe in peeces On the right hand in a faire Chappell Both the windowe and in other parts about him shewes that he was a stranger Blewe is The labell whereon are nyne Flowerdeluces On the left hand a Lord of Aborgany Sir William Thomas Knight alias Harbert Sir Dauie Gam Knight father to this Knights wife This Knight was slaine at Edgingcourt field His Tombe is of hard and good Allablaster Sir William Thomas was father to the next that followes called Sir Richard Harbert of Colbroke Knight In the Chronicle this is rehearsed On the left hand of the Chappell they lye She was daughter to Thomas ap Griffith father to Sir Rice ap Thomas Knight On the right hand of the Chappell The old Earle of Penbroke one of the priuie Councell In the windowe now he lyes Some say this great Lord was called Bruce and not Hastings but most doe hold opinion he was called Hastings A Ladie of Aborgaynie A Ladie of some noble house whose name I knowe not Doctor Lewis lately Iudge in the Amoraltie Maistre Gams dwelles here Doctor Awberie hath a house here The auncient house of Gams The Armes of the Gams The Armes of one Waters His name was Reynold Debreos Glasseberies Bridge is within two myle of Portthamwel Maister Robert Knowles that maried one of the heires of the Vaughhans hath a fayre house and a Parke at Portthamwell The names of streates there Castle streate Broad streate Old streate And the Mill streate A fayre house by the gate of the making of Iustice Walter Nere this is a fayre house of Maister Sackfords which he lid buyld and a fayre house that Master Secretarie Foxe did bestowe great charges on a house that Maister Berrie dwelles in M. Townesend hath a fayre house at Saint Austins once a Frierie The Lord President Sir Harrie Sidneys Daughter called Ambrosia is entombed here in most brauest maner and great chargeable workmanship on the right hand of the Aulter On the same is my Lord of Warwicks Armes excelleÌ„tly wrought and my Lord Presidents Armes and others are in like sort there richly set out Sir Robert Townes-end Knight lyes in a maruelos fayre Tombe in the Queere here and his wife by him at his feete is a red Rowbuck and a word tout en dieu On the left hand Hozier lyes in the bodie of the Church On the right hand Cookes lyes This man was my mothers father Beawpy was a great ritch and verteous man he made another Chantrie The Castle of Ludloe Sir Harry Sidney built many things here worthie praise and memorie Ouer a Chimney excellently wrought in the best chamber is S. Androwes Crosse ioyned to Prince Arthurs Armes
Archbishop that Dubrick hight Did crowne this King in déede Foure Kings before him bore in sight Foure golden Swords we réede These Kings were famous of renowne Yet for their homage due Repayrd vnto Carleon Towne As I rehearse to you How many Dukes and Earles withall Good Authors can you tell And so true writers shewe you shall How Arthur there did dwell What Court he kept what Acts he did What Conquest he obtaynd And in what Princely honor still King Arthur long remaynd Quéene Gueneuer was crown'd likewise In Iulius Church they say Where that fower Quéenes in solemne guise In royall rich aray Foure Pigeons white bore in their hands Before the Princesse face In signe the Quéene of Brittish Lands Was worthie of that grace Carleon lodged all these Kings And many a noble Knight As may be prou'd by sondrie things That I haue seene in sight The bounds hath bene nine myles about The length thereof was great It shewes it self this day throughout It was a Princes Seate In Arthurs tyme a Table round Was there whereat he sate As yet a plot of goodly ground Sets foorth that rare estate The Citie reacht to Creet church than And to Saint Gillyans both Which yet appeares to view of man To trye this tale a troth There are such Uautes and hollowe Caues Such walles and Condits déepe Made all like pypes of earthen pots Wherein a child may créepe Such streates and pauements sondrie waies To euery market Towne Such Bridges built in elders daies And things of such renowne As men may muse of to behold But chiefly for to note There is a Castle very old That may not be forgot It stands vpon a forced Hill Not farre from flowing flood Where loe ye view long Uales at will Enuyron'd all with wood A Seate for any King aliue The Soyle it is so swéete Fresh springs doth streames of water driue Almost through euery streate From Castle all these things are seene as pleasures of the eye The goodly Groues and Uallies gréene and wooddie Mountaines hye The crooked Créekes