King I meet with of the South-Saxons who was slain in Battel by Cedwal King of the West-Saxons 688. Yea. Before this time it remained in the Power of the West-Saxons a good while and upon the death of Edelwach Berthan and Authun two Brothers took upon them the Government of the South-Saxons with the Title of Dux and held it for a little while but Ina Successor of Cedwall King of the West-Saxons subdued it and united it to that Crown The Kings of Mercia A.C. 582. 1. Criedda the first King A.C. 593. 2. Webba Son of Criedda A.C. 614. 3. Cheol or Ceorl Son of Wibba A.C. 626. 4. Penda the Strong Son of Wibba who some say was the first King A.C. 656. 5. Peda Son of Penda a Christian King A.C. 659. 6. Wulfere Father of St. Werburge and Son of Penda A.C. 675. 7. Ethelred Son of Penda A.C. 704. 8. Kenred Son of Wulfere's Brother A.C. 708. 9. Ceolred Son of Ethelred A.C. 716. 10. Ethelbald the Proud overcome by Cutbert or Cuthred King of the West-Saxons near Burford in Oxfordshire the place is still called Battellage-Hill A.C. 757. 11. Beornred a Tyrant slain by Offa. A.C. 758. 12. Offa the Great King of Mercia Abnepos Pendae saith Malmesbury He made a great Ditch in Wales near 100 Miles long dividing Wales and Mercia called Offa's Dike He subdued Kinulf King of the West-Saxons and also the Northumbrians and the Kentish-men A.C. 796. 13. Egferd Son of Offa. A.C. 797. 14. Kenulf He took Egbert Prisoner A.C. 819. 15. Kenelm Son of Kenulf murthered by his Sister Quendrid A.C. 820. 16. Ceolwulfe Brother to Kinulf A.C. 821. 17. Bernulf overcome by Egbert A.C. 824. 18. Ludecan A.C. 826. 19. Witlaf Tributary to Egbert A.C. 839. 20. Bertulfe A.C. 852. 21. Beorred a Substituted King by the West-Saxons the last King of Mercia A.C. 874. Celwulfe sometimes Servant to Beorred Rebelled and Usurped This Kingdom being tyrannized over by the Danes was united to the West-Saxons by Alfred Anno 886. The Kings of the Northumbrians A.C. 547. 1. Ida the first King A.C. 560. 2. Ella King of Deira A.C. 589. 3. Edelric Son of Ida King of Bernicia A.C. 593. 4. Ethelfrid A.C. 617. 5. Edwin Son of Ella A.C. 633. 6. Osric I. A.C. 634. 7. St. Oswald slain at Maserfelt by Penda King of Mercia 5 die Augusti Anno 642. Bede de Hist Angl. lib. 3. cap. 9. A.C. 643. 8. Oswy who having slain Oswin King of Deira was the first Absolute King of Northumberland He slew also Penda King of Mercia Anno 656. A.C. 671. 9. Egfrid A.C. 686. 10. St. Alfrid A.C. 705. 11. Osred I. A.C. 716. 12. Kenred A.C. 718. 13. Osric II. A.C. 729. 14. Ceolwolfe A.C. 738. 15. Egbert A.C. 758. 16. Eswulfe A.C. 759. 17. Ethelwald A.C. 765. 18. Alred A.C. 774. 19. Ethelred I. A.C. 778. 20. Afwold A.C. 789. 21. Osred II. A.C. 794. 22. Ethelred II. slain 3 Calend. Maii. And after the Interregnum of 33 years Egbert King of the West-Saxons enjoyed this Kingdom Anno 827. In that Interregnum it was invaded on the one hand by the Danes and on the other by the Picts and Scots The Kings of the West-Saxons A.C. 522. 1. Cerdic the first King of the West-Saxons Yea. 17 He killed 5000 Brettans Anno 509. Hen. Huntington pag. 312. and routed Nazaleod the Great King of the Brettans at Certicsford A.C. 539. 2. Kenric Son of Cerdic Yea. 26 A.C. 565. 3. Ceaulin Son of Cenric with Cuthwin his Son Yea. 30 A.C. 595. 4. Celric Son of Ceaulin Yea. 5 A.C. 600. 5. Ceolwolfe Son of Cutha Son of Kenric Son of Cerdic Yea. 14 A.C. 614. 6. Kingils Son of Ceolric Brother of Ceolwolfe Yea. 31 A.C. 645. 7. Cenwald or Kenwalchin Son of Kingils Yea. 31 A.C. 676. 8. Sexburga Wife of Cenwald Yea. 1 A.C. 677. 9. Escwine Son of Cenwald Yea. 2 A.C. 679. 10. Centwin or Kentwin Cosin of Escwin Yea. 9 A.C. 688. 11. Ceadwall with Mull his Brother took the Isle of Wight Huntington Yea. 2 A.C. 690. 12. Ine Son of Cenred Son of Ceoldwold Son of Cuthwin Son of Kenric Anno Regni sui 21. he fought with Gerent king of Wales and routed him Huntington pag. 337. He first gave the Peter-Pence to the Pope Yea. 37 A.C. 727. 13. Ethelard Yea. 14 A.C. 741. 14. Cuthred Yea. 16 A.C. 757. 15. Sigebert He was deposed by the Pope Yea. 2 A.C. 759. 16. Kinulf elected King of the West-Sazons Yea. 26 A.C. 785. 17. Bithric or Brichtric Yea. 16 A.C. 800. 18. Egbert or Egbricht He subdued the other Kings and reduced the Heptarchy into a Monarchy Yea. 37 The Monarchs of England of the Saxon Blood Anno Chr. 823 1. Egbert the First Saxon Monarch of England was Crowned King of all England at Winchester about Anno Christi 823 and commanded that all that part of Brettaine whereof he had now the Sovereignty should be called England since which time it hath been called England Polychronicon He began his Reign over the West-Saxons Anno Christi 800. But over England in Anno 823. or thereabouts He Reigned 14 Years 2. Ethelwolfe eldest Son of Egbert He Reigned 20 Years 3. Ethelbald eldest Son of Ethelwolfe Huntington saith he Reigned five Years p. 349. He Reigned one Year 4. Ethelbert second Son of Ethelwolfe He Reigned five Years 5. Ethelred third Son of Ethelwolfe Huntington saith he Reigned but five Years pag. 349. He Reigned nine Years 6. Alfred fourth Son of Ethelwolfe a Learned Prince He totally united the Heptarchy into one Kingdom vanquished the Danes and subdued them though he could not quite expel them He divided the Shires of England into Hundreds and Tythings as Egbert his Grandfather had before divided England into Shires as now they stand at this day some few having been new modelled since He erected a University at Oxford and Reigned 29 Years Anno Chr. 901 7. Edward sirnamed The Elder Son of Alfred he recovered the Countrey of the East-Angles from the Danes whom he shut up in Northumberland He Reigned 24. years 8. Athelstan Bastard-Son of Edward subdued the Brettans of Cumberland and Cornwall and made the Danes to submit to his Government He Reigned 16 years 9. Edmund legitimate Son of Edward subdued the Danes in Northumberland and utterly subverted the Kingdom of the Brettans in Cumberland He Reigned 6 years 10. Ethelred Brother of Edmund He Reigned 9 years 11. Edwy Son of Edmund He Reigned 3 Years and 9 Months 12. Edgar sirnamed The Peaceable Brother to Edwyn was the most absolute Monarch of England since the time of the Saxons by whom the Tribute-money imposed on the Welsh by Athelstan was exchang'd into a Tribute of Wolfs This Edgar in the thirteenth Year of his Reign is said to have been Rowed on the River Dee at Chester by eight Kings who swore Fealty to him Anno 972. their Names were Kunud or Rynad King of the Scots Malcolme King of Cumberland Maccusius the Arch-Pyrat and all the Kings of Wales whose
Names were Duswall Griffith Huvall Jacob and Judethil or Inchil Malmesbury pag. 56. Huntington pag. 356. and Hoveden pag. 426. He Reigned 16 Years 13. Edward II. sirnamed The Martyr Son of Edgar was treacherously murthered by his Step-mother to make way for her Son Ethelred to succeed He Reigned 3 Years 14. Ethelred II. younger Son of Edgar was oppressed and broken by the Danes and to buy his own Peace was forc'd to pay them a yearly Sum of 10000 l. which at last was enhanced to 48000 l. This Tax was imposed on his Subjects and called Dane-geld but weary of this great Taxation he Plotted warily with his Subjects to kill all the Danes in their Beds which was put in Execution on the Eve of Saint Britius being the twelfth of November 1012 in the night-time But soon after Swane King of Denmark Landed Forces in England and forced Ethelred to flie out of England into Normandy He Reigned 38 years Ethelredus iste baptismum stercore foedavit 15. Edmund II. sirnamed Ironside Son of Ethelred having in vain attempted to recover the Kingdom at last divided it with Cnut or Canutus the Dane Son of Swane and not long after was this Edmund basely murthered 1017. This was the common Fame saith Malmesbury but Florentius and Hoveden tell us that he died at London about the Feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle He Reigned nine Months By the Counsel of Edrick de Streon Cnut banished Edwin Brother to Edmund Ironside and also Edward and Edmund Sons of King Edmund Ironside Edward sirnamed The Outlaw Son of Edmund Ironside had issue Edgar Atheling the right Heir of the Crown and Margaret Married to the third Malcolme King of Scotland and Christian a Nun of Ramsey in Huntingtonshire 1086. Simeon Dunelmensis Kings of England of the Danish Blood 1. Canutus or Cnut King of Denmark and Norway after the death of Edmund Ironside was sole King of England He Married Emme the Widow of King Ethelred and Daughter of Richard Duke of Normandy He Reigned 20 years 2. Harold Bastard Son of Cnut sirnamed Harfuger He Reigned four years 3. Canutus II. commonly called Hardy-Cnut the lawful Son of Cnut He Reigned two years The Saxon Blood restored 16. Edward III. sirnamed The Confessor Son of Ethelred II. by Emme Daughter of Richard Duke of Normandy and half Brother to Edmund Ironside and to Hardy-Cnut the Dane was now advanced to the Throne of England and the Danes utterly expelled the Countrey having tytannized here above 200 years whereof they Reigned onely 26 years He Reigned 24 years He was the first of the Kings of England who cured the Disease call'd The Kings Evil a Prerogative continuing hereditary to the Kings of England and after his Death he was Canonized for a Saint Dr. Heylins Cosmography pag. 318. Anno Chr. 1066 17. Harold Son of Godwin Earl of Kent was chosen King of England in the Nonage of Edgar Atheling Grandchild to Edmund Ironside and true Heir of the Kingdom he was Crowned the sixth of January 1065. He Reigned nine Months and eight days But before I pass farther I would remember you of one thing mentioned by Dr. Heylin how in memory of the joyful clearing of the Countrey from the cruel Danes in the time of Edward the Confessor the English did institute the Merriment of the annual Sports of Hock-Tide and from their barbarous stabbing of the English at the time of their Drinking to avoid such villany the Party who was to Drink requested some of the next to him to be his Pledge or Surety whilst he was Drinking and hence came our Custom of Pledging one another a Phrase used in time of Drinking even to this day Harold was slain in Battel the fourteenth of October 1066 by William Duke of Normandy upon which Victory William was Crowned King of England and so ceased the Rule of the Saxons Thus have I briefly run over the Saxon Kings of England out of the most authentick Historians so that putting all together if we reckon the coming in of the Saxons with Cambden to be in Anno Domini 428 to the time of the Norman Conquest and including the small time of the Rule of the Danish Kings in the Account the whole time of the Saxons Rule in England was 638 years CHAP. VI. Of the time of the Danes in England 1. ANno Domini 800. the Danes first arriv'd in England to wit in the Isle of Portland which belongeth to Dorsetshire Brithric being then King of the West-Saxons Stowe's Annals but were after driven out of the Land These Danes did much infest England for a long space burning Towns and Temples and making woful destruction Osbert and Ella Kings of Northumberland were slain at York by the Danes Anno 867. Matth. of Westminster And in Anno 870. the Danes under the Command of Hinguar and Hubba slew Edmund King of the East-Angles and so possessed themselves of that Kingdom Florentius Wigorniensis and Stowe And in Anno 874. the Danes forced Beorhred King of Mercia to flie out of England and after his Expulsion they possessed all the Kingdom of the Mercians Florentius Infinite other Battels of them we meet with so that now they had the Kingdoms of the Mercians and of the East-Angles and a great part of Northumberland And in the time of Ethelred King of England Anno Domini 991. the Tribute call'd Danegeld was first Collected to appease the fury of the Danes and their Depopulations which continued a long time after See Spelman's Glossary on the word Danegeldum Anno Domini 1012. on the twelfth of November at Night Anno Regni Ethelredi 35. the English to free themselves from the great Oppression of the Tax called Danegeld did by a general Conspiracy strangle all the Danes in their Beds Heylin's Cosmography pag. 317. To revenge which Fact Swane King of Denmark came into England with a Fleet of 350 Ships Anno 1013. and ceased not to spoil many parts of the Kingdom and at last so far prevailed and subdued England that Cnut his Son was made King thereof after the death of Edmund Ironside to wit Anno 1017. and Cnut and his Sons enjoyed the Crown 26 years to the Year 1043. and then was the Saxon Blood restored to the Crown in Edward the Confessor but alass soon after Edward's Death were both the Danes and Saxons conquered by William Duke of Normandy to wit Anno 1066. So that we see the Justice of God how he set the Danes as a Scourge to the Saxons who had so perfidiously and cruelly used the poor Brettans and at last were driven out of their Lands by the Normans as they before had driven out the Brettans 2. The whole time that the Danes so miserably afflicted the Saxons in England was 266 years if we reckon to the Norman Conquest from the first coming of them into England Anno Domini 800. but if we reckon to the time of Edward the Confessor sub Anno 1043. then it containeth onely 242 years But Matth.
first 39 Kings of Scotland which some Scotch Historians do reckon up are but vain and fabulous as Dr. Heylyn truly accounts them in his Cosmography pag. 335. Kings of Scotland before the Conquest of the Picts when the Scots had but one Part of Scotland and the Picts the other Part. Ann. Dom. 404 1. Fergus King of the Scots and Durstus King of the Picts slain in Battel against the Romans and Brettans Anno Christi 420. Buchanan 2. Eugenius or Euenus eldest Son of Fergus 3. Dongard Brother of Eugenius 4. Constantine Brother of Dongard and youngest Son of Fergus 5. Congall Son of Dongard 6. Goran Brother of Congall 7. Eugenius II. Son of Congall 8. Congall II. Brother to Eugenius 9. Kinnatel In his time Aidan Son of Gorran came into Scotland who two Years before came out of Ireland and was now by St. Columba brought to Kinnatel who left the Kingdom to Aidan having onely Reigned 14 Months 10. Aidan Son of Gorran had his Kingly Robes put on by Columba Deadly Feuds began between him and Brudeus * Brudeus was Son of Meilocon Ordericus l 8. p. 702. King of the Picts Aidan was routed by Ethelfrid King of Northumberland Anno 603. Bede lib. 1. cap. 34. So that he never came again into Scotland 11. Kenneth I. was elected King He Reigned but 4 Months or ut alii 12 Months 12. Eugenius III. Son of Aidan 13. Ferchard I. Son of Eugenius 14. Donaldus Brother of Ferchard 15. Ferchard II. Son of Ferchard He was wounded by a Wolf 16. Maldwine Son of Donwald He was strangled by his Wife upon suspicion he had lain with a Whore and she was burned for it 17. Eugenius IV. Son of Dongard 18. Eugenius V. Son of Ferchard 19. Amberkeleth Son of Findanus Son of Eugenius IV. 20. Eugenius VI. He married Spondana Daughter of Garnard and commanded the Acts of Kings to be Registred in Abbies 21. Mordac Son of Amberkeleth 22. Etfin Son of Eugenius VI. He forced Galloway to pay Tribute 23. Eugenius VII Son of Mordac was murthered by his Nobles 24. Fergus II. Son of Etfin was strangled by his Wife when he was asleep 25. Solvathius Son of Eugenius VII a good Prince 26. Achaius Son of Etfin first entred into a League with France Hungus King of the Picts obtains 10000 Scots of him 27. Congall III. Cosin to Achaius 28. Dongall II. Son of Solvathius 29. Alpin Son of Achaius slain in Battel by the Picts who challenged that Kingdom in right of his Mother Sister to Hungus King of the Picts and his Heir also 30. Kenneth II. Son of Alpin utterly subdued and destroyed the Picts and slew Drusken their last King extending thereby the Scottish Kingdom from one Sea to the other over all the Bounds of Modern Scotland Kings of Scotland after the Conquest of the Picts 1. Kenneth II. the first sole King of all Scotland conquered the Picts Anno 838. He promoted his Kingdom from the Isles of the Orcades to Adrian's Wall Buchanan 2. Donald II. Brother of Kenneth died at Scone Anno 858. 3. Constantine II. Son of Kenneth slain by the Danes 4. Ethus Brother of Constantine sirnamed Alipes à Pedum celeritate 5. Gregorius Son of Dongall a stout Prince He overcame the Danes Brettans and English subdued Cumberland and Westmorland entred Ireland with an Army in the time of Duncan or Donat or more truly Dunach King of Ireland a Child and overcame Brien and Cornelius General of the Irish Forces 6. Donald III. Son of Constantine II. 7. Constantine III. Son of Ethus 8. Malcolme I. stiled Milcolumbus in Latin Son of Donald III. had Cumberland and Westmorland by the Gift of Edmund King of England upon condition that every succeeding King of Scotland should swear Fealty to the King of England as the Supreme Sovereign 9. Indulf an Intruder 10. Duffe Son of Malcolme was murthered 11. Culen Son of Indulfe murthered by one Rohard a Thane or Nobleman 12. Kenneth III. Brother of Duffe 13. Constantine IV. Son of Culen sirnamed Calvus or The Bald a Usurper of the Crown 14. Grime Son of Duffe was slain in Battel by Malcolme Prince of Cumberland 15. Malcolme II. Son of Kinneth III. murthered by his Nobles in the Castle of Glammis in Angus 16. Duncan Son of Grime succeeded Malcolme II. Malcolme had no Issue Male but two Daughters Beatrix Married to one Crine a Nobleman Thane of the West-Islands and Ruler or President over the rest of the Thanes whom that Age called A-Thane Doaca the other Daughter married the Thane of Angus of whom he begat Macbeth So Buchanan And Duncan had by the Daughter of Siward the Great Earl of Northumberland two Sons Malcolme Cammoir and Donald sirnamed Ban that is White 17. Macbeth Grandson to Malcolme II. by Doaca his Daughter 18. Malcolme III. sirnamed Cammoir that is Great-Head Son of Duncan He enjoyed Cumberland and Westmorland with the Dominion of Scotland and married Margaret the Sister of Edgar Atheling Right Heir to the Crown of England but kept out by William the Conqueror by whom he had Issue six Sons Edward Edgar Alexander David Edmund and Ethelred These two last were driven into England by Donwald their Uncle and died in Banishment saith Buchanan Malcolme had also two Daughters Maud Wife to Henry the First King of England and Mary another Daughter of Malcolme married to Eustace Earl of Boloine Ordericus pag. 702. Buchanan pag. 215. This Malcolme with Edward his eldest Son was slain by Morell or Morkell an Officer under Robert de Moulbray Earl of Northumberland the 13 day of November 1093. near the River Alne in Northumberland Roger Hoveden pag. 463 464. as he was coming home peaceably towards Scotland Ordericus vitalis lib. 8. pag. 701 702. 19. Donald IV. sirnamed Ban Brother to Malcolme was beaten out of Scotland by Duncan II. after that he had Reigned six Months 20. Duncan II. base Son of Malcolme III. set up by the Scots and murthered by Macpendirus Earl of Merne Buchanan 21. Edgar Son of Malcolme III. by the help of William Rufus King of England recovered Scotland which Forces were procured by the Mediation of Edgar Atheling his Uncle Hoveden pag. 466. He built an Abbey at Coldingham consecrated to Ebba the Virgin * Anno 1102. afterward translated into the Name of Cutbert But Edgar died without Issue Anno 1107. 6 Idus Januarii Buchanan pag. 216. Matt. Paris pag. 63. Hoveden pag. 471. sub Anno 1108. 22. Alexander Brother of Edgar was sirnamed Acer or The Fierce He built the Temple of St. Michael at Scone and also a Temple in honour of Columbus in the Isle of Aemona He married Sibilla Daughter of William the Conqueror but left no Children by her So Buchanan But the Conqueror had no such Daughter that I can find either in Ordericus or Stowe who name all his Daughters She was base Daughter of Henry the First Ordericus pag. 702. Ann. Dom. 1124 23. David Brother of Alexander married Maude
