at his eyes This his devise had no life because it had no Motte but his answer gave it life when he said to one demaunding his meaning That they were his sonnes which did so pecke him and that Iohn the yongest whome he loved best practised his death more busily than the rest Giraldus Cambrensis distinct King Henry the third as liking well of Remuneration commaunded to be written in his Chamber at Woodstocke as it appeareth in the Recordes in the Tower Qui non dat quod amat non accipit iâ—le quod optat Edmund Crâ—uch-backe his second sonne first Earle of Lancaster vsed a red Rose wherewith his Tombe at Westminster is adorned Edward the third bare for his devise the rayes of the Sunne dispersing themselves out of a cloude and in other places a golden truncke of a tree The victorious Blacke Prince his sonne vsed sometimes one feather sometime three in token of his speedy execution in all his services as the Postes in the Roman times were Pterophori and wore feathers to signifie their flying post-haste But the tradition is that hee wonne them at the battell of Poitiers whereunto hee adioyned this olde English word IC DEN that is I serve according to that of the Apostle The heire while he is a childe differeth nothing from a servant These feathers were an anâ—ent ornament of militarie men as is evident by that of Virgil Cuius olorina surgunt de vertice pennae And were vsed by this Prince before the time of Canoy Chan the Tartarian who because his life was saved by an Owle would have his people weare their feathers from whome Haithon fableth that the people of Iurope received first the vse of feathers Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster brother to this Prince tooke a red Rose to his devise as it were by right of his first wise the heire of Lancaster as Edmund of Langley Duke of Yorke tooke the white Rose Before these two brethren tooke these two Roses which the fautors and followers of their heires after bare in that pittifull distraction of England betweene the families of Lancaster and York a white Rose-tree at Longleete bare vpon one branch a faire white rose on the one side and as faire a red rose on the other which might as well have beene a fore-token of that division as the white henne with the bay sprigge lighting in the lap of Livia Augusta betokened the Empire to her posteritie which ended in Nero when both the brood of that hen failed and the baies of that sprigge withered The said Edmund of Langley bare also for an Imprese a Faulcon in a fetter-locke implying that he was locked vp from all hope and possibility of the Kingdome when his brethren beganne to aspire therevnto Wherevpon he asked on a time his sonnes when he saw them beholding this devise set vp in a window what was Latine for a fetter-locke Whereat when the yong gentleman studied the father said well then you cannot tell me I will tell you Hic haec hoc taceaâ—s as advising them to be silent and quiet and therewithall said Yet God knoweth what may come to passe heereafter This his great Grandchilde King Edward the fourth reported when he commanded that his yonger sonne Richard Duke of Yorke should vse this devise with the fetter-locke opened as Roger Wall an Herald of that time reporteth King Richard the second whose vntrained youth and yeelding lenitie hastened his fall vsed commonly a white Hart couchant with a crowne and chaine about his â—â—cke For wearing the which soone after his deposition lost their lives He also vsed a pescod branch with the cods open but the pease out as it is vpon his Robe in his Monument at Westminster His wife Anne sister to Wenceslaus the Emperour bare an Ostrich with a naile in his beake King Henry the fourth as it is in Maister Garters booke vsâ—d onely a Fox tayled pendent following lysanders advise if the Lions skin were too short to peece it out with a Foxes case His halfe brethren surnamed Beausort of their natall place who after were dukes of Sâ—mmerset c. bare a port-cullis golde wherevnto not long afterward was added this word ALTERA SLCVRITAS And not long since by the Earles of Worcester issued from them MVTARE AVT TIMERE SPâ—RNO His yonger sonne Humfrey Duke of Glocester a noble fautor of good letters baâ—e in that respect a Laurell branch in a golden cup. That most martiall Prince King Henry the fift carried a burnâ—ng Cresset sometime a Beacon and for his word but not appropriate therevnto VNE SANS PLVS One and no more King Henry the sixt had two feathers in saltire King Edward the fourth bare his white Rose the fetter-locke before specified and the sunne after the battell of Mortimers crosse where three Sunnes were seene immâ—diately conioyning in one King Richard the third bare a white Boare which gave occâ—sion to the ryme that cost the maker his life The Cat the Rat and Lovell the Dog Rule all England vnder an Hog King Henry the seaventh in respect of his descent from the house of Summerset vsed the Portcullis before mentioned and in respect of the vnion of the two houses of Lancaster and Yorke by