was in a burly-burly 15. yeeres through want of a King Seuerus 194. THis was a Romane Emperour and was slaine At York the eighteenth yeere of his proud reigneâ—… Hee was an Alien and a stranger heere And therefore bought his vsurpation deare Seuerus was 60. yeeres old when hee tooke the crowne and caused a wall of Turfe to be made betwixt England and Scotland to kepe this Land from the incursions of the Scots and Picts the wall reached from Tyne to the Scottish Seas 112. miles Bassianus 212. SEuerus here did wed a Brittish Dame By whom this King their Son the Crowne did claime But after sixe veeres time he left this Land And had the Romane Empire at 's command Bassianus was brought from Rome by his Father Seuerus Carausius 290. When Carausiâ—… reigned Dioclesian was â—…mperor Alectus 292. THis King of meane birth did the Crown attain After seuen yeeres was by Alectus slaine Thre yeeres Alectus did in state recide Our Protomartyr then Saint Alban dyde Dioclesian and Maximilian ruled the Romane Empire when Saint Albane suffered Alectus was sent from Rome against Carausius this Alectus was a cruell Tyrant and was also slame by Asclepiodatus Asclepiodatus 299. ASclepiodatus in a mortall Fight Suodude the Romane Generall Gallus might Kil'd him and cast him head-long in a Brooke Whence Gallus or Wallbrooke for name it tooke And as Alectus did Carausius kill So did this King Alectus life bloud spill And after two yeeres reigne in mortall strife Asclepiodatus slaine lost Crowne and life Gallus Brooke or Wallbrooke tooke the name from Gallus a Romane Captaine slaine by Asclepiodatus and throwne into that Brooke Asclepiodatus was after slaine by Coil Duke of Colchester Some write that Asclepiodatus reigned 30. yeeres Coil raigned 14. yeeres 301. COlchesters Duke Coil in the Throne inuested Was by Constantius Caesar much molested Till Coil gaue's Daughter to him for his Bride And paid Romes tribute that was long denide The Lady was of beauty most diuine Faire Hellen Mother to great Constantine The King at Colchester dead laide in 's Tombe His Sonne Constantius did supply his roome This Hellen reedified Ierusalem and adorned it with â—…oodly Churches She also walleâ—… London and Colchester Constantius 305. SPaine Italy France Britaines Emperor Foure yeeres he raign'd heere with Maiesticke power True Honour was the ayme at which he shot Iust Valiant these reports his Actions got This Constantius was Grandfather to Constantine the Great he came from Rome to this I le and was buried at Yorke Constantine 306 GReat Emp'ror Constantine surnam'd the Great In all respects a worthy Prince compleate The glorious Gospell he ador'd and fear'd Constantinople famously he rear'd Maxentius Romes great Tyrant most abhor'd He made him flie from his 〈◊〉 sword Belou'd be wail'd high honor'd and admir'd In grace with God and men his dayes expir'd This worthy Prince Constantine was borne in this Land the Sonne of Constantius and Hellen. After Constantius decease our Land was molested by Octauius Maximus and others for many yeers These times are so diuersly written of in Histories that a man knowes not which to beleeue most 84. Constantinus 337. 85. Constans 340. THese two were Brothers of the Royall line And Sonnes vnto the Emperour Constantine Ambition and debate for Kingly Raigne Was the vnnaturall cause they both were slaine Kings and Louers can brook no partners for these two brothers were each others destruction 86. Octauius 345. 87. Traherus 349. OCtauius Duke of Windsor to oke the Crowne Traherus came from Rome and put him downe The Land was â—…ull with hurly-burlies fild Traherus by Octtauius last was kild Theodosius was Emperour of the East â—…d Macriâ—… of the West Some write that Octauius 〈◊〉 54. yeeres Noncredo 88. Constantius the third 353. The Romane Empire he did closely sway And as a King this Land did him obay Th' Apostate Iulian was the Emp'rour next By whom the Christians all were slaine or vext Constantius was a victorious Prince and triumphed in Rome yet a cruell oppressor and an Arian hereticke 89 Maximinianus 375. NExt Iulian raigned Valentinian And after him succeeded Gratian Maximiâ—…nus was of life depriu'd 'Cause he with Gratian for the Empire striu'd How like Bauius these tyrâ—…ts confiâ—…med one another these were all Emperours of Rome Kings of Brittaine 90. Gratian. 