Scythians Celto Scythae ut habet Strabo omnes olìm ad occasum Populi dicti waxed strong in Ireland Orosius writes That in the time of Honorius and Arcadius Emperors Ireland was inhabited by the Scots about Anno Christi 400. These Scots came out of Spain into Ireland and part of them going again out of Ireland into the North of Brettain sub Duce Reudâ à quo Dal-Reudini vocantur Bede de Hist Ang. lib. 1. cap. 1. Seated themselves there and added a third Nation in Brettaine to the Picts and Brettans and afterwards from those Scots the whole North of Brettain was called Scotland even to this day And from those Scots inhabitng Ireland that Kingdom was by Isidore and Bede called Scotia Haec propriè Patria Scottorum est saith Bede of Ireland l. 1. de Hist Ang. c. 1. Anno Christi 684. Egfrid King of Northumberland wasted Ireland Bede ib. l. 4. c. 26. Anno Christi 838. the Norwegians under the Command of Turgesius for 30 Years miserably wasted Ireland but he being slain by Treachery the Inhabitants slew all the Norwegians Giraldus Topogram Hiberniae Distinct 3. cap. 37. These Norwegians without doubt were those Normans who as Rhegino saith in the Times of Charles the Great setting upon Ireland the Island of the Scots were put to flight by the Scots Afterwards the Oustmanni that is The Eastern Men came from the Sea-coast of Germany into Ireland under pretence of Merchandize and soon after raised a great War About the same time almost Edgar King of England overcame a great part of Ireland and subjected it under his Dominion Cambden's Britannia pag. 731. But besides these there arose great Dissention among the Irish themselves which made way to the conquering of Ireland for the King of England Hen. II. taking notice of these Jars Treated seriously with his Nobles of England about the Year 1155. concerning the conquering of Ireland for the use of his Brother William of Angeau but by the Advice of his Mother Maude the Empress the Matter was at that time deferred Not many Years after Dermot Mac Morrog King of Leinster being driven out of his Kingdom by Rodoric King of Connaught and Monarch of Ireland implores the Aid of Hen. II. who condescending thereunto Dermot prevailed with Richard de Clare Earl of Pembroke sirnamed Strongbow Son of Gilbert de Clare Earl of Pembroke which Gilbert was a younger Son of Gilbert Earl of Clare in Suffolk to raise Forces for his Assistance Covenanting to make Strongbow his Successor in the Kingdom of Leinster and to give unto him Eva his Daughter in Marriage Hereupon Strongbow gathers an Army of select Soldiers in Wales and England accompanied with Fitz-Gerald Fitz-Stephen and other Gentlemen and in few Years obtained so great a part of Ireland that Hen. II. fearing his Power sends out his Proclamation in Anno 1171. That Strongbow and other his Associates should return back out of Ireland by Easter next or else be utterly Disinherited for ever Strongbow returns into England the King is pacified with him Conditionally that he surrender Dublin to the King with the Cantreds adjoyning and also all the Maritime Towns and Castles the residue of his Conquest he must acknowledge to hold from the King of England and his Heirs So Giraldus CHAP. II. Of the chief Persons in the Conquest of Ireland I. RIchard Strongbow Earl of Pembroke a Man much in Debt had large Possessions but had much lesned his Estate by his profuseness and therefore more easily drawn in to the getting of new Territories Chron. Joh. Brompton pag. 1069. Vir plus nominis hactenùs habens quam hominis plus senii quà m ingenii Giraldus Hib. Expug li. 1. cap. 12. Of a ruddy Complexion Freckled great Eyes a womanly Face a small Voice a short Neck Bountiful and of a mild Nature being fixed in Battel was a Standard for his Forces to resort unto not puffed up with a Victory nor dejected with a Defeat Giraldus Hib. Expug lib. 1. cap. 27. He was sirnamed Strongbow from the strong Bowe which he used to draw having Arms of an extraordinary length of whom it is reported that standing upright he could touch his own Knees with the Palms of his Hands Brooke in his Catalogue of Nobility Title Pembroke The King of England Hen. II. gave him what accrued unto him in Right of Eva his Wife and what he had got in War and gave him the Counties of Weshford Ossery Caterlogh and Kildare to hold of the Kings of England Cambd. Britan. pag. 731. Ireland He died An. Chr. 1176. and Dermot King of Leinster his Father-in-law died at Fernys about the Calends of May Anno 1171. full of Days Annales Hiberniae at the end of Camb. Britan. II. Hugh Lacy was also very instrumental in the Conquest of Ireland to whom Hen. II. gave all the Land of Meath in Ireland with the Apurtenances by Charter to hold of him and his Son John for the Service of 100 Knights Fees He gave him also in custody the City of Dublin with its Apurtenances and appointed these following to belong to the Service of Dublin all the Land of Offlan with its Apurtenances and Wilkechelon with its Apurtenances and the Service of Meath and the Service of four Knights Fees which Robert Poer ought to do for the Castle of Dunavet Hoveden pag. 528. 566. He was Descended of Walter Lacy a great Baron who Founded Lanthony-Abby in the Valley of Ewyas in the Borders of Monmouthshire to which Walter William Earl of Hereford gave great Possessions in those Parts Cambden in Monmouthshire This Hugh was of a black Complexion hollow Eyes the right side of his Face even to his Chin was disfigured by Burning which hapned in his Youth a short Neck a hairy Body strong Sinews of a little Stature and a deformed Shape firm to his Trust intent on his own Business and very vigilant in the Affairs of Government a good Soldier much trusted by his Prince who made him Lord Justice of Ireland 1172. Hoveden pag. 528. He Fortified Leinster and Meath with many Castles and had his Head chopt off with a Hatchet by an Irishman treacherously as he stooped down Anno 1186. at Dernath where he intended to have built a Castle Hoveden pag. 631. also Annales Hiberniae He left two Sons of great eminency in Ireland Walter de Lacy Lord of Meath and Hugh Lacy Earl of Ulster afterwards III. Robert Fitz-Stephen was the first of Strong-bow's Forces who entred Ireland with three Ships containing about 130 Soldiers of his Friends and Allies Landing at Banvan about May Anno 1167. besides 60 other Horse and 300 Foot Archers among whom Hervey de Mont-Morice The Day after Maurice de Prendergest followed with two Ships of Soldiers more raised out of Cardiganshire or thereabouts De Rosensi Walliae Demetiae Provinciâ These with 500 Soldiers more sent by Dermot out of his own Countrey under the Command of his Bastard Son Donwald Assaulted Weshford but were beaten
set down the Kings of Mercia during the Heptarchy of the Saxons in England under which our County of Cheshire is comprised This Kingdom of Mercia began Anno Domini 626. under Penda sirnamed The Strong Son of Wibba Howbeit Huntington brings it somewhat higher even to begin under Crida who died Anno Domini 596. lib. 2. pag. 315. whose Descent he also sets down out of the ancient Saxons Chronicle to Woden pag. 316. and the Descent of Woden Malmesbury reckons up Also Matth. Paris de H. 2. and Asser Menevensis de Alfredo pa. 1. lib. 2. de Gestis Regum cap. 2. ad initium out of the English Chronicles to Noah Also Hoved. Annal. pars prior p. 414. brings it up to Adam Which Descent although we may conceive it true as far as is set down yet it carries great improbabilities along with it in respect of the long Tract of Time it contains for Woden is but the tenth Ancestor from Crida inclusively and Noah but the sixteenth from Woden according to Malmesbury So all the Generations from Noah to Crida are but 26. which in all probability cannot contain much above 600 Years and so Crida living after Christ 550 Years as Huntington clearly expresseth the Generation where Noah is placed cannot exceed 100 Years before Christ or thereabouts Now Noah lived above 2000 Years before Christ as is evident by the Scripture and the Generations from Noah to Christ are reckoned up 68 Luke cap. 3. and according to Matthew from Noah to Christ are reckoned up 52 Generations which far exceed the proportion and number here set down by Malmesbury Besides this that Bedwegius should be the Son of Sem as Hoveden hath it is much to be suspected or as Malmesbury sets it down that he should be the Son of Stresaeus and Stresaeus reported to be the Son of Noah seems likewise incredible forasmuch as no such Son is recorded in the Text Genesis cap. 10. either to Noah or Sem. But to return II. The Kingdom of Mercia was otherwise called Midel-Engle or Mediterranea Anglia Huntington lib. 2. Histor pag. 317. and was distinguished into the Northern and Southern Mercians The South-Mercians were 5000 Families and were severed by the River Trent from the North-Mercians who contained 7000 Families and this distinction was in the time of Peda Son of Penda Huntington lib. 3. pag. 332. It was called Mercia not from the River Mersey running from the corner of Wirral in Cheshire because that River was the utmost Limit thereof Westward but I rather believe that River took Denomination from this Kingdom which it Bounded on that side and was called Mercia because it abutted or bordered upon part of all or most of the other Kingdoms of the Heptarchy for Marche in the Saxon Tongue signifieth A Border or Limit Hence we call the parts of Wales next bordering upon England The Marches of Wales and at this day we call the utmost Border of a piece of Land A Land-March now pronounced Land-Mark which is as much as A Mere or Boundary III. I shall now briefly run over the Kings of Mercia since the Saxons first set up their Rule here with the Years of their several Reigns 1. Crida died about the Year of Christ 596. He began his Reign Anno Domini 586. and Reigned ten Years 2. VVibba Son of Crida He began his Reign Anno 596. and Reigned twenty Years 3. Ceorlus Son of VVibba He began his Reign Anno 616. and Reigned ten Years 4. Penda sirnamed The Strong Son of VVibba slew Edwin and Oswald Bede de Hist Angl. lib. 3. cap. 9. Kings of Northumberland in several Battels Oswald was slain the fifth day of August Anno Domini 642. Oswald was a holy Man and many Churches and Chappels were Consecrated and Founded in honour of him This Penda was slain by Oswy Brother of Oswald in the Year 656. in Battel He began his Reign Anno 626. and Reigned thirty Years 5. Peda or Weda Son of Penda Married Alflede Daughter of Oswy King of Northumberland and was the first King of Mercia that received the Christian Faith He received half of Mercia by the Gift of Oswy his Father-in-law to wit South-Mercia This Oswy Founded Lichfield Church and made Dwina a Scotchman Bishop thereof Anno Domini 656. He was the first Bishop of Mercia Stow. pag. 67. This Peda began his Reign Anno 656. and Reigned three Years 6. Wulfere Son of Penda after the Death of his Brother Peda succeeded King of Mercia for the Nobility of Mercia Jumin Eaba and Eadbert did rebell against Oswy and set up Wulfere who Married Ermenhild Daughter of Erconbert King of Kent and had Issue by her Kenred a Son and Werburge a Daughter that holy Virgin who died at Chester and there buried Will. de Malmesbury lib. 1. de Gestis Regum cap. 4. This Wulfere was the first of the English Kings who committed Simony and sold the Bishoprick of London to one VVina He killed two of his own Sons Ulfade and Rufin because they went to be instructed in the Christian Faith by St. Chad Bishop of Lichfield whose Bodies Ermenhild the Queen buried in a Sepulchre of Stone where after she Founded a Priory called The Priory of Stones in Staffordshire Stow. pag. 69. He began his Reign Anno 659. and Reigned seventeen Years 7. Ethelred Brother to VVulfere erected a Bishoprick at VVorcester He began his Reign Anno 675. and Reigned twenty nine Years 8. Kenred Son of VVulfere in the fifth Year of his Reign went to Rome and became a Monk in St. Peters Church in Rome where he continued all his Life He began his Reign Anno 704. and Reigned five Years 9. Ceolred Son of Ethelred Fought stoutly against Ina King of the VVest-Saxons Ceolred was buried at Lichfield He began his Reign Anno 708. and Reigned eight Years 10. Ethelbald the Proud whom Malmesbury stiles Pronepos Pendae ex Alwio fratre Reigned peaceably one and forty Years This Ethelbald and almost all the Nobility of Mercia were much addicted to Adultery rejecting their Wives as appears by the Letter of Boniface Archbishop of Mentz and German Legate to Ethelbald about Anno 747. He Founded the Abbey of Crowland and was slain by his own Subjects by the procurement of Berared at the Battel of Segiswold within three Miles of Tamworth as he was Fighting against Cuthred King of the VVest-Saxons Anno 757. Stow. and his Body was Interred at Ripedon or Ripon He was Son of Alwy Son of Eoppa Son of VVibba Matth. VVestminst pag. 264. He began his Reign Anno 716. and Reigned one and forty Years 11. Berared an Usurper was slain by Offa and had an end meet for a Traytor He began his Reign Anno 757. and Reigned one Year 12. Offa was Cosin to Ethelbald scilicet Son of Dingferth Son of Eanulf Son of Osmod Son of Eoppa Son of VVibba Florentius VVigorniensis pag. 274. He overcame in Battel Kinulf King of the VVest-Saxons He built the famous
10. Fingondulf 11. Frederwolf 12. Freolf 13. Fredwald 14. Woden 15. Bealdag 16. Brand. 17. Freodgar These three are omitted by Asser as it is Printed from Cambden's Copy 1603. also by Simon Dunelmensis pag. 119. 18. Frewin These three are omitted by Asser as it is Printed from Cambden's Copy 1603. also by Simon Dunelmensis pag. 119. 19. Wigg These three are omitted by Asser as it is Printed from Cambden's Copy 1603. also by Simon Dunelmensis pag. 119. 20. Gewis Iste fuit Caput Gentis suae à quo tota Gens illa nomen accepit à Britonibus Gewissorum Gens fuit Hantshire sive Regio Wintoniae Ordericus lib. 4. pag. 512. See also Bede de Hist Ang. lib. 4. cap. 15. Gewis is omitted in Mat. Paris Copy 21. Edda omitted by Asser and called Egla by Mat. Paris 22. Elesa 23. Ceordwic He lived Anno 520. 24. Creoda 25. Chenric or Kenrick 26. Cheulin 27. Cuthwin 28. Cutha Son of Cuthwin 29. Ceoldwald 30. Ceonred 31. Ingels cujus Frater fuit Ina Rex famosissimus Occidentalium Saxonum 32. Eoppa 33. Offa ceù Eafa 34. Alcmund 35. Egbert or Egbricht the first Saxon Monarch of all England Obiit Anno Christi 836. 36. Ethelwolf Obiit Anno 856. 37. Alfred He Reigned not till 872. because his Brothers Reigned before him Obiit 899. 38. Edward the Elder Obiit Anno Christi 924. 39. Edmund Obiit Anno Christi 946. 40. Edgar the Peaceable Obiit Anno Christi 975. 41. Ethelred He plotted to kill all the Danes in their Beds on the 12th of November at night An. 1012. Obiit Anno. Christi 1016. 42. Edmund Ironside He died Anno Christi 1017. 43. Edward the Outlaw He was never King though Right Heir Cnut the Dane dispossessed him 44. Margaret Wife of Malcolme the third King of Scotland Christian a Nun at Ramsey in Huntington-shire 1086. Si. Dunelmensis Edgar Atheling Right Heir to the Crown created Earl of Oxford 1065 Stowe and Cambden 45. Maud Wife of Henry the First King of England 46. Maud the Empress Daughter and Heir She was after married to Geffrey Plantagenet Earl of Anjou in France 1127. 47. Henry the Second King of England Son of Geffrey and Maud. c. ⚜ This Descent carrieth great uncertainty both for the defect of time wherein each lived and also for want of Authority vouched but chiefly for that Bedwig the first here named is made the Son of Sem Howbeit the later part of it is very true but the making of Bedwig Son of Sem is either foisted into the Copy by some ignorant Person or else is to be understood as descended from Sem originally not immediately as Christ is called the Son of David the Son of Abraham Matthew cap. 1. ver 1. For Sem the Son of Noah died Anno Mundi 2158. Anno post Diluvium 502. which was 1790 Years before Christ was born And no Learned Man versed in Antiquities can imagine the Descents here reckoned up to Bedwig from King Alfred to exceed 1000 Years So that reckoning from Alfred's death which was in Anno 899. it cannot be supposed that these Descents can reach much above the time of Christ's Birth if they reach so high admitting them to be exactly true so far as they reach which would yet fall short 1700 Years from the death of Sem. Besides we find no such Son of Sem as Bedwig mentioned in the Sacred Scriptures And if we well observe the third Chapter of S. Luke we shall find 66 Descents reckoned up between Sem and Christ containing the Revolution of 2000 Years and more if we account the Age wherein Sem lived And S. Matthew reckons up onely 52 Descents to that time by another Line besides three Kings omitted by him between Joram and Ozias for some Reasons best known to the Holy Spirit of God which will better appear by comparing S. Matth. 1. ver 8. with 1 Chron. cap. 3. ver 11 12. So as the whole Descents therein make up onely 55. And although some Mens Lives are longer and some shorter yet the Generations carry some proportion one with another as we may easily observe in others where the Descents are exactly put down But now between Sem and Alfred are onely 37 Descents here reckoned up which cannot comprehend above 1000 Years and between Sem and Alfred are effluxed 2690 Years accounting from both their deaths So that unless some Descents be here skipped over in many places it is impossible that any of these should reach the Age of Sem and then these cannot be exact and true Descents through Besides those more ancient Descents between Bedwig and Gewis not having been proved by some good Authority may yield them uncertain to relie upon So much for the Descent of the Saxons before-mentioned CHAP. V. Containing a Brief Catalogue of all the Saxon Kings in England from the first beginning of the Heptarchy and when they Reigned The Kings of Kent A.C. 455. 1. Hengist with Horsa his Brother 32 Years A.C. 488. 2. Esk Son of Hengist 24 Years A.C. 512. 3. Otta 20 Years A.C. 532. 4. Imirik 29 Years A.C. 561. 5. Ethelbert the first Christian King of Kent 56 Years A.C. 617. 6. Eadbald 24 Years A.C. 640. 7. Ercombert He first caused Lent to be kept in England Anno 640. Bede 24 Years A.C. 665. 8. Egbert 9 Years A.C. 674. 9. Lotharius 12 Years A.C. 686. 10. Edrik 7 Years A.C. 693. 11. Withtred 33 Years A.C. 726. 12. Egbert or Edbert 23 Years A.C. 749. 13. Ethelbert II. 11 Years A.C. 760. 14. Alric slain by Offa 34 Years A.C. 794. 15. Ethelbert III. 3 Years A.C. 797. 16. Cuthred 8 Years A.C. 805. 17. Baldred the last King of Kent He lost his Kingdom to Egbert King of the West-Saxons Anno Domini 824. 19 Years The Kings of the East-Angles A.C. 575. 1. Uffa the first King A.C. 582. 2. Titullus A.C. 593. 3. Redwald a Potent King A.C. 624. 4. Erpenwald A.C. 636. 5. St. Sigebert A.C. 638. 6. Egric A.C. 642. 7. Anna. A.C. 654. 8. Ethelbert I. A.C. 656. 9. Ethelwold A.C. 664. 10. Aldulf A.C. 683. 11. Elfwold A.C. 690. 12. Beorn A.C. 714. 13. St. Ethelred A.C. 749. 14. Ethelbert II. who being slain by Offa King of Mercia 793. this Kingdom was united to Mercia The Kings of the East-Saxons A.C. 527. 1. Erchwin the first King A.C. 587. 2. Sledda A.C. 596. 3. St. Sebert A.C. 617. 4. Sexred Seward and Sigibert Fratres A.C. 623. 5. Sigebert the Little A.C. 636. 6. Sigebert III. A.C. 638. 7. Egricus A.C. 642. 8. Anna. A.C. 654. 9. Ethelbert A.C. 656. 10. Ethelwald A.C. 661. 11. Swithelme A.C. 664. 12. Sighbert and Sebba A.C. 694. 13. Sigehard and Senfrid A.C. 701. 14. Offa. A.C. 709. 15. Selred A.C. 747. 16. Suthred The Kings of the South-Saxons A.C. 488. 1. Ella the first King 27 Yea. A.C. 515. 2. Cissa Son of Ella who lost his Kingdom to Cerdic King of the West-Saxons Yea. A.C. 687. 3. Edelwach or Ethehwolfe is the next
