vntill hys embarquemente homewardes In the mayne Countreys he was accompanyed with the gouernoures and Nobles of the places aboute And in the good Townes where hee passed hee was presented by the chiefe Magistrates wherein theyr good wylles were to bee thankefully accepted though hys Lordshippes rewardes farre ouer valued theyr presents At his approche neere to Paris hee was encountred on the way for courtesie sake â–ª by two Marquesses of Trans and Saluâ—…es this beeing of the house of Sauoy and the other of the worthy family of Foix. These wanted not suche as accompanyed them and the â—â—me 〈◊〉 of the best sorte At the L. Ambassadors first audience which was at the Castell of Madrill otherwise called Boloigne neere Paris where the King then lay the Queenes Almayn Coches very brauely furnished were sente to Paris for him in one of the whiche his Lordship with the Marques of Trans rode towardes the Courte very narrowly escaping from a shrewde turne and great mischance by reason the same Coche was ouerthroweÌ„ by the Dutch Wagoners their negligence who in a brauery gallopping the fielde made an ouer short turne wherewith the Marques was sore bruised The Lord Ambassador at his arriuall at the place was right honorably receyued hee was banquetted by dyuers and that very sumptuously whiche by him was not left vnrequited to the vttermost and rather with the better for his liberalitie among the Frenche was verye large but hys rewarde at the Kyngs hands was only a chayne waying a thousand french Crownes At that present there was a great dearth and scarcitie of vittailes in Fraunce The riuer of Sayne that runneth through Paris was not passable with vessels by reason of the greate frostes and thereby not onely all kinde of vittayles but also hey and woodde hard to come by and not to be hadde but at excessiue prises the Countrey thereaboutes hauing before bin sore harried and spoyled by the ciuill tumultes by reason whereof not only the Lord of Buckhurst for the space hee remayned there but also Sir Henrye Norrice nowe Lorde Norrice and maister Frauncis Walsingham hir Maiesties Ambassadors ligiers successiuely were driuen to an increase in expenses paying for euerye thing they boughte an hygher price than ordinarily hadde beene accustomed After that the Lord Buckhurst had bin feasted and banquetted by the Kyng and other of the Frenche nobilitie and had accomplished the poyntes of hys Ambassage hee tooke leaue of the Kyng and departed homewardes arriuing heere in Englande a little before Easter The seconde of Aprill Parliament a Parliament began at Westminster wherein was graunted to the Queenes Maiestie towarde hir great charges Stow. in repressing the late Rebellion in the North and pursuing the sayde Rebelles and theyr fautors whiche were fledde into Scotlande by the Cleargy a subsidie of sixe shillings in the pouÌ„d and by the Temporaltie two fifteenes with a subsedie of two Shillings and eyght pence in the pounde Doctor Story executed The fyrst of Iune Iohn Story a Doctor of the Canon lawe who before hadde bin condemned of hygh Treason was drawen from the Tower of London to Tiborne and there hanged bowelled and quartered his head was sette on London bridge and his quarters on the gates of the Citie The .xviij. of Iune in Trinitie terme A combat appoynted at Tuthil there was a combat appointed to haue bin foughte for a certaine manour and dâ—…maine lands beloÌ„ging therevnto in the Isle of Hartye adioining to the Isle of Shepey in Kent Simon Lowe and Iohn Kime were plaintifes had brought a writ of righte againste Thomas Paramore who offered to defend his right by battail whervpon the plaintifes aforesayde accepted to aunswer his challenge offering lykewise to defende their right to the same mannor and landes and to proue by battail that Paramore had no right nor good title to haue the same mannor lands Herevpon y e sayd Thomas Paramour brought before the Iudges of the commoÌ„ pleas at Westminster one George Thorne a bigge broade strong set fellowe and the playntifes broughte Henry Nayler master of defence and seruaunt to the right honorable the Erle of Leycester a proper slender man and not so taule as y e other Thorne cast downe a gauntlet whych Nayler tooke vp Vpon the Sunday before the battaile should be tryed on the next morrow the matter was stayed and the parties agreed that Paramour being in possession should haue the lande and was bound in fiue hundred pounde to consider the plaintifes as vpon bearing the matter the Iudges should awarde The quarel of combat stayed The Queenes Maiesty was the taker vp of y e matter in this wise It was thought good that for Paramores assuraunce the order should be kept touching the combate and that the plaintifes Lowe Kime shoulde make defaulte of appearaunce but that yet suche as were sureties for Nayler theyr Champions appearaunce should bryng him in and likewise those that wer sureties for Thorne shoulde bring in the same Thorne in discharge of theyr band and that the Courte shoulde sitte in Tuthill fieldes where was prepared one plot of ground one and twenty yards square double rayled for the combate withoute the West square a stage beeyng set vp for the Iudges representing the Court of the common pleas All the compasse without the listes was sette with scaffoldes one aboue another for people to stand and beholde There were behinde the square where the Iudges sate two tentes the one for Naylor the other for Thorne Thorne was there in the morning tymely Nayler aboute seauen of the clocke came through London appareled in a dublet and galeygascoyne breeches all of Crimosyn satyn cutte and rased a hat of blacke veluet with a red fether and bande before him drums and fifes playing the gauntlet cast downe by George Thorne was borne before y e sayd Nayler vpon a swords poynt and hys baston a staffe of an elle long made taper wise tipt with horne with his shielde of hard leather was borne after him by Askam a yeoman of y e Queenes guarde â–ª hee came into the palace at Westminster and staying not long before the Hall dore came backe into the Kinges streete and so along thorough the SaÌ„ctuary and Tothill streete into the field where he stayed till past nine of the clocke and then sir Ierome Bowes brought him to his Tent Thorne being in the Tent with sir Henry Cheyney long before About ten of the clock the Court of commoÌ„ pleas remoued and came to the place prepared when the Lorde chiefe Iustice with two other hys associates were set then Lowe was called solemnely to come in or else he to lose his writ of right Then after a certayne time the sureties of Henry Nailer were called to bring in the sayde Nayler Champion for Simon Lowe shortly therevppon Sir Ierome Bowes leadyng Nayler by the hand entreth with him the lists bringing hym downe that square by which hee entred beeing on the lefte hande of the
maintenance of themselues and their posteritie for euermore To be short therefore after the Gyantes and great Princes or mightie men of the world had conspired and slaine the aforesayd Osyris Hercules his sonne surnamed Libius in the reuenge of his fathers death proclaymed open warres agaynst them all and going from place to place he ceased not to spoyle their kingdomes and therewithall to kill them that fell into his handes Finally hauing among other ouercome the Lomnimi or Geriones in Spayne Lomnimi Geriones and vnderstanding that Lestrigo his sonnes did yet remayne in Italie he directed his voyage into those parts and taking the kingdome of the Celtes in his waye he remayned for a season with Lucus the king of that Countrie where he also maried his daughter Galathea Galathea and beg at a sonne by hir calling him after his moothers name Galates Galates of whome in my Chronologie I haue spoken more at large In the meane time Albion vnderstanding howe Hercules intended to make warres agaynst his brother Lestrigo he thought it good to stop him that tyde and therefore sending for hys brother Bergion Bergion out of the Orchades where he also reygned as supreme Lorde and gouernour they ioyned their powers Pomponius Laetus sayled ouer into Fraunce Being arriued there it was not long ere they met with Hercules and his armie neare vnto the mouth of the riuer called Rhodanus where happened a cruell conflicte betwéene them in which Hercules and hys men were lyke to haue lost the daye for that they were in maner weryed with loÌ„g warres and their munition sore wasted in the last voiage that he had made for Spaine Herevppon Hercules perceyuing the courages of his souldiours somewhat to abate séeing the want of munition likely to be the cause of his fatall day and present ouerthrowe at hande it came sodenly into his mynde to will eche of them to defende himselfe by throwing of stones at hys enimie wherof there lay great store then scattered in the place The policie was no sooner published than put in execution whereby they so preuayled in th ende that Hercules wan the fielde their enemies were put to flight and Albion and his brother both slayne Albion slayne and buried in that plot Thus was Britaine ridde of a tyrant Lucus king of the Celtes deliuered froÌ„ an vsurper that daily incroched vpon him also euen in his owne kingdome on that side and Lestrigo greatly weakened by the slaughter of his brethren Of this inuention of Hercules in lyke sort it commeth that Iupiter father vnto Hercules who in déede was none other but Osyris is feygned to throw downe stones from heauen vpon Albion and Bergion It rayned â—…ones in the defence of Hercules his son which came so thick vpon them as if great drops of raine or hayle should haue descended from aboue no man well knowing which waye to turne him from their violence they came so fast and with so great a strength But to go forwarde albeit that Albion and his power were thus discomfited and slayne yet the name that he gaue vnto thys Islande dyed not but still remained vnto the time of Brute who arriuing here in the 1127 before Christ and 2840. after the creation not onely chaunged it into Britayne after it had bene called Albion by the space of 595. yeares but to declare his souereigntie ouer the reast of the Islandes also that are about the same he called them all after the same maner so that Albion was sayde in tyme to be Britanniarum insula maxima that is the greatest of those Isles that bare the name of Britayne It is altogither impertinent to discusse whether Hercules came into thys Islande after the death of Albion Hercules â—…n Britayne or not althoughe that by an auncient monument séene of late and the Cape of Hartland in the West countrie Promontorium Herculis called Promontorium Herculis in olde tyme diuers of our Brytishe wryters doe gather great likelyhoode that he shoulde also be here But syth hys presence or absence maketh nothing wyth the alteration of the name of this our Region and Countrie I passe it ouer as not incident to my purpose Neyther will I spend any time in the determination â—…o Marius Niger coÌ„ment de Britannia Cap. 2. whether Brittayne hath bene sometyme a percell of the mayne althoughe it shoulde well séeme so to haue bene bycause that before the generall floudde of Noah we doe â—…t â—…eade of Islandes As for the spéedie and timely inhabitation thereof this is myne opinion that it was inhabited shortly after the diuision of the earth For I reade that when ech Captayne and his company had their portions assigned vnto them by Noah in the partition that he made of the whole earth among hys posteritie Theophilus Antiothenus ad Antolicum they neuer ceased to trauayle and search out the vtter most boundes of the same vntill they founde out their parts allotted and had séene and vewed the limites thereof euen vnto the very pooles It shall suffice therefore only to haue touched these things in this manner a farre of and in returning to our purpose to procéede with the reast concerning the denomination of our Island which was knowen vnto most of the Gréekes for a long time by none other name than Albion and to say the truth euen vnto Alexanders daies notwithstanding that Brute as I haue sayde had chaunged the same into Britayne manye hundred yeares before After Brutus I doe not find that any man attempted to chaunge it agayne vntill the tyme that one Valentinus a rebell Valentia in the dayes of Valentinianus and Valens endeuored to reygne there In supplemento Eusebij lib 28. and therevppon as Ierome sayth procured it to be called Valentia The lyke also dyd Theodosius in the remembraunce of the two aforesayde Emperours as Marcellinus saith but as neyther of these tooke anye holde among the common sort so it retayned stil the name of Britaine vntill the reygne of Echert who about the 800. yeare of grace gaue forth an especiall Edict dated at Wynchester that it shoulde be called Angles land or Angellandt AngellaÌ„dt or Angles land for which in our time we doe pronounce it England And this is all right Honourable that I haue to say touching the seuerall names of this Islande vtterly mislyking in the meane season their deuises which make Hengist the only parent of the later denomination wheras Echert bicause his auncestours descended from the Angles one of the seauen Nations that came wyth the Saxons into Britayne for they were not all of one but of diuers countries as Angles Saxons Germaynes Only Saxons arriued here at the first with Hengist Switchers Norwegiens c. and all comprehended vnder y e name of Saxons bicause of Hengist the Saxon his coÌ„pany that first aryued here before any of the other and therto hauing now the monarchie prehemineÌ„ce in