376. THen Gratian claim'd this Kingdome as his rightâ—… But hauing gain'd it he was slaine in fight Fierce warres the Romane Empire did deuide And Caesars and their Viceroyes fought and dyde Honorius Romes Tribunall did obtaine Next after him did Theodosius raigne Then did the Scot ioyne with the barbarous Pict This headlesse Kinglesse Kingdome to afflict The Romane Scepter we had long obayd Foure hundred eightythree yeeres Tribute payd And now this land shook off their wrongd comand When Ciuill discord had neer spoyl'd this Land In one battell the whole nation of the Piets were quite â—…xtinguished about this time the Romanes gâ—…uernement â—…nded here Gratian was a Brittaine Emperour but foure 〈◊〉 91 Vortiger 447. THis King through murder did the Throne ascend And had a troublous Raigne and murdrous end Constanes Constantines lawfull Heyre and Sonne By Vortigers false meanes to death was done For which to keepe the Crowne vniustly gain'd The Saxons for his ayde he entertain'd Then Hengist with his Brother Horsus crue In Britaines best bloud did their blades embrew King Vortiger with doting loue inthral'd Match't Hengists daughter beauteous Rowan cal'd But Saxons troopes on troopes came in so fast That Britaines did depriue the King at last Hee murdered his lawfull Prince and vsurping the Throne was enforced to haue ayd of the Saxons who at the last almost ouer-ran this Kingdome but the Brittaines deposed Vortiger and crowned his Sonne Vortimer 92. Vortimer 454. THen Vortimer the Sonne of Vortiger Vpon the Saxons made successfull warre Till he by Rowan was by craft o'r-â—…ane From whose false hands he dy'd by poys'nous 〈◊〉 Deposed Vortiger his Sonne once slaine His ill gain'd ill kept Crowne he gain'd againe Hengistus with his Saxon fresh supplies The Plaines of Salisbury did all surprize The King tooke counsell of his Brittaine Lords And all in generall to a Peace accords The Saxons and the Brittaines did agree That at this meeting all vnarm'd should be But traitrous Hengist did a watch-word speake Which did the Law of Armes and Honour breake The Saxons vnsuspected drew forth Kniues Foure hundred threescore Lords all lost their liues All Brittaine Nobles then the Saxons there Surpris'd the King constraining him through feare To giue Kent Sussex Suffolke Norfolke and That Hengist King should in those Lands command But after nineteene yeeres were quite expir'd Reuenging Fire the King in 's Castle fir'd And thus the Saxons and Great Hengists Heyres Won Shire to Shire till Brittaine all was theirs 93. Aurelius Ambrose 466. IN honour of the Nobles basely slaine This King set vp the Stonâ—…s on Saruâ—… 〈◊〉 The Gospell with great zeale
he dignifi'd Raign'd thirty two yeeres and by poyson dy'd This King was a Româ—…ne and brother to Vter Pendragon that succeeded him 94. Vter Pendragon raigned 18 yeeres 498. THis King by Merlins meanes a skilfull man Igrene the Duke of Cornewals Dutchesse wan On her he got though illegittimate The Christian Worthy Arthur stilde the Great Vter Pendragon poysoned by the Saxons after he had reigned 18. yeeres 95. Arthur 516. OF the nine Worthies was this Worthy one Denmarke and Norway did â—…y his Throne In twelue set Battels he the Saxons beat Great and to make his Victories more great The Faithlesse Sarazons he ouercame And made them honour high Iehonah's Name The Noble order of the Table round At Winchester his first inuention found Whilst he beyond Sea fought to win Renowne His Nephew Mordred did vsurpe his Crowne But he return'd and Mordred did confound And in the fight great Arthur got a wound That prou'd lo mortall that immortally It made him liue although it made him dye Full sixteene yeeres the Diadem he wore And euery day gaind Honour more and more Arthur the great was buried at Glastenbury 96 Constantine the fourth 542. 