of Westminster computeth onely from the beginning of King Ethelwolfe's Reign to the Norman Conquest which I wonder at since the same Author tells us that in Anno 800. the Danes spoiled Tinmouth Church and after they had Robbed thereabouts they returned with their Spoils and besides he tells us of several Battels in England between King Egbert and the Danes But his words are these pag. 302. Misit ergò eis Deus Omnipotens Gentes Paganas crudelissimas velut Apum Examina quae nè quidem Sexui muliebri aut Parvulorum parceret aetati Danos scilicet Norwegenses Gothos Swathedos Vandalos Frisios qui ab exordio Regis Ethelwolfi supradicti usque ad Normannorum Adventum per annos fermè 230 terram hanc peccatricem à mari usquè ad mare ab homine usquè ad Pecus deleverunt non eam possidere subjugare sed praedari ac perdere satagebant So that there was a long time of intermixture with various Nations and sorts of People Cambden saith That the Name of Danes was not known to the World before the time of Justinian the Emperor about the Year of Christ 570. Tunc enim Galliam vastare caeperunt Rerum Anglicarum Latinis Historicis Wiccingi dicti sunt Wiccinga Saxonicè Piratam denotat Cambden's Britannia pag. 101. And Dudo Sancti Quinti Decanus saith That out of Scanza that is Scandia the Danes Getes or Gothes Amarobii Tragoditae Alani Sarmatae came out like Swarms of Bees Lib. 1. sub initio Also Gemeticensis lib. 1. cap. 2. CHAP. VII Of the coming of the Normans into England and whence they are descended 1. THe Normans invaded England Anno Domini 1066. when William sirnamed The Bastard Duke of Normandy commonly called William the Conqueror Landed with a great Army at Pemsey near Hastings in Sussex and overcame Harold King of England in Battel which was fought the fourteenth day of October being Saturday Anno Domini 1066. about nine Miles from Hastings in Sussex upon which Victory the English submitted to him And in the Race of the Norman Blood hath the Kingdom of England since continued to this day 1670. by Maude the Empress Daughter and Heir to King Henry I. and Wife of Geffrey Planagenet Earl of Anjou in France Married to him Anno Domini 1127. Mother of King Henry the Second from whom the succeeding Kings are descended The English continued their native Language notwithstanding the great and long commixture with the Normans but much altered since Chaucer's time who lived under King Richard the Second especially since Henry the Eighth's time downward it is so intermingled with Latine besides some old words retained from the Norman-French anciently that it is now become a new Language and much of the ancient English Tongue quite lost and perish'd and daily in our Age creep in many Latine and French words to the utter decay of the English Tongue The Conqueror gave away the Lands of the English to his Friends and Soldiers who assisted him in the Conquest some few he suffered to enâ—oy their own Estates and but very few Most of the ancient Gentry now in England of great and ancient Estates are Descended from the Normans who came into England with the Conqueror yet doubtless are there many of the Saxon Blood now remaining and by reason of a long intermixture by intermarrying one with another have incorporated our Nation into a Hotchpot of several Nations for the Normans themselves were a People intermingled of Norwegians Swedes and Danes It is observed of the People of England that they are so naturally given to Faction and Rebellion that since the Norman Conquest we scarcely read of any of our Kings to this day who have not met with the disturbance of some rebellious and treasonable Practises of their own Subjects and that in open Arms too King James onely excepted and yet he wanted not a Gunpowder Treason miraculously discovered and prevented Anno 1605. nor a Gowries Conspiracy in Scotland 1600. and his Son King Charles the First most miserably murthered in our Days by his own Subjects through the Puritan Factions in England Anno 1648. the thirtieth day of January A short Table of the Norman Kings and when they began their Reigns Anno Chr. 1066. 1. William the Conqueror bastard-Bastard-Son of Robert Duke of Normandy by one Arlet a Skinner's Daughter of Faloys in Normandy He caused Domes-day Book to be made which was begun and finished between the fourteenth and twentieth Year of his Reign He died the ninth day of September aged 64 Years Anno Domini 1087. He Reigned 20 Years 10 Months and 26 Days 2. William sirnamed Rufus third Son of William the Conqueror succeeded in the Kingdom of England Robert the eldest Son was Duke of Normandy William Rufus died secundo die Augusti 1100. in the thirteenth Year of his Reign being slain with an Arrow which was shot by Sir Walter Tirrel a Frenchman at a Deer in New-Forrest in Hampshire and hitting a Bough of a Tree glanced aside and hit the King He Reigned 12 Years 11 Months ferè 3. Henry for his Learning sirnamed Beauclerk the fourth Son of the Conqueror but the third Son that lived to be a Man and younger Brother to William Rufus in the absence of Robert Duke of Normandy his eldest Brother then in the Holy Land succeeded King of England and afterwards took from his Brother Robert the Dukedom of Normandy also he died primo die Decembris 1135. He Reigned 35 Years and four Months 4. Stephen second Son of Stephen Earl of Blois by Adela Daughter of William the Conqueror usurped the Kingdom of England and was in continual War with Maude the Empress he died the twenty fifth day of October 1154. He Reigned 18 Years 10 Months and odd Days 5. Henry II. Son of Geffrey Plantagenet Earl of Anjou in France by Maude the Empress Daughter and sole Heir of Henry I. King of England he added to the English Empire Anjou Touraine and Main which were his Fathers and also the Dutchy of Aquitain and the Earldom of Poictu by Elianor his Wife and conquered Ireland he died the sixth day of July 1189. aged 61 Years He Reigned 34 Years and 9 Months wanting 18 Days 6. Richard I. Son of Henry II. sirnamed Ceur de Lyon Warred in the Holy Land and in his return was taken Prisoner in the Dominions of the Duke of Austria He was slain at the Siege of the Battel of Chaluz in the Province of Limoges in France and died of his Wound the sixth day of April 1199. He Reigned 9 Years and 9 Months Anno Chr. 1199. 7. John Brother to Richard I. lost Normandy Aquitaine and Angeau to the French 1204. He died the 19 of October 1216. at the age of 51 Years He Reigned 17 Years and 6 Months 8. Henry III. Son of King John was but nine Years old when he was Crowned He died the 16 of November 1272. aged 65 Years He reigned 56 Years
reigned 44 Years 4 Months and 7 Days The Scotch Line Kings and Monarchs of all Great-Brettaine and Ireland 24. James VI. King of Scotland Son of Mary Queen of Scots Anno Chr. 1602. Daughter and Heir of James V. Son of James IV. and of the Lady Margaret eldest Daughter of Henry the Seventh King of England was Proclaimed King of England in London March 24. 1602. as the next undoubted Heir to the Crown of England A Learned and Religious Prince of whom the Lord Bacon saith in his Advancement of Learning pa. 2. It is no Amplification but a positive and measured Truth That there was not so Learned a Temporal Monarch since Christ 's time in all Literature Divine and Humane as this King James Of whom see more in Scotland He died at Theobalds the 27 of March 1625. aged 60 Years He was the first Monarch of all Great-Brettaine He Reigned 22 Years and 3 Days 25. Charles I. Son of James VI. of Scotland was overpowred by the Puritanical Faction in England confederate with the Covenanters of Scotland who began their Rebellion in England Anno 1642. which continued by the Assistance of the Rebellious Parliament of England until the Year 1660. miserably ruinating both our Church and State And these Rebels murthered this Good King the 30 day of January 1648. in the 49 Year of his Age and banished his Children He Reigned 23 Years 10 Months and 3 Days 26. Charles II. Son of Charles I. was kept out of his Kingdoms till after the death of Oliver Cromwel the Traytor stiled the Protector but was after Restored and Returned to his Kingdoms the 29 day of May Anno Domini 1660. chiefly next under God who disposeth and ordereth the Hearts of all Men by the Assistance of Colonel George Monk who then had the Command of all the Forces in Scotland and England Principally and was afterwards made Duke of Albemarle by this King as well he deserved Of the Dukes of Normandy before William the Conqueror II. THe Dukes of Normandy from whence our Norman Kings of England aforesaid are descended are the Progeny of Rollo the Dane who invaded the Province of Neustria in France with a great Army which because they consisted of Men brought out of the North part of the World they were called Normans and that Province of France was called Normannia in Latin For in the Saxon Language of our Ancestors Normans denotes as much as Populi Septentrionales in the Latine And were a People as Cambden saith commixt of Norwegians Swedes and Danes 1. This Rollo took Baieux in Normandy by Storm and slew Berengarius Earl thereof and after married Popa Daughter of the said Berengarius on whom he begot William afterwards Duke of Normandy sirnamed Longespée because of the long Sword he used to wear And Rollo much perplexed the French by his daily Rapines over-running almost all France to Burgundy At last for the Mediation of a Peace Charles the Simple King of France gave unto him all the Land of Normandy from the River Epta to the Sea to be held by Homage from the Kings of France with Gista his Daughter in Marriage Popa his former Wife being now either dead or divorced Whereupon Rollo was Baptised by Franco Archbishop of Roan Anno Chr. 917. Anno Domini 912. And he was the first Duke of Normandy and died Anno Christi nati 917. Ordericus Vitalis lib. 3. ad initium Will. Gemeticensis lib. 2. cap. 12 17. 2. William sirnamed Longespée Duke of Normandy was Son of Rollo Slain Anno Christi 942. 3. Richard I. Duke of Normandy Son of William was but 10 Years old when his Father was slain He was Duke 54 Years 4. Anno 996. Richard II. Son of Richard I. by Gunnor first his Concubine and after his Wife Gemeticensis lib. 8. cap. 36. succeeded Duke of Normandy and was Duke 30 Years He had two Sons who succeeded Dukes one after another Richard and Robert besides other Children 5. Anno 1026. Richard III. Son of Richard II. succeeded Duke of Normandy and was Duke scarce a Year and a half 6. Anno 1028. Robert Brother to Richard III. succeeded Duke and after he had been Duke seven Years and a half he died at the City of Nice in Bithynia Anno 1035. 7. William Bastard Son of Robert by Arlet or Herlue as some write her a Skinners Daughter of Faloys in Normandy Chronicon Joh. Bromton pag. 910. a Child of eight Years of Age succeeded Duke of Normandy and was Duke 53 Years Ordericus lib. 3. in initio In the 32 Year of his Dukedom to wit Anno 1066. he Conquered England and is commonly called William the Conqueror Robert Curthose eldest Son of the Conqueror was after his Father also Duke of Normandy See the rest above pag. 32. among the Norman Kings of England ⚜ Normandy was lost to the French in the Reign of King John Anno 1204. Mat. Paris pag. 212. Normandy won again from the French by Henry V. Anno 1416. Normandy lost again by Henry VI. Anno 1449. And so much of England OF VVALES CHAP. I. Of the Name of Wales and Description of the Countrey I. THe Name of Wales was imposed from our Saxon Ancestors For the Ancient Brettans being beaten out of England by the Saxons fled into the West Parts of Brettaine being naturally fortified with great Mountains and Overflowings of the Sea to wit into that Part now called Wales and into Cornwal But the Brettans of Cornwal though they stoutly endeavoured to defend their Country yet were they soon forced to leave it to the Saxons Cambden and Verstegan tell us That the Saxons termed all Aliens and Strangers Walsh And hence they called these Inhabitants because Strangers unto them by the name of Walsh-men and their Countrey Wales But more probable it is that forasmuch as they be descended from the ancient Gaules their Neighbors in Latin termed Galli by the French Galles which the Saxons pronounce Walles and from whence Walles-man and now corruptly Welsh-man it seems to me to be thence called Wales as one should say The Countrey of the Waules or Walles And in ancient Latin Authors it is many times stiled Guallia and the Inhabitants thereof Gualli and every Man knows how the Saxons in most Words do use W for G as War for Guerre Ward for Guard and the like And at this day the French stile the eldest Son of the King of England Le Prince de Galles The ancient Galli were called Cimbri or Kimbri undè Cambro-Britannia is used for Wales and Cambro-Britannus for a Welshman And ask these Cambro-Brittans or Welsh-Brittans how they call themselves they will presently tell you Kimeri or Kumeri which sounds as much as Kimbri or Kymbry now in Latin molded into Cambri Howsoever the Name came the Inhabitants of Wales at this day are the Remnant of the Ancient Brettans but not without great commixture of the English their Neighbors which must needs follow in so long a Tract
Daughter of Waltheof Earl of Northumberland and Widow of Simon Seintliz Earl of Northampton and Huntington Vincent upon Brooke pag. 367. By which Marriage he had the Counties of Northumberland and Huntington in England and by her had Issue Henry a Son who married Ada Sister of William Warren Earl of Surrey in England and half Sister by the Mother to Walleran Earl of Mellent in France and to Robert sirnamed Bossue Earl of Leycester in England Simon Dunelmensis sub Anno 1139. pag. 265. Henry had Issue by Ada Malcolme William Earl of Northumberland David Earl of Carricht in Scotland and of Huntington in England also Maude a Daughter But this Prince Henry died before his Father Anno Domini 1152. and Maude his Daughter also Anno Domini 1153. nono Calendas Junii died David King of Scotland Hoveden pag. 490. 24. Malcolme IV. Son of Henry and Grandson to David a Child of the Age of twelve Years succeeded King He resigned Northumberland to King Henry the Second of England Cumberland and Huntington being left to Malcolme Buchanan He died without Issue nono die Decembris 1165. in the 25 Year of his Age and 12 Year of his Reign and a little more Buchanan Hoveden pag. 496. 25. William Brother to Malcolme fetched Northumberland back again He married Ermengard Daughter of Richard Viscount de Beaumont Cosin to Henry the Second King of England scilicet Anno 1186. Hoveden And in Anno 1174. this William was taken Prisoner at Alnwick by Robert Stutevile Sheriff of York William de Vescy Randle Glanvill Bernard Baliol and others Hoveden pag. 538 539. Henry King of England restored unto him the Earldom of Huntington 1184. upon the death of Simon de Seintliz then Earl thereof and King William immediately conferred it on David his younger Brother Hoveden pag. 622. William did Homage to John King of England for his Lands in England at Lincoln Anno 1200. Hoveden Buchanan Fecit homagium de omni Jure suo and after swore Fealty to him Matth. Paris pag. 204. King William died Anno 1214. aged 74 Years Annoque Regni 49. Buchanan He had a Son by Ermengard called Alexander born Anno 1199. and another Son kill'd in his Infancy with his Nurse by an Inundation Buchanan pag. 232. He had also two Daughters Margaret and Isabel promised to the two Sons of King John when they should be marriageable Hollinshed But one of these Daughters afterward married the Earl of Flanders 1210. Knighton pag. 2420. 26. Alexander II. Son of William married Joan Sister to Henry the Third King of England 1221. Matt. Paris pag. 313. He demands Northumberland which King John promised him in Marriage with Joan his Daughter Matt. Paris pag. 432. He denieth that he holdeth any part of the Kingdom of Scotland from the Kings of England or that he either would or ought so to hold it This was Anno 1244. Joan his Queen dying in England Anno 1236. was buried in London And soon after for yet he had no Children he married Mary Daughter of Ingelram de Cuscy a Frenchman Anno 1239. by whom he had Issue Alexander a Son who succeeded his Father Buchanan and Matt. Paris pag. 638. Anno 1244. he makes a League with the King of England his Brother-in-Law wherein he acknowledgeth the King of England his Leige-Lord See the Charter in Matt. Paris pag. 646. This Alexander the Second died Anno 1249. Anno aetatis 51. Annoque Regni 35. Buchanan and Matt. Paris pag. 771. 27. Alexander III. Son of Alexander II. Crowned at Scone a Child not above eight Years old He was Knighted at York by Henry the Third Anno 1251. on Christmas day and the day after he married Margaret Daughter of the said King Henry Mat. Paris pag. 829. also Buchanan He did Homage to the King of England at that time for the Lands which he had in England but refused to do Homage for Scotland when it was tendred him according to the Custom of his Predecessors by the Testimony of Ancient Chronicles Robert Abbot of Fermelinodunum Chancellor to the King of Scotland was accused for Legitimating the Wife of Alan Durovart Bastard-daughter of Alexander the Second that so if the King should now die without Issue she might succeed as Heir Buchanan Henry King of England created this Alexander Earl of Huntington by Charter Anno 1256. to hold as freely as any of his Predecessors ever held the same Matt. Paris pag. 931. This Alexander overcame Acho King of Norwey in Battel 1263. and took the Isle of Man and all the Western Isles Buchanan He promised his Daughter Margaret yet but four Years old to Hangonan Son of Magnus King of Norwey to be his Wife when she was marriageable which it seems was performed afterwards for she had Issue by him a Daughter called also Margaret who died young about Anno 1291. Alexander in few Years being deprived of his Wife and all his Children did after marry Iolet Daughter of the Earl of Dreux Comitis Druidum but I find not that he had any Children by her for soon after within a Year to wit 14 Calendas Aprilis Anno 1285. he was killed by a fall from his Horse not far from Kingorne aged 45 Years Annoque Regni 37. Buchanan ⚜ Now Walsingham tells us Hist Edw. 1. pag. 54. That Alexander the Son of this King Alexander the Third died in his Father's life time And Buchanan saith That the young Alexander married the Earl of Flanders's Daughter and that Alexander the Third had another Son called David and a Daughter called Margaret but all died before the King So that now great strife did arise who should succeed King of Scotland Onely give me leave to observe here how Walsingham saith That the Daughter of the Earl of Flanders was second Wife of King Alexander the Third Wherein I believe he is mistaken for according to Buchanan she was the Wife of young Alexander his Son who died before his Father Here was now an Interregnum of six Years and nine Months in which time there were twelve Competitors to the Crown of Scotland who lay down their Claims in the Competition-Roll in the Tower mentioned by Vincent upon Brooke Title Huntington pag. 253 c. Which for brevity I shall give you here in a short Pedegree of the Kings of Scotland Malcolme III. sirnamed Cammoir King of Scotland slain 1093. See Malcolme's Pedegree in Imag. Histor by Radulphus de Di ceto pag 627. Margà ret Sister to Edgar Atheling Ordericus pag. 701 702. 1 Edward eldest Son slain with his Father 1093. 2 Edgar King of Scotland died without Issue 1107. 3 Alexander also King 1107. Obiit sine prole 1124. Melcofus a bastard Ordericus pag. 702. 4 David also King 1124 Obiit 1153 Maud Daughter of Waltheof Earl of Northumberland Another Son the eldest kill'd by a Varlet in his Nurses arms Ordericus pag. 702. Henry Prince of Scotland died before his Father viz. Anno 1152. Ada Sister to the third
Monastery of black Monks at St. Albans Anno 793. in the three and thirtieth Year of his Reign and Endowed it with Lands witnessed by himself Egfrid his Son nine Kings fifteen Bishops ten Dukes c. He translated the Arch-bishop's See from Canterbury to Lichfield and Founded the Abbey of Bathe He made a great Dike or Ditch between VVales and the Kingdom of Mercia which is called Offa's Dike and whereof part is yet to be seen Stow. pag. 71. He gave to the Pope a yearly Rent out of every House in his Kingdom stiled The Charter of Peter-Pence Polychron lib. 5. cap. 25. His Wifes Name was Quendrida whose Daughter she was I find not By whom he had Issue Egfrid a Son Ethelburge a Daughter Married Brictric King of the VVest-Saxons Anno 787. whom Florentius calleth Eadburge pag. 280. Elfled another Daughter was second Wife to Ethelred King of Northumberland Speed's Hist pa. 362. and Elfrid another Daughter betook her self to the Monastery of Croyland He died at Ofley saith Stow Quaere if not mistaken for Ocley the twenty ninth day of July and was buried at a Chappel without the Town of Bedford He began his Reign Anno 758. and Reigned thirty nine Years 13. Egfrid Son of Offa died young He Reigned but 141 Days saith Florentius pag. 281. and was buried at St. Albans He began to Reign Anno 796. 14. Kenulfe an heroick and noble Prince succeeded King of Mercia He was Son of Cuthbert and Trinepos VVibba that is The Sixth in Descent from VVibbae saith Matthew of VVestminster pag. 291. He took Eadbert or Egbert as others call him sirnamed Pren King of Kent whom he carried away Prisoner triumphantly An. 798. and not long after when he had built VVinchelcombe Church on the Day of the Dedication thereof he set his Prisoner free at the Altar of that Church and made Cuthred King of Kent in his stead So VVestminster and others He also Founded the Church of St. Ethelbert in Hereford the Bishop's See and by Elfride his Wife had Issue Kenelm a Son and two Daughters Quendrede and Burgenhild He died Anno Christi 819. saith Florentius Anno 821. saith Westminster and buried at Winchelcome Abbey He began his Reign Anno 796. and Reigned twenty four Years 15. Kenelm Son of Kenulfe a Boy of seven Years old was murthered within few Months after his Father's Death by one Ascebert his Governor who taking him into a Wood cut off his Head and buried him under a Thorn Tree This was done by the procurement of Quendrede his Sister whereby Kenelm obtained the Name of a Martyr His Body being found was buried at Winchelcombe He began to Reign Anno 819. 16. Ceolwulfe Brother of Kenulfe succeeded King He was deposed by Bernulfe and driven out of the Kingdom and had a Daughter called Cenedrith Spelman's Councels pag. 333. He began to Reign Anno 820. and Reigned one Year 17. Beornulfe elected King Anno 821. who in the third Year of his Reign was overcome in Battel at Ellandon by Egbert King of the West-Saxons Anno 823. but as Westminster puts it Anno 825. and was slain in Battel against the East-Angles Anno 824. He began his Reign Anno 821. and Reigned three Years 18. Ludecan Cosin to Bernulfe waging War with the East-Angles in revenge of Bernulfe was himself killed with five Captains of his Army 826. He began to Reign Anno 824. and Reigned two Years 19. Wilafe or Wiglafe succeeded King but was subdued by Egbert King of the West-Saxons Anno 827. under whom he enjoyed his Kingdom paying Tribute Wimund Son of Wilafe Married Elflede Daughter of Ceolwulfe King of Mercia and had a Son called Wilstan Ingulphus pag. 858. slain by Berfert This Wilafe began his Reign Anno 826. and Reigned thirteen Years 20. Berthulfe Brother to Wilafe was also Tributary to the King of the West-Saxons till at last he was chased beyond the Seas by the Sea-Rovers of Denmark He had a Son called Berfert who killed his Cosin Wilstan June 1. Vigiliâ Pentecostes Anno 850. Florentius pag. 295. He began his Reign Anno 839. and Reigned thirteen Years 21. Burdred or Burhred paying Tribute enjoyed it twenty Years and then being driven out of his Countrey fled to Rome The Danes deliver his Kingdom to Ceolwulfe sometime Servant to Burhred on Condition that he should resign it whensoever the Danes should demand it Anno 874. but not long after King Alfred got it This Burdred began his Reign Anno 852. and Reigned twenty Years So that King Alfred prevailing over the Danes united the Kingdom of Mercia unto that of the West-Saxons inseparably from this time and was absolute Monarch of all England and so the Kingdom of Mercia failed Anno Domini 875. which if we reckon from King Penda had stood about 250 Years but if we reckon from Crida about 290 Years CHAP. III. Of the Governors of Mercia Substituted by King Alfred and his Successors TO pass by those former Earls of Chester namely Edol or Edolfe who lived in the time of King Vortiger the Briton about the Year of Christ 471. stiled Earl of Caerlegion or Chester by Fabian in his Chronicle Part 5. cap. 89. and also Curfale or as by some he is written Sursalem Earl of Chester in the time of King Arthur Anno Domini 616. as Geffrey Monmouth affirms one of Arthur's Knights of the Round Table I shall now speak of those Earls who are more certainly recorded in our Histories of credit but not yet Earls of particular Places I find in Florentius sub Anno Domini 800. that Ethelmundus Dux Merciorum coming out of Mercia and passing Kimeresford with an Army was met with by Weolhstan Dax Wiltoniensium and had a cruel Battel Amboque Duces * Trâ—visa the Translator of Polychronicon calls them Dukes fol. 275. occisi but the Victory fell to the Wiltshiremen by which words I conceive the Author means no more than a General expressed by the word Dux The two Generals of the Armies met and Fought and were both slain I. I now proceed to the chief Governors of Mercia from the time of King Alfred The first I meet with who under Alfred Governed Mercia is stiled Ethered or Ethelred who Married Elflede Daughter to King Alfred His Title I find variously delivered by Higden the Monk of Chester he is stiled Ethelredus Dux Subregulus Merciorum So likewise by Matthew of Westminster Also by Hoveden and Huntington sometimes Dux sometimes Subregulus sometimes Dominus Merciorum Malmesbury De Gestis Regum lib. 2. cap. 4. calls him Comes Merciorum The most usual Title in all those ancient Authors is Dux which in those Times seems to be all one with an Earl or Comes By all it is apparent that he was then the chief Governor of Mercia under the King and he lived in the Reigns of King Alfred and Edward the Elder I desire I may have liberty to render these Titles by the Name of Earl The Acts of Earl Ethelred and