Northwest point of Scotlande being 31. in number as for the reast they lye scattered here and there and yet not to be vntouched as theyr courses shall come about There haue béene diuers that haue written of purpose De insulis Britanniae as Caesar doth confesse the lyke also maye be séene by Plutarche who nameth one Demetrius a Brytaine that shoulde set foorth an exact treatise of eche of them in order but sith those bookes are now peryshed and the most of the sayde Islandes remaine vtterly vnknowne euen to our owne selues I meane God willyng to set downe so many of them with their commodities as I doe either knowe by Leland or am otherwyse instructed of by such as are of credite Herein also I will touch at large such as are most famous and brieflye passe ouer those that are obscure and vnknowen making myne entraunce at the Thames mouth and directing thys imagined course for I neuer sailed it by y e south part of the Iland into y e West FroÌ„ thence in lyke sort I will proceede into the North come about againe by the east side into y e fall of the aforesaid streame where I will strike sayle safely be set a shoore that haue often in this voyage wanted water but oftner béene set a grounde especiallye on the Scottish side In beginning therfore with such as lye in the mouth of the aforesayde Riuer I must néedes passe by the Hoo Hoo. whiche is not an Islande but if I may giue such péeces a new name a bylande bycause we may passe thyther from the maine Isle by an Isthums or strictlande that is to say by lande without anye vessell at the full Sea or any horse at the ebbe Greane It lyeth betwéene Clyffe and the mid-way that goeth aloÌ„g by Rochester Next vnthis we haue the Greane wherein is a towne of the same denomination an Isle supposed to be foure miles in length and two in bredth Shepey Then come we to Shepey which conteineth seauen myles in length and thrée in breadth wherein is a castell called Quinborowe and a Parke beside foure Townes of which one is named Munster another Eastchurch the thyrde Warden the fourth Leyden the whole sâ—…yle beingâ—… thorowly â—…ad with sheepe â—…erye well woodded and as I here belonging to the Lord Cheyney as parcell of his 〈◊〉 inheritaunce It lyeth thirtéene myles by water from Rochester but the Castle is fiftéene and by south thereof are two small Islandes whereof the one is called Elmesy and the more easterly Hertesy â–ª Elmesey Hertsey In this also is a towne called Hertie or Hartie and all in the Hathe of Scraie notwithstanding that Hartie lieth in the hundred of Fauersham and Shepey retaineth one especyall Baily of hir owne From hence we passe by the Reculuers or territorie belonging in tyme past to one Raculphus who erected an house of religion or some such thing there vnto a litle Island in the stoure mouth Sturesey Thanet Herevpon also the Thanet abutteth which is rather a bylande then an yland Beda noteth it in times past to haue contayned 600 families which are all one with Hidelandes * In Lincolneshire the worde hyde or hidelande was neuer in vse in olde time as in other places but for hide they vsed the word Catucate or cart-ware or Teme and these were of no lesse compasse then an hideland Ex Hugone le blanc Monacho petroburgensi Plowghlandes Carrucates or Temewares He addeth also y e it is deuided from our continent by the riuer called Wantsume which is about thrée furlongs brode to be passed ouer in two places onely But whereas Polidore sayeth the Tenet is nyne myles in length not much lesse in bredth it is nowe reconed that it hath not much aboue seueÌ„ myles from Nordtmuth to Sandwiche foure in bredth froÌ„ the Stoure to Margate or from the South to the North the circuit of y e whole being 17. or 18. as LeylaÌ„d also noteth This IlaÌ„d hath no wood growing in it except it be forced yet otherwise it is very fruitfull and beside that it wanteth fewe other commodities the finest chalke is sayde to be found there Herin also dyd Augustine the Monke first arriue when he came to conuert the Saxons afterward in processe of tyme sundry religious houses were erected there as in a soyle much bettered as y e supersticiors supposed by steps of that holy man such as came ouer with him There are at this tyme 10. Parish churches at the least in y e Isle of Thanet as S. Nicholas BirchingtoÌ„ S. Iohns Wood or Woodchurch S. Peters S. LaureÌ„s MowntoÌ„ or Monketon Minster S. Gyles and all Saincts wherof M. Lambert hath written at large in his description of Kent placed the same in lath the of S. Augustine and hundred of Ringeflow as may easily be séene to him that will peruse it Rutupium Sometyme Rutupium or as Beda calleth it Reptacester stoode also in this Islande but now thorowe alteration of the chanell of the Dour it is shut quite out and annexed to the maine It is called in these daies Richeborow and as it shoulde seeme buylded vpon an indifferent soyle or highe grounde The large brickes also yet to be séene there in the ruinous walles declare eyther the Romayne or the old Brittish workemanship But as time decayeth all things so Rutupium is now become desolate out of the dust therof Sandwiche producted which standeth a full mile from the place where Reptacester stoode The olde writers affirme how Ethelbert the first christian king of Kent did holde his pallace in this towne and yet none of his coyne hath hitherto béene founde there as is dayly that of the Romaynes whereof many péeces of siluer and gold so wel as of brasse copper and other mettal haue often bene shewed vnto me It shoulde appeare in lyke sorte that of this place all the whole coast of Kent therabout was called Littus Rutupinum which some doe not a little confirme by these words of Lucane to be red in his sixt booke soone after the beginning Aut vaga cum Tethis Rutupinaque littora feruent Vnda Calidonios fallit turbata Brittannos Or when the waÌ„dering Seas or Kentish coasts doe worke The last verse of one copie and first of another and Calidons of Brittishe bloude the troubled waues beguyle Meaning in like sorte by the latter the coaste néere Andredeswalde which in time past was called Littus Calidonium of that wood or forrest as Leland also confirmeth But as it is not my minde to deale any thing curiously in these by matters so in returning againe to my purpose taking my iorney toward the Wight I must néeds passe by Selesey Selesey which sometime as it should séeme hath ben a noble yland but now a BylaÌ„d or Peninsula wherin the chiefe Sie of the Byshop of Chichester was holden by the space of 329. yeres vnder 20. Bishops Thorne
his description and knowledge of his course â—…ersey The Mersey riseth among the Peke hils and from thence going downe to the Woodhouse and taking sundrie rilles withal by the waye it becommeth the confines betwéene Chester and Darbyshyres Going also toward Goitehal it méeteth with a faire brooke increased by sundrye waters â—…it called Goyte whereof I finde this short and briefe description The Goyte riseth not far froÌ„ the Shire méere hill wherein the Doue and the Dane haue their original that parteth Darbyshire and Chesteshyres in sunder and thence commeth downe to Goyte howses Dâ—â—rth Taâ—…hall Shawcrosse and at Weybridge taketh in the Frith Frith Set. and beneath Berdhall the Set that riseth aboue Thersethall and ruÌ„neth by Ouersette After this confluence also the Mersey goeth to Goyte hall and at Storford towne méeteth with the Tame Tame which deuideth Chestershire and Lancastershyres in sunder and whose heade is in the very edge of Yorkeshyre from whence it goeth Southwarde to Sâ—â—leworth Firth then to Muâ—…elhirst Sâ—…aly hal Ashdon Vnderline Dunkefield Denton Reddish and so at Stockeford or Stopford into the Mersey streame which passeth forth in like sort to Doddesbyry receyuing a brooke by the waye that commeth from Littâ—â— parke by Brâ—â—thall parke and Chedley From Doddesbury it procéedeth to Northen Ashton Aâ—…ston Flixston where it receiueth the Irwell a notable water Irwell and therefore his description is not to be omitted before I doe go forward any farder with the Mersey It riseth aboue Bacop and goeth thence to Rosendale and in the waye to Aytenfielde it taketh in a water from Haselden After this confluence it goeth to Newhall Brandlesham Brury and aboue Ratcliffe ioyneth with y e Rache water Raeus or Rache a faire streame and to be described when I haue finished the Irwell as also the next vnto it beneath Radcliffe bycause I woulde not haue so manye endes at once in hande wherewith to trouble my readers Beyng therfore past these two our Irwel goeth on to Clifton Hollâ—…nde Edgecroft Lelande speaketh of of the Corue water aboute Manchester but I knowe nothing of his course Yrke Medlocke Strang wayes and to Manchester where it vniteth it selfe with the Yrke that runneth thereinto by Royton Midleton Heaton hâ—…ll and Blackeley Beneath Manchester also it méeteth with the Medlocke that coÌ„meth thyther froÌ„ the north east side of Oldham betwéene Clayton and Garret Halles and so betwéene two parkes falling into it about Holne Thence our Irwel going forward to Woodsall Whicleswijc Erles Barton Deuelhom it falleth néere vnto Flixton into the water of Mersey where I will staye a while withall till I haue brought the other vnto some passe of which I spake before The Rache consisteth of sundrye waters Rache whereof eche one in a maner hath a proper name but the greatest of all is Rache it self which ryseth among the blacke stony hilles from whence it goeth to Littlebrough and beyng past Clegge receyueth the Beyle Beile that commeth thither by Myluernaw chappell After thys confluence also it méeteth with a rill néere vnto Rachedale and soone after with the Sprotton water Sprotton and then the Sudley brooke Sudley whereby his chanell is not a litle increased which goeth from thence to Grisehirst and so into the Irwell before it come at Ratcliffe Bradsha The second streame is called Bradsha It ryseth of two heades aboue TuretoÌ„ church whence it runneth to Bradsha and ere long taking in the Walmesley becke Walmesley they go in one chanell till they come beneath Bolton in the More From hence receyuing a water that commeth from the rootes of Rauenpike hill by the way it goeth by Deane and Bolton in the more and so into Bradsha water which taketh his way to Leuermore Farnworth Leuerlesse and finally into the Irwell which I before described and whereof I finde these two verses to be added at the last Yrke Irwell Medlocke and Tame When they meete with the Mersey do lose their name Nowe therefore to resume our Mersey you shall vnderstande that after his confluence with the Irwel he runneth to Partington and not farre from thence interteineth y e Gles Gles or Glesbrooke water increased wyth sundrye armes whereof one commeth from Lodward an other from aboue Houghton the thyrde from Hulton Parcke and the fourth from Shakerley and beyng all vnited néere vnto Leighe the confluence goeth to Holcroft Bollein broke and aboue Holling gréene into y e swift Mersey After this increase the saide streame in lyke sort runneth to Rigston there admytteth the Bollein brooke water into his societie which rising néere y e Chamber in Maxwell Forest goeth to Ridge Sutton Maxfield Bollington Prestbyry and Newton where it taketh in a water coÌ„ming froÌ„ about Pot Chappell which runneth froÌ„ thence by Adlington Woodforde Wymsley Ryngey and Ashley there receyuing the Byrkin brooke that commeth from betwene Allerton and Marchall Birkin by Mawberly and soone after the Marus or Mar Mar. that coÌ„meth thereinto from Mar towne by Rawstorne and after these confluences goeth on to Downham and ouer against Rixton beneth Crosforde bridge into the Mersey water which procéeding on admitteth not another that méeteth with all néere Lym before it go to Thelwall Thence also it goeth by Bruche and so to Warrington a little beneath crossing a brooke that commeth from Par by Browsey Bradley and Saukey on the one side and another on the other that commeth thither from Gropenhall and with these it ruÌ„neth on to nether Walton Acton grange and so to Penkith where it interteineth the Bolde and soone after the Grundiche water on the otherside that passeth by Preston 〈…〉 and Daresbyry Finallye our Mersey goyng by Moulton it falleth into Lirepoole Hauen when it is past Râ—…ncorne And thus much of the Mersey comparable to the Wyuer and of no lesse fame then most ryuers of thys Islande Beyng past these two we come next of all to the Tarbocke water that falleth into the sea at Harbocke 〈◊〉 without finding any 〈◊〉 tyll we be past all Wyrall out of Leirpoole hauen and from the blacke rockes that lye vpon the north point of the aforesayd Island Then come we to the Altmouth Alt. whose fresh rysing not farre into the lande commeth to Feston and soone after receiuing another on the ryght hand that passeth into it by Aughton it is increased no more before it come at the sea Neyther finde I any other falles till I méete with the mouth of the Yarrow and Duglesse which haue their recourse to the sea in one Chanell as I take it The Duglesse commeth from by west of Rauenspike hill â–ª 〈◊〉 and ere long runneth by Andertonford to Worthington so takyng in two or thrée rylles by the waye to Wige where it receyueth two waters in on chanel of which one commeth in south from Bryn Parke the other from northeast Being past thys it receyueth one on
He tooke vp moreâ—…uer sundrye curious pottes Iugges and cruses of stone woode most artificially wrought and carued that in such quantitye besides infinite store of fine housholde stuffe as if the whole furniture of the city had béene brought thither of purpose to be hidden in those vaultes In procéeding further he tooke vp diuers pots of golde syluer brasse glasse wherof some were fylled with the ashes and bones of the Gentyles not a fewe with the coynes of the olde Brytons and Romaine Emperours All which vessels the sayde Abbot brake into péeces and melting the mettalle he reserued it in lyke sorte for the garnyshing of hys church he founde lykewyse in a stone wall two olde bookes wherof one conteined the rytes of the gentiles about the sacrifices of their gods the other as they now say y e Martyrdome of S. Albane â—…S souÌ„â—â— lyke a 〈◊〉 both of theÌ„ written in old brittish letters which eyther bycause no man then lyuing could read them or for that they were not woorth the kéeping were both consumed to ashes sauing that a fewe notes were first taken out of this later concerning the death of their Albane Thus much haue I thought good to note of the former beautie of Verolamium whereof infinite other tokens haue béene found since that tyme and diuers within the memory of man of passing workmanship the lyke wherof hath no where else béene séene in anye ruynes wythin the compasse of the Isle eyther for cost or quantitye of stuffe Furthermore where as dyuers are not a frayde to saye that the Thames came sometimes by thys citie in déede it is nothing so but that the Verlume afterwarde called Vere and the Mure did or doth so whatsoeeuer Gildas talketh herof whose bookes may be corrupted in that behalfe there is yet euident proofe to be confirmed by experience But thus standeth the case As those aforesayd workemen digged in those ruines they happened oftentimes vpon Lempet shelles péeces of rusty ancres and Keles of great vesselles wherevpon some by by gathered that either the Thames or some arme of the Sea did beate vpon that towne not vnderstandyng that these thinges might aswell happen in great lakes and meres whereof there was one adioyning to the north side of the citie which lay theÌ„ vnwalled This mere at the first belonged to the king and thereby Offa in hys time did reape no small commoditie It continued also vntill the time of Alfâ—…ijc the seauenth Abbot of that house who bought it out ryght of the king then liuing by excessiue charges dreined it so narrowly that within a whyle he left it â—…e bycause there was alwaies contention betwéene the monkes the kings seruaunts which fished on that water In these dayes there remayneth no maner mencion of this poole but onelye in one streate which yet is called fishpoole streate whereof this may suffise for the resolution of such men as séeke rather to yeeld to an inconuenience then that their Gildas shoulde séeme to mistake thys ryuer Hauing thus digressed to giue some remeÌ„braunce of the olde estate of Verolamium it is now time to returne againe vnto my former purpose Certes I woulde gladlye set downe with the names and number of the cities all the townes villages in england and wales â–ª but as yet I cannot come by theÌ„ in such order as I woulde howbeit the tale of our cities is soone founde by the Byshoprijckes sith euery Sie hath such prerogatiue giuen vnto it as to beare the name of a citie As London Yorke Cauntorbury VVinchester Cairleil Durham Ely Norwiche Lincolne VVorcester Glocester Hereforde Salisbury Excester Bathe Lichefielde Bristow Rochester Chester Chichester Oxforde Peterborow Landaffe S. Dauids Bangor S. Asaph Whose particular plots models with their descriptioÌ„s shal insue if it may be brought to passe that y e cutters can make dispach of theÌ„ before this hystory be published Of townes and villages likewise thus much will I say that there were greater store in olde tyme then at this present thys I note out of dyuers recordes charters donations made in times past vnto sundry religious houses as Glessenburye Abbandon Ramsey Ely and such like that there were many townes and villages whereof at this present I fynde not so much as the ruines Lelande in sundrye places complayneth likewise of the decaie of paryshes in great cities and townes missing in some sixe or eyght or twelue churchs of all which he giueth particuler notice For albeit y t the SaxoÌ„s builded many townes villages and the Normans well mo yet since the first hundred yeares after the latter conquest they haue gone againe so fast againe to decaye that the auncyent number of them is very much abated Ranulphe the Monke of Chester telleth of a generall suruey made in the fourth of the reignâ—… of William Conquerour surnamed the Bastarde wherein it was founde that nowithstanding y e Danes had ouerthrowne a great many there were to the number of 52000. townes 45002. parish churches and 75000. Knightes fées whereof the clergy helde 28015. He addeth moreouer that there were dyuers other buylded since that tyme wythin the space of an hundred yeares after the comming of the Bastarde as it were in lieu or recompence of those that William Rufus pulled downe for the erection of his newe Forrest Howbeit if the assertions of such as wryte in our tyme concerning this matter eyther is or ought to be of any credite in this behalfe you shall not finde aboue 17000. townes and villages in the whole which is little more then a fourth part of the aforesayd number yf it be thorowly scanned But to leaue this lamentable discourse of so notable an inconuenieÌ„ce growing by incroching ioyning of house to house and lande to lande whereby the inhabitaunts of any country are deuoured and eateÌ„ vp It is so that our soyle being deuided into Champaigne ground woodlande the houses of the first lye vniformely buylded in euery towne togither with stréetes lanes whereas in the woodlande countries except here and there in great market townes they stande scattered abroad eache one dwelling in the midst of his owne occupying And as in euery one of the first there are comonly thrée hundred or foure hundred families or mansion houses and two thousande communicantes or peraduenture moe so in the other we finde not often aboue fourtie or fiftie housholdes two hundred communicantes whereof the greatest part neuerthelesse are very poore folkes oftentymes without all maner of occupying sith the grounde of the parishe is often gotten vp into a fewe mens handes yea sometimes into the tennure of two or three wherby the reast are compelled eyther to be hyred seruaunts vnto the other or else to begge their bread in misery from doore to doore A great number complayne of thincrease of pouertie but few men do sée the verye roote from whence it doeth procéede yet the Romaines founde it out when they florished and therefore
