of Eleutherius And the first is the Date it bears which in the Text is dated 169 in the Margin 156 yet neither agree with the time of Eleutherius his Popedom if we will follow the most approved Authors For although Bede saies he was made Bishop of Rome in the year of our Lord 167 yet Eusebius in his Chronicle places the beginning of his Popedom in the sixteenth year of the Emperour Antoninus that is in the year of our Lord 179 But in his History and indeed truer to the following year of Antonium which is of our Lord 180. Baronius is of the same Opinion also and confirms it by the Letters of the Martyrs at Lyons which were presented to Eleutherius himself 2. Besides if this Epistle be true it makes King Lucius to take a very preposterous course in sending so far as Rome to Eleutherius for the Roman Laws when he might sooner and with less trouble have procured them at home from the Roman Governour for from the time of the Emperour Claudius who subdued most part of Britain the Roman Laws were in force here nay very well known to the further parts of Yorkshire And Tacitus saies he had erected here Roman Courts and Tribunals which was about an hundred years before Lucius came to the Government But we shall pursue this discourse no further it being plain and obvious to any that are but meanly acquainted with those Histories 3. This Epistle makes no mention of any Power or Authority the Romans had in these parts but makes Lucius an absolute Monarch as in nothing subject to the Roman Governour You are Gods Vicegerent in your own Kingdom not Claudius Caesars or any other Emperour Contrary to the Customes of those times Among the Jews King Herod was under Pilate and King Agrippa under Faelix and Festus and so it was likewise usual in other Provinces but without doubt Lucius was a British King as he is rightly so stiled in the Life of Eleutherius but it was but of some part of it not of the whole Island or that part which separated from Scotland by a Wall which was under the Romans yet it is not to be doubted but that in some part of it he had a Power under the Romans neither is it any hard matter to describe the Places of his Government for he being the Son and Successour of King Coile and Coile the Son of Marius and Marius of Arviragus which some report to be Togenus others the same with Tacitus his Prasutagus King of the Iceni The Iceni inhabited that part of Britain which the East Angles did under the Saxons it comprehended Norfolk Suffolk and at some time Cambridge Their Royal City was Venta of the Iceni now called Castor in Norfolk near to the City of Norwich but this place is too far distant from Glastonia a little Village of the Belgae in the Kingdom of the West Saxons which Arviragus as they say gave to Joseph of Arimathea and his Companions that came with him But this seems to intimate that Arviragus was rather King of the Belga and Dobuni that is of the West Saxons than of the Iceni and that which promotes this Opinion is his being most usually in those parts and his entertainment in Claudiocestria if we will credit Gaufridus but that which takes away the doubt unless we will suspect the Author himself is the testimony of Hector Boethius Scotus who shews that Arviragus was by Birth an Icene and was substituted by Claudius Caesar King of Britain furthermore the Iceni first received the Christian Faith in Britain 4. This word Manutenere which we translate Maintain was not in use in Eleutherius his time but smells rather of the Norman Latin from which it crept into our Country Laws 5. Those places which are quoted out of the Holy Scripture are taken out of the Translation of St. Hierom who lived two hundred years after Eleutherius 6. This Epistle never came out in the World till almost a thousand years after the death of Eleutherius but out of what Monks Cell it came is uncertain but that which ought to be most observed is that it is no where to be found in Gaufridus Monumuthentis contemporary with Hovedenus who was always diligent in the Collection of the British Antiquities This Answer of the Pope by Letter to Lucius was sent by Fugatius and Damianus Men of sound doctrine and holy life by whose hands the King with all his Nobles received Baptisme and shortly after by their industry and the earnest desire and endeavours of King Lucius the Doctrine was so far propagated that the Temples and Altars of the Heathen Gods were in most places flung down and demolished the Christian worship set up in their places and the Church established under Form and Government In the Seats of twenty eight Flamens and three Arch Flamens which presided over the whole Nation being all of them either converted or expulied were constituted twenty eight Bishops and three Arch-bishops whose Chairs for the greater convenience of Government were continued in the same places the Archi-Flamens resided in The first and Metropolitan Seat was at London and the Cathedral St. Peters in the memory of that Saint from whose Successour Eleutherius they had received the Faith The second was at York The third at Carlile but of the particular extent of these places I shall treat more fully anon The Succession of Bishops in the See of London THe first to the Times of the Saxons is thus Theanus who was in the daies of Lucius consecrated the Church of St. Peters Cornhill and by the assistance of Ciranus the Kings Cup-bearer performed all the Rites thereunto belonging Some report he built the Church The second Eluanus he added a Liberary to it The third was Cadar the fourth Obinus the fifth Conanus the sixth Palladius the seventh Stephanus the eighth Iltutus or Iltutius the ninth Deduinus the tenth Theodredus the eleventh Hilarius the twelfth Vitelinus the thirteenth Vodinus Mr. Cambden calls him Theonus But before we proceed any further it will be necessary to say who and what these Flamens were and of their being changed into Bishops and Arch-bishops What these Flamens and Arch-flamens were and their being changed into Bishops and Arch-bishops I Wish we had seen the Book of Gildas for it can hardly be found in ancient Authority that there was ever any distribution of Flamens and Arch flamens into their particular Provinces or that the words Arch-flamens and Arch-bishops were in use in the time of Lucius or that Metropolitical Jurisdiction and the Ceremony of the Pall had any being in those daies For Flamens among the Romans were no other than their Priests so called from a Thred or String as Varro saith with which they bound their Head as Flamines some Pileamines from a Cap they wore and from Sacrificing commonly called Priests and every one of these lookt after the proper Offices and Duties of their particular Gods at first
had conceived of that Name above the rest which could probably arise from no other motives than these recited for otherwise why should the Angles who in the Heptarchy possessed only Suffolk Norfolk Cambridgsbire with the Isle of Ely upon the Union of the VII Kingdoms give name alone to all the rest especially considering that the Union proceeded not from them but the West Saxons This is the reason that in writing the Affairs of this Nation until King Egbert who first by publick Authority changed the name of it I conclude all things under the name of Britain it being properly and not till then called Anglia or England when the Heptarchy was reduced into one entire Kingdom The other Nation of the Saxons are the JUTES The Original of the Saxons Angles and Jutes and the Reasons for their being so called That the Jutes and Getes are one and the same People and that the reading of Vites for Jutes is a novel mistake proved out of Ancient Manuscripts and Records The Reason why the name of Angles or English prevailed above that of Saxon or Jute THis name of Saxon is very ancient if we find out the true Original of it which once discovered will give great light into the antiquity of our Ancestours They proceeded from Jutis or Juteland in Denmark and by the Danish Writers are called Jutae and Juitae But before I proceed any further it will be necessary to wipe away those Mistakes made by Verstegan upon this Subject a Man otherwise Learned in the Saxon Tongue yet who by an over-fond opinion of his skill therein and through ignorance of true Antiquity hath fixed many novel and false Originals upon Places and People in Britain Thus he writeth Now as touching the third sort of Saxon People which were called the Vites some will have them called Juites and not Vites and others will have them called Geates or rather Gothes but with these latter I mean not to meddle for that they overshoot the Mark too far and so will never hit it Venerable Bede calleth them plain Vites and noteth the Isle of Wight which yet retaineth that Name of them to have been besides other places of the Continent their Habitation The occasion of this errour in Verstegan upon which he groundeth on his own head a false derivation of the Isle of Wight proceeded from the printed Copies of Bede where instead of Jutes or Getes was foisted in Vites The Saxon Version hath it Getes not Vites Comon hi of ðrim folcan ðam gestran gestan germanie of seaxum of Angle of geatum They derived their Original from three of the Valiantest Nations of Germany the Saxons Angles and Getes And again of ê§ land ðe Angulus is nemned getÆ¿yn geatum seaxum That Land which is called Angulus is between the Getes and Saxons Ethelwerd a Saxon Writer calleth them Giots and Chronologia Saxonica hath Iotes ða com ða men of ðrim megþum germanie of cald seaxum of Anglum of Iotum Those Men come from three sorts of Germans Saxons Angles and Iotes In the Laws of Edward the Confessour they are called Gutes and in the Peterburrough Records Geatuni by others Jotuni and Jetae for Cetae Jetae Jutae Juitae Gutae Giotae Jotae Geotuni and Jotuni are all the same Names differing only in termination and writ after various Orthography The Book which Mr. Cambden used he affirmed had Getun and Kranzius citing Bede calleth them Jutes not Vites and Malmsbury Huntington with the rest of the ancient Saxon Writers who without question used Bedes Manuscript have alwaies one of the forementioned words but never Vites Neither before the printing of Bede was ever such a Nation as the Vites heard of in the World and how it came to get into the printed Copy of Bede shall be guessed at hereafter Fabritius Chemnicensis following the opinion of Beatus Rhenanus and treading in the same Errour writeth that the Vites whom the Saxons in their Dialects call Wites had this Name in Germany and that the Helvetii who at this day are called Suitzers derive themselves from them The Wites saith he at several times left their Country some passed into Britain others crossing the Rhine seized part of Helvetia and were afterwards called Suiti or Sulceri which Place and Name they yet hold This although it be said without any Authority and so not much to be regarded yet because it affordeth imployment for the Teutonick Dialect Verstegan ' endeavoureth to back it with pretty Etymologies The Helvetii saith he are as much as to say the Hil-vites for Sebastian Munster reports that some of the Vites inhabited among the Mountains that divide Germany from Italy But how came Sebastian by this intelligence the Name of the Helvetii is very Ancient even in Julius Caesars daies we read they were then a People and so numerous that with 200000 fighting Men leaving their Country and seeking new Habitations in what Age did this Colony of Vites plant themselves there and who preserved the Records Caesar writes that they kept Registers of their People as the rest of the Gauls in Greek Letters but of their descent from the Vites was never heard till Bede's impression But this might pass for an handsom Invention that which follows of the Suitsers taking their Name from these supposed Vites is too unconscionably gross the derivation runneth thus Vites Vitses Vitsers and prefixing S which in the Teutonick is as much as the S'uitsers so that S'uitsers is as much as the Vitsers just as S'winter is the Winter Now which is most reasonable to bring the Name of the Suitsers from a novel corruption of Dialect in the West of England where S' is used for The which Verstegan calleth the Teutonick or from the ancient People of the Suevi who in all probability there planted themselves let the Reader judge Suffridus to compleat the mistake will needs have the name of Vites to be Ancienter than the Jutes and that the latter word is made by transposition of the first Letters of the former and to knock it home he tells us a gallant story of a Prince called WIIT who married Cumera the Daughter of Bocchus King of the Cimbri and had with her in Dower that Port of Denmark called afterwards by his name Wiitland and by corruption Juteland all the mischief of this Invention is that Suffridus unfortunately took Vite to be ancienter than Jute otherwise he could as easily have made his Prince so good natured as to go by the latter Name as well as the former Jute therefore Juite and Gete with such like for they are all one is the Ancient name of that People who came with the Saxons out of Denmark into Britain How comes it to pass therefore that the printed Coppies of Bede have Vitae and not Jutae Some guess and not improbably that Vitae might be so made by transporting the first letters of Jutae or by taking away the first I from
Authors give no account contented to satisfie us in the Nobility of his extraction But however he came to wear the Dignity he is certainly reported worthy of it being invincible in War and in Peace tempering the awe of Majesty with a natural sweetness and humanity with which Princely qualities he Reigned fourteen years some say but twelve during which time he built the Castle or Town of Bebanburg or Bamburg which he first fenced with Pales aad afterwards encompast with a Stone-wall He had twelve Sons half by Wives half by Concubines His Legitimate were as Huntington reporteth Adda Bealric Thedric Ethelric Osmer and Thedred Illegitimate Oga Ecca Oswald Ailric Soge and Sogother who saith Matthew of Westminster arrived at Flemuburg in fourty ships and assisted their Father in many of his Wars The bounds of this Kingdom began in the South at the River Tine and extended to the North as far as the Frith of Edenborough and Dunbritton ELLA ABOUT this time namely in the year 561. 