ancient word for a Hill and that upon the Sea between Ireland and Scotland the Shore of Scotland seems to rise up into Mountains and so gained the Name of Albin Hist Scot. lib. 1. pag. 12 13. But when the Scots came unto the Picts in Brettaine though they ever and anon did make War and Excursions upon the Brettans yet did they not advance very soon but lived in that Angle where they first arrived They continually warred against the Kings of Northumberland for the space of 127 Years till Edan King of the Scots and his Army were totally routed by Ethelfrid King of Northumberland Anno Domini 603. Bede de Hist Ang. lib. 1. cap. 34. And when the Picts were almost rooted out and the Kingdom of the Northumbrians through Civil Discords and Incursions of the Danes About the Year 800. fell to decay then was all the North part of Brettaine called Scotland from Cluyd and Edenborough-Frith And on this side Cluyd and Edenborough-Frith was part of the Kingdom of Northumberland and possessed by the Saxons as every man knows But at this day Scotland is divided from England by the Rivers Tweed and Solway And hence it is that all those who possess the East part of Scotland and are called Lowland-men are descended of the English Saxons and speak the English Tongue and those that inhabit the Western Coast of Scotland called Highlanders be descended from the Scots and speak Irish and are maliciously bent towards the Lowland-men who speak English II. The People of the Scots have been noted of their best Writers for some barbarous Customs one whereof was If any two were displeased they expected no Law but banged it out bravely one and his Kindred against the other and his Kindred This Fighting they called their Feids These deadly Feids King James the Sixth in his Basilicon Doron adviseth his Son to redress with all care possible But it pleased God to give this King so long a Life as to see it remedied in his own days An Act indeed truly Royal and worthy himself Dr. Heylyn's Cosmography pag. 331. Another Custom they had of a strange nature never was the like heard of among the Heathens That the Kings of Scotland should have the Maidenhead or first Nights Lodging with every Woman who was to be married to a Husband that held Land immediately from the Crown and the Lords and Gentlemen should have the like of all those whose Husbands were their Tenants or Homagers And this was by a Law made by Eugenius a lascivious Prince of Scotland But this Custom in the time of Malcolme the Third sirnamed Cammoir was made redeemable for half a Mark of Silver about the Year 1070. which Pension the Scots at this day call The Marchet of the Women Buchanan lib. 7. pag. 214. The reason of the Name Skene in his Interpretation of Old Words thinks to come from March which in the Ancient Scotch Language signifies A Horse and so metaphorically denotes a Pension for the Leaping of a Woman ascendere Mulierem Spelman in his Glossary saith That Merch in the ancient Language of the Brettans signifies a Daughter or Woman-Sex and so denotes a Pension for a Woman's Marriage to the Lord or King CHAP. III. Of the Picts in Scotland THe Name of Pict was first introduced by the Romans saith Buchanan in his History of Scotland lib. 2. pag. 54. because these People painted their Bodies with the Pictures of all manner of Living Creatures It was not their ancient Native Name Herodian saith Neque vestis usum cognôrunt sed ventrem cervicem ferro cingunt Ornamentum id esse ac divitiarum argumentum existimârunt perindè ut aurum caeteri Barbari They put Iron Plates about their Bellies and Necks which they reputed an Ornament and an Argument of Riches as other Foreign Nations esteemed Gold and painted their Bodies with the Forms of all manner of Living Creatures Wherefore they put on no Clothes that they might not hide their Bodies so carved and painted Buchanan supposeth them to be originally Scythians or Getes pag. 55. Hergust their King dying about the time of Victorinus Lord Deputy of Brettaine under Honorius the Emperor who reduced the Picts to the Roman Province about the Year of Christ 412. forbad them to make any new King but what should be given them by the Romans and that it was prophesied of old That the Picts should be rooted out by the Scots Buchanan ibid. pag. 129. And at last Brudus King of the Picts not able to compose the Differences already begun between the Picts and the Scots died for grief and Drusken his Brother who was the last King of the Picts was overthrown in Battel Buchanan li. 5. p. â—65 166. about the Year of Christ 838. by Kenneth the Second King of the Scots and the Picts utterly subdued Since which time the Kings of the Scots have been Lords of all Scotland who before had onely a Part of Scotland It is said That the Nation of the Picts came first out of Scythia into Ireland and from thence into the North Parts of our Brettaine So Bede de Hist Ang. lib. 1. cap. 1. And this as many will have it about Anno Christi 78. Judicious Cambden thinks they were very Brettans who before the coming of the Romans were seated in the North part of our Island with such other Brettans who fled unto them as unwilling to submit to the Roman Servitude In his Britannia pag. 82. For my part I think the Brettans and the Picts do signifie the same thing one being a Greek Name and the other Latin This of Latin being given by the Romans in later Times in distinction from our Brettans of England who submitted to the Roman Government and were stiled as formerly and perhaps more civilized by the Romans Those other more rude and flying into Scotland and continually opposing the Romans were by them called Picti which Name continued afterwards I find not the Name of Picti in any Author mentioned till 300 Years after Christ and more And that as well the Brettans as the Picts were Peopled from the ancient Galles and those originally descended from the Scythians and Getes as Sheringham de Anglorum Gentis Origine doth probably demonstrate There were also two other sorts of People among the Picts in Scotland in the time of the Romans the Maiatae and the Attacotti as they were stiled by the Romans Of whom see Buchanan lib. 2. pag. 57. and also Cambden's Britannia pag. 655. pag. 91. These inhabited the Borders of Scotland CHAP. IV. Of the Kings of Scotland âšœ THe Kingdom of Scotland was never totally Conquered either by the Romans or Saxons for which they may thank their great Barren Mountains whether they fled from the Enemy as a Shelter It consisted as you have already heard of two sorts of People Picts and Scots It remains that I set down the Catalogue of their Kings as far as truth of History will bear For the
William Earl Warren and Surrey 1139. Margaret married to Conan Earl of Little-Brettain after to Bohuis She died 1201. Hoveden p. 822. 1 Malcolme IV. Obiit sine prole 1165. 2 William King of Scotland died 1214. Ermengard Daughter of Richard Viscount Beaumont 1186. 2 Henry Patrick de Galightly one of the Competitors 1 Alexander II. King of Scotland Obiit 1249. Joan Sister to H 3. King of England 1221. Alexander III. King of Scotland killed by a fall from his Horse A. 1285. Margaret Daughter of Hen. 3. King of England 1251. David Son of Alexander III. died before his Father without Issue Alexander married the Daughter of the Earl of Flanders but he died before his Father leaving no Issue Margaret Wife of the King of Norwey Margaret a Daughter died young without Issue about 1291. Ericus King of Norwey became a Competitor for the Crown of Scotland on behalf of Margaret his Daughter now deceased as Administrator to her Anno 1292. Walsingham's Hist pag. 58. Isabel Wife of Roger le Bigot Earl Marshal no Issue But she married Robert Lord Roos first Hus. William L. Roos another Competitor Margaret Wife of Hubert de Burgo Earl of Kent 1221. M. Paris Margaret Wife of Richard de Clare No Issue Margerita Wife unto Eustace de Vescy William de Vescy 1 John sine prole 2 William Vescy another Competitor 1291. Ada Wife of Patrick de Dunbarre Patrick Patric E. of Dunbar another Competitor 1291. Austrio or Aufrica Wife of William de Say of Vlster A quo Roger de Mandevil another Competitor 3 David Earl of Huntington 1184. Maud eldest Sister to Randle Blundevil Earl of Chester and a Coheir 1 Margaret eldest daughter of David Earl of Huntington was Second wife to Alan de Galloway Constable of Scotland Dervergoile married to John Baliol of Bernards Castle in the Bishoprick of Durham the Founder of Baliol-College in Oxford He died Anno 1269. aut paulo ante 1 Hugh Baliol Son and Heir Obiit sine prole Balio-fergus pag. 2. 2 Alan second Son Obiit sine prole 3 Alexander third Son Obiit sine prole 4 John Baliol another Competitor who was adjudged King of Scotland by the Award of King Edward the First Anno 1292. Thomas died without Issue Christian eldest Daughter died without Issue 2 Isabel married Robert de Bruse Ro. de Bruse Lord of Anandale another Competitor 1291. 3 Maud died without Issue 4 Ada married Henry Hastings Knighton pag. 2431. John Hastings Lord of Berguenny another Competitor 1291. 1 Henry died young 2 David died young 3 John Scot Earl of Chester married Hellen Daughter of Lhewellyn Prince of North-Wales John died without Issue Anno 1237. Helen his Widow after married Robert Quency third Son of Saher de Quency Earl of Winchester Ada Wife of Florence Earl of Holland She died 1208. Hist of the Netherlands p. 16. Florence William Florence a Competitor to the Crown of Scotland An Do. 1291. Pryn's Hist p. 513. 1 Claricia 2 Hodierna Ordericus pa. 702. 5 6 Edmund and Ethelred banisht by their Uncle Donwald 1 Edith after called Maude uxor H. 1. Regis Angliae 2 Mary wife of Eustace Comitis Boloniae Quare Whether Margaret Wife of Hubert de Burgo were not the Widow of Eustace Vescy for Eustace died 1216. Mat Paris ⚜ See the Claims of the Competitors to the Crown of Scotland Anno Domini 1291. from the Record it self set down in Pryn's History of King John Hen. 3. and Edw. 1. pag. 513 514 c. ⚜ See the Record in Pryn's History of K. John H. 3. Edw. 1. Pa. 515 516. 28. John Balioll Son of John Balioll of Bernards-Castell in the Bishoprick of Durham after the Interregnum of six Years and nine Months was by Edward the First adjudged right Heir to the Crown of Scotland and was thereupon Crowned King at Scone on St. Andrew's Day being the last of November in the Year of Christ 1292. and presently after he came to Newcastle upon Tyne and did Homage to the King of England there and acknowledged King Edward to be his Liege Lord of all the Kingdom of Scotland to be held hereditarily of the Kings of England Walsingham's Hypodigma Neustriae pag. 480. For Edward the First King of England being appointed Judge of the Right to the Crown of Scotland by consent of all the Competitors of whom onely the Question was moved between John Balioll and Robert Bruse for all the rest of the Competitors were excluded as inferior Titles gave Sentence for John Balioll by the common Assent who was Descended from the eldest Daughter of David Earl of Huntington Brother of William King of Scotland and Bruse from the younger Daughter where by the way I must note Walsingham's Book misprinted which calleth David here mentioned King of Scotland for Brother of the King of Scotland Anno 1295. this John Balioll desired to Marry Edward Balioll his Son unto Joan Daughter of Charles Brother to the King of France promising his Aid against the King of England And in Anno 1296. the Scots Besiege Carlisle King Edward subdues the Scots and makes them swear Fealty to him takes John Balioll King of Scotland Prisoner and leaves John Warren Earl of Surrey Protector of Scotland and Hugh Cressingham Treasurer and William de Ormesby Justice and so returns to London Walsingham 29. Robert Bruse was Crowned King of Scotland at Scone in April 1306. He was Son of Robert Bruse Lord of Annansdale Competitor with John Balioll in Right of Isabell his Mother the second Daughter though a Degree nearer than Balioll to the deceased King and Son of the second Daughter whereas Balioll was Descended of the eldest Sister but of a Daughter of that Sister which Robert Bruse the Father released his Title to this Robert Bruse his Son then Earl of Carrick but now King of Scotland Dated at Barwick die Veneris in Crastino Sancti Leonardi the seventh of November Anno Gratiae 1292. Vincent upon Brook pag. 255. but it being adjudged to Balioll he seeks to get it by force and was Crown'd 1306. confirmed therein by the great Defeat given to Edward the Second's Forces at Banocksburn not far from Sterling ⚜ One Hamilton flying from the English Court to this King Robert who gave him Lands juxta Glottam Fluvium his Postetity afterward came to be ranked among the Nobility of Scotland and the House and Land which the King gave him was called Hamilton This was the original of the Hamiltons in Scotland Buchanan lib. 8. pag. 271 272. Anno 1318. Edward Bruse Brother to this King Robert was taken Prisoner and Beheaded at Dundalk He had infested Ireland three Years and caused himself to be Crowned King thereof Walsingham pag. 111. This King Robert Married to his first Wife Isabel Daughter of Donald of whom he begot Marjory Mother of Robert Stewart afterwards King of Scotland Cambden's Britannia pag. 713. Robert Bruse died the ninth of July 1329. Anno Regni 24. Buchanan
back and the next Day it was surrendred to Dermot who gave Weshford with its Apurtenances to Robert Fitz-Stephen and to Maurice and to their Heirs according to his former Agreement and to Hervey de Mont-Morice he gave two Cantreds of Land lying after the Sea between Weshford and Waterford Girald Hib. Exp. l. 1. c. 3. The Annals of Ireland say That Fitz-Stephen entred Ireland Anno 1168. and that Strongbow followed 1169. with about 1200 Soldiers Landing at Waterford the 23. of August and on the 25. of August he took Waterford and there Eva the Daughter of Dermot was Married to Strongbow given by her Father But Roger Hoveden saith That Strongbow came into Ireland Anno 1168. and then Fitz-Stephen who went before him entred Ireland 1167. Thus Robert Fitz-Stephen prepared way for Earl Strongbow and Strongbow for the King of England to the Dominion of Ireland Weshford was the first Colony Planted by this Fitz-Stephen with the English in Ireland which to this day retains the ancient English Attire and much of their Language as a Badge of their Conquest and which by the Natives there is yet known and called by the Name of Weshford-Speach To Robert Fitz-Stephen and Milo Coggan King Hen. II. gave the Kingdom of Cork for the Service of 60 Knights Fees 1177. except the City of Cork with one Cantred which the King retained to himself and his Heirs Hoveden pag. 567. This Robert Fitz-Stephen was the onely Example of Valour and Industry one that had often tasted the various turnings of Fortune as well in Ireland as in Wales like Marius Secundus if you look back upon his Felicity none more prosperous and happy if upon his Misery none more unfortunate and miserable A Man of a large and sound Body of a comely Countenance of little more than a middle Stature sumptuous and plentiful in his Diet bountiful and pleasant but immoderately given to Wine and Women Giraldus Hib. Expug lib. 1. cap. 26. About Anno Christi 1165 or 1164. Rees ap Griffin Prince of Southwales Besieged Aber-Tivy Castle and took it and demolished the same where Robert Fitz-Stephen was taken Prisoner by Rees his Cosin-german and after three Years Imprisonment he was released by Rees upon Condition that he would joyn with Rees against the King of England But he chose rather to go into Ireland with Dermot than to be perfidious to his Prince Giraldus But Cambden in Cardiganshire saith he was released on Condition that he would relinquish his Right to his Lands in Wales He was the Son of Stephen High Constable of Southwales and Governor of Aber-Tivy that is Cardigan in Wales Cambden called Constable of Aber-Tivy in the Welsh History put out by Powel This Stephen Married Nest Daughter of Rees the Great Prince of Southwales and the Widow of Gerald of Windsor By Gerald she had Issue Maurice Fitz-Gerald a principal Assistant in the Conquest of Ireland By Stephen she had Issue this Robert Fitz-Stephen who had no lawful Issue by his Wife saith Giraldus Hib. Expug lib. 2. cap. 17. He then had a Bastard for Giraldus in another place lib. 1. cap. 40. makes mention of Radulfus Stephanidae filius who deserved very well for his Valour when O-Roric King of Meath was killed which O-Roric had like to have killed Hugh Lacy by Treachery This Rafe Son of Robert Fitz-Stephen was slain with his Father-in-law Milo de Coggan between Waterford and Lismore Anno 1179. by one Machtyrus treacherously Annales Hiberniae also Giraldus Hib. Expug lib. 2. cap. 18. Robert Fitz-Stephen had also another Bastard Son called Mereducius Giraldus ibidem IV. Maurice Fitz-Gerald another Assistant in the Conquest of Ireland a Man well modelled in Mind and Body of an innate Goodness of little Speech but full of weight circumspect in Dangers not rash but resolute when once resolved on by him a sober modest and chaste Man Valiant and Faithful not altogether without Faults yet without any notorious Crime He died at Weshford about August 1176. and had three Sons William the eldest Married Ellen Daughter of Earl Strongbow Giraldus another Son Alexander another Son and Nest a Daughter Married to Hervey Giraldus Hib. Expug lib. 1. cap. 42. cap. 23. lib. 2. cap. 5. cap. 15. V. Reymund another principal Person was Son of William Fitz-Gerald and Nephew to Maurice Fitz-Gerald and to Robert Fitz-Stephen by the eldest Brother He Married Basilia Sister of Earl Strongbow about the Year 1174. but had no Issue by her He was Constable to Strongbow to wit Praefectus Familiae The Governor or Lord Marshal of his Houshold Of a yellow Hair somewhat curling great Eyes grey and round a high Nose a chearful Countenance and good Complexion Provident and Prudent VI. John Curcy was a gallant Man at Arms. Ann. Dom. 1177. He was the first of all the English who subdued Ulster in Ireland Anno 1177 not till then subdued He Married Africa the Daughter of Gotred King of the Isle of Man It is observed of these four Props of Ireland Fitz-Stephen Hervey Reymund and this Curcy Girald Hib. Expug lib 2. cap. 17. that they had no Issue by their Wives Hoveden pag. 561. This John was the first Earl of Ulster and of the Family of the Curcyes of Stoke-Curcy in Somersetshire Cambden In the Year 1204. he had a great Battel at Down in Ireland with Hugh Lacy Son of the first Hugh and got the Day but afterwards by Treachery was delivered to Hugh Lacy who brought him to King John and the King gave the Earldom of Ulster and the Dominion of Connaught to the said Hugh Lacy Annales Hiberniae and Curcy never got his Right again It is said of this John Curcy that he should have fought a Duel for the King against the King of France's Champion but that Champion durst not meddle with him He strook his Sword through a Head-piece so deep into a Block that none could pull it out but himself Annales Hiberniae sub Anno 1204. put in the end of Cambden's Britannia after Ireland There were also some others as Robert le Poer the King's Marshal in Ireland to whom Henry the Second gave Waterford Town in custody with all the Apurtenances And he appointed all the Land between Waterford and the Water beyond Lismores and all the Land of Oiseric with its Apurtenances to belong to the Service of Waterford Hoveden pag. 567. And also afterwards at Marleberge the King gave to Philip de Breos all the Kingdom of Limrick for the Service of 60 Knights Fees for Herbert and William Brothers of Reginald Earl of Cornwal and Joslan de la Pumerai their Nephew would not have that Kingdom though given them before by the King because it was not yet gotten for Monoderus King of Limrick being slain by the English after he had sworn Fealty to the King of England there arose up another of his Progeny who would not submit because of the infidelity of the English also the King of Cork and