and pretie Brookes that are amid the Plaine The flowing Tydes that spreads the land and turnes to Sea againe The stately Woods that like a hoope doth compasse all the Uale The Princely plots that stands in troope to beautifie the Dale The Riuers that doth daily runne as cleare as Christall stone Shewes that most pleasures vnder Sunne Carleon had alone Great ruth to see so braue a Soyle Fall in so sore decay In sorowe sit full nere the foyle As Fortune fled away And world forsooke to knowledge those That earst hath bene so greate Where Kings and graue Philosophers Made once therein their Seate Vrbs legionum was it namde In Caesars daies I trowe And Arthur holding resdence there As stories plainly showe Not only Kings and noble Péeres Repayrde vnto that place But learned men full many yéeres Receiu'd therein their grace Than you that auncient things denyes Let now your talke surcease When profe is brought before your eyes Ye ought to hold your peace And let Carleon haue his right And ioye his wonted fame And let each wise and worthie wight Speake well of Arthurs name Would God the brute thereof were knowne In Countrey Court and Towne And she that sits in reagall Throne With Scepter Sword and Crowne Who came from Arthurs rase and lyne Would marke these matters throwe And shewe thereon her gracious eyne To helpe Carleon now Thus farre my pen in Arthurs praise Hath past for plainnesse sake In honor of our elders daies That kéepes my muse awake All only for to publish plaine Tyme past tyme present both That tyme to come may well retaine Of each good tyme the troth ¶ An Introduction to the Letters sent from Lucius Tyberius at the Coronation of King Arthur NOt vnwilling to delate and make large the matter now written of further because the raigne of King Arthur is diuersly treated on and vncertainly spoken of the men of this world are growen so wise I haue searched and found in good Authors such certaintie of King Arthur and matter that merits the reading that I am compelled with pen to explaine and with some paines and studie to pâ—esent the world with in generall The substance whereof being in Latin may be read and vnderstood by thousands is englished because the common sorte as well as the learned shall see how little the Kings and Princes of this Land haue esteemed the power of the Romaines or manasing and force of any forraine foe whatsoeuer And for the amending of my tale let our Soueraine Ladie be well considered of whose graces passeth my pen to shewe and you shall see great things are encountred and no small matters gone about and brought to good passe in the action afore named which becommeth well a Quéene of that race who is descended of so noble a progenie But now purposing orderly to procéede to the former discourse and to rehearse word for word as it was left by our forefathers men of great learning and knowledge I haue set doune some such Letters and Orations as peraduenture wil make you to maruell of or at the least to thinke on so much that some one among a multitude will yéeld me thankes for my labour and rather encourage a true writer to continue in the like exercises then to giue him any occasion to sit ydle and so forget the vse of pen. There followeth hereafter those things before mentioned which I hope the Readers will iudge with aduisement and construe to the best intent and meaning For this matter not only shewes by good authoritie the royall Coronation of King Arthur but in like maner declares with what pride and pomp the Romaines sent hether at the very instant of this great tryumph for tribute and homage at which proud and presumptuous demaund King Arthur and all his other Princes about him began to bee greatly moued and presently without further delay gaue so sharpe and sodaine an answer to the Embassadors of Rome that they were so vexed and abashed therewith that they neither knewe well how to take it nor made any further reply as followes by matter presently here if you please throughly to reade it Consider withall that after this Embassage King Arthur in plaine battaile slue Lucius and had gone to Rome to haue bene crowned Emperour there if Mordred had not made a reuolt in Arthurs owne kingdome The Coronation and solemnitie therof The Embassage and proude message of the Romaines And the whole resolution of King Arthur therein is first set forth here in English THE appoynted tyme of the solemnitie approching and all being readie assembled in the Citie of Carleon the Archbishops London and Yorke and in the Citie of Carleon the Archbishop Dubright were conueighed to the Palace with royall solemnitie to crowne King Arthur Dubright therefore because the Court then lay within his Diocesse furnished