〈◊〉 Prince the twelfth from Woden but by another Line follow 〈◊〉 example of lda erected another Kingdom in 〈◊〉 the bounds whereof reached from the Humber to the River Tine He reigned thirty years and left a Son called Edwin and a Daughter named Acca but after his death the Kingdom was seized by the race of lda who taking advantage of the Childhood of Edwin kept him from the Crown and annext the whole Territory to their own Dominion ETHELRIC ETHELRIC the only Son of lda surviving after his Brothers and Kinsmen had reigned without other Memory in Bernicia came to the Crown in his old age Nothing of him memorable is recorded and 〈◊〉 writeth that had it not been for the lustre of his Son succeeding him he might utterly have been forgotten however we must not pass over that during his Reign Edwin the lawful King of Deira enjoyed not that Crown but whether Ethelric usurped his right or only managed the state during his Minority is left uncertain but sure it is that he held both the Provinces and so left them to his Son and Successour Edelfrid who resolved to keep what his Father left him though never so unjustly EDELFRID EDELFRID sir named the wild succeeded in his Father's Kingdom of Northumberland a Prince valiant and thirsty of Renown and some describe him a Lover of War for War's sake only None of the Saxons ever wasted the Britains so much as he whose Countries he either peopled with his own Nation or made Tributary to him Edan King of the bordering Scots jealous of his success raiseth a mighty Army and invades his Kingdom whom Edelfrid meeting at a place called Degsastone in a set Battel totally discomfits and with such slaughter that Bede writes none of the Scotish Kings to his days durst ever after in hostile manner pass into Britain But the Victory was not obtained without great loss on the Saxons side also for Theobald the Kings Brother and that wing which he commanded was unfortunately cut off After this he turned his Arms against the Britains moved thereunto as some report by the instigation of Ethelbert King of Kent at the request of St. Augustine because the Britains refused obedience to his Authority but the whole course of this action I have before related in the life of Ethelbert King of Kent But Edelfrid growth so famous abroad began to be disquleted with Jealousies at home he knew the Title Edwin had to half his Dominions and though he had made some amends for his Injustice to that Prince in marrying of his Sister Acca yet for all that he could not be sure of his affection and never rested till he drove him out of his Government who wandring from place to place was at last enrertained in the Court of Redwald then King of the East-Angles Edelfrid informed of his kind reception with that Prince grows incensed thereat and sends his Embassadours to have him delivered into his hands or else declares open War Redwald at his Message at first somewhat startled but at length yielding is disswaded from it by his Wife who laid before him the inviolable Laws of Hospitality and how pitiful and mean a thing it was for the menaces of an Enemy to betray his friend to whom he had sworn protection upbraided with his weakness Redwald to make amends not only refuses to deliver him but resolves to maintain his Cause and to be before-hand with Edelfrid with an Army suddenly raised he comes upon him little dreaming of an Invasion and in a fight near the River Idle easily dissipates those forces he had collected together and in the same Battel slays Edelfrid himself who yet dyed not unrevenged For to shew that it was the Errour of his fortune not valour that he lost the day with his own hands he slew Reiner the Kings Son Thus died Edilfrid after he had reigned victoriously for the space of twenty two years to whom Bede applies the saying of Jacob to Benjamin That like a ravening Wolf he devoured his prey in the morning and divided the spoil in the evening His three Sons were conveyed into Scotland by their Mother Acca not daring to trust the good nature and generosity of Edwin whom their Father had so injuriously offended EDWIN EDWIN the Son of Ella established in his Kingdom by the assistance of Redwald the East-Angle as hath been related extended his Dominions further than any King of Northumberland had done before him for Eanfrid Oswald and Oswy the Sons of the late Edilfrid flying into Scotland left the Province of Bernicia absolute to his disposal But besides this addition to his Paternal right partly by Conquest and partly by Resignation he annexed to his Territory the Counties of Durham Chester and Lancashire subduing all both British and English ar far as the Mevanian Islands Anglesey and Man all which he either new planted or made Tributary to him He had not regined above six years when Redwald the chief Monarch then of the English-men departed this life leaving his Son Earpwald to succeed him in the Kingdom of the East-Angles Him Edwin though intreated himself to accept of the Government seated in the Throne of his Fathers contented with the same acknowledgments from him as he received from the rest of the Saxon Provinces Kent only excepted namely some small confessions of Power and the owning of his supreme governance Having thus well established all things round about him he sends to Eadbold Son of Ethelbert then reigning in Kent to desire his Sister in marriage But by his Embassadours he receives this Answer That the Christian Law did not permit them to give their Daughters unto Pagans Edwin whose business was Love not Religion replies that that ought not to be any hinderance for the free exercise of her own waies in her own Family with all the Rites and Ceremonies belonging thereunto should be left entire to her disposal and if upon due examination he found the Christian Law
Kingdom he was the Son of Redwald's Wife half-Brother to the late King The jealousies of Redwald had caused him to retire into France where he continued during his Reign and the Reign of his Successour having the opportunity all the while to instruct himself in good Literature in which that Country then abounded and learn the Christian Religion of which he was a sound Professour After the death of Earpenwald returning home of his own accord or as others write recalled he took upon him the Government of the Kingdom which with great prudence he ruled taking care first that his People should be rightly instructed in the Christian Religion and that afterwards they might secure themselves from Ignorance and Idolatry he introduced the custom of France in their Schools modelling a form after the example he had received there And sending for some Teachers out of Kent by the assistance of Foelix his Bishop he settled a place of teaching generally thought to be the University of Cambridge after which he betook himself to a monastick life recommending the care of Government to Egric his near Kinsman EGRIC EGRIC Reigned four years when being invaded by Penda the Mercian in one battel he lost both life and kingdom It is said that before the fight began the East-Angles trusting to the conduct of Sigibert their former King had intreated him to take the Command that day having to that purpose though much unwilling drawn him from his Monastery to the Camp But he playing the Monk not Captain with only a white Wand in his hand went upon the enemy where with Egric he was slain ANNA ANNA next of Blood and descended from Ufsa in the sisth degree succeeded Egric in the Kingdom of the East-Angles Recorded a just and good man but his vertues exempted him not from the fate of his Predecessours for he was taken off by the same hands of Penda the Mercian His eldest Son Firmimus fell in battel with him and was buried with him at Blithborow his other Son was Erchenwald Abbot of Chertside and Bishop of London his Daughters were royally married and we meet with them as they are mixed in the Histories only thus much may be said of them together That after their death they had all the fortune to be Canonized ETHELHERD ETHELHERD the Brother of Anna succeeded him in the Kingdom Fearing the power of Penda he joyned with him who was now about to make war upon Northumberland but he found the Amity of that Pagan as fatal to him as his Arms had been to his Brother and former Predecessours For whilst in a battel against Oswy he assisted that Tyrant he fell with him leaving three Sons behind him Aldulf Elswolf and Beorn who all three not long after succeeded in the Kingdom His wife was Hereswith Sister of Hilda the famous Abbess of Streanshalch and Great-Grandchild to Edwin King of Northumberland EDELWALD EDELWALD succeeded his Brother in the Kingdom of the East-Angles and held it nine years without any Action leaving a Son called Ethelred who came not to the Crown till Ethelherd's Children had Reigned in their turns ALDULF ALDULF the eldest Son of Ethelherd succeeded his Uncle Edelwald in the Kingdom and held it ten years without other memory ELFWOLD ELFWOLD the second Son of King Ethelherd Reigned seven years in the same obscurity BEORN BEORN the youngest Son of King Ethelberd succeeded without any other circumstance of his life only his Reign is supposed to be twenty three years But indeed the length and continuance of these three last Princes Reigns are uncertainly calculated by Historians whether it were that the Province of the East Angles lay at so great distance from the Scene of Action in these daies or indeed that they did nothing worth Recording The next Prince we hear of is Ethelred ETHELRED ETHELRED the Son of King Edelwald Brother of Anna succeeded in the Kingdom of the East Angles about the year of Grace as may be most probably guessed 714 and reigned fifty two years all which time is passed over in silence saving that the Writer of his Life mentioneth his Wive's name to be Leofrun the Mother of the next unfortunate Prince EGILBERT EGILBERT Son of Ethelred and Leofrun his wife succeed in the Kingdom of the East Angles A Prince of great hopes in his youth addicting himself to the studies of good Literature and in his advancement to the Crown ruling his Kingdom with great justice prudence and moderation But in the year 792 he was taken off by the treachery of Ofsa the Mercian who by fair promises of giving him his Daughter in marriage drew him to his Court at Sutton Wallis in the County of Hereford and there against all Laws of Nature and common Hospitality most batbarously chopt off his head Matthew of Westminster reporteth it done by the instigation of his wife envying the pomp and splendour of this Princely Woer who to take his Lady it seems brought with him a gay and more than ordinary Retinue His body was at first privately buried at Morden upon the River Lug but afterwards upon remorse Ofsa removed it to Hereford And to make amends at least to the Church for the murther he hunts out the Relicks of St. Alban it seems his particular Saint and them miraculously found enshrines in pearl and gold such trivial satisfactions shewed in those times to daub over the Conscience for Villanies scarce practised amongst the most barbarous Pagans For notwithstanding this splendid kind of Repentance Ofsa takes possession of the Inheritance of the murthered laying the Country of the East Angles to his own Dominions which Vineyard as it was bloodily obtained so it lasted not long unto him or his posterity For the Danes breaking in like wild Bores laid it waste not long after But of the occurrences of those times I shall speak in the successive Ages they were done in intending in this Heptarchy to write only to the times of King Egbert the West Saxon the first sole Monarch of England The Kingdom of the East Angles was bounded on the East and North by the Sea on the South it bordered upon Essex and Hartfordsbire and on the West it had a Ditch commonly called St. Edmund's Ditch for its principal limits THE KINGDOM OF MERCIA Contained Counties Cheshire Darbyshire Nottingham Staffordshire Shropshire Northamptonshire Leicestershire Lincolnshire Huntington Rutland Warwickshire Worcestershire Oxfordshire Glocestershire Buckinghamshire Bedfordshire Part of Hertfordshire KINGS Crida Wibba Ceorl Penda Peada Vulfer Ethelred Kenred Kelred Ethelbald Beornred Offa. Egfrid Kenmolf Kenelm THE Kingdom of Mercia though of largest extent yet was inferiour in point of strength and power to far lesser Provinces whose Pavilions though not stretched so wide were sure fixed in the earth and had means by turns to prey upon this great body not able at once on all sides to secure it self from their several incursions Thus like a Bull at stake seated in the
BRITANNIA ANTIQUA ILLUSTRATA OR THE ANTIQUITIES OF ANCIENT BRITAIN Derived from the Phoenicians Wherein the Original Trade of this ISLAND is discovered the Names of Places Offices Dignities as likewise the Idolatry Language and Customs of the Primitive Inhabitants are clearly demonstrated from that Nation many old Monuments illustrated and the Commerce with that People as well as the Greeks plainly set forth and collected out of approved Greek and Latin Authors TOGETHER With a CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY of this Kingdom from the first Traditional Beginning until the year of our Lord 800 when the Name of BRITAIN was changed into ENGLAND Faithfully collected out of the best Authors and disposed in a better Method than hitherto hath been done with the Antiquities of the Saxons as well as Phoenicians Greeks and Romans The First Volume By AYLETT SAMMES of Christ's Colledge in Cambridge Since of the Inner-Temple Si quid Novisti rectius istis Candidus imperti si non his utere mecum Horatius LONDON Printed by Tho. Roycroft for the Author MDCLXXVI This Book entituled BRITANNIA Antiqua Illustrata c. Is Licensed to be Printed by the Appointment of the Right Honourable Sr. JOSEPH WILLIAMSON Principal Secretary of State to His Sacred MAJESTY March 8 th 1674 5. Roger L'Estrange TO The Right Honourable Heneage Lord Finch BARON OF DAVENTRY AND LORD HIGH CHANCELLOR OF ENGLAND MY LORD IT was the constant Custome in all Ages that Subjects of this High Nature namely History and Antiquity wherein are preserved and rescued from Time the Acts and Reliques of Great Persons should be Dedicated to the Great and not submitted to any ordinary Protection This Consideration of it self might have carried me in the Publication of these my Labours to make this Humble Address to Your Lordship whose Eminent Vertues though they may be more Illustrious in that High Sphere wherein You are worthily placed yet were they ever highly conspicuous and You have been long since in the eye of the World what You are now in the Court of Honour Let this Work therefore in all Humility be Dedicated to Your Lordship and if my Endeavours have been any thing answerable to the Dignity of the Matter I have undertaken if the Antiquities of this Nation be thereby more illustrated the History cleared and the Methods of former Writers rectified and amended that is if the Work in general be found useful and sound and with its Novelty in some points carries truth along with it I shall esteem it my chiefest glory that I have laid it at Your Lordships feet entreating favour for those things only which Your Lordship out of Your Great Judgment and Goodness shall think some waies commendable But if from my great Labour and Industry I promise to my self more than possibly will be allowed me however the Work it self may serve to stand as a Testimony and Monument of that Publick Spirit eminent in Your Lordship whereby at its first appearance in the World You readily encouraged so promising an Undertaking which if well managed as I hope in some measure it hath been would undoubtedly be to the honour and benefit of Your Country May God Almighty long preserve Your Lordship in that high Station in which You act to the Honour of His MAJESTY the Good of this Nation and the desires of all Honest men So prayeth My Lord Your Lordships most humble and devoted Servant Aylett Sammes THE PREFACE TO THE READER HAving for some years past wholly employed my self in the diligent searching into the Histories of our Nation I found by experience that the words of Livy in his Preface to his Roman Decades were most true where he writeth That the Beginnings of Nations and the times next succeeding those Beginnings as yielding least pleasure both to Writer and Reader were generally neglected and Men naturally hastned to those Ages which being not so far removed yielded a pleasanter prospect and seemed more closely to concern their knowledge For how few are there who have taken the pains faithfully to collect and in a distinct Method to order rightly the scattered Records of Ancient BRITAIN which are only here and there to be pickt out of divers Authors and not to be found much less well disposed with an ordinary diligence or superficial enquiry Most of our Modern Chronicles content themselves with beginning from the Conquest few go beyond it as if with the general sort of Readers they were impatient until they came to the Battels of Cressy and Agencourt the differences of the Houses of York and Lancaster the Insurrections in Kent or something of that nature which being of a later Date hath yet left an uncertain sound in our ears and is expected to be sett off with no small flourishes or vulgar elocution And indeed the design of such Writers is not to be discommended who following the general stream of Mankind consult their own advantages For in subjects of this nature as the Antiquity and Original of Kingdoms the question of the Poet may perhaps be easily asked and as soon resolved in the same verse Quis legit haec nemo hercule nemo Vel duo vel nemo Few there are who will trouble their heads to enquire by what means their first Ancestors possest themselves of those pleasant Lands in the fruitfulness whereof they at present rejoyce but content themselves to derive their knowledg as high as their own Families only and discourse the Chronicles to the Beginning of their Pedigrees as if there Nature and the World was at a stop and all knowledg beyond that was mere Chaos and Confusion But notwithstanding whatever might be objected of this like nature against this present undertaking I have not been discouraged in going through with it For if the Grecians who had the best Historians in the World were nevertheless called Children by their own Neighbours because they knew not or neglected their own Original will it not be a shame for us also to be ignorant in the Antiquites of our own Nation a Nation great in its Infancy and like Hercules one of its first Discoverers deserving an History even in its Cradle But because there have been some who have already handled this Subject and that not without great Commendation I shall not insist farther upon the usefulness of the design in general but only inform the Reader in short what he is to expect in this present work which hath not been already fully discussed by others lest perhaps it may be thought that I have only trod in the steps of other men and like those idle Imitators whom Horace calls a servile sort of Cattel have only jog'd on in the long beaten road of former Antiquities I confess I might with greater security and much more ease in the delivering of the Antiquities of the British Nation have followed Mr. Cambden out of whom merely to collect hath been counted praise-worthy and whom to imitate is esteemed not only safe but honourable As his Learning was great so