1320. 34. Thomas Fitz-John Earl of Kildare made Lord Justice This Year Dublin is made an University Alexander Bicknor then Archbishop of Dublin 1321. 35. John Bermingham Earl of Louth Lord Justice 1323. 36. John Darcy Lord Justice Sub Edwardo Tertio 1327. 37. Thomas Fitz-John Earl of Kildare again Lord Justice Obiit 1328. 1328. 38. Roger Outlaw Prior of Kilmaynan Lord Justice He was Prior of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in Ireland and Chancellor of Ireland Nicolas Fastoll and Elias Ashburne Justiciarrii de Banco 1329. 39. John Darcy second time Lord Justice Darcy going into England 1330. Roger Outlaw is deputed Justice 1331. 40. Sir Anthony Lucy comes Chief Justice 3 die Junii 1333. 41. Sir John Darcy third time Justice 1337. 42. Sir John Charleton Miles Baro came Lord Chief Justice in Festo Calixti Papae Thomas Charleton Bishop of Hereford Brother to Sir John Chancellor of Ireland and John Rees Treasurer 1338. 43. Thomas Charleton Bishop of Hereford Lord Justice and Governor Anno 1340. The Bishop of Hereford called into England by the King Roger Outlaw again was made Lord Justice who died Lord Justice and Chancellor of Ireland 13 die Februarii 1341. 44. Sir John Darcy the fourth time now made Lord Justice for his Life Sir John Morrice comes into Ireland mense Maii 1341. Deputy to John Darcy 1343. 45. 13 die Julii Sir Rafe Ufford with his Consort the Countess of Ulster came into Ireland Lord Chief Justice He died on Palm-Sunday the 9 of April 1346. 1346. 46. Sir Roger Darcy Lord Justice ad tempus de assensu Ordinatione Regalium aliorum in Hiberniâ And Sir John Morris comes Lord Chief Justice May 15. 1346. who being put out by the King Sir Walter Bermingham was instituted mense Junii he came into Ireland 1348. 47. John Archprior of Kilmaynan Deputy to Sir Walter in his absence but Sir Walter returns out of England Lord Justice as before to whom the King gave the Barony of Kenlys in Ossery which belonged to Eustace le Poer who was attainted and hanged Obiit Bermingham quondà m Optimus Justiciarius Hiberniae in Vigiliâ Margaretae Virginis 1350. in Angliâ 1349. 48. Dominus de Carew Miles Baro Lord Justice 1350. 49. Sir Thomas Rokesby Lord Justice 1355. 50. Sir Thomas went out of his Justice-ship July 26. and Maurice Fitz-Thomas Earl of Desmond is made Lord Justice He continued as long as he lived which was not long for he died in Dublin-Castle die Conversionis Sancti Pauli following 1356. 51. 31 Edw. 3. Sir Thomas Rokesby again Lord Justice Obiit eodem Anno. 1357. 52. Sir Almaric de Sancto Amando Lord Justice 1359. 53. James Butler Earl of Ormond Lord Chief Justice 1360. 54. 35 Edw. 3. the Earl of Ormond coming into England Maurice Fitz-Thomas Earl of Kildare is made Chief Justice ut sequitur OMnibus ad quos hae Literae pervenerint Salutem Sciatis quòd Commisimus dilecto fideli nostro Mauritio Comiti de Kildare Officium Justiciarii nostri Terrae nostrae Hiberniae Terram nostram Hiberniam cùm Castris omnibus pertinentiis suis Custodiendam Quamdiu nobis placuerit Recipiendo ad Scaccarium nostrum Dubliniae per Annum quamdiù in Officio illo sic steterit quingentas Libras Pro quibus Officium illud terram Custodiet erit vic◠simus de hominibus ad arma cùm tot equis Coopertis continuè durante Commissione nostrâ supradictâ In cujus rei Testimonium c. Datum per manus dilecti nostri in Christo Fratris Thomae de Burgey Prioris Hospitalis Sancti Johannis Hierusalem in Hibernia Cancellarii nostri Hiberniae apud Dubliniam 30 die Martii 35 Edw. 3. And after the Return of the Earl of Ormond into Ireland Ormond was Justice as before and the Earl of Kildare surceased 1361. 55. Lionel Duke of Clarence third Son of King Edward the Third and Earl of Ulster in Right of Elizabeth his Wife Daughter and Heir of William de Burgo Earl of Ulster venit in Hiberniam Locumtenens Domini Regis in Octavis Nativitatis Beatae Mariae Here was the first Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Anno 1364. April 22. Lionel went into England leaving Ormond his Deputy of Ireland Lionel returned the eighth of December He was sent for again into England 1365. and then leaves Sir Thomas Dale his Servant Governor and Justice of Ireland Lionel died at Languvil in Italy 1368. Cambden apud Albam in Piemont 1367. 56. Gerald Fitz-Maurice Earl of Desmond Lord Justice 1369. 57. Sir William de Windsore came into Ireland the 12 of July Lord Lieutenant 1372. 58. Sir Robert alii Richard de Ashton Lord Justice of Ireland 59. Edmund Mortimer Earl of March and Ulster Lord Lieutenant He died at Cork 1381. 5 Rich. 2. Sub Richardo Secundo 1387. 60. Robert Vere Earl of Oxford created Marquis of Dublin 9 Rich. 2. and after made Duke of Ireland 10 Rich. 2. And after that the King granted him the Kingdom and Sovereignty of Ireland by Letters Patents saith Brook the York-Herald and to bear for his Arms Azure three Crowns Gold in a Border Argent to be quartered before his own Coat Obiit in Lovaniâ 1392. 1397. 61. Roger Mortimer Earl of March Lord Lieutenant of Ireland He was slain by the Irishmen 1399. 22 Rich. 2. Stow. Rex Anglia contrà Juramentum quod praestiterat revocavit de Hiberniâ Justiciarios quos olìm de Consensu suo Proceres propter defectus eorum notabiles Constituêrunt exulare So Walsingham sub Anno 1397. 20 Rich. 2. pag. 353. Sub Henrico Quarto 1400. 62. Sir John Stanley Lord Lieutenant 1401. 63. In May Sir John went into England leaving Sir William Stanley in his Place And on St. Bartholomew's Eve eodem Anno Stephen Scroope entred Ireland Deputy to Thomas of Lancaster the King's Son Lord Lieutenant who came into Ireland in die Sancti Bricii November 13. eodem Anno. Anno 1403. about the eleventh of November Thomas the King's Son going into England left Stephen Scroope his Deputy and Scroope going into England the first day of Lent the Noblemen of Ireland chuse the Earl of Ormond Lord Justice Anno 1405. Scroope the Deputy of Thomas of Lancaster returns into Ireland but going again into England the Earl of Ormond is Justice Anno 1406. Scroope returning after Michaelmas into Ireland is Deputy as before Anno 1407. Scroope going this Year also into England James Butler Earl of Ormond is elected Lord Justice Anno 1408. Thomas of Lancaster Lord Lieutenant lands at Carlingford in Ireland the second of August In this Year died Stephen Scroope at Tristel-Dermot 16 die Januarii And the third of the Ides of March following Sir Thomas de Lancaster Lord Lieutenant going for England leaves the Prior of Kilmaynan his Deputy in Ireland Thomas of Lancaster was slain at the Battel of Bangy by the Duke of Alanson 22 Martii being Easter Eve Anno Domini 1421. 9 Hen.
Justices 1629. 142. Thomas Viscount Wentworth July 25. Lord Deputy 1633. 143. Sir Adam Lofties Lord Chancellor Christopher Wansford Master of the Rolls June 2. Lord Justices 1636. 144. Thomas Viscount VVentworth November 23. Lord Deputy 1636. 145. Robert Lord Dillon of Kilkenny-VVest Christopher VVansford Master of the Rolls September 12. Lord Justices 1639. 146. Thomas VVentworth Earl of Strafford Lord Lieutenant He was Beheaded May 12. 1641. very unjustly by the Parliament of England's Faction 1640. Christopher VVansford was Deputy to Strafford 147. Robert Lord Dillon Sir VVilliam Parsons Master of the Court of Wards Decem. 30. Lord Justices 1640. 148. Sir VVilliam Parsons Sir John Borlace Master of the Ordnance February 9. Lord Justices 1640. 149. Sir John Borlace Sir Henry Tichborn May 1. Lord Justices 1643. 150. James Butler Marquess of Ormond February 21. Lord Lieutenant of Ireland The Rebellion of the Parliament of England was now broken out by raising Arms and Forces against the King and great Troubles arose both in England and Ireland 1643. Anno 1649. Oliver Cromwel Voted General of all the Forces sent against Ireland by the Parliament of England March 30. On the 20 of June following Dublin was Besieged by the Marquess of Ormond and on August 2. he was defeated before Dublin by Colonel Jones and his Party who issued out of the Town and Ireland reduced by Cromwel soon after Sub Carolo Secundo 151. King Charles the Second being restored to his Kingdoms 1660. makes James Butler now Duke of Ormond Lord Liutenant of Ireland 1662. who landed in Ireland 28 die Julii eodem Anno. 1662. 152. The Duke of Ormond is desired by the King to surrender his Commission and the Lord Roberts Lord Privy Seal is made Lieutenant of Ireland in February 1668. 153. Roberts is recalled and John Lord Barkley came Lord Lieutenant 1670. Finis Totius Operis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 SOME ANTIQUITIES TOUCHING CHESHIRE Faithfully Collected out of Authentique Histories Old Deeds Records and Evidences BY Sir PETER LEYCESTER Baronet A Member of the same County Nescio qua Natale Solum dulcedine cunctos ducit immemores non sinit esse sui LONDON Printed Anno Domini M.DC.LXXII THE CONTENTS OF THIS BOOK THe first Part treateth of the Governors and Earls of Mercia from the time of King Alfred to the time of the Norman Conquest The second Part comprehendeth the History of the Earls of Chester from the Norman Conquest till that Earldom was Invested in the Crown of England under King Henry the Third with a short Catalogue of all such Princes of England as have been created Princes of Wales and Earls of Chester ever since to this day The third Part treateth of the ancient Barons to the Earls of Chester with several Catalogues of all the Bishops Deans Chamberlains Judges Sheriffs and Escheatours of Cheshire and also of the Recorders of the City of Chester The fourth and last Part comprehendeth the Antiquities of Bucklow Hundred in Cheshire SOME ANTIQUITIES TOUCHING CHESHIRE PART I. CHAP. I. I. OUr Island of Great Brettaine was altogether unknown both to the ancient Grecians and Romans until the Days of Caius Julius Caesar Bede de Historiâ Gentis Anglorum lib. 1. cap. 2. Learned Cambden in his Britannia Printed 1607. pag. 24 25. Also Sheringham de Gentis Anglorum Origine pag. 99. For the Name of Brettaine is not to be found in any Author Greek or Latine before that time as far forth as I have ever seen or heard of Diodorus Siculus being the first among the Greek Authors and Lucretius among the Latines who made mention thereof and both these lived about the same Age with Caesar or a little sooner Wherefore we have no certain History of this Island but from Caesar downwards The ancient Brettans were a barbarous People and left no Writing or History of their Countrey to Posterity Gildas called Sapiens is the first among the Brettans who hath left us any mention in Writing hereof and those very short and imperfect Now Gildas writ about the Year of Christ 540. and what he writ as he confesseth in his Prologue was by Relation from beyond Sea more than out of ancient Records and Writings of his own Countrey for those if any such were at all were either burned by the Enemy's rage or carried away by the banished Natives so that in his time there was no such extant II. Now Julius Caesar upon his second Expedition into Brettaine Anno antè Christum natum 54. or thereabout subdued part of Brettain and many Cities submitted and yielded up themselves to the Romans Caesar de Bello Gallico lib. 5. in ipso initio And the Rule of the Romans in Brettaine ceased upon the declination of the Roman Empire after that Alaric King of the Gothes had taken Rome which hapned in the Year of Christ 410. according to our vulgar Computation So Helvicus in his Chronology also Bede de Hist Ang. lib. 1. cap. 11. So that the Rule or Soveraignty of the Romans over Brettaine continued almost 470 Years as Bede computeth in the same Chapter But Cambden in his Britannia pag. 60. computing to Valentinian the Third saith 476 Years III. But now the poor Brettans upon the Romans withdrawing of their Forces out of Brettaine to defend themselves were miserably devoured by the Scots and Picts And therefore they called in and invited the Saxons to aid them who came first into Brettaine Anno Christi 449. saith Bede and Malmesbury But the Brettans to use Gildas's own words perceiving the Saxons Quasi pro patriâ pugnaturos sed eam certiùs impugnaturos defended themselves as well as they could But the Saxons after they had expelled the Scots and Picts did also by degrees root out the Brettans also and the Saxons at last solely possessed themselves of all the South part of Brettaine which we now call England but disagreeing among themselves and contending for Superiority each Party would set up themselves as it commonly falls out in such Cases and so had a Heptarchy or seven distinct Kingdoms in England till at last they were all swallowed up into one by that of the West-Saxons the poor Brettans being driven into Wales and Cornwall IV. Egbert King of the West-Saxons being now sole Monarch of all England for so Hoveden calls him pag. 414. and having routed Wilaf King of Mercia and made him Tributary which Kingdom of Mercia was the largest in compass of all the seven and the last of the six unsubdued ordained That this part of Brettaine whereof he had now the Soveraignty should be called England since which time it hath gained the Name of England Verstegan's Saxon Antiquities p. 123. And this Edict saith Trevisa in his Translation of Polychronicon was when Egbert was Crowned King of all England at Winchester after the Battel of Ellindon Fol. 275. Now the Battel of Ellindon is placed in Anno Christi 823. by Florentius Wigorniensis and Stowe This Egbert also is said to have new
of Elflede his Countess Ethelred and his Countess restored Caerleon that is Legecestria now called Chester Anno Chr. 908. after it was destroyed by the Danes and enclosed it with new Walls and made it nigh such two as it was before so that the Castle that was sometime by the Water without the Walls is now in the Town within the Walls So Trevisa in his Translation of Polychronicon lib. 6. cap. 4. whereunto agreeth Florentius and Matthew of Westminster But Hoveden placeth it in Anno 905. Which Town of Chester remained in possession of the Britons or Welshmen till it was taken by Egbert the Saxon Monarch of England about the Year 824. Trevisa lib. 5. cap. 28. Ann. Chr. 910. Also he and his Countess translated the Bones of St. Oswald King and Martyr from Bardeny to Glocester where they built an Abbey in honour of St. Peter Polychronicon The Danes breaking their Truce with King Edward and this Ethelred wasted Mercia and were beaten by the English at Totenhale in Staffordshire and afterwards at Wodenesfield within a Mile of Wolverhampton in Staffordshire was a great Battel Fought on the fifth day of August in the same Year wherein the Danes were routed and three of their Kings slain Healfdene Eywysle and Igwar Stow. Ethelwerd in Chronico suo lib. 4. cap. 4. and Trevisa fol. 287. Ethelred Eximiae vir Probitatis Dux Patricius Dominus Subregulus Merciorum decessit Anno 912. So Florentius whose Death is placed by Hoveden sub Anno 908. He had onely one Daughter called Elfwine or Algiva at whose Birth Elflede her Mother was so much astonished with the pain that ever after she refrained the Embraces of her Husband for almost 40 Years saith Matth. Westminst pag 359. protesting often That it was not fit for a King's Daughter to be given to a Pleasure that brought so much pain along with it and thereupon grew an heroick Virago like the ancient Amazons as if she had changed her Sex as well as her Mind Ingulphus pag. 871. Malmesbury pag. 46. This Lady Elflede is variously written by our ancient Historians as Edelfled Ethelfled Egelfled and Elflede and from the time of her Husbands Death she Governed all Mercia excellently except London and Oxford which King Edward her Brother retained to himself She built a Fort at Sceargete and another at Bridge upon Severn which I conceive is now called Bridgenorth She repaired Tamworth nigh Lichfield and built a Fort at Stafford She built the Town of Eadsbury in the Forrest of Cheshire whereof now nothing remains but that we now call The Chamber of the Forrest And the same Year she built Warwick She built also Ciricbyrig now called Monkes-Kirkby in Warwickshire saith Dugdale in his Warwickshire pag. 50. a. and another called Weadbirig and a third called Runcovan but now called Runcorne in Cheshire This was long since demolished Polychronicon Florentius She took Brecannemere or Brecknock and carried away the Queen of Wales and 33 of her Men Prisoners into Mercia She took the Town of Darby from the Danes and the whole Province thereof In Storming of which Town she lost four of her chiefest Officers antè Calendas Augusti Elfled died at Tamworth the twelfth day of June Anno 919. and was buried in St. Peter's Church at Glocester Florentius Westminster Polychronicon and Huntington But Hoveden placeth her Death sub Anno 915. And so Ethelwerd lib. 4. cap. 4. So much do Writers vary for the time In the same Year wherein she died King Edward built a Fort or Town at Thelwall in Cheshire and Garrison'd it and also made another Garrison at Manchester which was then in the outmost Border of the Kingdom of Northumberland this way and took Mercia from his Neece Elfwin into his own Hands Florentius Polychronicon I cannot here pass by Henry Huntington's contradiction of himself Lib. quinto Histor pag. 353. where he tells us That Edred Dux Merciae died Anno 8 Edwardi Regis Angliae which falls Anno Christi 908. And in the same Page a little after he says That Ethered Dux Merciae Father of Edelfled died in the eighteenth Year of King Edward's Reign which must needs be a mistake unless there were two Ethereds Governors of Mercia successively and two Elfledes Mother and Daughter of which I find no mention in other Authors The Countess Elflede was a prudent Woman and of a manly Spirit She much assisted King Edward her Brother as well by Councel as by her Actions She was beloved of her Friends and feared by her Enemies Of whom Huntington hath these Verses lib. 5. Hist pag. 354. O Elfleda Potens O terror Virgo Virorum Victrix Naturae nomine digna Viri Tu quo Splendidior fieres Natura Puellam Te probitas fecit nomen habere viri Te mutare decet sed solùm nomina Sexûs Tu Regina Potens Réxque Trophaea parans Jam nèc Caesarei tantum meruêre Triumphi Caesare Splendidior Virgo Virago Vale. II. Alfere is the next Governor of Mercia He is also stiled Dux Merciae He is Witness to a Charter of King Edgar's made to the Abbey of Croyland Anno 966. Ingulphus pag. 882. 888. Anno 975. he destroyed many Abbeys turning out the Abbots with their Monks and bringing in Clergy-men with their Wives Hoveden pag. 427. Florentius pag. 361. Anno 983. Alfere Dux Merciorum and Cosin to King Edgar died and Alfric his Son succeeded in that Government Florentius pag. 363. And if we may believe Malmesbury pag. 61. he was eaten to death with Lice Ann. Dom. 983. III. Alfric Son of Alfere succeeded his Father and was Dux Merciae by Succession Anno 983. Huntington calls him Consul Alfricus Earl Alfric lib. 5. Hist pag. 357. For Dux and Consul in these Ages were Synonima He was banished England Anno 986. Florentius and not long after was received again into favor contrary to the Rule of State-Policy for Quem semel gravitèr laeseris non facilè tibi fidelem credideris Never think that Man will be faithful to you whom you have before greatly injured and distasted Wherefore Anno 992. this Alfric being made Chief Governor of the Forces which King Ethelred had collected and preparing a great Navy against the Danes gave private Intelligence to the Enemy and the Night before the Navy was to Engage he privily conveyed himself to the Danish Fleet and fled away with the Enemy But the English Ships pursuing slew many of the Danes and took the Ship wherein Alfric was he himself by flight scarcely escaping Florentius pag. 365 366. Anno 993. King Ethelred commanded that the Eyes of Algar Son of Alfric should be put out which was effected Florentius Howbeit Huntington saith pag. 358. that Algar's Eyes were caused to be pluck'd out by one Edwyn which may stand with the other as employed by the King to see it done Anno 1003. this Traytor Alfric feigned himself sick when he should have fought with the Danes Anno 1016. Alfricus