97 Aurelius Conanus 545. COnstantine was by King 〈◊〉 kil'd Aurelius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yeeres held Seuen Kingdomes heere at once the Saxons held And slaughter launc'd when proud ambition sweld This Constantine was kinsman to King Arthur and was slaine by Conanus Constantine was a wicked Prince and slaine in battell by his kinsman Conanus when he had reigned neere 3. yeeres Of the tyme of this Aurelius Conanus his reigne there is much variation in Histories Heere beganne the Heptarchy or 7 Kingdomes in this Land namely Kent South-Saxons West-Saxons East-Saxons Northumberland Mercia and East-Angles which diuision continued more then 600. yeeres before it was all vnited into one Monarchy the names of the Kings times of their reignes and limits of their Kingdomes are hereunder expressed 1 KEnt was only a kingdome which had 17 Kings namely 1 Hengist 2 Eske 3 Octa 4 Ymerick 5 Ethelbert who was the first Christian King of Kent hee was an ayde and helper of Sebert King of the East-Saxons in the famous and memorable buildings of S t. Pauls Church in London and Saint Peters at Westminster 6 Eabald 7 Ercombert 8 Egbert 9 Lother 10 Edrick 11 Withred 12 Edbert 13 Edelbert 14 Alick 15 Ethilbert 16 Cuthred 17 Baldred These Kings reigned in Kent 372. yeeres from the yeere of Grace 455. till the yeere 827. 2 The kingdome of the South-Saxons contained the Counties of Sussex and Surrie it continued from the yeere 488. vntill the yeere 601. being 113 yeeres they had three Kings namely 1 Ella 2 Cissa 3 Ethelwolfe a Christian King 4 Berthrum 5 Authum 3 The West-Saxons kingdome whose beginning was in the yeer 519. and ended Anno. 166. lasted 561 yeeres hauing 17 Kings namely 1 Cherdick 2 Kenrick 3 Chequilin 4 Cealick 5 Chelwold 6 Kingils a Christian 7 Kenwald 8 Eskwin 9 Kentwin 10 Ceadwald 11 Inas 12 〈◊〉 13 Cuthred 14 Sigebert 15 Kenwolfe 16 Brightrik 17 Egbert These Kings had vnder their gouernments the Counties of Cornewall Deuonshire Somersetshire Wiltshire Hampshire and Barkshire 4 The East-Saxons reigned 281 yeeres beginning Anno. 527 and ending in the yeere 827. Their bounds were Essex and Middle-Sex and their Kings were in number 14 namely 1 Erchenwin 2 Sledda 3 Sebert a Christian King that assisted Ethelbert King of Kent in the building of the Churches of Saint Paul and Saint Peter aforesaid 4 Seward 5 Sigebert 6 Sigibext 7 Switheline 8 Sighere 9 Sebba 10 Sigherd 11 Seofrid 12 Offa 13 Selred 14 Suthred 5 Northumberland was sometimes diuided into two kingdomes It contained the CouÌ„ties of Yorkshire Durham Lancashire Westmerland Cumberland and Northumberland this Kingdome beganne in the yeere of our Lord 547. and expired in 926. continuing 379. yeeres vnder 23 Kings whose names were 1 Ella 2 Adda 3 Theodwald 4 Frethulse 5 Theodrick 6 Ethelrick 7 Ethelfrid 8 Edwin 9 Oswald 10 Oswy 11 Egfrid 12 Alkfrid 13 Ofred 14 Kenred 15 Oswicke 16 Ceolnuph 17 Egbert 18 Oswolfe 19 Edilwald 20 Alured 21 Ethelred 22 Alswald 23 Osrâ—…d Amongst these Edwin was their first Christian King 6 The East Angles vnder 15 seuerall Kings continued 353 yeeres beginning in Anno 575. and 〈◊〉 III 914. their Territories were Suâ—… Norâ—…olk Cambridgeshire and the I le 〈◊〉 Ely thâ—…ir Kings names were 1 Vffa 2 Tiâ—…us 〈◊〉 Redâ—…ald their first Christian King 4 〈◊〉 5 Sigebert 6 Egrik 7 Anna 8 Ethelbert 9 Ethwald 10 Aldwolâ—…e 11 Aswald 12 Beorn 13 Ethelred 14 Ethelbert 15 Edmund 7 The seuenth Kingdome were the Mercians who had 20 Kings and 17 shires vnder their command their Kings were 1 Creda 2 Wibba 3 Cheorle 4 Penda 5 Peada their first Christian King 6 Wolfere 7 Ethelred 8 Kenred 9 Chelred 10 Ethebald 11 Offa 12 Egfrid 13 Kenwolfe 14 Kenelme 15 Chelwolse 16 Bernulfe 17 Ludecan 18 Whitlafe 19 Bertwolfe 20 Burdred Their bounds and dominions were 17 Counties as of Northampton Leister Darby Lincolne Huntington Rutland Notingham Chesshire Oxfordshire Staffordshire Worcestershire Glostershire Shropshire Warwickeshire Bedfordshire Buckinghamshire and Hartfordshire 98 Vortiporus 578. 99 Malgo. 