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
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
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
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
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
called Paludamentum and the Souldiers usual Coat Sagum Of the Womens Garments THE Matrons and honester sort of Women wore a long Robe or Vestment called Stola which came down to their heels bordered about at the bottom but the Roman Courtizans were known by their wearing Gowns a proper attire for those that were more in love with Mens Breeches than their own Petticoats They wore also a Pallium or Mantle which on occasion they put over their Stola's and Tunicks something differing from those which were worn by Men and Boys They secured and defended their stomacks against Cold with a Capitium or Stomacher their Shoulders and Breasts they streightly bound with Swadling-bands left the shoulders should grow too broad or start out and prove unequal or lest their Breasts should swell into too large a round they had their Tire-women and many of the waies of dressing their Heads and setting off their Faces as ours have now adaies This full account have I given you of the Romans not only to shew you the manner of the People but the nature of their Government if not all part of which doubtless they used during so many hundred years time they had by their Conquest reduced this Island in subjection to their Empire and Government The Old ROMANS as I said before were nothing but a Company of Thieves and Out-Laws which Juvenal very plainly and ingeniously affirms in these following Verses checking a Roman Citizen overvaluing himself upon the account of his Nobility Attamen ut longè repetas longéque revolvas Majorum quisquis primus fuit ille tuorum Aut Pastor fuit aut illud quid dicere nolo Boast not proud Roman thy Nobility Should'st thou but search into thy Family Who ever of it was the first and Chief Was Shepheard or I 'm loath to name 't a Thief They appeared to their Neighbours but especially the Sabines so contemptible that they esteemed it a scandal to their Families to give them their Daughters in Marriage and had not the Romans by a subtle Wile suddenly surprized them they had been cut off for ever bearing the name of a People Afterwards they proved a very Just Grave and sober sort of Men but above all things extreamly Ambitious Semper appetentes gloriae praeter caeteras Nationes sunt Romani saies Tully The ROMANS were ever beyond all Nations desirous of Glory And that they were Valiant and strangly Resolute in as great a measure is evident from History for in the lowest ebb of Fortune and greatest distress of the Common-wealth when no Human wisdom could perceive any way of escaping infallible Ruine then were they proudest their Demands almost insolent and their Hopes outwardly greatest What Answer did they send to Pyrrhus a Captain among Historians of no mean Reputation just before the Battle near the River Siris under Laevenus their Consul That they had neither chosen him their Judge nor feared him their Enemy and though he after this Battle in which they were utterly defeated and in all probability likely to be beaten again and again by his Embassadour Cyneas underhand sued nay would have bribed them to appease yet they sent word that before that could be done he must first depart out of Italy neither in the height of Hannibals good Fortune did they ever wrong the Roman Courage with the least thought of Irresolution and Despair What happy Constellation was predominant at the founding of the City of Rome I cannot certainly tell but that it was led and directed by the especial care and providence of the Gods whose favour it had merited and to whom it was most dear above all other places may be reasonably presumed on from the inconsiderableness of its beginning and the continuance and long-life of its Empire Thus much we have discoursed purposely on the Romans for the benefit of those that understand not Latin that they may in some measure be acquainted with some few of their Customes and the forms of Government used by those Ancient Hero's thereby to know how much we owe to their Memories for certainly we ought to be obliged rather to them for their Victories than any waies concerned at their Conquests who were to us and most Nations elsewhere rather civil Tutors than domineering Tyrants Wheresoever they came unless highly provoked they built and beautified more than they destroyed and treated the Inhabitants as Friends and Allies rather than bitter Enemies What infinite pains did they take in mending the Roads of many Counties and making their rough and boggy places passable for producing commerce and acquaintance amongst the Natives themselves At what vast expences did they maintain their Legionary Souldiers and erect Courts of Judicature for quelling the private Animosities of the Inhabitants when the Revenues they exacted would scarce quit Charges or the place it self prove worth the keeping excepting that of Great Britain So that all their Cruelties we can complain of is the reducing of the Savage Nations by force of Arms to a compliance with their reasonable Laws when milder usage could not effect it Neither have we reason to think much at the loss of our Liberty when 't was exchanged for such a glorious Subjection under which slavery we lived more happy than under our own mild Extravagances which hurried us headlong into a thousand Inconveniences The Romans relinquished BRITAIN suffering the Government to relapse into the Natives hands upon those Letters of Discharge sent hither by Honorius then with the Empire to use Mr. Miltons own words fell also what before in this Western WORLD was chiefly Roman namely Learning Valour Eloquence History Civility and even Language it self the particulars of which have been more largely shewn in a former Treatise A CATALOGUE OF THE British KINGS In the Time of the SAXONS KING Vortigern entred upon the Government An. Chr. 481 and Reigned 37 years Vortimer his Son 06 Vortigern's Restauration compleated his 37 years Government Ambrosius Aurelianus 10 Uter Pendragon 16 Arthur 51 Constantine the Fourth 04 Aurelius Conanus 03 Vortipor Sinduallus 04 Malgo 05 Cathericus 03 Gaduanus 22 Gadwallo 48 THE HISTORY OF THE British KINGS In the Daies of the SAXONS WITH Some necessary Observations upon the Monument of Stone-Henge Part whereof still remains upon Salisbury-Plain in the County of Wilts THIS Catalogue of the British Kings is the sacred Relick of that memorable and scattered State only remaining at the entrance of the Saxons into this Kingdom who for several years after their Invasion evidenced not only their affection to their Country in maintaining considerable oppositions against their Enemies but justified also their Tempers and Spirits to be not inferiour to the undertakings of their Predecessours CONSTANTINE at the Request of the Archbishop of London made in the name of the whole Kingdom of BRITAIN after his Banishment entred the Isle upon certain Terms and Conditions before-hand concluded and confirmed with an Army by whose power and assistance was given to the Enemy a considerable
of his Father for although Hengist at first had made a sudden inroad and entred the Country as far as the western Coasts yet we find that not long after even in Vortigern's time he was fought with in Kent and Tanet his old Possessions and forced to dispute his ground upon the edge of the Sea The Ancient Annals of the Saxons write thus Hengist and Horsa in the year 455 fought against Vortigern at Eglesthrip now Aylsford in Kent where Horsa was slain leaving his name to Horsted the place of his Burial But it seems in this Battel the Saxons had a clear Victory though much allayed by the death of that Prince For now Hengist saith the same Annals assumed the Title of King and Peopled Kent with Jutes who about that time held the Isle of Wight and part of Hampshire adjoyning to it here the Jutes are mistaken for Vites Two years after Hengist and his Son at a place called Creganford or Craford slew four thousand of the Britains and four of their chief Commanders forcing the rest to quit Kent and flie in great disorder to London And although this blow seemed the total loss of that Country yet eight years afterwards we find the Britains again pressing hard upon them giving them Battel as far as the Isle of Tanet at a place called Wippeds fleet but success was not answerable to their Spirit for though they fought it to the death of twelve of their Princes yet the Saxons carried the day losing Wepped only an Earl of theirs who left his Name to the field he fell in Another Battel was fought but the place not mentioned wherein the Britains are said to be so totally routed that flying in great confusion they left their whole Baggage to the spoil of their Enemies These and many other Skirmishes happened in the space of twenty years saith Malmesbury in which may be observed that the Britains though worsted according to these Saxon Relations yet seem to have been alwaies the Aggressors seeking out their Enemy rather than sought for as appears from the places wherein they fought being either in the heart of Kent or further in the Isle of Tanet These vigorous Attempts to redeem the liberty of a sinking Nation though performed before the Resignation of Vortigern yet seem to derive nothing from him saving the ill success alone The life and spirit by which they were acted seemed to flow from Vortimer the miscarrlages from that secret but resistless influence which inseparably attends an Impotent Government And the event proved accordingly for instead of Vortigern a lustful and giddy Prince whom neither years or the neglect of Subjects could make apprehensive Vortimer being advanced to the Crown a new scene of things immediately appeared Thrice he drove the Saxons and besieged them in the Isle of Tanet and though they were continually relieved with fresh supplies from the Continent yet as often as they broke in he repulsed them with loss In four Battels whereof three are named he utterly defeated them the first on the River Darwent the second at Episford where Ninnius saith Horsa was slain and on Vortimer's side his Brothern Catigern The third in a field by Stonar then called Lapis Tituli in Tanet where he beat them into their Ships glad to have so escaped and not venturing to return for five years after thus Ninnius And indeed Gildas writes of the departure of the Saxons much about this time during which space Vortimer dying poysoned as some write by the contrivance of Rowena commanded they should lay his Body in the Port of Stonar perswaded that his Bones lying there would be a sufficient terrour to his Enemies for ever landing in that place imitating herein if not the Author for him the like conceit of Scipio Africanus who would have his Tomb set against Africa to fright the Carthaginians from so much as looking towards the Italian shores The Britains saith Ninnius who makes a serious business of it neglecting his Orders buried him at Lincoln The Son being dead the Father is again restored to the Crown whether by the interest and prevalency of his Party is uncertain or upon promises of amendment by Publick Election there being none remaining of that Family since the death of his two Sons Vortimer and Catigern on whom to confirm the Royal dignity It should seem that the British Nobility were too deeply engaged in the guilt of Vortigern's usurpation for to think of restoring their lawful Prince it usually happening in publick Rebellions generally countenanced that they who are involved in the Treason choose rather to hazard the lust and tyranny of an Usurper than by confession of Error to rely on the mercy and clemency of the Injured Hengist advised of this sudden change of affairs in Britain not to slip so favourable an occasion of recovering his lost fortunes with all speed raises new Forces and returns But it seems the Britains during his absence as may be gathered had revenged themselves on those he left behind him and we read of many Skirmishes and one set Battel fought between them wherein the Saxons alwaies came by the worst Hengist therefore at his landing finding his affairs upon the Island in a lower concondition than he expected and not so able to make open War hath recourse to his old tricks of Treaty and Friendship rid of his grand Opposer he knew well enough how to manage his Interest with Vortigern whom he had obnoxious to him by ancient Leagues and long Affinity Proposing therefore nothing but terms of Kindness and Amity and pretending that former Breaches sprung from the Ambition of Vortimer and a Court-faction he easily works with the King especially instigated by his Wife and not discouraged by his Peers to give him a Personal treaty not doubting but by such an Interview all jealousies might be removed differences composed and a better understanding for the future settled between them The place of meeting was appointed upon Salisbury-Plain whither both Parties were to repair unarmed But Hengist who meant nothing less than Peace and yet had plotted a general Massacre commanded his Followers to carry privately under their Vestures a Ihort Dagger or Seax acquainting them before hand with his designs When the Britains were in the midst of their Cups the Saxons cavilling at words and picking small occasions of quarrel provoking or provoked at last at the watch-word given Nienet cour Seares at once drew their Daggers and dispatched three hundred of the Assembly The King they kept in custody for whose ransom Hengist received a confirmation of the Kingdom of Kent and a new addition of three Provinces afterwards called Essex Sussex and Middlesex Vortigern set at liberty upon these terms retires to his solitary abode in the County of Guorthigirniaun so called by his name thence to a Castle of his own building in North-Wales upon the River Tirby where he perished at last by fire from heaven as some write others by Ambrostus
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
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
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
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
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
the Light or shining Country for I find in a Roman Satyrist minimâ contentos noite Britannos In which words the Poet intimates its derivation for the Britains have but very little Night and in some parts none at all so that the business now is ended and we have a solid and unquestionable derivation of its Name In like manner would they proceed in deriving the Great and Famous Metropolis LONDON I have seen saies one upon this great and noble River but by what name the Thames will be then called God alone knoweth the Ruines of a CITY which extends six miles in length and in breadth not above one quarter of a mile and this I guess was LONDON of the Ancients or Long-Cown so called by the English by reason of its vast disproportion in length to the breadth of it and so you see London is also dispatched But if in truth I may deliver my Opinion there is no way more fallacious and deceitful in deriving of Kingdoms and Cities than from the Language of the People for I scarce think there is a Town or any place in England but by fertile Heads may be derived from some word or other that is now in use among its present Inhabitants every place yielding something either by Scituation Soyl or else Creek of Rivers Prospect of Hills and Valleys Customes and Manners Battles Buildings with thonsands of other Circumstances too tedious to mention from whence they may be deduced Now I leave it to any Rational man to judge whether it be not more proper and consonant to Reason to derive Places from their undoubted Trade by which they were known to all the World as the Isles of SCILLY were by the name of Cassiterides of the Greeks and Barat-anac or Bratanac of the Phoenicians than to deduce them from the uncertain sound and coincidency of a word with some light and trivial Custome among them The Reason that absolutely confirms me in the Opinion the Scilly Islands gave Name at last to this Great ISLAND that now alone keeps the name of Britannia is because Pliny writes that this Island was called ALBION when as all the Islands adjacent were called BRITAIN so that we see the name of Bratanac first took place in the adjacent Islands before it came on the main Land of Albion but in succession of Time the Name gaining footing in Cornwal and Devonshire it prevailed at last over all the Island and the greater part swallowed up at last the Name of the whole although corrupted and distorted by the several Dialects it ran through And that the exported Commodities of Countries gave Names anciently to People by which they were most commonly known although they might have other Names peculiar to themselves will be manifest if we consider how Africk and Ebora part of Spain took their names from Corn Iava called of Old Iabaduc from Barley Carmania Cremetes Sicilia Inychus Anapus Arvisium Arambys from Wine Ruspina and Ebusus from Figgs Zaita and Uzita from Olives Lusitania not from Lysus the Son of Bacchus but from the abundance of Chesnuts called Luza and the delicacy of them a great Merchandize in those daies and brought from those parts of Spain Italy and Calabria took their Names from the Pitch they yielded Cythnus from its Cheese Calymna and Alabus from its Hony Caristus Achates from certain Stones found there and the British Islands from its Mettal as also Chasus Chryse Odonis Siphnus Cimese Carcoma Orospeda with many others For considering the many diversities of People and Governments in this Island it is not reasonably to be supposed that they had one common Name among themselves by which the whole Island was known unless they had it from Forreigners who Traded with them If we examine the Original Names of all Nations we shall find that the Name by which they are known to the World differs much from those Names they have from themselves and by which too they do distinguish one another yet the Major part of the World which is ab extra to every particular Kingdom prevails in the denomination therefore it happens that those Kingdoms themselves so denominated are obliged to conform to those Appellations given them by the Major part and therefore that saying of Isidore That the BRITAINS were called so from something within them in my reason as it makes no more for Brit Painting than for King BRUTUS is to be neglected For the same Motives that could make an Historian write so much might have enabled him to have writ more for he that can positively affirm that a NAME comes from within a Kingdom and not from without in my Opinion ought to be particular in valuable Reasons otherwise he had better be silent being against the experience of the World That Nations receive their Names not from themselves but others But if Isidore means that BRITAIN had something within it from whence Strangers gave it that Name then none can deny it for it is true that these Islands took their Name from the TYNN they yielded though not all alike and at the same time And here I cannot but wonder that when Mr. Cambden had laid down that CUMERO was the primitive Name of the Inhabitants by which they called themselves he then in answer to his own Questions Whence then came ALBION Whence came BRITAIN saies that those Names came either from themselves or from others when just before he had given Examples That Countries have different Names some Names by which they called themselves others by which they were called of Strangers for as follows I will set down his own words They that were called Israelites saies he by the Greeks were called Hebrews and Jews by the AEgyptians Huesi as witnesseth Manethon so the Greeks named those Syrians who as Josephus writes called themselves Aramaeans they which named themselves Chusians were by the Graecians for their black Faces called AEthiopians those which after their own Speech were called Celtae the Greeks named Galatae so those that nominated themselves after their own Language Teutsch Numideans and Hellens by the Romans were named Germans Mauri and Graecians even so in these daies not to speak of many others they which in their own Idiom Musselmans Magier Czecchi and Bessermans are by all Nations in Europe named Turks Hungarians Bohemians and Tartarians so even we our selves in England by our Native and natural Speech call our selves English men but by the Welch Irish men and the High-land Scots Saffons that is as much as to say Saxons Now what follows from this but that the Inhabitants of this Island being called CUMERO by themselves were by some others named BRITAINS No for this will destroy all then they could not give themselves Brit c. from their Painting which assisted much to the derivation of BRITANNIA therefore saies he mark I pray you they were upon some other cause by themselves or others named BRITAINS But why by themselves when he had proved before
the other to shew his excellent skill in Geometry and Astronomy There is but one place in Britain bearing his Name and that is Hartlow many Effigies of him have been dug out in several places as at the Baths he was found streyning two Snakes All Hot Baths according to Athenaeus were consecrated to him Likewise in Northumberland near Risingham two Altars were inscribed by his Name but these of later date than what I intend here to speak and so I will pass them over He was pictured drawing a multitude of Men after him with golden Chains proceeding from his Mouth and fastned to their Ears to shew his Eloquence Likewise he was esteemed the God of Woers as he gave good success to Lovers upon which account he was named as some think Diodus from Dioda signifying in the Phoenician Tongue Love But I rather think he might be called so from his wandring life which word will bear the same Derivation as a Wanderer This is a brief account of the true Phoenician Hercules called OGMIUS as much as relates to our present purpose As for his great Labours and Atchievments I have purposely omitted because they seem rather Allegories than real Actions and require rather a skilful Mythologist than an honest Historian THE NAMES OF THE KINGS Of this Island FROM SAMOTHES the first Ruler thereof to the Entrance of the ROMANS The Celtick KINGS under which SAMOTHEA now BRITAIN was contained SAMOTHES the Founder of the Celtick Kingdom A. M. 1910 named this Island SAMOTHEA and Reigned 46 Years Magus his Son 51 Sarron 61 Druis 14 Bardus 75 In his daies came ALBION the Great  Longho 25 Bardus the Second 37 Lucus Protector 11 Celtes 13 Hercules 19  Years Galathes 49 Narbon 18 Lugdus 51 Beligius 20 Jasius 50 Allobrox 68 Romus 29 Paris 39 Lemancs 62 Olbius 05 Galathes the Second 48 Namnes 44 Remus 40 Phranicus In his daies King BRUTE is supposed to enter this Island  The British Kings BRUTE after his Arrival Reigned 24 Years Locrine 20 Madan 40 Mempricius 20 Ebranck 40 Brute the Second Sirnamed Greenshield 12 Leil 25 Lud 39 Baldud 20 Leir 60 Cordeilla Queen 05 Cunedag and Margan 33 Rival 46 Gurgust 84 Silvius whom I derive from the Trojans not by Brute but by the Silvii Kings of Alba and Successors of AEneas Reigned here in Britain 49 Jago 28 Kimmacus 54 Gorbodug 63 Ferrex and Porrex the last of the Line of AEneas whose Reign and the Heptarchy that ensued on their deaths under Rudaucus King of Wales lasted Clotenus King of Cornwal Pinnor King of Loegria Statorius King of Albania Yevan K. of Northumberland 53 Molmutius 40 Belinus and Brennus 22 Gurguint 19 Guintelyn 26 Silvius the Second or Sisilius 15 Kimarus 03 Elanius or Danius 10 Morindus 09 Gorboman 10 Archigallo deposed after he had Reigned 01 Elidure his Brother 03  Years Archigallo restored 10 Elidurus again 01 Vigenius and Peridurus 09 Elidurus again 04 Gorbonian 10 Morgan 14 Emerianus 07 Ydwallo 20 Rimo 16 Geruntius 20 Catellus 10 Coilus 10 Porrex the Second 05 Cherimus 01 Fulgentius 01 Eldred 01 Androgeus 01 Urianus 3 Eliud 05 Dedantius or Dedacus 05 Detonus 02 Gurguineus 03 Merianus 02 Bleduus or Bladud 02 Capenus 03 Ovinus 02 Sisilius 02 Bledgabedrus 10 Archimalus 02 Eldolus 04 Rodianus 02 Redargius 03 Samulius 02 Penisillus 03 Phyrrus 02 Caporius 02 Dinellus 04 Heli 01 Lud 11 In the daies of his Sons Audrogaeus and Theomantius when Cassibelan their Unkle usurped the Kingdom Julius Caesar enter'd the Island THE CHRONICLE OF THE Celtick Kings CHAP. X. The Celtick KINGS unto BRUTE VARRO divideth the Ages of the World into Three great Periods The first from the Creation to the Flood containing MDCLVI He calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Obscure and Uncertain The second from the Flood to the first Olympiad Anno Mundi MMMCLXXXIX He names 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Fabulous The third Age from the first Olympiad and before Christ 774 to the present Age He terms ' 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Historical This division of Ages is generally received with such great approbation of Judgment that it is made use of to the utter overthrowing of all the BRITISH History as taking its beginning Three hundred and thirty years besore the first Olympiad But here it is to be considered that in relation to the Greek and Latin Nations the division of Fabulous and Historical Ages from those Periods is partly true although in this also Authors differ Pliny makes the Historical Age of Greece not to begin till the One and fiftieth Olympiad and all the time before to be Fabulous upon this account respect must be had to the Nations for which those Periods are designed Had Varro lived and written among the Jews it would have obliged him according to the Custome of that Nation to have acknowledged every Age Historical and not to have curtail'd their Histories to the fisty first of Uzziah or the first of King Jotham because then Iphitus began the Olympiads On the other side there has been Nations so ignorant and barbarous that could not extend their Historical Ages beyond the daies of their Grandfathers and all the time preceding was rather absolutely Obscure than Fabulous so that respect must be had to the Learning of every Nation their several waies and methods of Recording the Actions of their Ancestors and the advantages some People might have above others For this very cause the measuring of the British Histories are not so strictly to be examined by the Standards of other Nations neither can they absolutely be rejected upon that account without manifest Injustice done to them It is certain the Britains had their Bards and Druids and Traded very early with two Learned Nations the Phoenicians and Graecians Their Priests had peculiar Methods of composing and rehearsing the Lives of Famous persons and so continued their Memories to Posterity by mystical Rythms and Numbers Neither can it be gathered out of Caesar that any Law or Superstitious usage of the Druids obliged the Britains not to transmit to Posterity the memorable Actions of their Ancestors All that was forbidden was the divulging in writing the mysterious Doctrines and Ceremonies of their Religion but in most matters else both private and publick amongst which History is one the Greek Tongue was allowed them neither could the same Policy which restrained them in Religious matters have any weight as to move them to keep the People in ignörance and darkness as touching the knowledge of Times and Ages So that although in the British Histories there are many things altogether impossible others very improbable and fabulous as indeed what Histories are free from such Vices yet because there may be a great many Truths couched under those Fables I have thought it not amiss to give an account of them partly upon that very Reason and partly because many Judicious Persons do not utterly
evidence of the Antiquity of that Sect whom I do make appear were Ancient Priests and Governours in Ecclesiastical and Civil matters in this Nation And by Reason Abraham lived under those Oaks of Mamre so piously the Druids in Example thereof although degenerating from the true substance and intent of so good an Example chose Groves of Oaks under which they performed all the invented Rites and Ceremonies belonging to their Religion To speak further we must confidently according to the Rule and Method of the British History believe Sarron to have Reigned as a British King from Anno Mundi MMVII to MMLXVIII when being Ambitious to extend his Empire he ended his life and kingdom and now we hear of Druis his Son DRUIS the Son of Sarron or as Basing stochius writes his Grand-son by his Son Namnes who died before him succeeded in the Kingdom He is made the Author of the Druids a famous Sect of Philosophers he began his Reign Anno Mundi MMLXVIII and held the Government but fourteen years Then BARDUS the Son of Druis next entered upon the Kingdom This is the King of Poets Musicians and Heralds called from him Bardi they were very much given to composing of Genealogies and rehearsing them in publick Assemblies but notwithstanding their great skill in this matter we see they have the misfortune to be put after the Druids in Succession whereas in the fore-going Antiquities it is probably made out they were an Ancienter Order than they in Britain This Bardus began his Reign Anno Mundi MMLXXXII and possest the Scepter seventy five years Now who would not have thought BRITAIN or SAMOTHEA an happy Island having so many Philosophers for their Kings but see the mischief of it Let Samothes Magus Sarron and Druis teach never so Divinely and Bardus Sing or Pipe never so sweetly yet the People will be Adders still there is no reclaiming of the Multitude No wonder therefore that giving themselves to a loose and luxurious life and not keeping up to the strict Rules that had been prescribed to them they were the sooner conquered and subdued by the Giant Albion so that Samothea was wrested from the Celts the Line of Japhet and brought in subjection to the Progeny of Ham. Now it is that stories complain of the miserable Thraldom of this Island by the Sons of Neptune and the delivery of it in part by the death of Albion slain by Hercules though long after it was molested by Giants until the Arrival of Brutus all which Circumstances I will pass over not because they are more Fabulous than the rest but because they seem if they were well timed and cleared of all the Ignorant Rubbish that by age and malice of Writers has over-burthened them to carry some foot-steps of the Phoenicians in this Island who were Men of exceeding proportion and of the Linage of Ham and early Traders into these Parts Likewise the story of Dioclesian or as Mr. Hollinshead corrects it Danaus his Daughter I will omit as too tedious a Fable and so proceed to the succession of the Celtick Kingdom of which Britain is feigned a part This I do not for Truths sake but Convenience It follows therefore out of Basinstoak LONGHO the Son of Bardus succeeded him in the Kindom of the Celtae He made War upon Scandia and gave name to the Longo Bards who afterwards proceeded from that Country I pass over how ridiculously and against all Geography Scandia by Basinstochius is placed about the Coasts of Britain and made an Island These are small faults He begun his Reign Anno Mundi MMCLVII and reigned twenty eight years BARDUS the Second succeeded him He carried Musick into Germany which had been first taught in Celtica by his Grand-father He Reigned seven and thirty years and left a young Son called Celtes who being not ripe enough to Administer the Kingdom LUCUS was elected King who Reigned but Eleven years and then CELTES assumed the Crown From this Prince the Celtae took their Denomination His Mother was called Galathea in honour of whose Memory he gave that name to his Daughter and afterwards married her to Hercules by whom she had a Son named Galathes from whom the Galli are derived He reigned but thirteen years and then HERCULES and GALATHEA succeeded This Hercules built Alexia and passing the Alpes he gave his younger Son Tuscus the Kingdom of Italy and his elder Son Galathes the Celtick Dominion The first Prince reigned nineteen years Galathes held the Kingdom of the Celts forty nine years and then left it to his Son NARBON the Son of Galathes during his Fathers life had the Island of Samothea intrusted to his Government but after the death of his Father he passed into Gallia and there built a City after his own Name he reigned eighteen years LUGDUS his Son succeeded him he built Lugdunum and reigned fifty one years BELIGIUS followed who gave name to the Belgae formerly called Beligici he died without Issue after he had reigned twenty years and the Kingdom of the Celts devolved on JASIUS This Prince was of the Line of Hercules and the year before was created King of Italy so that the two Kingdoms of Celtica and Italy were conjoyned in one Man Anno Mundi MMCCCLXXXIV This raised Envy in his Brother Dardanus who began a Civil-War but not being able to prevail by force of Arms he had recourse unto Policy so that feigning Reconciliation with his Brother he takes all his Goods and Shipping them enters into his Brothers Palace and there Murthers him as he was Bathing this being effected he flies into Samothrace afterwards into Phrygia Jasius had a Son named CORYBANTUS he succeeded his Father in the Kingdom of Italy but not of the Caeltes Jasius reigned fifty years ALLOBROX of the line of Hercules obtained the Kingdom of the Celti he Reigned sixty eight years and ROMUS his Son succeeded him he Governed twenty nine years PARIS the Son of Romus Ruled thirty nine years LEMANES the Son of Paris Reigned sixty seven years OLBIUS the Son of Lemanes Reigned five years From this Olbius Basinstochius derives Albion the Name of this Island GALATHES the Second succeeded him and Reigned eight and forty years NAMNES followed and Governed forty four years and being about to end his daies he bequeathed the Kingdom to his Son Remus REMUS the Son of Namnes Reigned forty years He left only a Daughter which he had married before to Phranicus a Prince of the Blood of Hector PHRANICUS held the Scepter in right of his Wife but leaving Samothea to be Governed by the Druids he betook himself to the Continent called by his Name France so that the Britains readily received King BRUTUS at his Arrival into this Island as is pretended by those who desired to claim an honourable Title from that Race of the Trojans This is the account of the Celtick Kings before BRUTE according to Berosus and Basinstochius Who can but wonder at the exact and
punctual Chronology in things of so vast a distance the Religious care of the Historiographers lest the minutest Circumstances should be omitted Who can but admire at their ingenious Contrivances least the Reigns of these things should want some diverting Circumstances and their Governments run dully without the usual rubs of Ambition and Usurpation If we seriously consider these matters we may easily find that the Government of these Princes began not many hundred years ago The Opinion of Isacius Tzetzes concerning imaginary Regions in the British Seas was never more true then when we consider these Aiery Princes and their phantastical Governments so that hitherto we find rather an History of Utopia than Britain From Samothes his Reign beginning An. Mundi MDCCCCX which is 254 years after the Flood to the end of Phranicus his Reign are 945 years so that the Entrance of Brute into this Island according to this account is in the year of the World MMDCCCLV and after the Flood 1199 years But as if there were some great truth in this matter that required wonderful Exactness we find much variance in Authors Berosus makes Samothes's Kingdom about 152 years after the Flood and that it continued 335 years in his Posterity Mr. Hollinshead saies 310 and then Albion Arrived but from Samothes to the end of Bardus his Reign is but 247 years so that here a vast Inter-regnum is made between Bardus and Albion Besides the differences between 254 and 152 years in which Samothes is said to begin his Kingdom cuts short the seventy five years of Bardus his Reign which are assigned him by the Count Palatine The Entrance of Brute according to this Computation differs something from that which is generally received namely That he arrived at this Island in the year of the World 2887 and after the Flood 1231 in the Eighteenth year of Eli his Priesthood and before Christ 1059. And here Mr. Speed comes upon Brutes History with his Scripture Chronology like a Goliah Let us see to what purpose Brute saith he is the fourth discent from AEneas namely thus AEneas Ascanius Silvius Brutus Now allowing favourably according to Herodotus and I add according to the Britains Thirty years for a Generation we shall find that if Brute entred this Isle Anno Mundi 2887 that the Trojan War in the daies of AEneas happened Anno Mundi 2768 in the Eight and thirtieth year of Gideons Government But this cannot be saies Mr. Speed why not Because saies he Clemens Alexandrinus alleadged out of Pergamenus and Letus placeth the Trojan War fully Two hundred and thirty years after namely in the Reign of King Solomon so that Brute entred not this Island in Ely's Priesthood but in the Usurpation of Juda's Kingdom by Athaliah in the year of the World 3118. and so we see Brutes Antiquity cut off Two hundred and thirty years O wonderful exactness in Chronology will any one henceforth be able to defend Brutes History no certainly especially if they consider the deadly blow that is coming Josephus saies he confidently affirms he is able to prove by Phoenician Records that the City Carthage was built by Dido Sister to Pigmaleon 155 years after the Reign of King Hiram which was Solomons Friend and 143 years and eight months after the building of his most beautiful Temple Now Dido and AEneas according to Virgil were contemporary By this computation we find Troys destruction fell out about the twentieth year of Joash his Reign over Judah which was in the year of the Worlds Creation 3143 to which if we add One hundred and twenty years for the Four discents from AEneas to Brute then will Brutes Conquest of this Island fall with the twelfth of Jothams Reign in Anno Mundi 3263 and thus we see Brute hath miserably lost again 375 years of his Antiquity The greatest loss is to follow and here it is that Mr. Speed saies that he has made a deep breach into Brute's History Manethon saies he the Historian Priest of Egyt in his second Book cited by Josephus affirmeth that the Israelites departure from AEgypt was almost 1000 years before the Wars of Troy and this Mr. Speed saith Josephus seems to allow By this measure Brute is lessened 752 years but I would fain know why he thinks Josephus allows this Computation when as before Josephus is brought in confidently maintaining another Account and that out of the Phoenician Annals Josephus might allow this Computation of Manethon the Egyptian perhaps according to the Egyptian manner of Years which consisted of three Months and so the 1000 years will in reality be but 250 effectually But what makes all this against Brute whose time depends upon the timing of the Trojan War for can any one be so mad or simple as by any Scripture Computation to bring down the War of Troy below the daies of Alexander and almost equalling it with the Punick Clemens Alexandrinus might erre in this Chronology and Virgil is generally reproved for making AEneas and Dido contemporary The Trojan War it self is so disputable that who can expect an exact timing of it If the Author that Jeffery of Monmouth pretends to have translated did place the Entrance of Brute under the Priesthood of Ely it was a fancy grounded upon some Computation of his own which whether it be true or false concerns not the question of Brutes Arrival who knew not and consequently could not deliver down his Entrance in the Priesthood of Ely There are too many Circumstances that condemn the story of Brute and it is vain to confute an Author in a small matter whereas greater things may be laid to his charge like him who declaiming against Nero insisted most in his defects in Musick so if there were nothing to be said against Brutes and Samothes's stories but the ill harmony of Time possibly they may be found as perfect in those points as most Histories But the destroying of Brute by any Computation is as if one would by the same Weapons prove there was never a Trojan Horse or Minerva's fatal Statue and so I proceed to Brutes History THE CHRONICLE OF THE British Kings CHAP. XI The History of BRUTE BRUTUS Brito or as the Count Palatine calls him Brotus is on all hands agreed to be the Off-spring of AEneas but whether by his Wife Creusa or Lavinia there is great variance manifested in Authors AEnaeas dying he left his Kingdom to Ascanius whom he had by his first Wife Creusae Lavinia his second Wife surviving and finding her self big with Child began to dread the power of Ascanius least the odious name of a Step-mother and the jealousie of an half Brother and Competitor in the Kingdom might carry him on to some violence against her Person Upon this she fled into the Woods and was delivered of a Son whom she named Silvius Posthumus from the place of his Birth and by reason he was born after the decease