about the 14. yeare of his raigne He builded also in Albania now called Scotland the Castel of Maydens afterward called Edenburgh of Aidan one of their kings The Citie of Alclud was builded likewise by hym as some write now decayed After which cities thus builded he sayled ouer into Gallia now called FraÌ„ce with a great army and subduing the Guilles as is aforesayde he returned home with great riches and triumph Fortie yeeres hath Math. West and Gal. Monume And when he had guided the lande of Britayne in noble wise by the tearme of fortie yeares he died and was buried at Yorke Brute Greeneshielde the .6 Ruler BRute Greeneshielde the sonne of Ebrank Brute Greneshielde was made gouernor of this lande in the yeere of y e world .3009 Asa raigning in Iuda and Baasa in Israell Thys Prince bare alwayes in the field a greene shielde whereof he toke hys surname Iacobus Lef and of him some forraine authors affirme y t he made an attempte to bring the whole Realme of Fraunce vnder his subiection which he performed bycause his father susteined some dishonor and losse in his last voyage into that countrey Howbeit they say y t wheÌ„ he came into Henand Strabo lib. 4. Brinchild a Prince of y e quarter gaue him also a greate ouerthrowe and compelled him to retire home agayne into hys countrey This I borrow out of William Harrison who in his chronologie toucheth the same at large concluding in the end that the said passage of this Prince into France is very likely to be true and that he named a percell of Armorica lying on the South and in manner vpon the very loyne after his owne name and also a Citie which he builded there Britayne For sayth he it should seeme by Strabo lib. 4. that there was a noble Citie of that name long before his time in the sayde countrey whereof Plinie also speaketh lib. 4. cap. 7. albeit that he ascribe it vnto France after a disordred maner More I finde not of this aforesaid Brute sauing that he ruled the lande a certaine time his father yet liuing and after hys decesse the tearme of twelue yeeres and then dyed and was buried at Caerbranke nowe called Yorke Leill the seuenth Ruler LEil the son of Brute Greeneshielde Leil began to raigne in the yeere of the world .3021 the same time that Asa was raigning in Iuda and Ambri in Israel He built the Citie nowe called Carlile Careleâ—â— ded which then after hys owne name was called Caerleil that is Leil his Citie or the Citie of Leil He repayred also as Henry Bradshawe hathe the Citie of Caerleon now called Chester Chester â—â—payred which as by the same Bradshaw it appeareth was built before Brutus entring into this lande by a Giaunte named Leon Gauer But what authoritie he hadde to auouche this it may be doubted for Ranulfe HigdeÌ„ in his worke entituled Policronicon saith in playne wordes that it is vnknowen who was the firste founder of Chester but that it toke the name of y e soiourning there of some Romayne Legions by whom also it is not vnlike that it might be firste built by P. Ostorius Scapula who as we find after he had subdued Caratacus king of y e Ordouices y t inhabited y e countreys now called Lancashire Chesshire Salupshire built in those partes among y e Silures certain places of defence for the better herbourgh of his men of warre keeping down of suche Britaynes as were still ready to moue rebellioÌ„ But now to y e purpose concerning K. Leil We find it recorded y t he was in y e beginning of his raigne very vpright desirous to see iustice executed aboue all things loued peace quietnesse but as yeres encreased with him so his vertues began to diminish in so much that abaÌ„doning y e care for the body of y e common welth he suffered his own body to welter in all vice and voluptuousnesse so procuring the hatred of hys subiectes caused malice and discorde to ryse amoÌ„gst them which during his life he was neuer able to appease But leauing them so at variaÌ„ce departed this life and was buried at Careleil which as ye haue heard he had builded whyle hee liued Lud Hurdibras the eight Ruler RVd or Ludhurdibras the sonne of Leil began to gouerne in the yeare of the world .3046 Rud 〈◊〉 Ludâ—â—â—â—dibraâ—… In the beginning of his raigne hee soughte to appease the debate that was reysed in hys fathers dayes and bring the Realme to hir former quietnesse and after that hee hadde brought it to good ende â—â—rkin or â—…terbury â—…uilded â—â—â—rguent is â—â—â—lded â—â—dour is â—â—â—lded he builded the towne of Kaerkyn now called Canterbury also the towne of Caerguent nowe â—…leped Winchester Mont Paladour now called Shaftesbury About the building of which towne of Shaftesbury Aquila a Prophet of the Brittish nation wrote his prophecies of which some fragments remayne yet to be seene translated into the Latine by some auntient writers When this Lud had raigned .xxix. yeeres he dyed and lefte a sonne behinde him named Baldud Baldud the .9 Ruler Bladud â—…r Balâ—…ud BAldud the sonne of Lud Hudibras begaÌ„ to rule ouer the Britaynes in the yere of the world .3085 â—…al Mon. â—…he King was â—â—med This man was well seene in y e sciences of Astronomy and Nigromancy by which as the common reporte saith he made the whote bathes in the Citie of Caerbran now called Bath â—â—ote bathes But William of Malmesbery is of a contrary opinion affirming that Iulius Cesar made those bathes or rather repayred them when he was here in Englande which is not like to be true for Iulius Cesar as by good coniecture we haue to thinke neuer came so farre within the land that way forthe Both of these bathes more shall be sayd in the description But to proceede â—…a VVest This Baldud tooke suche pleasure in artificiall practises and magike that he taught this arte throughout all his Realme And to shew his cunning in other poynts vppon a presumptuous pleasure which he had therein he tooke vpon him to flie in the ayre but he fell vpon the temple of Apollo The prince did â—â—ye which stoode in the Citie of Troynouant and there was torne in peeces after he had ruled the Britaynes by the space of .xx. yeeres Leir the .10 Ruler This Leir was a Prince of righte noble demeanor gouerning his land and subiects in great wealth Mat. VVest Leycester is builded Hee made the towne of Caerleir nowe called Leicester which standeth vpon y e Riuer of Sore It is writteÌ„ that he had by his wife three daughters without other issue whose names were Gonorilla Râ—…gan and Câ—…rdilla whiche daughters he greatly loued but specially the yongest Cordeilla farre aboue the two elder Gal. Moâ—… When this 〈◊〉 therefore was come to great yeeres and beganne to 〈…〉 through age he thought to
vnderstand the affections of his daughters towards him and preferre hir whome hee best loued A trial of loue to the succession ouer the kingdomeâ—… therefore hee firste asked Gonorilla the eldest howe well shee loued him the which calling hir Gods to record protested that she loued him more than hir owne life which by righte and reason shoulde be most deere vnto hir With whiche answer the father â—â—â—yng well pleased turned to the second and demanded of hir how well she loued him whiche answered confirming hir sayingâ—… with greate othes that she loued him more than tâ—…ng could expresse and farre aboue all other creatures of the world TheÌ„ called he his yongest daughter Cordeilla before him and asked of hir what accompt she made of him The answere of the yongest daughter vnto whome she made this answer as followeth Knowing the great loue and fatherly zeale that towards me you haue always borne for the whiche I may not answere you otherwise than I thinke and as my coÌ„science leadeth me I protest vnto you that I haue loued you euer and shall continually while I liue loue you as my naturall father and if you woulde more vnderstand of the loue that I beare you assertayn your selfe that so much as you haue so muche you are worth and so much I loue you and no more The father being nothing content with this answere married his two eldest daughters The two eldest daughters are married The Realme is promised to his two daughters the one vnto the Duke of Cornewale named Henninus and the other vnto the Duke of Albania called Maglanus and betwixt them after his death hee willed and ordeyned that his land should be deuided and the one halfe thereof immediately should be assigned to them in hande but for the thirde daughter Cordeilla he reserued nothing Yet it fortuned that one of the Princes of Gallia which now is called France whose name was Aganippus hearing of the beautie womanhoode and good conditions of the sayd Cordeilla desired to haue hir in marriage and sente ouer to hir father requiring that he myghte haue hir to wife to whome aunswere was made that hee mighte haue hys daughter but for any dower hee coulde haue none for all was promised and assured to hir other sisters already Aganippus notwithstanding this aunswere of denyall to receyue any thyng by way of dower with Cordeilla toke hir to wife only moued thereto I saye for respecte of hir person and amiable vertues He gouerned the third parte of Gallia as Gal. Mon. hath Thys Aganippus was one of the twelue Kyngs that ruled Gallia in those dayes as in the Brittish historie it is recorded But to proceede after that Leir was fallen into age the two Dukes that had married his two eldest daughters thinking long ere the gouernemente of the land did come to their handes arose against him in armour rest from him the gouernance of the land vpoÌ„ conditions to be coÌ„tinued for tearme of life by y e whiche he was put to his portion that is to liue after a rate assigned to him for the maintenance of his estate whyche in proces of time was diminished as well by Magbanus as by Henninus But the greatest griefe that Leir toke was to see the vnkindnesse of his daughters which seemed to thinke that all was too much which their father hadde the same being neuer so little in so muche that going from y e one to y e other he was brought to that miserie that vnneth would they allow him one seruaunt to waite vpon him In the end such was the vnkindnesse or as I may saye the vnnaturalnesse which he founde in his two daughters notwithstanding their faire pleasante wordes vttered in time past that being constreyned of necessitie he fled y e land sayled into Gallia there to seke some comfort of his yoÌ„gest daughter Cordeilla whom before time he hated The Lady Cordeill hearing y t he was arriued in pore estate she first seÌ„t to him priuily a certayne summe of money to apparrell himselfe withal to reteyne a certayn number of seruants that mighte attende vpon him in honorable wise as apperteyned to the estate whiche he had borne and then so accompanyed she appointed him to come to y e Court which he did was so ioyfully honorably and louingly receiued both by his son in law Aganippus also by his daughter Cordeilla that his hart was greatly comforted For he was no lesse honored than if he hadde bin king of y e whole countrey himselfe Also after y t he had enformed his son in law his daughter in what sort he had bin vsed by his other daughters Aganippus caused a mightie army to be put in a readinesse likewise a greate nauie of Ships to bee rigged to passe ouer into Britayne with Leir his father in law to see him againe restored to his kingdome It was accorded that Cordeilla should also goe with him to take possession of y e land â–ª y t whche he promised to leaue vnto hir as hir rightfull inheritour after his decesse notwithstanding any former graunte made to hir sisters or to their husbaÌ„ds in any manner of wise HerevpoÌ„ wheÌ„ this army nauie of Ships wer ready Leir his daughter Cordeilla w t hir husbaÌ„d toke y e sea arriuing in Britaine fought w t their enimies and discomfited them in battaile in y e whiche Maglanus Henninus were slaine and then was Leir restored to his kingdome which he ruled after this by the space of two yeeres and then died fortie yeres after he first began to raigne His body was buried at Leycester in a vault vnder y e channel of the Riuer of Sore beneath the towne 〈…〉 Cordeilla Queene COrdeilla y e yoÌ„gest daughter of Leir Corâ—â—â—â—la was admitted for Q. supreme gouernoure of Britayne in the yeere of y e World .355 before the building of Rome .54 Vzias then raigning in Iuda IeroboaÌ„ ouer Israell This Cordeilla after hir fathers desease ruled the laÌ„d of Britayne right worthily during the space of fiue yeres in which meane time hir husband died and then about y e end of those fiue yeres hir two Nephewes Margan and Cunedagius sonnes to hir aforesaide sisters disdeigning to be vnder the gouernement of a woman leuied warre against hir and destroyed a great part of the land and finally tooke hir prisoner and leyd hir fast in ward wherwith shee tooke suche griefe beeing a woman of a manly courage and despayring to recouer libertie there she slew hirselfe wheÌ„ she had raigned as before is mencioned the tearme of fiue yeeres Cunedag and Margan contende for the gouernement CVnedagius Marganus Nephews to Cordeilla Cunedag Margan hauing recouered the land out of hir hands deuided the same betwixt them that is to wit the countrey ouer beyonde Humber fell to Margan as it stretcheth euen to Catnesse the other part lying South and by west was