6 minutes in the beginning of the sixteenth Parallel and eighth Clymate and the most Northwardly in 60 degrees 30 minutes in the six and twentieth Parallel or thirteenth Clime So that the longest Day in the South parts will be 16 hours in the Northern 18 and a half Upon the North and South it pointeth to the Ocean on the West it hath Ireland on the East we may measure its extent by the Continent for it lieth in the same Latitude with part of France Flanders Zealand Holland Lower Saxony and Denmark so that there can be no certain Rule given as in lesser Kingdoms of the temperature of the Air the nature of the Soyl the strength growth or proportion of the Inhabitants It is now as it was when the Romans first discovered it that there seems to be many Nations in it differing in the make and proportions of their Bodies The more Northward we go the People seem to be sturdier bigger made and in their Limbs more resembling the Germans hardy and stout and enured to Labour and Cold and to be of the same nature with the Daues and Saxons in the latitude of which Kingdoms they lie The Southwardly parts contain Men of neater strength and more compact Limbs and what they want of the proportion of the others they make out in their quickness and agility being hardy and not unweildy having not less strength but a better management of it In a word they seem to joyn the quick and brisk temper of the French with the staid and more fixed Humour of the Germans and as the People differ in the temperaments of their Bodies so in this vast Kingdom are many Countries Cities Towns Villages Colleges and Free-Schools for the promoting of Learning Hospitals and Alms-houses for the Relief of the Poor and Maimed not inferiourto any in any other part of the World beside Divers Languages Customes and Usages which are not contrary one to the other but by the mixture of the Gentry and the happy union of this Nation under one Monarch do meet together in the making up of the best compacted Kingdom in the World The Languages in Britain are these 1. THE first is the ENGLISH which is most purely and elegantly spoken in the Southern parts and especially at London and it extends thorough all the hither parts of Scotland being the General Language of the most refined sort of that Nation who are called by the more Northern People Sassons as we are by the Welch 2. The second is the BRITISH Language and is spoken by the Inhabitants of North and South Wales although with great difference of Dialect 3. The third is the CORNISH and DEVONSHIRE Tongue differing both from the British and English and not to be understood by either but it agrees most with the British but especially of the Britains of Armorica or Britain in France and those Words they preserve common with both those Nations seem to retain in them the foot-steps of the most Ancient British Language and have in them the very Idiom's of the Phoenician and Greek Nations 4. The fourth is the Language of the Wild SCOTS and differs very little from the Irish in the common Appellative Names it agrees very much with the Welch as doth likewise the Irish which argues that before the Romans and afterwards the Saxons had incorporated themselves in this Island the Language of all the Inhabitants was much the same and that Ireland was rather peopled from Britain than from Spain as some have imagined 5. The fifth is the Language of the ORCADES or ORKNEY Isles with those parts of Britain that shoot out upon them there is spoken the Gothic or Danish Speech which argues them to have been formerly subjected to the Princes of Norway It is a rough and unhew'd Language and is the root of the Dialect spoken more refined by the English more roughly by the Dutch and the Inhabitants of Upper Saxony and Denmark It is the very husk of the Teutonick The whole Island divided into Britannia Major as ENGLAND and Minor as SCOTLAND England being the Greater and of more particular concern to our present discourse is in Length by the computation of some CCC LXXXVI miles Cluverius reckons from Weymouth to Berwick upon Tweed CCC XX or LXXX German miles So that in Compass it is about MCCC miles reckoning the Creeks and windings of Promontories By computation it contains thirty Millions of Acres and is the Three hundred thirty third part of the Habitable World almost Ten times as big as the United Netherlands and is to France as 30 to 82. And thus much for the Extent of this ISLAND upon which account it was called by the Ancients a NEW WORLD and upon a better survey of it The Great Island As for the temperature of the Air as I said before it is different according to the many Clymates it runs thorough But concerning the Southwardly parts of it or Britannia Major I will only Cite some Impartial Judges First Caesar who was well experienced in the nature and climate of Gaul writes That BRITAIN is a more Temperate Country and is not subject to the sharp and nipping colds of the Continent The Reason is given by Minutius Foelix namely That it is refreshed by the warmth of the Sea flowing round about it Experience teacheth us that the extremity of cold in this Country is blown off from the Continent and proceeds not from the North but Northeast-winds and as it hath not those Colds in Winter it is not burnt up with immoderate Heats in Summer Here are none of those violent Thunders and Lightnings which are so frequent on the Continent nor do we ever hear of Serenes wherewith those hotter Climates are infested The heat of the Weather is allayed by gentle Winds and continual Breezes and the Earth cooled and nourished with mild and moderate showers Tacitus speaketh very much of the temperate and happy scituation of it for he saies There is nothing deficient in it but the Olive and the Vine which only grow in hotter Countries But they that shall consider it more truly namely that there are many places at this day called Vineyards in ENGLAND where in all probability has been made Wine will have small cause to complain of the Country in this particular but will rather attribute it to the cheap and easie importation of that Commodity and better improvement of the Ground But it is a great wonder to hear what one Brietius of late hath written concerning the Temperature of the Air in BRITAIN which because it is the production of his own Brain and never heard of before in the World it will not be amiss to mention it Every One and twenty year saith he the Plague rageth in BRITAIN which proceedeth from the extream Heat of every Seventh year which Heat is far greater the Third seventh for then the Waters lying in holes putrifie and corrupt and certainly cause a Pestilence This Cycle of One
several Natures and Capacities as in his Infinite Wisdom he fore-saw would be most convenient for Mans use and answerable to the Earths production And this order and government of Nature we find in the least and minute Insects which although they be various in their kinds yet doth not one kind interfere with another but a steady and certain method may be discerned in their Production one answering another in the same kind exactly that it is a great wonder to see the uniform symetery of their Parts in so small and little Models so entirely preserved Hugo Grotius in his Notes on his first Book De veritate Religionis Christianae speaking of the Traditions of the Heathen corresponding with the Doctrine of Moses concerning the production of Animals quotes divers Authors and amongst the rest Sanchoniathon who all with one consent agree That all kinds of Creatures sprang out of the Earth and that it was the certain Traditions of those Ancient times wherein is also particularly described the manner of their Productions with the differences of Fish Beasts and Fowls in the nature of their Generation viz. How the Earth being in the nature of one great Bogg or Moor which must be imagined so to be and so to continue long after the general Deluge out of the watery part of it produced Fish whilst that part had more spirit and was more refined gave being to the Fowls of the Air who following the volatile nature of their Original took wing some more some less according as they consisted of a grosser or purer substance whilst the earthlier and drossy part of Matter gave being to those Creatures which are stiled Prona naturâ humi fixa heavily creeping upon that Earth from whose deadest part they proceeded Not withstanding all this we ought not to expect these Procreations from the Earth who long since have disburthened it self of those Forms at first it retained in its womb when it was pregnant with the Species of all Creatures it having long since lost its Moisture which then opened its Womb so that it is now become the dead Supporter and final Receiver of its former and primitive Births yet in some parts of it as in Egypt where the Soyl is kept fat and moist by the Inundation of Nile there is daily experience of its generations though small and abortive as in Mice and such like Vermin Creatures though little in comparison of what it hath brought forth yet great in respect to what in other Places it produces These remain now the only Instances and Monuments of that wondrous fertility it once enjoyed so I think to bring the Originals of all Creatures from any particular quarter of the Earth is a great disparagement to its other Parts As the Jews fancy their Country the Navel of the Earth this would be to make its Womb at Babylon or some part of Mesopotamia where ever the Garden of Eden was Now to return to England I think it not necessary at all to build any Isthmus in order to the bringing in of Wolves or to solve such a little piece of Philosophy to make this Ancient and Renowned ISLAND once a hanger on or part of the Continent It was ever the Glory and Safety of GREAT BRITAIN to be environed by the Sea and to command those Waters that encompass it and whilst other Nations are subject to daily Incursions being separated only by Rivers Hills or Valleys and imaginary Lines by turns one Kingdom often Elbows out another But Nature has set BRITAIN such distinct Bounds and Limits that its Empire is preserved entire and as it abounds in All things both for the necessary delight and support of Man and needs not the World to sustain it so was it alwaies esteemed and called Novus Orbis Orbis BRITANNICUS by reason of its Greatness and especially Separation from the Continent for proceeding from the East through that vast Tract of Ground which contains so many Empires and Kingdoms and arriving on the Coasts of France Normandy Picardy and the Low Countries ones Fancy tired with so long a Progress would naturally imagine that on that Shoar was the uttermost bounds and limits of the Earth and that there was nothing Westward but a vast Ocean But as soon as the British Island discovered it self by its High and White Rocks it is no wonder it should be called a distinct WORLD by it self being of so large an extent that for many years after the Romans had discovered it it was not known whether it was an Island or the beginning of another Continent Westward That it ever was joyned Eastward to the Continent of France as there is no Tradition for it so there is no real Truth in it and so I shall leave it as I found it encompast by the Sea with these Verses out of Mr. Cambden upon the Streights the matter of which I question not will be verified in all Ages to come Gemini quà janua Ponti Faucibus angustis latéque frementibus undis Gallorum Anglorumque vetat concurrere terras The British and the Gaulish Shoars The SEA at distance keeps through every Age Least the two LANDS each other should engage CHAP. V. When BRITAIN was first known to the Phoenicians And how it received its Name from them HAVING shewn that BRITAIN was originally an ISLAND and in the greatest probability Peopled from the Continent by the Cimbri a German Nation I come now to Treat of the Phoenicians who although lived upon the most Easternly part of the Mediterranean as Tyre and Sidon yet by the advantage of Shipping and the many Colonies they had upon the Streights are supposed not to be long after if not contemporary with the Cimbri in this Island And from these Phoenicians are the first Antiquities of this Nation to be derived upon the account that their Voyages hither may be proved by the Authority of the best Authors Their Language is sufficiently known being a Dialect of the Hebrew or Syrian Tongue by which Language they are traced through all the Coasts and Islands of the Mediterranean Sea giving Names to those Countries they Arrived at according to the respective Commodities they afforded or the nature of the Soyl or some such notorious qualities which Names though a little varied by the Greeks and afterwards by the Romans remained till the fall of those Empires and many of them remain unto this day And as they gave Names to all places on the Midland-Sea so passing the Streights they gave name to this ISLAND The truth of this will appear when I shall have shewn that they were here long before the Greeks and that the Greeks did take the name of BRITAIN as well as of most other Countries from them And before I proceed I will here speak something of the Custome of the Greeks in giving Names to places they being not so early Marriners as the Phoenicians and finding that all Countries had received some denomination or other from these Traders
the minds of the Britains who yet continued in their Rebellion Polycletus with a mighty Host past through Italy and Gallia a heavy burthen to both Nations and at his arrival at Britain was received with different apprehensions for the Roman Army was awed with his presence but to the Britains he was matter of laughter and scorn for they had not so far lost the sence of Liberty that they were ignorant of the power of a Freed Man and wondered that so great a Captain and Army that had ended such a considerable a War should be at the beck and disposal of a Slave For the present all things were represented to the Emperour in favour of Suetonius who went on still in prosecuting his Affairs but having lost upon the shoar some Gallies with the Slaves that rowed them as if the War continued still he was commanded to deliver up the Army to Petronius Turpilianus who was newly out of his Consulship This Lieutenant was more exorable than Suetonius being a stranger to the faults of the Britains and easier of pardon as never provoked by the Britains or particularly incensed by a Revolt He gave himself wholly to the quieting the Province not attempting any new Conquests imposing the specious name of PEACE from which proceeded Sloth and Idleness TREBELLIUS MAXIMUS succeeded him not inferiour in the laziness of his Temper a Man utterly unexperienced in Martial Affairs and who was fit only to be employed by such a Masters as Nero. Nevertheless he continued the Government to the daies of Vitellius and held the Province in Obedience by a kind of Complaisant behaviour By his remiss Carriage he suffered his Army to grow idle and loose by which means he enslaved Britain more by the Roman Vices than all his Predecessors had done by their Arms but I shall leave some of his character to the daies of Otho and proceed to that of Nero. THE LIFE OF NERO. IN the daies of this Governour died NERO a Prince whose Vertues and Vices might equally be esteemed great had not the former seemed to proceed from Constraint the latter from the Inclination of his Nature for five years he continued an excellent Prince but the remainder of his daies was spent in all Riot and Debaucheries and they who give a particular Catalogue of his Vices seem rather to reckon up the depravities of Human Nature than the Actions of one Man There is little in his Life that relates to Britain but what doth is full of Cruelty and Extortion He slew Aulus Plantus the first Lieutenant under his Father Claudius by whose Valour Britain was subdued to the Romans and ordered his Execution to be performed so suddenly that he had not time to take leave of his Children or to give them his last Blessing and Farewel There was but one hour between his Sentence and his Death when immediately hurried out of the Esquiline Gate into a place set apart for such bloody offices he was slain by the hand of Tacius the Tribune and died so full of Constancy that he upbraided not the Executioner with the ignominy of his Guilt or the Emperour with the remembrance of his Services The Cause of his Death was never known but the after-Actions of this Emperour made it appear that nothing but the exceeding Merit of Plautius was the cause of his destruction and his Victories in Britain His death at Rome Thus died the first Lieutenant of Britain With the same Cruelty Nero proceeded against Marcus Ostorius the Son of Publicus the second Lieutenant The Father had the happiness to end his Victories and his daies