straunge Soyles and yéeld the Romaines grace Admit they wrate their volumes all of troeth And did affect ne man nor matter then Yet writer sees not how all matters goeth In field when he at home is at his pen. This Pollidore sawe neuer much of Wales Though he haue told of Brittons many tales Caesar himself a Uictor many a way Went not so farre as Pollidore doth say Kings are obayd where they were neuer seene And men may write of things they heare by eare So Pollidore oft tymes might ouerwéene And speake of Soyles yet he came neuer there Some runne a ground that through each water sailes A Pylot good in his owne Compasse failes A writer that beléeues in worlds report May roue to farre or surely shoote to short The eye is iudge as Lanterne cléere of light That searcheth through the dim and darkest place The gladsome eye giues all the bodie sight It is the glasse and beautie of the face But where no face nor iudging eye doth come The sence is blynd the spirit is deaffe and dome For wit can not conceiue till sight send in Some skill to head whereby we knowledge win If straungers speake but straungely on our state Thinke nothing straunge though straungers write amis If straungers do our natiue people hate Our Countrey knowes how straunge their nature is Most straunge it were to trust a forayne foe Or fauour those that we for straungers knowe Then straungely reade the bookes that straungers make For feare ye shroude in bosome stinging Snake The straungers still in auncient tyme that wrate Exalt themselues and kéepes vs vnder foote As we of kynd and nature doe them hate So beare they rust and canker at the roote Of heart to vs when pen to paper goeth Their cunning can with craft so cloke a troeth That hardly we shall haue them in the winde To smell them forth or yet their finenesse finde Of force then must you credite our owne men Whose vertues works a glorious garland gaynes Who had the gift the grace and arte of pen And who did write with such sweete flowing vaynes That Honey seem'd to drop from Poets quill I say no more trust straungers and ye will Our Countrey breedes as faithfull men as those As famous too in stately verse or prose And trueth I trowe is likte among vs best For each man frounes when fabling toyes they heare And though we count but Robin Hood a Iest And old wiues tales as tatling toyes appeare Yet Arthurs raigne the world cannot denye Such proofe there is the troth thereof to trye That who so speakes against so graue a thing Shall blush to blot the fame of such a King Condemne the daies of elders great or small And then blurre out the course of present tyme Cast one age downe and so doe orethrow all And burne the bookes of printed prose or ryme Who shall beléeue he rules or she doth raigne In tyme to come if writers loose their paine The pen records tyme past and present both Skill brings foorth bookes and bookes is nurse to troth Now followes the Castles and Townes neere Oske and there aboutes A Pretie Towne calde Oske néere Raggland stands A Riuer there doth beare the selfesame name His Christall streames that runnes along the Sands Shewes that it is a Riuer of great fame Fresh water swéete this goodly Riuer yéelds And when it swels it spreads ore all the Féelds Great store of Fish is caught within this flood That doth in déede both Towne and Countrey good A thing to note when Sammon failes in Wye And season there goes out as order is Than still of course in Oske doth Sammons lye And of good Fish in Oske you shall not mis. And this seemes straunge as doth through Wales appeere In some one place are Sammons all the yeere So fresh so swéete so red so crimp withall As man might say loe Sammon here at call A Castle there in Oske doth yet remaine A Seate where Kings and Princes haue bene borne It stands full ore a goodly pleasant Plaine The walles whereof and towers are all to torne With wethers blast and tyme that weares all out And yet it hath a fayre prospect about Trim Meades and walkes along the Riuers side With Bridge well built the force of flood to bide Upon the side of wooddie hill full fayre This Castle stands full sore decayde and broke Yet builded once in fresh and wholesome ayre Full néere great Woods and many a mightie Oke But sith it weares and walles so wastes away In praise thereof I mynd not much to say Each thing