liue licenciously and the captayne suretie to liue without daunger to be murthered But after that the Emperour Vespasianus had subdued his aduersaries and atteyned the Imperiall gouernment as well ouer Brytaine as ouer other partes of the worlde Cor. 〈◊〉 there were sent hither right noble Captaynes with diuerse notable bandes of Souldiers and Petilius Cerialis being appoynted Lieutenant put the Britaynes in greate feare by inuading the Brygantes the mightyest Nation of all the whose Ilande and fighting many battayles and some right bloudy with those people he subdued a great part of the countrey at the last Thus may you perceyue in what state this I le stoode in the time that Aruiragus raigned in the same as is supposed by the Hystoryes of the olde Brytaynes so that it may be thought that he gouerned rather a part of this lande than the whole and bare the name of a king the Romains not hauing so reduced the country into the forme of a prouince but that the Brytaynes bare rule in dyuerse partes thereof and that by the permission of the Romaines whiche neuerthelesse had theyr Lieutenauntes and Procuratours here that bare the greatest rule vnder the aforesayde Emperours Marius otherwise Meurig or Maue In the time of this mans raigne the people called Picts inuaded this lande They are iudged to be descended of the Nation of the Scithians neare kinsmen to the Gothes both by Countrey and maners a cruell kind of men and much giuen to the warres They are thought to haue taken theyr name bycause they vsed to paint their selues with a certain blewish colour or for that they were marked with printes in theyr visages so that the more honourable he was amongst them the deâ—…pelyer was he marked the more base he was the lesse his marks appeared Some thinke that these were the same that were called Agathirsies and named Picts bicause they painted their faces limmes so that by no menes y e painting could be washed off but howsoeuer they came by y e name â—â—bian â—…l Mon. â—…at VVest it is euident inough that they were of the Scithian nation This people therfore with their leader Roderike or as some name him Londorike entring the Ocean sea after the maner of â—…ouers arriued on y e coasts of Ireland where they required of y e Scots new seates to inhabite in for the Scots wheâ—… as some think were also discâ—…ded of y e Scithians did as theÌ„ inhabit in Ireland but doubting y t it shuld not be for their profit to 〈◊〉 so warlike a nation into that I le feyning as it were a friendship and excusing the matter by y e â—…wnesse of the couÌ„try declared vnto the Picts that the I le of Brytain was not farre froÌ„ thence being a large country a plentiful and not greaaly inhabited wherfore they counselled them to go thither promising vnto them all the ayde that might be The Picts more desirous of spoyle than of rule or gouernmeÌ„t without delay â—…tsed to the sea and sailed towards Britain where being 〈◊〉 they first inuaded the north pâ—…s thereof â—… finding there but few inhabiters they begin to wasâ—… and forray the country 〈…〉 Marius was aduertised with al speed he assembled his people made towards his enimies giuing to theÌ„ 〈◊〉 Roderike king of Pictes slaine obteyned the victorie so that Roderike was shâ—… slain in the field his people vanquished Vnto those that escaped with life Marius graunted licence that they might inhabite in the north part of Scotlande called Catnesse beeing as then a Countrey in maner desolate wythoute habitation wherevpon they wythdrewe thither and setled themselues in those partyes And bycause the Brytaynes disdeyned to graunt vnto them theyr daughters in maryage they sent vnto the Scots into Irelande requyring to haue wiues of theyr nation The Scottes agreed to their request with this condition that where there wanted lawfull issue of the kings lynage to succeede in the Kingdome of the Pictes then shoulde they name one of the womans syde to bee theyr king whiche ordinaunce was receyued and obserued euer after amongest the Pictes so long as their kingdome endured And thus the Pictes next after the Romains were the first of any straungers that came into this lande to inhabite as most wryters affyrme although the Scottishe Chronicles auouche the Picts to be inhabiters here before the incarnation of our sauiour But the victorie which Marius obteyned agaynst their king Roderike Polidor Math. VVest chaunced in the yeare after the incarnation .87 In remembraunce of which victorie Marius caused a stone to bee erected in the same place where the battayle was fought in whiche stone was grauen these woordes Marq Victoria The Englishe Chronicle sayeth that this stone was sette vppe on Stanesmoore and that the whole Countrey thereaboute taking name of this Marius as Westmaria nowe cleped Westmerlande King Marius hauing thus subdued his enimies and escaped the daunger of their dreadfull inuasion he gaue his minde to the good gouernment of his people and the aduauncement of the common wealth of the realme continuing the residue of his life in great tranquillitie and finally departed this life after he had raigned after most writers lij or .liij. yeares Mat. VVest Howbeit there be that wryte that hee dyed in the yeare of our Lorde 78. and so raigned not past fiue or sixe yeares at the most He was buryed at Cairleil leauing a sonne behinde him called Coyll Thus finde we in the Brytishe and English Hystories touching this Marius Humfrey Llhuyd seemeth to take this maÌ„ and his father Aruiragus to be all one person whether mooued therto by some Catologe of kings which he sawe or otherwise I cannot affyrme but speaking of the time when the Pictes and Scots should first come to settle themselues in this land he hath these words Neither was there any writers of name that made mention either of Scots or Picts before Vespasianus time about the yere of the incarnation .72 At what time Meurig or Maw or Aruiragus raigned in Brytaine In which time our annales do report that a certaine kind of people liuing by piracie and rouing on the sea came forth of Sueden or Norway vnder the guiding of one Rhythercus who landed in Albania â–ª wasting all the Countrey with robbing and spoyling so farre as Cairleil where he was vanquished in battaile and slaine by Murigus with a great part of his people The residue that escaped by flight fledde to their shippes and so conueyed themselues into the Iles of Orkney and Scotlande where they quietly abode a greate while after Thus farre haue I thought good to shew forth of the foresayde Llhuyds booke for that it seemeth to carie a great likelihoode of truth with it for the hystorie of the Picts which vndoubtedly I think were not as yet inhabiting in Brytaine but rather first placing themselues in the Iles of Orkney made inuasion into the maine I le of Britain afterwards as occasion
Chilperike king of Fraunce 586. This Careticus was a norisher of ciuill reacte and discention amongst his own people the Britons so that he was hated doth of god and man as writers testifye The Saxons vnderstanding that the Britons were not of one mind but deuided in partakings so as one was ready to deuore an other they thought it good time for them to aduaunce theyr conquests and seased not to parâ—â—e the Britons by force and continuall warre till they had constrained them for refuge to withdraw into Wales And as some haue written Galf. Mon. See more of this Gurmundâ—…s in Ireland the Saxons meanyng to make a full conquest of the lande sent ouer into Ireland requiring one Gurmundus a kyng of the Aâ—…ticanes to come ouer into Britayne to healpe them agaynste the Brytaynes Ranulf Cest. Gourmonde tooke Cirencester or Chichester and destroyed it in moste cruell manner Some write that he tooke this citie by a policie of war in bynding to the feet of Sparrowes whiche his people had caught certaine clewes of threede or matches finely wrought and tempred with matter readie to take fire so that the Sparrowes being suffered to goe out of hande â–ª flewe into the towne to lodge them selues within their nestes whiche they had made in stackes of corne and eues of houses so that the towne was thereby set on fyre and then the Brytons issuing foorth foughte with their enimies and were ouercome and discomfited But whylest the battayle continued Careticus stale away and got him into Wales After this the foresayd Gurmonde destroyed thys lande throughout in pitifull wyse and then deliuered it in possession to the Saxons the whiche thankfully receiued it and bicause they were descended of those that firste came ouer with Hengul they chaunged the name of the lande and called it Hengistlande accordingly as the same Hengist had in tymes past ordeined the whiche name after for shortnesse of speeche was somewhat altered and so lastly called Englande and the people Englishmen But rather it may be thought that sith a great part of those people whiche came ouer into thys lande out of Germanie with the sayde Engiste and other captaines were of these English men whiche inhabited Germanie about the parties of Thoringhen they called this land England after their name Mat. VVâ—â— when they had first got habitatioÌ„ within it and so both the iande and people tooke name of them beeing called Angli long tyme before they entered into this Isle as before is shewed out of Cornelius Tacitus and others But nowe to returne where we lefte Of this Gurmounde the olde English wryters make no mention nor also any aunciente authors of foreyn parties and yet sayth the British booke that after he had conquered this land giueÌ„ it to the Saxons he passed ouer into FraÌ„ce and there destroyed muche of that lande as an enemy to the faith of Christe For whiche consideration he was the more ready to come to the ayde of the Saxons who as yet hadde not receyued the Christian fayth but warred against the Brytaynes as well for so destroy the faith of Chryste within this lande as to establyshe to them selues contynuall habitations in the same There bee It should 〈◊〉 that this â—â—rie of Gâ—â—â— is hâ—â— some â—â—ned â—…aâ—…e 〈◊〉 it may be 〈◊〉 he vvaâ—… 〈◊〉 Dane Norvvegiâ—â— of Germaine that omittyng to make mention of Gurmounde write thus of the expulsing of the Brytaynes oute of this lande at that tyme when wyth their king Careticus they got them into Wales IN the yeare of grace 586. 586. Kareticus a loner of ciuil war succeded Malgo an enimie to God and to the Britons whose inconstancie when the Englishe and Saxon kinges perceiued with one consent they rose againste him Mat. VVeâ—â— and after many battails chased him from citie to citie till at lengthe encountring wyth him in a pight field they droue him beyond Seuerne into Wales Herevpon clerks and priestes were dryuen oute of theyr places with brighte swoorâ—â— branâ—…ishing in all partes and fire crackling in Churches wherewith the same were consumed The remnante of the Britaynes therefore withdrew into the West partes of the land that is to witte into Cornewale and into Wales out of which countreys they oftentimes brake out and made reyses vppon the Saxons the whyche in manner aforesayde goâ—…e possession of the chiefest partes of the lande leauing to the Britaynes only three prouinces that is to witte Cornewale Southwales and Northwales which couâ—â—eâ—â— were not easie to be wonne by reason of the thick wooddes enuiâ—…oned with deepe marishes and waters full of high craggy rockes Mountaines The English and Saxon Kings hauing thus remooued the Britaynes enlarged the boundes of their dominions There raigned in that season within this land beside the Britaine Kings right Kings of the Englishe and Saxon nations as Ethelbert in Kent Cissa in Sussex Crauâ—…iue in Westsex Credda or Crida in Mercia Erkenwine in Essex Titila in Esfangle Elle in Deira and Alfrid in Bernicia In this sort the Britaynes lost the possession of the more part of theyr auntiente seates and the faithe of Christ thereby was greatly decayed for the Churches were destroyed the Archbishops of Caerleon Arwske London and Yorke withdrewe togither with their Cleargie into the Mountaynes and woods within Wales taking with them the relikes of Saintes for doubt the same shoulde be destroyed by the enimies and theÌ„selues put to deathe if they should abide in their olde habitations Many also fled into Britaine Armorike with a greate fleete of Shippes so that the whole Church or congregation as yee may call it of the two prouinces Loegria and Northumberland was left desolate in that season to the great hinderance and decay of the Christian Religion Careticus was driueÌ„ into Wales as before is rehearsed about the second or third yeare of his raigne and there continued with his Britaines the which ceassed not to endomage the Saxons from time to time as occasioÌ„ serued But heere is to be noted that y e Britanes being thus remoued into Wales Cornewall were gouerned afterwardes by three kings or rather Tirants the which ceassed not with ciuill warre to seeke eache others destruction till finally as sayth the Brittish booke they became all subiect vnto Cadwallo whome Bede nameth Cedwallo VVil. Mal. In y e mean time Ciaulinus or Cheuling King of the West Saxons through hys owne misgouernance and tyrannie whiche towardes his latter dayes hee practised did procure not only the Britaines but also his own subiects to conspire his deathe so that ioyning in battell with his aduersaries at Wodenesdic in the 3â—… yere of his raigne his army was discomfited and he himselfe constreyned to departe into exile and shortly after ended his life before he coulde fynde meanes to be restored Beda VV. Mal. It is recorded by diuers writers that the firste occasion whereby Gregory was moued thus to send Augustine into this