gave to the Abbey of Utica in Normandy where his Brothers Ernald and Roger were Monks and his Father and Mother aliique Parentes ejus were buried the Church of Tellioles and the Tythe of his Mills Lands and Beer in his Cellar And he gave in England two Carucates of Land and twenty Villanes and the Church of Cumbivel all the Town Tythe and Church of Kirkby in Wirrall within the County of Cheshire and the Church of the Island and the Church of St. Peters in Chester City In the Charter of Confirmation of all the Lands given unto the Abbey of Utica by many Noblemen in England made by William the Conqueror An. 1081. we read among other things thus Robertus verò de Rodelento Praefato Hugone Cestrensi Comite Domino suo concedente dedit Sancto Ebrulfo Cherchebiam cùm duabus Ecclesiis unam scilicèt quae in ipsâ villâ est aliam propè illum Manerium in insulâ maris Ecclesiam Sancti Petri Apostoli quicquid ad eam pertinebat in Cestrensi urbe in Merestonâ quae est in Northamptonshire Ecclesiam Sancti Laurentii quicquid ad eam pertinet in eâdem Provinciâ Ecclesiam de Bivellâ cùm duabus terrae Carucatis c. This Charter is set down at large in Ordericus pag. 602. So that Kirkby with the two Churches I conceive is Kirkby in Wirrall within Cheshire one Church then standing in the said Town and the other near thereunto in the Island of the Sea which I conceive is meant of the Island now called Ilbree Robert of Rothelent came very young into England with his Father and Served King Edward the Confessor both in his House and in his Wars till at last the King Knighted him afterwards having been trained up in Arms here he got leave of King Edward to go see his Friends in his own Countrey of Normandy and after the Battel of Senlace he came again into England with his Cosin Hugh Son of Richard de Auranches sirnamed Goz and was a very principal Man in all Military Employments And after many Conflicts the said Hugh was made Earl of Chester and Robert of Rothelent was the chief Commander of all the Forces under Earl Hugh and made Governor of all Cheshire And William the Conquerour caused Rothelent Castle and Town to be built and gave it to this Robert that he might make it a Defence to England by curbing the Excursions of the Welsh And this stout Champion Seating on their Borders had many Skirmishes with the Welsh and slew many of them and enlarged his Territories and on the Mount Dagaunoth close by the Sea he built a strong Castle and for fifteen years sore afflicted the Britons or Welshmen But at last Griffith King of Wales on the third day of July Anno Christi 1088. Obiit 1088 Landed with three Ships under the Hill called Hormaheva and when he had pillaged the Countrey returned back to his Ships But as soon as Robert had notice he calls his Soldiers together and with a few Soldiers coming to the top of the Hill he saw them Shipping the Men and Cattel which the Welsh had taken and being incensed thereat himself runs violently down the Steep Hill attended onely with one Soldier called Osberne de Orgiers towards the Enemy but they perceiving him so slenderly Guarded returned back upon him and with their Darts or Arrows mortally wounded him yet whilst he stood and had his Buckler none durst approach so near as to Encounter him with a Sword but as soon as he fell the Enemy rushed upon him and cut off his Head which they hanged upon the Mast of the Ship in triumph Aftewards with great lamentation both of the English and Normans his Soldiers brought his Body to Chester and it was Interred in the Monastery of St. Werburge in that City which Monastery Hugh Earl of Chester had built and had made Richard a Monk of Becke in Normandy the first Abbot thereof Thus Ordericus pag. 670 671. So much of Robert of Rothelent I shall now proceed to the the Earls of Chester IV. The Title of Earl of Chester since the coming in of the Normans is more properly and peculiarly applied than before for although in the time of the Saxons Leofric Algar and Edwine who was Earl when the Conqueror invaded England had all of them successively that Appellation or Title yet they were not onely Earls of Chester but were sometimes denominated from other Places also as Leofric and Algar both many times stiled Earls of Leicester And indeed they were not so much Earls of either of those two Counties as of all Mercia whereof those were but small Branches or Members But now more particularly the Conqueror gives to Hugh sirnamed Lupus the whole County and Earldom of Chester to hold of him Tâm liberè ad gladium sicùt ipse Rex tenebat Angliam ad Coronam as the very words of the Charter do run saith Cambden Which words some Expound to be the Tenure of being Sword-bearer of England at the Coronations of the Kings of England whence we read in Matthew Paris that when King Henry the Third Married Queen Elinour Anno Domini 1236. the Marriage was pompously solemnized and all the great Men of the Kingdom used those Offices and Places which had of ancient Right belonged to their Ancestors at the Coronation of the Kings The Earl of Chester then carried the Sword of St. Edward which is called Curtein before the King in token that he was an Earl Palatine and had Power by Right to restrain the King if he should do amiss his Constable of Cheshire attending on him and beating back the People with a Rod or Staff when they pressed disorderly upon him This Paris voucheth an Author who lived in that very Age pag. 421. But although this Office might have of ancient Right belonged to the Earls of Chester ever since the time of Hugh Lupus yet I believe there is something more magnificent couched in those words of the first Charter or Donation namely a Dignity inherent in the Sword as purchased by it and to be kept by it also For as in the Crown of England there is an inherent Right of Regality annexed so here is given an inherent Right of Dignity in the Sword This is to hold as freely by the Sword as the King holds by the Crown onely inferiour to his King Hence was it that whatsoever we say concerning the Pleas of the Crown or to be done against the King's Crown and Dignity the same is also said but in a more limited course concerning the Pleas of the Sword of Chester or to be done against the Sword and Dignity of the Earl of Chester as is most evident out of the Records and Endictments of those Times V. I come now to Hugh sirnamed Lupus howbeit in truth he was not the first Earl of Chester after the Norman Conquest for I have before shewed that Gherbod a Nobleman of Flanders had
Piscariam de Derewent Piscariam de Egre Pascua ad omnia Animalia in Forestâ ipsius Ranulphi Monasticon Vol. 1. pag. 774. But quaere whether this were not Randle de Micenis Son of William de Meschin Lord of Coupland who Founded the Cell of St. Beges in Cumberland belonging to St. Mary's of York see Monasticon Vol. 1. pag. 395 396. and not our Earl of Chester here spoken of for that the Page 774. before-cited shews that the Abbey of Kaldra was Founded Anno Domini 1134. which was after the Death of this Randle Earl of Chester and it seems not to be meant of our second Randle Earl of Chester because then he would probably have been stiled Earl and not barely Randle Meschin as there he is stiled Pipe-Roll 5 Stephani Lincolnshire Lucia the Widow of this first Randle Earl of Chester gave 266 l. 13 s. 4 d. for Livery of her Father's Lands and also 500 Marks Fine that she might not be compelled to Marry within five Years CHAP. IV. Of Randle the Second Gules a Lion rampant Ar. Anno Domini 1139. King Stephen made Henry Son of David King of Scotland Earl of Northumberland at Durham and gave him Carlisle and Cumberland upon a Peace then concluded between Stephen and the King of Scotland Which incensed this Randle Earl of Chester more vehemently against Stephen howbeit in respect of his Alliance to Robert Earl of Glocester whose Daughter he had Married Randle was more apt to be drawn unto the Part of Maude the Empress So that John Prior of Hagulsted in his Continuation of the History of Simon of Durham pa. 268. tells us That in Anno 1140. Henry Son of the King of Scotland with his Wife coming to visit King Stephen in England this Earl of Chester was much displeased at him for Randle required Carlisle and Cumberland as his rightful Patrimony and would have fought the said Henry in his Return to Scotland But Stephen having notice of Randle's intentions sent Henry back into his Countrey safe from all danger and afterwards was the Earl of Chester's indignation bent against King Stephen and the Earl surprised the Castle of Lincoln and possessed himself of all the Strong Holds in Lincolnshire II. This Randle was a gallant Man at Arms and took King Stephen Prisoner at the Battel near Lincoln on Candlemas-day Anno Domini 1141. Ordericus Huntington and Hoveden But Mat. Paris placeth this Battel in Anno 1140. The Story is set down at large by Ordericus lib. 13. Eccles Hist pag. 921 922 as followeth Anno Domini 1141. Anno sexto Stephani Regis Randle Earl of Chester and William de Romara his half-Brother by the Mother Earl of Lincoln rebelled against Stephen and fraudulently surprised the Castle of Lincoln wherein King Stephen had placed a Garrison of Soldiers for Defence of the Town which Castle was taken thus Spying the Opportunity when the Castle-Soldiers were dispersed abroad the Earl of Chester unarmed and without a Cloke or Coat as if he meant to fetch home his Wife whom he had before sent thither accompanied with the Countess of Lincoln Wife of the said William de Romara as walking abroad for their Recreation enters the Castle with three Soldiers which followed him not far off no Man suspecting any Treachery They presently seised the Port or Gate and took all the Arms which they found letting in William de Romara with a Company of armed Soldiers who hasted after according to the contrivement of the Plot and so turning all out that remained in the Castle which were of the King's part the two Brothers possessed themselves both of the Town and Castle Bishop Alexander and the Townsmen willing to insinuate themselves into the favor of King Stephen gave him notice of what had hapned The news much incensed the King and so much the more by how much the Fact was committed by those whom he took for his special Friends and on whom he had conferred many Favors Stephen forthwith gathereth an Army and after Christmas-day which was in the seventh Year of Stephen's Reign Anno 1141. marcheth towards Lincoln where by his sudden and unexpected coming in the Night and the Intelligence of some of the Townsmen he surprized seventeen of the Earls Soldiers which were in the Town The two Earls with their Wives and Friends were Besieged in the Castle and knew not how to escape this present Danger At last Randle Earl of Chester who was the younger and more courageous Earl adventures out by Night attended onely with a few and went to Cheshire as amongst his own Men He makes known his Condition to Robert Earl of Glocester his Father-in-law and to others of his Friends The Disinherited Welsh and many others he exasperates against the King and raiseth all the Forces he can to help his Friends that were Besieged in the Castle of Lincoln especially he implores the Aid of Maude the Empress and Countess of Anjou swearing Fealty unto her whose Favour he obtained Having now gathered a numerous Army the two Earls Robert Earl of Glocester and Randle Earl of Chester march speedily to Lincoln The King hearing of their approach adviseth what is to be done Some counsel him to leave a competent Strength to defend the Town and to go away himself and raise a potent Army through all the parts of the Kingdom whereby in due time he might be able to disperse them if they should continue before that Town Others advise him to send a Parley to the Enemy to put off the Battel since that Day being Candlemas-day was sacred and to be set apart in commemoration of the Purification of the Virgin Mary But the obstinate King not willing to delay the Matter draws forth all his Forces immediately both Armies meet near the Town of Lincoln and being put in order joyn Battel The King divides his Army into three Bodies so did the Earls likewise divide their Army on the contrary part In the Front of the King's Army were the Flemmings and the Britons Commanded by William de Ipro and Alan de Dinan On the opposite part to them stood a furious Company of the Welsh Commanded by two Brothers Mariadoth and Kaladrius The Earl of Chester alights from his Horse resolving to Fight on foot The stout Earl bravely encouraged his courageous Cheshire Regiment of Foot and made this short Speech to the Earl of Glocester and the rest of his Army This Speech is not in Ordericus but is taken out of Huntington pag. 390. It is also in Hoveden and others I humbly thank you most invincible General and you the rest of my fellow Soldiers that you have so faithfully and courageously expressed your Affection to me even to the hazard of your own Lives And since I have been the cause of this your danger it is but reason I should lead the Way and give the first Onset to the Army of the perfidious King who hath broken the Truce he made and onely out of the
confidence of your Valour and the King's Injustice I doubt not to dissipate his Forces and with my Sword to make way through the midst of my Enemies Methinks I see them run already Then Robert Earl of Glocester who Commanded in Chief encouraged his Soldiers and told the Bassians and others who were Disinherited That now they should have one Bout for the recovery of their Right and Inheritance King Stephen on the other part alights from his Horse and Fought on foot very stoutly both for his Life and Kingdom but having no audible Voice commanded Baldwin de Clare a Man of great Honour and Prowess to make known his mind to the Army Henry Huntington li. 8. who made an Oration to encourage the Soldiers Impeaching the Earl of Chester as a Man audacious but without Judgment heady to plot a Treason but still wavering in the pursuit of it ready to run into Battel but uncircumspect of any danger aiming beyond his reach and conceiting things meerly impossible and therefore hath but few with him that know him leading onely a Rout of vagrant and tumultuous Pesants So there is nothing in him to be feared for whatsoever he begins like a Man he ends like a Woman unfortunate in all his Undertakings In his Encounters he hath either been vanquished or if by chance he rarely a obtain Victory it is with greater loss on his part then the Conquered But as soon as he had ended his Oration the Fight began which was very fierce and terrible many slain on both parts In the Head of the King's Army were very stout Soldiers but his Enemies outvying him in number prevailed William de Ipro with the Flemmings and Alan with the Britons first turn their Backs * Huntington and Hoveden say they beat the Welsh but the Earl of Chester coming up with his Forces quite routed them which much discouraged the King's Friends but encouraged the Enemy The King was ill betrayed for some of his Nobles accompanied him in Person whiles they sent whole Troops to the other side Waleran Earl of Mellent and William de Warren his Brother Gilbert de Clare and other famous Knights both of England and Normandy ran away as soon as they saw their own side shrink But Baldwin de Clare and Richard Son of Ursi Engelram de Say and Ildebert Lacy stuck stoutly to the King and Fought it to the last Man Stephen himself like a noble Branch of an heroick Family Fought so gallantly that when his Sword was broken taking a Battel-Axe from a young Gentleman which stood near him he ceased not to Encounter with his over-powerful Enemies but at last was constrained to yield himself Prisoner to Robert Earl of Glocester his Cosin who sent him to Maude the Empress at Bristow where he was imprisoned Baldwine de Clare likewise and other excellent Champions on the King's part were taken Prisoners Thus by the voluble Wheel of Fortune was King Stephen taken Prisoner at the Battel of Lincoln on Candlemas-day Anno Domini 1141. according to Ordericus who lived in that very Age which was principally occasioned by the Valour and Assistance of Randle Earl of Chester III. Alan Earl of Brettaine a treacherous and cruel Man Gesta Steph. pag. 953. lying in Ambush for the Earl of Chester to revenge the Dishonor of taking his Lord and King Prisoner was himself taken and imprisoned till he did Homage to Randle Earl of Chester and had delivered up his Castles unto him Others say Alan Earl of Richmond and Little-Britain was sent for by Randle to speak with him and so was Apprehended by him Anno 1141. John Hagustaldensis pag. 269. Not long after this Robert Earl of Glocester was taken Prisoner in another Battel by some others of Stephen's Party and so immediately King Stephen and Earl Robert were exchanged each for other Anno 1143. Stephen being released out of Prison Besieged Lincoln and would have built a Fort over against the Castle which Randle Earl of Chester kept but the Earl killed almost eighty of his Workmen and so he was forced to give it off Mat. Paris and Hen. Huntington But Hoveden placeth this 1144. 9 Stephani Anno Domini 1145. King Stephen gathering a great Army built a strong Castle over against Wallingford whither Randle Earl of Chester accompanied him with great Forces and was restored unto his Favour But afterwards the Earl coming to the King's Court at Northampton was surprized little dreaming of any such matter and cast into Prison untill he restored the Castle of Lincoln which he had fraudulently taken and all other Castles which he injuriously had taken from the King Chronica Normanniae put out by Du Chesne with other Histories pag. 982. Also Polychronicon addeth That the Welshmen then wasted Cheshire but were intercepted at Nantwich ⚜ lib. 7. cap. 19. Monasticon vol. 1. pag. 890. But for the Reconcilement of Stephen and Randle it is more fully set down in Gesta Stephani pag 968. thus The Earl of Chester who had got almost a third part of the Kingdom by his Sword comes to the King and desires Pardon for his Rebellion at Lincoln and for the seizing of his Soveraign's Possessions and thereupon was received into Favour And in farther testimony of his Obedience he helped the King's Forces and gallantly Assaulted the Town of Bedford which had much weakned and shattered the King's Army and having taken it delivers it into Stephen's Hands After this he accompanied King Stephen to Wallingford attended with three hundred gallant Horse till the King had erected a stately Castle in prospect thereof to stop the Incursions of the Enemy which were wont to issue out of Wallingford and prey upon the Countrey But for all this Friendship Randle was suspected of Stephen because he surrendred not the Castles and Rents which he had violently taken from him and because of the Earls wavering and unstable Mind not having put in Pledges of his Fidelity so that neither the King nor his prime Councellors durst rely upon him unless he would surrender all the King's Possessions and if he refused this then the King ought to clap him up at his best opportunity Ibidem pag. 970 971. Randle Earl of Chester seeing he was thus suspected turns himself to his wonted course of Treason plotting how he might more easily without Infamy deliver the King into the Hands of his Enemies and coming to the Court with some Attendance whereby he might be the freer from suspicion he complained how he was beset with a barbarous multitude of Welsh who made great spoil and waste of his Lands so that he and all his Tenants bordering on the Confines of his County would be quite extirpated unless the King gave him speedy Assistance telling him that his Presence would do more by the very Name of a King than many thousands of Soldiers without him The King cheerfully promiseth his Assistance but the Councel about his Royal Person would not suffer it for they wished