at once but his Son who under his Father had performed great things in Britain and had obtained a civical Coronet in the Fight against the Iceni going to Rome was suspected by Nero who by his Tyranny was now grown fearful and exceeding suspicious of all Vertuous men having of late discovered a dangerous Conspiracy He therefore suborns one Antistius Socianus to accuse Ostorius That he consulted with Parmanes an Astrologer and enquired after the life of the Emperour and that he was ill affected to the present Government For these feigned Crimes though absent at his Country-house he is convicted and condemned and a Centurion sent to dispatch him The Centurion found him walking in his Grounds where having shut up all passages of escape he delivered unto him his Message Ostorius moved with Indignation that his Services should receive so ill a reward and disdaining to die by the hands of so mean an Executioner fell upon his own Sword These Cruelties of Nero although inferiour to his many Parricides I have more particularly taken notice of in that they relate to Persons eminently concerned in the enslaving of this Island whose fate though undeservedly given by him who was obliged for such Services yet may seem to be justly called for by the blood and sufferings of Innocent Britains The great destruction of the Romans and their Colonies in Britain under the Conduct of Boadicia is ascribed by Suetonius as the certain consequence of the ill Government of this Prince and his Vices But Nero made better use of it he had been often foretold That the time would come when he should be deserted and forsaken and forced to take up with the Government of the East or the Kingdom of Jerusalem Yet with these hopes That he should be afterwards restored to the Empire when Britain was well near lost together with Armenia he saw himself in a very fair way towards the fulfilling of the Prophesie But these Provinces being again recovered he thought the danger was past and so comforted himself up with the thoughts That the desertion spoken of Wars the foresaid Revolts and that his restoring to the Empire was the regaining of those Countries Confirmed in this opinion was he by one who bade him have a care of the Seventy third year which he falsly interpreted to the daies of his own life and not to Galba who deposed him Pufft up theresore with assurances of Long life and Dominion that little Religion he had he utterly cast off and the Syrian Goddess to whom he had been especially devoted many of whose Altars are found in Britain and who was a peculiar Deity of this Island and Gallia as hath been formerly shewn he so much slighted that in contempt of her he made her a Pissing-Block and took to a little Baby whom he gave out discovered all Conspiracies against him But at last he was deposed by Galba and after he had reigned about thirteen years and a half he slew himself in the prime of his Age and with him ended the Line of the Caesars This NERO sent the twentieth Legion which although called back and again sent by Vitellius after the Civil Wars between him and Otho yet was it recalled again by Vespatian against Vitellius and after the settlement of the Empire under Vespatian in all probability sent into this Island again for Josephus writes that in
ignorant of the diversity of Actions which as I said proceeded from diversities of AEra's I will set them down distinctly according to the most Authentick Historians Bede and his Followers reckon the years thus In the thirty first year of Theodosius the Younger and of Christ 430 the Britains craved assistance but in vain of AEtius the third time Consul Thus Bede But here may be enquired which is the principal AEra by which this account is made If it be the year of Christ 430 then the difference will be whether Theodosius began his Reign in the year 399 or 407 which are eight years difference The AEra therefore must be brought from Theodosius his Reign for Bede supposeth him to have begun his Reign in the year 399 and in some Copies of Ninnius there is a note of Computation adjoyned which Mr. Cambden saith taketh away all scruples and clears all doubts which maketh the beginning of his Reign to have been Anno 407. Again if you make the chief AEra of this Computation to be AEtius third time Consul the difference is greater and we must now seek out the time from the Kalendars of the Councels and we shall find that the third Consulship of AEtius fell out to be in the thirty ninth year of the said Theodosius which should be according to Bede in the year 439 and yet in that account is made after the Birth of Christ 446 and supposeth Theodosius to begin his Reign according to the Computation in Ninnius in the year 407 whereas according to Bede it should be in the year 399. Thus much as to Bedes first Account next he saith Under Valentinian the Third German once or twice came into Britain and led an Army of Britains against the Picts and Scots Here the Computations must be made of Valentinian the Emperour and German The time of Valentinian after Theodosius is uncertain yet of necessity must be after the year 446 according to Bede and yet German by approved Authors as Mr. Cambden relates died in the year of Grace 435. Ninnius writeth that German returned into his own Country after the death of Vortigern Now considering that Vortigern called in the Saxons and Bede saith That in the first year of Martianus and the year of our Lord 449 the Nation of the English Saxons arrived in Britain how is it possible that German dying in the year 435 could return into his Country after the death of Vortigern who called in the Saxons in the year 449 and lived many years after In the year of Christ 433 Prosper Tyro who then lived writeth That Britain after sundry overthrows was brought in subjection to the Saxons Thus we see one Computation draweth us back whilest another setteth us forward whilest some reckon from Christ some from Theodosius some from AEtius some from Valentinian and Martianus and others from German But it will not be here amiss among the rest of the Computations to set down that which is adjoyned in some Copies in Ninnius From the Consulship of the two Gemini Fusius and Rubellius unto Stilico the Consul are reckoned 373 years From Stilico unto Valentinian the Son of Placidia and to the Reign of Vortigern 28 years From the Reign of Vortigern to the discord of Gintoline and Ambrose are 12 years which Battle is Guoloppum that is Cathquoloph Vortigern held the Kingdom when Theodosius and Valentinian were Consuls and in the fourth year of his Reign the Saxons came into Britain and were entertained by Vortigern when Felix and Taurus were Consuls From the year wherein the Saxons came into Britain and were received by Vortigern unto Decius Valerianus are 69 years By this Account the coming of the Saxons into Britain was in the twenty first year of Theodosius the Younger in the year of our Lord 428 and this saith Mr. Cambden cometh nearest to the Computation of Bede But I have rather followed the received Opinion calculated from the Consulship of AEtius who in Gildas is called AEgitius and in another Copy AEquitius than by so far setting back the time upon too much nicety to differ from all other Historians Having shewn the manner occasion and time how the Saxons first entred this Nation it will now be necessary to relate by what craft and policy HENGIST their General at last attained to be King and Governour of Kent which place at first was intentionally assigned him in Trust and for his more honourable Reception or at least better encouragement in using his utmost endeavour to carry on the War against Vortigern's Enemies But during the time his Souldiers had so Couragiously acted in his absence as to deserve Reputation he secretly managed his Interest at home providing them greater supplies as occasion should offer and gathering a greater Body together upon notice given him speedily embarked with his Brother Horsus and observe the luck of it that no sooner they appeared in BRITAIN but were received with great joy by King Vortigern who at that time was much infested with the Inroads of the Picts and Scots After his Reception the King gave him little or no rest for the present in his new Territories till he had received further proofs of his Valour and Conduct in quelling the rage and fury of his inveterate Enemies The Battles with these Picts the Saxons maintained to their great honour and reputation yet some Historians will not believe that ever King Vortigern was a Man of so weak a Judgment so earnestly to urge so crafty and powerful a Nation as the Saxons then were to his assistance but that at first they came by chance into the Island according to an ancient Custome among the English Saxons a People in Germany as it was also at first among other Nations that when in multitudes a People so increased that their own Country was not able to contain them by an especial Edict of their Prince a set number was chosen out to cast Lots how many for that year were to depart the Land and seek out new employments in the Wars of other Nations For so hath it been conjectured of these that they came out of their own Country into Britain to offer themselves to serve in their Wars for meer want of employment and sufficient maintenance at home which was the first occasion given for their Arrival into this Land Hengist by this time having gained a considerable Interest among the Britains and more especially perceiving that the King wholly depended upon his Valour and Conduct takes his advantage in considering the best and surest means how he might speedily advance his greater Promotion not only during his own life but his Heirs and Successours after him in order to which Polidore Virgil saith That he fenced a Country round about with which he was only entrusted afterwards planted Garrisons in such places as seemed best to him for his advantage The King not yet perceiving the shower of Misfortune with black Clouds threatning him takes
Hengists further Advice in hastning speedy Orders for a greater supply of German Forces in pretence of securing the Land more firmly from the rage and power of his Enemies which in truth at last proved but to promote and strengthen his own Greatness which so long he had fore-cast in his head to accomplish esteeming it also to be a great Honour to his Name and Family that he should approve himself to be the only Man that first laid the foundation of a Saxon Monarchy in so Great and Renowned a Kingdom as BRITAIN which was not only so esteemed in those daies but by the Phoenicians Greeks and Romans their Predecessours And we have just cause to believe his Affairs were managed with more than ordinary prudence and policy when in one of his Armies was conveyed hither the comely and most beautiful Rowena on purpose to entice and steal away the Kings heart that her Father might take the better advantage in compleating his Emperial designs The King no sooner saw this Beautiful Virgin at a Banquet unto which he was invited by Hengist but so infinitely admired her Person Beauty and Noble Behaviour that nothing would divert his resolution or quench the heat of so sudden a passion but the deserting his own Queen to obtain Rowena in Marriage but Hengist craftily managing his designs modestly complements the King with humble and submissive Excuses much after this manner That neither his Daughters degree Person or Fortune was suitable to Majesty or the Greatness of his Dominions and Empire yet at last through the earuestness of the Kings Importunities he gave his consent for his speedy Marriage By this Hengist was not only honoured in being Related to a British Prince but firmly received a confirmation of the Kings Gratitude the Kingdom of Kent for his Recompence which formerly had been governed by one Guorongus a Vice-Roy to manage State Affairs in that Province This German Alliance with King Vortigern in a short time made the Saxon Confederates more burthensome to the State than their late Enemies which at first a little startled the King nevertheless the crafty and fortunate inventions of Hengist strengthned by the power of that beloved Rowena so eclipsed the Kings sight yea so weakned his Power that he gained further leave to send into Germany for his Brother Occa and his Son Ebusa The pretence was that the Enemy grew too heady and strong for him and that by such aids and assistance he could better undertake the defence of the South parts when at the same time They if here might preserve the North. Some report although not without contradiction to others that this Occa was the Son of Hengist and Ebusa his Uncles Son but the difference in Opinions in this point is not much material sufficient that the story is true that such Persons by name were called hither by the advice and procurement of Hengist to promote the power of a Saxon Interest The Nobility of the British Nation now sensible of their destruction knew it was too late to reclaim a Luxurious and careless Prince and as to little purpose to endeavour the recalling of a neglected opportunity wherein once they might have stopt the current of such dangerous Events and Accidents For their Consultations now with the King how to prevent Occa and Ebusa from entring the British shoars were wholly rejected through the inseparable affection he bore to the content and happiness of his new Associate The manner of Occa and Ebusa's behaviour after their Arrival is briefly thus After the King had given his consent for the landing of a powerful Army of Germans there came with them as their Generals Occa and Ebusa and coasting towards Britain they struck Sail for the Orkney Isles after whose arrival the Inhabitants received great and unspeakable damages and not long after the Scots and Picts bore an equal share in affliction for after they had sufficiently executed their Tyranny upon the Britains they proceeded to Northumberland where for some time at their first entrance intended only to make a short stay but in process of time too well approving the accommodation of that Country they esteemed it a place worthy of longer residence yet not so fully and absolutely possessing it as to govern it under the title of KINGS but Subjects of Kent till ninety nine years after their first possession Now it is that again we hear how infinitely afflicted and moved the Subjects of King Vortigern were at the increasing Power of the Saxons and because as I said before they could not perswade him into the belief of such great dangers likely to happen they universally agreed in Counsel among themselves to bereave him of his Regal Power and Dignity and in whose stead they placed his Son Vortimer which for the present put the Nation into no small confusion and hubbub besides gave new occasions to the Saxons to revive Insurrections and commit upon the distressed Inhabitants most deplorable spoil and havock Bede and others are silent of Vortimers taking possession of the Crown about this time and consequently that there happened no such fewd and heart-burning between King Vortigern and his Nobility upon the account of the Saxons Arrival into this Land For they say that when the Saxons came into the Land they were received as Friends Aiders and Assisters of the disturbed Britains against their Enemies But I conceive Bede and others might mistake the true Timing of Transactions in that State forgetting the time of the breach of Covenant between them and so might easily mistake one time for another as I find the British History in several other cases are worthy of too great blame and reprehension What Courage the Britains took after all these discouragements in the daies of Aurelius Ambrosius shall be shewn in a following Treatise relating to the transactions in that Princes Reign Hengist by Birth however he dissembled his Quality in that modest behaviour of his in behalf of his Daughter to King Vortigern was of the Princely Blood of the Saxon Race born in Angria in Westphalia the Son of Wiht-Gisil of the Line of Prince Wooden The Kingdom of Kent he obtained by his power and policy not Right which in the daies of Julius Casar was never known to be an intire Province as it was alwaies governed by four Petty Kings of the British Race And although he obtained not the Kingdom by right of Inheritance yet was he to be commended for his Policy Valour and Conduct He possest not the Kingdom above seven years but laid the foundation of the Saxon Government and approved himself an Example yea the first Rule and direction to Egbert afterwards a K. of the West Saxons how to reduce the whole Kingdom into one happy and entire state of Monarchy So that before we proceed to the History and Chronicle of his Successours who after their Arrival bore the greatest sway in this Kingdom and by success of Arms and vast supplies received from the