581. THis Vortipore from good Kings did decline Kept his wiues Daughter as his Concâ—…ine And Malgo put his Wife to bloudy slaughter To liue in â—…ncest with his brothers Daughter About this time Augustine the Monke Mellitus Iustus and Iohn all learned men came from Rome and preached the Gospell to the English men Vortipore reigned 4. yeeres Malgo his raigne was short and wicked 100. Careticus 586. GVrmundus hither out of Ireland came And with the Saxons ioyn'd with sword and flame The King to Wales did flye his life to saue Whereas he chang'd his Kingdome for a Graue He reigned 3. yeeres and now the Saxons had all England the Brittaines and their Kings being expulsed and chased to the West sides of the Riuers Seauerne and d ee Cadwane 613. THis Cadwane did the Saxon force withstand Of Ethelfridus of Northumberland And made him to intreate and sue for peace Raign'd two and twenty yeeres then did decease 102. Cadwallin 635. CAdwallin slew King Edwin Egfrids Sonne He Penda Mercias King did ouer-runne He neuer fought but Conquest home did bring And eight and forty yeeres did raigne a King Cadwallin was buried at London in Saint Martins Church neere Ludgate 103. Cadwallader 685. THis King renowned was both neere and farre The last of Brittaines Kings Cadwallader The name of Brittaine was quite alterd then The Kings of England subiects Englishmen Then in this Land of Kings there raign'd so many That Subiects knew not to obey all or any Their names and times of raigne I meane to tell Should I write more my Book too big would swell Here the inhabitants lost the name of Brittaines the land being called Anglia or England and the people Englishmen 687. Cadwallader left his Crowne went to Rome and dyed there These
Kings following were of the West Saxons 726 Ethelard was King of the West Saxons 740. Cuthred succeeded him 757. Sigebert next him was slaine by a Swineheard 758. Kenulphus was slaine by a kinsman of Sigebert 786. Brithricus In his time it rained blood IN the 800. â—…re of Christ the Danes landed at Portland but Brithricus beat them backe and afterwards was poysoned by his wife Ethelburga Eghricus King of West-Saxons 839. Adelnulphus ouercame 〈◊〉 Danes that came to inuade the kingdome with 350. ships 857. Athelbald 860. Athelbrict 866. Etheldrid 872. Aelfred 900. Edward surnamed Senior Heere end the Kings of the West-Saxons now follow the Kings of Britaine 104. Athelstane reigned 15. yeeres 905. THis King did tame the Welsh the Danes sub du'd He conquerd Scotland and the Marches rude The Danish Gyant Colebrand in Hyde-meade By Guy the Earle of Warwicke was strucke dead King Athelstane was crowned at Kingstone hee brought this Land againe to one sole Monarchy he was buried at Malmsbury 105. Edmund 940. 106. Eldred 946. EDmond reigned next his brother Athelstane And after fiue yeeres was vntimely slaine Nine yeeres was Eldred Englands King instâ—…d Th' insulting Danes he from this Realme exilde Edmund was buried at Glastenbury Eldred was brother to Edmund he was crowned at Kingstone he expelled the Danes and was buried at Winchester 107 Edwin 955. 108 Edgar 959. THen Edwin as his right obtain'd the Crowne For Rape and brutish Iust he was put downe His brother Edgar a man iust and wâ—…se By Edwinâ—… fall vnto the Throne did rise The Church and Commonweale long time deform'd He by his Iustice and good Lawes reform'd Raign'd sixteen yeeres and then by death assail'd As he had liu'd belou'd he dy'd bewail'd Edwin was Eldreds kinsman crowned at Kingstone he defloured his owne kinswoman and slew her husband for which odious acts hee was deposed of all Kingly dignity and his brother Edgar was in his stead crowned at Bathe Edgar had 3600 ships to withstand the inuasion of his enemies hee founded and repaired 47. relligious houses hee was buried at Glastenbury 109 Edward 975. 110 Etheldred 978. EDward was slain by his accurst Stepmother Ayded by Etheldred his cruell brother This Etheldred caus'd all the Danes be slaine And dyed the thirty eight yeere of his raigne He was crowned at Kingstone he reigned 3 yeeres and was buried at Shaftsbury Etheldred was buried in S. Pauls Church in London 111 Edmond Ironside 1016. THe Danes came to reuenge with sword and fire Both Kings to Combat single did desire On equall termes their valours both were tride In loue the Realme betwixt them they deuide Edricus a traitor murdered King Edmond Ironside for the which Canutus the Dane caused him to bee tormented to death grieuously as he deserued 112 Canutus 