the long wished for Island he Lands his Trojans and marches up into the Country to take possession Joyful was he to see the pleasant prospect of so large a Dominion and blest the Gods that they gave him so glorious a Reward for all his labours But all things were not so well as he imagined for from the Clyffs and craggy Rocks he began to perceive mighty Giants arising This sight he communicated to Corinaeus who at first was much surprized at the Object but at last they both pluckt up their wonted Spirits and with a few Trojans valiantly assailed these Monsters In a few Conflicts they found not their Weapons to want success so that they soon convinced these Goliahs that no strength or vastness of Limbs was able to resist a Trojan Puissance Corinaeus after several general Engagements had a longing desire to enter into a nearer trial of skill with some one of them Gogmagog undertakes him and a day of wrestling was appointed and attended with great expectation The Giant at his first grapling by a close-Hug breaks a Rib of Corinaeus but sorely paid for it by the fall Corinaeus gave him from the Clyff of Dover to his utter destruction which from hence is said afterwards to be called Cwymp y Cawr or the fall of the Giant This was a good Omen of the Trojans further success and Corinaeus for this piece of service was rewarded with the Principality of Cornwal Brute by degrees destroyed the whole Race of these Giants and quietly possessing the Island the first work he undertook was the building of a City which he called Troy-novant now London In this City he kept his Royal Court ordaining and enacting that from henceforth the whole Island should be called after his Name BRITAIN and so the Inhabitants Britains Being at the point of Death in the fifteenth year of his Reign and the four and twentieth of his Arrival he divided his Kingdom to his three Sons To Locrinus he bequeathed that part now called ENGLAND To Camber WALES To Albanact SCOTLAND and so called it after his name Albania Brute in that sickness is supposed to have died and was buried in his new City TROY Novant but the particular place where was never yet discovered by any and I much question whether it ever will SOME OBSERVATIONS UPON THIS History of Brute IT is not material whether this story of BRUTE be to be referred to Jeoffery of Monmouth Henry of Huntington or Segibertus Gemblasensis a French-man who lived an hundred years before Jeoffery and treats of Brute and his Trojans Arrival into Gaul and his passage into Britain For if Segibertus or any other Person had the name of Brute before Jeoffery and some particular Actions of such a Prince yet the composing of his Genealogy the methodizing the Circumstances of his Life the Timing of his Entrance the Succession of his Line depends all upon the Credit of Jeoffery and the truth of his Translation and so was esteemed in the daies in which he lived and put forth his History For how long a Trojan Original might be in these parts or how long Britannia might be derived from Brutus is not the thing in question but this was the custome of Ancient times to derive Nations from some particular Persons even amongst the Greeks and Romans and was an old Vanity of the World to refer their beginning to some Divine HERO To make this pretended Brute to be a Trojan and to fasten him upon a Genealogy contrary to the truth of those Histories from which that Genealogy is fetcht and upon whose Credit it depends is the thing for which Brutes History is chiefly condemned Segibertus Gemblasensis might have the same design in deriving his Britain in France from Brutus as the Britains might derive their Britannia I do not deny but Jeoffery of Monmouth might have several hints of Brutus nay a British History of him but it will not justifie the Fiction neither can the multitude of Authors in or about that time take away from the Credit of Ancienter Historiographers as Caesar Tacitus Gildas Ninius and as many as wrote twelve hundred years since who make no mention of any such Person more than that do profess by all their Enquiry they could learn nothing of the Britains concerning their Original so that whatever Original is pretended nevertheless the story of the Trojan Brute and all the Legend of his life seems to be brought into the World not long before those times as appears by Mr. Cambden and Speed nay Mr. Sheringham of late in his Vindication of this story in one place ingeniously confesses That these Tales might be invented and so intruded upon the Vulgar But where ever the story of Brute is to be told the Character of it and the Compiler ought never to be omitted It is the saying of William of Newborough who lived in the Age of Geoffery ap Arthur of Monmouth and writes thus of him In these our daies saith he a certain Writer is risen who deviseth foolish Fictions of the Britains he hath to Name Geoffery and a little after With how little shame and with what great confidence doth he frame his Lies About the same time was Francio invented for the Francks Scota Pharaolis Daughter for the Scots Hiberus for the Irish Danus for the Danes Brabo for the Brabanders Gothus for the Goths Saxo for the Saxons and is Brutus for the Britains any thing truer who can think it Scriverius in his Preface to the Antiquitics of Ancient Batavia falls severely upon Jeoffery of Monmouth and gives his History the name of Groote grove lange dicke taste lijck ende unbeschaemte logen that is A most impudent Lie a great one a heavy one a long thick one which like the AEgyptian Darkness was so palpable it might be felt Never had a Lie so many dimensions given it before nor so much substance ascribed to it Well fare Brute and his Trojans above all stories this carries the Honour of the day That which gave some Authority to this Fiction was the use King Edward the first made of it in vindicating his Title to Scotland against the pretence of Pope Boniface and the Church of Rome who laid claim to that Kingdom by Ancient Right as part of St. Peters Patrimony and that Churches Demesne This Action of the King stampt some Character upon this late Invention and the Judgment of so wise a Prince in favour of Brute in a matter of so high a Concern brought this new Embrio into some credit in the World It will not be amiss therefore to examine the whole Circumstances of this debate between the King Pope and Barons of this Realm King Edward having made a considerable progress towards the Conquest of Scotland and being there in Person receives a Prohibition from the Pope who was backt on by the French King to proceed any further in that business until he had proved his Title at Rome to which place the
Pope by his Bull drew the hearing of the Cause the King received this Message from the Archbishop of Canterbury who through many hazards brought the Bull to him into Scotland and thereby finding that the Pope had started an unheard of Claim to that Kingdom returns this Answer to the Bishop That he could not reply to the Popes Letters without the consent of his Barons most of which were at that time in Britain The next year coming into Britain he summons a Parliament at Lincoln Octabis Sancti Hilarii to advise with his Prelates Nobles and Commons how to defend the Rights of his Crown against this new Papal claim Upon reading of the Popes Bull it was long debated whether the King should return any Answer to it but in fine the Affirmative carried it The King to justifie his Title to Scotland and to prove it was alwaies a Feudatory Nation and that their Kings through all Ages paid Homage to the Kings of Britain begins his Claim from Brute and the division of the whole Island among his Three Sons Locrine Camber and Albanact wherein this constitution and Custome of Troy is asserted Ut dignitas haereditatis Primogenito perveniret and so he followeth on his Title through many British Princes as it may be seen at large in the Records in the Tower of London Anno 29. Edvardi primi Here we see Brutes story made use of in a Claim to a Crown then in real debate so that here a few things must be considered Who were the Persons that might be thought to have a great stroak in compiling this Letter The Writs the King issued out were to no less than three and forty Abbots Priors and Deans besides many others of the Clergy to search the Records of their Monasteries and Covents and to send up to Lincoln any thing which might concern the present question It appears that the Monks and Fryers had a great hand in making out this Title by Brute whose Story now was new vampt and from all Parts sent out of those shops where at first it had been forged and hammer'd out And this doth more evidently appear if we consider many other parts of the same Letter as it is found in the Records cited by Mr. Pryn but especially that Miracle of King Adelstane who in perpetuam rei memoriam to give an evident sign of his Right to Scotland with his Sword struck such a blow upon a Rock near Dunbar that he clest it at least an Ell wide It is no wonder if King Edward did oppose the Spiritual Right of the Pope with no less Aiery Titled and it was not unnecessary that he should endeavour to beat him at his own Weapons having so many Myrmedons to assist him who were excellently skill'd and so fitter to return upon Rome a Title which had no less pretences of Antiquity and Holiness than the Popes so that the Fable of Brute here made use of in the Circumstances of those Affairs was prudent and Politick yet makes not to the credit and reality of his History but shews that a wise Prince took the advantage to destroy an impertinent Demand with a Politick return Besides Albanact the Son of Brute by this time had been received by the Scots who were as Ambitious to derive their Nation from the Trojans as the English were contented with a younger Brother for their Prince seeing the English had prevented them in the right of Primogeniture by Locrinus so that Locrinus's Title against Albanact is good although in truth neither be valuable And so I leave the story of Brute and his Trojans to the Credit of its first Devisors and how far it may be taken hath been sifted sufficiently by all Authors I will only reply to one Argument often produced in favour of Brute to which hitherto I have seen no Answer It is taken from the words of Thaliassen an Ancient Poet supposed to live in the daies of Mailgon King of Venedotia or North-Wales in his Book entituled Hannes Thaliassen or the Errors of Thaliassen Mia deythymyma att Wedillhion Croia I return to the Relich of Troy Now granting this to be the true work of Thaliassen I see not why from hence the Britains must be concluded of Trojan Original The Phrase of Reliquiae Trojae aut Reliquiae Danûm may elegantly be used to express any Nation that is miserably brought from its Ancient Glory and reduced to so small a number as the Britains were by the Romans and especially by the Saxons It is a Poetical Elegancy used by Thaliassen to express the Calamities of his Nation yet such small Figures have often created great Kings in the Inventions of Fanciful Men as Magus the Celtick King took birth from the Poetical saying of Pliny and I believe verily Brutus from this of Thaliassen I have not time to instance in all the ridiculous particulars in Brutes History and how Troy-novant could signifie Troia nova before ever the Romans had brought the word Novum into Britain but it may be supposed that this conceit of Troy-novant took its beginning from that Cities standing in the Country of the Trinobantes so called by Caesar and they who followed on the contrivance of a Trojan Original might make use of the least similitude of Words to confirm their Opinions And this might give occasion to those words of King Edward the Confessor to streagthen the Priviledges of the City of London as to their Hustings and other Courts for he saith of the same City thus Fundata erit olim adificata ad instar ad modum in memoria Veteris Magnae Troiae Every Fiction muttlye sometime in the Womb before it can be brought to perfection and so it happened in thus that first the matter of a Trojan Original being prepared and by Tradition only received it grew up by the use Princes made of it Afterwards it received its form from the Writing of the Learned in those daies and so finally brought to maturity and delivered by Jeoffery and all this structure perhaps lying upon no other foundation than Britannia Brutus Trinovant Trivovantes and that elegant saying of Thaliassen Y Weddillhion Croia and this more evidently appears where I have treated of the Custome of the Greeks in giving Names to Nations and feigning of false Originals Many of the like I omit because they have by all Authors been sufficiently exposed to the view of the whole World I will only mention how the Count Palatine makes the Britanni and Brotones two different Nations and that the former were in this Island before Brutes Arrival and the latter took their Name from him For my part let Brute enjoy his Britones so the Britanni may be freed from so fond an Original but both sides will not agree in this composition and I am afraid the case will be the same as when Caesar with his two Names subscribed two Consuls That as one said if Julius be safe Caesar has no reason to complain
Let therefore the case of Brute remain as it did in Mr. Cambdens daies to be decided by the Senate of Antiquaries and great Clerks to the number of which cited by him namely are Boccace Ludovicus Vives Hadrian Junius Polidore Buchanan Vignier Genebrad Molinaeus Bodine who all reject this story I will now add that famous Antiquary Mr. Selden who askes this Question If the right of Primogeniture invested the eldest Son absolutely in the Kingdom according to the Custome of Troy as it is found in the succession of the Trojan Kings How comes it to pass that this Custome was not brought over into Britain a Question not hitherto fully Answered no not by Mr. Taylour Author of the History of Gavelkind who will have Mr. Selden to be in jest and merriment when he demands upon this account How our Britains claim their descent from the Trojans when as this Question was but sober and rational and hath true reference to the Custome of Troy where the Eldest Son alwaies Inherited the entire Dominion of his Father which by many of the British Kings was not observed Nay this usage of Troy was Religiously observed by the Successors of AEnaeas in the Kingdom of the Latins for when Silvius Posthumus and Iulus contended about the Right of Government Iulus was utterly deposed and invested only with the Priesthood and there was no thoughts of sharing the Kingdom By this it is manifest Mr. Selden had relation to the Custome of Troy and not to any Gavel-kind among the Welch And now I will proceed to the second British King LOCRINE the eldest Son of Brute began his Reign Anno Mundi 2874 over this part of the Island since called England which Portion was allotted to him by the division of his Father as being the fairest parcel of his Empire During his Reign his Brother Albanact was Invaded by Humber King of the Hunns or Scythians and finally by him slain Locrine and Camber raised Forces to revenge the death of their Brother and so marched into the North to seek out Humber and finding him upon the borders of Scotland then called Albania they gave him battle and speedily vanquisht him so as himself and Army after a hot Chase were drowned in a River and from that time the River was named HUMBER In this pursuit he took three fair Ladies the most beautiful of which named Estrild a Scythian Princess he most doted on that notwithstanding a former Contract between him and Guendolaena Corinaeus his Daughter resolved to take this Lady to wife but the power and authority of Corinaeus forced him to lay aside that present Resolution so that marrying Guendolaena nevertheless privately enjoyed his beloved Estrild keeping her in secret during the life of his Father in Law Corinaeus which he performed saith the Count Palatine by the help of a Vault to which under pretence of sacrificing to the Infernal Gods he often resorted No sooner Corinaeus was dead but he owned her for his Queen which so incensed Guendolaena that although Locrine was strengthened by the accession of Cambria upon the death of his Brother yet she goes into Cornwal and by powerful Sollicitations in the behalf of her self and young Son Madan the Cornish are brought to assist her With these Forces she marched again Locrine and in a pitcht Battle nigh the River Stour he is overcome and slain upon this according as she would have it the Kingdom fell to her Son MADAN the Son of Locrine by Guendolaena although a Child yet succeeded his Father Anno Mundi 2894. During his Minority his Mother was made Regent of the Kingdom which she administred with all Justice until the full Age of her Son and after the resignment of her Power she retired into Cornwal This Kings severity in putting the Laws in Execution was esteemed a Tyrant and after he had Reigned forty years he was devoured with Wild Beasts He built Madancaster now Dancaster but Dancaster or Doncaster took its Name as Mr. Cambden supposes from the River Dona upon which it standeth This Madan left two Sons behind him Mempricius and Manlius MEMPRICIUS the eldest Son of Madan began his Reign Anno Mundi 2949 over the whole Island but Manlius his younger Brother rebelled against him To suppress this Rebellion Mempricius signified a desire to Treat with his Brother who consenting to it was treacherously at a meeting Murthered The King having put an end to that trouble wallowed in Ease and Luxury and not content with his Wives and Concubines he falls to horrid Rapes and at last to unnatural Sodomy but in the conclusion of all was slain by wild Beasts after his Government had lasted about twenty years EBRANCKE the Son of Mempricius by his lawful Wife began to Rule Anno Mundi 2969 he had two and twenty Wives of whom he had Issue twenty Sons and thirty Daughters the Eldest of which was named Guales or Gualea These Daughters under the Conduct of their Brothers he sent to Silvius Alba the Eleventh King of Italy and the sixth King of the Latins and this he did because he heard the Sabines would not give their Daughters in Marriage to the Latins What a ridiculous Prolepsis is this of an Action that happened many years after in the daies of Romulus and how without any sense or reason is it ascribed to these Times The Sabines denied their Daughters to that scum of People Romulus by his Asylum had pickt up but why should they do it while the Kingdom of the Latins was in splendour under the Kings of Alba. In making of Silvius Alba the sixth King of the Latins Jeoffery of Monmouth is in the right and now we have a Clue to lead us in to the understanding of this Genealogy of AEnaeas namely he makes the Kings of Alba to succeed lineally from Father to Son and therefore because Silvius Posthumus followed Ascanius in the Kingdom he is ignorantly supposed his Son whereas Iulus was the Son of Ascanius who being deposed by the People Silvius the Son of AEnaeas by Lavinia was advanced to the Crown succeeding Ascanius his half Brother not his Father in the Kingdom By the same Mistake we find in the British History One and twenty Kings from Porrex to Minnegen to be made of a Lineal descent and yet but Ninety two years allowed for all their Reigns so that they begat one another at four or five years old whereas if there be any truth in the Lives of those Kings they ought to have been made Contemporary and to have Ruled different parts of the Island as the Government thereof was found divided in the daies of Julius Caesar when Kent alone had four Princes a little before whose time these KINGS are supposed But to return to Ebrancke After that his Sons had conducted their Sisters under the Conduct of their Brother Assaracus to Silvius Alba being provoked by the Germans they entred that Nation and by the assistance of Silvius Conquered it Some write
But to return to King Baldud Presuming too much either to his skill in Magiok or his Philosophical invention of Wings he brake his Neck from off the Temple of Apollo in Troy-novant from a Pinnacle whereof he endeavoured to have flown He Governed Britain twenty years Then LEIR the Son of Baldud succeeded Anno Mundi 3105 He built Caerleir called Legecestria Leogora Legeo-cester and now Leicester and there placed a Flamen He had never a Son but three Daughters Gonorilla Regana and Cordeilla his Darling In his Old Age being jealous of their Affection he called them before him and demands that they would give him some assurance of their Love The two Eldest called Heaven and Earth to witness that they loved him ten thousand times dearer than their own Souls that they were not able to express their infinite Kindnesses and at last concluded their Flattery with horrid Oaths and Asseverations of their Sincerity Cordeilla could not be heard amidst all this noise of Affection so that her Father turning towards her quickly by his Countenance gave her to understand that he had expected something from her also wherefore with a modest look and humble deportment she assured him that as a Father she had ever loved and honoured him and as her bounden duty was as a Father she should reverence and alwaies esteem him This Answer satisfied not the old King but he shewed his Resentments by his neglect of her and the sudden advancement of her Sisters marrying Regana to Henninus Duke of Cornwal and Gonorilla to Maglanus Duke of Albania reserving no Portion for Cordeilla but it so happened that Aganippus King of Gallia hearing of her Vertue desired her in Marriage to whom she was welcome without any Dower but her own Excellence King Leir having thus disposed of his Daughters began to grow Gray yet Youthsome giving hopes to his Subjects of a long life and Government This pleased not Gonorilla nor Regana who began by this time to reflect upon their Father as the only obstacle of their Happiness often wishing him removed and from wishes they passed on to desires and longing expectations after his Death This brought a contempt of his Age and afterwards neglect and hatred of his Person finally being instigated and assisted by their Husbands they offered so many Indignities and Violences to him that in the end he was constrained to leave the Realm and take Refuge with Cordeilla This rejected Daughter of his received him with all signs and testimonies of Affection and what was more significant assisted him with powerful Aids and in Person went to revenge his wrongs so that bringing a great Army into Britain she destroyed his Enemies and restored him to his Crown which he held for the space of two years whose Reign in all is computed to be full sixty years and was buried at Leicester CORDEILLA the youngest Daughter of Leir was admitted for Queen An. Mundi 3165 She governed the Realm discreetly for five years during which time her Husband Aganippus died Margan and Cunedage her Nephews by her Sisters Gonorilla and Regana disdaining to be under the Government of a Woman rebelled against her and so prevailed that they took her Prisoner but being a Woman endowed with a high Spirit she slew her self rather than to live under their Tyranny CUNEDAG and MARGAN possessing the whole Government Anno Mundi 3170 they divided the Land between them To Margan fell Albania to Cunedag all the Country on this side of Humber Margan was not long content with his Portion so he invaded his Brother but driven by him into Wales and there slain giving the name of Glan-Margan to that Country Cunedagius Ruling alone erected a Temple to Mars at Perth in Scotland placing there a Flamens Seat He also built a Temple of Minerva at Bangor and one to Mercury Mr. Hollinshead saith Apollo in Cornwal he died and was buried in Troynovant after he had Ruled 33 years RIVAL the Son of Cunedag came to the Crown Anno Mundi 3203 in his time it rained Blood for three daies together from the putrefaction a noysom and venemous Flie was bred which in swarms infested the whole Land and brought a Contagion both on Man and Beast and great was the Mortality that ensued in this Kings Reign Rome is supposed to be built about the eight and twentieth year of his Reign and in the year after Brutes Arrival 356 some say in the thirty second year of Rival He Reigned 46 years and bidding adieu to the World GURGUST his Son succeeded Anno Mundi 3249. In this Kings Reign the Olympiads were instituted by Iphitus namely in the year of the World 3256 and in the seventh year of his Government Sr. Walter Rawleigh placeth the building of Rome four and twenty years after the Fourth Olympiad namely in the year 3280 and seven years after the next King Silvius or Sisilius with which Prince I will begin the next Period supposing him to proceed from the Line of the Kings of Alba after the expulsion of Amulius from the Kingdom by Romulus and Remus the time so exactly agreeing with Silvius his leaving the Crown of Alba and this Silvius reigning in Britain that from the driving out of Amulius and his Family from the usurped Kingdom of the Latins and to the beginning of this Kings Reign in Britain there seems a just competent time allowable for a Voyage They who have respect to the British Histories let them consider that this Intercourse between Alba and Britain here supposed is no new thing being practiced in the daies of Ebrancke who sent his Daughters to Silvius Alba then King of the Latins likewise let them take notice that this way the British Kings Succeeding are grafted into the Family of AEnaeas by a Line not so questionable as Brutes namely the Kings of Alba called all SILVII and the undoubted Off-spring of that Silvius Posthumus upon whom Brute cannot with reason be Fathered In the next place let them consider that the Line of the British Kings at Silvius begins to be strangely confused the Lineal descent being ended in himself and a Collateral one begun so that although Silvius be made the Brother of Gurgast yet I take it to make much to my purpose that he is not made his Son according to the way the British History is over fond of Let them consider likewise what Wars and Tumults are reported in the daies of Silvius and his Successour Jago the constant Accidents attending new Invaders and seeing that Polidore Virgil could venture to place and displace Kings at his pleasure inverting in many places the long received Order of the British History and yet deserve commendation for it I hope I cannot be much blamed for setting down my Conjecture which although it be new yet it doth not derogate in the least from the Honour of the Britains being derived from the same Head although in a different Channel And I doubt not that any would willingly deny them either
likelyhood Son of Silvius but others will needs have him Brother of Jago succeeded Anno Mundi 3364. There is nothing Recorded of this Prince but that he was buried at York after he had reigned four and fifty years GORBODUG the Son of Kinimacus the fourth from Silvins An. Mundi 3418 is stigmatized with the same reproach of Tyranny and was buried at Troy-novant after he had Ruled rather to compleat the account of Histories than in truth sixty three years He left behind him two Sons Ferrex and Porrex FERREX and PORREX began joyntly to reign Anno Mundi 3476. This is the third time that the Kingdom fell not entirely to the Elder Brother As after the Laws of Troy the Sovereignty And all resort of Right doth appertain To the Eldest Brother in Property The Eldest Sisters right so by right should have been Soveraign Lady and over them all Queen By equitee of that ilk Law and Right In place where it is holden Law perfeight These Brothers for five years in great Amity ruled the Island until Porrex the younger inflamed with the Ambition of being sole Governour attempts privately upon the life of Ferrex But it seems Ferrex had notice given him of his Brothers design thought it proved not so timely as to give opportunity to avoid the stroak by any other way than flight Gallia was esteemed the nighest and securest retirement where Arriving he sollicits the Princes of that Realm and especially Gunhardus or Suardus to assist him in vindicating his Right to the Crown This just Request being obtained he returns into Britain and with a mighty Army gives his Brother battle Fortune not favouring the just and equitableness of his cause his Army was defeated and in the Battle himself lost his life Porrex enjoyed not long his unnatural Conquest for his own Mother Idone or Widen looking upon him as the bloody murtherer of her Son Ferrex by a deed no less Barbarous prosecutes her Revenge for finding Porrex asleep privately murthered him neither could Motherly pity asswage her Anger until she had cut and mangled his Body in a thousand pieces For this unnatural and much admired Cruelty she was slain by the sury of the Multitude This extinguisht the House of Gorboduc and periodized the Line of AEnaeas insomuch as the Kingdom fell into innumerable divisions from thence into a Heptarchy One seized Loegria another Cambria a third Cornwal a fourth Albania and the fifth division is not specified distinctly by any Authors but is supposed to be Northumberland or Kent which in old Pedigrees their names are cited to be these RUDAUCUS King of Wales CLOTENUS King of Cornwal PINNOR King of Loegria STATORIUS King of Scotland YEVAN King of Northumberland Histories make particular mention of Pinnor otherwise called Pireman King of Loegria and of Rudacus King of Cambria Staterus King of Albania Cloten King of Cornwal but are silent in the other Princes names This Heptarchy is conjectured to have continued One and fifty years until Dunwallo Son of Cloten King of Cornwal whether by the clearest Right and Title or the longest Sword obtained the whole Kingdom is uncertain According to the foregoing Computation we need not with Polidore Virgil invert the Order of the British History in this place but continue the succession of Monarchy from this Period with Guintolin and not Donvallo Molmutius For allowing Molmutius to follow immediately after the Heptarchy his two Sons Belinus and Brennus will be found to be Kings of Britain about the time when Rome was sackt and so may not be obliged to set those two Princes any farther backward as Polidore hath done three hundred years but rather a little more forward For from the Entrance of Brute Anno Mundi 2850 to Belinus and Brennus Anno Mundi 3574 are 724 years whereas Rome is supposed to be sackt in the seven hundred and tenth year after Brutes Arrival as is gathered by Polidore Virgil out of Eusebius This Controversie with some others relating to the same Belinus and Brennus is particularly managed by Sr. John Price against Polidore Virgil as also by many others But seeing the true evidence of this matter is to be made out by Computations which account in seven hundred years according to diversity of Authors differ half in half it is the safer way in my Judgment to follow the usual method in the Succession of the British Kings than by the dependance of the uncertainty of Chronology in things of so vast a distance to invert the whole Order of their Reigns and so like Witches who would conjure them out of the World read them backwards MOLMUTIUS called Dūnvallo Son of Cloten King of Cornwal either judging himself to have the better Right or longer Sword invaded his Neighbour Princes First he began with Pinnor King of Loegria whom he overcame and slew before he could joyn with his Confederates Rudacus King of Cambria and Staterius King of Albania After this success he sets upon the fore-mentioned Princes with an Army of thirty thousand Men but the Victory hanging too long for his eager expectation he made use of a stratagem for counterfeiting the Arms of his Enemies he gave them a terrible overthrow in the Encounter The King of Northumberland or Kent is not mentioned in this Battle wherefore he is supposed beforehand to have surrendred his Kingdom By thismeans Molmutius Dunvallo called also Donebant became the sole Monarch of this Island Anne Mundi 3529. If he got the Crown by Oppression he managed it with no less prudence and moderation enacting several excellent Laws translated out of the British Speech into the Latin by Gildas and afterwards out of the Latin into the English Tongue by Alfred King of England And these Laws are Recorded by Count Palatine and are taken notice of by Mr. Sheringham and particularly recited by Mr. Selden in his Janus Anglorum They were to this effect 1. Ut Templa Deorum c. That the Temples of the Gods should enjoy such Priviledges and Immunities that no Malefactor flying to them for Sanctuary could be seized or by force drawn from them before he had obtained pardon 2. That High-waies leading to Temples or Roads to great Cities should have the like Priviledges 3. That Ploughs Oxen and other Labouring Cattle should enjoy the same Immunities and the reason of this Law is given because otherwise the Ground might lie untill'd and the People perish for want of Bread 4. He set out the number of Ploughs that should be in every Shire and Hundred with severe Penalties upon all that should be the occasion of lessening the Number 5. The fifth is the same almost with the third only it seems a little to restrain it namely That no Oxen or Labouring Beast should be seized for Debt unless there were no other Goods or Chattels to make satisfaction 6. He ordained set Weights and Measures for buying and selling 7. A Law against Thieves and Robbers These are the Molmutian Laws