but the only Argument to prove this a British Monument is Catigern's Tomb who fell in a Battle against Horsa where the Tomb only differs from this in bigness and as being fixed without Mortises and Tenons as we have it expressed by Mr. Cambden in his description of Kent wherein he sets down several other things worthy of observation relating to that Country THE CONTINUATION OF THE British KINGS In the Daies of the SAXONS TO Aurelius Ambrosius succeeded his Brother UTER PENDRAGON a Prince nothing inferiour to him either in Valour or Fortune he is reported a Roman but the greatest demonstration we have of his being so was that whilest he lived he not only buoyed up the sinking genius of Britain by his own Vertues but had also freed this ISLE from a troublesome Intruder as the Saxon in all probability was like to prove had not Divine providence preordained to the contrary si Pergama dextra Defendi potuisse etiam hac defensa fuisset Before he came to the Crown he was sent by Aurelius who then lay sick to oppose Pascentius Vortigern's second Son a Man likely to prove a dangerous Enemy as pretending to the Crown and at that time in conjunction with another malevolent Planet GILLAMARE King of Ireland Against these Uter prudently made all the haste he could with resolution upon the first opportunity to give them Battle lest this new Pretender through length of time might steal away the Affections of the unstable Britains and he himself bring his own Credit in question by delaying the Engagement insomuch that the one being actuated by his own natural fierceness from whence termed UTER the other spurr'd on by Ambition the Fight for a long time stood doubtful but in the end Pascentius and his Irish Associates were slain ill defending their claim to that which their Fathers before them held by as bad a Title Aurelius being dead and himself freed from all Competitors in the Kingdom he began to have an eye upon the proceedings of the Saxons For understanding how Esk and Occa Hengist's Sons had harrassed and spoiled the Country as far as the City of York with all the speed therefore imaginable he wade after these Free-Booters and as suddenly defeated them taking the two Brethren prisoners A good natured Prince without doubt that spared the Lives of those that were by piece-meal stealing his Kingdom and whose Father but a little before had sacrificed 300 of his Nobility In this Prince his time landed Kerdic the Saxon a new Enemy sierce and hardy who notwithstanding all opposition Pendragon could make daily discomsited the Britains and gained Territories large enough for himself and his Followers Now whether this happened whilst he was doting on the fair Dutchess of Cornwall and so could not spare time to attend their Motions sure it is we read that the Britains to recover what they had lost set upon the Saxons under the Conduct of Natanleod or Nazeleod a certain King of Britain but were sufficiently routed by Kerdic and his Saxons from whence the place in Hantshire as far as Kerdicsford now Chardford was called of old Nazaleod Now some and not improbably suppose this Nazeleod to be the right name of Uter Pendragon who for the terrour of his eagerness in fight became more known by the Sir name of Uter signifying in the Welch Tongue dreadful as Edward was termed the Black Prince for the same Reason We shall speak nothing here of his lying with Igren Dutchess of Cornwall nor how by the art of Merlyn he was made so like the Duke of Cornwall that neither the Dutchess nor Servants could perceive the cheat contenting our selves since it cannot be helped that from that adulterous Bed the vertuous Prince Arthur sprang ARTHUR after the death of Pendragon his Son Arthur by the Dutchess of Cornwall was advanced to the Throne being then not above fifteen years old early he came by his honour and as early troubles the usual Concomitants of it overtook him but on purpose as it seems to make him more glorious For Lotho King of the Picts and Gouran King of the Scots having married Anna and Alda the Sisters of Uter laid claim to the Crown in right of their Wives These had Justice on their side and Arthur eleven points of the Law Possession and a good Sword to make it good they often backt their Pretences with a good Army and were as often defeated by this young Prince yet not so throughly but that they held him in Plea all his life-time upon occasions assisting the Saxon against him and at Cambula in Cornwall saith Leland this British Hector encountering Mordred Lotho's Son slew him outright and received of him his own deaths wound Ninnius reports that he over-threw the Saxons in twelve great Battels but with what credit I know not Kerdic the Saxon during all the time of Arthurs Reign continually gained ground of him and possest himself of Somerset and Hantshire in defyance of all the opposition he could make against him but after the fight at Mount Badon the Saxons are said to have sate down quietly for a good while after which those restless Spirits would scarce have done had they not stood in fear of an Army more powerful than their own Therefore we may with some Reason believe he gave the Saxons some considerable defeat and might with all probability have eased the Kingdom of that troublesom Enemy had not his generous Spirit been almost consumed and over-wearied by their continual Supplys Fame has done no Prince more Injury than this for by representing him so far beyond all proportion she has made him Monstrous and by her over-fond talking hath made Posterity suspect with some reason whether there ever was any such Person The Bards styled him IMPERATOR BRITANNIAE GALLIAE GERMANIAE DACIAE now who can believe that he should ramble so far to purchase new Countreys especially with the blood of his own People that could not defend his own against the Enemy at home Caradoc relates that Melvas King of that Country which is now called Somerset detained from him his wife Guenever in the Town of Glaston for the space of a whole year and afterwards restored her at the desire of Gildas not by any compulsion or force that Arthur could make against him If this be true then Arthur seems to be a very unlikely Man to run-over Germany that could not chastise the affront of a little Prince of Somerset that had so much defiled his Bed Now the greatest Argument we have to prove there was ever such a Man as ARTHUR is this King HENRY the Second whilest he was at Pembroke diligently hearkning to a Welch Bard that was singing the notable Exploits of King ARTHUR and taking particular notice of the place of his Burial the Song designing it to be in the Churchyard of Glastonbury and that betwixt two Pyramids commanded for his further satisfaction that they should dig thereabouts When they came some
his own Example behaving himself briskly and proving fortunate against them in several Battles whereupon the Saxons to rid themselves of so dangerous an Enemy called to their assistance Gurmundus a Norwegian Captain but as some say sent for from Ireland who surrounding the Britains dismayed at so great an Army secured themselves in the Town of Chichester but the Besiegers though they were not excellent at taking Towns by Assault thought upon an Invention that did their business as well for fastning fire to the feet of several Sparrows they had taken for that purpose being let loose they flew into the Town and lighting upon the Thatched-houses and other combustible matter set all on fire Upon this the Britains rather burnt out than carried on by Courage made a short sally but being over-powred by numbers were at last discomfited leaving many of their Nobility dead upon the place In the mean time whilest the Britains maintained this Fight Careticus stole out of the Battle securing himself among the Mountains in Wales where he found more security though less plenty Now were the Saxons Lords of all Britain this being the last British King that had any thing to do in the Eastern parts of this Kingdom being confined thence forward in the West by the Rivers Severne and Dee Gurmundus after he had destroyed a great part of the Country he delivered it up into the possession of the Saxons who willingly and thankfully received it at his hands CADWAN THe BRITAINS ever since the Battle of Badon hill had been at variance amongst themselves and now since the Fight of Careticus they could not agree who should be their Governour twenty four years together they were led by sundry Rulers against the Enemy but finding by experience into what precipices and disadvantages their stubborness and rash Counsels had brought them with joynt consent chose CADWAN Ruler of North-Wales King over them This Prince though his Dominions were lesser than those his Ancestours formerly possest yet he gave early proofs to the World that the greatness of his Mind was nothing diminished For presently after his Election he raised a large Army resolving to enforce satisfaction from the Saxons for shedding the Innocent blood of 1200 Monks of Bangor EDELFERD King of Northumberland who had caused this Massacre understanding his design thought not to be behind hand with him wherefore associating himself with most of the Saxon Princes brought a good Army into the Field to meet his Opposer Both Armies were now in sight and every one expected when the Storm that was over their Heads would break but on a sudden it blew over and fair Weather immediately appeared to both Parties For partly by mediation of Friends and partly from a serious consideration of what sad consequence Victory it self must needs be to either Party a Peace was concluded and these two irreconcilable Enemies became for a long time after loving Friends He Reigned over the Britains with great Honour twenty two years CADWALLO THis PRINCE was nothing inferiour if not superiour to many of his Predecessours in Conduct and Valour alwaies behaving himself victoriously too severely and rigorously according to the Saxon Writers how true I know not against his old Enemy the Saxons PENDA King of Mercia whether by Agreement or Conquest is doubtful promised to espouse his Quarrels against the Saxons who joyning their Forces together fell so vigorously upon the Northumbrians that they not only discomsited their whole Army but left King EDWIN dead upon the place Vengeance though late overtook these Northumbrians for Inhumanly butchering the Monks of Bangor pursuing afterwards the Saxons with that vehemence that nothing could satisfie his fury but the extirpation of both their Race and Name Besides he not only slew many of their Princes and most commonly routed their Armies but dispossessed them of their Kingdoms at his pleasure two years after Penda's death making a Grant of the Kingdom of Mercia to his Son Ulfridus He Reigned forty eight years his Body being embalmed was enclosed in a Brazen Image and set upon a Brazen Horse of excellent beauty This the Britains set up aloft upon the West Gate of London called Ludgate in token of his Conquests and for a terrour to the Saxons Bede very much detracts from the Honour of this Prince but being a Saxon with what credit or upon what grounds he hath done it my time will not permit me to examine According to the British Historians Cadwallader succeeded Cadwalls but if we consider the Eminent Saxons he is said to have slain his going to Rome to be Baptized by Pope Seigius his dying shortly afterwards and his being buried in the Church of St. Peters at Rome he will appear to have been one and the same with Cadwallader the Saxon for which cause we omit a particular discourse of him in this place and this observation Mr. Speed and some others have not made concerning the same as they have set him down positively a succeeding King in the British Government FOR the better reading the English Saxon words as likewise the more Ancient Runick or Gothick Alphabet which in the following Treatise do often necessarily occur and may serve to explain what Monuments Mr. Cambden hath set down in the Character confessing he knew not the meaning of them I have thought fit to prefix their distinct Alphabets in this place The English Saxon Alphabet A. B. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 C. D. E. F. G. h. I. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. V. r. X. Y. Z. a. b. c. d. e. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 h. i. k. l. m. n. o. p. q. n. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 v. p. x. y. z. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 An imperfect Sentence the English Saxons marked with a single point a full period with three placed thus v The Old Gothick Alphabet A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. V. X. Y. Z. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Gothick Alphabet of Vuphilas A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. Th. V. W. Ch. X. Z. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Goths marked an imperfect Sentence with a single point a full Period with two and a W among them is sometimes pronounced as a V. It is to be observed that the Gothick or Runick Character was the Character of our Saxon Ancestors and generally of all the Northern Nations as Swedeland Denmark c. and is found in many Monuments in Britain now England cited by Mr. Cambden although without any Interpretation annexed to them THE ANTIQUITY AND ORIGINAL OF THE SAXONS BEING to write of the SAXONS a Nation who next to the Romans possessed this ISLAND and so well establisht their Laws and Language therein as to this day they remain in force to their Posterity being not as yet wholly rooted out though often subject to alterations and
a Saxon they call Dle Sassen and that this kind of Weapon was generally used by the Getes from whom the Saxons are derived shall be proved Statius testifying the same in these Verses Quo Macetae sua gesta citent quo turbine contum Sauromates falcemque Getae Pontanus to prove more evidently that the Saxons had their Name from this sort of Sword recordeth That Saxony in its ancient Arms bears two SEAXES or HANGERS Cross-wise which saith he is an undoubted proof of their denomination And ERKENWYN King of the East Saxons gave for his Arms three hand SEAXES Argent in a field Gules and that this was not unusual for Nations to be named after their particular Weapons Verstegan proveth at large upon this Subject and the same I have shewn in another place wherein are treated the Causes and Reasons of the names of most Countries in the Ancient World Mr. Cambden in his description of Cornwal tells us That in Wales there was sound in the Earth in digging for Tynn Spear-heads Axes and Swords of Brass meaning I suppose these SEAXES wrapped up in Linnen the like was found in other places beyond Sea this may testifie of what Mettal their Weapons were made but not of their fashion but of that I have sufficiently spoke already And he further saith That it is evident the Greeks and Cimbrians and consequently the Ancient Britains by the Monuments and Testimonies of ancient Writers used Brass Weapons although less prejudicial in the wounding the Body than that of other Mettals in respect of its healing quality which he attributes to their harmless nature in the choice of it more than any other whose Opinion I absolutely contradict apprehending it rather from the plenty of the Mettal or else for the estimable value they had for it above any other and not from a healing quality for they being a People ambitious of Conquest they desired doubtless all opportunity of usurpation and mischief to bring about their ends and desires Thus much for the name of the SAXONS The next People are the ANGLES THEY are of the same Original with the former and the reason of their Name is diversly given Saxo Grammaticus fetcheth it from Angulus the Brother of Dan and Son of Humblus whom others call Humilus Others from Queen Angela but these Fables need no refutation Geropius Becanus deriveth it from Angelen or Anglen a Fish-hook and saith that the Saxons arrogated this Name to themselves because living on the Sea-coasts nothing passed on the Waters but was drawn and hookt in by them But this Erymology as it savoureth of fancy more than truth so doth it carry in it self its own confutation for the Angli or Angili were so called long before they came to the Sea-coasts even when they were an Inland-people as shall be shewn more fully in the sequel The next Opinion which seemeth to carry more right and hath hitherto been most generally received is that they took name from ANGULUS that is an Angle or Corner their ancient Country about Sleswick being a narrow Isthmus lying upon the Baltick Sea Of this mind is Mr. Sheringham though afterwards he contradicts himself and Verstegan writes thus The word Eng in the ancient Teutonick signifieth Narrow or Streight and sometimes a Nook and if any ask a Dutch-man how he calleth a narrow Country he would answer Engeland or