his marriage the white Rose vnited with the red sometime placed in the Sunne And in respect he was crowned in the field with King Richards crowne found in an hawtherne bush hee bare the hawthorne bush with the crowne in it with this he filled the windowes at Richmond and his Chappell at Westminster His wife Queene Elizabeth had a white and red rose knit together His mother Lady Margaret Countesse of Richmond had three white Dasies growing vpon a turfe When king Henry the eight beganne his raigne the English wits beganne to imitate the French and Italian in these devises adding the Mots First king Henry himselfe at the interview betweene him and king Francis the first whereat also Charles the fift was present vsed for his Impresse an English Archer in a greene coat drawing his arrow to the head with this inscription CVI ADHAEREO PRAEEST whenas at that time those mighty Princes banding one against the other wrought him for their owne particular His wife Queene Anne a happy mother of Englands happines by her most happy daughter bare a white crowned Faulcon holding a Scepter in her right talon standing vpon a golden truncke out of the which sprowted both white and red roses with MIHI ET MEAE To the honour of Queene Iane who died willingly to save her childe King Edwarde was devised after her death a Phaenix in his funerall fire with this Motte NASCATVR VT ALTER King Edward the sixt bare as the Blacke Prince three feathers in a crowne while his father survived as Prince of Wales with IC DEN. Queene Mary when she was Princesse of Wales vsed both a red and white Rose and a Pomegranate knitte together to shew her descent from Laâ—caster Yorke and Spaine When she
that she would goe to church barefoote and alwayes exercise herselfe in workes of charitie insomuch that when David her brother came out of Scotland to visite her he found her in her privie chamber with a towell about her middle washing wiping and kissing poore peoples feete which he disliking saide Verily if the King your husband knew this you should never kisse his lippes She replied That the feete of the King of heaven are to bee preferred before the lippes of a King in earth Guil Malmes Math. Paris Simon Deane of Lincolne who for his Courtlike carriage was called to Court and became a favourite of this king Henry the first was wont to say I am cast among courtiers as salt among quicke Eeles for that he salted powdred and made them stirre with his salt and sharpe quipping speeches But what saieth the Author who reporteth this of him The salt lost his season by the moysture of the Eeles and was cast out on the dunghill For hee incurring hatred in Court was disgraced committed and at last banished Henr. Huntingdon in Epistola VVHen the Scottes in the time of king Stephen with a great army invaded England the Northerne people brought to the field the Earle of Albemarle the only respective heire of those partes in his cradle and placed him by the Standard hoping thereby to animate the people But Ralph Bishop of Duresme animated them more with this saying Assure your selves that this multitude not trained by discipline wil be combersome to it selfe in good successe and in distresse easily discomforted Which proved accordingly for many Scottishmen left their carcases in the field Historiola de Standardo MAwd the Empresse daughter and heire of this king Henry the first which stiled her sâ—lfe Lady of the Englishmen would often say to her sonne king Henry the second Be hasty in nothing Hawkes are made more serviceable when yee make faire shewes of offering meate often and yet with-hold it the longer Cualterus Mapes Others Maximes of her In arte Reguands proceeding from a niggish olde wife I wittingly omitte as vnbefitting a Prince Robert Earle of Gloucester base sonne to king Henry the first the onely martiall man of England in his age vsed Stephen Beauchampe with all grace and countenaunce as his onely favorite and privado to the great dislike of all his followers Whereupon when he was distressed in a conflict he called to some of his companie for helpe but one bitterly bade him Call nowe to your Stephen Pardon mee pardon me replieth the Earle In matters of Venery I must vse my Stephen but in Martiall affaires I relie who he vppon you Gualter Mapes de Nugis Curialium HEnry the second caused his eldest sonne Henry to bee crowned kâ—ng and that day served him at the Table Whereuppon the Archebishop of Yorke said vnto the yoong king Your Maiestie may reioyce for there is never a Prince in the world that hath this day such a waiter aâ— his Table as you have Wonder you so much aâ— that my Lord saide the yong king and dooth my father thinke it an abasement for him being discended of royall bloud onely by his mother to serve me at the Table that have both a King to my father and a Queene to my mother Which prowde speech when the vnfortunate father heard hee rounded the Archbishop in the care and saide I repent mee I repent me of nothing more than of vntimely advauncements Anonymus Wimund Bishop