the King to consider least the Earl had a Design to ensnare him telling him That it was not safe for him to bring his Army into the midst of so barbarous a Countrey through mountainous and steepy places where he might be entraped on every side besides it were a very rash part to go into his Countrey who had taken from him the greatest part of his Kingdom for although he might seem to incline to the King yet there was no certainty of his Fidelity nor Pledges of Assurance And that if he would have the King's Assistance he should first deliver up what he had unjustly taken which if he refused then presently he should be seized on as the King's Enemy and be imprisoned till he made Restitution But Randle when he heard the Conditions which he was to perform before he could have the King's Aid answer'd That he came not to the Court for that purpose neither had he any notice of this beforehand whereby he might have advised thereon and uttering many high words he was laid hold on by the King's Officers and imprisoned The Nobles who took part with Earl Randle Petitioned the King for his Enlargement and offered Sureties or any Security the King should demand for the delivering up of those Castles which were of Right belonging to the King so that the Earl might be released And thereupon Randle Earl of Chester having given Pledges and taken a solemn Oath that he would never hereafter take up Arms against the King was restored to his Liberty But as soon as he was released he violated his Oath and raised an Army against the King prosecuting his wrathful indignation with revenge of Fire and Sword wheresoever he came and as my Author saith In omnem aetatem in omnem Sexum Herodianam Tyrannidem Neronianam truculentiam exercebat He came often with a Party of Soldiers in view of the Town of Lincoln where now the King had placed the Flower of his Soldiery and had many Skirmishes with them sometimes he was put to the worse sometimes by the smiling Success of Fortune he victoriously triumphed over the King's Party He likewise blockt up the Castle of Coventrey which also he had delivered up to the King till Stephen came to relieve it with Victuals whereof it was in some distress and that was done with great difficulty to the King by forcing his Passage through Randle's Army where by the Way he had many Conflicts In the first Skirmish the King having received some slight Wound was forced to retreat but as soon as he was recovered he fell upon the Earls Army took many wounded others and the Earl himself put to flight and almost slain The King then pulls down the Castle of Coventrey which had been delivered to him before and victoriously proceeds to other Castles in Randle's possession sometimes blocking them up sometimes burning and destroying all about them and ever after became a sore Enemy to Randle and his Adherents Thus much ex Gestis Stephani Anno Domini 1150. David King of Scotland Entertained Henry Son of Maude the Empress at Carlisle very magnificently about Whitsuntide and Knighted him there in the Presence of Henry Son of King David and Randle Earl of Chester which Randle was then appeased concerning his Claim of Carlisle and Cumberland as his Patrimony and did Homage to King David for there was some Speech amongst them that for Carlisle Randle should have the Honour of Lancaster and that Earl Randle's Son should Marry one of the Daughters of Henry Prince of Scotland And so King David and Henry Duke of Normandy and Earl Randle were agreed to unite their Forces against King Stephen And King David with his Son Henry came to Lancaster with their Forces where Earl Randle promised to meet them with his but Randle failing of his Promise they returned back Johannes Prior Hagustaldensis pag. 277 278. Anno 1151. Randle Earl of Chester having been imprisoned which Imprisonment Radulfus de Diceto Chronica Gervasii John Bromton Chronica Normanniae Mat. Paris and Mat. Westminster do all place in Anno 1145. but Hoveden in Anno 1146. and having given his Nephew Gilbert de Clare for his Hostage was released But falsifying his Word and endangering his Hostage he sendeth for Henry Duke of Normandy into England promising him all Assistance Whereupon Henry came into England to whom Robert Earl of Leycester and many of the wisest Noblemen of England then resorted Idem Johannes pag. 278. What a tumultuous Age this was and how the Great Men of the Kingdom divided the Spoils may appear by the Agreement made between this Randle Earl of Chester and Robert sirnamed Bossu Earl of Leycester about the Year 1151. the Original whereof remains in Cotton's Library in Westminstsr Haec est Conventio intèr Ranulfum Comitem Cestriae Robertum Comitem Legrecestriae finalis Pax Concordia quae fuit Concessa divisa ab eis corà m Secundo Roberto Episcopo Lincolniae hominibus eorum ex parte Comitis Cestriae Ricardo de Lovetot Willielmo filio Nigelli Ranulfo Vice-Comite Ex parte Comitis Legrecestriae Ernaldo de Bosco Gaufrido Abbate Reginaldo de Bordineio Scilicèt quòd Comes Ranulfus dedit Concessit Roberto Comiti Legrecestriae castrum de Mountsorell sibi haeredibus suis Tenendum de eo haeredibus suis haereditariè sicùt Charta ipsius Comitis Ranulfi testatur Et ità quòd Comes Leycestriae receptare debet ipsum Comitem Ranulfum familiam suam in Burgo Ballâ—s de Mountsorell ad guerrandum quemcunque voluerit ut de feodo suo Et ità quòd Comes Leycestriae non potest indè forisfacere Comiti Ranulfo pro aliquo Et si necesse sit Comiti Ranulfo corpus ipsius receptabitur in Dominico Castro de Mountsorell Et ità quòd Comes Leycestriae portabit ei fidem salvà fide Ligei Domini sui Et si oportuerit Comitem Leycestriae ire super Comitem Cestriae cùm Ligeo Domino suo non potest ducere secum plus quà m viginti milites Et si Comes Leycestriae vel isti viginti milites aliquid ceperint de rebus Comitis Cestriae totum reddetur Nec Ligius Dominus Comes Leycestriae nec aliquis alius potest forisfacere Comiti Cestriae nec suis de Castris ipsius Comitis Leycestriae nèc de terrâ suâ Et ità quòd Comes Leycestriae nec potest proptèr aliquam Causam vel proptèr aliquem Casum impedire Corpus Comitis Cestriae nisi eum desidaverit quindecem dies anteà Et Comes Lycestriae debet juvare Comitem Cestriae contrà omnes homines praetèr Ligium Dominum ipsius Comitis Leycestriae Comitem Simonem Comitem Simonem potest juvare hoc modo quod si Comes Ranulfus forisfecerit Comiti Simoni ipsâ— Comes Ranulfus noluerit Corrigere forisfactum proptèr Comitem Leycestriae tunc potest eum juvare Et si Comes Simon forisfecerit
came in Person to Assault it Anno 1216. after the Death of King John on the Feast-day of Simon and Jude the Apostles the twenty eighth day of October Henry the Third being then but nine Years old eldest Son of King John was Crowned at Glocester principally by the Power of Walo the Pope's Legat Peter Bishop of Winchester Randle Earl of Chester and William Marshall Earl of Pembroke and some others Paris and Polychronicon Anno Domini 1217. after Easter Randle Earl of Chester with many others met about the besieging of the Castle of Mountsorell by the procurement of William Marshall Regent of England for the young King which they fiercely assaulted But Lewis King of France and the Barons of England sent Forces from London in the very beginning of May to raise the Siege Randle Earl of Chester hearing thereof with others came to Nottingham The Barons march on and Besiege Lincoln Castle In the interim William Marshall Guardian of the young King and Kingdom Commanded all the Forces out of his several Garrisons to meet at Newark on Tuesday in Whitsun-week for the raising of the Siege at Lincoln among whom Randle Earl of Chester was the Prime Commander and in the beginning of the Week following they routed the Barons at Lincoln Mat. Paris pag. 294 295. And the Monk of Chester in his Polychronicon saith That Randle Earl of Chester slew many of the French so that Lewis the French King seeing his Party much weakned for a Sum of Money surrenders up all his Garrisons and returns to France Anno 1158. the Abbey of Pulton in Cheshire was Founded Anno 1214. that Convent was removed to Deulacresse in Staffordshire 10 Calendas Maii by this Earl Randis Monasticon vol. 1. pag. 891. Anno 1218. 2 Hen. 3. Randle Earl of Chester after he was accorded with Lhewellin Prince of Northwales took a Voyage to Jerusalem In which Year Damieta was taken by the Christians Mat Paris pag. 303. Anno 1220. 4 Hen. 3. Randle returning out of the Holy Land built Beeston Castle in Cheshire and Chartley Castle in Staffordshire and the Abbey of Delacresse near Leeke in Staffordshire of the Order of white Monks * De ordine Cisterciensi To which Abbey he gave Leeke and Rudeyard in Staffordshire Monasticon Vol. 1. pag. 891 892. Bivelegh vulgo Byley near to Middlewich in Cheshire was a Grange belonging to the Monks of Delacresse Monasticon Vol. 2. pag. 919. Towards the Charge of the Castles he Levied a Tax through all his Lands and Tenants Polychronicon Also Knighton pag. 24. 30. Nor can I here pass by the Mistake of Bale de Scriptoribus Britanniae Cent. 3. num 93. where he writes thus Ranulfus de Glaunvyle Cestriae Comes vir nobilissimi Generis in utroque jure eruditus in Albo illustrium virorum à me meritò ponendus venit ità probè omnes adolescentiae suae annos Legibus tùm humanis tùm divinis consecravit ut non priùs in hominem per aetatem evaserit quà m nomen decusque ab insigni eruditione sibi comparaverit Cùm Profecti essent Francorum heroes Ptolemaidem inito cùm Johanne Brenno Hierosolymorum Rege concilio Damiatam Egypti urbem obsidendam constituebant Anno Salutis humanae 1218. misit illùc Henricus Rex ab Honorio tertio Romanorum Pontifice Rogatus cùm magnâ Armatorum manu Ranulfum ad rem Christianam juvandam Cujus virtus Polydoro teste in eo bello miris omnium laudibus celebrata fuit Quo confecto negotio Ranulfus in patriam reversus scripsit unum librum de Legibus Angliae Fertur praetereà alia quaedam scripsisse sed tempus Edax rerum ea nobis abstulit Anno 1230. claruit confectus Senio dum Henricus tertius sub Antichristi Tyrannide in Angliâ regnaret So Bale and from him Pitseus thus Ranulfus Glanvillus ex Splendissimâ familiâ Cestriae Comitum in Angliâ natus c. in his Book De illustribus Angliae Scriptoribus These are both mistaken in the Name confounding Randle Blundevill and Randle Glaunvill together Randle Glaunvill indeed was Chief Justice of England under Henry II. and writ a Book De Legibus Angliae yet extant amongst us He died at the Siege of Accon Anno Christi 1190. Hoveden pag. 685. But this Randle Blundevill Earl of Chester is of later time a little and died Anno Christi 1232. This Earl was at the Siege of Damiata but writ no Book De Legibus Glaunvill writ the Book but was neither Earl of Chester nor of the Race of the Earls of Chester So much of Bale See Spelman's Glossary pag. 338. b. Anno 1224. Randle Earl of Chester John Constable of Cheshire and others of the Nobility were much displeased with Hubert de Burgo Chief Justice of England alledging that he did exasperate the King against them and did not well Execute the Laws insomuch that the Earl of Chester with his Complices at Leycester in stead of surrendring up the Castles which the King demanded from him as belonging to the Crown had thought to have sent threatning Messages both against the King and his Chief Justice but upon more deliberate Advice surrendred them Paris pag. 318 319 320. Anno 1229. the King having gathered a great Army together at Portsmouth thought to Transport them beyond Sea to recover those Lands which his Father had lost but not finding sufficient Shipping for half his Army he imputed the fault to the Treachery of Hubert de Burgo that he should have been Bribed thereunto by the Queen of France and drawing his Sword to have killed Hubert Randle Earl of Chester interposed and saved him that he got out of the King's sight till his fury was past Paris pag. 363. And in the same Year Randle Earl of Chester refuseth to pay Tythes to the Pope Paris ibidem Anno 1230. Randle Earl of Chester marched through Anjou and took certain Castles and so returned into Little Britain where the King had made him Commander in Chief of his Forces together with William Marshall and William Albemarle Paris pag. 367. Anno 1232. in the Parliament assembled at London the King demanded Money for the Discharge of his Debts occasioned by the Wars The Earl of Chester answering for the Nobility of the Kingdom told him That the Earls Barons and Knights which hold of him in Capite were personally with him in the Service and had exhausted their own Money in that Service and therefore ought not to pay any thing and so nothing was Granted Paris pag. 372. In this Year Randle Earl of Chester did a second time save the Life of Hubert de Burgo when the King being exasperated with Hubert sent to the Mayor of London to send away all the Armed he could raise immediately to put him to Death who in one Nights space were encreased to 20000. willing of the occasion But the King by the perswasion of Randle Earl of Chester telling how dangerous it might be to raise
Johannis apud Westmonasterium die Lunae proximè post Quindenam Paschae Anno Regni ipsius Henrici vicesimo tertio recognovi concessi quietum clamavi de me Haeredibus meis dilecto Fratri meo Simoni de Monteforti Comiti Leycestriae totam partem Honoris Leycestriae cùm omnibus pertinentiis in Regno Angliae adeò plenè integrè sicut Comes Simon Pater noster vel Robertus Comes Leycestrensis illam unquà m meliùs pleniùs liberiùs tenuerunt Habendum tenendum eidem Simoni Fratri meo Haredibus suit de Corpore suo procreatis de praedicto Domino Henrico Rege Haeredibus suis in perpetuùm c. Actum apud Westmonasterium Anno Die praenominatis 1239. Which the King at that very instant confirmed unto him But this was after the death of Randle Earl of Chester and Lincoln Howbeit this Simon lost the same again by his Rebellion and was slain at the Battel of Evesham 4 Augusti 49 Hen. 3. 1265. Randle sirnamed Blundevill was Earl of Chester 51 Years These followidg Notes I received from Mr. Dugdale This Earl of Perch was slain at the Battel of Lincoln 1217. Mat. Paris pag. 296. of the Edition put out by Wats A. Dom. 1640. THis Earl Randle was but of low stature as we may observe by the Earl of Perch his words to him at Lincoln What said he have we staid all this while for such a Little Man such a Dwarfe To whom Earl Randle replied I vow to God and our Lady whose Church this is that before to Morrow Evening I will seem to thee to be higher than that Steeple So Walter de Wittlesey a Monk of Peterborough a Manuscript now in possession of the Dean and Chapter of Peterborough King John gave to this Randle Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire to hold by the Service of one Knights Fee Chart. 17 Johannis num 25. and also the Custody of all Simon Montfort's Lands with the Forests to the use of the said Simon Ibidem Membrane 19. Pat. 1 Hen. 3. mem 4 mem 7. Pat. 2 Hen. 3. mem 10. 1 Hen. 3. the King gave to this Randle the Custody of the Honour of Lancaster and the Castle of Montsorrel which Randle demolished 2 Hen. 3. the King gave him the Custody of the Honour of Brittany in the Counties of Cambridge Norfolk and Suffolk And he executed the Office of Sheriff by his Deputies in the Counties of Salop and Stafford 2 3 4 5 7 Hen. 3. and in the County of Lancaster 3 4 5 6 7 Hen. 3. as by the Pipe-Rolls of those Years appeareth Pat. 11. H. 3. mem 6. 11 Hen. 3. the King gave him all that part of the Honour of Richmond which he formerly had of the Grant of King John to hold for Randle's Life upon condition that he should make no Agreement with the Earl of Brittany to surrender the same up to him unless the Earl of Brittany could obtain those Lands in Normandy which the Earl of Chester had lost in the Service of King John CHAP. VII Of John sirnamed The Scot Earl of Chester Or three Piles Gules His Father David Brother of William King of Scotland was Knighted by King Henry the Second 1170. Hoveden pag. 518. and made Earl of Huntington 1184. Hoveden pag. 622. and David died about Anno 1219. So that John Scot was Earl of Chester and Huntington Take here the Charte remaining among the Evidences of St. Werburge Church in Chester as followeth OMnibus Christi fidelibus praesens scriptum visuris vel audituris Johannes de Scotia Comes Cestriae Huntindoniae salutem in Domino Sciatis me concessisse confirmasse Deo Domni Sanctae Werburgae de Cestria Abbati Monachis ibidem Deo servientibus in puram perpetuam Elemosynam pro salute meâ Comitissae meae pro Animâ Comitis Davidis Patris mei Comitissae Matildae Matris meae pro Animâ Ranulfi Comitis Avunculi mei pro Animabus omnium Antecessorum meorum omnes Donationes Dignitates Libertates quas Comites Antecessores mei Barones eis dederunt Insupèr ego ipse do concedo praesenti scripto confirmo praedictis Abbati Monachis quietantiam de tribus Panibus quos aliquando solebant dare diurnè ad Turrim Castelli mei de Cestria quietantiam de Putura servientium in Villis suis scilicèt Huntington Cheveley Idinchale Wyrvin tempore Pacis Prestbury Gostrey in perpetuùm c. Testibus Domino Ricardo Phiton tùnc Justiciario Cestriae Domino Warino de Vernon Willielmo de Venables Hamone de Massy Hamone de Phitton Willielmo de Malo-passu Willielmo de Boydell Ricardo de Sonbach Ricardo de Wibinberie tùnc Vice-Comite Cestershiriae aliis This was made about 18 Hen. 3. 1233. II. This John Earl of Chester and Huntington conceiving that an Earl might not lawfully be Summoned in any other County than that whereof he was Earl did except against the Summons in Northamptonshire upon a Writ De rationabili parte brought against him there by the other Co-heirs to Randle Blundevill but was ordered to answer The Record I have here transcribed as it is cited by Selden in his Titles of Honour pag. 643. ex Fragmentis tempore Hen. 3. quae in Archivis Arcis Londinensis servantur Orta est ista lis in 18 Hen. 3. quod satìs constat ex placitis 18 Hen. 3. Rot. 14. NOrthampton Johannes Comes Cestriae Huntingdoaiae summonitus fuit ad respondendum Hugoni de Albiniaco Willielmo Comiti de Ferrariis Agneti Uxori ejus Hawisiae Comitissae Lincolniae quarè deforciat eis rationabilem partem suam quae eos contingit de Haereditate Ranulfi quondà m Comitis Cestriae undè ipse obiit Seisitus in Comitatu Cestriae computâ cùm eisdem Hugone Willielmo Agnete Hawisia parte suâ rationabili de Terrâ quam nùnc tenet alibì de eâdem Haereditate Et Comes aliàs respondit quòd noluit respondere ad hoc Breve nisì Curia consideraverit consideratione Parium suorum per summonitionem factam in Comitatu Northamptoniae de Terris Tenementis in Comitatu Cestriae ubi Brevia Domini Regis non currunt Et quià usitatum est hùc usquè quòd Pares sui alii qui libertates habent consimiles sicùt Episcopus Dunelmensis Comes Mareschallus respondent de Terris Tenementis infrà libertates suas per summonitionem factam ad Terras Tenementa extrà libertates suas Ideò consideratum est quòd respondeat III. This John Scot Earl of Chester carried the Sword before King Henry the Third at the Marriage of Queen Elianour Anno Domini 1236. 20 Hen. 3. at which time all the Great Men of this Kingdom used those Offices and Places which had of ancient Right belonged to their Ancestors at the Coronation of the Kings and is mentioned by Matthew Paris in these words
Cornwall in Cook 's Reports lib. 8. was Printed by his Majesty's special Command 1613. 11 Jacobi where it is set forth That by the Advice of the Privy Council it was clearly and absolutely Resolved that Prince Charles now the King 's eldest Son was in Right and by virtue of the Statute of 11 Edw. 3. ought to be Duke of Cornwall and therefore his Majesty commanded that Prince Charles his Son should have and enjoy the Honor and Stile of Duke of Cornwall which he presently had and enjoyed accordingly Vincent upon Brook pag. 146 147. And on the third of November 1616. 14 Jacobi he was also created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester and was afterwards King of England by the Name of King Charles the First A summary Collection of the Earls of Chester contained in this second Part. 1. GHerbod a Nobleman of Flanders had the Earldom of Chester given him by the Conqueror about the Year of Christ 1068. but going into Flanders was there taken Prisoner And then did William the Conqueror give the Earldom of Chester to Hugh sirnamed Lupus Anno Domini 1070. 2. Hugh sirnamed Lupus Earl of Auranches in Normandy was made Earl of Chester Anno 1070. He died July 27. 1101. after he had held the Earldom of Chester 31 Years 3. Richard the onely Child of Hugh Lupus by his Wife was but seven Years old when his Father died He was drowned with many others as he was Sailing from Normandy towards England Anno 1120. after he had been Earl 18 Years but had no Issue 4. Randle de Mecinis or Meschines Son of Maud Sister to Hugh Lupus succeeded Earl of Chester as Cosin and next Heir to Richard And he died Anno 1128. having been Earl eight Years 5. Randle the Second sirnamed Gernouns Son of Randle de Meschines succeeded his Father He died Anno Domini 1153 having been Earl 25 Years 6. Hugh the Second sirnamed Cyveliok Son of Randle the Second succeeded his Father And he died Anno Domini 1181. having been Earl 28 Years 7. Randle the Third sirnamed Blundevill Son of Hugh the Second succeeded his Father in the Earldom of Chester He was also made Earl of Lincoln 1217. and died at Wallingford in the latter end of October Anno Domini 1232. without Issue and was Earl of Chester 51 Years 8. John sirnamed The Scot Earl of Huntingdon Son of Maud eldest Sister and Coheir to Randle the Third sirnamed Blundevill succeeded Earl of Chester and died at Dernhale Abbey without Issue June 7. 1237. having been Earl of Chester almost five Years from which time this Earldom was seized to the Crown of England Finis Partis Secundae The Third Part Treating of the ancient Barons to the Earls of Chester with several Catalogues of all the Bishops Deans Chamberlains Judges Sheriffs and Escheators of Cheshire and also of the Recorders of the City of Chester CHAP. I. Of the ancient Barons to the Earls of Chester I. COncerning the ancient Barons to the Earls of Chester of whom I promised before to speak in this third Part of my Book these things I have principally to Discuss and Illustrate the true notion of their Title the time of their Institution their Office Place and number II. For the true notion of their Title Selden tells us in his Titles of Honour pag. 688. that the noblest and greatest Tenants to the greater sort of Subjects had anciently the Appellation of Barons ascribed to them especially those to the Earls of Chester Spelman in his Glossary deriveth the word Baro from the old English-Saxon Per or Wer and of later Times written Par Francis Antiquis Ber signifying the same with the Latine word Vir Glossarium Latino-Gallicum Ber Bara Vir so that the Latine word Vir seems to be the original Fountain whence it springs And both these words Baro by some written Varo and Vir do agree in their several significations sometimes for a Man barely and absolutely sometimes for a Man of Worth Power or Prowess sometimes for a Husband For the notion of the word here it denotes as much as Magnates or Optimates where we may observe That Noblemen or Barons seem to be a necessary Supplement as essential to the Royalty of a Count Palatine for the Earl of Chester having Royal Authority within himself we may not unfitly stile him a petty King And that the Majesty of his Palace may be answerable to a King he must have Noblemen about him in imitation of the Barons of the Kingdom Hence also the Earls of Chester subtuted Offices making the Baron of Halton Constable in Cheshire in Fee in imitation of the Lord High-Constable of England and making the Baron of Montalt Steward of Cheshire in Fee after the example of the Lord High-Steward of England These Barons under the Earl Ruled and Governed the County and from their great Power and Sway had the Appellation of Barons III. As to the time of their first Institution I find the Great Men of Cheshire about the Earl stiled Barons in the time of Hugh Lupus In the Charter of his Foundation of the Monastery of St. Werburge in Chester Anno 1093. 6 Willielmi Rufi in the conclusion thereof it is said Ego Comes Hugo mei Barones confirmavimus ista omnia corà m Anselmo Archiepiscopo c. Neither must we fondly imagine or expect any formal Creation of them either by Patent for such are of later Times by much or any solemn Investure But as I conceive upon the conferring of the Earldom of Chester on Hugh Lupus by the Conqueror Anno Domini 1070. the principal Gentlemen and Commanders under Earl Hugh being called to advise and assist the said Earl either in any time of imminent danger or in regulating and ordering the more weighty Affairs of the County were of course so stiled and thus I conceive they retained the Name of Barons by little and little after the manner of the Great Nobles of the Realm IV. And hence may we guesse their Office Adesse Comiti in Concilio as Cambden hath it to assist the Earl in Council upon all grand Designs and Affairs V. Concerning their Place of Precedence and Dignity we must consider them either in relation to others or among themselves In relation to others out of the County I conceive them inferior to the rank of the Barons of our Realm for these are but titularly or analogically Barons as I may so speak to those of the Kingdom nay in Place beneath all Knights but they were the greatest Men in the County under the Earl for Power and Estate Their Priority or Dignity among themselves we shall trace as exactly as we can in so remote and obscure a Path. Some would have the Baron of Malpas to be the prime Baron forasmuch as Robert Fitz-Hugh who was Baron of Malpas under Hugh Lupus in the Conqueror's time hath for the most part the preeminence in the Subscription of old Charts of those ancient Times as also in the Record of