or rather Heads of Laws but how they should be translated by Gildas who professeth he knew nothing of the Britains before caesar I know not The bringing also of the four great Roads that ran cross Britain are referred to this King but Mr. Cambden with more Reason brings them down to the Romans time whom Mr. Selden intimates He is supposed to build Malmsbury and two neighbouring Castles Lacoc and Tetbury Malmsbury was called by him Caer Bladon but upon what account Authors make no mention The Ancient name of it was also changed by the Saxons into Ingleborne Maildulfburg Adelmsberg Marleberg and in Antoninus his Ittnerarium is thought to be that Cunetio mentioned by him scituated upon the River Kenet Another place built by this Prince is the Vies called Devisio Devies and Divise He erected also a Temple in Troy-novant and dedicated it to Peace and Concord in the place afterwards named Blackwell-Hall He is reported the first Prince of Britain that was enstalled with the Rites and Ceremonies of Coronation wearing a Golden Crown and other Kingly Ornaments at his solemn Inauguration a Custome neglected by his Predecessors as having more Right and so needed less state and formality Having Reigned forty years and appointed his two Sons his Successors He departed this life and was buried in the Temple of Concord in Troynovant BELINUS and BRENNUS his two Sons succeed him Anno Mundi 3574. Princes famous in the Roman Histories for their sacking Rome their Conquest of Pannonia Macedonia and the destroying of Apollo's samous Temple at Delphos Sr. John Price supposes Belinus to be that Belgius mentioned in those Histories and that the mistake in naming him Belgius for Belinus proceeded from this cause The Scribe might write Belius for Belinus then n for shortness being writ over the head which being over seen by those that transcribed it afterwards came to be written Reljus with the j Consonant and afterwards for sounds sake made Belgius concerning which they that desire to be better satisfied may have recourse to his Defence of the British History where also he proveth against Polidore Virgil that Brennus was the same person that sackt Rome and destroyed the Temple at Delphos where he also sheweth that he died not in Italy and that the destruction of that Temple did not happen so long after the sacking of Rome as Poltdore would needs have it concerning all which Circumstances and many others the Reader is referred to Sr. John Price because I intend not to write a History of Rome save only what shall relate to the Roman Antiquity but of Britain the Actions of Brennus and Belgius being sufficiently known as they relate to that City And in the Judgments of most Persons it will seem unequal to hang the Antiquity of the Roman Writers upon the credit of the British BELINUS and BRENNUS being left Co-heirs of the Kingdom by their Father fell to the dividing of it Belinus gave to his younger Brother Albania reserving to himself all the sair Possessions on this side the Hamber This division being so Ancient and equal yet contented not Brennus whose Ambition aimed at higher matters to the effecting of which after seven years peacable Reign he endeavoured to strengthen himself with powerful Allies and to that purpose sails into Norway after he had according to some secured his Interest in Armorica called Britain in France and in the Country of the Allobroges here he marrieth the Daughter of the Norwegian King Elsin. Belinus hearing of these Actions of his Brother and doubting the Consequence especially because he understood him to be a Feudatory Prince and so bound to give an account before hand of his Actions entred and seized all his Dominions securing his Forts and Navies Brennus advised of this prepares for his Return and was attended with the Navy Royal of Norway accompanied with a mighty Army After a few daies sail he was set upon by Guilthdacus King of Denmark who had been a long Suitor to the Daughter of Elsin King of Norway In this Conflict the Norwegian Fleet was worsted and the Ship wherein the new Bride was conveyed is taken but Brennus escapes by flight Afterwards it happened that a mighty Storm arising Guilthdacus by force of Weather was driven upon the Coast of Northumberland where he was detained by Belinus In some reasonable time after that Brennus having recollected his scatter'd Navy and new Rigg'd and furnished his Ships with Men and Provisions he sent to his Brother Belyn to restore him his Wife and Possessions injuriously by him detained this Request being denied notwithstanding the Justness occasioned him to Land in Albania and marching up into the Country at a Wood named Calater he met and Encountered with his Brother but was overcome to the utter ruine of all his Army so that with twelve only of his Retinue he fled into Gallia whether this was his first or second Voyage thither is uncertain where he found kind entertainment from Seguinus or Seginus King of Armorica or Britain Whilst he was securing his Interest in that Nation Belinus his Brother calls a Councel of his Kingdom where it was debated what Proceedings to use towards the King of Denmark and finally concluded that he should enjoy his Liberty upon doing Homage to the King of Britain and paying a yearly Tribute to the value of a thousand pound which being agreed to by that King sor himself and Successors he was honourably dismissed After these happy Successes Belyn set himself to the finishing of that great Work begun by his Father Dunwallo the making and paving four great High-waies through his Kingdom of Loegria now called England The first is named Foss and beginneth at the Corner of Totness in Cornwal and passeth through Devonshire and Somersetshire and so to Coventry Leicester and from thence as Ranulph a Monk of Chester recordeth through the Wastes to Newark and ended at Lincoin But what these Wastes should be Mr. Cambden is at a stand who saies that the Common voice was That it went full North through Notinghamshire and that Antonine the Emperour seems to carry it Northwards through Leicestershire into Lincolnshire And he adds that of this Way there are some Tracts of it found by Old Ruines but none in the other The second Way is named Watling street and runneth South-east into North-east and crosseth the Foss. It beginneth at Dover and passeth by the middle of Kent over the Thames beside London by West of Westminster and so on by Sr. Albans and by the West-side of Dunstable Stratford Toucester and Wedon and by South Killingborn or Killebourn by Athriston to Gilbert's Hill that now is named Wrekin and so by Severn passing beside Worcester and thence to Stratton and so to the middle of Wales to a place called Cardigan on the Irish Sea The third Way is named Erming street This goeth from West North west unto East South-east and beginneth at Menevia at St. Davids in Wales and runneth on
to Southampton The fourth Hekencldis-street or Kikeneldis-street which goeth forth by Worcester Wickham Bermingham Leichfield Darby Chester-field and by York to Tinmouth By this time Brennus had got so sar into favour with Seginus the Duke of Armorica that he married his Daughter and by the consent of his Nobles in case he failed of Issue-Male the same Duke was admitted Heir of the Crown and not long after by the death of the said Prince he was accordingly received as their lawful Prince all States of the Realm swearing Fealty to him Being now in the possession of a Kingdom Brennus raiseth a powerful Army and Lands in Britain intending to revenge the wrongs done him by his Brother Belyn And now was it that both Armies were ready to give Battle when their Mother Conwenna interposed as a Mediatress between them and by her many tears and powerful perswasions brought them to a Friendly accord so that embracing each other they were heartily Reconciled to the exceeding joy of all Spectators After their Arrival at Troy-Novant they consulted which way best to employ their Armies where the motion was made by Brennus and accepted by Belinus to joyn Forces and undertake the Conquest of all Gallia which Enterprize was attended with a Fortune beyond expectation For they did not only Conquer all Gallia but Italy and great part of Germany also and in the end sacked Rome it self where some say Brennus lost his life others that he survived that great and general Overthrow Some make Belinus a Partner with him in his Greatness others say he went not into Gallia with him or if he did that he soon returned leaving the management of all those Forreign employments to the Conduct of his Brother Brennus whom we will leave to the Histories of the Romans as if so be this were the same Brennus that sackt Rome to receive what Fate in most probability is assigned to him Vitus maketh him to have killed himself at his Repulse before Delphos BELYN now absolute Monarch of Britain sets himself to the beautifying of his Dominions He built Caerleon upon Uske called from thence Caer Uske and Caer Huth where he placed an Arch-Flamen He also adorned Troy-novant with a Gate called to this day Belings-Gate on the top of which he caused a Tower to be made and at the Basis or Foundation thereof an Harbour for Ships to Ride in He is said to be the first Founder of the Tower of London After he had Reigned two and twenty years he died being the first of all the British Kings whose Corps was consumed in a Funeral-pile and his Ashes carefully gathered in a Brazen some say a Golden Urne and preserved on the highest Pinnacle of the Gate or Arch he had built as some think for that purpose GURGUINT Sir-named Brabtruc according to others Barbarous i. e. the Red-beard the English Chronicle calleth him Corinbratus and was the Son of Belyn and succeeded him Anno Mundi 1596. In his daies the Danes refused the payment of their Tribute whereupon he sailed into Denmark and by sorce of Arms obliging them to renew their Treaty received Homage of their Kings and Chief Nobility then Embarked again for Britain In his Return he met with a Fleet of thirty Sail about the Isle of Orkney these he Encounter'd and having taken their Captain Bartholoin or Partholoin he demanded of him what he was and the reasons of his Adventures into those Parts Partholoin answers That He and his Followers were named Balences or Basclenses and were Exiles of Spain and banished their Country with their Wives and Children and thereupon struck out to Sea to seek out an Habitation It is said the King gave them Ireland being a place not then Peopled After his Arrival into Britain the King made it his business to establish and confirm the Laws of his Ancestors and in his Reign that Famous University of Cambridge was Founded by Cantaber Brother of Bartholin This King also built Caer-werith or Lancaster Caer-Peris or Porchester in Hampshire the Seat of a Flamen and Caer-Gaurvie now Warwick where he was buried after he had reigned nineteen years GUINTELINUS or Guintellus the Son of Gurguint was Crowned King Anno Mundi 3615 He was a Prince learned prudent and of singular Justice and Moderation and that which conduceth more to the Glory of his Reign was that he was blest with a Lady with no less Endowments and Excellencies her names was Martia From this Lady that Law called Mathehelage or Marchenelaghe had its beginning and Name translated by King Alphred out of the British into the Saxon Tongue Mr. Hollinshead wonders and admires at Providence that two such wise Princes should come at once to the management of the Kingdom especially at a time when so many Civil Discords were reigning But I find none of these Civil Discords reigning either in his own his Fathers Grandfathers or Great-Grandfathers daies 'T is true Belyn had War with his Brother but in a few years it was wholly ended to the great satisfaction of them both Where then are these Civil Discords Indeed Polidore Virgil out of his great Providence placeth this King before his Great-Grandfather which I suppose he did for the wonderful wisdom of this Prince and his Wife whom he thought best able to end the Civil dissensions caused by the Pentarchy and therefore where Polidore admires the wonderful Providence of God we ought to take him as applauding his own Invention for never before him was ever such an Invention made for the stating of the British Kings But Mr. Hollinshead who followeth on the Received course of the Succession ought not to complain of Civil Discords in this Kings Reign because they had been long since ended And this I take notice of more especially because I find the same Errour in other Authors who have written after Polidore which was grounded from the delight of their own Fancies rather than to deliver the truth exactly down to the People This King Reigned twenty six years and was Interr'd at Troy-Novant now London SICILIUS the second and Son of Guintolin being about seven years of Age was received as King under the Regency of his Mother Martia Anno Mundi 3641 and it seemeth that those Laws called Martiae were exacted by this Queen during the Minority of her Son rather than in the life of her Husband The Count Palatine will have this King to have reigned fifteen years alone but it is generally thought he Governed not above fifteen in all seven under the Tuition of his Mother and eight after his full Age and having given the signs of a hopeful Prince he was suddenly snatcht out of this World by Death and then the Government fell to KIMARUS the Son of Sicilius who began his Reign over Britain A. M. 3656 and being of a wild and ungoverned disposition as given up to all manner of Lusts and Exorbitances was kill'd in the Woods in his pursuit after his game of Hunting some say by
an ambush of Men others by Wild Beasts He reigned but three years and was buried at Caer-leon ELANIUS or Danius his Brother succeeded Anno Mundi 3659 this King was not inferiour to his Predecessor in wickedness of his life in so much as some Chronicles make him one and the same Person sor so exactly did these two Princes correspond in their Vices He held the Scepter ten years then MORINDUS bastard Son of Elanius by his Concubine Tonguestula was admitted to the Crown A. M. 3669 a Man of great strength neat proportion of Body and of beautiful Features As to the quality of his mind he was liberal and bountiful but withal exceeding passionate In his daies the Moriani or rather Morini a People of Gaul Landing in Northumberland with fire and sword wasted that Country which Morindus hearing of with all expedition gathered up his Forces and with long and wearisom Marches made up to them and in one battle utterly defeated them It is said in this Encounter Morindus shewed all the signs of personal Courage Anger and Revenge lifting him up beyond the common ability of Humane nature The Captives that were taken felt the severity of his wrath being every one of them by several exquisite and new devised Tortures sacrificed to his severe Resentments so that in the punishment of these Miserable wretches it is a question whether he shewed more his Skill or his Cruelty Going along the Sea-coast for his Recreation he espied a hideous Monster arising out of the Irish Sea which immediately seized and devoured many who for their pleasures were walking upon the shoar The King beholding the lamentable destruction of his Subjects put Spurs to his Horse and with great fury and haste assailed this Devourer The Contest held a long time doubtful but at last great was the joy and shoutings of the Spectators to see this Monster fall but in the end greater was their sorrow when they saw the King with his fall overwhelmed and destroyed This happened in the ninth year of his Reign He left five Sons behind him Gorbomannus Archigallo Elidurus Vigenius and Peridurus GORBOMANNUS the eldest Son of Morindus possest himself of the Kingdom Anno Mundi 3678 a Religious Prince he evidenced himself to the World for repairing of decayed Temples and erecting New ones in several places in his Dominions in which he placed Flamens He is said to build Grantham in Lincolnshire and some say Cambridge Anciently called Granta Caer-Grant and Grant-chester although others will have it built by Cantaber and walled about by a Count named Grantinus see Cambria Triumphans page 68. He reigned ten years c. ARCHIGALLO the second Son of Morindus succeeded his Brother Gorbomannus Anno Mundi 3688. He endeavoured to depress theNobility by depriving them of all Power and Command to which purpose he contrived Plots and then discovered them having his Engins secretly employed who at any time would accuse whom they pleased of Delinquency or at least dissatisfaction to the present Government These pretended Crimes they redeemed with great Fines and intollerable Compositions for their Estates Many other things he committed as the advancing of Unworthy persons to Dignities and Offices and the spoiling and robbing of his Richest Subjects for all which he was Deposed after one years Government Upon this ELIDURE his Brother was with the general consent and applause of the whole Realm chosen King Anno Mundi 3689. He was called by his Subjects Elidure the Meek Hunting one day in the Wood Calater in the Thicket of the Wilderness he espied his Brother Archigallo and being struck with pitty of his Misfortune he secretly conveighed him home to his House at the City Aldud or Acliud where feigning himself sick he assembled by his Writ all the Nobles of his Realm and there partly by Perswasions and partly by Commands he engaged them to receive again his Brother Archigallo for their lawful Soveraign afterwards calling an Assembly of his Commons at York he there publickly resigned his Crown and taking it off his own Head placed it on his Brother Archigallo's after he had Reigned three years ARCHIGALLO being restored to his Crown Anno Mundi 3692 by his wise and sober deportment he redeemed the Affections of the Nobility and the love of his People He discards his former Favourites and adheres to the sage and prudent Advice of the best of his Nobility and Reigning to the general liking of all his Subjects for the space of ten years he died and was buried at Caerbranck at York Elidurus after the death of his Brother was lawful King of this Island and so with much Honour and Reputation received the second time the Crown An. Mundi 3702 but was soon deposed by the Ambition of his Brothers Vigenius and Peridurus after one years Government when being seized by them and his Person confined to the Tower of London they divided the Kingdom Peridurus received Albania and Vigenius the Country on this side Humber Vigenius died after he had reigned seven years so that the whole Kingdom came to Peridurus who managed it as some write with great Moderation and Justice as others say with Tyranny and Oppression but he died not till after he had Governed nine years in all and then was buried at Pykering a Town he himself had built Elidurus again resumed the Crown being delivered out of Prison where some say he was confined by his own Election and not by the Injustice of his Brothers This was in the year of the World 3712 and after he had Reigned four years to the general applause of all men He died and was buried at Caerlisle GORBONIANUS the Son of Regni and Grand-child to Elidure was Crowned King of Britain Anno Mundi 3716. He reigned with the general approbation of all People for the space of ten years Jeoffery of Monmouth maketh this Regni the Son of Gorbonian a worthy Prince MORGAN or Margan succeeded Anno Mundi 3726 he was the Son of Archigallo he ruled fourteen years with great peace and tranquility After him EMERIANUS another Son of Archigallo was advanced to the Crown Anno Mundi 3740. He was of a quite contrary disposition to his Brother so that Governing by Will and Pleasure and not according to Law he was laid aside after he had sat in the Throne seven years YDWALLO the Son of Vigenius followed Anno Mundi 3747. By the Example and Misfortune of his Predecessor he avoided Tyranny and held the Scepter twenty years RINCO the Son of Peridurus an Heroick Prince and a great Warriour assumed the Royal Dignity Anno Mundi 3767 and reigned sixteen years GERUNTIUS the Son of Elidurus followed him Anno Mundi 3783. He gave life to the Laws of his Predecessor and Governed with Justice and Moderation for the space of twenty years CATELLUS his Son reigned after him in the year of the World 3803 he was the great Patron of the Poor and Distressed insomuch as he hanged all such as were their Oppressors
He reigned ten years and was buried at Winchester COILUS began his reign Anno Mundi 3813 and reigned ten years then was buried at Notingham PORREX the second began Anno Mundi 3823. This was a good Prince he reigned five years CHERIMUS Sirnamed the Drunkard succeeded Anno Mundi 3828 and swayed the Scepter one year Then succeeded FULGENTIUS the eldest Son of Cherimus Anno Mundi 3829 and reigned also but one year after him ELDRED the second Son of Cherimus reigned another year more Anno Mundi 3830. ANDROGEUS the third Son of Cherimus enjoyed the Government another year being 3831. URIANUS the Son of Androgeus began his reign Anno Mundi 3831 and he lived three years and in that time gave himself to all Riot and Intemperance ELIUD Anno Mundi 3835 He was a great Astrologer and ruled five years DEDANTIUS or Dedacus A. M. 3840 and he Ruled five years DETONUS A. M. 3845 he reigned two years as Mr. How affirmeth the Count Palatine speaketh nothing of this King but placeth Clotenus after Dedacus so likewise doth Fabius and after Clotenus he setteth Gurguenites the same as I suppose with Gurguenius put in the same Order by Count Palatine so that supposing this Detonus to be the same person with Clotenus the next Prince is GURGUINEUS A. M. 3847 reigned three years Merianus by the consent of all Writers reigned two years Bleduns or Bladunus two years Gapenus three years Ovinus two years Sisilius the third two years Then BLEDGABREDUS succeeded Anno Mundi 3861 He so far exceeded all men saith the Count Palatine in the Art of Singing that he seemed to be the God of Musick and besides his skill in Vocal saith Galfridus he was expert in all Instrumental harmony He reigned ten years ARCHIMALUS succeeded he was the Brother of Bledgabredus and Ruled two years ELDOLUS began his Government Anno Mundi 3873 and Reigned four years In his daies many Prodigies in the Heavens as flakes of Fire breaking through the Element loud Noises appeared RODIANUS or Redian succeeded and reigned two years REDARGIUS Count Palat. calls Roderecius he reigned three years SAMULIUS was King two years Penisillus three Fabian saith Samulius Penisillus was the same Person and reigned five years PYRRHUS Pyrrus or Phyrrus according to Fabian was King two years and CAPORIUS two years after him DINELLUS the Son of Caporius Fabian calls Glyguell Dinell who began his Reign Anno Mundi 3891. Com. Pal. commends him for many Princely Vertues he reigned four years and then died HELI his Successor reigned not a year so that we see the beginning of King LUDS Reign who succeeded Heli falls in the year of the World 3895 twenty years before Julius Caesars Arrival into this Island who is supposed to have made it Tributary in the ninth year of Cassibelan the Successor of Lud so that taking in the Eleven years of King Lud and the Ninth of Cassibelan and we shall find the time to fall exactly I know there is great difference in Authors not only concerning the Names of these Princes but the Numbers of them and the times of their Reigns and thereby great confusion is made in the British History but more especially from Elidure to Lud But this Calculation I have faithfully gathered by comparing the Authors of most Credit and so have set down their Names as they are most generally Received And seeing there is so little time allowed from Elidure to Lud for such a number of Princes being two or three and thirty and but 186 years allotted for their Reigns we cannot give Hely forty years according to Jeoffery of Monmouth but are forced to comply with others who abridge him seven Months Likewise Coel the First by the Count Palatine hath twenty years assigned him whereas others allow him but ten But to give my Opinion concerning this matter I think that the making of so many Kings from Elidure to Lud to succeed one another cannot agree either with Truth or Reason for as also the latter Princes of this Catalogue for above twenty years together have not excepting three or four of them above one two or three years at most assigned them for their Reigns so the Compilers of this History have been too profuse in the time they gave for the first Kings Reigns and this will appear if we consider Elidure died an Old man in the year of the World according to the best of their Computations 3716. Yet we hear of a Son of his named Gurguntius beginning his reign Anno Mundi 3783 that is sixty seven years after his Fathers death and continuing his Reign twenty years so that he lived in all after his Fathers decease eighty seven years now allowing his Father to have begat him but twenty years before his death which is but reasonable considering his years and we shall find Gurguntius to be 107 years Old a prodigious Age so Rimo lived seventy one years after the death of his Father Peridurus so strangly prodigal were the Composers of this Genealogy to the former Princes and so exceeding niggardly to the latter It is more rational therefore to believe these Kings not to have all of them succeeded one another but many of them to have been Rulers contemporary of particular Provinces of the Island as the Government thereof was found to be even twenty years after at the Invasion of it by Julius Caesar. King HELY built him a Palace and resided most especially in that part of the Kingdom called after his name Ely but Bede derives the Isle of Ely from Eels Polidore l'irgil from the Greek Helos signifying a Fennish or Morish Ground Humphry Llhoid whom Mr. Cambden followeth from Nelig in the British Tongue signifying an Osyer or Sallow which grows in abundance in those Parts and of which the Inhabitants make great profit by weaving Baskets and such like Wares This King was buried in the same Island LUD the eldest Son of Hely began his Reign Anno Mundi 3895 He was endowed with all the excellent qualities belonging to a Prince and is set down as an excellent Pattern of a wise and prudent Governour Amongst the most remarkable Monuments of his Reign was his Repairing or building the Walls of Troy-novant and on the West-side thereof erecting a most sumptuous and beautiful Gate called at this day Lud-gate Verstegan will by no means suffer that this Gate took its denomination from King Lud because of the last termination of it Gate shews the Name to be of Saxon and not British Original but Verstegan might have considered that the Saxons although they expressed the Names of many British Places by words of their own Language signifying the same thing yet what could they substitute in the room of a proper Name which remains alwaies the same in all Languages Besides he forgot clearly that there are many Places in England that remain mixed compounds of both the British and Saxon Tongues As for Example Durham Dunholne Dorchester and a thousand
in capacity of gaining a considerable Victory for want of Horses on the contrary having received very considerable losses both in his Fleet and Legions and now reduced to the very point of forsaking the Island or else perishing for want of Provisions the Winter season drawing on a pace and September somewhat advanced he could now Retreat not only with safety but some shew of Honour having this to say That he was attended at his Departure with the States of Britain and all the signs of Submission although there wanted the substance and reality For if we consider the consequences of this Treaty we shall find that these Embassadors were sent rather to Complement him at his Departure than to make any real Proposals for the Hostages of their Submission were not to be delivered till his arrival on the Continent And it is observable that for so great a breach of Faith nothing else was enjoyned but a double Number a Custome Caesar never used in his Treating with barbarous Nations as he called them having in the late Armorican Revolt put all to the Sword that lay security for the Good Behaviour of their respective Cities And as the Britains never intended any such numbers of Hostages so Caesar in vain expected them two only Cities and they without doubt of a Roman Faction sending them the rest totally neglected it That his Atchievments in this Island were not so great as he makes it in his first Expedition is the mind of Suetonius a Grave and substantial Author who saith that he only discovered but not delivered the Island up to the Romans and Lucian is peremptory that he was beaten out of it Territa quaesitis ostendit terga Britannis He sought the Britains out and then he fled And Horace hath these words to invite Augustus to a British War Intactus ut Britannus descenderet Sacrâ catenatus viâ That Britains yet untouched may Be led in Chains through the Sacred way And Propertius Te manet invictus Romano marte Britannus By Roman Force unconquered yet The Britains for thy Triumph wait CAESAR after his first Expedition with his shattered Fleet about midnight makes for the Continent being blown off the Island with a fair and prosperous Gale after some stay in Gallia he takes his Journy to Rome where the fame of his Actions sent by his own Letters prevented his Arrival so that for his British Conquest or Discovery twenty dales of Supplication is decreed by the Senate But before I pass further the remarkable Courage of a Roman namely SCAEVA is not to be omitted which I put down here because some are particular in the circumstance of its Time placing it at the first Landing of the Romans This Souldier having engaged too far amongst the Enemy and beset round first with his Spear and afterwards with his Sword with incredible Constancy defended himself against a whole Multitude but at length being wearied and sorely wounded after great execution having lost his Helmet and Target with two Habergeons he swam unto Caesar and humbly begg'd pardon for his rash Adventure against Discipline This modesty of his in asking Forgiveness where others would have been craving a Reward worthily preferred him to be a Centurion This is that Scaeva who afterwards shewed he had not forgotten to do the like upon other occasions for indeed eversince he esteemed himself an equal match for a whole Army which he made good in the Battle near Dyrrachium where single against the whole Forces of Pompey he maintained the Fight so long until Caesar Rallied And Lucan writes of him Párque novum fortuna videt Concurrere Bellum Atque virûm Which might equally be said of this his British Action Some intimate that this Scaeva was the first that set footing on Britain but Julian brings in Caesar ascribing that Honour to himself but this would be to set his Personal Valour above his Conduct being an Action unbecoming the place of so great a General But if it were true we ought to judge him in some strange exigence of Affairs being obliged to such a hazardous push and admire his prudence in concealing of it himself and ascribing it to another in his Commentaries THE British History RELATING TO THE FIRST INVASION BY CAESAR CASSIBELAN according to the British Histories was King of this Island or rather Protectour chosen by the States during the Minority of his two Nephews Androgeus and Theomantius and in the ninth year of his Regency the First Invasion of Caesar is placed A Man of greater Valour and Conduct but of no less Ambition and Cruelty and certainly his Vices may be reckoned greater than his Vertues for by the former he was the occasion of enslaving his Country and by the latter was not able to defend it He slew his Brother King Lud Sirnamed Immanuentius and distributing to his Nephews the Sons of King Lud two small Principalities to be held of him to Androgeus London and Kent to Theomanntius Cornwal he usurped the Kingdom to himself Not content with this as thinking himself little secure during the life of his lawful Soveraign Androgeus he molested him with continual Jealousies and at last put such Indignities upon him that he flies unto Caesar and there resigns his Crown unto him and his Person to the protection of the Romans This Androgeus was Sirnamed Mandubratius and is the Person whom Caesar makes mention of in his second Expedition These Actions of Cassibelan were the causes of continual Wars and Dissensions among the Britains As for the Vertues of Cassibelanus his Valour and Conduct which we shall better hear from Caesars own Relating in his next Invasion for in his first no mention is made of him take this from the British Histories When Comius of Arras had delivered to him the Message of Caesar in which Homage and Subjection to the Roman Empire and a certain Tribute was required he made Answer in these words Cassibelan's Answer That the Ambition of the Romans was insatiable who would not suffer Britain a NEW WORLD placed by nature in the Ocean and beyond the bounds of their Empire to lie unmolested Tribute was the mark of Slavery but the high Nobility of the Britains and their allyance to the Romans in Blood made them disdain a Subjection to them If you take our Friendship we are ready to grant it but if you would deprive us of our Liberty know this That if the Gods themselves should endeavour it we could not but Resist Comius still persevering for his Insolent Demands was cast into Irons In pursuance of this Resolution he manfully opposed Caesar at his Landing not suffering him as he intended to come up the River Thames but drives him lower on the Island and after great slaughter of his Romans having invited him to come on shoar in a pitcht Battle being assisted by Ederus King of Albania now Scotland Guitethus King of Venedocia now North-Wales and Brituel King of Demetia
at variance Hirilda was slain whereupon Cassibelan summons Ewelin to appear before him to answer for the death of his Nephew but being encouraged by Androgeus refused to obey the Summons Upon this Cassibelan begins to make War upon Androgeus who finding himself not able to deal with him fled unto Caesar into Gallia and invited him to return into Britain for Caesar upon his ill success had left the Island Caesar took Hostages of him and among the rest Scaeva Androgeus his Son and so returns where encountring at his Landing with Cassibelan he was worsted until Androgeus coming upon the back of the Britains totally overthrew them Neither had the Romans any success against the Britains but what they obtained by the means of Androgeus whom I said before is called by Caesar Mandubratius and the aforesaid Reason is given by the British Histories of his flight unto Gallia Count Palatine writes that when Caesar was led by Androgeus he found the Britains drawn up at the Stowr in Kent he drave them from the opposite Bank with an Elephant armed with Iron-plates and a Tower upon his back and that the British Horses like those of Greece and no doubt all of Trojan breed could not endure the scent of the Elephant and so gave back drawing the Britains in their Charriots after them Likewise that the Breast-plate stuck with Pearls which Caesar dedicated to Venus Genetrix was presented him by Cassibelan at his departure from the Island and that Caesar in return of so seasonable a Gift for he had no time to gather any himself recompenced him with no less honourable Munificence After the final departure of Caesar Androgeus Mandubratius was not restored to the Kingdom of the Trinobantes but whether through the Ill will of Cassibelan or the general Hatred the People had to him for the enslaving of his Country is uncertain so that leaving Britain he again be took himself unto Caesar and attended him to Rome where he was entertained as King of Britain and saluted Friend to the Commonwealth At last he was slain in the Battle of Thessalia against Pompey Cassibelan after the Departure of the Romans reigned ten years which time he employed in Revenging himself upon the Cities that had Revolted from him during the Wars with Caesar. He was Buried at York in the year before Christ 42 and after the building of Rome 705. THE Inter Regnum OF THE ROMANS DURING the last ten years of Cassibelan and till the time of the Emperour Claudius the Britains were free from the yoak of the Romans and were ruled by their own Kings and governed by their own Laws so that for a while we must take our farewel of the Roman History collecting it only as we find it scattered here and there and follow the Succession of the British THEOMANTIUS or Tenantius Nephew of Cassibelan succeeded his Unkle in the Kingdom having before enjoyed the Principality of Cornwal far remote from the Troubles of the times and by that means not engaged by assisting his Brother to take to a Roman Interest or by ayding Cassibelan to justifie his Violences by which indifferent Carriage by the general Applause of the People he assumed the Crown Anno ante Christum XLV In this Kings Reign Octavius the Grand-child of Julia Caesars Sister obtained the Empire of Rome but before he had fully possest himself of it and was yet strugling with Antony and Lepidus Theomantius sends his Son Kymbelin to him to attend upon him in his Wars hoping thereby to ingratiate himself with Augustus and obtain a relaxation of the Tributes And indeed Cunobelin so behaved himself that he grew into especial favour with the Emperour and accompanied him to Rome where he was saluted by the name of FRIEND of the Commonwealth and bred up in all the splendour and magnificence of the Court. During his residence there Tenantius paid in Tribute which the British Histories set upon the score of this great Favourite of Augustus but the Roman Authors seem generally to imply That the Troubles of the Empire and the bandings of Great men after the death of Caesar were the causes of the Quiet of the Britains during these Civil Dissensions This carries most probability with it for we find Augustus no sooner setled in the Roman State but he began to cast his thoughts towards Britain And although Tacitus draws the neglect of this Island in Augustus to a wholsome State-Maxime of not making the Empire too unweildy and Strabo would have us think that he absolutely slighted it as a place of no importance and whose Enmity or Friendship conduced nothing to the good or ill of the Empire yet we find him twenty years after the Departure of Caesar Advanced as far as Gallia in order to the Reducing of it For had not a Revolt in Pannonia diverted him he had certeinly Attempted it About seven years after with the same Resolutions be once more drew down into Gallia and the Britains hearing thereof sent their Embassadors and promised their Tribute which Submission at the present he accepted of because some Commotions in Gallia arising he was willing to give himself totally to the Suppression of them The year following some differences arising about performance of Covenants he was again hindered by disturbances in Spain the Biscans and they between Gallicia and Portugal having Revolted This last designed Invasion was in the two and twentieth year of the Reign of Tenantius who in the thirtieth year died and was buried at London KYMBELIN or KUNOBELIN succeeded him in the Third year before CHRIST And if he was not Educated at Rome yet the kind Correspondence between the Romans and Britains about these Times gave fair occasion to the British Writers so to imagine it for now the Britains began to learn all the Arts and Intreagues of Courtiers to flatter for Advantage and by Gifts to appease a Prince and buy off a War They sent some Presents to Augustus and others to the Roman Gods to be offered with their Submission in the Capitol with such like obsequious Addresses This I suppose gave occasion to Horace to write Coelo tonantem credidimus JOVEM Regnare praesens Divus habebitur AUGUSTUS adjectis Britannis Imperio Gravibusque Persis JOVE we beleive the Heavens do sway CAESAR's a God below He makes the Britains Homage pay And the stiff Persians bow But although they shifted off the Tribute yet they yielded to Taxes and Impositions which were of more dangerous consequences to them For by that means they admitted the Romans into the Trading part of the Nation and although their Commodities vented on the Continent were inconsiderable such as Ivory-Bones Iron-Chains and such like Trinckets of Amber and Glass yet by this means the Roman Collectors were of necessity to be Admitted and their Enemies got more insight into them by this Amicable Correspondence than ever Caesar could do in both his Expeditions Nay by this means the