1018. THis mighty Danish King foure Kingdomes helâ—… Danes Norway England Scotland he compeld Taxes and toles he rais'd in England here And dyed when he had gouern'd twenty yeere In Canutus his raigne the Danes possessed all England he lies buried at Winchester 113 Harold 10â—…8 114 Hardicanutus 1041. HArold from England did exile his Mother And kild Allured his King and his Brother Hardicanutus then the Crowne obtain'd Who quaffing died when he 3. yeeres had raigâ—…'d Harold was a Tyrant hee was called Hartfoote for his swift running he murdered Prince Allured hee raigned three yeeres and was buried at Westminster Hee caused the body of Harold to be digged out of the graue and â—…ast into the Thames in reuenge of his brother Allureds death he was buried at Winchester 115. Saint Edward 1043. 1â—…6 Harold the second 1066. SAint Edward from the Danes this Kiâ—…gdom freed And for he had no Heyre he heere decreed That William Duke of Normandy â—…hou'd be Next King but Harold seeming to agree Assoone as Edward was laid in his Toombe This hasty Harold mounted in his roome But William came from Normandy amaine By whom King Harold was vnking'd and slaine The end of the first part The second part William Conquerour An. Dom. 1066. VVHen Britains Romanes Saxons Danes had done The Normans fiftly Englands glory won â—…w Lords brought in new Lawes incontinent â—…nd all were Conquer'd but the County Kent King William after he had all surpriz'd â—…lted domineer'd and tyranniz'd 〈◊〉 Englishmen like slaues their doores must lock 〈◊〉 paine of death each night at eight of clocke 〈◊〉 English from all Office were disgracâ—…d 〈◊〉 in their places the proud French were plac'd 〈◊〉 beating down the right with wrong on wrong â—…aining men should speake the English tongue 〈◊〉 so to bring oâ—…r memory to naught 〈◊〉 Grammar and the Lawes in French were taught 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sonnes with Danes a mighty band 〈◊〉 in â—…umber to inuade the Land Then Yorke was burnt the wealth away was borne And Danes on Composition home did turne A dearth in England was so great that heere Cats Dogs and mans flesh was our wofull cheere The Mercians and Northumbers they rebel'd Strong warres the Scots within our Country held The I le of Ely did the King surprize He caus'd the Rebels lose hands feet and eyes The Normans did rebell and were subdu'd Danes came and fled with all their multitude The Kings sonne Robert by the French Kings ayd Did diuers parts of Normandy inuade The Scots spoild England with all might and maine And Durhams Bishop in a broyle was slaine Heere euery Acre of mens Lands were measur'd And by a heauy taxe the King was treasur'd Slaine by a Deere the Kings sonne lost his life And Glassenbury Monkes were kill'd in strife The English Nobles almost were decay'd And euery place of rule the Normans swai'd And all mens goods and lands and coyn were rated Through England and vnto the King related The French mens pride did England ouerwhelme And grieuous tributes did oppresse the Realme Churches and Chappels were throwne down with speed To make New Forrest as the King decreed Who hauing rul'd in trouble toyle and care And tryannously pol'd this Kingdome bare Neere twenty one yeeres death was then his bane He lyes in Normandy enterr'd at Cane William Conquerour was crowned on Christmas-day 1067. the yeere then beginning on that day In the 〈◊〉 Forrest in Hampshire called New Forrest where this King had defased many Churches wherein the name of God was called vpon and placed wild Beasts for his disport in the same Forrest two of his owne sonnes were slaine Prince Robert killed by a Deere and William Rufus by a Knight shooting at a Deere William Rufus An. Dom. 1087. WIlliam the cruell Conquerours second Sonne With ease got what his Fathers paines had won Oppressed England he opprest and prest And great Exactions wrongfully did wrest For Symony and base corrupting gold The King most Churches and Church-liuings sold And more his Subiects vilely to abuse Against them he in armes did arme the Iewes And swore if they the victory did gaine That he their faithlesse faith would entertaine Vpon his eldest brother hee rai'sd