Antecessores sui de Antecessoribus meis tenuerunt This was the Service for the Ancient Barony of Halton in Cheshire for the Service of half a Knights Fee to be done by him and his Heirs for all Service to the said John Scot and his Heirs Testibus Domino Henrico de Audidelegh Domino Willielmo de Cantilupo Domino Ricardo Phiton tùnc Justiciario Cestriae c. Couchir-Book in the Dutchy-Office Tom. 1. fol. 49. a. Comitatus Cestriae num 24. Lib. C. fol. 65. s. John Lacy had Issue by Margaret his second Wife Edmund Lacy and Maud a Daughter married to Richard de Clare Earl of Clare Glocester and Hartford Anno Domini 1238. 22 Hen. 3. Stow in his Annals Ob. 1240. 22 Julii Anno 1240. 24 Hen. 3. die Sanctae Mariae Magdalenae scilicèt undecimo Calendas Augusti died John Earl of Lincoln after a long and tedious Sickness Mat. Paris p. 533. Margaret Countess of Lincoln afterwards married Walter Marshall Earl of Pembroke which Walter died without Issue 29 Hen. 3. 1245. Mat. Paris Also Vincent upon Broke But Margaret survived both her Husbands and then was stiled Domina Margareta Comitissa Lincolniae Pembrochiae in all her Charters Lib. C. fol. 66. y. Living 33 Hen. 3. I find mention in the Book of Whalley fol. 126. b. of one Peter de Lascy a Bastard called also Peter de Cester Rector of Whalley Church in Lancashire 1249. but whether Bastard-son of this John Lacy I cannot positively affirm IX Edmund Lacy Constable of Cheshire Son and Heir of John Lacy Earl of Lincoln succeeded his Father and was the ninth Baron of Halton His Mother Margaret enjoyed the Earldom of Lincoln while she lived by whom it came and she survived Edmund her Son who was Ward to the King And howbeit Vincent upon Brook pag. 318 319. cites a Record out of the Close Rolls to prove that this Edmund by way of Recitation had tertium Denarium Comitatus Lincolniae yet certain it is he was never stiled in any of his own Chartes by the Title of Comes Lincolniae but onely Edmundus Lacy Constabularius Cestriae Lib. C. fol. 67. c. fol. 1. f. Sometimes Sir Edmund Lacy onely Lib. C. fol. 67. b. Yet Matthew Paris tells us That in the beginning of May 1247. two Girls of Provence in France were by the Providence of Peter of Savoy married unto two very Noble young Gentlemen Edmund Earl of Lincoln and Richard de Burgo whom King Henry the Third had Educated for some few Years in his own Court the King himself staying at Woodstock from the twenty eighth of April to the first of May for the accomplishment thereof Concerning which Marriages there was much murmuring through the Kingdom because those strange Ladies were married as it was said contrary to the desires of the young Noblemen and against their wills Where he stiles this Edmund Earl of Lincoln rather out of Civility in regard it was Hereditarily in him if he had survived his Mother than that in truth he was so stiled in any Deed or Record during his Life ⚜ The young Ladies Name to whom the King married him was Alice Daughter of the Marquis of Saluces in Italy and Cosin to the Queen of England of whom he begot Henry Lacy afterwards Earl of Lincoln Roger Quency Earl of Winchester and Constable of Scotland gave unto his Cosin Edmund Lacy the Mannors of Kypes and Scales in Yorkshire Lib. C. fol. 67. a Tom. 1. of the Couchir-Books in the Dutchy-Office fol. 168. b. Com. Eboraci num 12. Anno Domini 1254. aliqui magnatum utpote Johannes de Warrennâ Edmundus de Lascy apud Doveram transfretantes versùs Burdegaliam lora direxerunt Mat. Paris Obiit 1258 Edmund Lacy died the fifth day of June 1258. 42 Hen. 3. and was Buried at Stanlaw Abby in Wirrall in Cheshire So the Book of Whalley Abby Lib. C. fol. 61. a. fol. 67. e. Alice the Widow of this Edmund was living 1271. 55 Hen. 3. Tom. 2. of the Couchir-Books in the Dutchy-Office Honor sive Soca de Bolingbroke fol. 23. num 49. being a French Deed wherein by Agreement with Henry Lacy her Son she was to hold for her Life all those Lands whereof she was Enfeoffed by the King And she releaseth all her Dower in Halton in Cheshire and in Widneys and in Almanbyrye X. Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln and Constable of Cheshire Son and Heir of Edmund Lacy succeeded his Father and was the tenth Baron of Halton King Edward the First gave unto him the Castle and Lordship of Denbigh in Wales Anno Domini 1284. 12 Edw. 1. Stow in his Annals In this Year on the ninth of April was so great Thunder and Lightning that Men could scarce stand on their Feet His Title in Anno 1286. 14 Edw. 1. and also 1296. 24 Edw. 1. did run thus in his own Charters Henricus de Lacy Comes Lincolniae Constabularius Cestriae Dominus de Roos Rowynock Monasticon 1 Pars. pag. 901. Lib. C. fol. 67. g. He was in greatest Favour with his Prince on whose Fidelity Edward the First did principally rely making him the Chief Commissioner for the Rectifying and Discovering of the Abuses and Briberies of his Corrupt Judges complained of in Parliament 18 Edw. 1. 1290. Among whom Sir Thomas Weyland Chief Justice of the Common Pleas was Banished and all his Goods Confiscate Sir John Lovetot Compounded for 3000 Marks Roger Leycester Clerk for 1000 Marks Sir William Brompton for 6000 Marks These were all Judges of the Common Pleas and other Judges were also Fined About this time 1290. Sir Nicolas Leycester Knight was Seneschal to this Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln G. num 60. from whom the Leycesters of Tabley in Cheshire Henry Lacy is placed next after the Prince of Wales as the Prime Noble-man of England in the Catalogue of the Parliament at Carlisle 1307. 35 Edw. 1. as they be ranked by Stow in his Chronicle He was very Famous in all Grand Matters of State in the Reign of King Edward the First as Walsingham Stow and other of our Historians do report Anno 1293. he was sent Embassador to the French King to demand Satisfaction for the Goods of the English Merchants which were taken by the French Also after the death of Edmund Earl of Lancaster he was Commander in Chief of all the Kings Forces in Gascoyn and sometime Vice-Roy of the Dutchy of Aquitain Anno 1298. he Marched into the Confines of Tholouse and expelled the French delivering the Castle of St. Catharine from a strict Siege Anno 1299. he led the Foreward of the Battel of Fowkirk in Scotland where the Scots were defeated He was Protector of England when Edward the Second was in Scotland In a word He was Vir Illustris in Concilio strenuus in omni Praelio Princeps Militiae in Angliâ in omni Regno Ornatissimus saith the Book of Dunmow as I find it cited by Wever in his Funeral
John of Gaunt his Son to Govern the Kingdom who was Governor thereof as long as the King lived For the Constableship of Cheshire formerly inherent in the Barony of Halton and now Granted to John Duke of Lancaster by Richard the Second take here the Charter at large as I have transcribed the same out of the Couchir-Book in the Dutch-Office at Grays-Inn Tom. 1. fol. 49. a. Comitatus Cestriae num 25. RICARDUS Dei Gratiâ Rex Angliae Franciae Dominus Hiberniae Princeps Cestriae Omnibus ad quos praesentes Literae pervenerint Salutem Sciatis Quod Concessimus pro nobis Haeredibus nostris Principibus Cestriae quantùm in nobis est Charissimo Avunculo nostro Johanni Duci Lancastriae Officium Constabulariae totius Principatus nostri Cestriae ipsum Johannem Constabularium ejusdem integri Principatus nostri praefecimus Habendum Tenendum idem Officium sibi Haeredibus Masculis de Corpore suo exeuntibus quòd ipse Haeredes Masculi de Corpore suo exeuntes habeant occupent exerceant praedictum Officium in locis quibuscunque ubicunque infrà Principatum praedictum tà m in Dominicis Bundis veteri Comitatui Cestriae in Parliamento nostro apud Westmonasterium tento die Lunae proximè post Festum Exaltationis Sanctae Crucis Anno Regni nostri vicesimo primo annexis quae quidèm Dominia Bundae Comitatus tùnc facta fuerunt Principatus quà m in veteri Comitatu praedicto Habendum Tenendum Occupandum Officium praedictum infrà integrum Principatum supradictum adeò liberè integrè cùm omnibus Feodis Servitiis Jurisdictionibus aliis Proficuis quibuscunque infrà per totum integrum Principatum supradictum proùt sicùt Constabularius Angliae Officium suum in residuo Regni nostri Angliae possidet in praesenti Eo non obstante quòd aliquod hujusmodi Officium infrà Dominia Bundas praedicta veteri Comitatui Cestriae praedicto jà m annexa antè haec tempora non extitit usitatum nèc consuetum Ità quòd alia Feoda Servitia Jurisdictiones Proficua de Ligeis nostris veteris Comitatus Cestriae praedicti per ipsum Ducem Haeredes Masculos de Corpore suo exeuntes Constabularios Principatus praedicti nullatenùs de caetero exigantur seù quovismodo percipiantur in futurum quà m de jure in praedicto vetere Comitatu antè haec tempora erat consuetum nec infrà Dominia Bundas praedicta eidem veteri Comitatui ut praedictum est jà m anexa quà m de jure percipi dâ—beant Officio Constabularii de recto pertineant In cujus rei Testimonium has Literas nostras fieri fecimus Patentes Sigillo Principatus nostri Cestriae Signatas Teste meipso apud Castrum nostrum de Holt octavo die Augusti 22 Rich. 2. 1398. But this Principality lasted not long for that Statute was Repealed 1 Hen. 4. cap. 3. Anno Domini 1398. the third day of February 22 Rich. 2. Obiit 1398 died John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster at the Bishop of Ely's Lodgings in Holborn juxtà London and lies Honourably Buried at St. Paul's Church in London near to Blanch his first Wife So Stow Anno Aetatis suae 60. See Wever's Funeral Monuments pag. 365. Lib. C. fol. 82. r. Feodarium Dominii de Halton in Comitatu Cestriae nec non in Comitatu Lancastriae de omnibus Hominibus qui tenent de Domino de Halton per Servitium Militare per Relevium cum acciderit This Feodary seems to have been taken out of the Records of Halton about Edw. 2. Such as are put over the Head seem to be the Tenants at that time when this Feodary was Renewed about Hen. 6.  Dominus Willielmus Lovell l. s. d. Longdendale Dominus Robertus de Longdendale tenet Longdendale pro uno Feodo Militis per Relevium cùm acciderit 05 00 00  Willielmus Trussell Miles    Henbury Pexhull Oliverus de Burdeaux tenet Villam de Henbury Pexhull de Haereditâte Matildis Uxoris suae pro quartâ parte unius Feodi Militis per Relevium cùm acciderit 01 05 00  Tho. Wever    Over-Alderley Dominus Robertus de Monte alto tenet Villam de Alderley pro quartâ parte unius Feodi Militis per Relevium 01 05 00  Tho. Weever    Clutton Idem Robertus tenet Villam de Clutton pro sextâ parte unius Feodi Militis per Relevium 00 16 08  Robertus Leycester    Toft Rogerus de Toft tenet Villam de Toft pro vicesimâ parte unius Feodi Militis per Relevium 00 05 00  Tho. Daniell Radulfus Hulse Tho. Croxton    Bexton one half Johannes de Bexton tenet medietatem Villae de Bexton pro vicesimâ parte unius Feodi Militis per Relevium 00 05 00  Johannes Leycester    Over-Tabley one half Hugo Filius Adae de Tabley tenet medietatem Villae de Tabley pro vicesimâ parte unius Feodi Militis per Relevium 00 05 00 Knotsford-Booths Johannes de Legh tenet Villam de Knotsford-Booths pro sextâ parte unius Feodi Militis per Relevium 00 16 08  Johannes Dumvyll    Limme one half Gilbertus de Limme tenet medietatem Villae de Limme pro medietate unius Feodi Militis per Relevium 02 10 00 Norton Middleton in Aston juxtà Sutton Prior de Norton tenet Norton pro octavâ parte unius Feodi Militis tenet Middleton pro quartâ parte unius Feodi Militis per Relevium 01 17 06  Johannes Savage Miles    Great Barrow Dominus Hugo Spenser tenet Villam de Magnâ Barrow unà cùm dimidio Bovatae Terrae in Parvâ Barrow pro medietate unius Feodi Militis per Relevium 02 10 00 Millington one half Robertus de Mulinton tenet medietatem Villae de Mulinton pro octavâ parte unius Feodi Militis per Relevium 00 12 06  Johannes Savage Miles    Clifton now called Rock-Savage Domina Matildes de Chedull tenet Villam de Clifton pro medietate unius Feodi Militis per Relevium 02 10 00 Willielmus Filius Radulfi de Raggiley Sutton Galfridus de Warburton tenet Villam de Sutton pro quintâ parte unius Feodi Militis per Relevium 01 00 00 Aston juxta Sutton Endeley nùnc locus cognitus in Norton Ricardus de Aston tenet Villam de Aston Endley pro quartâ parte unius Feodi Militis per Relevium 01 05 00 Listark Idem Ricardus tenet Villam de Listark pro quintâ parte unius Feodi Militis per Relevium 01 00 00  Willielmus Holford    Lostock-Gralam and half of Plumley Thomas de Vernon tenet Villam de Lostock
dishonour of the King's Person which the Duke of Norfolk denied Whereupon they had a Combat granted by the King to have been fought at Coventry on the seventeenth day of September both of them entring the Lists courageously But the King took up the Matter causing it to be Proclaimed That the Duke of Hereford had honourably performed his Part and presently after Banished the Duke of Hereford for ten Years and the Duke of Norfolk for ever So Stow and Walsingham But this Duke of Hereford returning into England Deposed Richard the Second causing the King to read his own Resignation of the Crown to this Henry publickly in the Tower before the Nobles of England Walsingham's Hist pag. 359. Cursed Traytors And so by force of Arms made himself King by the Name of Henry the Fourth So was the Dutchy of Lancaster and the Barony of Halton united to the Crown of England John of Gaunt had also Issue by Blanch two Daughters Elizabeth married John Holland Duke of Exeter and after to Sir John Cornwall Knight of the Garter and Baron of Fanhope Philippa the other Daughter married John King of Portugal After the death of Blanch he married Constantia Daughter and Co-heir to Petro late King of Spain and Edmund Earl of Cambridge his Brother married Isabella the other Daughter Anno Domini 1372. 46 Edw. 3. Stow and Walsingham Lib. C. fol. 78. f. And from this time he writ himself King of Castile and Leons By this Constance he had Issue Katharine married to Henry Son of John King of Spain 1389. Upon the Marriage of Katharine a Peace was concluded between John of Gaunt and the King of Spain John of Gaunt was to have ten thousand Pounds yearly for his own Life and the Life of Constance his Wife Walsingham Who before in the Year 1367. had routed the Spaniards in a great Battel between him and Henry the Bastard who had ejected Peter King of Spain Constance died Anno Domini 1394. Walsingham John of Gaunt relinquishing his Title of King of Castile and Leons was Created Duke of Aquitain by Consent of Parliament 2 die Martii 13 Rich. 2. 1389. And then his Title Anno 1394. 18 Rich. 2. did run thus Johannes Filius Regis Angliae Dux Aquitaniae Lancastriae Comes-Leycestriae Lincolniae Derbiae Seneschallus Angliae Couchir-Book in the Dutchy-Office Tom. 2. Comitatus Southampton num 36. For he had Honorem de Tickhil 46 Ed. 3. while he was stiled King of Castile and Leons and Duke of Lancaster Castrum Leucatam de Pevenese inter alià in exchange for the Earldom of Richmond 46 Edw. 3. And by his Brother the Black Prince Earl of Chester he had 100 Marks yearly given him out of the Exchequer at Chester during his Life by the Name of John by the Grace of God King of Castile and Leons and Duke of Lancaster 47 Edw. 3. 1373. Lib. C. fol. 78. e. After the death of Constance his second Wife the Duke went into Aquitain scilicet Anno 1396. 19 Rich. 2. to have obtained the Good-will of the Inhabitants having the Title of Duke of Aquitain conferred upon him before by his Father but was suddenly called back into England by the King And as soon as he returned into England he married Katharine Swynford his old Concubine to the wonder of all Men which Katharine formerly waited on Blanch his first Wife Stow and Walsingham This Katharine was the Daughter of Payn Roet alias Guyen King at Arms and Widow of Sir Otes Swynford by whom John of Gaunt had Issue before he married her Sir John Beaufort the eldest was Earl of Somerset and Marquis Dorset which Marquis-ship was taken away by Parliament 1 Hen. 4. Henry de Beaufort was after Bishop of Winchester Cardinal of St. Eusby sive Euscbii and Chancellor of England Thomas Created Earl of Dorset 21 Rich. 2. Joan de Beaufort was second Wife of Raufe Nevill the first Earl of Westmorland after she married Robert Ferrers Lord of Owseley They were all sir-named de Beaufort because they were born at Beaufort in France All which were Legitimated by Parliament 1397. 20 Rich. 2. to all Purposes Honors State and Dignities exceptâ Dignitate Regale as you may see in the Record transcribed by the Lord Cook in his Jurisdiction of Courts pag. 37. Lib. C. fol. 82. P. Walsingham put out by Mr. Cambden calls Thomas Beaufort Comitem de Somerset all along pag. 354. 550. for Dorset unless the Title of Somerset and Dorset were promiscuous See Vincent on Brooke pag. 169. Katharine Synford died in May 4 Hen. 4. 1403. Stow. This John procured the County of Lancaster to be made a County Palatine to whom his Father King Edward the Third by his Charter granted Jura Regalia And when he hath reckoned up the Good Service which the said John of Gaunt his Son had done for his Countrey at home and abroad he addeth Concessimus pro nobis Haeredibus nostris praefato Filio nostro quod ipse ad totam vitam suam habeat infra Comitatum Lancastriae Cancellariam suam ac Brevia sua sub Sigillo suo pro Officio Cancellarii deputando consignanda Justiciarios suos tam ad Placita Coronae quam ad quaecunque alia Placita Communem legem tangentia tenenda Cognitiones eorundem quascunque Executiones per Brevia sua Ministros suos ibidem faciendas Et quascunque alias libertates Jura Regalia ad Comitatum Palatinum pertinentia adeo libere integre sicut Comes Cestriae infra eundem Comitatum Cestriae dignoscitur obtinere c. 28 die Februarii Anno Edw. 3. Angliae 51 Franciae 38. Couchir-Book of the Dutchy-Office Tom 1. fol. 430. num 16. Confirmed to him and his Heirs by Consent of Parliament 16 die Febrùarii 13 Rich. 2. Ibidem Tom. 1. fol. 52. Many are the Acts of this John of Gaunt Recorded in our Annals and Histories I will reckon up some of the most memorable Anno Domini 1373. 47 Edw. 3. John Duke of Lancaster went with a Puissant Army into France He passed by Paris to Burgundy and so through all France no Man daring to oppose him but at last leaving France he came into the Desart Mountains of Avernia where there was neither Meat for Horse nor Man and so lost most part of his Army through Famine and Pestilence whence he came to Burdeaux scarce with forty Horse whereas he entred France with thirty thousand Horse attending him Walsingham Anno 1377. he was threatned to be killed by the Londoners for some high Word spoken against their Bishop of London they had burned his House called The Savoy but that the Bishop interceded Whereupon the Duke fled to Kensington and hating the Londoners caused the Mayor and other Officers to be put out and new ones chosen Shortly after Richard the Second before his Magnificent Coronation at Westminster reconciled the Citizens and the Duke of Lancaster Anno 1376. the King sent again for