this Aulafe is not that Aulafe whiche was sonne to King Sithricke but rather that the other was hee with whome Kyng Edmond made partition of the Realme but they agree that this seconde Aulafe was a Dane also and being conuerted to the faith as well through constrainte of the Kyngs puissance as through the Preaching of the Gospell was Baptised Kyng Edmonde beeyng Godfather both to him and to the foresayde Reignolde to Aulafe at the fontstone and to Reignolde at his confirmation at the Bishoppes handes But their wicked natures coulde not rest in quiet so that they brake bothe promise to GOD and to theyr prince 944 Simon Dun. and were therefore in the yeare nexte followyng dryuen bothe out of the countrey and punished by perpetuall exile And so K. Edmond adioyned Northumberlande without admitting any other immediate gouernor vnto his own estate Leolin Kyng of South-Wales ayded K Edmonde in this enterprise 946 Moreouer he wasted spoiled whole Cumberland bycause he could not reduce y e people of that countrey vnto due obeysance and coÌ„formable subiection The two sonnes of Dunmaile K. of that prouince hee apprehended and caused their eyes to be put out And herewith vppon consideration eyther of suche ayde as he had receiued of y e Scottes at that time or some other friendly respect he assigned the saide countrey of Cumberlande vnto Malcolme K. of Scottes to hold the same by fealtie of him and his successors The Scottishe Chronicles peruerting the tyme and order of the actes and doings of the Englishe kings whiche raigned about this season affirme that by couenauntes of peace concluded betwixte Malcolme King of Scotlande and Adelstane King of England it was agreed that Cumberlande shoulde remayne to the Scottes as in their Chronicles you may finde at full expressed And again that Indulfe who succeeded Malcolme in the Kingdome of Scotland ayded K. Edmonde against Aulafe whome y e same Chronicles name Aualassus but the time which they attribute vnto the raignes of their Kings will not allow the same to stand For by accompt of their writers King Malcolme began not his raigne till after the decesse of King Adelstane who departed thys life in the yere 9â—…0 And Malcolme succeded CoÌ„stantine the third in the yere .944 which was about the third yeare of Kyng Edmonds raigne and after Malcolme that raigned .xv. yeares succeeded Indulfe in the yeare .959 The like discordance preceedeth and foloweth in their writers as to the diligent Reader in conferring their Chronicles w t ours it manifestly appeareth We therefore to satisfie the desirous to vnderstande see the diuersitie of writers haue for the more part in their Chronicles left the same as we haue found it Polidor The lawes of K. Edmonde But now to the other doings of K. Edmond it is recorded that hee ordeyned diuerse good and wholesome lawes very profitable and necessary for the common wealth whiche lawes with dyuerse other of like antiquitie are forgot and blotted out by rust of time the consumer of thynges worthy of loÌ„g remembrance as sayth Polidore but sithence his time they haue bin recouered for the more part and by master William Lambert turned into Latyne were imprinted by Iohn Day in the yeare .1568 as before I haue sayde Fiue yeres and seuen monethes hath St. Dun. Finally this Prince K. Edmond after he had raigned sixe yeres and a halfe he came to his end by great misfortune for as some say it chanced that espying where one of his seruauntes was in daunger to bee slayne amongst his enimies that were about him with drawen swords as he stepped in to haue holpen his seruante he was slayne at a place called Pulcher Church Prideciâ—…e hath Si. Dâ—â— VVil. Mâ—â— Math. VVâ—â— 946 or as other haue Michelsbourgh Other say that keeping a great feast at the aforesayde place on the day of Saint Augustine the English Apostle which is the .26 of May and as that yeare came about it fell on the tewsday as hee was set at the table he espyed where a common robber was placed neere vnto him whome sometime he had banished the land and now being returned without licence he presumed to come into the kings presence wherwith the King was so moued with high disdaine that he suddaynely rose from the table and flew vpon the Theefe and catching him by the heare of the head threwe him vnder his feete wherewith the theefe hauing fast holde on the King broughte him downe vppon him also and with his knyfe stroke him into the belly in suche wise that the Kings bowels fell out of his chest and there presently dyed the theefe was hewen in peeces by the Kings seruauntes but yet he slewe and hurt diuers before they coulde dispatch him Thys chance was lamentable namely to the Englishe people whiche by the ouertimely deathe of theyr King in whome appeared many euident tokens of great excellencie lost the hope whiche they had conceiued of great wealth to encrease by his prudent and most princely gouernemente His body was buried at Glastenbury where Dunstan was then Abbot There be that write that the death of King Edmonde was signified aforehande to Dunstane who about the same time attendyng vppon the same Kyng Capgraâ—…e as hee remooued from one place to an other chanced to accompany hymselfe with a noble man one Duke Elstane A vayne tale and as they rode togither beholde suddaynely Dunstane sawe in the way before hym where the Kings Musitions rode the Deuill running and leaping amongst the same Musitions after a reioycing manner whome after hee had behelde a good while he said to the Duke is it possible that you may see that whiche I do see and the Duke aunswered he sawe nothing otherwise than hee ought to see Then saide Dunstane Crossing bringeth fight of the Deâ—…ies and crossing driueth them away blesse youre eyes with the signe of the crosse and trie whether you can see that I see And when hee hadde done as Dunstane appoynted hym hee sawe also the Fende in likenesse of a little short euill fauoured Ethyopian daunsing and leaping whereby they gathered that some euill happe was towardes some of the company But when they had crossed and blessed them the foule Spirit vanished out of their sight And after they had talked of this vision Dunstan as interpretor of dreames and made an end of their talke touching the same y e Duke required of Dunstane to interpret a dreame which he had of late in sleepe and that was this he thought that he sawe in vision the King with all his Nobles sit in hys dining chamber at meate and as they were therewith making merry togither the K. chanced to fall into a dead sleepe and all the Noble men and those of his counsell that were aboute him were changed into Roobuckes and Goates Dustan quickly declared that this dreame signified the Kings deathe and the chaunging of the Nobles into dumb and insensible beastes
places of habitation in Albion But hereunto was answere made with great indignation that as for the league thus alledged The answere of king Ferguse ceassed by the death of Placidus as for peare there was no cause why he should looke for any till the whole prouinces both of Westmerlande and Cumberland were restored againe vnto the hands of the Scottish men and Picts according as of reason they ought to be The like answere also was made by Durstus king of the Pictes vnto whom Castius had sent a like message Wherwithall the sayde Castius beyng not a little moued Castius rayseth an army assembleth an armie and with all speed marcheth foorth towardes his enimies but before his entring into Westmerland wher they were as then lodged in campe Dionethus ioyneth with the Scottes agaynst the Romaines hee had perfect knowledge how Dionethus with his Welchmē for his landes lay in Wales was alreadie ioyned with the Scottes Whiche newes sore appalied the heartes of the Brytaynes but yet beeing encouraged with comfortable wordes of their Captaines to proceede forwarde they goe togither with the Romaines and withn three dayes after they came within sight of their enimies being raunged in battaile readie to receyue them The armies ioyne in battaile so that streight wayes buckling togither there was a right fierce and cruel battaile fought betwixt them til finally the multitude of the Scottishe archers Kernes so compassed in the battailes of the Romains on eche side and specially on the backes that in the ende and by reason of the losse of their generall Castius who was slaine there amongst them The Romains giue backe those of the middle ward being discomfited brake theyr array and fledde Wherevpon the residue likewise followed the Scots Picts The Scottes follow in the chase to rashly and Welchmen pursuing them so egerly without all order that there was no small nūber of them distressed by the Romains the which in their giuing back kept thē close togither readie to defend thēselues to beat down such of their enimies as followed more rashly than warily in the chase not once regarding to keepe any order of battaile but yet by other companyes that pursued more orderly togyther for theyr most aduantage there was great slaughter made both of the Romains and Brytaynes Dionethus proclaymed king of Brytaine After this victorie thus atchieued Dionethus was proclaymed King of Brytaine and sore warres continued in the lande by the pursute of the Welchmen Scottes and Pictes to the great hazard of the Prouince and likely expulsing of al the Romains quite out of the same Etius Lieutenant of the Romaines in Fraunce or Gall◅a About this time also there remayned in France one Etius Lieutenant to the Emperour Valentinianus who vnderstanding all these things by letters and messengers sent from the captains which yet remayned aliue in Brytaine appoynted one Maximianus being a kinne to the Emperour Maximianus sent ouer into Brytayne to passe with an armie in all haste ouer into Britaine to ayde and succor the Romains and suche Brytaynes there as still continued in theyr allegeance whiche they had promised vnto the Romaine Empyre This Maximianus at his arriuall in the Ilande was most ioyfully receyued by the souldiers and subiectes of the foresayde Empyre All the Lordes and nobles of the Countrey resorted also vnto him shewing themselues most glad of his comming and promising with what ayde so euer they were able to make to goe with him against their enimies Whervpon procuring them to assemble their powers Maximianus causeth the Brytaynes to ioyne with him to go against the Scottes and to ioyne the same with his which he had brought ouer with him he passed through the countrey vnto Yorke and so from thence marched forth towards the Scottes being alreadie assembled in campe to defende the countrey of Westmerland against him There were both the kings of Scots Picts Ferguse and Durstus The Scottes and Pictes assembled agaynst the Romaines with Dionethus naming himselfe king of the Britaines who had brought with him beside the Welchmen a great number of those Brytaynes that inhabited in the Countreys now accounted the marches of Wales the which onely amongst al other the Brytaines acknowledged him for king When both the armies were come neare togither The armies prepare to battaile they camped for that night the one in sight of the other and in the morning following they prepared themselues to battail Ferguse first making an earnest oration vnto his people to encourage them the more boldly to giue the onset Ferguse exhorteth his people to do valiantly declared amongst other things how the right was on theyr side Right ministreth hope of good successe which alwayes ought to minister hope of good successe in them that enterprise any thing in defence thereof where contrarily all such as attempted to disquiet other by iniury wrong doing could not but looke for an euill conclusion of their malicious intentes and purposes Neyther were other of his captaines negligent in their duties but that both in exhorting theyr bandes they vsed most comfortable wordes and in disposing them in good order of battaile they shewed most readie and earnest diligence The two kings Ferguse and Durstus are slaine Ferguse the Scottishe king and Durstus king of the Pictes were slaine in this mortall battaile togither with the most part of all theyr nobilitie Dionethus being sore wounded escaped to the sea side Dionethus escapeth and there getting a shippe passed ouer into Wales This ouerthrow sore dismayed both the Scottish and Pictishe nations who loked for nothing more than present expulsion out of their Countreys Maximianus pursueth the victorie for Maximianus pursuing the victorie burst into Galloway most cruelly wasting and spoyling the same And whē he had made an end there he entred into Annandal and into the Pictish confines destroying all before him with fire and sworde Camelon was besieged taken by force Camelon taken by force and miserably put to sack and spoyle with diuerse other notable townes and places as well belonging to the Pictes as Scottes Neyther was there any ende of these cruel doings till both the Scottes and Pictes for their refuge were generally constrayned to withdraw themselues beyond the wall of Abircorne The Scots and Pictes withdraw beyonde the wall of Abircorne which as before is said a few yeares passed was begon by the Brytayns and stretched from Abircorne aforesaid ouerthwart the lād vnto Alcluth now Dūbreton Maximianus hauing thus driuen his enimies beyond this wall caused them to make assurance by theyr othe of couenant neuer to passe the same againe by way of hostilitie eyther agaynst the Brytaynes or Romaines There were that counselled Maximianus either vtterly to haue destroyed both the Scottes and Pictes either else to haue dryuen them out of the whole I le But he being satisfied with that whiche was alreadie done thought good to
to come vnto him into England where he had not kept theÌ„ any long while but that a knight whose name was Organ or Orgar Orgarus or one Organ accuseth Edgar Atheling of treason accused him of treason alledging howe he nourished his sisters sonnes and daughters within the realme in hope to make them inheritors to the crowne but the malice of this false surmise remayned not vnpunished for one of Edgars friends taking in hand to Darraine battaile with Organ in defence of Edgars innocencie slue him within lystes Organ is slain within lystes After that Donalde had receyued the crowne at the Abbay of Scone he perceyued that some of the nobles grudged at his prefermeÌ„t shewing by some tokens that they had more affection vnto king Malcolmes children than vnto him and therfore he cast out a worde amongst his familiers Donald threatneth that ere ought long the nobles shoulde repent them of their doings if they applyed not themselues the more to his opinion Which wordes being marked deepely imprinted in some of their harts turned afterwards to his great displeasure Duncan Malcolmes bastard sonne For shortly after came Duncan the bastard son of king Malcolme out of Englande into Scotlande supported with an armie of men appointed by king William the Red to place him in the Kingdome to expulse Donald out of the same by force of armes if he attempted any resistance Nowe when Donald approched with his puissance in purpose to haue giuen battaile the most part of his people did forsake him and drewe vnto DuÌ„canes side so that Donald thus abaÌ„doned of theÌ„ that shuld haue ayded him was coÌ„strained for his refuge to flee again into y e westerne Iles so Duncan then coÌ„ming vnto Scone receyued the crowne of Scotlande but for that he had bin trayned the moste part of his life in the warres both in England and France Duncane is crowned king of Scotlande he had small skill in ciuill gouernment iudging that thing onely to stande with iustice wich was decided with speare and shielde Duncane lacked skill in ciuil gouernment By reason whereof Scotland was shortly filled with newe troubles and sedicious deuisions Donalde Bane being aduertised of all those things that hereby happened in Scotland solicited MakpeÌ„der Earle of Mernes to take his part by some meanes to slea king Duncane which enterprice Makpender taking in hand at length in Menteth accomplished the same in the night season Makpender Erle of Mernes slayeth king Duncane when he had espied such aduauntage and oportunitie of time that not so muche as one man was founde to pursue him But to say the truth Duncane was so farre out of the peoples fauour that mo reioyced than were sorie for his death Donalde Bane is restored to the crowne After he was thus dispatched his vncle Donald was restored againe to the kingdome chiefly by supporte of the forenamed Makpender after his nephewe the foresayde Duncane had raigned one yeare and an halfe where Donalde himselfe had raigned before he was expulsed by his sayde nephewe the space of sixe Monethes and nowe after he had recouered the Kingdome he continued in the regiment therof three yeares not without greate trouble and intestine commotions for the moste part of the Lordes maligning his aduauncement sought occasions dayly to depose him In the meane tyme the Ilande men made some sturre neyther did the warres with Englande ceasse though without anye greate exployte or enterâ—â—ice worthie of remembrance sauing a fewe light 〈…〉 betwixt the parties as occasion serued Magnus king of Norway coÌ„meth into the westerne Iles. At length came Magnus king of Norway with a great fleete and sayling aboute the Westerne Iles garnished all the strengthes within them in most defencible wise with men munition and vitayles vsurping the dominion as soueraigne Lord of the same Iles and at the same time ordeyned those lawes and constitutions which are vsed there amongst the inhabitants euen vnto these dayes The Scottish men hauing great indignation that the Iles beeing aunciently parcell of the crowne Edgar king Malcolms son is sent for should be thus alienated from the same sent oratours vnto Edgar who was as ye haue herd the fourth sonne of king Malcolm desiring him most instantly to come into ScotlaÌ„d to recouer his fathers heritage and crowne of Scotland