Islanders came to be debauched receiving for their Trifles as many silly Luxuries of the Continent insomuch that afterwards they became so tame that one Band of Souldiers with a small Troop of Horse as Strabo witnesseth was able to hold them under in Obedience Nay so highly obliging were they to the Romans in the daies of Tiberius who lived also in this Kings Reign that when some of Germanicus Army crossing some part of the Seas were cast upon their Shoar they entertained them Courteously and sent them back to their General Nay so comfortable to the Romans was this Kymbelin himself that he caused Coyns to be stamped after the Custome of that State whereas before the payments of the Britains were made with Rings of Iron and Plates of Brass sized at a certain weight His Image was made exactly after the manner of the Emperours and on the Reverse was CAM signifying Camalodunum or Maldon in Essex his Royal Seat and it is more than to be suspected that Tribute likewise was paid for in a Coyn of his TASCIO is found in great Letters with a Man sitting a hammering which word implieth Tribute In the Third year of this Kymbeline and in the Two and fortieth of Augustus being the Year of the World 3966 and after the Flood 2311 from the Arrival of Brute 1116 Britain and all the World being blessed with a General Peace the Saviour of the World JESUS CHRIST was miraculously born of a Virgin the influence of whose Birth not long after extended unto Britain Some there are that affirm Cunobeline to have been at Rome and to reside in the Emperours Court when the News of our Saviours Birth was brought to Augustus but the time agreeth not For by the latest Account he is made King of this Island three years before our SAVIOUR and by some twenty three but the former Computation seemeth the truest For we find no other King between him and Guiderius who Reigned in the daies of Claudius Caesar and was the Son of this Cunobeline For how is it likely that Cunobeline should be King of this Island in the beginning of Augustus's Reign and yet have a Son that Reigned above fifty years after in Claudius his daies for the space of twenty eight years and after him a younger Son Arviragus that Reigned twenty eight years more so that it seemeth this King Ruled in the latter daies of Augustus and twenty of the twenty three years of Tiberius if not all of them and some part of Caligula's also TIBERIUS was a dissolute Prince given to Sloth and Luxury he thought it sufficient if he could maintain the Bounds of the Empire as Augustus left it producing for his Excuse a Schedule written with Augustus his own hand wherein was contained the whole Body of the Roman Empire how many Cities and Allies were in Arms the list of their Navies Kingdoms and Provinces to which was annexed the Convenience of the present Limits of the Empire the necessity to bound it on the East by Euphrates and Tigris two considerable Rivers on the North by the Rhine and Danube on the West by the Ocean so that Britain was excluded This Maxime so convenient in it self and so much conducing to the Ease of this Emperour was the Excuse that no Attempts was made upon this Island during the three and twenty years of his Reign And Tacitus where he reckons up what Legions were maintained and through what Countries distributed never maketh mention of many Forces in Britain in these Times It is certain that they paid Custome and Tolls but more for the convenience of Trading than out of Compulsion the Romans collecting them after a precarious manner and as Strabo saith not daring to compel them besides their Courtesie to Germanicus his Souldiers had much obliged the Romans all which Circumstances helped to procure their quiet under this Emperour Cunobeline I formerly spake of had five Sons Guiderius Adminius Togodumnus Caradocus and Arviragus to those as may be supposed he divided the Island and allotted them Principalities before his death For we find in Roman History that Adminius was banisht by him upon some misdemeanour and fled unto Caligula and yet in an Ancient Coyn Adminius seemeth to have been a King The Inscription on the Coyn is this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ETIMINAIOY BA METROPOLIS ETIMINII REGIS Which Mr. Cambden judgeth to have been this Adminius of whom I find nothing else in the Roman or British Histories But this is to be taken notice of that Cunobelin's Reign extends through the daies of Caligula for Adminius was banished by his Father during his life and took the protection of Caligula and I suppose not without some reason he submitted his Principality to him which gave such occasion of Braggings to that Emperour that he made more noise of it than had been requisite if he had taken the whole Island of whose British Exploits take the account out of Roman Authors It is certain he had once an intention to Invade Britain but by his shittle Head sudden repentance and mighty designs against Germany all came to nothing To terrifie the Britains and Germans with some mighty piece of War he once made a Bridge over a Creek of the Sea in Campania three miles and six hundred paces in length He was a Prince idle and abounding in vain Conceits Having in Belgium taken into protection Adminius the Son of Cunobelyn banisht by his Father he sent boasting and magnificent Letters to Rome as if the whole Isle had been brought under his Subjection giving especial charge and command to the Post that at their Arrival at Rome they should drive their Charriots directly into the Market-place and the Curia and in no wise deliver his Messives to the Consuls but in the Temple of Mars and in a full Assembly of the Senate After this he brought all his Army to the Belgick Shoar where he received the News That the Britains had levied the strength of their Nation and stood ready to oppose his Landing if he should make any attempt upon them This affrighted not Caligulae who resolved not to maintain Fight but at sufficient distance and to keep the advantage of the Sea which secured him against the too near approaches of the Enemy Having therefore first commanded his Men to take a full view of the British Forces as if they had all such Prospective Glasses as Roger Bacon fancies Caesar discryed the Country with from the same Coasts and having encouraged them not to be daunted at their Numbers with Manhood not to be equalled he rowed a stones cast or two from the Shoar and there gave a notable defiance to them Then as if expecting to be assaulted he commanded all the Engines of Battery to be set up the Trumpets to sound a Charge and the men to fall on but no Enemy appearing as if upbraiding the Cowardize of the Britains in great Triumph he orders his Souldiers to fill
thing he gave himself to was to understand the minds and inclinations of the People and like a prudent Person experienced in such Affairs he had learnt That Force and Arms were unable to keep a Nation in obedience unless Injustice and Oppression were removed Whereupon to make sure of Peace he resolved to take away the Causes of War and because the Branches would continually grow unless the Root was cut up and nothing was so powerful as Example he began the Reformation in his own Family reducing it to a convenient Number and good Orders and bridling the Licentious behaviour of his Domesticks a work of as much difficulty and no less honour than the subduing of a Province He suffered the management of no Publick Affairs to pass through the hands of his Attendants or Servitours nor gave any Commands for favour or affection No Souldier was advanced by bribing his Officer nor could any by under-hand means beg an Employment He was accounted fittest for Trust who behaved himself as the best Souldier and although he was not able to execute all things himself yet was nothing done without his privity and consent Small faults he would either wink at or pardon great ones he corrected with severity yet oftner pleased with the repentance of the Criminal than his punishment advancing such as he thought would be careful not to offend by which means he was provoked by the fewer Offences He truly stated the proportion of Corn and Tribute to be paid by which proceeding he cut off the Exactions of his Officers and their unnecessary Fees and other Grievances that were more burthensome than the Tribute it self For the poor People were forced to attend at the publick Granaries which in mockery were fast locked against them and when opened the Publicans obliged them to take greater quantities of Corn than their need required and at a racking price which they were often constrained to sell again at a low rate to make mony for other Necessaries or the payment of their Tribute They proclaimed the Mercates at their distances from the People and lying through bad Roads which Inconvenience could not be bought off without a round sum which if not presently paid the Carts and Waggons of the Inhabitants were prest to remove the Grain which before lay convenient to be delivered out to the great oppression of the Britains and the lucre of the Roman Officers By redressing of these Grievances in his first year he brought Peace into some credit and reputation which before by the negligence or connivance of men in Command had as ill a name as War About this time died VESPATIAN whose Actions in Britain were as great as those in his Empire he was made Legate of a Legion by Claudius and in this Island fought thirty times with the Enemy conquered two potent Nations and above twenty strong Towns He was a moderate Prince if not given too inordinately to the love of Riches and in a Triumph which was given him by the Senate he professed himself rather wearied with the Pomp and long Solemnity than touched with the Honour of it Being about to give up the Ghost he said in a jesting manner to the Standers by I think I am making a God by which saying he secretly reproved them who would be esteemed Gods after they had given the surest Testimonies of their being Men. THE British History IN the same year died Arviragus of whom in the Roman Histories not one word in these Times unless we may take Mr. Hollinsheads word that he was the same with Prasutagus mentioned by Tacitus I know generally the British Histories make him die ten years before but I rather follow Count Palatine as coming nighest to truth who continueth his Reign to this time so that be governed in all thirty five years even to the daies of Titus for had he lived only in the daies of Claudius and Nero how came Javenal to make mention of him in the time of Domitian in these words Omen habes magni clarique triumphi Regem aliquem capies aut de temone Britanno Excidet Arviragus This sure a glorious Triumph do's fore-tell Some King you 'l take or from his British Throne Arviragus will headlong tumble down He died and was buried in Claudiocestria now Glocester a City he had built in the honour of Claudius and left the Kingdom to his Son Marius MARIUS otherwise Meurig or Maw MARIUS succeeded his Father Arviragus as there is difference in his Name so is there also variance concerning the Person The Count Palatine will have him the same with Cogidunus others with Arviragus and some make him a Roman The Controversie is not worth the deciding only this may be said That if the British Kings were to be displaced upon the account of Time as Polidore Virgil hath done some of them there was never greater necessity than now seeing we are got into an uncertain Chronology and so Marius the supposed Cogidunus should be placed before Arviragus who undoubtedly by Roman Authority lived in the daies of Domitian as before hath been shewn In the Reign of this Marius the Picts infested this Island which story for the credit of the British History I shall defer to the end of his Reign and so proceed to the Romans THE CONTINUATION OF THE Roman History TITUS VESPATIAN WHen TITUS entered upon the Empire it was the second year of Agricola's Government in Britain who having in his first Entrance reformed Abuses and taken away the encroachments of his Officers and Collectors when Summer was once come he drew together his Army and breathed them a little with short and quick Marches praising such as kept up to their Ensigns and punishing the straglers and himself alwaies chose the places to encamp in and before-hand searcht the Woods and sounded the Waters they were to pass by which means he suffered not the Enemy to take any rest but continually allarumed them with fresh Excursions Having thus pretty well amazed them he began with kind and gentle Behaviour to shew them the allurements of Peace by which 〈◊〉 many Cities that before stood upon Terms of equality now laid down their Anger gave Hostages and received Garrisons which were all placed with such care and fore-sight and in such places of advantage that never any of them were attempted whereas before no new fortified place in all Britain escaped unattacked The following Winter was spent in wholesome and profitable Devices for to the end that the Britains who lived rude and scattered and so apter for War might be brought to the sence of Pleasures and to live in ease and quiet and in the Institutes and Customes of a Civil life he privately encouraged and in publick promoted the building of Houses Temples and places of general Resort commending the readiness of some and quickning the slowness of others making that which was Necessity to become Emulation And now the Noble-mens Sons he caused to be instructed in the liberal
called in the British and Scotch Tongue Phightiaid a Warlike and fierce Nation and to make up their terrible Character they were Scythians by descent and near Kinsmen at least to the Gothes and as some think the Off-spring of the Nation of the Agathyrses a Race of painted Cannibals setting forth from their Native Country or as some write from Sweden or Norway With these most excellent endowments as Pirates and Rovers they arrived on the Coast of Ireland where they met with their Brethren the Scots who then inhabited that Island who easily understood their Language as being themselves of Scythian extraction Having scarce landed their Forces they required Places to inhabit but the Scots who well understood the stomach of their Country-men and had but just now given over themselves to eat one another so diverted and shifted themoff with telling them the pleasures of Britain and the plenty thereof I wonder they should omit their Painting also The Picts hoysting up Sail made for this blessed Island little dreaming of the warm entertainment they were to receive for the Scots had laid the sairest side outwards and concealed the Courage and Numbers of the Britains When they had arrived upon the North of this Island finding there but few Inhabitants they began to waste wide and forrage all those Tracts which Nature it self had sufficiently laid desolate King Marius informed of the insolent Behaviour of these Strangers levies Forces and with speedy Marches hastned into the North and there gave them Battle The success was so great on the Britains side that the Picts were totally discomfited many slain among whom was their Leader Rodorick and the rest all taken Prisoners to whom King Marius gave license to inhabit the Northern part of Scotland called Cattness a cold and Mountainous Country They had not long lived there but they began to think of warm Bed-fellows and to that purpose sent unto the Britains for Wives but their Suit being there entertained with scorn they applied themselves to the Scots who granted them their Daughters upon this condition That if the Male Issue of the King should fail then the next Heir on the Womans side should succeed in the Kingdom which Ordinance ever after was observed among them and this was the cause of the great Union of both these Nations This Victory of King Marius against the Picts was obtained at Stanes-moor in Westmoreland and from his name was the Country called Westmaria But that which seemeth to give some credit to this Relation was this Inscription found in Carlile MARII VICTORIAE of which the Reverend Bishop Usher writes thus Although the British History in many things is found faulty yet the testimony of the Inscription of Marius his Victory is not altogether to be slighted For before Jeofferies Translation an Author much Graver William of Malmsbury writeth of it in this manner In the City Luguballia commonly called Carlile there is seen a Dining Room built of Stone and arched with Vaults which neither the force of Weather nor Fire on purpose set to it could scatter or destroy And on the Fore-front of it was this Inscription MARII VICTORIAE that is To the Victory of Marius Mr. Cambden who draws all Antiquities to the Romans saith That another making mention of this Stone who that other is he tells us not saith It was not inscribed Marii Victoriae but Marti Victori and this he saith may better content some and seemeth to come nearer to Truth But however it may please some vet it is absolutely against the meaning of Malmsbury who immediately adds What this Inscription should mean I know not unless part of the Cimbri should inhabit these Places after they were driven out of Italy by Marius the Consul of whom Ranulphus maketh mention in his Polycronicon This is Malmsbury's guess as being certain it was Marii Victoriae not Marti Victori and having never seen the British History he gave it to that Consul rather than no body little thinking how improbable it was that a Nation driven from its Country should raise Trophies to their Conquerour But if it must be Marii Victoriae Mr. Cambden hath a Roman of that name to fix it upon namely MARIUS who was proclaimed Emperour against Gallienus a Man of wonderful strength insomuch that it was written of him That he had no Veins in his Fingers but all Sinews saith Mr. Cambden but who they are he again nameth not and attributes this Inscription to him and so let it be for what Victory could ever slip from the hands of so nervous a Person King Marius died in the year of Grace 132 and was Interr'd at Carlile he left the Kingdom to his Son Coyll COYLL in his youth had been educated at Rome where he employed his time in learning the Sciences and the discipline of War He loved the Romans and was by them highly esteemed and honoured so that paying his Tribute and receiving their Protection he filled out a long just and peaceable Reign governing Britain 54 years to the fifth year of Commodus the Emperour when we shall hear of his Son LUCIUS the first Christian Prince of the British Line till whose daies the British Histories are silent there being nothing else memorable in the life of this Coyll save that some ascribe to him the building of Colchester in Essex which work others give to a later Coyll which reigned next after Asclepeodotuis THE Roman History HADRIAN having called away Julius Severus as likewise Priscus Licinius both Governours in Britain to subdue the Jews who were then in Rebellion it will not be amiss to fill out the remainder of this Emperours Reign with a short account of his Atchievments against that Nation seeing they were performed by Men whose experience in War was gained in our British Island The Jews a stubborn People and sick of the Roman yoak as who daily expected a glorious Messiah and were impatient of his coming at last of themselves took Arms in the Eighteenth year of Hadrian and began a dangerous Rebellion But Hadrian raising great Forces and electing his choicest Generals to Command them soon put a stop to their Fury who in the heat of the Revolt spared neither Roman nor Christian. And to revenge their Insolence besides an infinite number of them slain and tortured their City Jerusalem was razed to the ground themselves utterly banisht and made unlawful for them to look towards that City or their Native Soyl. Besides where Jerusalem had stood although not upon the same Foundations he built a new City calling it after his own name AELIA upon the Gate whereof that leadeth to Bethlehem that the Jews even in disguise might be kept as much as might be from visiting it he caused a Swine to be engraven a Beast which he had learnt by their Law was accounted the most unclean and of all others most abominable He was favourable to the Christians forbidding by Publick Edict the Persecution against them moved as some
now with unlimited Power brake out into all manner of Riot and Debaucheries Ambitious of Glory he was but sought for it the wrong way He would have called Rome Commodiana the names of Months he changed to Titles which he had arrogantly usurped or which related tohis dearest Concubines August he called Commodus September Hercules October Invictus November Exsuperator December Amazonius and his Flatterers gave him the name of Britannicus THE British History OUT OF BEDE IN the beginning of his Reign according to the best Computations lived Lucius Sirnamed Lever Daut signifying Great Brightness a supposed King of Britain or some part of the Island and the first King in Europe that received the Christian Faith and by publick Authority establisht it It is reported of him that being moved with many Miracles which he had both heard of and seen done by the Christians for as I have shewn that Christian Religion was taught and professed long before in this Island he sent to Eleutherius then Bishop of Rome Letters by Eleuanus and Meduinus Men of great wisdom and experience in Divine Matters the answer to which Letter I shall set down word for word as it was found in a most Ancient Manuscript among the Authentick Records and Constitutions of the City of London and was made use of by Dr. Jewel Bishop of Salisbury against Mr. Harding The Original Epistle is as follows Anno 169 à Passione Christi Dominus Eleutherius Papa Lucio Regi Britanniae it à scripsit ad petitionem Regis procerum Regni Britanniae PEtistis à Nobis Leges Romanas Caesaris vobis transmitti quibus in Regno Britanniae uti voluistis Leges Romanas Caesaris semper reprobare possumus Legem Dei nequaquam Suscepistis enim nuper miseratione divinâ in Regno Britanniae legem fidem Christi habetis penes vos in Regno utramque Paginam ex illis Dei gratiâ per Consilium Regni vestri sume Legem per illam Dei potentia vestrum reges Britanniae regnum Vicarius verù Dei estis in regno juxta Prophetam Regem Domini est terra plenitudo ejus Orbis terrarum universi qui inhabitant in co Et rursum juxta Prophetam Regem Dilexisti justitiam odisti iniquitatem propterea unxit te Deus tuus oleo laetitiae prae consortibus tuis Et rursum juxta Prophetam regem Deus judicium tuum c. Non enim dixit Judicium neque justitiam Caesaris Filii enim Regis gentes Christianae Populi regni sunt qui sub vestra Protectione Pace regno degant consistant juxta Evangelium Quemadmodum Gallina congregat Pullos sub alis c. Gentes verò regni Britanniae Populi vestri sunt quos divisos debetis in unum ad Concordiam Pacem ad Fidem legem Christi ad sanctam Ecclesiam congregare revocare fovere manu-tenere protegere regere ab injuriosis malitiosis ab inimicis semper defendere Vae regno cujas Rex puer est cujus Principes manè comedunt non voco Regem propter parvam nimiam aetatem sed propter stultitiam iniquitatem insanitatem juxta Prophetam regem Viri sanguinum dolosi non dimidicabant dies suos c. Per comestionem intelligimus gulam per gulam luxuriam per luxuriam omnia turpia perversa mala juxta Salomonem regem In malevolam animam non introibit Sapientia nec habitabit in corpore subdito peccatis Rex dicitur à Regendo non à Regno Rex eris dùm bene Regis quod nisi seceris nomen Regis non in te constabit nomen Regis perdes quod absit Det vobis Omnipotens Deus regnum Britanniae sic Regere ut possitis cum illo regnare in aeternum cujus Vicarius estis in Regno praedicto Thus rendred into English In the Year 169 from the Passion of Christ Lord Eleutherius Pope wrote thus to LVCIVS King of Britain in answer to the Petition of the King and the Nobility of the Kingdom of Britain YOu earnestly desire of us that we would send you the Roman Laws and Constitutions of the Emperour that you might use the same in the Kingdom of Britain The Roman Laws and the Emperour we can alwaies reprove but the Law of God is unblameable you have lately received through the infinite mercy of God into your Kingdom not only the Law but the Christian Faith also you have at your command both Testaments from them therefore by the assistance of God and your Councel extract Laws by which under God you may govern your Kingdom You are Gods sole Vicegerent in your own Kingdom according to that of the Prophet The Earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof and all the Inhabitants that dwell therein And again Psalm the 44th verse the 7th Thou lovest Righteousness and hatest Wickedness therefore God thy good God hath anointed thee with the oyl of Gladness above thy Fellows And again in the same Prophet God is thy Righteousness Not the Righteousness and Justice of Caesar. All Christian People especially those of your own Kingdom which live under your protection and peace ought to be accounted and looks upon as your own Children according to that of the Gospel As the Hen gathereth together her Chickens under her wings The People of Britain are your People which if at any time divided you ought with your utmost care to reduce them to Concord and endeavour their Peace and Unity furthermore to cherish maintain defend and govern them and in fine protect them from injurious and malicious Persons and take their part against their Enemies Wo to that Kingdom that hath a Child to their King and whose Princes eat in a morning I do not call him a Childish King in respect of Minority but in regard of his Foolishness wickedness and madness according to that of the Kingly Prophet Bloody and deceitful Men shall not live out half their daies By eating I mean Greediness by greediness Luxury by luxury all filthy eyil and unseemly things according to that of King Solomon Wisdom shall not descend into a wicked Soul neither shall it remain in a Body subject to sin The name of Governour is not derived from his Government but from well Governing You shall be a King so long as you Rule well which unless you do the name of KING shall fail and remain no longer in you which God forbid God grant you so to govern the Kingdom of Britain that you may at last reign with him for ever whose Vicar you are in the aforesaid Kingdom Observations upon this EPISTLE of Pope Eleutherius to King Lucius THis Epistle however magnified and look upon by some Authors as a worthy piece of Antiquity yet there are several Reasons that induce us to believe that this is not the true and genuine Epistle
in all probability the Places may be confounded and some write that he built a Church at Dover and endowed it with the Toll of that Haven Not content in having performed so many excellent Works he is said at length to have resigned his Kingdom and Travelled into Germany out of desire to propagate the Christian Faith to have converted Bavaria and afterwards going into Rhetia there to have lived in a Cell under a Rock which was afterwards called the Rock of Lucius then to have proceeded into that Country wherein the City Curia stood where living in a Cave and preaching to the Infidels he was at last betrayed and brought before the Governour who put him to death in a Tower called Marula His Body was brought into Britain and buried in Glocester so that it will not be improper to relate what Matthew of Westminster saith in confirmation of this matter Anno Gratiae CCI Inclytus Britannorum Rex LUCIUS in bonis actibus assumptus Claudiocestriae ab hâc vitâ migravit ad CHRISTUM in Ecclesiâ primae sedis Honoriftcè sepultus est He Reigned twelve years and dying without Issue left the Kingdom divided among many of the Royal Blood who all setting up their Titles miserably involved the whole Nation in Civil Wars and Combustions Upon this the Picts took advantage of the Publick Distractions and brake into the Southern parts flinging down the Wall that was built as a Rampier to defend the Frontiers and for a long time finding no resistance wasted the Country far and wide so that if it be true what is reported of King Lucius That out of zeal for Religion He went into Bavaria to preach the Gospel leaving his Kingdom to be managed by the chiefest of his Nobility without declaring a Successour how much better had it been if he had employed his time and labours in his own Dominions which surely in so short a time could not be so entirely instructed in the Faith of Christ but that there was room left for the employing of so great a Talent given him for the use and comfort properly belonging first to his own Country Neither could a Prophet want Honour in his own Country who had Royal Authority to back his Priestly Function However therefore the story of King Lucius or Lever-Maur as to the main of it may betrue namely That there was such a Person that Ruled in this Island and embraced the Christian Religion yet that he should have so great Authority as absolutely to establish it casting down the Flames and Arch-flamens the Religion of the Romans whose Province it was and to set up in their room Bishops and Arch-bishops seemeth not only improbable but impossible also If he was a King beyond Hadrians Wall what had he to do with London and Carlile and if on this side he was but a Tributary and Vassal to the Romans and so could not so easily abolish their Worship as indeed it manifestly appears out of Inscriptions of the Romans in this Island who after his time continued their Altars to the Heathen Deities But that he should forsake his Kingdom and out of an over-fond opinion of Chastity neglect the duty of a Prince in not providing a Successour to his Crown that he should leave his Kingdom at sixes and sevens that he should think himself more useful in a Cell than a Throne for the propagating Religion in another Country and not in his own and imagine that absconding in Holes and Deserts would shew a greater light to the World than being placed upon a Hill manifestly shews from what Forge those Inventions proceeded and that they were the idle Talks of our crafty Ancestors whose business it was to gain Honour to their own Constitutions by perswading the World that no Obligations Civil or Moral although of the highest nature and concern but must be cancell'd in order to his attaining perfection which they placed in that lofty Poverty of a Monastick life And thus much is sufficient to be said of King Lucius The Troubles that arose after his decease continued as Fabian thinketh fifteen years the English Chronicle saith fifty Harding four which difference proceedeth from the various Calculations of the time of his Reign and upon the same Subject Matthew of Westminster thus delivers himself Quo defuncto speaking a little before of the death of King LUCIUS he proceeds to say dissidium inter Britones surrexit quià absque Haerede decessit Romana Potestas infirma est Manfit itáque Britannia in dissidio usque ad adventum SEVERI qui eam posteà Romanae restituit Dignitati Some make his Decease in the daies of the Emperour Hadrian whom the English Chronicles follow others continue his Reign but to the daies of Aurelius and Verus Emperours The first cannot be true by reason it agreeth not with the time of Eleutherius who according to the most diligent Chronographers began to govern the See of Rome in the year 169 which is thirty years after the death of Hadrian and sate in the Chair fifteen years namely to the year of our Lord one hundred eighty four The latter is equally false considering that the Letter from Eleutherius to King Lucius the Date whereof Mr. Cambden followeth in contradiction to Bede was sent when Lucius Aurelius Commodus was second time Consul with Vespronius which was in the year one hundred seventy nine or one hundred and eighty Anno currente and ten years after the death of Verus the Emperour Basing stokius makes LUCIUS to begin his Reign in the year of our Lord one hundred eighty three in the second year of Commodus the Conversion of this Prince according to that Account must be in the first year of his Reign and the last of Eleutherius his Popedom circumstances very improbable for supposing that this Godly Prince should begin his Reign with the establishment of Christian Religion yet what becomes of Fugacius and Damianus returns to Eleutherius after they had been a year in Britain and the Ratifications of their proceedings the year after obtained at Rome if in the last year of Eleutherius the Kingdom was first Converted as manifestly appears if this Calculation were true The British Histories generally make Septimius Severus the Roman Emperour to succeed Lucius in the Kingdom of Britain and after him many other Emperours so that for the future we shall see the same Persons though with different circumstances in the Records of both Nations made Actours in the soveraign Authority Many have found fault with the British History upon this account but whether it was that the Royal Blood of the Native Britains was utterly extinct or that the Compiler of these Stories was weary of inventing Names sure I am that the following Emperours had no more right to the Island than the preceding And there is no where found that Severus either by Marriage Adoption or Donation received the Kingdom so that for many years we may bid farewel to the British
same Errour by ill timing of Actions and confounding the Names of Persons hath made it so intricate that it is impossible to find out what he meaneth for he makes Septimius Severus the Emperour the same as Junius Severus who was sent by Commodus into Britain to succeed Albinus as manifestly appeareth where he saith That Severus a Senatour after the death of Lucius was sent into Britain by the Senate with two Legions to compose there the differences arising and restore the Kingdom to the Romans which by Dissentions was much drawn from them This must needs be meant of Junius Severus for Septimius Severus was not Senatour but Emperour when he entred Britain and it was many years after the death of Lucius and yet presently after relating the same mans Actions he adds That he made a Wall between Deira and Albania which can be meant of none but Severus the Emperour I wonder that the British History in making Severus a King of Britain and Successour of Lucius does not give some Reason for it If he had the Kingdom in Right of his first Wife Martia Sister to Fulgentius how comes it to pass that Fulgentius is not reckoned a British Prince and a Rightful Inheritour of the Crown which if he had been created it follows dying in the Battle fought against Severus the Kingdom would devolve on Severus by the Womans side according to the Old Compact the British Histories makes mention of between these Northern Picts and their Brethren the Scots of Ireland when they gave them Wives That in case the Male Issue failed the Heir of the Woman should inherit in the Kingdom of the Picts So that Severus holding by Right of his Wife his Son Bassianus was lawful Inheritour and the British Succession should have run thus Lucius Fulgentius Severus in Right of Martia Bassianus c. but of this more than enough Bass. Caracalla Anto. And His BROTHER Septimius Geta. AFter the death of Old Severus his eldest Son CARACALLA for a while pursued the Relicks of the War by his Captains when weary of so troublesome an employment he hudled up a Peace and taking Hostages returned to Rome And now grown impatient of a Partner in Power he slew his Brother GETA after he had Reigned with him a year and twenty two daies He caused likewise his Name to be raced out of all Monuments which was accordingly observed even in Britain as appeareth by an Inscription dug out of the Earth in Monmouthshire wherein the name of GETA by the tract of Letters may be discovered to have once been although afterwards raced out PRO SALUTE AUG G. N. N. SEVERI ET ANTON NI ET GET AE CAES. P. SALTIENUS P. F. MAE CIA THALAMUS HADRI PRAEF LEG II. AUG C. VAMPEIANO ET LUCILIAN And that which made more to the horridness of the Murther was that he slew him in the Arms of his Mother Julia But it seems her Sorrows quickly blew over for not long after she consented a Marriage with her Son in Law Bassianus the Murtherer of her own Son for Bassianus was the Son of Martia a former Wife of Severus Thus we see this Julia who twitted the British Ladies with their Crimes committed a greater of her own nay such an One as St. Paul saith Is not to be named among the Gentiles After his Murther and Incest he was slain by one of his own Souldiers Macrinus who succeeded him being the contriver of it He Governed but six years and two months and left no Issue by his Incestuous Mother or Grantilla his Wise whom he banisht into Sicily but by Julia Simiamira his cousin German and Mistris he had Heliogabalus who afterwards came to be Emperour THE British History THE Count Palatine maketh Bassianus King of Britain in Right of his Mother Martia who by the British Histories is said to be a Native of this Island but Sabellicus taketh her to have been an African by Birth but allowing her a Britain how cometh it to pass that Fulgentius her Brother is not accounted a King of this Island For she could have no right to the Kingdom till his death so that if Fulgentius be excluded his Sister Martia could create no Title either to Severus her Husband or our present Bassianus her Son He likewise saith That Bassinus sent into Britain Virius Lupus to quell the Picts who had entred the Island under Fulgentius but what Authority he hath for it I know not The Roman Authors say he was sent by Severus and the British Histories are silent of him as to the daies of this Emperour Jeoffery of Moumouth with the like absurdity makes Carausius to be chosen King of Britain in the year 218 which is the last of this Emperours Reign whereas his appearance in Britain was not till the year 284 as by true History is collected Nevertheless the British Writers generally tell the story thus Carausius being chosen King of Britain and made Commander of the Picts who after the death of Fulgentius wanted a Leader presently makes Head against Bassianus and giveth him Battle Bassianus had many Picts in his Army but Carausius a Man of a subtile Wit by fair Promises had so won their affections that in the Fight they betrayed him so that deserted by so great a part of his Forces the rest were totally routed and himself slain Carausius to gratifie the Picts gave them the Countries in the South parts of Scotland which joyns to England on the East Marches as Mers Louthean and others Thus Bassianus by the report of the British Writers died in Britain CARAGALLA slain MACRINUS the contriver of his death was chosen by the Army Emperour in whose daies as likewise many of his Successours we find no mention made in this our Island whether it were that the Empire declining apace or that good Authors grew scarce or were lost or which is more probable the former Princes being advanced by the heady Affection of the Souldiers and as soon cast down again had no time to atchieve great Matters so far off Certain it is that for some years we are left in the dark having a few fragments only lying scattered here and there which give just light enough to shew that Britain still continued a Roman Province and had its Proproetors and Presidents The British Histories themselves as if they were only ill Comments on the Roman Records and wanted breath where the other ceased do now fall in pieces leaving wide gaps and Inter-regnums for many years together so that if we would we could not piece up these Times with their Rags and Fables And were it not undecent to leave so great a breach in the midst of this History many of the following Emperours might be spared And indeed I might easily have been induced to have omitted them had not these Reasons moved me to the contrary First By vertue of their being Emperours they were undoubted possessours of this Island and so have a right to have their Names