of the Isle of Man in the time of King Stephen a martiall Prelate as many were in that age after he had with many an inrode annoyed the Scots some English procured by them sodainely apprehended him put out his eies and gelded him as my Author saieth for the peace of the kingdome not for the kingdome of heaven Who after retiring himselfe to the Abbey of Biland in Yorkeshire would often couragiously say Had I but a sparrowe eye my enemies should never carry it away scot-free Newbrigensis When king Plenry the second was at S. Davis in Wales and from the cliffes there in a cleere day discovered the coast of Ireland that most mighty Monark of this realme saide I with my shippes am able to make a bridge thither if it be no further which speach of his beeing related to Murchard king of Lemster in Ireland he demaunded if hee added not to his speech with the grace of God when it was answered that hee made no mention of God Then saide hee more cheerefully I feare him lesse which trusteth more to himselfe than to the helpe of God Giraldus Cambrensis Owen of Kevelsoc Prince of Powis admitted to the table of king Henry the second at Shrewsbury the king the more to grace him reached him one of his owne loaves which he cutting in small peeces and setting them as farre off as he could reach did eate very leasurely When the king demaunded what he meant thereby he aunswered I doe as you my Soveraigne meaning that the king in like manner tooke the fruition of offices and spirituall preferments as long as he might Giraldus The same king Henry returning out of Ireland arrived at saint Davis in Wales where it was signified vnto him that the Conqueror of Ireland returning that way should die vpon a stone called Lech-laver neere the churchyard whereupon in a great presence he pasted over it and then reprooving the Welsh-Britans credulity in Merlins Prophecies said Now who will heereafter credite that liar Merlin Giraldus Gilbert Foliot Bishop of London disliking Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury woulde say oftentimes Ad Zachaeum non divertisset Dominus nisi de sicomoro iam descendisset That Zachaeus had never entertained and lodged Christ vnlesse he had come downe from the figge tree As though Christ could never like the lofty vntill they should humiliate themselves and come downe Anonymus Ms. The same king would often say The whole world is 〈◊〉 enough for a great Prince Girald in Distinct In the time of this Henry the second the See of Lincolne was so long voyde as a certaine Convert of Tame prophecied that there should be no more Bishoppes of Lincolne But he prooved a truthlesse prophet for Geffrey the kings base sonne was preferred after sixteene yeeres vacancie thereunto but so fitte a man as one saide of him That he was skilfull in fleecing but vnskilfull in feeding Vitae Episcoporum Eboracensium This gallant base Bishoppe would in his protestations and othes alwayes protest By my faith and the King my father But Walter Mapes the kings Chaplan told him You might doe aswel to remember sometimes your mothers honesty as to mention so often your fathers royaltie Mapes de Nugis Curialium This Bishop Ceffrey in all his Instruments passing from him vsed the stile of G. Archiepiscopus Eborum but in the circumference of his Seale to notifie his royall parentage Sigillum Galfredi filij Regis Anglorum as I observed in his Seales SAvage a Gentleman which amongst the first English had
tibi 〈…〉 Thesida nomen condidit Hippolitâ— Nam divinare est nomen componere quòd 〈◊〉 Fortuna morum vel nocis indiciâ—â— For Hyppolitus the sonne of Theseus was torne in 〈◊〉 by his coach horses according to his name So 〈◊〉 signified he should linger long before Trey 〈◊〉 that he should be redeemed out of bondage in his childehoode Tantalus that he should be most wretched because 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the one and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the other and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the third implieth such accidents vnto them Hither also may be referred that of Claudius Rutilius Nominibus certis credam decurrere mores Moribus aut potiùs nomina certa dariâ— But to confront Poet with Poet our good Epigr 〈◊〉 Poet olde Godfrey of Winchester thinketh no ominous forspeaking to lie in names in that to Faustus Multùm Fauste tua de nobilitate superbis Quodq bone Faustus omine nomen habes Sed nullum nomen nomenti sit licèt omen Memorable is that which may be observed out of histories how that men of the selfe same name have begun and ended great states and empires as Cyrus the sonne of Cambises beganne the Persian Monarchy Cyrus â—he sonne of Darius ruinated the same Darius the sonne of Histaspes restored it And againe Darius the sonne of Arsâ—â—is vtterly overthrew it Philip the sonne of Amiâ—â—â—tas especially enlarged the kingdome of Macedonia Philip the sonne of Antigonus wholy lost the same Augustus was the first established emperour of Rome Augustulus the last Constantinus Magnus borne in