decayd goes quickly out of minde A rotten house doth but fewe fauours finde Thrée Castles fayre are in a goodly ground Grosmont is one on Hill it builded was Skenfreth the next in Ualley is it found The Soyle about for pleasure there doth passe Whit Castle is the third of worthie fame The Countrey there doth beare Whit Castles name A stately Scate a loftie princely place Whose beautie giues the simple Soyles some grace Two myles from that vpon a mightie Hill Langibby stands a Castle once of state Where well you may the Countrey view at will And where there is some buildings newe of late A wholesome place a passing plat of ground As good an ayre as there abouts is found It seemes to sight the Seate was plast so well In elders daies some Duke therein did dwell Carleon now step in with stately style No feeble phrase may serue to set thee forth Thy famous Towne was spoke of many a myle Thou hast bene great though now but little worth Thy noble bounds hath reacht beyond them all In thée hath bene King Arthurs golden Hall In thée the wise and worthies did repose And through thy Towne the water ebs and flowes COme learned lore with loftie style and leade these lynes of myne Come gracious Gods and spare a whyle to me the Muses nyne Come Poets all whose passing phrase doth pearce the finest wits Come knowledge whereon world doth gase yet still in iudgement sits And helpe my pen to play his parte for pen is stept on stage To shewe by skill and cunning arte the state of former age For present tyme hath friends enowe to flatter faune and faine And elders daies I knowe not how doe dwell in deepe disdaine No friend for auncient yéeres we finde our age loues youth alone The former age weares out of minde as though such tyme were none King Arthurs raigne though true it weare Is now of small account The same of Troy is knowne each where And to the Skyes doth mount Both Athens Theabes and Carthage too We hold of great renowne What then I pray you shall we doe To poore Carleon Towne King Arthur sure was crowned there It was his royall Seate And in that Towne did Scepter beare With pompe and honor greate An
himselfe accordingly to perfourme and solemnize this charge in his owne person The King being crowned was royally brought to the Cathedrall Church of that Metropoliticall See On either hand of him both the right and the left did two Archbishoppes support him And fower Kings to wit Angusell King of Albania Caduall King of Venedocia Cador King of Cornewall Sater King of Demetia went before him carying iiii golden Swords The companies also and concourse of sondrie sorts of officers played afore him most melodious heauenly harmonie On the other parte the Quéene was brought to the Church of professed Nunnes being cōducted and accompanied with Archbishops and Bishops with her Armes and titles royally garnished And the Quéenes being wiues vnto the fower Kings aforesayd caryed before her as the order and custome was fower white Doues or Pigeons For behold twelue discréete personages of reuerend countenance came to the King in stately maner carying in their right hands in token and signe of Ambassage Oliue boughes And after they had saluted him they deliuered vnto him on the behalfe of Lucius Tyberius Letters contayning this effect ¶ The Epistle of Lucius the Romaine Lieutenant to Arthur King of Britaine LVcius Gouerner of the Commonwealth to Arthur King of Britaine as he hath deserued I haue excéedingly wondered to thinke of thy malepert and tyrannicall dealing I doe meruaile I say and in considering the matter I am angrie and take in ill part the iniurie that thou hast offered to Rome and that thou no better aduising thy self refusest to acknowledge her Neither hast thou any care speedelie to redresse thyne ouersight thus by vniust dealings to offend the Senate vnto whom thou art not ignorant that the whole world oweth homage and seruice For the Tribute done for Britaine which the Senate commaunded thée to pay for that Iulius Caesar and other worthie Romaines long and many yéeres enioyed the same thou to the contempt of such an honorable Estate hast presumed to detaine and kéepe backe Thou hast also taken from them Gallia thou hast wonne from them the Prouinces of Sauoy and Daulphinie thou hast gotten the possession of all the Ilands of the Ocean the Kings whereof so long as the Romaine authoritie was there obeyed payed Tribute to our Auncestors Sith therfore the Senate hath decréed to redemaund amends and restitution at thy hands for these thy so great