England such a Country saith he is Old England in Denmark from whence our English Ancestors proceeded being a Neck of Land and such also is our present ENGLAND running out in length and growing narrower at both ends To prove this Opinion Bede is quoted who writeth That the ANGLES came out of that Country which is called Angulus and is reported from that time to lie waste between the Provinces of the Saxons and Juites and Mr. Cambden sheweth That between Juitland and Holsatia the Ancient Country of the Saxons there is a little Province in the Kingdom of Dania termed at this day Angle beneath the City Flemsburg upon the River Sly upon which Sleswick is scituated which Lindebergius in his Epistles calleth Little Anglia and Ethelwardus an ancient Saxon Writer hath this description of it Old Anglia lieth between the Saxons and Giots they have a Capital Town which in the Saxon Tongue is called Sleswick by the Danes Haithby From this Country saith Mr. Cambden they passed into the Inland-parts of Germany even as far as Italy and left their Name to several places as Engleheim the native Country of Charles the Great Ingolstad Engleburg Englerute in Germany and Angleria in Italy Thus we see the the progress of the ANGLES set down from Angulus or Anglia in Denmark into Germany Southward by Mr. Cambden and others the contrary whereof is true as shall manifestly be shewn For as it is not to be denied but that our English Ancestors came from this Province into Britain yet that they received their Name originally from it call it Angulus or Angle or Old England which you please and so carried it into Germany cannot in reason be supposed upon the following account First because the name of Angli or Angili was known in the World long before they had possession of this Country when they were an Inland-People living far within the Continent which being true makes it evident that the ANGLI gave name to this Province and not the Province to them To put this out of dispute it is to be observed that Tacitus and after him Ptolomy who first wrote of the Angli or Angili make them an Inland-People and part of the Suevians Ptolomy divideth the Suevians into three Nations the Longobardi Semnones and Angili Now the Suevians were a Nation who never continued above a year in one place but as Caesar Strabo and other Authors witness continually ranged up and down still seeking out new Habitations roving therefore through Germany that part of them called English Suevians gave names to the forementioned Places Ingolstad Engleburg c. and at length after the daies of Ptolomy passed into the Cimbrick Chersoness a Province whereof they accordingly gave the denomination of Angulus or Angel For in the daies of Ptolomy in that part of Denmark wherein Bede and Ethelward place the Angli we read of no such People there and Ptolomy himself in those very Provinces reckoned the Inhabitants by these Names the Chali Cobandi Sabalingii and Sigulones and setteth down the Angli far enough from hence among the Suevians in the Mediterranean parts of Germany Add to this that most Authors bring their Original from Westphalia where Engern standeth and others have thought it probable they might primitively proceed from Pomerania where the Town Angloen flourisheth These considerations moved Cisner to think that the Angli Suevi mentioned in Ptolomy and the Angli Saxones so called by Bede and Ethelwerd were not the same People because the former were certainly an Inland-Nation and a branch of the Suevians the latter
Aurelian whose right he had usurped After this Massacre few or none being left in Britain whose wisdom in Councel or policy in War was able to do much for their Country Hengist had the leasure to establish his new Dominions And although we read of some few bickerings between him and the Britains afterwards yet by the consequences we shall find that these last were alwaies the loosers and the Saxons the only gainers And now about the year 477 Ella another Saxon Prince with his three Sons Cymen Pletig and Cissa entered the Island at a place in Sussex called Cymenshore and made great slaughter of the Britains but of his actions as being the founder of the Kingdom of the South Saxons there will be occasion to speak in that History It is sufficient here to be hinted that so fair a gap being laid open by Hengist not long after as if Britain was the field of Fortune many other Princes out of Saxony and those parts came flocking into the Island and soon after one another settled Seven distinct Kingdoms leaving to the Poor Britains no more than what nature seemed to provide for them namely inaccessible Mountains and Rocks scarcely passable where defending themselves and enjoying the use of their Religion they sometimes to little purpose as in the main appears made sallies upon the Saxons who not withstanding all resistance still more and more increased Some of them fled over to their Brethren in Armorica others into Holland where yet remains the Ruines of Brittenburg not far from Leyden to be seen at Low-water either built as the Dutch Writers affirm or seized by the Britains in their flight from Hengist Hengist reigned thirty four years and then as Marianus Scotus reports died honourably but Peter de Ikam Polydore and others say he was slain in Battel or taken by Edol Earl of Gloucester and beheaded at Conesborow He was a Prince of the chief Blood of the Saxons by birth of Angria in Westphalia and supposed Lord of that Territory called at this day Hengster-holt He is thus derived from the deified Woden Hengist the Son of Wetgisse the Son of Wecta the Son of Woden When Hengist came first into Britain he is said to have built Thong-Castle near Sydingborn in Kent so called because he had begged as much ground of the King to build it on as he could compass about with an Ox-hide Here he feasted Vortigern and here the fair Rowena in broken language drunk to him that fatal Wassal that for ever after like a strong yet lingring poyson stuck close to his side Thus Hengist obtained the Kingdom by Craft as much as Courage and established it in blood by Treachery yet there are who excuse that Massacre of the British Nobility and lay it upon chance not design alledging that in Saxony not long before there had been a meeting of Thuringers and Saxons where if the Saxons suspecting fraud had not come privily armed the Thuringers had dispatched them all fearing the like Treachery from the Britains they prepared for the worst in this Treaty and in the midst of their Cups as drink is quarrelsom they were provoked beyond the measure Wine is able to bear Thus Verstegan OERIC OERIC Sirnamed Oisc the Son of Hengiss succeeded in the Kingdom At the Battel of Creganford or Craford he gave signal proof of his Valour in assisting his Father in gaining that most remarkable Victory not long before he had been taken prisoner by the Britains and was held in custody at York but by secret workings he made his escape and came up to his Father before the fight began Being seated in the Throne like a wise Prince he set himself to the establishing his Kingdom by good Laws contracting his Dominions within the Province of Kent as most tenable and neglecting those Out-skirts of Essex Sussex and Middlesex left him by Hengist as not well bounded nor throughly subdued Sussex and Surry which touched him on the West he gave up to the Conquest of Ella the Saxon and Essex and Middlesex on the North he left free for Enchinwine another Saxon Adventurer to exercise his Valourin Thus whilst on all sides of his Kingdom the Britains were kept off by other hands he had leasure to follow the Arts and Methods of Peace like Numa to settle the Kingdom left him by his warlike-Predecessor And this is the reason that we hear little of his Son and Grand-son saving their Names and Issues till the time of Ethelbert For the Britains taken up with higher Wars had not opportunity or means to reach Kent and till Ethelbert's daies the other Saxons were so well imployed by the Britains that they had no leasure to fall out among themselves In memory of this Prince the founder of their Laws and Priviledges the Kentish Men afterwards called themselves Oiscings He reigned 24 years but hath not the honour by our Historians to be accounted the second Monarch of the English Men they giving that place to Ella founder of the South Saxons a more active and bustling Prince OCTA OCTA the Son of Eske or Oisc began his Reign about the year 513 What his Father peacably left he quietly enjoyed for twenty two years in which he had the pleasure to see many other Principalities of the Saxons begun in the Island He left the Kingdom to Ermiric ERMIRIC ERMIRIC the Son of Octa Reigned twenty nine years more honourable in his Posterity than any actions of his own He gave his Daughter Rikel in marriage to Sledda Son of Erchinwine first founder of the Kingdom of the East-Saxons by which alliance he endeared to himself the neighbouring Provinces of Essex and Middlesex his Kingdom he left to his Son Ethelbert ETHELBERT ETHELBERT the Son of Ermiric succeeded in the Kingdom of Kent He equalled in length of Reign both his Predecessors and as Bede rockoneth exceeded them three years At his first coming to the Crown he was very young and unexperienced by which means hastily aiming above his reach he fell almost beneath the contempt of his Neighbours The causes of his Ambition seem to be these We read that Hengist by leave of Vortigern had placed Octa and Ebissa in the North to keep off the Scots and Picts from molesting the Southern borders they and their Successors settling there a kind of Principality had held it for one hundred and eighty years yet as in subjection to Kent the elder Family and owning its Protection though far distant But Ida coming to govern in those parts about the year five hundred forty seven in the daies of Ermiric cast off all manner of obedience to that Crown and assumed an Absolute Royalty to himself which Indignity Ermeric as may probably be guessed resenting by making strong Alliances intended to revenge but being snatched away by untimely death the quarrel was left intire to young Ethelbert his Son who partly instigated by this affront whereby the honour of his Kingdom seemed to be
scyldig se man se ê§ana sie he age healf ê§ Æ¿iae daet Æ¿eorc If a Free man shall do it on that forbidden time he shall suffer the Mulct of Pillory and the Informer shall have half as well of the Mulct as the Wirgild Wirgild signifies a Composition made by the Party or his Friends for a fault committed This is all that we find upon Record either in Church or State that particularly relateth to King Wigtred He left Issue Edbert Ethelbert and Alric who all reigned in their turns EDBERT EDBERT the first Son of Wigtred reigned peaceably twenty three years nothing is left memorable upon Record during his Reign save that two blazing Comets appeared one before the Sun in the morning the other after him at night both darting their beams to the North. It was thought to portend the Desolations afterwards made by the Saracens who brake into France but were soon after expelled ETHELBERT the Second ETHELBERT the Second and second Son of Withred succeeded his Brother in the Kingdom He reigned for the space of eleven years and hath left nothing behind of Name or Issue He was buried among his Ancestors at Canterbury ALRIC ALRIC the third Son of Withred and last of the Royal Family of Hengist held the Scepter thirty four years He was slain in the battel of Otteford by the hands of OFFA the Mercian King whose overthrow saith Malmsbury was less dishonourable as vanquisht by so great a Monarch The Saxon Annals of 784 mention one EALMUND now reigning in Kent but he is no where else mentioned The following Kings either by wealth or faction obtained the Kingdom ETHELBERT the Third ETHELBERT the Third Sirnamed Pren the Annals call him Eadbright by what means is unknown usurped the Regal Power After two years reign contending with Kenulph the Mercian King who invaded his Territories he was taken Prisoner and led captive into Mercia and there for a while detained During his Imprisonment Cuthred was appointed by Kenulph to govern Kent and Simeon writes that Kenulph commanded to put out his eyes and cut of his hands but upon what occasion or whether the sentence was executed he hath left us in the dark Certain it is that Kenulph having finisht his Church at Winchcomb in Glocestershire either out of commiseration of Human chance or relenting so severe a punishment or else to render the dedication of his Temple more illustrious taking this Princely Captive by the hand he led him to the High-Altar and there in the presence of Cuthred his Vice-Roy in Kent and ten Earls thirteen Bishops and many other Nobles he gave him his Liberty without Ransom and free leave to return to his Dominions But coming to Kent he was not received but retired to a private life and this is he and not the former Ethelbert whom the Annals of Canterbury affirm to be buried at Reculvers in the Isle of Tanct where he may be supposed to have lived after his expulsion a place most convenient and oftentimes used for such inglorious retreats He reigned only three years CUTHRED CUTHRED was created by Kenulph Vice-Roy of Kent but our Historians make him King and Usurper however he sate in the Throne but three years and we hear nothing of him but that he was present at the release of his Predecessor which should seem to argue that he was not the cause of his being kept out from the Crown BALDRED BALDRED last King of Kent was vanquished by Egbert the West-Saxon who seized his Dominion after he had reigned eighteen years and forced him to flie beyond the River Thames at which time this Kingdom and not long after the rest of the Heptarchy were reduced under the intire obedience of that Monarch THE KINGDOM OF THE East-SAXONS Contained Counties Essex Middlesex Part of Hartfordshire KINGS Sledda Sebert Sered Seward Sigibert the First Sigibert the Second Sigibert the Third Swithelm Sighere Sebba Offa. Selred Suthred SLEDDA SLEDDA the tenth from Woden is generally esteemed the first founder of the East-Saxon Kingdom though some following Huntington give the honour to Erchenwine his Father of whom nevertheless they tell us nothing saving his Name and Pedigree relating neither the number of his Forces the place of his landing or so much as the least encounter with the Britains In the same obscurity we might have passed over Sledda his Son had he not ennobled himself by the marriagt of Ricula Daughter of Emerick King of Kent and Sister to Ethelbert the first Christian Prince and Great Monarch of the English-men And indeed the whole transactions of this Province seem all along to have been redeemed from oblivion not by the glory or worth of its Princes or the greatness of its own proper atchievments but by the conjunction is had with other Kingdoms more powerful and the lustre it borrowed from neighbouring Princes with whom it was often linked in action In its beginning it was tributary to Kent and received its Protection from thence and this is the reason I have placed it next in order and though afterwards it came to be in a manner absolute yet it never rose to that height as to have one Monarch that could pretend to give Laws to other Kingdoms of the Saxons as all the rest at one time or another did It was bounded on the East with the Sea on the South with the Thames on the West with the Colne on the North with the River Stour But these two latter limits often varied according to the encroachments of the Mercians made upon them in the West and the East-Angles and those of Northumberland on the North. Neither is the time of the beginning of this Kingdom more certain some place it as high as the year 516 under Erchinwin others eleven years after in the year 527 and the fifteenth of Oisc second King of Kent Some begin it at the first year of this Sledda's Reign which they will have to be in the year 587 but leaving them in their Disagreement I shall begin the computation of this Kingdom from the death of Sledda who having reigned without any actions recorded the space of many years departed this life Anno 596 leaving issue Sebert and Segebald SEBERT SEBERT the eldest Son of Sledda succeeded his Father nothing more famous than he saving that he was the first introducer of the Christian Faith into this Province He was converted at the perswasions of his Uncle Ethelbert and the preaching of Melitus afterwards Bishop of London and received Baptism at his hands in his chief City of London where by the assistance of King Ethelbert then chief Monarch of the English-men he founded a stately Church or rather repaired and enlarged the old Structure dedicating it to the honour of St. Paul constituting it the Cuthedral of the See of London This Church Ethelbert then present endowed with good possessions as in his Grant to Melitus is evident by this following Record AETHELBERT Rex