this Isle first beganne the Empire of Constantinople Constantinus the last left it to the Turkes and vtterly lost the same c. Such 〈◊〉 curions observations bred the superstitious kinde of Divination called 〈◊〉 condemned by the last generall Counsell by which the Pithagoreans iudged the even number of vowells in names to signifie imperfections in the left sides of men and the odde number in the right By this Augustus the emperour encouraged himselfe and conceived good hope of victory whenas the night before the sea-battell at Actium the first man hee mette was a poore waysaâ—ing man driving his asse before him whose name when hee demaunded he answered Eutyches that is Happyman and that his asses name was Nicon that is Victor In which place when he accordingly had obtained the victory he builded the Cittie Nicopolis that is the citty of Victory and there erected brasen Images of the man and his asse By this Theodatus king of the Gothes when he was curious to knowe the successe of his warres against the Romans an Onâ—manticall or Name-wisard Iew willed him to shut vp a number of swine in little hog-sties and to give some of them Roman names to other Gotish names with severall markes and there to leave them to a certaine day At the day appointed the king with the Iew repaired to the hog-sties where they found them only dead to whom they had given the Gotish names and those alive to whom they had given the Roman names but yet with their brissels more then halfe shed Whereupon the Iew foretolde that the Gothes should wholy be discomfited and the Romans should loose a great part of their forces By this Vespasian was incouraged to take vpon him the empire when comming to the Temple of Serapiâ— at Alexandria and being there alone at his devotion he sodainly sawe in a vision one Basilides a noble man of Aegypt who was then foure score miles off Vpon which name of Basilides derived from Basileus signifying a King hee assured himselfe of royaltie and the empire which hee then complotted for As concerning this Onâ—mantia a German lately set foorth a Table which I wish had beene suppressed for that the divell by such vanities doth abuse the credulitie of youth to greater matters and sometimes to their 〈…〉 I can not tell how you would like it if I should 〈◊〉 remember how the Greekes superstitiously iudged them more happy in whose names the numerall letters added together made the greater summe and therefore Achilles forsooth must needes vanquish Hector because the numerall Greeke letters rose to a greater number in his name then in the others Or how the amorous Romans kissed the Cup with a health so often at their meetings as there were letters in their Mistresse names according to that of merry Martiall of his two wenches Navia which had six letters and Iustina that had seaven in her name Navia sex cyathis septem Iustina â—ibatur Our Nation was farre from those and such curious 〈◊〉 therefore heere will I overpasse them and set downe Alphâ—betically the names which wee now call Christian names most vsuall to the English Nation with their significations For this is to be takeÌ„ as a granted veritie that names among all nations and tongues as I partly noted before as significative and not vaine senselesse sounds Among the Hobrewâ—s it is certaine out of sacred Scriptures S. Hicrome and Philo likewise among the Greekes Romans German French c. yea among the barbarous Turks for with them Mâ—â—emet signifieth glorified or laudable Hâ—mar lively Abdallâ— Gods servant Seliman peaceable Agmâ—â— good Haâ—iza readie Neamâ— plâ—asant And the savages of Hispaâ—â—la and all America name their children in their owne languages Glistering light Sunne bright Gold-bright Fine gold Sweete Rich feather c. as they of Congo by names of birdes pretious stones floures c. So that it were grosse ignorance and to no â—mall reproach of our Progenitours to thinke their names onely nothing significative because that in the daily alteration of our â—ong the signification of them is lost or not commonly knowne which yet I hope to recover and to make in some part knowne albeit they cannot easily and happily be 〈◊〉 because as 〈◊〉 noteth Barberous nameâ— as hee terme thâ— them were very emphaticall and very short But in all the significations of these names you shall see the good and hopefull respects which the devisers of the names had that there is an Orthetes or certitude of names among all Nations according to Plate and thereby perceive that many were translated out of the Greeke and Latine With all we may make this fruit by consideration of our names which have good hopefull and luckie significations that accordingly we do carrie and conforme our selves so that wee faile not to be answerable to them but be Nostri nominis homines and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Severus Prebâ—s and Aurâ—â—lus are called Sui nominis imporatores And accordingly it seemeth to have beene the manner at giving of names to wish the children might performe and discharge their names as when Gunthrâ—â— King of the French named Clatharius at the font he said Crescat puer huius sit nominis executer But before I proceed farther this is to be noted In most antient times the Britans had heere their peculiar names for the most part taken from colours for