wrongs I enioyne and commaund thée to come to Rome in the middest of August the next yéere thexe to answere vnto thy Lords and to abyde such sentence and order as they by iustice shall lay vpon thée Which thing if thou refuse to doe I will inuade thy Countries and whatsoeuer thy wilfull rashnes hath disloyally taken away from their Commonwealth that will I by dint of sword assay to recouer and to them restore ¶ Cador the Duke of Cornewall his Oration to the King I Haue hitherto bene in feare least the Britaines through much ease and long peace should growe to flouth and cowardize and lose that honorable reputation of Cheualrie and martiall prowesse wherein they are generally accoumpted to surmount all other Nations For where the vse of Armes is not estéemed but in stéede therof Dyeing Carding dalying with women and other vayne delites frequented it cannot choose but there cowardize and sluggardie must néedes dimme and deface all vertue honour valiaunce and fame There bee now almost fiue yéeres passed since we hauing lacked Martial exercise haue effeminately bene nuzzeled in these foresayd delites God therefore not willing to see vs any longer marred and stayned with sluggardie hath stirred vp the Romaines that they should be the meanes to reduce our auncient valour vnto the former state and dignitie While hée vsed these and such like wordes confirmed by those that were there at that tyme in presence they came at length to their Benches or Seates where after that euery person was set and placed Arthur vsed this spéech vnto them ⧠The Oration of Arthur to his Lords and people MY fellowes sayth he and companyons both of aduersitie and prosperitie whose fidelities I haue heretofore both in your sound counsels and in exployting militare seruices had good tryall and experience of listen now and affoord vnto me your aduise and wisely foresee what you thinke conuenient for vs touching such demaunds and commaundements to be done For when a thing is wisely aforehand deliberated and carefully foreseene when it commeth to the pinch it is more easilie auoyded and tolerated We shall therefore the easier bee able to abyde the imperious demaund of Lucius if wee lay our heads together and foresee how and which way wee may best defeate and infringe the same And surely for my part I doe not thinke that we haue any cause greatly to feare him sith vpon an vnreasonable cause he seeketh to haue a tribute payed out of Britaine For he alledgeth that the same is due and payable to him because it was payd to Iulius Caesar and others his Successors which being inuited and called hether through the discorde and iarres of the auncient Britaines arriued here in Britaine with numbers of armed Soldiours and with force and vyolence brought vnder their subiection this our Countrey miserably tossed with ciuile garboyles and domesticall discord And because they in this sort got the possession of it they haue since taken and vniustly receiued a Tribute out of it For nothing that is gotten by force and vyolence is iustly possessed by him that offered the vyolence The cause therefore which he pretendeth is vnreasonable whereby he d 〈…〉 eth vs by law and right to be tributarie vnto them Sith therfore he thus presumeth to demaund of vs that which is vniust let vs by the same reason demaund of him tribute at Rome he that is the stronger let him carie away that which he desireth and claymeth For if his reason why he demaundeth tribute now as due to be payed by vs because Caesar and other Romaine Princes sometymes conquered Britaine be good by the like reason I doe thinke that Rome ought to pay tribute to mee because my Predecessors heretofore wanne and subdued it For Belinus that most noble King of Britaines with the helpe and ayde of his brother Brennus Duke of Sauoy tooke by force that Citie and long while possessed it hanging vp in the middest of their chiefe Market place and high streate twentie of the chiefest Nobles among them Constantine also the sonne of Helena and Maximianus likewise being both of them my nere Cosens and either of them successiuely crowned King of Britaine were enthronized in the imperiall Seate of the Romaine Empyre What thinke ye now Iudge you that the Romaines haue any reason or right to demaunde Tribute at our hands As touching Fraunce or other collaterall Ilands of the Ocean it néedeth no answere sith they refused to defend them when we forcibly tooke them out of their cloutches iurisdiction The answere of Howell King of little Britaine THough