Deo Inspirante pro animae suae remedio dedit Episcopo Melito terram quae appellatur Tillingham ad Monasterium sive solatium scilicet Sancti Pauli Et ego Rex AETHELBERT ita firmiter concedo tibi Praesuli Melito potestatem ejus habendi possidendi ut in perpetuum in Monasterii utilitate permaneat c. Afterwards these two Princes founded the Church of St. Peters on the west of London at a place called Thorney where there stood a Ruinous structure built as the report goes by King Lucius upon the foundations of a Temple of Diana Here Sebert after thirteen years Reign was interred as likewise his Wife Anthelgoda more to be commended if he had laid the foundation of Christian Religion in the hearts of his Children as he had done in sticks and stones but dying his three Sons SERED SEWARD and SIGIBERT jumpt all at once into the Throne three heady and ungracious Princes for their Father was no sooner laid in the earth but they cast off publickly the Christian Religion and did open spight to its Professors Take the Relation from Bede Sebert departing this life to a better left his Kingdom to his three Sons who immediately returned to the open profession of Idolatry which during their Father's life they had partly dissembled and by publick allowance encouraged their Subjects in the worship of Idols when they saw the Bishop celebrating of Mass in the Church and delivering the Host to the people they haughtily demanded as report goes and with as much folly as impiety Why reach you not out the glittering Bread to us as well as you used to do to our Father Suaba for so in derision they called him and still continue to give unto the people To whom the Bishop made this Answer If you will be washed in the same fountain of life as your Father was you may also be partaker of the same Holy Bread But they persisting in their demands and the Bishop resolutely refusing they in great passion and fury banisht him their Kingdom who there-upon returned into Kent which at that time under Eadbald was in the same plight and afterwards passed into France with Justus then Bishop of Rochester But divine Vengeance suffered not long their impiety to go unpunished For going out to War against the West Saxons they were all cut off by the sword But nevertheless though the Authors of this Apostacy were taken away yet the people could not for some time be brought to embrace the Christian Religion Seward left Issue Sigibert SIGIBERT the First SIGIBERT Sirnamed the Little the Son of Seward the second Son of Sebert succeeded his Father in the Kingdom he hath left nothing behind him of his Reign so that he might be stiled the Little as well for his Actions as his Person He left a Son named Sighere and a Brother called Sebba but neither of them immediately succeeded him SIGIBERT the Second SIGIBERT the second of that name the Son of Segebald the Brother of Sebert reigned next in the Kingdom of the East-Saxons At his first coming to the Crown he was a Pagan with all his People but was at length converted by the ardent perswasions of OSWY King of Northumberland with whom he had contracted a near intimacy resorting often to the Court of that Prince to visit him Oswy who wisely knew how to improve the kindness of his Friend for the advantage of his Soul at last by friendly endearments at his own Palace upon the Wall brought him to Baptism which he received at the hands of Finnan a Bishop Being to return into his own Country he desired that some Preacher might be sent with him to instruct his People in the Religion which he himself had received Oswy to satisfie his just Requests chooseth one Gedda a laborious Pastor then residing in the Country of the Mercians to go along with him who coming into the Country of the East-Saxons by the help of others joyned with him in the Ministry so wrought upon the People committed to his charge that the Gospel of Christ daily increased more and more throughout the whole Province Gedda as a reward of his labours and to gain more Authority to his preaching was afterwards by Finnan at Lindesfern created Bishop of the East-Saxons which office he executed with great commendation for the space of many years ordaining Priests and Deacons for his assistance and Baptizing in all parts but especially at Ithancester and Tilbury Whilst these things were doing Sigibert who still continued stedfast in Religion was almost barbarously slain by the conspiracy of two of his Kinsmen who were attending of his person Being demanded after the Murther what it was that moved them to an act so foul and treasonable it is reported they returned this savage Answer That they had killed him for his easiness of Temper in forgiving Injuries and pardoning his enemies whenever they askt it Some have attributed his death to the judgment of God upon him for his disregarding the Censures of the Church and they give us this Relation One of these Earls that flew him had unlawfully married a Wife and being admonisht thereof refused notwithstanding to put her away for which sin being excommunicated but still continuing obstinate it was strictly forbidden under pain of the same Censure for any one to come under his Roof much less to eat or drink with him Notwithstanding this Sentence the King invited to a Banquet goes to his House but in his return meeting the Bishop he was struck with remorse and lighting from his Horse fell at his feet begging pardon for his offence It is said that the Bishop also alighting came up to the King and touching his head with his rod spake these words in the Authority of a Bishop Because thou wouldst not refrain from entring the House of the accursed in the same House shalt thou die And so indeed it came to pass This Gedda going afterwards to visit his Native Country of Northumberland upon the motion of King Ediswald there Reigning founded the Monastery of Lustinghem which he consecrated with Fasting and Prayer Sigibert is said to have Reigned fourteen years he left behind him a Son named Selred but the Crown fell not to him immediately after his Father's death but he followed many others who wore it before him SWITHELM SWITHELM the Brother of Segibert succeeded him in the Province of the East-Saxons we hear nothing of him but the course of his Christianity being baptized by Gedda in the Province of the East-Angles at a place of the Kings called Rendelsham Ediswald the Brother of King Anna and King of the East-Angles receiving him at the Font SIGHERE SIGHERE and SEBBA after the death of Swithelm took joyntly on them the government of the State the former was the Son of Sigibert the Little the latter his Brother They divided the Province into two Governments each of which they ruled distinctly In the beginning of their Reign there was
seen an Eclipse of the Sun on the third of May which was followed by a grievous Dearth and Pestilence beginning in the south parts but spreading to the north and over all Ireland with great Mortality Sighere and his People unsteady in faith attributed this Plague to the displeasure of their old Gods and returned again to their Superstition building up their Altar and erecting their Images which had been cast down Which when Wulfur the Mercian came to understand he sent Jaruman a godly Bishop who by faithful endeavours in that kind soon recovered them of this second Apostasie But Sebba with those under his command held stedfast in the Faith and after the death of Sighere reigned many years until weary of the troubles of this World he resigned his Crown and took upon him the habit of a Monk in the Monastery of St. Pauls in London which habit he received at the hands of Waldhere or Walthere Bishop of London to whom he brought a great sum of mony to be distributed in Charitable uses reserving nothing for himself that he might faith my Author be as well poor in substance as in mind and all to gain the Treasure of the Kingdom of Heaven where he died and was buried and his Tomb to our daies stood in the North-wall of the Chancel of that Church being thither translated in the year 1148. He had two Sons the eldest of which named Sigherd was a Monk with his Father as Bede saies and of the youngest named Seofrid there is nothing recorded though some make him to reign seven years after his Father Sighere married Oswith the Daughter of Edilfrith King of Northumberland who in the daies of her Husband is said to be the Abbess of Barking and was afterwards reputed a Saint By her he had a Son named Offa who succeeded Sebba in the Kingdom OFFA OFFA the Son of Sighere a comely person in his youth and as much admired for the endowments of mind as of body reigned the space of eight years much desired of the People When out of a Religious fondness he forsakes his Wife Kineswith the Daughter of Penda and with Kendred King of Mercia and Edwin Bishop of Worcester goes to Rome where he is shorn a Monk his Queen after his departure vowed her self a Vailed Nun in the Abby of Kineburg where his Sister was Abbess SELRED SELRED the Son of Sigibert the Good came at length to the Crown which he held thirty eight years and then died a violent death but how or from whom received is not reported leaving no Issue behind him SUTHRED SUTHRED the last King of the East-Saxons was driven out of his Kingdom by Egbert the West-Saxon Monarch at which time this Province with others was annexed to the Crown of all the Principality of the Saxons this had been most unstable in the Faith having twice fallen into open Apostasie And this perhaps might be the true Reason that of all the rest it was the most Inglorious being Tributary throughout to one Prince or other and never able to stand upon its own feet by the just judgment of God who visited their sins upon them that they who could stoop to stocks and stones should also be servants to their Neighbours For if we consider the outward advantages it enjoyed in the beginning of its foundation we should sooner judge it would be able to give Laws to its Neighbours than receive from them It was excellently bounded on the East and South by the Ocean and River Thames which at once enriched and secured it It had under its command the City of London which Bede in these daies writes was a Princely Mart for all Comers both by Sea and Land On the other side it had no bordering settlements of Saxons in its first infancy to share in its Conquests or strengthen its ground an inconvenience which many other Provinces were forced to struggle with The lands were seated very pleasant and fruitful and the Countries adjoyning lay open to their farther progress yet notwithstanding all these admirable advantages it was continually in a pining condition scarce able to bear up the name of a Province much less the dignity of a Kingdom And in its final surrender to Egbert hardly afforded a good morsel to that Conquerour For London obeying the Mercians went not along with it but holding out with the Countries near adjacent it cost some more time in the gaining of it THE KINGDOM OF THE South-SAXONS Contained Counties Surry Sussex KINGS Ella Cissa Edilwalch ELLA THE Kingdom of the South-Saxons was precedent to the former in time and the glory of its Actions but not continuance of its Dominion for as it was begun with the first so it was the soonest of all determined the foundations whereof were laid by ELLA the eleventh from Woden not long after the arrival of Hengist for whether sent for by him or coming on his own accord as a New Adventurer with his three Sons Kymen Pletting and Cissa in three ships he lands at a place since that called Kymenshore now Shoreham a well known Harbour in Sussex At his first landing he set upon the Britains and with great slaughter drove them into the Wood Andreds-league which Mr. Cambden calls Andreds-wald so named from Caer-Andred adjoyning which in the Book Notitia Provinciarum is termed Anderida with a Haven hard by of the same name But the Britains thus driven back suffered not Ella to enjoy his ground in quiet for continually sallying out upon him from the neighbouring Woods and Forrests and their chief Garrison at Caer-Andred called by the Saxons afterwards Andreds-cester now Newenden in Kent they often-times repelled him with great dammage and as is thought with the death of his two eldest Sons Kymen and Pletting Ella to supply these losses sends over to old Saxony at this day Holstein in Denmark for more Recruits which come he gives them battel at Mercredeshowrn or Mercreds-Burnamsted wherein he obtained an absolute Victory but Huntington makes doubtful which side carried the day And it appears that after this engagement new Forces were sent for into Germany but whether a second time or that the last supplies are to be placed after this battel is left uncertain But an Argument of Victory on the Saxons side is that now it is generally reported that Ella took upon him Kingly Dignity namely three years after the death of Hengist in the year of our Lord 492 for the difference of computations herein is not great unless we follow them who confound the time of his Entrance with that wherein he assumed Power ELLA grown great with Conquests and Recruits taking his Son Cissa with him besieges Andredchester the chief Rendezvous of the Enemy who nettled with the thoughts to see their principal Garrison invaded and weighing the fatal consequences if it should fall into his hands there being scarce any other place considerable left them in the South gather from all parts and strive if possible to
raise the Siege Sometimes the Inhabitants sallied out whilst others from the Woods and natural Fastnesses fell upon the Enemy in the Reer But Ella dividing his Army ordering one half to attend the motions of the Scouting Britains and with the other part plying the Siege at last won the Town by Assault and as some report put all to the Sword sparing neither Sex nor Age. The City it self he utterly demolished and with so through a Ruine that it never after could be rebuilt And at this day the ground whereon it stood beareth a little Village so small that it scarce sufficeth to point out the foundations of the Ancient City Ella by destroying this great Fortress had opened the whole Southern quarters of the Island whereby all that part of the Country lay at his devotion What he did in the following course of his Reign which is reckoned twenty two years or thereabouts is not particularly recorded but he is numbred the second Monarch of the English-men and is said at last to have reduced all on this side Humber both Saxon and Britain under his entire obedience But under his Successors who were but few and of no great fame the Kingdom was contracted into a lesser compass containing only Sussex and Surry and them not entire For the Kingdom of Kent on one side and the West-Saxons on the other both well settled Governments pressing hard upon it so daily wore it out that losing strength by degrees what remained of it was quickly swallowed up by Ceadwald the West-Saxon and afterwards by King Ine his Successour wholly annext to that Kingdom Insomuch that continuing so short a while not beyond the year 1601 having so few Princes and those in so great obscurity William of Malmsbury among other Writers have taken no notice of it at all CISSA CISSA the youngest Son of Ella the other two failing before him succeeded in the Kingdom of the South-Saxons he left nothing memorable behind him save a long Reign of 76 years as it is generally reported spent only in the foundation of two Cities bearing his Name Chichester and Cissbury of the former Mr. Cambden thus writeth Chichester in the British tongue called Caercei in the English-Saxon Cissan ceaster in Latin Cicestria a City large enough and walled about built by Cissa a Saxon the second King of this Province and of him so named for Cissan ceaster is nothing else but the City of Cissa Concerning the latter hear the same Author Hard by i. e. near Offington there is a Fort compassed about with a Bank rudely cast up wherewith the Inhabitants are perswaded that Caesar entrenched and fortified his Camp But Cissbury the name of the place doth plainly shew and testifie that it was the work of Cissa who being of the Saxons Line the second King of this petty Kingdom after his Father Aella accompanied with his Brother Cimen and no small power of the Saxons at this shore arrived and landed at Cimen shore a place so called of the said Cimen which now hath lost the name but that it was near unto Wittering the Charter of the Donation which King Cedwalla made unto the Church of Selsey most evidently proveth EDILWALCH EDILWALCH followed Cissa nothing more famous than he saving that by his example the South-Saxons though late embraced the Christian Religion The occasion of this Prince's Conversion is thus told in the History of St. Swithune Berinus Bishop of Dorchester preaching at Oxford before Wulfur