away the names of the personages which they acted and have lost their owne names among the people Schollers pride hath wrought alteration in some names which have beene sweetned in sound by drawing â—hem to the Latine Analogâ—â— As that notable Non-resident in our fathers time Doctor Magnus who being a foundling at Newark vppon Trent where hee erected a Grammer schoole was called by the people T. Among vs for that he was found among them But he profiting in learning turned Among vs into Magnus and was famous by that name not onely heere but also in forraine places where he was often Ambassadour It were needelesse to note heere againe how many have taken in former times the Christian name of their father with prefixing of Fitz or Filz as Fitz-bugh Fitz-alan Fitz-william or adding of Son as Richardson Tomson Iohnson c. and so altered their Surnames if they had any Whereas divers ancient Gentlemen of England do beare Coates of Armes which by old roules and good proofes are knowne to belong to other names and families and cannot make proofe that they matched with those families it is worth observation considering how religious they were in elder times in keeping their owne Armes whether they were not of those ancient houses whose Armes they beare and have changed their names in respect of their habitation or partitions and lands gotten by their wives As Pickering of the North beareth Ermin a Lion rampant Azure crowned Or which as it is in the old Abby booke of Furnesse was the coat of Roger de Miythâ—rp In the same booke the coate of Dacrâ— Gules 3. Escalâ—pes Arg. is the coate of R. Gerâ—â—th of Cumberland and so the three pillowes Ermin of Redman of Northumberland is the coate of Ran. de Greystock So Vfford E. of Suffolk and Peitâ—n Fetiplace and Hide and many other Gentlemen of the same Armes may seeme to haue beene of the same stocke and to haue varied their names in diuers respects Finally among the common people which sway all in names many Surnames haue bene changed in respect of occupations and not a few have beene changed in respect of masters for in every place we see the youth very commonly called by the names of their ocupations as Iohn Baker Thomas Taylor Will Butcher Dic Barber and many by their masters names as Iohn Pickering Thomas Watkins Nicholas French whenas they served maisters of those names which often were conveyed to their posteritie and their owne Surnames altogether forgotten Some other causes of alteration of names may be found as for crimes committed when men have beene enforced to leave their countries But heereby it may be vnderstood that an Alias or double name cannot preiudice the honest and it is knowne that when Iudge Catiline tooke exception at one in this respect saying that no honest man had a double name came in with an Alias The party asked him what exception his Lordship could take to Iesus Christ Alias Iesus of Nazareth I doubt not but some men among vs in changing their names do imitate olde Goffer Simon the Cobbler in Lucian who when he grew fat in the purse would needes be called for Goodman Siâ—â—on Master Simonides as some women do follow the good Greeke wench Melissarton that is Pretty honny-Bee who when of a Commediant shee became a wealthy mans wife would be saluted Madam Pithias or Prudence And some likewise can change themselves from shee to hee and consequeetly their name as Cenis the wench into Ceneus the yong man as you may see in Ovid. Among the alteration of 〈…〉 how Kings of Armes 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 are new named with a bole of wine powred vpon their heads by the Prince or Earle Marshall when they are invested and the Kings crowned as Garter Clerenceux Nâ—rrey Lâ—â—caster Yorke Richmond Somerset c. which is as ancient as the time of King Edward the third For we reade that when newes was brought him at Windsor by a Pursuvant of the victory at the battell of Auroy hee bountifully rewarded him and immediately created him Herold by the name of Windsor Heere might I note that women with vs at their marriage do change their surnames and passe into their husbands names and iustly for that then Non sunt duâ— sed carâ— vna And yet in Fraunce and the Netherlands the better sort of women will still retaine their owne name with their husbands as if Mary daughter of Villevill be married to A. Vavin she will write herselfe Mary Vavin Ville vill But I feare husbands will not like this note for that some of their dames may be ambitiously over-pert and too-too forward to imitate it Beside these former alterations the tyran Time which hath swallowed many names hath also in vse of speach changed more by contrâ—cting syncopating cuâ—telling and mollifying them as beside them before mentioned Adrâ—â—y