out of the vsurpers handes Edgar sendeth messengers to Donalde Edgar taking deliberate aduice touching this request first sent ambassadors vnto Donald promising that if he woulde be contented to restore vnto him the crowne being due to him by lawful succession he woulde gladly rewarde him with great Lordships and reuenues in Louthian but Donald was so far from minding to do him reason in this behalf Donald slayeth Edgars messengers that causing the which brought this message to be put in prisoÌ„ he finally slue theÌ„ Then Edgar by counsell of his vncle Edgar Atheling Edgar is ayded by king William Rufus purchasing ayde of men at the hands of king WilliaÌ„ Rufus set forward toward Scotland At his comming to Durham he was admonished by a vision in his sleepe Saint Cutberts Banes that if he tooke with him the Baner of Saint Cutbert he should haue victorie On the Morrow after he came into the Abbey Churche where first hearing diuine seruice when the same was ended King Donalde discomfited and chased into the Iles. he displayed the foresayde Baner and caused it to be borne before him in that iourney Neuerthelesse king Donalde met him with a mightie armie and after long fight was chased into the Iles King Donalde is taken where he was taken and brought vnto Edgar Some say that when the battayles were readie to haue ioyned his men beholding the Baner of Saint Cutbert spred agaynst them immediately forsooke him so that he beeing destitute of succour fled in purpose to haue saâ—…ed himselfe in some one of the Westerne Iles but being apprehended by the Inhabitants was brought as is sayde vnto Edgar by whom he was howsoeuer the hap of his taking chaunced cast immediatly into prison wherein he shortly after dyed King Donalde dieth in prisoÌ„ The victorie thus atchieued Edgar went vnto Edenburgh and from thence vnto Dunfermeling to visite the Sepultures of his mother and brethren This priuiledge was confirmed afterwardes by Pope Iohn the seconde of that name Edgar the first anointed king of Scotland The first King that was annoynted according to that graunt was this Edgar in the yere aforesayde About two yeares before that Edgar thus recouered the Crowne of Scotlande was that generall passage made into the holy lande vnder Godfrey of Bullion The passage into the holy lande and other Christian Princes Amongest them as one of the chiefe Robert Duke of Normandie went Robert duke of NormaÌ„die and should haue bin created king of Ierusalem had he not at the same time heard howe his brother William Rufus king of England
equity doth require whiche wee much lament and be sory for and vse nowe our force and puissance against him not for reuēgement of our priuate displeasure beyng so often deliuered as wee haue bene but for recouery of our right the preseruation of our subiectes from iniuries and the obseruation of suche leagues as haue passed betweene vs firmely trusting that almighty God vnder whome we raygne will assist and ayde our iust proceedings herein to the furtheraunce and aduancement of the right whiche wee doubte not shall euer preuayle against wrong falshood deceyte and dissimulation Hitherto it appeareth howe this present warre hath not proceeded of any demaūd of our right of superiority whiche the Kings of Scots haue alwayes knowledged by homage fealty to our progenitors euē from the beginning but this warre hath bene prouoked occasioned vpō present matter of displeasure present iniury present wrong ministred by the Nephewe to the Vncle most vnnaturally supported contrary to the desertes of our benefits most vnkindly if we had minded the possession of Scotland and by the motion of warre to attayne the same there was neuer King of this realme had more opportunitie in the minority of our Nephew ne in any other realme a Prince that hath more iust title more euident title more certaine title to any realme that he can clayme than we haue to Scotland not deuised by pretēce of mariage nor imagined by couenant nor contriued by inuention of argument but lineally descended from the beginnyng of that estate established by our progenitors and recognised successiuely of the Kings of Scotlād by deedes wordes actes and writings continually almost without interruption or at the least intermission till the raigne of our progenitor King Henry the sixte in whose time the Scots abused the ciuil warre of this realme to their licence and boldnesse in omitting of their duetie whiche for the proximity of bloud betweene vs we haue bene slacke to require of them beyng also of our selfe inclined to peace as we haue euer ben alwayes glad rather without preiudice to omitte to demaund our right if it might conserue peare than by demaunding thereof to be seene to mooue warre specially agaynst our neyghbour agaynst our Nephew against him whom we haue preserued from daunger and in such a time as it were expedient for al Christendome to be in vnitie and peace wherby to be more able to resist the common enimy the Turke But for what considerations we haue omitted to speake hitherto of the matter it is neuerthelesse true that the kings of Scottes haue alwayes knowledged the Kings of England superior Lordes of the realme of Scotlande and haue done homage fealty for the same This appeareth first by History written by suche as for confirmation of the truthe in memory haue truly noted and signified the same Secondly it appeereth by instruments of homage made by the Kings of Scottes and diuers notable personages of Scotlande at diuers sundry tymes sealed with their seales and remayning in our Treasory Thirdly it appeereth by Registers and Recordes iudicially autentiquely made yet preserued for confirmation of the same So as the mater of title being moste playne is furnished also with all manner of euidences for declaration thereof First as concernyng Histories which be called witnesses of times the light of truth and the lyfe of memory and finally the conuenient way and meane whereby the thinges of antiquity may be brought to mens knowledge they shewe as playnly this matter as could bee wyshed or requyred with suche a consent of wryters as coulde not so agree vpon an vntruth contayning a declaration of suche matter as hath moste euident probability and apparance For as it is probable and likely that for the better administration of Iustice amongst rude people twoo or moe of one estate might be rulers in one countrey vnited as this Isle is so it is probable and likely that in the beginnyng it was so ordered for auoyding dissention that there shoulde be one Superiour in right of whome the sayd estates should depend According wherevnto we reade how Brute of whome the Realme then called Brytayne tooke first that name beyng before that tyme inhabited with Gyaunts people without order or ciuility had three Sonnes Locrine Albanact and Camber and determining to haue the whole Isle within the Ocean sea to bee after gouerned by them three appoynted Albanact to rule that now is called Scotlande Camber the parties of Wales and Locrine that now is called England vnto whome as beyng the eldest Sonne the other twoo bretherne should do homage recognysing and knowledging him as their superior Nowe consider if Brutus conquered all this Iland as the History sayth he did and then in his owne tyme made this order of superiority as afore howe can there be a title deuised of a more plaine beginning a more iust beginning a more conuenient beginnyng for the order of this Iland at that time specially when the people were rude whiche cannot without continuall stryfe and variaunce contayne twoo or three rulers in all poyntes equall without any manner of superiority the inwarde conscience and remorse of whiche superiority shoulde in some parte dull and diminishe the peruerse courage of resistence and rebellion The first diuisiō of this I le wee finde written after this sorte without cause of suspition why they shoulde write amisse And according herevnto wee finde also in History set foorth by diuers how for transgression against this superiority our predecessours haue chastised the kings of Scottes and some deposed put other in their places we will here omitte to speake of the rudenesse of the antiquity in particularity whiche they cared not distinctly to committe to writing but some authors as Anthonius Sabellicus amongs other diligently ensearchyng what he might truly wryte of all Europe and the Ilandes adioyning ouer and besides that whiche he wryteth of the natures maners and condicions of the Scottes whiche who so liste to reade shall finde to haue bene the very same in times paste that wee finde them nowe at this present he calleth Scotland parte of England whiche is agreeable to the diuision aforesayde being in deede as in the lande continuall without separation of the Sea so also by homage and fealty vnited vnto the same as by particular declarations shall most manifestly appeere by the testimony of suche as haue lefte wryting for proofe and confirmation thereof In whiche matter passing the death of king Humber the actes of Dunwald King of this realme the diuision of Belyn and Brenne the victories of king Arthur we shall beginne at the yeare of our Lorde D.CCCC. whiche is a D. Cxlij yeares paste a time of sufficient auncienty from which we shal make speciall declaration euident proofe of the execution of our right and title of superiority euermore continued and preserued hitherto Edwarde the firste before the conquest Sonne to Alured King of England had vnder his dominion and obedience the king of Scots And
and altred the booke was lost so that the remembraunce of suche rulers as were before the dayes of this Richarde the firste are not to bee had These Baylifes euer entred at Michalmas and so continued foorth their yeare Thus began the citie nowe first to receyue the forme and state of a common wealthe and to bee deuided into felowshippes whych they cal craftes Such also are admitted to the felowships of these companies ◅prentices as haue truely serued as apprentices a certaine number of yeares as seauen at the least vnder which time of seruice expired there is no◅ made free nor suffred to enioy the liberties of that Citie ◅emen sauing such as are borne free that is to say of freemen within the Citie of whome at thys time it is not muche materiall to make any further report The Citie thus consisting of the sayd craftes chooseth out of the same a Senate or company of graue councellors whome they name Aldermen the E. changed into A. according to the olde Saxon pronunciation ◅ardes It is also deuided into 26. tribes or wardes of the whiche euery one hath his seueral Alderman or ouerseer who haue both authoritie sufficiente and large priuileges to mainteyne the good gouernement of their portions withall Out of the number of these there is another officer yearely chosen and appoynted called the Maior who ruleth all the rest The Maior But now to returne vnto the further doings of K. Richard before his departure out of England towards his iourney into the lande of Palestine commonly called holy lād it is said he made such sales of things apperteyning to hym as well in right of the Crowne as otherwise that it seemed to diuers how he made his reconing neuer to returne againe in so much that some of his Councellors told him playnely that hee did not well in setting things away so freely to the dishonoryng of his maiestie and preiudice of his successor King Richard setteth things things on sale Ran. Higd. VVil. Par. vnto whome hee aunswered that in time of neede it was no euill policie for a man to helpe himselfe with his owne and further ioyned herr to these words that if Londō at that time of neede would be bought he would surely sel it if he might meete with a cōueniēt Marchant that were able to gyue him money inough for it Another way he hadde also to gather riches and that was this He hadde a licence of Pope innocente the thirde to dispence with suche as pleased him within his Realme for their vowes made to goe into the holy lande although they hadde taken on them the Crosse for that purpose namely such as he should appoint to remayne behynd him for the defence of his countrey and of these also hee tooke abundantly and dyuers other hee compelled to fyne namely to the ende that hee mighte get theyr money likewise that heereby hee obteyned no small summe towarde the furniture of his iourney Math. Paris Polidor The Kyng of Scottes therefore hauyng receyued this othe and thynkyng the tyme to serue hys purpose for redeemyng of those Castels whiche were deliuered to King Henry as guages for his raunsome payde now vnto Kyng Rycharde tenne thousand markes and hadde restitution of the same Restitution made to the K. of Scottes VVil. Par. that is to witte of Berwike Roxburgh Sterling and Edenburgh But William Parvus sayeth that Edenburgh was restored to him in the dayes of King Henry by reason of his wife whiche he tooke of the parties of beyonde the Sea and heerewith agreeth the Scottishe Chronicle Kyng Richarde also assigned to Queene Eleanor hys mother the accustomed dower with many Lordshippes and honors beside as an augmentation thereof Rog. Houed About which tyme dyed William de Maundeuille Earle of Albemarle at Rouen and Hugh de Putsey the nephew of the Bishoppe of Durham dyed at Aclet and was buryed at Durham Also Formalis Archbishoppe of Trier dyed at Northampton Nic. Tr◅ and was there buried in the Church of S. Androwes In the meane tyme Kyng Richard still desirous to furnishe himselfe of money deuised yet another shift and feigned that hee hadde lost his seale wherefore hee commaunded a new to be made which being done he commaunded it to bee proclaymed and published in euery countrey that those to whome hee hadde graunted any thing by his deede or charter Mat. Pa◅ meaning to enioy the same in suretie shuld not thinke it muche to come and haue it confirmed by his new seale least afterwarde the other beeing lost their lawfull titles might be called into question Wherevppon many that could not come to hym whilest he was in England were glad to followe him and to sayle ouer into Normandy and there to fyne at his pleasure for the newe seale to the ende that their writings mighte bee confirmed thereby and made so much the more sure to them and their successors For the same businesse also Remigius the Prior of S. Albons and many other went ouer to their great costes charges and trauel after he was transported ouer into France I fynde moreouer about the same tyme that the kings brother Erle Iohn exhibited a sore cōplainte before the Romaine Legate and other Bishops for that the Archbishop of Canterburye after the appeale made vnto the Apostolike sea had put his landes vnder interdiction for hys mariage made wyth the Earle of Gloucesters daughter whiche when the Legate hearde hee foorthewith confirmed the appeale and releassed the Earles landes of the aforesayde interdiction The same tyme also the tenth part of at the mouable goodes thorough the realme of Englande was leuyed to the ayde of the warres in the holy land And this collection passing vnder the name of an Almes was extended vpon the goodes as well of the spirituall men as temporall After all thys Kyng Richarde desyrous to sette order in the gouernemente of his Realme Hughe bishop of Durham gouerneth the north partes Math. Paris appoynted Hugh bishoppe of Durham to haue the rule of the Northe parties as chiefe Iustice from Humber northwardes towarde Scotland delyuering vnto him also the keepyng of Wynchester Castell the residue of the kingdom with the custodie of the Towre he assigned to the gouernaunce of William Longchampe Bishop of Elye VVilliā Longchampe bishop of Elye whome he had made chiefe Iustice of that parte and Chauncellour of the realme a man of gret diligence and knowledge in the administration of thinges but verie factious and desyrous of rule honoure and riches farre aboue all measure And with these .ij. bishops he ioyned in commission Hughe Bardulfe William Marshall Earle of Chepstow or rather Pembrooke Geffrey Fitz Peter and William Brewer men of great honour wysedome and discretion Rog. Houed King Richarde passeth ouer in to Normandie On the fifth daye of December he departed from Canterbury and went to Douer there to take the water and so on the eleuēth day of Decēber he passed