King of Mercia it happened that Edilwatch then a Pagan was present who by the perswasion of Wulfur and the instruction of that Bishop embraced the Faith and was baptized being received at the Font by Wulfur who to gratifie his new Convert and new Adopted Son gave him the Isle of Wight and a Province of the Meannari adjoyning upon the Continent which Wulfur had newly gotten from Kenwalke the West-Saxon and had there as will appear out of Bede begun to plant Christianity At the same time following the example of their King the Dukes and Nobles of this Province received Baptisin at the hands of St. Berinus but the general Conversion of the South-Saxons was wrought by Wilsrid Archbishop of York driven from his Seat by Egfrid King of Northumberland The whole story of which as also the Conversion of the Isle of Wight take out of Bede as it is particularly related out of which relation our Historians gather by piece-meals whatever is recorded of this Prince The Conversion of the South-SAXONS How Wilfrid Archbishop of York Converted the South-Saxons WILFRID driven from his Bishoprick and wandring in several places at last went to Rome whence returning into Britain though he could not be received into his own Country and Diocess yet he refrained not the duty of preaching the Gospel but going to the Kingdom of the South-Saxons containing eight thousand Families yet sticking to their Pagan Idolatry he preached the Word and administred Baptisin Ethilwalch was King of that Nation not long before baptized in the Province of Mercia Wulfur being present and exhorting him by whom he was received at the Font and in sign of Adoption had of him by donation the Isle of Wight and the Province of the Meannari in the Country of the West Saxons Wherefore the Bishop by the consent of the King who joyfully embraced the motion baptized the chief Dukes and Officers of the Province but Eappa and Padda and Bruchelin and Oidda Priests baptized the Common sort about the same time or a little after Moreover Queen Ebba received Baptism in her own Island of Wight she was the Daughter of Eanfrid the Brother of Eanher who both with their people were Christians but the whole Province of the South-Saxons was for the most part ignorant of the Word of God and Faith But there was amongst them a certain Monk by Nation a Scot by name Dicul who had a little Convent in a place called Bosanham encompassed with Wood and the Sea and with him five or six Friars in an humble and poor life serving God but of the People none cared to imitate their Life or hear their Doctrine But Wilfrid the Bishop preaching to them not only delivered them from the pains of eternal damnation but from the sad calamity of temporal destruction For before his arrival into the Province for three years together no Rain had fallen in those parts so that a bitter Famine falling on the Common sort made lamentable destruction among them It is reported that fourty or fifty together wasted with hunger would creeping to the Sea-side and there clasping their hands together fling themselves off from the Rocks or Cliffs either to perish in the fall or drown in the waters But on the very same day that Nation received Baptism gentle and plentiful showers fell from heaven the Earth flourished and to the green Fields succeeded a glad and fruitful year So that casting off their ancient Superstition and hating their Idolatry
midst of the Island though sometimes it found means to toss and almost overturn particular Kingdoms yet staved off by others and constantly kept warm by new Assailants it ever lost behind what it gained forwards and was not at any time able so to keep all employed but that one or other taking breath would return afresh upon it It had on the north the Kingdom of Northumberland and its Limits on that side were the Humber and Mersey from whence it is supposed to have taken name On the East it extended to the Sea through Lincolnshire and South-east had the East-Angles and East-Saxon Kingdoms lying upon it South it reached to the Thames where it was obnoxious to Kent the South and West-Saxons and on the West it was kept in by the Severn and Dee which gave passage to the Britains to break in upon it Thus we see this unwieldy Kingdom which in front would seem to bear down all before it is so coopt up and hem'd in on every side that it rather labours under its own greatness CRIDA WIBBA CEORL THE first beginner of this Kingdom was CRIDA the eleventh from VVoden who having reigned ten years without other memory left it to his Son WIBBA in the year 594 who enlarging the bounds of his Kingdom by continual Conquests upon the Britains reigned twenty years and had Issue three Son Penda Kenwalk and Eoppa and a Daughter Sexburg married to Kenwald King of the VVest-Saxons But he was succeeded by his Nephew CEORL who holding the Scepter twelve years dying left it to the right Heir PENDA PENDA the Son of Wibba at fifty years of Age came to the Crown a war-like Captain but withal bloody and restless His first Wars were with Kingils and Cuichelm joynt Kings of the West-Saxons whom he met at Cirencester and after a battel fought well on both sides made Truce with them in the year 632. He joyned with Kedwalla or Cadwallon King of the Britains against Edwin King of Northumberland slaying him in Battel with his Son Osfrid at a place called Hethfield In the year 642. with his own forces he overcame Oswald the Successour of Edwin who before had victoriously cut off Cadwallon with his whole Host at a place called Maserfield now Oswestre in Shropshire where he slew him He conquered Sigebert Egbert and Anna Kings of the East-Angles and killed them in the field as hath been related in the story of those Princes Next he makes War upon Kenwalch King of the West-Saxons who had taken his Sister in marriage and unjustly put her away him he drives out of his Kingdom When proud with these Successes taking into his Society Ethelherd King of the East-Angles and Ethelwald King of Deira he resolves upon the Conquest of Northumberland but Oswy then King of that Country with a few forces soberly managed cut him off with the greatest part of his Army The news of his death was joyfully received by all the Saxon Princes glad to be well rid of him who during his Life had given them so much trouble He was a Pagan through choice not ignorance and in several Conjunctions with Christian Princes had learnt to despise the Professours of that way as who owning in words a Faith more excellent shewed nothing less in their Actions yet he prohibited not preaching in his Dominions but giving free liberty to all he only hated and despised such who did not obey that God in whom they chose to believe His Male Issue by Kinswith his Queen runs thus Peada his eldest Son Ulfere and Ethelred both Monarchs of the English Merkthel famous for holiness of Life Merwald who had a Principality in Mercia and married Edburga daughter of Egbert King of Kent His Daughters were Kineburg Wife of Alkfrid King of Northumberland Kiniswith Wife of Offa King of the East-Angles both which Daughters afterwards became Nuns PEADA PEADA the eldest Son of Penda succeeded not in the whole Kingdom of Mercia for Oswy King of Northumberland entring the Country took possession in right of a Conqueror but to Peada who had married his Daughter he gave by Donation all on the South-side of Trent and reserved to himself the North. By his Father Penda long before he had been made Prince of the Mid-Angles a particular branch of the Mercian Crown and there with his good liking had planted the Christian Religion to the knowledge of which he came upon this occasion Applying to King Oswy for his Daughter Alckfled he received Answer That unless he turned Christian and admitted that Religion into his Dominions he should surcease his Suit Peada unwilling to be baffled accepts the motion and having heard some Preachers to that purpose professeth himself to be so taken with the Doctrine that whether he receive the Lady or not he resolves to embrace it with all his People which good Intentions of his were furthered by Alckfrid Oswy's Son who besides that he had taken to wife Cymburga his Sister had contracted a near Friendship with him All things therefore agreed he is baptized by Bishop Finan at the King's Pallace on the Wall and then with his Wife and new Religion returns into his own Country most part of which by the assistance of some Priests carried along with him he soon brought to the same profession But now Prenda being dead and his Territory enlarged through the Accession of South Mercia he had not reigned three years when he was cut off by the Treason of his Wife whom he had taken for a special Christian WULFER WULFER the Brother of King Peada succeeded him not only in the Province of South-Mercia but in the entire Kingdom of his Ancestors For Immin Eaba and Eadbert three Potent Earls casting off the Yoke of Oswy restored the whole North into his possession which he maintained during the whole Reign of that Monarch But Oswy dead Egfrid his Son and Successour endeavoured to recover what his Father had lost and invading this Wulfer won from him the Isle of Lindsey and the Countrys adjacent and content with that revenge returns home with his forces But Wulfer was now employed in War with Kenwald King of the West-Saxons against whom he had better success for entering his Country with a powerful Army he laid it waste from one end to the other took away from him the Isle of VVight which with some Countrys of the Meannari adjoyning he gave to Edilwalch the South-Saxon whom he had made a Christian and received at the Font. Afterwards he fought a Battel with Escwin King of the VVest-Saxons at a place called Bedanhafde but which side won the day is not recorded He reigned seventeen years and was buried at Peterborough his Queen Ermenheld after his death vailed her self at Ely He is reported to have had three Sons whereof the eldest named Kenred reigned after his Brother Ethelred his two younger Vulfald and Rufin as the Records of Peterborough report were slain by their Fathers own hands being found in an Assembly of
had been ordained in France also dividing the Province into two Diocesses To him he gave Winchester for his Episcopal Seat at which Agilbert being highly offended that the King had done this without his advice he returned into France and receiving the Bishoprick of Paris he died there an old man and full of daies But not many years after his departure from Britain Wini was driven out of his Bishoprick by the same King who repairing to Wulfur King of the Mercians bought of him with a good sum the Seat of London and remained Bishop of it during his life So the Province of the West-Saxons for no small time was without a Bishop at which time the forementioned King of that Province being often afflicted with great losses in his Kingdom received of the enemy began to call to mind him whom by fraud he had formerly made forsake the Kingdom and resolved to call him back considering that the Province destitute of a Governour was bereft likewise of Divine protection He sent therefore Embassadours into France to Agilbert promising satisfaction and submissively desiring he would return to the Bishoprick of his Nation But he excusing himself by solemn protestation that he could not possibly come because he was bound to his own City and Diocess yet nevertheless not altogether to be wanting in his assistance to so ardent desires he sent thither a Priest by name Eleutherius his own Nephew whom if he please might be ordained Bishop for him giving him this Testimonial that he himself thought him worthy of the Bishoprick who being honourably entertained by the King and People they sent unto Theodoruc then Archbishop of Canterbury desiring that he might be consecrated their Bishop who being consecrated in that City for many years held alone the Bishoprick of the West-Saxons as it had been ordered by Synodical Decree KENWALCH KENWALCH the Son of Kingils followed his Father in the Kingdom of whom what relates to his Ecclesiastical Affairs hath been before related Having divorced his second wife whom he had unlawfully wedded and retaken Sexburg the Sister of Penda whom he had unjustly put away He enjoyed the Crown in peace for some years even until Anno 652 falling into wars but with whom is not related Ethelwald calls them Civil He fought a battel at Bradanford by the River Alene Mr. Cambden makes the place to be Bradford in Wiltshire upon the River Avon and saith that it was with Cuthred his near Kinsman he was engaged in Civil Wars but I wish he had told us from whence he gathered it for we find no such thing in History Certain it is that not long before Kenwalch had given large possessions to Cuthred but whether it could oblige him to sit down quiet with the loss of a Kingdom is uncertain for no doubt his Title was precedent to Kenwalch's if Cuchelm his Father was eldest Son of Kingils and Stow writeth but upon what grounds I know not that he did really succeed his Father and possibly there may be some Record extant concerning these Troubles not commonly appearing But things being settled at home and Kenwalch desirous to enlarge his Dominions invades the Britains and had a fight with them at a place called Witgornsborough mentioned by Malmsbury but without any other circumstances afterwards at Pennum or Pen in Somersetshire the success of which is not left so doubtful for the Victory was great on the Saxon side who followed the pursuit to a place called Pedridan now Pederton afterwards the Royal Seat of King Ina and the Britains for a long time after would scarce look the Saxons in the face But Kenwalch falling at variance with his old enemy Vulfur had not the like success for fighting with him at Possentesburg though Ethelwerd relates he took Vulfur prisoner yet the Saxon Annals record clear contrary and the sequel shews that Vulfur won the day for not long after he wasted the Country of the West-Saxons as far as Eskesdun and took the Isle of Wight till then in their possession with other Provinces of the Meannuari and gave them to Edilwalch his Godson King of the South-Saxons These are all the memorable Actions of Kenwalch for his good deeds he is reported to have founded the Cathedral of Winchester and the Abby of Malmsbury and as appeareth in a Grant of King Ina afterwards made to the Church he bestowed several priviledges on these places Ferlingmere Beokerey Godein Martinesey Edredesey He reigned 31 years and left no Issue to inherit Sexburg his wife for a while after his death assumed the Government but she was driven out saith Matthew of Westminster by the Nobles who could not endure the government of a Woman Some say she died the same year others that she built a Nunnery in the Isle of Shepy wherein her self was a otress and afterwards became an Abbess of Ely ESKWIN ESKWIN derived in the fifth degree from Kerdic the first founder of this Kingdom of a younger house succeeded Kenwalch He Reigned but two years in which time he fought a battel with Wulfur wherein many of the Saxons on both sides were slain the place was Bidanheaford soon after which he died KETWIN KETWIN younger Son of Kingils whose Right preceded Eskwins and who as Bede and Malmsbury write was Partner with him in the Crown after the death of Eskwin proved the scourge of the Britains pursuing them even to the Sea-shore but no other circumstances are related of him or this action He is allowed nine years Reign In a grant of King Ina to Glastenbury it is reported that this Prince highly favoured that Monastery by freeing it from the secular Services and often calling it the Mother of Saints CEADWALLA CEADWALLA of the blood Royal derived in the third degree from Guth the third Son of Kenric succeeded Ketwin He had been banisht his Country by the prevalency of some faction but returning obtained the Crown He made war upon the South-Saxons whom he overcame and annexed to his own Dominions took the Isle of Wight and twice wasted Kent the circumstances of all which Actions have been formerly related under the Kingdom of Kent and the South-Saxons Afterwards he went to Rome for as yet he was a Pagan to receive Baptism which was given him by the hands of Pope Sergius on Easter eaven in the year of our Redemption saith Bede 689 and was called Peter but on the twentieth day of April following he died and was buried at St. Peter's Church at Rome under a fair Monument with this Epitaph Here CEADWALL otherwise named PETER King of the West-Saxons lieth buried who departed this life the twentieth of April in the second Indiction At the age of thirty years or thereabouts in the fourth year of the Reign of JUSTINIAN the most Noble and Mighty Emperour and the second of Sergius who then sate in Peter's Chair being a true Pattern of the Apostles The British Writers from the similitude of name will needs have