is now turned into Darcy Aldethelight into Awdley Sabrigworth into Sapsford Sitsil into Cecil Mountâ—â—y into Mungey Dunevet into Knevet if you belâ—eve Leland Grâ—vile into Greenefeild Haverington into Harrington Bourgchier into Bowcer Le Daiâ—erell into Dairell Ravensford into Rainsford Mohune into Moone Danvers into Davers Gernegan into Ierningham Cahâ—rs into Chaworth Dinâ—â—t into Dinham Wooderington into Witherington Estlegh into Astâ—y Turbervile into Troublefeild De Oileiâ— into Dâ—iley Pâ—gli into Polye De Alanson into Dalison Purefoy into Purfrey Cavendâ—sh into Candâ—sh Veinour into Fenner Harecourt into Harcot Sanctpaul into Sampol Fortesen into Fâ—skâ— Ferrers 〈…〉 Culwen into Curwen Pâ—â—tevin into Petsin Berenger into Beâ—ger Montacute into Montague Gerâ—â—us into Garnish Pulâ—â—ston into Pâ—ston Cholmondley into Cholmley Grosvenour into Gravener Meisuilwarin into Manwaring after into Manâ—ering Fitz-Gerard into Garret Okâ—ver into Oker Vvedale into Vdall Damprecourt first into Dabrigâ—court now into Dabscot Leventhrop into Lenthrop Wilburnhame into Willbram Aâ—kow from Ascouth and that from the old Christian name Ascuith which in Latine was Hasculphus and Hastulphus that is Speedy helpe c. It may not seem from this purpose if I here set down compare a few names of ancient good families as they are written in old Latine Records and histories with them now in vse whereof many are as it were so transformed in common pronunciation from the originall as they will scantly seeme to have beene the same ASHE De Fraxiâ—is BELLEVV De Bella aqua BEAVFOE De Bella fago BOYS De Boscâ— BEAVPRE ` De Bello prato BOVRCHIER De Burgo chare onely once BEAVMONT De Bello-monte BEAVCHAMP De Bello-campo BLOVNT Flavus sometimes BOVVES De Arcubus BOVIL De Bovis Villa CHAVVORTH De Cadurcis CHENEY De Casineto and De Querceto CHAMPAIGNE De Campania CANTLOVV De Cantelupo CHAVVMOND De Calvo Montâ— CHAMPFLOVR De Campo-floridâ— CAPELL De Capella CREVECVRE De Crepito corde CHAMPâ—RNOVN De 〈…〉 D'EVREVX De Ebrâ—iâ—is D'AVTRâ—Y De Altaripa D'AVNEY De Alâ—eto D'AVBENEY De Albeneie FRESHMERSH De Frisco-Marisco FERRERS De Ferrarijs HVSSEY De Hosato Hosatuâ— LORTY De
amiddest the ennemies And God bee thanked I have sufficient revenews left by my Aâ—ncestours to maintaine me in your service Whereupon the Prince praising his prudence and liberalitie confirmed his gift made to his Esquiers and assigned him moreover sixe hundred markes of like land in England â—rossard William Wickham after Bishoppe of Winchester came into the service and also into the great favour of King Edward the third by beeing overseer of his great woorke at Windesor wheras before he served as a poore parish priest Wherfore he caused to be written in one of his windows This worke made Wickham Which being tolde vnto the King hee was offended with Wickham as though hee had gone about to robbe him of the glorie of that magnificent worke But when Wickham tolde him that his meaning was that that worke had beene his making and advauncement the King rested content and satisfied Vita Wiccami When the saide William Wickham as it is commonlie saide sued vnto Edward the third for the Bishoppricke of Winchester the King tolde him that hee was vnmeete for it because he was vnlearned but hee saide In recompence thereof I will make many learned men The which hee performed indeed For he founded New Colledge in Oxford and another in Winchester which houses have affoorded verie many learned men both to the Church and to the Common-wealth When Henry of Lancaster surnamed the Good Earle of Darby had taken 1341. Bigerac in Gascoigne hee gave and graunted to every souldier the house which every one should first seaze vpon with all therein A certaine souldier of his brâ—ke into a Mint-maisters house where hee found so great a masse of money that hee amazed therewith as a prey greater than his desert or desire signified the same vnto the Earle who with a liberall minde aunswered It is not for my state to play boyes play to give and take Take thou the money if it were thrice as much Walsingham When newes was bâ—ought vnto king Richard the second that his vnkles of Yorke and Gloucester the Earles of Arundell Warwicke Darby and Nottingham with other of that faction who sought to reforme the misorders of the King or rather of his wicked Counsellors were assembled in a woodde neere vnto the Court after hee had asked other mens opinions what was to be done in so weightie and doubtfull a case At length hee mernly demaunded of one sir Hugh a Linne who had beene a good militarie man in his dayes but was then somewhat distraught of his wittes what he would advise him to doe Issue out quoth sir Hugh and let vs set vppon them and stay them every mothers sonne and by Gods eyes when thou hast so done thou hast killed all the faithfull friendes that thou hast in England Anonymus KIng Henry the fourth a wise Prince who full well knew the humour of the English in his admonition to his sonne at his death saide Of Englishmen so