sayled again into NormaÌ„dy bycause the variaÌ„ce stil depended betwene him the king of Fraunce And finally vpon y e Ascention day in this second yere of his raigne they came eftsones to a coÌ„munication betwixte the Townes of Vernon and Lisle Dandely where finally they concluded an agreement A peace concluded with a marriage with a marriage to be hadde betwixt Lewis y e son of K. Phillip the Lady Blanch daughter to Alfonso K. of Castell the eyght of y e name Math. Paris and neece to K. Iohn by his sister Eleanor In consideration whereof K. Iohn besides y e summe of thirtie thousand markes in siluer as in respect of dower assigned to his sayd neece resigned his title to y e Citie of Eureux also vnto all those Townes which y e French K. had by warre taken from him the Citie of Angiers only excepted which Citie he receiued againe by couenants of the same agreement Raufe Niger The Frenche K. restored also to Kyng Iohn as Raufe Niger writeth the Citie of Tours and all the Castels and fortresses which he had takeÌ„ within Touraine And moreouer receiued of King Iohn his homage for al the lands fees tenements which at any tyme his brother K. Richarde or his father K. Henry had holden of him the said K. Lewis or any hys predecessors y e quite claymes and marriages always excepted The K. of England likewise dyd homage vnto y e French King for Britayne and againe as after ye shal heare he receyued homage for the same countrey for the countie of Richmont of his nephewe Arthur Hee also gaue the Erledome of Glowcester vnto the Earle of Eureux as it were by way of exchange for that hee resigned to the Frenche King all right title and clayme that might be pretended vnto the countie of Eureux And thus by this conclusion of marriage betwixt the saide Lewis and Blanche the right of K. Iohn went away which he lawfully before pretended vnto the Citie of Eureux and vnto those Townes in the confynes of Berry Chateau Roux or Raoul Cressy Isoldune likewise vnto the countrey of Veuxin or Veulquessine Polidor whiche is a parte of the territory of Gisours the right of all whych lands Townes and countreys was releassed to the Kyng of Fraunce by Kyng Iohn who supposed that by this affinitie and resignation of hys ryghte to those places the peace nowe made woulde haue continued for euer And in consideration thereof hee procured furthermore The K. commeth backe againe into Englande that the foresayd Blanche shoulde be conueyed into Fraunce to hir husband with all speede And that done he returned again into Englande Certes this peace was displeasant to many but namely to the Erle of Flanders who herevpoÌ„ making no accompt of K. Iohns amitie coÌ„cluded a peace with K. Philip shortly after ment to make war against the infidels in the east parties But by the chronicles of Flaunders it appereth Iaco. Meâ—… that the Erle of Flanders coÌ„cluded a peace with the Frenche King in Februarie last past before that king Iohn and the French king fell to any composition But such was the malice of writers in times past which they bare towards K. Iohn that whatsoeuer was done in preiudice of him or his subiects it was stil interpreted to chaÌ„ce through his defalt so as the blame still was imputed to him in so much that although many things he did peraduenture in matters of gouernemeÌ„t for y e which he may be hardly excused yet to thinke that he deserueth the .x. parte of the blame wherewith writers charge him it might seme a great lack of aduised consideration in them that so shuld take it But now to proceed with our purpose King Iohn being now in rest from warres with foreyn enimies began to make war with his subiects pursses at home emptying them by subsidies taxes and tallages to fill his coffers which alienated the mindes of a great number of them from his loue obedience At length also when he had got togither a great masse of money he went ouer again into Normandie where by Helias Archbishop of Burdeaux the bishop of Poictiers and Scone Rog. Hoâ—… K. Iohn is deuoted Mat. VVâ—… Mat. Paâ—… Rogl Hoâ—… he was diuorsed from his wife Isabel y t was the daughter of Robert erle of Gloucester bicause of the nerenesse of bloud as touching hir in the third degree And after he maried Isabel the daughter of Amery Earle of Angolesme by whome he had two sonnes Henry and Richard .iij. daughters Isabell Eleanor and Iane. Moreouer about this time Mat. Paâ—… Geffrey 〈◊〉 of Yorke â—…priued Geffrey Archbyshoppe of Yorke was depriued of al his manors lands and possessions by the kings commandemeÌ„t directed to y e Sherife of Yorkshire for diuers causes for that he would not permitte y e same sherife to leuie y e duty called Charugage that was three Shillings of euery plough lande within his diocesse rated appointed to be leuied to the Kyngs vse throughout all parties of the Realme Againe for that the same Archbyshoppe refused to goe ouer with the Kyng into NormaÌ„dy to helpe to make the marriage betwixte the Frenche Kyngs sonne and hys neece Thyrdly bycause hee had excommunicated the same Sherife and al the prouince of Yorke wherevpon the Kyng tooke displeasure against hym and not only spoyled him as I sayde of his goodes but also banished him out of the Court not suffering hym to come in his presence for the space of twelue monethes after Rog. Houed A counsell called at West-minster by the Archbishop of Caunterbury â—…thur Duke â—…rytayne â—…n homage â—…ne king of â—…glande About the same time King Iohn and Phillip King of France met togither neere to the towne of Vernon where Arthur Duke of Brytayne as vassall to his vncle Kyng Iohn did his homage vnto him for the Duchie of Brytayne and those other places whiche he helde of him on thys syde and beyonde the riuer of Loyr and afterwarde still mistrusting his Vncles curtesie he returned backe againe with the French Kyng and would not committe hymselfe to hys saide Vncle who as he supposed did beare him litle good wil. These things being thus performed â—…g Iohn reâ—…eth into â—…lande 〈◊〉 Queene is â—…wned King Iohn returned into Englande and there caused his newe married wife Isabell to be Crowned on y e Sunday before the feast of Sainte Dionise the eyght of October The same time hee gaue commaundemente vnto Hugh Neuill hygh Iustice of his forrests that hee should awarde his preceptes vnto al forresters within the Realme to giue warning to al the white Monkes that before the Quindene of Saint Michaell they shoulde remoue out of hys forrestes all their horses of Haraz and other cattel vnder the penaltie to forfeit so many of them as after that daye chaunced to be founde within the same forrestes The cause that moued the K. to deale
fledde out of the Realme vnto the Queene and vnto hir sonne the Earle of Chester The bishop of Eâ—…ceâ—…â—…meth frâ—… the Queen But in the meane tyme Walter Stapleton Byshoppe of Excester whiche hitherto had remayned with the Queene in Fraunce stale nowe from hir and gote ouer into England opening to the Kyng all the counsayle and whole mynde of the Queene whyche thyng turned first of all vnto his owne destruction as shall after appeare About the same time Sir Oliuer 〈◊〉 Ingham â—…tenant of â—…congâ—… one Sir Oliuer de Ingham a yong lusty and valiant Knighte was by the Kinges sonne the Duke of Aquitayne not withoute his fathers consente established Lorde Warden of the marches of Guyenne the whiche sir Oliuer gathering an army of hired Souldiers Spanyardes Aragonoys and Gascoignes inuaded the countrey of Agenoys whyche the Frenche Kyng helde yet in his handes contrary to couenaunte and recouering it from the FreÌ„ch Ageâ—…â—…uered 〈…〉 of the Frenchmens 〈◊〉 cleerely reduced it to the Englishe dominion Moreouer Sir Iohn Oturum Sir Nicholas Kiriell and sir Iohn Felton Admirals by the Kyngs appoyntmente with the fleetes of the East South and West partes Ships of Nâ—…mandy taâ—… went to the Sea to apprehende suche Frenchmenne as they might meete with They according to their commission bestirred themselues so that within few dayes they tooke sixe score saile of Normans and broughte them into Englande wherevppon the displeasure sore encresed betwixt y e two Realmes The King of Englande stoode not onely in doubt of the Frenchmen but more of his â—…ne people that remayned in Fraunce least they thorough help of the French should inuade the lande and therefore hee commaunded the hauens and portes to be surely watched least some suddayne inuasion might happely be attempted for it was will vnderstoode that the Queene meant not to â—…turne till shee mighte bring with hir the Lorde Mortimer and the other banished men who in no wise could obteyne any fauour at the Kynges handes so long as the Spencers â—…ore rule The Pope lamenting this matter sente two Byshoppes into England to reconcile the Kyng and Queene and also to agree the two Kynges These Byshoppes were reuerently receyued but more than reuerence here they obteyned not and so departed as they came An. reg 20. King Edward vnderstanding all the Quenes drift at length sought the French Kings fauour and did so much by letters and promise of bribes with him and his counsaile that Queene Isabell was destitute in manner of all helpe there so that she was glad to withdraw into Haynault by the comfort of Iohn the Lord Beaumont the Earle of Heynault his brother The Lorde â—…mont 〈◊〉 Hennault who beeing then in the Court of Fraunce and lamenting Queene Isabels case imagined with himselfe of some marriage that mighte be had betwixt the yong Prince of Wales and some of the daughters of his brother the Earle of Heynault and therevpon required hir to goe into Heynault and hee would bee glad to attende hir The Queene 〈◊〉 Englande 〈◊〉 hir sonne â—…th into 〈◊〉 â—…te â—…lidor She gladly consenting hereto weÌ„t thither with him wher she was most ioyfully receyued w t hir son all other of hir trayne The Spencer some write procured hir banishment out of Fraunce and that shee was aduised by the Earle of Arthoys chiefly to repaire into Heynault â—…axtâ—… Also I finde that the Spencers deliuered fâ—… barrels of siluer the summe amounting vnto fiue thousande markes vnto one Arnold of Spaine a broker appoynting him to conuey it ouer into Fraunce to bestowe it vpon such friendes as they had there of the French Kings counsaile by whose meanes the King of Fraunce did banishe his sister out of his Realme But this money was met with vpon the Sea by certaine Zelanders and taken togither with the sayd Arnold and presented to the Earle of Heynaulte â–ª vnder whose dominion the Zelanders in those dayes remayned of which good happe the Earle and Queene Isabell greatly reioyced â—…bian â—…rriage â—…cluded In the time that the Queene and hir sonne laye in the Courte of the Earle of Heynaulte a marriage was concluded betwixte the Prince of Wales and the Lady Philippe daughter to the said Earle vppon certayne conditions whereof one was that the said Earle should at his proper costes set ouer into England the saide Prince of Wales with a â—…e of four C. men of armed but whether there was any such marriage as theÌ„ concluded and that in consideratioÌ„ therof the Earle of Heynaulte aided Quene Isabel and hir sonne it may be doubted bycause other writers make no such report Neuerthelesse certayne it is that the Earles brother sir Iohn de Heynault L. Beaumond was appointed with certain hands of men of armes to the numbers of four C. or fiue huÌ„dred to passe ouer with the said Queene and hir sonne into Englande and so therevpon began to make his purueyance for y e iourney which thing wheÌ„ it came to the knowledge of king Edward and the SpeÌ„cers Caxton Prouision made in England to resisâ—… the Queene they caused musters to be taken through the Realme and ordeyned beacons to be set vp kept and watched as wel in the valleys by the sea side as within the countreys vpoÌ„ hilles and hygh groundes y t the same vpon occasioÌ„ of the enimies arriuall mighte be set on 〈◊〉 to warne the countreis adioyuing to assemble to resist them But O. Isabell and hir son with such others as were with hir in Heynault stayed not their iourney for doubt of all their aduersaries prouisioÌ„ but immediately after y t they had once made their purueyances wer ready to depart they tooke the sea as y e foresaid O. hir son Edmond of Wodstocke Erle of Kent sir Iohn de Heynault aforesaid the L. Roger Mortimer of Wigmore a man of good experieÌ„ce in y e warres and diuers other hauing with theÌ„ a small coÌ„pany of EnglishmeÌ„ with a crue of Heynewyers Almains Tho. VVals The Quene with hir sonne land in Suffolke to y e number of 2757. armed meÌ„ the which sailing forth towards England laÌ„ded at leÌ„gth in Suffolk at an Hauen called Orwell besides Harwiche the .15 daye of September Immediately after that the O. and hir â—…e wer come to land it was wonder to 〈…〉 fast y e people resorted vnto theÌ„ Tho. VVals and first of alâ—…â—…he Erle Marshall in whose lands she first came on shore repared to hir so did the Erle of Leicester dâ—…lers Barons and Knightes of those parties The Earles Marshall and of Leycester with others come to the Queene The redinesse of the Prelates to assist the Queene with all the Prelates in manner of the lande as the Byshops of Lincolne Hereforde Dublin and Elie the which being ioyned with the Queene made a great army The Archbyshop of Caunterburie and other ayded hir with money After that she had refreshed hir people a little space at