the Souldiers proclaimed him Emperour and Trebonianus with his Son to revenge themselves were both slain in fight against him after they had sate in the Empire not quite two years but AEmilian was in four months afterwards deposed and slain by the same Souldiers that advanced him P. Licinius Valerianus VALERIANUS was advanced to the Empire by the Praetorian Souldiers a Man of so great Repute and so infinitely beloved that he soon eclipsed the glory of AEmilian He began the Eighth Persecution but after he had Reigned seven years in a Battle against Sapor King of Persia he was taken Prisoner and for seven years more lived in a miserable Captivity being made the Footstool of that Tyrant suffering all manner of Indignities that an Insolent and Barbarous Conquerour could invent for him Publius Licinius Galienus GALIENUS the Son of Valerian succeeded his Father in the Empire He is described a proud and unfortunate Prince and yet not ill beloved by the People because his Vices were agreeing with the times He was prodigal and luxurious wasting the Publick Treasury in vain and fruitless Experiments all tending to Lust Gluttony and Riot careless of the Common danger and through a haughty Ignorance unapprehensive of his own In his daies the Empire was on all sides strongly Invaded the Germans infested Italy the Goths Greece Pontus and Asia the Sarmatians seized Austrick and Hungary the Persians spoiled Syria the Saxons brake into Gallia the Francks into Spain so that the Empire had been utterly ruined through the careless neglect of Galienus had not several Commanders in several places undertaken the defence of it They were Thirty together and all assumed the Imperial Robe and are called by Historians the Thirty Tyrants Six of them namely Lollianus Victorinus Posthumus the two Tetrici Father and Son and Marius are conjectured to have risen or born sway in this Island as appeareth by many of their Coyns found in England but especially at Colchester The memory of Marius as Mr. Cambden conjectureth is preserved in that Inscription MARII VICTORIAE of which I have spoken before and some think that a Stone found in Hampshire bearing this Inscription MEMORIAE FL. VICTORI NAE T. TAM VICTOR CONJUX POSUIT It was erected to the honour of Victorina or Victoria the Mother of Victorinus the second Tyrant afterwards slain by his Souldiers This Victorina was called Master Castrorum or the Mother of the Camp and did not only set up her Son and Grand-son both of them Victorini against Galienus but after their deaths Marius also and both the Tetrici Hence it is that Porphyrius a Philosopher then living saith That BRITAIN was a soyl fruitful of Tyrants Marius enjoyed his new Soveraignty but three daies as for Tetricus and his Son they held it out till the time of Aurelianus when we shall hear more of them Galienus Reigned eight years after the Captivity of his Father and was then slain at the Siege of Milan by three of his own Captains Martian Heraclian and Ceronius who agreed among themselves to divide the Empire but their Treason was so ill resented that they never durst put in their Pretentions M. Aurelius Flavius Claudius HE was a most worthy Prince wise of Counsel and experienced in Wars The Publick Invaders of the Empire the Goths he drove back with the slaughter of three hundred thousand fighting Men and two thousand Ships the Germans he utterly subdued and established again their Subjection to the Roman Power Having performed these great Actions and minding now to reduce the Empire to its Unity in Government he died of a Feavour as he was preparing against Tetricus who held the Western Provinces He Ruled two years and then his Brother QUINTILIUS was chosen by the Italian Souldiers but he enjoyed his Election but seventeen daies for the Victorious Army of Claudius thinking they had better right to create an Emperour set up AURELIUS in somuch that Quintilius finding it in vain to contend ended his life by opening his own Veins or as other say was slain by his Army for his too great severity in Discipline THE British Writers CONCERNING CLAUDIUS CLAUDIUS by our Writers is allowed a lawful King of this Island for from the daies of Gordian which are twenty four years our home-spun Histories make an Inter-regnum GORDIAN was allowed King as being the Father of this Claudius for as I said before by the Law of the British Histories the Right of Inheritance ascends and even Grandfathers hold their Kingdoms by the title of their Grand-children Let us see therefore by what Right Claudius is accounted King We have heard before that one of his Titles to the Crown was that from his Line descended Constantius who held it in right of his Wife Helena a British Woman and so sent the Title up to his Ancestour the present Claudius The Genealogy runs thus Claudius had two Brothers Quinctilius and Crispus Claudius and Quinctilius dying without Issue Crispus had a Daughter named Claudia who marrying Eutropius was the Mother of Constantius But now I shall shew his other Title by which he claims gathered out of the Roman Histories Pollio a Roman Writer in the Life of Claudius hath these words He seemeth to draw his Original from Dalmatia although others say he was a Dardanian by Birth descended of the Trojans in Ilium and of the Blood of Dardanus himself thus far Pollio And can we think that the British Writers will slip so fair an occasion of making another Trojan Prince in this Island No certainly hear therefore I pray Basingstoke There is a wonderful and secret power of Nature saith he whereby the Trojan Original of the Britains despised by so many and slighted by Julius Caesar is still brought to the Empire as is manifest in Severus his marriage with Martia and Constantius taking Helena to Wife which Constantius descended of Claudius who was of Trojan Race Thus we see the Kingdom of Brute by the wonderful working of Nature restored again to the Trojans and that it may not be done without an Oracle take this story out of Pollio which for the worthiness of it I set down among the British Histories Claudius being well setled in the Empire required of the Gods how long he 〈◊〉 enjoy it The Answer was given Tu qui nunc Patrias gubernas or as Et mundum Regis arbiter Deorum in veteres tuis novelliis Regnabunt etenim ter minores Et Reges facient suos minores Thou who thy Fathers Kingdom now dost Rule And dost the World and Gods Command The next is imperfect but then follows Thy Off-spring after thee shall bear the sway And Kings shall their Inferiours stand By his Off-spring is meant Constantius and his Son Constantine but it seems Claudius not yet satisfied enquires further of his own life The Oracle answered Tertia dum Latio regnantem viderit aestas Three Summers thou in Italy shalt reign When finding the Gods more favourable to his
Continent easily overcame and mastered the distressed Natives a People at that time reduced to a small number laden with Distresses yea worn out with continual Calamities it will not be amiss first to set down their Original and progress through most parts of the World ere they arrived into this Island their Religion some Customes annexing other memorable things relating to their Arts and Polity that having at once before our eyes the Vertues and Vices of our Ancestours we may know the better what to follow what to avoid and may the better be enabled how to discern the methods and means whereby to preserve that Empire intire and inviolable the Foundations whereof have been by them laid so firm solid and lasting But before we proceed to the Antiquity and History of the Saxons it will be necessary to treat briefly of the Original and Antiquity of the Romans a People so renowned for their ancient Conquests and so well esteemed for their good Government in this Nation THE ANTIQUITY AND ORIGINAL OF THE ROMANS THEIR Religion government in State Affairs discipline in War with several of their Rules and Methods relating to their Polity Unto which is added Some Observations upon what relates more particularly to the Greek Idolatry omitted in a former Treatise PLUTARCH reckons up many supposed Founders of ROME Herodotus Marsylus and some others will have them descended from the Graecians and Coecilius a Roman Historiographer in Strabo proves that Rome was built by the Graecians because the Romans after the manner of the Greeks by ancient Institution and Custome did sacrifice to Hercules and that the Romans also worshipt the Mother of Evander Yet the most vulgar received Opinion is that Rome was the work of ROMULUS from the Foundation and that the Romans were a Body aggregate and compounded of Sabines and Latins and others are of Opinion which I have shewn in another place that they were a conflux of the worst of the Neighbouring People of that State For Romulus after the deposing and murthering his Uncle Amulius and re-instating his Grandfather Numitor in the Albane Throne having got together Shepheards and some Malefactours that had fled for of Justice from their natural Princes soon left Aiba to the quiet enjoyment of his Grandfather he himself not being willing to live under any other Laws than his own or else the nobleness of his Ambition dehorting him from injuring one whom lately he had so generously restored resolves to contrive the model and platform of his future Government yea lay himself the foundation of his own Greatness For being made KING by the general consent of his ragged Associates and that consent confirmed ratified and establisht by lucky signs and tokens from the Gods after several contrivances and designs pitches upon Mount Palatine where he himself and his Brother had been exposed by their Uncle Amulius as a fortunate place for their erecting a New City hoping that as the Gods from a poor miserable and abandoned Infant had made him a glorious King so by the same power they might in time of this little Village make a considerable Kingdom Moreover he looked upon this Mountain as the fittest place for defence if any Enemy should dare to oppose him and a place very inconvenient for the approaches and assaults of all Besiegers nevertheless secured it with a Ditch and Wall But lest the three adjoyning Mountains viz. Capitoline Coelian and Quirinal might rather serve as they lay then for Forts and Bulwarks from whence the Enemy might storm and molest his New City he fortified them with a Ditch and a Wall also and placing therein Garrisons they served instead of Castles for the security of the City But after he had subdued T. Tatius King of the Sabines he gave to him and his People the Tarpeian or Capitoline Mountain to inhabit bringing it also within the Walls and compass of the City L. Tarquinius Priscus mended and repaired the Walls with Stone which before were cast up with Mud and ordinary Rubbish but Servius Tullius was the first that encompast Rome with a Stone-wall adding to the City three other Hills also both Kings and People being as ambitious in augmenting their City as they were in propagating and increasing the largeness of their Dominion and Empire Lastly It was so enlarged and admirably beautified with the Spoyls and Ornaments of the Chiefest places of EUROPE that Rome which was first scarce a Mile in compass was afterwards esteemed as one of the Wonders of the Earth And without question 't was a pleasing spectacle which could make St. Augustine otherwise a Person of great gravity and self-denial to his other two pious wishes annexed this Of seeing ROME in its full Glory Of the distinction and division of the People WHEN Romulus had secured his City he began to think on convenient waies of Policy whereby he might the better attain to a certain method of Government that might be best suitable to the genius of his rude and disorderly Subjects who therefore ranged them into three National Tribes or Wards 1. The first Ward was of the SABINES called Tatienses 2. The second of the ALBANS viz. Ramnenses 3. The third was of the LUCERES named so from the Grove where the Asylum or Sanctuary stood whither the People of all conditions daily repaired for defence and protection and every Ward was divided into ten Parishes Then he distinguisht them according to their Degrees and Offices calling the Oldest best and ablest of his Citizens if they had Children Patricii and the Meane sort Plebeii enacting Laws containing the duty negotiation and obligation of both The Patricii were to superintend Religion bear City Offices administer Justice to the Common people The Commons were to look to their Cattle tyll the Ground exercise all Handicrafts Out of all those Seniours he chose an hundred whom he called Senators from their Age who for distinctions sake wore a half-Moon upon their Shooes after this manner ☽ the letter standing for one hundred With these he consulted in things more particularly concerning the Common-wealth but lest puft up with Pride these Patricii should contemn and trample upon the Commonalty and the Meaner sort envy the happiness of the Great ones which in time might prove the seeds of Sedition to prevent such Inconveniences he so effected the matter that each should be mutually obliged and absolutely depend one upon another making it lawful for any of the Commons to choose according to an old Custome of the Thessali and Athenians whom he pleased out of the Patricii for his Patron The Patron was bound by Office to appear and answer for his Client in all Law-suits to manage his business to the best advantage whether absent or present In a word to endeavour as much as he could his ease and quiet The Client was to pay all due respects to his Patron assist him with his Purse in raising Portions for his Daughters to redeem him and his Sons if taken
seven foot deep they found an huge broad Stone with a Leaden-Cross fastened to it and on that side that lay downward in rude Letters was written this Inscription HIC JACET SEPULTUS INCLYTUS REX ARTURIUS IN INSULA AVALONIA And digging nine foot deeper his Body was found in the Trunk of a Tree the Bones of a great bigness and in his Skull were perceived ten wounds the last very great and plainly seen By him also lay GUINEVER his Queen seeming perfect and whole till it was toucht then appearing to be nothing but Dust but the Restorer of Stonehenge with more probability hath found her Tomb at Ambresbury Among other Sepulchres saies he found at the said Monastery it is worthy Memory that about the beginning of this Century one of them hewn out of a firm Stone and placed in the middle of a Wall was opened having upon its coverture rude Letters of massie Gold to this purpose R. G. A. C. 600. Thus Interpreted Regina Guinevera Arturi Conjux The Bones within which Scpulchre were all firm fair yellow coloured Hair about the Skull a supposed piece of the Liver near upon the bigness of a Wall-nut very dry and hard and together therewith were found several Royal habiliments as Jewels Veils Scarfs c. retaining even till then their proper Colours All which were afterwards very choicely kept in the Collection of the Right Honourable EDWARD then Earl of Hertford and of the aforesaid Gold divers Rings were made and worn by his Lordships principal Officers Concerning which Tomb is supposed by the same Author to be the Sepulchre of Queen GUINEVER Wife of King ARTHUR especially the letters R. G. c. viz. Regina Guinevera c. and the date Anno Christi 600 if rightly Copied agreeing with the time of her death Besides Leyland affirms that several Writers make mention she took upon her a Nuns Veil at Ambresbury died and was there buried unto which he gives so much credit that whatever Giraldus Cambrensis delivers to the contrary he will by no means allow either her Body to be afterwards translated from Ambresbury or at any time buried by her Husband King ARTHUR at Glastonbury Unto Leyland's Reasons for her Interrment at Ambresbury Mr. Cambden it seems inclines also because wholly silent of her Sepulchre discovered any where else though at large sets down the Circumstances of her Husbands Body it being found at Glastonbury for had Mr. Cambden found any thing inducing him to believe her Body had been together with his there found he would never certainly have concealed it from Posterity Constantine the IV. THis CONSTANTINE according to some Writers after the death of Prince Arthur Reigned as a Tyrant over Cornwal and Devonshire at the same time with Aurelius Conanus Vortipor and Malgo but according to others by the appointment of Arthur a little before his death he succeeded him alone in the Kingdom the Britains unanimously ratifiing the choice as expecting mighty things from the Person their admired Champion had pitched upon for their Governour But as many private Persons who were before good Subjects have proved but bad Kings after they came to the Crown So it fared with this Constantine who being more conceited of his Power than knowing in the waies of Governing grew on a sudden so intollerably proud that he slighted his Enemies contemned his Friends and measured Justice by the length and strength of his own Sword Possibly he had found the inconvenience of it sooner had not the Pictish War broke out which diverted the minds of his incensed Britains another way For the Picts hearing that after the death of Arthur Constantine was made King appeared with an Army in favour of the Sons of Mordred Arthur's Nephews to settle them in their Right But these he happily routed chasing his two Rivals with their Governours taking Sanctuary the one in Winchester the other in London to the very Altar but the sacred Reverence of the place stopt not his fury for he slew them there with their two Governours without any consideration of the tenderness of their years or holiness of the place Gildas sharply inveighs against this Prince for his Adultery forsaking his lawful Wife and for his Perjury c. lastly for murthering these two Children Yet these being the Sons of the false Mordred who had created his predecessour Arthur so much trouble all his life time by his frequent Rebellions and at last gave him his deaths wound seems a little to take away from the Cruelty of the Action After he had Reigned about four years he was slain by his Kinsman Aurelius Conanus and Interr'd at Stone-henge by his Ancestour Uter Pendragon After the death of Constantine there appeared three Pretenders to the Crown at once AURELIUS CONANUS Lord of North-Wales VORTIPOR Lord of South-Wales and MALGO CONANUS as Gildas stiles him Dragon of the Isles Every one of these usurping the Title of KING of BRITAIN though too weak to defend themselves and it from the swelling Greatness of the Victorious Saxons Most Historians make them to have reigned successively but they seem to me to have been petty Kings at one and the same time for by the reprehensions of Gildas 't is plain that those Princes lived all at one and the same time unto whom he spake personally which could not be had such successions of years past as is laid down by those Historians Besides 't is said that Aurelius Conanus was a Prince of a Noble heart free and liberal but given much to the maintenance of strife and discord among his People which in my mind will best be understood of his difference with his two Competitours Vortipor and Malgo and their Subjects which indeed were his also as taking upon him the stile of KING of BRITAIN especially if we consider he had watchful Neighbours about him who were willing to take the greatest advantage over him they could Gildas in his Invectives terms Vortipor the unworthy Son of a good King as Manasses was to Ezechias Now this good King cannot be Aurelius Conanus who is reprehended for his Vicious life by him as much as any and consequently Vortipor was none of his Son so that how he came to succeed him in the Kingdom as their Historians pretend can scarce be made out What great Actions these three Kings did during their Reign or what good qualities they were indued with is not hitherto known there 's but a very slender account of them in the Rolls of Fame which may make us suspect they were guilty of very few and those scarce worth the committing to posterity In Gildas and other Histories we may find a large Catalogue of their bad ones CARETICUS BY this time the SAXONS had fixt themselves secure enough in Britain none of the British KINGS being able utterly to dispossess them through the continual Supplies they received out of Germany of their new Acquisitions yet this Prince something revived the decaying Spirit of the Britains by
a Sea-faring People and of the Race of the Saxons But they who shall consider that the Saxons and Suevians were of the same Original and Anciently of the Common Name and Stock of the Cimbri by which general appellation they were promiscuously called by the Ancients as also how the German Nations were alwaies shifting Habitations by which means they got new Names often and often scattered the same Name on divers Nations will have no reason to doubt but that our ancient English Ancestors descended from those English Suevians mentioned in Ptolomy who having long wandered in Germany afterwards possessed that Province in Denmark which from their Name of Angili was called Angulus or Angel and from which Country they afterwards passed into Britain Seeing therefore that our English Ancestors did not receive their Name from that narrow Isthmus in Denmark but on the contrary it received its name from them it remaineth to be shewn from whence they might probably have taken it Mr. Cambden who disalloweth of the derivation from Angulus a Corner saith that the Original fo the Angli or English may in all likelyhood be seen in the etymology of Englebett and Englehard and such like Teutonick names but he himself doth not attempt at it Neither have I read of any yet who have adventured to give their Opinions in this matter Amidst so great silence of Writers my Judgment cannot be offensive to any seeing it contracticteth none The Name therefore of the ancient Angili or Angli so called by Tacitus and Ptolomy from which our English proceedeth is not to be fetched from the Latin Angulus a Corner because Tacitus and Ptolomy gave not that name to the People so called but set it down as they received it from the German Nations The Original therefore of the Name seemeth as in reason it should to be derived from the Teutonick Now as it is vanity to think that our present England received its name from lying in a Corner of the World or that Old England in Denmark was so stiled from its Narrowness and upon that account gave name to the Angli who were called Angli long before they ever set foot on that Province so on the other hand it is reasonable to suppose that the Teutonick Ang and in finer pronunciation Eng signifying a Corner was nevertheless the true Root and Original of the name of the Angli or English not because they lived in a Corner of the World or in that Nook of Denmark but because that part of the Suevians called Angli might possess themselves of narrow and streight Passages in the Mountainous parts of Germany which upon that account might be called Angland and in finer speech England and the Inhabitants themselves Anglants or Englants that is in the Teutonick as much as the possessour of narrow or streight Countries and for better found are called Angili by Ptolomy and truer Angli by Tacitus And that which further induceth me to believe that Eng or Ang a narrow or streight place in the Teutonick in this sence is the true Original of the Angli is that Engern in Westphalia as also Angloen in Pomerania are both scituated upon such narrow Passages as I have been credibly informed either of which places may reasonably be supposed the ancient Seats of the Angli and in the Geographical Charts of Ptolomy we find part of the Suevians called Angli seated in a narrow Passage under the Mountain Melibocus The Angli therefore having received their Name from Aug or Eng a Nook or Corner gave the same name but whether out of design or by chance is uncertain to Anglia or Angel in Denmark from whence it proceeded into Britain and grew in time to such credit and reputation that the name of Saxons and Jutes wearing away by degrees this only prevailed especially when King EGBERT about the year 800 by solemn Edict proclaimed that the whole ISLAND should be called Engelonð that is ENGLAND and the Inhabitants Englishmen a Title it seems so much affected that our Ancestours used no other to vaunt themselves with whilest our Enemies only the Scotch Welch and Irish call us Sassous The Reason why the name of English prevailed above those of Saxon and Jute seemeth to be the conceit men had of something extraordinary signified by it Engel in all Teutonick Dialects is as much as an Angel and E in English-man as it is pronounced Engelisce or Engelsche as it is written signifieth word for word an Angel-like-man Upon this account perhaps our Ancestours were fond of this Title which is not extraordinary to be supposed considering that the like hath happened in other Nations The French when they would express some Action done by any of their Nation usually say It was done like a French-man which with him sounds the same as a Gentle-man and this from the Teutonick Franck signifying Free and Noble so that their ancient name of Gauls is worn out although the Francks a German Nation whose Name hath universally prevailed were but a handful in comparison of the native Gauls and were not able to give their Language to that People who nevertheless received Name from them In the like manner we read the name of Quirites given to a Roman Army was so great a Charm as to stop a Mutiny in its height The Towns Maleventum and Epidamnus were for some ill signification changed by the Romans into Epidaurus and Beneventum not to instance in other matters of the like nature why may not therefore the more rugged Saxon and Jute give place in the opinions of the Inhabitants to that of English or Angelick-men This Conceit of our Ancestours was furthered by Gregory the Great upon this occasion It happened during the time of the Heptarchy ELLA then Reigning in Deira a Province belonging to the Crown of Northumberland that certain Youths named Angles in Britain transported to Rome and there exposed to Sale attracted the eyes of all by their exceeding comliness and among the rest Gregory not yet Pope He enquired of them what Nation they were to which they answered Angles the similitude of name with Angels easily drew a natural reflection from the good Old man who presently replyed That not without reason were they so called having Faces more resembling Angels than Men. The Conversion of the Saxons in Britain ensuing upon this happy interview gave Reputation to the name of English or Angles which without question daily grew into great credit and increased with that Christianity it had so luckily occasioned insomuch that whereas before by our own Writers this Island was called still by the name Britain and by Forreigners Saxonia Nova and Saxonia Trasmarina that is New Saxony and Forreign Saxony King Egbert who first brought the Heptarchy into one entire Kingdom by publick Edict as I have already cited ordained that it should be stiled ENGLAND and the Inhabitants ENGLISH if not in memory of its Conversion yet certainly for some opinion the Inhabitants
myrck kvedium enn fyrer Wytrum Monnum Lifthvedenn ad yrkia og Semia huor Ithret sem ei throtnandi Uants Brunner seerer fornar kienningar og feeder ee uyat till kvedskaparius ollum merkiskalldum et hana Bilia med Idne grunda og giegnd tettrivid hafa huer eff hunernen sit Naffn hloted hefer Edda is an Art which out of the most ancient Mythology of ingenious Men and Names variously found out teacheth the use and exercise of the Norwegian Poesie which to the Vulgar is obscure to the Wise pleasant to hear and artificial which like a Fountain continually running suggests Old words and daily creates New for the benefit of Rythmical writing to all good Poets who can with judgment use it And Saxo Grammaticus thus in brief describes it Edda est Mythologia Poetica veterum Islandorum It was composed above six hundred years ago and as to the main is in much credit with the chiefest and most authentick of our Historians To begin then with this EDDA concerning the Expedition of WODEN out of Asia Oden haffde Spadem og so kona hauns og aff theim Uisendum faun hann thad ad Naffn hauns munde uppe bera hellski Norduralfu heim stus og tygnad umm framm Alla Konga Fyrer tha sok fysest hanu ad Byria fetd sina aff Curckflande og hafde med sier myken fiolda Lids Buga menn oc Gamla karla og konur og hoffou med seit marga Gersemelega hlute en huet sem their for yfer land that bar agyeete myked af theim Sagt so their thottu lykare Gudum enn Monnum og their gefa ei Stad ferd Sinne fyrr cim their koma Nordue thad land et nuer Itallad Sar land that dualde Odenn langa bryd og eignadest Byda thad laud. Sem Odenn hafde Skipt thui lande med Sonum sinum tha Birlade hann ferd Syna Nordur og kom ithad lande er their kalla Reidgotoland og esgnadest ithuilande alt thader hann vild eog sette that till Landradanda sonn finu et skioldur hiel hanns son var fridleifur thaduun er su eettkommen er Skioidungar veita thad erudana Kongar oc thad heiter nu Iotland er tha var kall ad Reidgotaland 〈◊〉 thad for hann Nordut that sem nu heitter Suythiod that var sa Kongur er Biliffe er Neffudur enn er hann spyt till ferda theitta Asiae Manna er Efer voru kailader for hand mote theinn og Baud ad Odenn stilde slyke valid hafa thans Ryke sem han vilde sialfur sa Cyme filgde ferd theirra ad huar sem their duoldust i Londum tha var thar ar og fridur og truda aller ad their veere thesz Radande thui thad Sau Menn ad their voru Olyker odrum Monnum theim er their 〈◊〉 du sted ad 〈◊〉 og wite thar chotte Odenn goder Landkofter ogkaug 〈◊〉 that Borgar stad sem ut heiter Sigtun Chad vat aff-hanns Naffue og gaff sier Kongdom og kalladest Sydanni Niordur og thui fiimst Striffad freede Bokum ad Niordur hafe heited hiim fyrste Saga Kongur er thad till thess ad Odenn hefur 〈◊〉 thar Goffgastur Oden Skipade that hoffdingium i tha lyking sem vered haffde i Croja sette Colff hofudmen i Stadnum ad deema Lomoslog 〈◊〉 Skypade hann Riettum ollum sem fyrr 〈◊〉 vered i Croja og Cyrkyar voru vaner Thus rendred out of Rossenius his Translation This Oden was a Magician as likewise his Wife whereby he foreknew that his Name should be celebrated above all Kings in the North. For which cause be began his Journey from Turkland taking along vast Treasures of Silver and Gold and Precious things Through what Countries soever they passed they were highly cried up as seeming Gods rather than Men thus they staid not till they came into the land of the North now called Saxony where for many years Odin lived and possessed the whole Country about so that in the Division to his Sons he gave to Vegdeggus East Saxony to Begdegus 〈◊〉 to Siggo Francia himself went into another Country which was then called Reidgotoiand where he did whatever pleased him Over this Country he set his Son Skiold of whom was born Fridleit whose Posterity was named Skioli dungar or the Off spring of Skiold from which Stem the Kings of Denmark descended This Reidgotolandia is now called Jutlandia Farther he removed his Seat to the place now called Suithiod where Gylfus was then King who when he heard of the coming of these Asiaticks whom the Edda calls Asae he went out and met them profering Odin what part soever he would take of his Empire For so great fortune attended these Asians that wheresoever they aboded Peace and Prosperity flourished and every one was fully perswaded that these Blessings proceeded from them for this especially affected their minds that for knowledge beauty strength and singular shape of Body they never had seen the like Odin perceived this Land was pleasant and fertile therefore he chose a place to build a City on which at this day according to his or rather his Sons name is called Sigtunum where exercising Kingly Authority he called himself Niord wherefore in the Annals of the Ancients it is found that the first King of the Suevi was called Niord because Odin was the most glorious although others held the Kingdom before him In the City Sigtun he constituted Twelve of the Chief Citizens in imitation of Troy as Conservators of the Laws and to execute Justice after the Customes of Turkland From this Constitution of WODEN saith Mr. Sheringham whereby he ordained Twelve of the principal Citizens as preservers of the Law and to give their Judgment or Verdict for so the words import proceeded perhaps that Custome among us never to be enough praised whereby to Twelve good Freeholders called by us a Jury is trusted the whole weight of Justice and Determination of all Causes both of Life and Estate but this by way of digression Another narration of the Progress of WODEN agreeing with that of the Edda is taken out of an Ancient Norway Chronicle the Author of it as Stephanius thinks was Sturlaeson a Writer of good account and credit the whole story is too large to set down I shall only mention what more particularly relates to the present purpose It is thus That part of Asia looking to the East which is bounded by the River Tanais had formerly for its Metropolis a City named Asgard wherein Ruled with great Authority a mighty Hero named OTHIN to twelve of the chief Senatours who excell'd in Piety and Wisdom and therefore were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Diar i. e. Gods or Divine Persons and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Drotuar i. e. Lords he gave power to order Religious affairs and Ceremonies and to hear and determine Civil Causes and Suits This Othin had two Brothers the Elder 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ue the younger 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Uelir or Uuli These two upon the absence of Othin at any time managed the whole State Upon
of St. Peter in Gaul and that out of it he should buy English Boys and clothes for the Poor GOing forward with the help of our Lord Jesus Christ to the government of the Patrimony which is in Gaul we would that your charity out of the mony it shall receive provide clothes for the Poor and English Boys that are about seventeen or eighteen years old who being put into Monasteries may do God good service in regard the mony of Gaul which in our Land cannot justly be expended may be laid out to advantage in its proper place But if you shall receive any thing out of the Revenues which are said to be taken away we will also that out of those clothes be provided for the Poor or as we said before Boys who may be instrumental in the service of Almighty God But because they are all Pagans that are found thereabouts I will that a Priest be sent over with them lest any sickness happen to them on the way that they may be Baptized when he finds them ready to die So let your Charity act and make hast to fulfil these things Gregory the Great To Palladius Bishop of Xanton To Pelagius of Tours and To Serenus of Marseilles Fellow Bishops of Gaul To whom he commends Augustine whom he had sent into England ALthough Priests having charity pleasing to God need not the commendations of any other Religious person yet because time has fitly presented it self we have taken care to send our Letters to your Fraternity signifying that we have sent thither Augustine the Servant of God and Bearer of these presents with other Servants of God for the benefit of Souls whom 't is very necessary your Holiness should readily assist with a Sacerdotal care and speedily afford him what comforts you can and that you may the willinglier favour him we have enjoyned him particularly to declare the cause of his Journey hoping that that being known you would for God's sake seriously endeavour the business requiring it their benefit and welfare Gregory the Great To Virgilius Bishop of Arles and Metropolitan of Gaul He commends Augustine to him whom he had sent into England to propagate the Gospel ALthough we are confidently assured that your Brotherhood is alwaies intent upon good works and ready at any time of its own accord to interest it self in causes pleasing to God yet we thought it not altogether unprofitable to speak to you out of a Brotherly charity that the comforts which ye ought out of your own good natures freely to have afforded stirred up by these our Epistles might be increased in a greater measure We therefore declare to your Holiness that we have dispatched hither Augustine the servant of God and Bearer of these presents whose zeal and diligence is well known to us with other Servants of God for the welfare of Souls as he when he comes into your presence can testifie in which business it is necessary that you assist him with both Counsel and Supplies and cherish him as it behoves you with your Paternal and Sacerdotal consolations For when he shall have obtained those comforts from your Holiness if it is any thing available as we doubt not to promote the cause of God you also shall receive your reward who so piously afforded the benefit of your assistance for the promoting of good works Gregory the Great To Desiderius of Vienna and Syagrius of Augustodunum Fellow Bishop of Gaul He commends Augustine to them WE shall entertain a good opinion of the sincere charity of your Brotherhood if out of love to St. Peter Prince of the Apostles you bestow it in relieving our Servants since the nature of the cause requires it in which of your own accord ye ought rather to wish to be fellow-labourers and partakers We therefore declare to your Holiness that we have sent hither God so ordering it Augustine the servant of God Bearer of these presents whose zeal and diligence is well known to us with other Servants of God for the cure of Souls when you shall understand exactly from his own Relation what is enjoyned him your Brotherhood may in every thing the business shall require with more readiness assist him that you may be counted as is meet the furtherers of good works therefore in this thing let your Brotherhood study to manifest the demonstrations of its affection that the good opinion we have already entertained of you by hearsay may receive a further confirmation in us of you by your works Gregory the Great To Arigius a Noble man of Gaul To whom he commends Augustine HOw much goodness and how much meekness with charity pleasing unto Christ is shining in you we are certainly informed from Augustine Servant of God Bearer of these presents and we give Almighty God thanks that hath given you these gifts of his grace by which you may appear praise-worthy amongst men and in his sight which is truly profitable glorious We beseech therefore Almighty God that these gifts which he has so freely granted you he would multiply and take you and all yours into his protection and that he may so order the manner of your glory in this life that it may be beneficial to you here and what is more to be wished in the life to come Greeting therefore your Honour we desire with a Fatherly tenderness that the Bearer of these presents and the Servants of God that are with him may find in those things that are necessary your assistance since they will be the better able through God's help and the benefit of your favour to perform those things that are commanded them Gregory the Great To Theoderick and Theodebert Kings of the Frankes concerning Augustine Servant of God sent to the English Nation AFter that Almighty God had adorned your Kingdom with a pure and upright Faith and by the integrity of the Christian Religion had made it eminent above other Nations we conceived great grounds of presuming that you would especially have desired that your Subjects should be converted to that Faith in which you are Kings and Lords over them And indeed there came to our hands the earnest Petition of the English Nation God commiserating their condition to be converted to the Christian Faith but your Priests their Neighbours wholly neglect it and are much wanting by their Exhortations in seconding their desires For this cause therefore we have carefully sent thither Augustine servant of God Bearer of these presents whose zeal and diligence is well known unto us with other Servants of God whom we have enjoyned to take some of the neighbouring Clergy along with them to know their minds and with their Admonitions as much as in them lies further their willingness in which thing that they may prove effectually able with a Fatherly charity saluting your Highnesses we desire that these whom we have sent may merit your favour and because 't is a business of Souls may your Power protect and