long as they have wealth and riches so long sâ—alt thou have obeysance but when they be poore then they be alwayes ready to make insurrections at every motion Hall King Henry the fourth during his sickenes caused his Crowne to be set on his pillow at his beds head and sodainâ—ly his pangue so sore troubled him that hee lay as though his vitall spirites had beene from him departed Such chamberlaines as had the care and charge of his bodie thinking him to be dead covered his face with a linnen cloth The Prince his sonne being thereof advertised entred into the chamber and tooke away the Crowne and departed The father being sodainely revived out of his traunce quickely perceived that his Crowne was taken away and vnderstanding that the Prince his sonne had it caused him to repaire to his presence requiring of him for what cause he had so mis-used himselfe The Prince with a good audacitie answered Sir to mine and all men iudgements you seemed dead in this world wherefore I as your next and apparant heire tooke that as mine owne not as yours Well faire sonne saide the King with a great sigh what right I had to it and how I enioyed it God knoweth Well quoth the Prince if you die King I will have the garland and trust to keepe it with the Sworde against all mine enemies as you have done Hall KIng Henry the fift when he prepared warres against Fraunce the Dolphin of Fraunce sent him a present of Paris Balles in derision but hee returned for answere That he would shortly resend him London Balles which should shake Paris Walles Anonymus Angticè When King Henry the fift had given that famous overthrowe vnto the French at Agincourt hee fell downe vppon his knees and commaunded his whole armie to doe the same saying that verse in the Psalme Non nobis Domine non nobis sed nomini tuo da gloriam Not vnto vs O Lord not vs but vnto thy name give the glorie HEnry the sixt did take all iniuries whereof he received plenty so patiently that he not only did not seek to revenge them but Gave God thankes that hee did send them to punish his sinnes in this life that hee might escape punishment in the life to come Vita Henrici Sexti As the Emperor Fredericke the third when he heard of the death of a great noble man of Austria who lived ninety three yeeres most wickedly in fleshly pleasures and yet never once afflicted with griefe or sickenes saide This proâ—veth that which Divines teach that after death there is some place where wee receive rewarde or punishment when wee see often in this worlde neyther the iust rewarded nor the wicked punished The same King Henry having in Christmasse a shew of yoong women with their bare breasts layde out presented before him hee immediately departed with these wordes Fie fie for shame forsooth you be too blame Idem He receiving on a time a great blowe by a wicked man which compassed his death hee onely sayde Forsooth forsooth yee doe fowly to smite a King annoynted Not long before his death being demaunded why hee had so long held the Crowne of England vniustly hee replied My father was King of England quietly enioying the Crowne all his raigne and his father my grandfire was also king of England and I even a childe in cradle was proclaimed and crowned King without any interruption and so held it fortie yeeres wel-neere all the states doing homage vnto mee as to my Auncestors Therefore wiâ—â— I say with King David My lot is fallen in a faire ground I have a goodly heritage my helpe is from the Lord which saveth the vpright in heart Idem Thomas Montacute â—arle of Sarisbury when hee besieged Orleans and had so enforced it that the Inhabitants were willing to articulate and to yeelde themselves to the Duke of Burgundie then being in his company he highly disdaining it saide in the English proverbe I wil not beate the bush and another shal have the birdes Which proverbiall speech so offended the
animam Nonnè quod vides sequeris Vt bos ductus ad victimam Saltem sordes quas ingeris Cur non lauas per lachrimam Aut quarè non crueris Mentem fermentans azimam Cordi respondet oculus Iniustè de me quaereris Seruus sum tibi sedulus Exequor quicquid iusseris Nonne tu mihi praecipis Sicut et membris caeteris Non ego tu te decipis Nuntius sum quò tu miseris Cur damnatur apertio Corpori necessaria Sine cuius obsequio Cuncta languent officia Quo si fiat ereptio Cum sim fenestra peruia Si quod recepi nuntio Quae putatur iniuria Addo quòd nullo puluere Quem immitto pollueris Nullum malum te laedere Potest nisi consenseris De corde mala prodeunt Nihil inuitum pateris Virtutes non intereunt Nisi culpam commiseris Dum sic vterque disputat Soluto pacis osculo Ratio litem amputat Diffinitiuo calculo Vtrumque reum reputat Sed non pari periculo Nam cordi causam imputat Occasionem oculo Dan Elingham a Monke of Linton of Saint Benedicts order comming to the White-friers in Nottingham found there Iohn Baptist painted in a white Friers weed whereat marueling he coled out these verses vpon the wall neere to the picture Christi Baptista vestis non te decet ista Quiâ—e vestiuit fratrem maledictus abiuit Nunquam Messias â—iater fuerat nec Helias Non stat plebs lata dum sit pro fratre propheta Si fratrem Ionam fingis Geezi tibi ponam Ac Iebusaeum ne iungas his Helisaeum But a white Frier there answered Elingham with these following in the person of Iohn Baptist. Elingham mentiris metris fatuis quoque miris Atque ea quae nescis sic astruis vt ea quae scis Nam deus est testis decet haec me candida vestis Plusquà m te vestis pulla siue nigra cuculla Sum Carmelita meritò sed tu Geezita Aâ— frater fictus Benedicti non benedictus He which made this when King Edward the first and the Pope concurred in exacting a paiment from the Cleargie should haue smarted had he beene knowne Ecclesiae nauis titubat regni quia clauis Errat Rex Papa facti sunt vnica capa Hoc faciunt do des Pilatus hîc alter Herodes A merry learned Lawyer which had receiued Wine for a regarde or remembrance from the Abbot of Merton who had entertained him in a cause sent these two verses as standing vpon his integrity against bribes and requiring rather good euidence than good Wine Vinum transmissum nunc me facit esse remissum Conuiuis vina causis tua iura propina The Abbot which perswaded himselfe what would moue a Lawyer when Wine could not returned these three distiches Tentaui temerè vinô te posse movere Non movi verè sed forte moveberis aere Vinum non quaeris sed tinnit si sonus aeris Et spe duceris forsità n alter eris Vt mihi sis mitis tibi misi pocula vitis Nec tamen illa sitis desinit vndè sitis King Edward the third when he first quartered the Armes of France with England declared his claime in this kinde of verse thus Rex sum regnorum binâ ratione duorum Anglorum regno sum rex ego iure paterno Matris iure quidem Francorum nuncupor idem Hinc est armorum variatio facta meorum These following were made by his Poet when Philip de Valoys the French King lurked in Cambray and so well liked of him that he sware by Saint George they were valiant verses and commanded them to be shot vpon an arrow into the Cittie as a cartell of challenge Si valeas venias Valoys depelle timorem Non lateas pateas maneas ostende vigorem In the Chapiter house of Yorke Minster is written this in commendation thereof Vt rosa flos florum sic est domus ista domorum The Exchequer officers were extortours in the time of King Henry the 4 otherwise Henry Bell Collectour of the Custome as he stileth himselfe at that time would neuer haue written a riming long Satyre against them which beginneth thus O Scacci Camera locus est mirabilis ille Vt referam vera tortores sunt ibi mille Si contingat ibi temet quid habere patrandum Certe dico tibi caetum reperire nefandum And concludeth in this maner O sic vexatè tortoribus cruciate Non dices vere propter tales Miserere But this is good aduise which he giveth to such as haue to deale with the officers of the Receipt Qui tallas scribunt cum murmure saepè loquuntur Summas quique solent in magnâ scribere pelle Scribere valdè dolent dùm non sit soluere bellè Escas manè datas propter ientacula pones Costas assatas pisces pinguesque capones Illos conforta pariter per fortia vina Westminster porta pro talibus est medicina Now for the Fleet then he writeth thus Cum sis in Fleta patioris mille molesta Illic dona dabis si sanus vis fore puncto Nam custos Fletae bona de prisonibus vnit Ni soluant laete mox hos per vincula punit Illis qui baculos portant ostendere debes Valde pios loculos ludere praebeo praebes In the time of King Henry the 4. when in leauying of a Subsidie the rich would not and the poore could not pay so they of the meaner sort bare the burthen a skilfull dicer and no vnskilfull rimer wrote these verses Dews As non possunt Sise Sinke soluere nolunt Est igitùr notum Cater Tre soluere totum Of the decay of gentry one made these rimes Ex quo nobilitas seruilia caepit amare Nobilitas caepit cum seruis degenerare Many more and of great varietie of meeters in this kinde I could present you with all for these rimers haue as curious obseâ—â—ations in their Arte Rithmizandi as the Italian makers in their Stanzas Quartetts Tercetts Octaves but now they are counted long eared which delight in them Beside these our Poets hath their knacks as young Schollers call them as Ecchos Achrostiches Serpentine verses Recurrents Numeralls c. yea and our prose Authors could vse Achrostiches for Ranulph of Chester began the first Chapter of his Polychronicon with P the 2. with R the 3. with E. the 4. with S. the fift with N. and so forth as if you would spell the first Chapters of his Booke you shall find Praesentem chronicam compilauit Ranulphus Monachus Cestrensis And why not as well as Agapetus the Greeke who did the like in his admonitions to Iustinian the Emperour But I will end with this of Odo houlding Maister Doctors Mule and Anne with her table-cloth which cost the maker much foolish labour for it is a perfect verse and euery word is the very same both backward and forward Odo tenet mulum madidam mappam tenet Anna. Anna