But they armed with the power of God and not the Devil bearing a Silver cross before them for their Banner and the Image of our Lord and Saviour painted on a Table and singing Litanies prayed unto the Lord for the eternal salvation of themselves and of those for whose sakes and to whom they were come But when with the Kings leave sitting down they had preached the Word of life to him and to all his Nobles that were with him the King made Answer saying The words and promises which Ye have made are indeed fair but unto which as being new and uncertain I cannot suddenly yield my assent laying aside the Religion I have so long maintained with all the English Nation But because ye are strangers and come a great way and as it seems to me would impart to us the knowledge of things you believe the truest and best we will not in the least give you any molestation but rather courteously receive you and take care that all things necessary shall be provided for your maintenance neither do we prohibit but that ye may gain all ye can to the Faith of your Religion And accordingly he alotted them their residence in the City of Canterbury which was the Metropolis of all his Kingdom neither did he abridge them of the freedom of meeting of preaching or neglect their temporal provision It is reported that when they came nigh to the City after their manner with the holy Cross and the Image of the great King our Lord Jesus Christ with an agreeable-voice they sang this Litany We pray thee O Lord in thy mercy that thy sury may be turned away and thy Anger from this City and thy holy House because we have sinned Allelujah But when they came to the Dwellings provided for them they began to imitate the Apostolical life of the Primitive Church by applying themselves to continual prayers watchings and fastings to the preaching the Word of God to all that would hear them by despising all things of this World as superfluous and receiving only those things that were necessary for those they taught for their sustenance living exactly according to the Rules they taught others having a mind ready to suffer any Adversity even to die for the truth that they preached The success of which was some believed and were baptized admiting the simplicity of their innocent lives and the sweetness of their heavenly doctrine There was near this City towards the East a Church anciently built in honour of St. Martyn whilst the Romans inhabited Britain in which the Queen whom above we declared to have been a Christian was wont to pray In this therefore first they begun to assemble sing pray perform Mass preach and baptize until the King being converted to the Faith they obtained a greater liberty of Preaching every where and of building and repairing Churches But when he among the rest being delighted with the pure life of these Saints and their sweet Promises the truth of which they confirmed by shewing many Miracles believing was baptized many flocked in from all parts to hear the word and leaving the Rites of Heathenism joyned themselves to the unity of the holy Church of Christ at whose Faith and Conversion the King is reported so far to have congratulated as nevertheless not compels any to receive Christianity only those that believed he embraced with a nearer affection as fellow-Citizens with him of the heavenly Kingdom For he had learnt from the Teachers and Authors of his salvation that the service of Christ ought to be voluntary not constrained neither did he deser long but gave his Teachers places befitting their Degrees in his Metropolis of Canterbury and conferred upon them Possessions necessary in several kinds in the year of Christ 601. THE ANSWERS OF GREGORY TO THE QUESTIONS SENT BY AUGUSTINE The first Arch-Bishop of CANTERBURY For the better government of the new erected Church of English-Saxons Out of Bede's Hist. Ecclesiast lib. 1. cap. 27. IN the mean while Augustine the Man of God came to Arles and by Etherius Archbishop of the same City according to the Commands he received from the holy Father Gregory was ordained Archbishop of the English Returning therefore into Britain he sent immediately to Rome Lawrence the Priest and Peter the Monk to certifie Pope Gregory that the Christian Faith was received by the English and that he himself was made Bishop desiring also his opinion in certain Questions he thought necessary to be resolved in to all which he speedily received Answers proper to the Questions proposed which we thought fit here to insert into our History The first Question of Augustine Bishop of the Church of Canterbury Of Bishops how they should converse with their Clergy of those things that are presented to the Altar by the offerings of the Faithful how many portions there ought to be and how a Bishop ought to behave himself in the Church The Answer of Gregory Pope of the City of Rome How Bishops ought to act in the Church the Holy Scripture witnesses which you understand very well no doubt and especially the Epistles of St. Paul to Timothy in which he endeavors to teach him how he ought to behave himself in the House of God And it was ever the custome of the Apostolick See to deliver Instructions to Bishops that were ordained that out of every thing that came to the Altar there ought to be made four divisions viz. One for the Bishop and his family for hospitality and entertainments the second for the Clergy the third for the Poor and the fourth for repairing Churches But because your Brotherhood is well skilled in the Orders of a Monastery you know nothing ought to be possest by the Clergy apart in your English Church which lately by God's grace is brought to the Faith it ought to imitate the Conversion which was used by our Fathers in the beginning of the Church among whom none said any thing was his of those things he possessed but all things were in common among them The second Question of Augustine I desire to be informed whether Pr 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 able 〈◊〉 marry and if they shall marry whether they must 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This Question Bede hath not but joyne the following Answer to the first Question Sr. Hen. Spelman hath added in out of the Bath Edition An. 1518. The Answer of Gregory If there be any of the Clergy out of holy Orders that cannot contain they ought to provide themselves Wives and to receive their stipends from without because concerning those portions which we have spoken of before we know 't is written that 't was divided to every one as every one had need And indeed there ought some consideration and care to be had of their Stipends that they may be kept under Ecclesiastical Rules that they shew good Manners in their lives that they may be diligent in singing Psalms and that they keep by God's assistance their hearts tongues and bodies
it as high a piece of Courtship to conform to the present way of worship their old Idolatry and now again revived Superstition In vain did Lawrence Successor to Augustine in the See of Canterbury endeavour by diligent preaching to stop the tide of this Apostasie for preferment at Court and the Countenance of the Prince drew more Proselites to Heathenisin than the good lives and examples of constant Professours could keep true and sincere in the maintenance of the Gospel But he was not long unpunished for whether workt by the strength of Education which suffereth not without violence principles well grounded to be rooted up or whether indeed as is related possessed with an evil Spirit he fell into soul fits of phrenzy and distraction the convulsions of the mind and often torments of an evil Conscience And now whilst in human appearance there seemed no hopes of amendment it so fell out that by extraordinary means he became penitent The story goes that Lawrence finding his labours ineffectual was resolved to retire into France and follow Justus and Melitus the one expelled London the other Rochester for the Apostasie was now spread wide into the Country of the East-Saxons also being at his devotions the night before his intended departure in the Church of St. Peter that Saint appeared to him and to make the Vision more sensible gave him many stripes for offering to desert his Charge the marks of which the next morning being shewn to the King with the cause why and the person from whom they were received so wrought upon his fancy already prepared that immediately forsaking his Incestuous life he embraced again the Christian Religion and became as zealous a Professour as he had been a violent Persecutor Though it should seem by the following Epistle of Pope Boniface that Justus not Laurentius was his Converter The Epistle of Boniface V. To Justus late Bishop of Rochester now Successor of Melitus in the Archbishoprick of Canterbury To our most Beloved Brother Justus Boniface sendeth Greeting WIth what devotion and watchfulness your Brotherhood hath laboured for the Gospel of Christ not only the tenour of your Letter directed to us hath manifested but the granted accomplishment of your undertaking For neither hath Almighty God forsaken the Obligation of his Name or the fruit of your Labour in what he faithfully promised to the preachers of the Gospel Behold I am with you even to the end of the World Which his clemency hath particularly shewn in your ministery opening the hearts of the Gentiles to receive the singular mystery of your preaching for with a great reward and the assistance of his goodness he hath illustrated the delightful course of your proceedings whilst of the Talents committed unto you by a faithful improvement rendring him a plentiful increase he hath prepared for you to lay up by multiplying the kind And this also is conferred on you by that retribution who constantly persisting in the ministry laid upon you with a commendable patience wait for the redemption of that Nation and that they might be profitable to yours their salvation is begun The Lord saying Whosoever shall endure to the end the same shall be saved Ye are saved therefore by a patient hope and the strength of forbearance that the hearts of unbelievers being purged from the natural disease of Superstition might obain the mercy of their Saviour For having received an express from King Eadbald our Son we find with how great knowledge in holy teaching your Brotherhood hath brought his mind to a true conversion and the belief of our undoubted faith Upon which occasion having a certain assurance of the continuance of the divine Clemency we believe that by the ministry of their preaching will follow not only the full conversion of those under his command but of the neighbouring Nations also Since as it is written The recompence of your works accomplished shall be given by the Lord the Rewarder of all good things And it may truly be effected that the sound of them hath gone throughout the whole earth and their words to the ends of the earth by an universal confession of Nations professing the Christian Faith Polydore Virgil relates that hereupon he was Baptized but it seemeth strange that Ethelbert so Religious a Prince had neglected that pious office to his Son and as for re-baptizing in case of Heresie or Apostasie it had been long before condemned in the Church After his conversion he re-called Melitus and Justus from banishment and built a Chappel within the Monastery of Peter and Paul at Canterbury He reigned twenty four years and by Emma daughter of Theodebert a French Prince had two Sons Ermenred and Ercombert Ermenred died before his Father and left a Daughter Dompnena and two infant Sons behind him Ethelred and Ethelbert but the Kingdom required a man to govern it Ercombert the younger Son succeeded his Father ERCOMBERT ERCOMBERT notwithstanding his elder Brother's Sons were living took possession of the Kingdom What he wanted in Right he made out in good Government being reported a most Religious and Christian King The Saxon Idols yet standing he utterly demolisht and commanded the Fast of Lent to be universally observed but he is noted by some for not restoring at his death the Kingdom to his Nephew whose undoubted Right it was But leaving two Sons behind Egbert and Lothair whom he had by Sexburg the daughter of Anna King of the East-Saxons it fell to them successively He reigned twenty four years EGBERT EGBERT the eldest Son of Ercombert after his Father's death obtained the Crown but conscious that the right of Inheritance lay in his Uncle's Sons Ethelred and Ethelbert to secure himself he dispatcht them both casting their bodies into a River that their murther might not be known but they were afterwards by the stream cast up upon the shore and discovered by the next Inhabitants who in great veneration for before they were esteemed Saints and now Martyrs interred their bodies and built over them a little Chappel or Oratory Their bones were afterwards removed and laid in the Abby of Ramsey in Hantshire Their Sister Dompnena married to Merwald a Mercian Prince founded the Abby of Minster in Kent wherein saith Stow she became the first Abbess Mr. Cambden placeth that Abby in Sheppy and saith it was founded by Sexburga Wife of Ercombert To make amends for this Murther he gave to the Mother of these Princes part of Tanet wherein to build and Abby His ill-gotten Power was but short reigning only nine years he left behind him two Sons Edric and Wigtred but his Brother Lothair seized the Kingdom In his days the Province of Kent was divided into Parishes by Theodorus not Honorius Arch-bishop of that See as Mr. Speed falsly accounteth who placeth also this Action in the days of Ercombert LOTHAIR LOTHAIR taking the advantage of the Minority of his Nephews stept into the Throne but he enjoyed it not in Peace
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
the hearts and flesh of all rejoyced in the living God who by his heavenly Grace had not only enriched them with internal but external blessings also This Prelate at his first coming into the Province seeing the plague of Famine so great had taught them to get sustenance by fishing for the Sea and Rivers abounded with all sort of fish but their skill extended only to the catching of Eeles Having therefore gathered together many Eele-Nets they cast them into the Sea and by divine assistance presently caught three hundred fish of divers kinds which dividing into three parts they gave a hundred to the Poor a hundred to them of whom they had borrowed the Nets and a hundred they reserved for their own use By which benefit this Prelate gained the affections of every one towards him and they were easier brought by his Preaching to hope for eternal things by whose Ministry they had received temporal At which time King Edilwalch gave by donation to the most Reverend Father Wilfrid Land of eighty seven Families where he might receive his own People who wandered about in Exile that is to say Seolesu which in Latin is called Insula vituli marini the place is every where surrounded with the Sea saving on the West where it hath a passage of about a stones cast wide This place when Wilfred had received he founded there a Monastery for Priests Regular placing therein such especially whom he had brought with him which to this day his Successors hold For he lived in those parts five years i. e. till the death of King Elfrid worthily honoured by all exercising the office of a Bishop both in word and deed And because the King together with the possession of the same place had granted him all the Demesne with the Lands and Tenants he baptized them all into the Christian Faith among which many men and maid Servants to the number of one hundred and fifty he not only by Baptism delivered from the slavery of Satan but by giving them freedom released them from the yoke of human bondage The Conversion of the Inhabitants of WIGHT AFter Ceadvalla had obtained the Kingdom of the West-Saxons he took the Isle of Wight which hitherto was generally given to Idolatry By tragical slaughter he endeavours to root out the Natives and in their place plant people of his own Province obliging himself by a Vow though as yet not baptized as is reported that if he took the said Island he would give the fourth part of it and the spoil to holy uses which he likewise performed granting it to Wilfred the Bishop who was then by chance come thither from his own Country The measure of the Island according to the account of the English is a thousand two hundred Families out of which was given to the Bishop the possession of three hundred But that part which he received he bestowed on one of his clergy by name Bernuvin his Sisters son assigning him a Priest called Hildila who should administer the Word and Sacrament to all such as desired salvation where I think it ought not to be passed by in silence how that for the first fruits of them who of the Island by believing were saved two young Princes Brothers of Arwald King of the Island by the special favour of God were first crowned For the Enemy approaching they got out of the Island and were carried into the next Province of the Vites where being brought to a place called Ad lapidem and thinking themselves hid from the fury of the Conquerour they were betrayed and commanded to be stain which when a Priest and Abbot by name Cimbreth came to understand having not far off a Monastery in a place called Reodford he came to the King who then lay in those parts Incognito under the cure of his wounds which he had received in fight in the Isle of Wight and desired of him that if of necessity the Youths must die they might first be baptized with the Sacrament of Christian Faith The King granted it and he instructing them in the words of truthi and washing them in the fountain of life gave them certain assurance of their entrance into the eternal Kingdom Which done they joyfully received at the Executioner's hands a temporal death by which they doubted not but to pass to life everlasting In this order therefore after all the Provinces of Britain had embraced the Faith of Christ the Isle of Wight also received it in which Island not withstanding by reason of the inconvenience of external subjection none ever took the dignity of an Episcopal See and Jurisdiction before Daniel the present Bishop of the West-Saxons and Geuisses By this last Relation of Bede the Isle of Wight had not received the Faith till after the death of this King Edilwalch and the arrival of Ceadwalla though others relate otherwise as hath been shewn before For Edilwalch assisting the West-Saxons against Ceadwalla was slain by him before he the said Ceadwalla had invaded the South-Saxons and in this Prince ended the Royal stem of the South-Saxon Kings but after his death two Dukes of this Province Berthun and Authun assumed the Power to themselves and in some Conflicts repelled Ceadwald with loss but he having united his Subjects and gathered more Forces returned upon them and with the slaughter of Berthun totally subdued the whole Country which with the uttermost violence of a Conquerour he brought into miserable Thraldom Thus they who received the Faith last were the first who were brought to subjection long before hand leading the dance to other Kingdoms who were to follow in the universal Obedience to the Western-Monarchy THE KINGDOM OF Northumberland Contained Counties Yorkshire Durham Loncashire Westmorland Cumberland Northumberland KINGS Ida. Ella Ethelric Edelfrid Edwin Osric the First Eanfrid Oswald Oswy Egfrid Alkfryd Osred the First Kenred Osric the Second Ceolwulf Egbert Oswulf Ethelwald Alcred Ethelred I. Elfwald Osred the Second Ethelred II. IDA THE first settlement of the Saxons in these parts we may remember was under Octa and Ebissa the one the Son the other the Nephew of King Hengist who being called over in the daies of Vortigern by his leave landing about Humber and not long after sayling to the Orcades with fourty ships subdued all the Northern Tract and at last fixed themselves in that part of the Island which is now called Northumberland These Transactions happened about the year 450 since which time till the year 547 we hear nothing of them but that they and their posterity quietly possest and enjoyed what by force they had won of the Britains but still paying homage to Kent though far distant as to the elder Family But now about this year one IDA the tenth from Woden began to set up a separate Kingdom in Northumberland called the Kingdom of Bernicia and to assume absolute Royalty to himself What his Title was or whether he got it by Election or Usurpation
his Reasons measured the truth of all Religions by Worldly success for he was angry that his Gods had not advanced him to the King's favour above others was the first that gave his consent offering himself to the King as the fittest Instrument to destroy those Idols whose worship he himself had so much promoted After this Paulinus had free liberty openly to preach the Gospel and the King with his Sons born to him of his first wife Quenburga with a great part of his Nobility and People renounced their Idolatry and were baptized The King with his Family in St. Peter's Church at York which he had hastily erected of Timber and the People for their number near the Rivers of Glevie in the Province of Bernicia and Swale in the Province of Deira After the Conversion of Northumberland Paulinus dispersed the seeds of Faith amongst them of Lindsey a Province in Lincolnshire First he converted Blecca Governour of the City of Lincoln and his Family where he built a Church curiously wrought of stone which was very much decayed in Bede's time Neither was Edwin any less careful to set forward the Conversion of the English by assisting Paulinus and by his perswading Eorpwald the Son of Redwald to embrace the Faith who soon after was slain by one Richert his own Countryman Pope Honorius after he had heard of the Conversion of the Northumbers sent to Paulinus a Confirmation of his being Archbishop of York withal exhortatory Letters to Edwin to perswade him to continue firmly in the Faith he professed the stile and substance of which Epistle as much as relates to him was this Bishop Honorius servant of the Servants of God To Edwin King of the English Greeting THe integrity of your Christianity is so warmed through the zeal of Faith towards the worship of the Omnipotent Creatour that it casts a lustre every where and is talkt of over all the World so that we with you may abundantly enjoy the reward of your labour for then you may account your selves Kings when having been informed of your King and Creatour by a true and Orthodox preaching you believe in God by worshipping him sincerely and paying to him as much as the weakness of your condition will permit the unseigned devotion of your minds For what else are we to offer up to our God but that per severing in good actions and confessing him to be the Authour of Mankind we make haste to worship him and to pay our vows unto him And therefore Most excellent Son we exhort you as is meet with a Fatherly love that since the Divine pity has vouch safed to call you to his Grace you would endeavour with a careful mind and by continual praying to preserve it that he who in this present World has brought you free from all Errour to the knowledge of his Name would prepare for you the Mansions of the heavenly Country After King Edwin had Reigned seventeen years Cadwallo King of the Britains rose up against him who being assisted by Penda the Merolan who envied Edwin's Greatness after a terrible battel at Heithfield slew this great King and his Son Osfrid This Edwin was renowned for his justice and moderation and the great care he took to help and ease his poor Subjects For in his time any one might travel safely all over his Dominions even from Sea to Sea and for the benefit of the wayfaring Man he commanded Iron-dishes should be fastned to every Fountain for conveniency of Travellers to drink Neither was he unmindful of his own Grandure having a Royal Banner alwaies carried before him He was buried in St. Peter's Church at Streanshal afterwards called Whitby His Queen Ethelburga with her Children and Paulinus fled into Kent to her Brother Eadbald who kindly received his Sister and her Children and made Paulinus Bishop of Rochester in which See he ended his daies and to which at his death he bequeathed the Pall which he had received for York Ethelburga afterwards spent her daies in a Monastery of Nuns built by her self near the Sea-side at a place called Lymming The Issue of King Edwin by Quinburga his first wife Daughter of Creda King of Mercia but Bede faith of Ceorl is this Osfrid the eldest Son of King Edwin was slain with his Father he and his Son Iffy had been both baptized by Paulinus Iffy after the death of his Father for fear of Oswald was conveyed into France where he died in his Childhood Edfrid second Son of Edwin for fear of Oswald fled to Penda King of Mercia and was barbarously murthered by him He left Issue Hererik of whom and his wife Bertswith descended Hilda the famous Abbess of Streanshalch and Hereswith wife of Ethelhere King of the East Angles And the Issue of the said Edwin by Ethelburg his second wife Daughter of Ethelbert King of Kent is Ethelme who died young and not long after he had received Baptism and was buried in St. Peter's Church in York Uskfrea was conveyed into Kent and afterwards into France with Iffy his half Brother with whom also he died and was buried Eanfled the elder Daughter was married to Oswy King of Northumberland Ethelred the younger died an Infant after he had received baptism and was buried with her brother Ethelm OSRIC EANFRITH AFter the death of Edwin the Kingdom of Northumberland became divided as in former times each rightful Heir seizing his part OSRIC the Son of Alfrid Edwin's Uncle by profession a Christian and baptized by Paulinus Reigned in Deira and EANFRITH the Son of Edilfrid the Wild in Bernicia He had been conveyed into Scotland with his two Brothers Oswald and Oswin and there with others of the Nobility had been baptized and instructed in the Christian Faith But now these two Kings having each of them a Crown turned Apostates from the Church and fell again to their old Religion and Idolatry But divine Vengeance soon followed at their heels for in less than the compass of a year they were both destroyed one by the force the other by the fraud and treachery of Cadwallo the manner whereof is thus related in Bede as likewise the succeeding Calamities in Northumberland caused by the tyranny and oppression of the Conquerour Cadwallader the British King the Summer following slew them both and though by force and violence sufficiently wicked yet the vengeance was by them deserved OSRIC was surprized with his whole Army and in a City of his own besieged and there finally with all his Forces destroyed After which the Conquerour entring Northumberland brought all under his power using his victory not with the moderation of a King but the pride and insolence of a merciless Tyrant laying wide desolation wherever he came EANFRITH the other King coming to him to beg his peace was barbarously put to death This year saith he is counted to this day hateful and unfortunate both for the Apostasie of these English Kings as the fury and tyranny of the British wherefore
the Historians of those times have thought convenient that the memory of these Apostate Kings should be utterly razed and the same year reckoned the first of King Oswald a man dearly beloved of God OSWALD OSWALD after the death of his Brother was made King of Northumberland He was a Prince well grounded in his Religion and besides many other vertues had accomplisht himself during his Exile in all Military exercises to which in his youth he had studiously addicted himself And indeed the state of the Kingdom at his first entrance upon it being miserably harassed by Cadwallo required no ordinary man to redeem the glory and honour of it He had to deal with an enemy used to Conquer but withal proud and boasting and who by often beating the Northumberlands had now little opinion of the Saxon Valour in general and was therefore grown somewhat secure and negligent in his proceeding Him therefore Oswald with a small but Christian Army attacks by a little River running into Tine near the old Roman Wall the place called Denisborn and after a sharp fight slaies him with the greatest part of his huge Host which he boasted was Invincible It is reported that the first day Oswald though provoked would not joyn battel but spent the whole time in prayers and supplications commanding his Army to do the like and to shew that his trust was more in the protection of the Almighty than the arm of flesh and to profess himself the Souldier os Christ he erected for his Standard a great 〈◊〉 in the field wherein he encamped sustaining the same with his own hands until the Souldiers with earth filled up the ground it was fixed in from this Cross and the Victory ensuing the place was afterwards called 〈◊〉 and the Cross it self was long after much frequented for the Miracles said to be wrought by it Being settled in his Throne by the death of his potent Enemy like a good Prince his first care was to have his people again instructed in the Christian Religion which by the Apostasie of the former Princes and devastations of those times was almost utterly lost among them To this purpose he sends into Scotland where himself had been bred up to have some godly and laborious Preachers sent unto him his desires were readily assented to by the Clergy of that Country and Aidan a Monk and Bishop with others to assist him are accordingly dispatched who coming into Northumberland by their good example and diligent preaching wonderfully restored the Christian Religion insomuch that many thousands are said in few daies to have been Baptized by them This Aidan had assigned to him from the King for an Episcopal Seat a place then called Lindesfarn now Holy Island but he was not so famous by the dignity of his Sec as the singular vertues of his mind being a man above the level of that Age of wonderful moderation and not carried away with the nice and trivial points of Theology which most desperately infected those and latter times And this will more evidently appear by the Testimony of Bede in his preamble to the Councel of Whitby which you may find in the Reign of the following Prince And this might be the reason that he gained so much on the minds of his Auditors for whereas others following the example of Colmar a preacher then in Northumberland delighted more to shew their profound skill in points then controverted than plainly to set forth the grounds of Christianity Aidan on the contrary by easie Doctrine and yielding in things Ceremonial made more Christians by far though fewer Disputants Neither is the devotion and humility of Oswald himself to be passed over who disdained not to be Interpreter to the Bishop in his first preaching for whereas Aidan at his first coming spoke Scotch only or very broken English the King himself to secure him from contempt and to make his words carry more Authority was as you have heard himself the conduit to coveigh them to his People Neither is this King less celebrated for his exceeding Charity and pity to the poor feeding them with his own hands at the Gate and often distributing the plate it self amongst them for which it is said that Aidan being once present taking the King by the right hand thus said or prophesied That it was impossible that hand should parish which had so often sustained others which report goes after his death was fulfilled for that hand remaining uncorrupted was afterwards shrined in Silver and preserved entire in St. Peter's Church in Bebba now Bamborow Thus the Kingdom of Northumberland by the blessing of God and the good endeavours of King Oswald enjoyed the benefits of peace during which time Religion good Laws and Ordinances were established Churches erected through the whole Province and the general State so flourished that all the neighbouring Countries invited by the Princely vertues of Oswald especially the moderation of his Government daily flocked under his obedience insomuch that he had at command at one time people of four different languages Britains Picts Scotch and English Thus after he had Reigned the space of eight years worthy of a longer life he fell by the same fate and the same hands 〈◊〉 Edwin his Predecessour For 〈◊〉 the Pugan King of Mercia envying the greatness of his State made war upon 〈◊〉 and at a place called Maserfield now Oswester in Shropshire cut him in pieces with a great part of his Army on the fifth of August 642. His Body was buried at Bradney in Lincoinshire By his wife Kinburg Daughter of Kingils he had a Son named Ethelwald who being left young was put by the Kingdom by his base Uncle Oswy but he continually gave him trouble in the keeping of it and obtained lastly a Principality in Derra which he held by force after that Oswy had slain Oswyn the Nephew of Edwin who for seven years had held it OSWY OSWY the base Son of Edilfrid the Wild after the death of his Brother succeeded him in the Kingdom The beginning of his Reign was exceedingly turmoiled with the continual incursions of Penda the rebellions of his base Son Alkfrid and the opposition of Ethelwald Son of Edwin and rightful Heir of the Crown But his greatest eye-sore was Oswyn the Son of Osric Edwin's Brother who had possession of Deira a Prince highly beloved by his People for his good nature and much admired for zeal in Religion and humility in the profession of it Against him Oswy raiseth an Army and Oswyn meeteth him but finding himself far Inferiour in number he broke up his Camp which was then at Wilfaresdown ten miles west of Cataracton and reserving himself for a better opportunity with one Attendant named Condhere he withdrew to the house of Earl Hunwald on whose fidelity he much relied but contrary to his expectation he was by the said Earl basely betrayed to King Oswy and by his order as basely murthered at Ingethling Aidan the good Bishop survived not
twelve daies this murther dying as some report for grief having not long before foretold the death of that Prince upon this account because he was a man the World was not worthy of being an Humble King Aidan was buried in the Isle of Lindesfarn and Finan succeeded him in that See This fact of King Oswy was odious to all and therefore to explate the guilt a Monastery was erected upon the place where the murther was committed and prayers daily offered for the Souls of both Kings the slayer and the slain But notwithstanding Oswyn was thus removed the Kingdom of Deira or part of it was seized by Ethelwald the Son of King Oswald But Oswy was still infested with the incursions of King Penda and had long endured many sore devastations Once he had almost lost his strongest City Bebanburge now Bamborow Castle which Penda with fire and sword had assaulted And now weary of continual standing on his defence he resolves if possible by any means to buy his Peace and to that end sends large gifts and presents to Penda with humble suit desiring League and Amity But these being with scorn refused he prepares for War and first imploring divine assistance if God would grant him Victory he vows his Daughter a Nun and twelve Lordships for the building of Monasteries which done he raises an Army and meets Penda at a place called Loyden now Leeds in Yorkshire The Army of Penda as is reported exceeded Oswy's thirty times over and was commanded by expert Captains nevertheless they were utterly routed and put to flight and many of them swallowed up in the River Winwed which at that time was unusually swelled with Rains Penda himself was slain in the battel and Ethelhere King of the East-Angles the contriver of the War Ethelwald the Son of Oswald was in the field upon the Mercian side and is said to have been the cause of their desear for withdrawing his Forces at the first Onset and meaning to expect the event he discouraged the Mercians who misdoubted there was treachery in it The death of Penda was received with great joy through all the neighbouring Provinces as the Song witnesseth At the River Winwed Anna was Avenged Oswy after this Victory enters Mercia with an Army which he presently reduced to his obedience but unto Peada the Son of Penda as his near Kinsman he gave the Principality of the South Mercians containing five thousand Families and separate from the 〈◊〉 Mercians by the River Trent 〈◊〉 But him slain by the treachery of his wife 〈◊〉 and Eadbert three Mercian Earls set up Vulfer and fling off the Government of Oswy who was now employed in a Pictish War and had subdued the greatest part of that Nation This Oswy had in him a strange mixture of Vertues and Vices in his beginning bloody and tyrannous towards his latter end just and moderate Highly addicted he was to Roman Superstitions and resolved a Pilgrimage thither had not he been taken off by death for in the twenty eighth year of his Reign and fifty eighth of his Age he departed this life having vowed that Journey as some write to expiate the murther of King Oswyn Under this Oswy was held a Councel about the observation of Easter which because it is much celebrated by all our Writers I shall put it down as it is originally related The Synod of Streanshalch now Whitby at the request of Hilda Abbess of that place under Oswy the Father and Alchfrid the Son Kings of Northumberland in the year of Christ 664. In which is controverted the Celebration of Easter and other Ecclesiastical Rites There being present on the side of the Romans and English King Alchfrid the Son Agilbert Bishop of the West-Saxons Abbot Wilfrid Agatho Presbyter James a Deacon and Romanus On the side of the Scots and Britains King Oswy the Father Colmanne Bishop of Lindisfarne with other Scottish Bishops Cedda Bishop of the East Saxons Hilda Abbess of Streanshalch with a great many others of the Clergy on both sides Bede's Preface to this Synod IN these times was startled a common and great question concerning the observation of Easter Those that came from Kent or Gaul affirming that the Scots keep the Lord's day of Easter contrary to the custom of the Catholick Church Among these was one Romanus by name a stiff defender of the true Easter by Nation a Scot but had learned the true rules Ecclesiastick in Gaul or the Confines of Italy who disputing with one Finan made many sensible of their errour or at least perswaded them to a deeper search into the truth but he could not in the least stir Finan who being of a fiery nature was rather made worse by his instructions and an open enemy to truth But James formerly Deacon under the worshipful Archbishop Paulinus observed the true and Catholick Easter with those whom he had taught the true and correct way Queen Eanfeld also observed it with her houshold according to what she had seen performed in Kent having with her a Priest from Kent named Romanus of the Catholick opinion from whence they report in those daies it sometimes happened that Easter should be kept twice in one year For when the King 's Lent being done was keeping Easter then the Queen with hers Lent with them not being yet ended was celebrating Palm-Sunday But this different observancy of Easter Aidan living was patiently born with by all men who understood thus much That though he could not celebrate Easter contrary to the custom of those that had sent him yet he took care that the works of faith charity and love in which all Saints agree should be diligently performed so that he was deservedly beloved by all men nay even of those that thought otherwise of Easter and was not only respected by the meaner sort but by Bishops themselves Honorius of Canterbury and Foelix of the East-Angles But Finan being dead who succeeded Aidan when Colman came into the Bishoprick for he also was sent from Scotland there arose a more solemn controversie concerning the observing of Easter and other Precepts relating to an Ecclesiastical life so that this question justly moved the hearts of many lest peradventure the name of Christianity being only retained they should run or had run in vain It came at last to the ears of the Court to wit of King Oswy and his Son Alchfrid for Oswy was taught and baptized by the Scots and was well skilled in their Language and esteemed nothing truer than what they had taught him But Alchfrid had for his Instructour in Christianity Wilfrid a right learned man who had made a Journy to Rome on purpose to learn of the Law Ecclesiastick and had lived many years with Dalphin Archbishop of Lions in Gaul from whom he had received the right custom of Church-shaving He therefore thought this Man's Doctrine to be preferred before all the Traditions of the Scots for which reason he had lately given him a Monastery of
fourty Families in the place which is called Humpum which place he had given a little before for a Monastery to those of the Scottish perswasion But because they afterward of their own accord chose rather to relinquish the place than alter their Customs he gave it to him whose Doctrine and Life was worthy of it About this time came Agilbert Bishop of the West-Saxons a great friend of King Alchfrid's and of Abbot Wilfrid to a Province of the Northnmbers and continued sometime among them who made Wilfrid at the request of Alchfrid Presbyter in his said Monastery but he had with himself a Presbyter named Agatho The question therefore of Easter Shaving or other Ecclestastical Rites being there moved it was ordered that in the Monastery which is called Strensalth which is interpreted Sinus fari over which at that time Hilda the Abbess a Woman devoted to God was Governess a Synod should be called and this question determined Both Kings came thither viz. Father and Son Bishops Colman with his Clergy of Scotland Agilbert with the Presbyters Agatho and Wilfrid James and Romanus were on this side Abbess Hilda with hers on the Scotish Party on which side also was the worshipful Bishop Chad not long before ordained Bishop of the Scots who also was a diligent Interpeter on both sides in that Councel First King Oswy by a short Speech opened the Assembly saying that they which served one God ought to observe but one Rule of Living neither to differ in the celebration of the heavenly Sacraments who all expected but one Kingdom in the Heavens they ought more especially to enquire which was the truest Tradition and all with one consent to follow that He commanded his Bishop Colman to speak first what had been the Custom and from whence that had its Original which he followed Then Colman The Easter said he which I am wont to keep I received from my Ancestors who sent me Bishop hither which all our Fathers men beloved of God are well known to have celebrated the same way which that it may not be contemned and rejected by any 't is the very same which the blessed Evangelist John a Disciple particularly beloved by our Lord is said to have celebrated in all Churches which he governed After he had said this and more to the same purpose the King commanded Agilbert to relate and set forth from whence the Custom he observed had its beginning and by what Authority he followed it Agilbert made Answer I desire that my Disciple Wilfrid the Presbyter may speak in my stead because we both have the same Sentiments with the other followers of Ecclesiastical Tradition that are here present for he can explain it more clearly and better in the English Tongue than I by an Interpreter Then Wilfrid the King commanding him to speak began thus The Easter which we follow said he we have seen celebrated by every body at Rome where the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul lived taught suffered and were buried This we have seen observed in Gaul most of which we have travelled through either teaching or praying This we know is performed in Africa Asia Egypt Greece and in all the World wheresoever the Church of Christ is spread through divers Nations and Languages at one and the same and not distinct order of time except these only and their Accomplices in their obstinacy I mean the Picts and Britains lying in the utmost Islands of the Ocean nor all those neither who by foolish endeavours strive against all the World As he spake this Coleman answered I wonder why you should style our endeavours vain and foolish in which we follow the Example of so great an Apostle who was found worthy to lye in the bosom of our Saviour and since it is well known that the whole World is satisfied in his Wisdom Then Wilfrid God forbid that we should accuse St. John of folly when he observed the precepts of Moses his Law according to the Letter the Church as yet Judaizing in many things Neither were the Apostles on a sudden able to abolish all Observances of the Law which was instituted by God as it was necessary that all which come to the Faith should reject Images which was an invention of Divels viz. lest they might offend those Jews which were dispersed among the Gentiles On this account it is that Paul circumcised Timothy that he offered Sacrifices in the Temple that with Aquila and Priscilla he shore the head of Chorinthus profitable to no other end but avoiding the offending the Jews You see Brother how many thousands there were among the Jews which believed all which were followers of the Law neither to this very day the Gospel beginning to shine all over the World is it necessary or lawful for the faithful to be circumcised or to offer up fleshly sacrifices to God Therefore John according to the manner of the Law began the celebration of the Paschal Feast about Evening on the fourteenth day of the first Month not valuing whether it fell out on the Sabbath or any other Festival But Peter when he preached at Rome mindsul that the Lord rose from the dead on the first day of the Sabbath and gave to the World hopes of a Resurrection understood it so to be celebrated that according to the Custom and Precept of the Law he should always expect the fourteenth Moon of the first Month even as St. John rising at Evening and that being risen if the Lord's day which then was called the first of the Sabbath should happen in the Morning he began to celebrate the Lord's Easter that very Evening as we all do at this day But if the Lord's day happen not on the next Morning after the fourteenth Moon but the sixteenth seventeenth or any other Moon take the twenty first He waited for it and the preceding Sabbath in the Evening he began the Holy Solemnities of Easter so it came to pass that the Lord's day of Easter was not kept unless from the fifteenth day to the twenty first Neither does this Evangelical and Apostolical Tradition diminish from the Law but rather fulfils it in which 't is observable that Easter was commanded from the fourteenth of the first Month at Evening to the twenty first Moon of the same Month at Evening which observation all St. John's Successors in Asia after his death and the whole Church throughout the World were inclined to follow And that this is the true Easter and that this ought only to be celebrated by the faithful is confirmed by the Nicene Councel not lately established as Ecclesiastical History informs us whence it plainly appears O Colman that ye do not follow the Example of John as ye think neither in the Observation of your Easter do you agree with the Tradition of St. Peter which wittingly you contradict nor with the Law nor with the Gospel for John keeping Easter time according to the Decrees of the Mosaick Law observed not the first
day of the Sabbath which ye do who will not celebrate it upon the first day of the Sabbath Peter solemnized the Lord's day of Easter from the sisteenth Moon till the twenty first which ye do not who observe the Lords day of Easter from the fourteenth to the twentieth Moon so that on the thirteenth Moon at Evening ye often begin Easter Neither did our Lord the Author and giver of the Gospel eat the old passover on that day but on the fourteenth Moon at Evening or deliver the Sacraments of the New Testament to be celebrated in Commemoration of his Passion also the twenty first Moon which the Law especially commends to our Observation ye utterly reject in the celebration of your Easter so that as I said before ye neither agree with John nor Peter Law or Gospel in the solemnizing the great Festival To these things Colman answered Did Anatholius a holy man and much commended in the sore-mentioned Church History think contrary to either Law or Gospel who writ that Easter was to be kept from the fourteenth to the twentieth Is it to be imagined that our most reverend Father Columba and his Successors men beloved of God either thought or acted any thing contrary to Holy Writ When there were many amongst them of whose heavenly Holiness the wonders and powerful Miracles they wrought have given sufficient Testimony who as I ever thought them to be Holy men so I will never desist from following their times manners and discipline Then Wilfrid 'T is evident said he that Anatholius was a man very holy learned and praise-worthy but what does that concern ye when ve do not observe his Decrees for he in his Easter following the Rule of Truth set forth a Circle of nineteen years which ye are either ignorant of or else utterly contemn if ve acknowledg it to be kept by the whole Church of Christ. He in the Lord's Easter so reckoned the fourteenth Moon that he acknowledged that on the same day after the manner of the Egyptians to be the fifteenth Moon at evening so he observed the twentieth day for the Lord's Easter but so that he believed that the day being done to be the one and twentieth of which rule of distinction he proves thee ignorant because sometimes ye plainly keep your Easter before the full Moon that is on the thirteenth Month. As concerning your Father Columba and his Followers whose sanctity ye say ye will imitate and whose rules and precepts confirmed by heavenly signs ye are resolved to follow I might Answer when many at Judgment shall say to the Lord that they have prophesied in his Name and cast out Devils and wrought many wonders the Lord will answer that he never knew them But far be it from me that I should speak this of your Fathers since 't is more reasonable of uncertain things to entertain good thoughts than bad for which reason therefore I do not deny them to be the Servants of God and beloved by God who out of an innocent simplicity and a pious intention love God Neither do I think such an observation of Easter to be much prejudicial to them as long as no body comes among them that can shew decrees of a better institution which they may follow who nevertheless I believe had some Catholick Calculator better instructed them would have followed those things which they knew and had learned to be the Commands of God You therefore and your Associates if you despise to follow the decrees of the Apostolick See when you have heard them nay of the Universal Church and those confirmed by Holy writ without doubt ye sin What though your Fathers were holy are the paucity of these in a corner of the farthest Island to be preferred before the Universal Church of Christ over the World What if this your Columba and ours too if he be Christ's was holy and powerful in Miracles ought he to be preferred before the blessed Prince of the Apostles to whom the Lord said thou art Peter and upon this Rock will I build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it and to thee will I give the Keys of the kingdom of Heaven After Wilfrid had thus spoken the King said Colman is it true that these words were spoken by the Lord to Peter Who answered True O King Then said he Have you any thing that you can bring to prove so great power was given to Columba but he said No we have not The King again said Do both you agree without any controversie on this that these words were principally spoken to Peter and the Keys of the kingdom of Heaven were given him by the Lord They both answered Yes Then the King thus concluded And I say unto you because he is the Door-keeper I will not contradict him but as far as I know and am able I desire to obey his commands in all things lest perchance I coming to the Gates of the Kingdom of Heaven there be no body to open he being turned aside whom you have proved to hold the Keys After the King had said thus both those that sate down and those that stood great and small assented so that the less perfect Institution being abandoned every one made haste to apply themselves to those things they thought better The Dispute being ended and the Assembly dismist Agilbert returned home Colman seeing his Doctrine slighted and his Party despised taking along with him those that were resolved to be of his sect i. e. they that would not admit of the Catholick Easter and shaving of the Crown for there was no little question about that returned into Scotland to treat with his Party what he should do in the business Chad leaving the tract of the Scotish Doctrine returned to his See as acknowledging the observation of the Catholick Easter This Disputation fell out in the year of the Incarnation of our Lord 664 the twenty second year of King Oswy and the 30th year of the Bishoprick of the Scots which they had born in the Province of the English The wife of Oswy was Eanfled Daughter of Edwin King of Northumberland after the death of her husband she spent her daies in the Monastery of Streanshalch where she deceased and was interred in the Church of St. Peter in the same Monastery The Issue of King Oswy by Eanfled was this Elwin was slain in a battel against Ethelred King of the Mercians Elfled the eldest Daughter at a year old according to the Vow of her Father was committed to Hilda Abbess of Streanshalch to be bred up in Religion where she was afterwards Abbess and was buried in the Church of St. Peters in that Monastery Offrid the younger Daughter was married to Ethelred King of Mercia His natural Issue Alkfrid who succeeded Ethelwald in Deira came at last to the whole Crown of Northumberland Alkfled married to Peada Son of King Penda she is taxed by most Writers for the death of her Husband EGFRID
EGFRID eldest Son of King Oswy by his wife Eanfled succeeded his Father in the Kingdom A Prince as he is reported of an unquiet disposition His first wars were with Ethelred King of Mercia who had married his Sister with whom encountring by the River Trent he lost great part of his Army and his Brother Elswin a youth generally beloved who amongst the thickset was there unfortunately cut off Greater bloodshed had like to have ensued had not Theodorus Archbishop of York interposed and took up the quarrel so that a sum of mony being paid to Egfrid for the loss of his Brother the business was happily concluded His next wars were with the Irish a Nation saith Bede harmless and great friends to the English These he unprovoked furiously invades making no distinction between things holy or profane but with fire and sword laid waste the Country and buried it in the Ruines of its Cities Temples and Monasteries The Irish on the other side used no other weapons but Prayers and as my Author has it bitter Imprecations which may be supposed at last to have reached Heaven it self for the next year against the counsel and earnest perswasion of his sagest Friends and especially Cudbert the Bishop going to wars against the Picts he was trained into narrow straits by the Enemy and there cut off with most part of his Army This was so great a blow to the English that not only the Scots and Picts who before durst not look beyond their own Country but the Britains also began to bear up for Liberty and yearly to gain upon their old enemies This King took to wife Ethildrith Daughter of Anna King of the East-Angles she had been wife to Eunbert Prince of the Gervii a Nation lying in the Fens but notwithstanding marriage had kept her Virginity Nor did her second Nuptials with a King make her in the least alter her resolution and though invited to his Bed sometimes by passionate entreaties otherwhiles by perswasions of her friends who were made privy to it yet she continued obstinate contrary to the Apostle's Rule the dictates of Nature it self which at one time abhors communion and separation and against the Laws of common prudence and civility And all this to pursue an extravagant chastity and a purity of living against all other obligations whatsoever however she be cannonized St. Andrey of Ely where it seems leaving her Husband she ended her daies ALKFRYD ALKFRYD the natural Son of King Oswy during the Reign of his half Brother had retired into Ireland where he was well instructed in the Liberal Sciences and as Bede saith exceedingly well read in the Scriptures Advanced to the Crown he wore it with much prudence and moderation but the bounds of his Kingdom were much straitned by the inroads of the Picts and encroachments of the Britains But what he wanted in extent of Dominion he made up in the prudent management of what he had He married Kenburg Daughter of Penda the Mercian by whom he had an only Son that succeeded him he ruled twenty years OSRED OSRED the Son of Alkfrid was eight years of age when he came to the Crown but he was no sooner grown up to any ripeness but he gave himself to all viciousness of life committing Incest with veiled Nuns for which his wife Cuthburga weary of her own dishonour sued a divorce and built a Monastery at Winburn in Dorsetshire where she ended her daies But Osred lived not long after her departure for he was slain by his own Relations Kenred and Osric in the eleventh year of his Reign KENRED KENRED descended from Ida by a Bastard-line and succeeded Osred in the Kingdom of Northumberland his Reign is short being only of two years continuance during which time he left nothing memorable behind him OSRIC OSRIC Reigned ten years without memory of Acts Parentage Wife or Issue CEOLNULF CEOLNULF the Brother of Kenred Ruled the space of eight years when changing his Crown for a Cowl he turned Monk in Lindisfarn or Holy Island yet he proved none of the severest for he brought his Brethren from Milk and Water to drink good Wine and Ale bringing along with him good store of provisions and great Treasures by Simeon and all as the same Author writes to follow poor Christ. To him Bede dedicates his History but writes no more of him but that the beginning and process of his Reign met with many troubles and that the conclusion of them was doubtfully expected And this is the time of Peace so much commended by the foresaid Author when Princes Queens and Nobility forsaking their charges and other duties incumbent run themselves into Monasteries striving who should be foremost as if no salvation was to be obtained but in Cells and Cloysters His Brother was Archbishop of York and there founded a stately Library EGBERT EGBERT Nephew to King Ceolnulf succeeded in the Kingdom Whilst he was in wars against the Picts Ethelbald the Mercian taking advantage of his absence invaded part of Northumberland but upon what account or how revenged is not related In these Pictish Wars Egbert subdued Kyle and brought the Countries adjacent to it under his obedience Afterwards in the year 756 he joyns battel with Unust King of the Picts besieged and took by surrender the City Alcluith now Dunbritton in Lennox from the Britains of Cumberland and ten daies after lost his whole Army about Niwanbirig when resolving to lay down his Government though intreated to the contrary by his Subjects and Neighbouring Princes who profered to make good to him his losses by surrendring great Territories to him after the example of his Uncle turned Monk when he had Reigned twenty years About these times happened two extraordinary Eclipses one of the Sun in September Anno 733 the other of the Moon Anno 756. OSWULF OSWULF Son of Egbert succeeded his Father but in the same year was slain of his Servants at a place called Mikelwoughten ETHELWALD ETHELWALD sirnamed Mollo after the death of Oswulf was advanced to the Crown In his third year he fought a great battel at Eldune by Melros slew Oswyn a great Lord who rebelled against him and gained an absolute Victory but three years after he was slain by Alcred who succeeded him ALCRED ALCRED descended in the fifth degree from Ida King of Bernicia after the murther of his Soveraign seized the Kingdom of Northumberland In the fourth year of this King's Reign Cataracton now Catarik in Yorkshire a famous City in the time of the Romans was burnt to the ground by one Arnred a Tyrant who the same year came to the like end I should think that this Arnred might be Alcred did not others report that he Reigned five years Afterwards when driven out by his Subjects with a few Attendants he fled first to Bebba a strong Castle in those parts thence to Kinot King of the Picts He left Issue Osred who afterwards came to be
King of Northumberland and Alnud slain by the Danes and Canonized for a Saint ETHELRED ETHELRED the Son of Mollo succeeded who having caused three of his Nobles Adwulf Kinwulf and Ecca to be treacherously slain he was driven out of his Kingdom by Edelbald and Herebert who overcame him in a set battel ELFWALD ELFWALD the Son of Oswulf succeeded a just and upright Prince yet not freed from civil Commotions for in his second year Osbald and Ethelheard two Earls raising an Army against him routed his general Bearn and pursuing burnt him at a place called Seletune Others relate that Siga was chief Conspirator and that the King was slain at Scilcester on the wall and his body buried at Hexam upon Tine Siggan five years after laid violent hands on himself Elfwald left Issue Alfus and Alfin both slain by Ethelred Son of Mollo OSRED OSRED the Son of Alcred succeeded and the same year was deposed and driven from his Kingdom ETHELRED ETHELRED Son of Mollo after twelve years banishment imprisonment saith Alkuin was restored again to the Crown having taken Osred his Predecessour he shaved his Crown and encloystered him at York next he draws by fair promises Alfus and Alfwin Sons of Elfwald from the place they had taken Sanctuary in and barbarously murthers them at a place called Wonwaldremere a Village by the great Pool in Lancashire now called Winandermer Nor was his following Reign less bloody for Osred who by force had been made a Monk not liking the life had desired Banishment and obtained it And going into the Isle of Man raises some small Forces by the encouragement of certain Northumbrian Nobility with whom he kept intelligence and who promised by oath to assist him in his return but coming into his Country he is basely betrayed and deliveren unto Ethelred who immediately put him to death To strengthen himself in these Violencies he marries Elfled the Daughter of Ossa putting away his former wife but he enjoyed not long his Cruelties and Injustice for he was slain by his own Subjects at Cobre in the year 798. After his death many petty Princes or Dukes rather seized the Kingdom dividing it into parcels much molested by the Danes who made continual Inroads into those as well as other quarters which shall be treated of in order in the life of Egbert the West-Saxon who laid this as well as other Provinces to his own Dominion THE KINGDOM OF THE East-ANGLES Contained Counties Suffolk Norfolk Cambridgshire Isle of Ely KINGS Uffa Titulus Redwald Earpenwald Sigebert Egric Anna. Ethelherd Edelwald Aldulf Elswold Beorn Ethelred Egilbert UFFA TITULUS THE name of this Province testifieth what Nation they were who seated themselves in it to wit the Angles a People of Denmark of the same stock and Original with the Saxons who coming some of them with Hengist others with other Captains chose at length these quarters as the principal Rendezvous of their particular Tribe whither they flocked so fast that as Bede reporteth their Native Country in his daies was left almost desolate and uninhabitable The first time of their fixing in these parts is uncertainly guessed at but with most probability supposed about the year 500 when coming over in several parcels saith Bede they were divided into as many Principalities and petty Governments continually striving among themselves as they had leasure and rest from the Common enemy But about the year 575 UFFA the eighth from Woden in strength and policy overpowered the rest and either quelling or uniting different factions moulded the several Lordships into one Crown which he wore with great honour leaving his name to his Subjects many years after called Uffins and his Scepter to his Son TITULUS who upheld the greatness of it during his whole Reign with equal glory but the particulars of his life and actions are utterly lost and had not the lustre of his Son and Successour redeemed his Name from oblivion he might well have been left out in the Catalogue of Kings And this is the reason I shall begin the date of this Kingdom from Redwald his Son who raised it to the highest glory and made its Infancy more illustrious than its riper years And this is to be said of this Province above others that in its first appearance in History we find it in its full proportions though they not so great as of other Kingdoms REDWALD REDWALD the Son of Titulus came to the Kingdom about the year 593. In this first beginnings he was Tributary to Ethelbert King of Kent and served him as a Vice-Roy over all his Dominions by which means he gained experience in Government and after the death of that Potent King so managed his business that he became Monarch of the English-men and had all his Neighbours at his disposal The great Scene of his life which raised him to extent of dominion and reputation in the World was his encounter with Edilfrid the Wild a mighty Conquequerour and who had stretched his Dominions from Sea to Sea Him Redwald in the height of his glory and the pride of Victory undertakes in the quarrel of Edwin as hath been related in the life of that Prince and overthrows with his whole Host at the River Idle near Nottingham after which he marched into Northumberland where having established Edwin in his Throne he returns into his own Country loaden with Honour leaving the World to admire his Moderation and Justice as well Conduct and Valour He had formerly been Baptized in Kent but it seems more in compliance to Ethelbert than that he was really perswaded of the truth of that Religion For returning into his own Country by the perswasions of his Wife he was easily brought to his old Idolatry but fearing perhaps that the Christian Faith might prove true he was not willing wholly to reject either so that to be sure on one side or other he crected in the same Temple an Altar for the service of Christ and another for burnt Sacrifices to his Idols This Prince kept his usual Court of residence at Rendelisham nigh Ufford in Suffolk and as Bede interpreteth the word Rendelisham it is nothing but Rendil's Mansion place that is saith Mr. Cambden Redwald's Court. EARPENWALD EARPENWALD the Son of Redwald succeeded him in the Kingdom and by the perswasions of Edwin King of Northumberland openly professed the Christian Religion which his Father would not own but by halves but he not long survived his Conversion for he was slain by Ricbert a Pagan He had been baptized by Foelix a Bishop a Burgundian by Nation whom Honorius Archbishop of Canterbury sent into the Province to teach the Nation who held his Seat at a place called Dommoc now Dunwick a Town well peopled even to the Conquerours daies and long after much frequented and strongly fortified till upon the removal of the Bishop's Seat and the breaking in of the Sea it became almost desolate SIGEBERT SIGEBERT succeeded in the
Christians For this King at first as is said was a great Persecutor of that way and if Fame belye him not after his conversion none of the sincerest Christians For the Bishoprick of London he sould to Wini who had been driven out of Winchester by Kenwalch the Saxon King But however this Simony be blameable in Wulfer yet he afterwards made amends in sending Jerumannus a painful Bishop to recover the East-Saxons who had fell from the Christian Religion into open Idolatry ETHELRED ETHELRED the Brother of Wulfer obtained next the Kingdom for Kenred the Son of Wulfer was put by upon what Account is not recorded His first Actions were the recovery of Lindsey and other Territories adjoyning which his Brother had lost to Egfrid King of Northumberland Afterwards he turned his Arms upon Kent wasted that Country sparing neither Church or Monastery and sacked the City of Rochester notwithstanding what resistance Lothair could make against him Putta their Bishop was forced to fly into Mercia where he sustained his old age by teaching School But Ethelred after thirty years Reign weary of the cares of Government retired to a Monastery at Bradney which himself had built and to make amends for his Injustice he restored the Crown to Kenred his Nephew though he had a Son of his own of Age able to succeed him His Wife Ostrid was slain by her own Subjects as Bedes Epitome Records Florence names them South-Imbrians but tells not the occasion of such horrid Treason KENRED KENRED having received the Crown from his Uncle Ethelred held it but four years when desirous to return to his private Life he commended the care of Government to Kelred the Son of Ethelred and in company of Offa the Son of Siger the East-Angle King and Edwin Bishop of Worcester went to Rome in the time of POPE Constantine the first where he and his Royal Companion were both shorn Monks and ended their days KELRED KELRED the Son of Ethelred by the Resignation of Kenred came to the Crown of Mercia in the year 715 he had an encounter with Ina King of the West-Saxons at a place called Wodnesburg in Wiltshire the success whereof is left doubtful Mr. Speed in his succession of English Monarchs treating of this Kelred gives him high commendations as a Prince beloved of his Subjects for his Vertues and much lamented by them at his death Thus he dresseth him up whom he will needs have to be the fourteenth Monarch but as his custom is without the least shew of Authority nay absolutely against it For we read in an Epistle of Boniface Archbishop of Mentz written to his Successor Ethelbald and yet extant that he was a defiler of Nuns and a breaker of the Priviledges of the Church And he admonisheth that Prince by his example to beware of such ossences lest they bring him into the same destruction For Kelred one day sitting at a Feast with his Nobles in the midst of his jollity was taken with an evil Spirit which worke him into high fits of distraction so that mad and raging he talked wildly by himseif and refusing the comforts of the Ministry and Saeraments finally died in despair of his salvation ETHELBALD ETHELBALD of the Royal blood succeeded Kelred not unlike him in his exorbitant life as the same Epistle of the Archbishop of Mentz doth witness but reclaimed in the end by that and other good advices he proved an excellent Prince Aften the death of King Ina the West-Saxon he so managed his affairs that all on this side Humber was intire at his Command He besieged and took the Town of Somerton about the year 740. And whilst Eadbert King of Northumberland was taken up in his Putish wars he entered his Country in his absence as the supplement of Bede's Epitome Records testifie Afterwards he waged War with Cuthred the West-Saxon newly come to his Crown whom he often engaged with inter changeable success But at last coming to a Peace they joyn both their Forces and invade the Welch whom in a great battel they overthrow But in the year 752 Cuthred the West-Saxon falling again at variance with him they sought another battel at Borford now Burford in Shropshire and a year after at a place called Secundune now Seckinton eight miles from Tamworth in Warmickshire He was slain as Huntington reporteth by the same Prince others say he was murthered in the night by his own Guards through the Treason of Beornred out of ambition to succeed him In this King's Reign at a Synod held at Gloveshow by Cuthbert Archbishop of Canterbury it was ordained among other things that the Lord's day should be carefully observed that the reading of the Holy Scriptures should be generally used in Monasteries that the Creed and Lord's Prayer should be taught in the English tongue and that publick Supplications should be made for Kings and all in Authority BEORNRED BEORNRED having trayterously slain King Ethelbald stept into the Throne himself about the year 754 but he enjoyed not long his ill-gained Honour for Offa the next of the Royal Family having for some time lain concealed until he could unite his Interest at length came upon him and in a set battel slew him after he had held the Kingdom by Usurpation for the space of two years or thereabouts as may be most probably calculated OFFA OFFA at the death of Beornred was received by the universal consent of his People and advanced to the Crown of his Ancestours He proved the Greatest that ever swayed this Scepter but though he often gave fair strokes for the whole Monarchy of the Island yet he was never able to compass that design His first enterprize was against the Hestings a neighbouring People whom he quickly subdued and added to his own Dominions Next he invades Kent and slaies their King Alric at a place called Ottenford then recalled by the West-Saxon King he engages with him at Besington where he wins the day and the Town for which they contended And now to add Treachery to his Conquests he invites Egilbert King of the East-Angles to his Court with fair promises of his Daughter in marriage whom no sooner come but he beheads ' and then seizeth his Kingdom But the baseness of this action blunted his Sword and we never after find him the same man as before so that the remaining part of his life will be spent in recounting his satisfactions Pilgrimage and such other deeds To expiate this murther he gave the Tenths of all he had to the Church and great possessions to the Church of Hereford where Egilbert was buried He caused the Reliques of St. Alban to be enshrined in a Cask of Gold set with precious Jewels and to the Martyr himself gives Lands and Tenements the Ancient demesns of his Crown He took a Journy to Rome to the Colledge of English there he gave a yearly Pension and a Tribute to the Pope through all his Dominions for which he
obtained that the Primacy of England was translated from Canterbury to Litchfield in his own Dominions He obtained of Charles the Great that the English going to Rome should be free from Customes and other duties With Charles the Great during his whole Reign he had great intercourse sometimes enmity otherwhiles friendship as appears by the kind Letters of that Emperour written to him yet extant wherein he stiles him the MOST POTENT KING OF THE WEST CHRISTIANS And now about this time were Images first brought into the English Church to be worshipped for Charles the Great sent the decrees of the Synod of Nice into Britain of which hear what Hoveden writes wherein saith he Alas for pity by the unanimous consent of three hundred Bishops or more met together in that Councel were decreed many things inconvenient may quite contrary to the true Faith as is most especially the worshipping of Images which the Church of God doth absolutely hate Against which Book Albinus wrote an Epistle excellently well strengthned with the Authority of the Holy Scriptures which together with the aforesaid Book himself presented in the name of the Princes and Bishops of this Land unto the aforesaid Charles King of France Which Book is reported to have so worked with that Emperour that in the Synod of Frankford he caused those Constitutions to be repealed This Offa to keep the Britains from making inrode into his Country caused a Ditch or Trench to be made almost an hundred miles in length from Sea to Sea that is from the mouth of the River Wy unto Dee concerning which in after daies John of Salisbury in his Policration writeth thus Herald ordained a Law that what Welch-man soever should be found with a weapon on this side the limit which he had set them that is to say Offa's Dike he should have his Right hand cut off by the King's Officers The Issue of King Offa was Fgfrid his Son and Successour Ethelburga married to Birthric King of the West-Saxons of whose life and death you will read in the next Kingdom Elsled supposed second wife of Ethelred King of Northumberland Elsrid the youngest Daughter promised in marriage to Egilbert King of the East-Angles EGFRID EGFRID the Son of Offa had in his life time been made Partner with his Father in the Kingdom and as if his life had been woven up with his he survived him but four Months having given his Subjects the hopes of a longer Reign he restored to the Church whatever his Father and Predecessours had taken from them He had neither Wife nor Issue and was buried in the Church of St. Albans of his Father's foundation KENWOLF KENWOLF of the Royal blood succeeded Egfrid in the Kingdom he had Wars with Ethelbert sirnamed Pren King of Kent whom taking prisoner he brought into Mercia and soon after at the High Altar dismissed having as Simeon reports put out his eyes and lopt off his hands He Reigned twenty one years and was buried in the Monastery of Winchcomb which himself had founded KENELM KENELM the Son of Kenwolf a Child of seven years was left under the Tuition of his elder Sister Quendrid but she ambitious to Rule her self caused him to be made away by one Askbert who alluring him to the Woods on pretence to hunt there slew him and secretly buried his body the murther is said to be miraculously discovered by a Dove dropping a written Note on the Altar at Rome it was this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mr. Milton thus renders it Low in a Mead of Kine under a Thorn Of head bereast ly'th poor Kenelm King-born Soon after the death of this Prince the Kingdom of Mercia became Tributary to Egbert the West-Saxon Monarch though not without some strugling on both sides but the Actions of suceeding Princes in this Kingdom as they were but few and happened all in the life of that Monarch so I shall reserve them to be told there in their due place for in this Heptarchy I design not to write any further than to his daies who by degrees united the divided States and moulded them into one entire Dominion THE KINGDOM OF THE West-SAXONS Contained Counties Cornwall Devonshire Dorcetshire Somersetshire Wiltshire Hantshire Barkshire KINGS Cerdic Kenric Ceaulin Cearlick Ceowlf Kingils Kenwalch Eskwyn Ketwyn Ceadwalla Ina. Ethelard Cuthred Sigibert Kinwulf Birthric CERDIC CERDIC the Tenth in descent from Woden and the Beginner of the West-Saxon Kingdom with five ships and Kenric his Son setting forth from Germany arrived at Britain in the year 495 and landed at a place afterwards called from his name Cerdic-Shore He was an old experienced Souldier and long exercised in the Wars of Saxony At his first setting foot on land he gave signal proofs of his Valour by often repelling the Britains who endeavoured to hinder this New settlement and for six years together without any fresh supplies maintained his ground with advantage about which time Porta another Saxon with his two Sons Bida and Megla in two ships arrive at Portsmouth thence called and at their first landing slay a British Noble man with many of the Common sort who disorderly gathered against them The Britains to redeem these losses with strong Musters though slowly assemble together under Natanleod or Nazaleod a British King and one of their greatest saith Huntington however he came by so unusual a name but are miserably defeated with the death of their Prince and five thousand of his men In this battel it is said that Cerdic was assisted by Ella the South-Saxon and Oisc King of Kent together with Porta who had now been seven years in the Island From this British King the Saxon Annals write that a small Region adjoyning to Cerdicsford was called Nazaleod Six years after Stuf and Withgar Cerdic's Nephews with three ships land at Cerdics-ford or as others say Certic shore and in a set battel overthrow the Britains and five years following if the former battel be not to be referred to this time Cerdic again with his Son obtained another signal Victory upon the gaining of which and the strength of the new supplies he at last assumed Regal Dignity After he had continued conquering in the Isle twenty four years the Saxon Annals report a third Battel fought at the same place but with doubcful success as if this only had been the field of fortune Mr. Cambden in his Chronographical Description of these two places Cerdic shoar and Cerdics-ford hath much confounded the natural course of this History by placing them at so vast a distance which if true can never be reconciled with the truth of these Relations Cerdic shoar be placeth as far as Yarmouth Cerdic a warlike Saxon saith he landed here i. e. at Yarmouth whereupon the Inhabitants at this day call the place Cerdic-sand and the writers of Histories Cerdic shoar and after he had made sore War upon the Icent took Sea and sayled from hence into the West parts
But our Historians make no mention of his ever changing his design or sayling into any other parts after his first landing and I am afraid the Coincidence of like Names honourably to derive a place was the cause of this neat invention for otherwise what reason could there be that he should forsake a Country wherein he had good success and from whence he might easier expect supplies from Saxony to go seek out new Territories further off and where for ought we know he had no reason to expect better quarters or kinder entertainment Let us see therefore where he placeth Cerdics-ford for by the course of the story Cerdic-shoar is not to be sought far from it and we shall find them both on the Coasts of Hantshire Hard by the Western bounds saith Mr. Cambden the River Aven carrieth a still stream and no sooner runneth into this shoar but it meeteth with the Ford of Cerdicus in old time Cerdics-ford afterward Cerdeford and now by Contraction of the word Chardford so named of Cerdic that Warlike English Saxon For here the said Cerdic in a set Battel so daunted the Britains that not only he enlarged the bounds of his Empire but also delivered an easie War unto his Posterity having before time in the year of our Salvation 508 after great Conflicts in his Tract vanquish't the most mighty King of the Britains Natanleod called also Nazaleod by others with many of his people Of whose name likewise a small Region reaching unto this Place was termed Natanleod as we read in the Annals of the English Saxons which I sought very curiously for but hitherto could not find so much as any small sign or sample of that Name neither can I guess who that Natanleod should be This seemeth naturally to be the place where the foresaid Actions were performed for besides the Testimony of the Name the place it self lying at a moderate distance from the South-Saxons new acquests it is reasonable to think that Cerdic would not go much further but rather sit down at such a convenient distance where he might give or receive Assistance as occasion should serve from his Country-men already settled It being therefore granted that this Charford was the ancient Cerdics-ford let us see if we cannot find Cerdic-shoar also upon this Coast. For since his Nephews are said to land at Cerdics-shoar and bring him thither new Supplies after his Battel at Cerdics-ford either Cerdics-shoar must be nigh this Cerdics-ford or else they must land at Cerdics shoar at Yarmouth and so through the Enemies Country march to Cerdics-ford in Hantshire which is fondness to suppose Or lastly the whole action must be laid at Yarmouth which will not suit with the foundation of the Western Kingdom I have sought many places on this Coast of Hantshire but can find none that answer exactly to the name of Cerdic but allowing that Cerdicford as Mr. Cambden says makes Charford we find another place of the same name not far off upon the Sea-side in the Isle of Purbek in Dorsetshire and Norwest of Pool a Town called Charborough as much as Cherdic-borough but herein I desire not to be too fanciful but certain it is by the consent of all our Historians where ever Cerdics-ford lay Cerdics-shoar was not far distant though the name be now worn out and perhaps the places aforementioned as likewise Charmouth by Lime may give some satisfaction that this was the Coast. Mr. Speed with whom nothing would go down of the British History whilst he followed the Light of Mr. Cambden now he is left to himself in the Saxon swallows whatever any fabulous Monk Trivial Legend or his Brother Stow imposeth upon him from them I suppose it is that he reporteth that the Isle of VVight after the Conquest of it by Cerdic was given to his Nephews Stuff and VVithgar the later of which slew the Iahabitants thereof and named the place of his Victory VVithgarbirg and afterwards reigning King there was after his death buried in his Royal City VVithgar This is a reach I suppose whoever was Inventor to derive the name of the Island for in Authentick story we find no such Relation Cerdic had Issue two Sons Kenric and Chelwolf the former succeeded him in the Kingdom Chelwolf died before his Father but left a Son of whose race afterwards sate upon the Throne Cerdic Reigned nineteen years after he had assumed Royal Title and left his Kingdom to his Son Kenric KENRIC KENRIC the eldest Son of Cerdic succeeded his Father in the Kingdom Twice he fought the Britains and foiled them once at Searesbirig now Salisbury in the eighteenth year of his Reign and four years after at Beranvirig now Banbury accompanied with his Son Ceaulin In this field the Britains saith Huntington were divided into three Battalions but the Saxon charged in one main body the success saith he was doubtful on both sides and the night parted them Kenric Reigned twenty seven years and had three Sons Ceaulin Cuthwolf and Cuth the last of which was notable in his Issue for his eldest Son came to be King the second was Father the third Grandfather of a King as in the following History will appear CEAULIN CEAULIN the eldest Son of Kenric his Father dead entered upon the Kingdom In the beginning of his Reign he employed his Arms against young Ethelbert of Kent who as hath been related aspired to an universal Monarchy and forced him to sit down quiet with the harassing of his Country and the death of two of his chief Earls In his tenth year he managed his Wars by his Brother Cuthwolf who encountering the Britains at Bedanford now Bedford gave them a great defeat and took four Towns from them Liganborough Egelsborough or Allsbury Besington now Benson in Oxfordshire and Ignesham or Evesham but he out-lived not long his good success but left a Son behind him who succeeded his Uncle in the Kingdom Cuthwolf dead Ceaulin in person with his Son Cuthwin undertakes the War and about the year 581 at a place called Diorth Deorrham in Glocestershire he obtains a great Victory slaying in one battel three British Kings Coinmagil Condidan and Farimnagil which good success was attended with the surrender of as many Cities Badencester Glocester and Cireneester About five years after at a place called Fedanly or Fechanly possibly about Fekenham Forest in Worcestershire he again met the Britains but not with like success for Matthew of Westminster giveth a clear Victory to the Britains and Huntington alloweth the beginning of the day to be theirs for with the death of Cuthwin the Saxons were wholly put to rout but Ceaulin rallying his scattered Forces not only put stop to the pursuit but as that Author writeth recovered an intire Victory with the purchase over and above of many Towns and large Territories But the sequel declareth nothing less for the same year or not long after we find the Britains again giving him battel and that in Wiltshire at
a place called Wodens-Beorth or Wodens-Dic that is to say Woden's Mount the conclusion of which was that the Saxons lost the day with the ruine of their whole Army and Ceaulin for this or other miscarriages was driven out of his Kingdom and the year after died in Exile after he had Reigned thirty two years CEARLIK CEARLIK the Son of Guthwolf Brother of the late King followed his Uncle Ceaulin advanced as may be guessed from his Father's vertues and the dislike the people had to the Line of Ceaulin who by his Son Cuthwin left two Grandchildren Kenbald and Cuth whose Right it was to inherit but the latter of these Reigned afterwards in his Posterity being the Grandfather of the famous Ine the eleventh King of this Province whose Brother Ingils was Progenitor in the fourth degree to Egbert that reduced the whole Heptarchy into an entire Monarchy This Cearlik as he had obtained the Kingdom by fraud and usurpation so he held it but a short while Reigning five years and odd months and them without any action worthy of remembrance CEOWOLF CEOWOLF the Son of Cuth the third and youngest Son of Kenric after the death of his Cousin-German Cearlic obtained the Kingdom During the whole time of his Reign which lasted twelve years he had continual wars sometimes with the Britains then with Redwald King of the East-Angles and afterwards with the South-Saxons with interchangeable success but saith Huntington with the greatest loss to them of the South In these Wars he died leaving his Kingdom to Kingils KINGILS KINGILS the Son of Ceola younger Brother to the late Ceowolf second Son of Cuth who was the third Son of Kearic succeeded his Uncle in the Kingdom He assumed for his Associate Cuichelm his Brother or as Florent of Worcester and Matthew of Westminster write his Son In their third year with joynt Forces they engaged the Britains at Beandune now Bindon in Dorcetshire and at the first encounter put them to flight with the slaughter of above two thousand Cuichelm proud with this success and envying the glory of Edwin who now Reigned in great honour King of the Northumberlands and had lately molested the West-Saxons drew a greater War upon himself and Associate by sending an Assassin to murther that Prince The name of this Villain was Eumcrus who under pretence of a Message from his Master was admitted to the presence of Edwin then at his Court on Easter-monday on the River Derwent in Yorkshire being advanced up to the King as if he would deliver his Embassie he suddenly drew forth a poysoned weapon which he had privately hid under his Coat and made a blow at him but by the interposition of Lilla one of the Kings Attendants who stepping between received the Ponyard through his own body the thrust was put off yet not so fully but that part of the weapon reached the King's Person By this time the whole company came in and incompassed the Murtherer who now grown desperate died not tamely but revenged his fate with the death of Forder a Courtier who next pressed upon him Edwin thus delivered though lying under cure resolves upon Revenge and promiseth Paulinus who had been long working him to the Christian Faith that if God would bestow Victory on him over his Enemies he would embrace the Faith and receive Baptism With these assurances given he raises an Army and invades the West-Saxons and with that success that overcoming them in several battels he gets into his hands many of those who had conspired his death some of which he executes others pardons and at last returns with great Honour into his own Country This expedition happened about the year 625. Four years after Kingils and Cuichelm had a battel with Penda the Mercian at Cirencester the result of which was a League of peace and amity betwixt them About this time the Kingdom of the West-Saxons received the Faith by the example of Kingils who was converted thereto by the preaching of Berinus and encouragement of Oswald who was then Suiter to his Daughter and received him at the Font the circumstances of which as likewise the progress of Religion under his success take altogether out of Bede who hath exactly related it The Conversion of the West-SAXONS THE Nation of the West-Saxons anciently called Gevisses in the Reign of Kingils received the Faith of Christ by the preaching of Berinus Bishop who by the advice of Pope Honorius came into Britain having promised by his assistance to go into the innermost Countries of the English where never yet Doctour had been and there sow the seed of holy Faith Whereupon by the command of the same Pope he received Episcopal Orders at the hands of Asterius Bishop of Genua But being arrived at Britain and first setting foot on the Country of the Guisses finding them all Pagans in the highest degree he thought it more profitable to preach the Word there than by going further to hunt out those whom he first intended Wherefore preaching in the aforesaid Province when the King himself first catechized and instructed together with his People were washing in the fountain of Baptism it happened that the most holy and victorious King of the Northumberlands Oswald was then present and received him at the Font. By a blessed conjunction taking him for his Son in the second Birth whose Son himself was to be by the marriage of his Daughter Both the Kings thereupon gave to the same Bishop the City of Dorchester for an Episcopal Seat where having built up and dedicated Churches and by labouring converted many people He departed this life and was buried in the same City This King dying Cenwalch his Son and Successour refused to receive the Faith and Sacraments of the Heavenly kingdom and not long after lost his Earthly one For putting away his wife the sister of Penda King of Mercia he took another wherefore being invaded by him he was driven out of his Kingdom and forced to flie to Anna King of the East-Angles with whom living in exile three years he acknowledged the Faith and embraced the truth For the King with whom he lived in exile was a good man and happy in a good and holy off-spring When Genwalch was restored to his Kingdom there came into his Province out of Ireland a certain Bishop by name Agilbert by Nation a Gaul but yet who had been in Ireland for the reading of the Scriptures not a little while He joyned himself with the King on his own accord taking upon him the Ministry of preaching whose learning and industry when the King perceived he made motion that he would accept there an Episcopal Seat and remain Bishop of his Nation who at his requests for many years ruled that Province with Sacerdotal Jurisdiction At last the King who understood the Saxon tongue only growing weary of a forraign Dialect underhand brought another Bishop of his own language into the Province by name Wini who
this Geadwall to be their Cadwallader but the Monument it self as well as the course of this Princes actions doth sufficiently convict them of the fraud and folly of that invention He reigned five years and left no Issue to succeed him INA INA derived in the third degree from Cuth the younger Son of Ceaulin third King of the West-Saxons succeeded Ceadwalla in the Government His first expedition was into Kent to revenge the death of Mollo Brother to Ceadwalla who as hath been related was burned to death but Wigtred who then had newly come to the Kentish Crown appeased his anger with the delivery of about thirty of the chief Actors or as others say with a round sum of mony amounting to no less than thirty thousand Mark of silver Peace thus concluded he returns into his Country where we hear not of him again till about the one and twentieth year of his Reign when attended with his Cousin Nun he fought a battel with GERENT King of the Britains in the beginning of which Higelbald a Noble Man of the Saxons was slain but in the end Gerent with all his Britains was put to the rout The course of his succeeding Actions runs thus Five years after he fought with Cheolred King of Mercia but with doubtful advantage Ten years after that he invaded the South-Saxons who under petty Princes began to bear up for the Liberty of their Country lately enthralled by Ceadwalla Here he slaies Albright driven from Taunton and taking refuge in this Kingdom whom Mr. Hollinshead without Authority makes King of the South-Saxons after this he vanquisht the East-Angles more than once as Malmsburry reports but sets not down the time when By these Victories it is said he possessed the whole Monarchy of England and Wales For if we believe what is written in the Laws of Edward Confessour he was the first Crowned King of English and British since the Arrival of the Saxons of the English by Conquest of the British in right of a second wife not named yet some way related to Gadwallader last King of Wales but we may easily imagine through what hands such stories crept in This Prince is truly famous for his good LAWS yet extant in the Saxon tongue out of which Language I have translated them as carefully as I can THE LAWS OF King INA Ic Jne mid Godes gyfe Westseaxna cyning mid geþeaht mid laere Cenredes mines faeder heddes mines bisceopes c. IINA by the grace of God King of the West-Saxons by the advice and institution of Cenred my Father and Heddes and Erkenwald my Bishops with all my Aldermen and sage Ancients of my people in a great Assembly of the Servants of God have religiously endeavoured both for the health of our Soul and the common preservation of our Kingdom that right Laws and true judgment be founded and established throughout our whole Dominions and that it shall not be lawful for the time to come for any Alderman or other person whatever to abolish these our Constitutions Of God's Ministers IN the first place we command that the Ministers of God keep and observe the appointed Rule of living and next we will that amongst all our people these Laws and Judgments be observed Of Infants A Child shall be baptized within 30 daies after it is born if not the neglect shall be punished 30 shillings if it die before it be Christned it shall forfeit all that belongs to it Of working on Sunday If a Servant do any work on Sunday by command of his Master be shall be free and the Master shall pay 30 shillings but if he went about the work without command from his Master he shall be beaten with stripes or redeem the penalty of whipping with a price A Free-man if he work on this day without command of his Master shall lose his freedom or pay 60 shillings If he be a Priest his penalty shall be double Of the Churches Portion The Portion or Dues of the Church shall be brought in by the Feast of St. Martyn he that payeth them not by that time shall be punished 40 shillings and besides pay the dues twelve times over Of the Priviledg of a Temple If any one guilty of a Capital crime shall take refuge in a Church he shall save his life and make recompence according to justice and equity If one deserving stripes take Sanctuary he shall have the stripes forgiven him Of Quarrels If any one fight within the King's Court he shall forfeit all his goods and Chattels and it shall be at the will and pleasure of the King whether he be not to lose his life also He that fights in a Cathedral Church shall pay 120 s. in the house of a Senatour or another sage Noble man 60 s. Whosoever shall fight in a Villager's house paying scot or any Yeoman's shall be punished 30 shillings and shall give the Villager 6 shillings And if any one fight in the open field he shall pay 120 shillings If there happen among Guests a quarrel and some of them shall patiently take ill language the rest shall be punished 30 shillings a piece Of Theft If any one shall steal without the privity of his wife and Children he shall be punished 60 s. But if he steal his whole family consenting they shall be all given into servitude A child of 10 years old shall be accounted accessory in theft Of claiming Justice If any Plaintiff shall require right to be done him by a Senatour or any other Judge and the Defendant give no pledg he the Judge shall forfeit 30 shillings and nevertheless within a sevennight do him true justice Of Self-vindication He that on his own private account shall take satisfaction for a wrong done to him before he hath demanded publick Justice shall restore what he took away on that score or give the worth of the thing and besides forfeit 30 shillings Of Rapine If any shall rob within the confines of our State he shall restore what he hath taken and be punished 60 shillings Of Men-buyers If any one shall buy his Countryman either bond or free or guilty of a Crime and send him beyond Sea he shall pay the value of his head and give over and above sufficient satisfaction Of false Testimony and Pledge If any before a Bishop give false witness or Pledge he shall be amerced 120 shillings Of Robbers taken If a Robber be taken he shall lose his life or redeem it according to the estimation of his head We call Robbers to the number of seven men from 7 to 35 a band all above an Army Of a Band. One accused to be among a band of Robbers may purge himself by oath to the value of 120 hides of Land or make him due satisfaction Of an Army One accused to be in an Army of Robbers may purge himself according to the estimation of his head or give satisfaction But this purgation by Oath shall consist one
the want of that Merit by which he formerly held secure from Self-confidence he grew jealous of his Power and fearing that Kineard Brother of Sigibert the former King a man of great Spirit but who hitherto had behaved himself loyal might at last revenge his Brother's expulsion or usurp after his death he commanded him to Banishment Kineard seeming really to obey yet intending nothing less with a small retinue privately hides himself in the neighbouring Countries watching an opportunity of Revenge which he wanted not long For the King resorting as his custom was with a small Attendance to a Ladies House of Merton in Surry whom he much admired he went by night and beset the place Kinwulf first by perswasion from the windows sought to appease the Assailants but that not doing he sallies out upon them and making at Kineard wounds him sorely but overpowred with numbers he is there fighting amongst them slain The noise of this great Accident soon came to Oseric and Wivert two Earls who not far off waited the King's return who with some other Attendants hastning to the place came up before Keneard could quite disengage himself from them who still fought in their Princes quarrels At their first approach Kineard stood upon his justification excusing the deed by the injustice of his Banishment and promising great Rewards if they would acquiess in his proceedings But they upbraiding his Treason and rejecting his proffers with disdain beset him round who fighting in the midst of them was there cut in pieces with above an hundred of his Followers The Body of King Kinwulf was conveyed to Winchester and there buried He is said to have founded the Cathedral Church of St. Andrews at Wells BIRTHRIC BIRTHRIC lineally descended from Cerdic first sounder of this Kingdom after the death of Kinwuls was advanced to the Crown a Prince soft and easie he was joyned to Ethelburga Daughter of Offa the Mercian a Lady of a haughty and wicked spirit By her perswasion or the King 's own jealousie Egbert a Prince of the Royal-Blood whose Title was thought precedent to Birthric's was constrained to go into Exile which he was the more willing to do for that he saw his life continually endangered by secret practices At first he repaired to the Court of Offa the only Warriour in those daies but not safe with him who had given his Daughter to Birthric he went over into France and served three years in the Wars under the victorious Emperour Charles the Great The banishment of this Prince proved the exercise of his Vertues as if it had been necessary that he who was to unite the English Nation and rise higher than his Ancestours was first to be laid low in affliction and run through many hazards And it is to be observed that in the building up of any Nation so high the grandure is generally performed by men who have undergon the greatest difficulties and been tried in the severest Fortunes so that as truly may be said as to the person of Egbert and the English Nation united by him what was spoke of the Roman Tantae molis erat Anglorum condere gentem But after three years Birthric being poysoned by a draught which Edelburga had prepared for others Egbert is by publick voice recalled from banishment and with universal Joy created King But a further account of his Actions as the first sole Monarch of England I shall leave to be treated on in the second part if God lengthens my daies and this work be kindly received Edelburga fearing to be called to an account for what she had done with as much Treasure as she could get together flies beyond Sea and received by Charles the Great is created Abbess but afterwards detected of Unchastity is driven from her Charge and wandring about the World unpitied dies at last in extreme poverty in Pavia in Italy Elenchus Capitum THE description of the Renowned Island of Britain in general page 1 The Languages in Britain 4 The first Inhabitants of Britain 7 The Map of the Old World shewing the Progress of the Cimbri Phoenicians and Greeks into Britain 16 The Explication of that Map shewing the ancient Names of Kingdoms Islands Havens Cities c. as well those expressed in the foregoing Map as others which in that narrow compass could not be set down gathered out of the Phoenician tongues all which to prove the ancient Name of Britain 17 Places which took their Names from Gods or some sacred Rites eminently practised in them 22 All ancient Cities in Spain taking their Names from Baal 23 Places taking their ancient Names from the Habits Nature Manners and Arts of the Inhabitants 23 Whether the first Planters of this Island came by Sea or Land and whether Britain was ever part of the Continent 25 The depths of the North-Sea from the Foreland 34 When Britain was first known to the Phoenicians and how it took its Name from them 38 That the Islands of Scilly were the Cassiderides of the Ancients 40 The time when the Phoenicians came from Tyre and Zidon their own Native Country to discover Britain 47 Names of Offices and Gods in Britain and Gaul of Phoenician derivation 68 The Antiquity and Original of the Phoenicians 71 The Greeks in Britain p. 74 The Landing place of the Graecians 81 The Antiquity and Original of the Greeks 91 The Customes and Manners of the Britains their Laws and Government 99 A Sculpture of a Druid Priest in Britain 101 A Sculpture of the Wicker-Image representing the manner of burning of Men alive in sacrifice in Britain 105 The Sculpture of an Ancient Britain representing the Habits of the People in those times 117 The Custome of the Britains in their Wars and their manner of fighting 119 The Sculpture of their Chariots in war representing the manner of their fighting against the Romans 122 The British Idolatry their several Gods and superstitious Rites and Ceremonies of worship 125 The Sculpture of Hesus aliàs Mars shewing another manner of the British Sacrifice 128 A Sculpture of the Hieroglyphicks shewthe Worship of the Britains 130 The Sculpture of the Phoenician OGMIUS and the first Phoenician that discovered this Island after it was planted by the Cimbri of Germany 139 The Life of the Phoenician Hercules called by the Britains OGMIUS 141 The Kings of this Island from Samothes to Brute 145 The British Kings from Brute to the Romans 146 The Chronicle of the Celtick Kings ruling this Island 147 The Chronicle of the British Kings with the History of Brute 153 Observations upon Brute's History p. 158 The Chronicle from King Silvius who descended from the Kings of Alba 167 The Genealogy of King Silvius 169 The Names of the Roman Emperours who governed this Island from Julius Caesar to the entrance of the Saxons 183 The Sculpture of Julius Caesar 184 The first Invasion of Julius Caesar 185 The British History relating to the first Invasion by Julius Caesar 193 Julius Caesar's second expedition
him Bishop Augustine 495 Gregory to Melitus Abbot in France wherein he gives command to be sent to Augustine about the Conversion of that Nation 495 Gregory to Augustine Bishop of the English of the use of the Pall and of the Church of London 496 The Life of S. Augustine first Archbishop of Canterbury 498 Augustine is courteously received at his Arrival into England by Ethelbert King of Kent 500 The Answers of Gregory the Great to the Questions sent by Augustine for the better Government of the new erected Church of English-Saxons 502 A Synod called by Augustine the first Arch-Bishop by the Assistance of Ethelbert King of Kent to Augustine's Ac c. There being present the Roman Clergy seven Bishops many British Doctors First he demands Obedience to the Roman Church and that the Britains be conformable to the Romans in three things first in the Celebration of Easter Secondly in the Administration of Baptism Thirdly in preaching with him to the English-Saxons 509 The Answer of the Abbot of Bangor to Augustine the Monk requiring subjection to the Church of Rome p. 511 Of the famous Monastery of Bangor and the Conference held between Augustine and Dinoth Abbot of that place 513 Eadbald 515 The Epistle of Boniface V. to Justus late Bishop of Rochester now Successour of Melitus in the Archbishoprick of Canterbury 515 Ercombert 516 Egbert ibid. Lothair 517 Edric ib. Wigtred ib. Edbert 519 Ethelbert the Second ibid. Alric ib. Ethelbert the Third ib. Cuthred ib. Baldred ib. The Kingdom of the East-Saxons 521 Sledda ibid. Sebert 522 Sered Seward Sigibert ib. Segibert the First 523 Segibert the Second ib. Swythelme 524 Sighere ib. Offa ib. Selred 525 Suthred ib. The Kingdom of the South-Saxons 527 Ella ib. Cissa 528 Edilwalch 529 The Conversion of the South-Saxons by Wilfrid Archbishop of York ib. The Conversion of the Inhabitants of Wight 530 The Kingdom of Northumberland 533 Ida ibid. Ella 534 Ethelric ib. Edelfrid ib. Edwin 535 Bishop Honorius to Edwin King of the English 537 Osric 538 Eanfrith ib. Oswy 540 The Synod of Streanshalch now Whitby at the request of Hilda Abbess of that place under Oswy the Father and Alchfrid the Son Kings of Northumberland in the year of Christ 664 In which is Controverted the Celebration of Easter and other Ecclesiastical Rites 541 〈◊〉 Osred p. 545 〈◊〉 Ceolnulf Egbert Oswulf 〈◊〉 546 〈◊〉 Ethelred Elfwald Osred Ethelred 547 The Kingdom of the East-Angles 548 Usfa Titulus 549 Redwald Earpenwald Sigebert 550 Egric Anna Ethelherd Edelwald Aldulf Elfwold 551 Beorn Ethelred Egilbert 552 The Kingdom of Mercia 553 Crida Wibba Georl Penda Peada 555 Wulfer Ethelred Kenred 556 Kelred Ethelbald Beornred 557 Offa 558 Egfrid Kenwolf Kenelm 559 The Kingdom of the West-Saxons 560 Cerdic 561 Kenric Ceaulin 563 Cearlic Ceowolf Kingils 564 The Conversion of the West-Saxons 565 Kenwalch 566 Eskwin Ketwin Ceadwalla 567 Ina 568 The Laws of King INA 569 Ethelard Cuthred 580 Sigibert Kinwulf 581 Birthric 582 FINIS Cambden Cambden 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Timagenes Polybius Festus Avicnus Onomacritus Cambden 〈◊〉 Isacius Tzetzes Camb. Brit. Ptolemy Geog. The truest Calculation Cluverius Geogr. Caesar. Com. Minutius Foe lix Tacitus Brietius Brietius Answered Tacitus Eusebius Herodotus Justin. Bishop Usher Learned Sir W. Rawleigh Note A German mile is four English Tibullus Scaliger 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Learned Selden R. 1. R. 2. R. 3. Tacitus 1. Bocaitus Ezckiel 2. Josephus Herodotus lib. 4. Hesychius Pliny Didimus Crates Scholiastes Aristoph ad Ran. * In Dictione 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Diod. Sicul. Plutarch Caesar. Suidas Florus Justin. Paus. AElian Athenaeus Suidas Livy Plutarch Festus Caesar. Tully Caesar. lib. 1. Virgil. Quintilian Cambden Festus Plutarch Caesar. Com. Festus Plutarch Lazius Pontanus Strabo Caesar. Manlius Sherringham de Anglorum Origins Antonius Volscus Dominicus Marius Niger Servius Honoratus John Twyne Du Bartas c. Pliny's Nat. Hist. Lambard Hist. Richardi Viti lib. 1. Verslegan Speaking of the Kings of Palestine Utrecht the Utmost bound of Land Hugo Grotius De veritate Relig. Christ. lib. 1. Sanchoniathon a Phoenician Author Strab. lib. 3. * Medacritus viz. Melicartus Hercules Herodotus de Cassiteritibus Diodorus Sic. lib. 5. Plin. Nat. hist. lib. 8. Sancho Cambden Solinus Eustathius Ortelius Strabo Olivarius Solinus Eustathius Cambden Prolomy Cambden Bochartus This Island took not us Name from Brit Brith or Canta BRITAIN truly derived from Bratanac Bochartus Strabo Pliny Isidore Manethon Josephus Strabo Humphry Lloyd Bish Cooper Tacitus Herudotus lib. 4. Vulcanus Bochartus Strabo lib. I. Milton Herodotus in Melpomene Bochartus Blondus Buchanan Milton's Nist of England The Phoenician HANNO's Navigations Gerardus Vossius Isaac Vossius AElianus Strabo Bochartus Onomacritus Strabo Pomp Mela. Ptolomy Orpheus Aristotle Claudian Eustathius Martian Juvenal Pomp. Mela. Diod. Siculus Bochartus Procopius Pytheas Mass. Marinus Ptolomy Cadmus his Alphabet AEthicus Homer Odyss 1. vers 25. Statius lib. 4. ad Marcell lib. 5. in Proterp ad Crispinum Suidas Polybiur lit 3. Strabo lib. 2 Festus Avienus Tacitus Clem. A ex Plin. Nat. hist. Strabo lib. 4. Sanchoniathon Cambden 〈◊〉 Solinus Martial Tacitus Bochartus Ptolomy Franciscus Philelphus Lileus Geraldus Varro Pliny's Nat. Hist. Bochartus Marcellianus ex Timagi Stephanus Josephus Pausanias Enidius Geropius Sheringham Plutarch Solinus Prolomy Clitophon Pliny's Nat. Hist. Ptolomy Jornandus ex Cornello Tacitus * Note Godolanac is a place of Tynn from which Godolcan is derived Anton. Goll lib. 1. cap. 29. Jamblicus Julian the Apostate Tacitus Caesar. Lactant. Lucan Livy Philo Bibl. Sanchoniathon Plato's Phil. Tully Lactantius Pomp. Mela. Bochartus Polybius Cambden Plutarch Orosius Servius 8th AEneid Hesychius 2 Sam. 18. 14 Pausanias Quintilian Pliny Salassians viz. Gauls Eusebius Orosius Eutropius Salvianus Prosper Eumenius Salvianus Allobroges Isidorus and Diodorus Geraldus Camb. Rhenanus Ortelius Cambden Pliny Antoninus Dio Cassius Pliny Tacitus Gul. Malmsb. Antoninus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Itinery 〈◊〉 Girald lib. 2. cap. 1 5. Plutarch Silius Itals Tacitus Bochartus Old Seol on Juvenal Caesar Com. Quoere nominae BRITANNICA * Note Ducts I think should be ducitis as it is spoken of the Derivation of Paterius and Delphidius St. Hierom ad Hedeb Posidonius Strabo Festus Caesar. A 〈◊〉 account of this Chapter * Rahab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The interpretation of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Latins from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 made Puniceus and from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Poenus # 〈◊〉 Marther * Syrian ie Syrim then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Syri and by prefixing the Article Hassurim was brought in ‑ Assyrian Grorius in Epist ad Gall. 114 p. 242. Hesychius Herodotus Plin. Nat. hist. Strabo lib. 3. Geogr. Cambden Liv7 St. Hieroms Quest. on Gen. Varro's Antiq. Caesars Comment Caesar. Tacitus Caesar. Tacitus Sheringham de Orig. Angl. Pythias Polybius lib. 3. Thucidides Herodotus Stephanus in voce 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isacius Tzer in Lycoph Mirae