onely appoynted to assemble againe as if the other Parliament had rather bin continued than disâ—…owed The cause was â—…ged to bee for easing of the charges that 〈◊〉 haue rysen if eche man had bene sent homâ—… new knightes and burgesses called These 〈◊〉 done the king rose from his place and 〈◊〉 cheerefull and right courteous countenaunce regarding the people went to whyte Hall wâ—… the same day he helde a great feast In the after Noone were Proclamations made in the accustomed places of the Eâ—… in the name of king Henrie the fourth King Henry the fourth proclaymed On the morrow following being Wednesday and first of October the Procurators 〈◊〉 named repayred to the Tower of London and there signified to king Richarde of the admission of King Henrie And the aforesayde Iustice William Thyrning in name of the other and for all the states of the lande King Richard depâ—…ed renounced vnto the sayde Richarde late king all homage and 〈◊〉 vnto him before time due in maner and forme as apperteyned And thus was King Richarde depriued of all kingly honour and princely dignitie by reason he was so giuen to followe euill counsaile and vsed suche inconuenient wayes and meanes through insoleÌ„t misgouernaÌ„ce youthful outrage though otherwise a righte noble and woorthie Prince He raigned .xxij. yeares three moneths and .viij. dayes He deliuered to king Henrie now that he was thus deposed all the goodes that he had Hall to the summe of three hundred thousande poundes in coyne besides Plate and Iewels as a pledge and satisfaction of the iniuries by him committed and done in hope to bee in more suretie of life for the deliuerie thereof but whatsoeuer was promised he was deceyued therein For shortly after his resignation hee was conueyed to the Castell of Leedes in Kent and from thence to Pumfret where he departed out of this miserable life as after you shal heare He was seemely of shape and fauour and of nature good ynough His persâ—… if the wickednesse and naughtie demeanor of such as were about him had not altered it His chaunce verily was greatly infortunate whiche fell into suche calamitie that hee tooke it for the beste waye hee coulde deuise to renounce hys Kingdome for the whiche mortall menne are accustomed to hazarde all they haue to atteyne therevnto but such mysfortune or the lyke oftentymes falleth vnto those Princes whiche when they are aloft cast no doubt for perilles that maye followe He was prodigall ambitious and muche giuen to the pleasure of the bodie Harding Hee kept the greatest port and mainteyned the most plentifull house that euer any king in Englande did eyther before his time or since The noble house kepâ—… of K. Richaâ—… There resorted dayly to his court aboue .x. M. persons that had meate and drinke there allowed them In his kitchen there were three hundred seruitors and euerie other office was furnished after the like rate Of Ladies Chamberers LauÌ„derers there were aboue three huÌ„dred at the least And in gorgeous and costly apparell they exceeded all measure Excesse in appâ—…l not one of them that kept within the boundes of his degree Yeomen Groomes were clothed in silkes with clothe of graine and skarlet ouer sumptuous ye may be sure for theyr estates And this vanitie was not onely vsed in the Court in those dayes but also other people abrode in the townes and Countreys had theyr garments cutte farre otherwise than had beene accustomed afore his dayes with embroderyes riche furres and goldsmithes worke and euerie day there was deuising of newe fashions to the greate hynderaunce and decay of the common wealth Moreouer such were preferred to Bishoprikes and other Ecclesiastical lyuings Ignorant proâ—… as neither could teache nor preache nor knewe any thing of the scripture of God but onely to call for theyr tithes and dueties so that they were moste vnworthie the name of Bishops being lewd and most vaine persons disguised in Bishops apparell Moreouer there reigned abundantly the filthie sinne of lecherie and fornication with abhominable adulterie specially in the king but moste chiefly in the prelacie whereby the whole realme by such their euill ensample was so infected that the wrath of God was dayly prouoked to vengeance for the sinnes of the Prince and hys people Thus haue ye heard what wryters do report touching the state of the time and doings of this king But if I may boldly say what I think he was a Prince the most vnthankfully vsed of hys subiects of any one of whom ye shal lightly read For although through the frailtie of youth he demeaned himselfe more dissolutely than seemed conuenient for his royall estate and made choyse of such Counsaylers as were not fauoured of the people wherby he was the lesse fauoured himself yet in no kings days were the commons in greater wealth if they could haue perceyued their happie state neither in any other time were the Nobles and Gentlemen more cherished nor Church-men lesse wronged but such was their ingratitude towardes their bountifull and louing soueraigne that those whome he had chiefly aduaunced were readiest to controll him for that they might not rule all things at their will and remoue from him such as they mislyked and place in theyr rowmthes whome they thought good and that rather by strong hande than by gentle and courteous meanes which stirred such malice betwixt him and them till at length it could not be asswaged without perill of destruction to them both The Duke of Gloucester chiefe instrument of this mischiefe to what ende hee came yee haue heard and although his nephewe the Duke of Hereforde tooke vpon him to reuenge his death yet waÌ„ted he moderation and loyaltie in hys doings for the which both he himself and his lâ—…neal race were scourged afterwardes as a due punishment with rebellious subiects so as deserued vengeance seemed not to stay long for his ambitious crueltie that could not be contented to driue king Richard to resigne his Crowne and regall dignitie ouer vnto him except hee also shoulde take from him his guiltlesse life But to let this passe to the consideration of the learned according to our order I will shewe what wryters of our English nation liued in his dayes as wee finde them in Iohn Bales Centuries First Henrie Bederic otherwise surnamed of Burie after the name of the towne where hee is thought to haue bin borne an Augustine Frier Simon Alcocke Vthred Bolton a Monke of Durham but borne in the borders of Wales beyond Seuerne William Iordan a black Frier Iohn Hilton a Frier Minor Iohn Clipton'a Carmelite Frier in Notingham Henrie Daniel a black Frier a good Phisition Raufe MarhaÌ„ Iohn Marcheley a gray Frier or cordelier as some call them Thomas Broome a Carmelite Frier of London Iohn Bridlington borne in Yorkeshire William Thorne an Augustine Frier of Canterburie an Historiographer Adam Merimouth a Canon of Saint Paules Church in London that wrote two
the king whose honor health suretie and preseruation they chiefly wyshed not to giue credence to theyr aduersaries malicious suggestions till theyr comming to his presence vnto the which they huÌ„bly besought him that they might be admitted as his faythfull liege people to shewe the intent and purpose of their commings which was to none other ende than to enlarge theyr fidelitie and allegiance towards his most dread person intending to put themselues with as much diligence industrie and trauaile in all things that might preferre aduaunce his honour health suretie and safegarde as anye subiect he had liuing The keeping back of this letter from the kings sight and knowledge did minister matter sufficient ynough to the Parliament to colour and instifie for well done all transgressions committed in the late battayle and chase at Saint Albons The Duke of Yorkes comming againste the k. iustified In this Parliament also the Duke of Yorke was made Protector of the realme The D. of York â—…de protecâ—… of the 〈◊〉 and the Erle of Salisburie was appoynted to be Lord Chancellor and had the great seale to him deliuered and the Earle of Warwike was elected to the office of the captainship of Calays and the territories of the same and thus the rule of the Realme rested in the orders of the Duke and Chancellor and all warlike affayres remayned principally in the Erle of Warwike And so amongst them it was agreed that king Henry should still raigne in name and dignitie but neyther in deede nor in authoritie not mynding to destroy him least they might sodainly prouoke the furie of the common people agaynst them bycause that of the symple sort of people hee was for hys holynesse of lyfe and aboundant clemencye muche fauoured and highly esteemed VVhethom â—…e acte for the â—…ng to reuoke 〈◊〉 grants In this Parliament also it was enacted that the king shoulde resume take into his handes againe haue and retaine in his possession all honours Castels Lordships townes villages manours landes tenements wastes forests chases rentes reuersions fees fermes seruices issues profites counties aduousons of Priories Churches hospitals and free Chapels and all other reuenues with theyr appurtenances the whiche had passed from him sith the first day of his raigne vnto that present eyther by his letters patents or authoritie of Parliament and any other meanes whether by graunt confirmation or release from him made in fee simple or fee taile for tearme of life or yeares to anye maner of person and persons in Englande Wales Scotlande or the Marches in Irelande or in the townes of Calays and Guisnes and the marches there and likewise all grauntes made of suche things as is aboue mentioned being parcell of the Duchie of Lancaster and further all graunts of offices rowmeths fees wages or commodities not accustomed to belong to any office or charge before the sayde first day of the kings raigne were likewise reuoked Diuerse other things were also conteyned within this reuocation and generall resumption of things into the kings hands with certaine exceptions yet and prouisoes had as were thought coÌ„uenient and as by the same act it doth and may more plainly appeare Moreouer nowe that the Duke of Yorke and his adhereÌ„ts had wrasted the whole rule and gouernment into their handes All suche persons as the king eyther loued or the Queene fauoured were put beside the priuie counsaile and suche put in their places as was knowne to fauor the house of Yorke Also the officers were chaunged Shifting of officers throughout the realme at the will and disposition of the Protector Chancellor and captain of Calays so that they coÌ„stituted as it were a triumuirate ruling all things at their owne discretion And yet in all theyr rule I finde not that any mention is made of theyr deferring of iustice or of any polling or bryberie as was openly proued by such as gouerned before their time Onelye they were noted with an execrable and damnable offence of diuerse spirituall persons and namely of the Abbot of Westminster and his Munkes for that they toke oute of the Sanctuarie at Westminster Iohn Hollande Duke of Exeter being repugnant to the order taken in the last Parliament and conueyed him to the Castell of Pomfret But that venemous worme that dreadfull DragoÌ„ called disdaine of superioritie which hath consumed the bloud of so manye noble Princes and destroyed the lygnage of so many gouernors in all realmes and kingdomes as well Pagan as Christian coulde not but incense the heartes of the Lord Henrie Beauforde Henry D. of Sommerseâ—… newly inuested duke of Somerset by the death of Duke Edmond hys father which at the battaile of Saint Albons as aboue is rehearsed lost his life and of Humfrey Duke of Buckingham who had lost his sonne and heyre at the same battaile and of other lordes and men of authoritie fauouring the part of king Henrie whiche bewayled the vnsure state of the same king bycause they perceyued wherevnto the cloked courtesie and dissembling maner of the Duke of Yorke did drawe and therefore thought it necessarie to puruey for a remedie ere the mischiefe happened Herevpon they consulted with the Queene and by hir aduice was a great couÌ„sail called at Greenwich The Duke of York discharged of his office where the duke of York was discharged of his protectorshippe and the Earle of Salisburie depriued also of his office whiche malicious chaunge amongest the Nobilitie caused sodaine alterations and seditious attemptes to spring and aryse in the communaltie and in especiall wythin the Citie of London For a yong Marchaunt which before time hadde beene in dyuerse Cities within the Countrey of Italy 1456 and there forbydden by the Magistrates to weare anye weapon chalenged an Italian in Cheapeside for wearing a Dagger alledging agaynste hym the lawes of hys owne Countrey and bycause the Italian aunswered somewhat disdainefully the Marchaunt not wylling to suffer so open a reproche in a streete so fraught with people tooke by force from him his Dagger and with the same brake his pate This Italian in greate hast complayned to the Maior of thys offence so that at the nexte Court holden at the Guilde hall the Marchant was sent for and his offence beeing declared vnto him he was commaunded to warde wherevpon dyuerse other light persons within the Citie assembled togyther in great plumps An vptote in the citie of London and by force constrayned the Maior to delyuer the prysoner out of Newgate and not so satisfied like madde men ran to the seuerall houses of dyuerse Venetians A foule disorder Lucases and Florentines and them spoyled robbed and rifled wythout reason or measure The Maior perceiuing this enormious doing assembled a greate number of substantiall and graue Citizens which not without great bloudshed and mayming of sundrie persons finally appeased the rage and caused the misruled people to depart to their houses The begynner of this outragious vprore got him to Westminster and
the dayes of this vsurper and hys nephew king Edward the fyfth these we fynde recorded by Iohn Bale fieste Iohn Penketh an Augusâ—… Frier of Warlington in Lancoâ—…hire a right sâ—…tle fellow in disputation folowing the footesteppes of his Maister Iohn Dunâ—… whom he chiefly studied He wrote diuers treatifes and made that infamous sermon at Poules mâ—…st in fauour of the Duke of Gloucester then protector to the disenheriting of Edward the fifth his 〈◊〉 following and gouernour Iohn Kent or Cayleâ—…â—…ne in Southwales George Riplay first a Chanâ—…e of Bridlington and after a Caâ—…lite Frier in Boston a greate Matheâ—…atician Rhetorician and Poet Iohn Spyne a Carmelite Frier of Bristowe that proceeded Doctour of diuinitie in Cambridge and suche lyke King Henry the seuenth Henry the .vij. Anno. re 1. KIng HeÌ„ry hauing thus got the victorie at Bosworth slayn his mortal enemie there in field he sente before his departure from Leycester sir Rob. Willoughby knighte to the manour of Sheriffehuton in the couÌ„tie of York for Edward Plantagenet Earle of Warwik son and heire to George duke of Clarence then being of the age of xv yeares whom king Richard had kept there as prisoner during the tyme of his vsurped reigne Sir Robert Willoughby receyuing the yong Earle of the Constable of that Castel conueyed him to London wher he was shut vp in the Tower The Earle of Warvvicke set and heare to George duke at Clarence conuerted to â—…e Tovver for doubt least some vnquiet and euill disposed persons might inuent some occasion of newe trouble by this yong Gentleman and therefore king Henry thought good to haue him sure There was beside him in the castell of Sheriffehut in the Ladye Elizabeth eldest daughter to Kyng Edward the fourth whome Kyng Rycharde as yee haue hearde meant to haue marryed but God otherwyse ordeyned for hir and preserued hir from that vnlawfull copulation and incestuous bedde Shortly after she being accompanyed with a greate number as wel of noble men as honorable matrones was wyth good speed conueyed to London and brought to hir mother In the meane season kyng Henry remoued forwarde by soft iourneys toward London the people commyng in from all sides to behold him and exceedingly reioycing at his presence King Henrye â—…reth to London as by their voyces and gestures it well appeared At his approching nere to the citie the Mayre and his brethren with other worshipfull Citizens being cloathed in violet met him at Shordiche and reuerently saluted hym and so wyth greate pompe and triumph he rode through the citie to the cathedrall Churche of Saint Paule where he offred three standards In the one was the image of Saint George in an other was a red fyerie dragon beaten vpon white and greene sarcenet and in the third was paynted a Dunne cowe vpon yealow tarterne After his prayers sayd and Te deum song he departed to the Bishops palaice and there soiorned a season Anon after he assembled togither y e sage counsellors of the realme in which counsel lyke a Prince of iust fayth and true of promise to anoyde all ciuile discorde he apointed a day to ioyne in mariage with the Lady Elizabeth heire of the house of York with his noble personage heire to the liue of Lancaster whiche thing not onely reioyced the heartes of the nobles and Gentlemen of the realme but also gayned the fauours and good willes of all the commons After this with great pompe he rowed vnto Westminster and there the thirtith day of October was with all ceremonies accustomed anoynted and crowned king by the whole assent as well of the commons as of the nobilitie Henry the seuenth crovvned King and cleped Henry the seuenth of that name whiche was in the yeare of the worlde .5452 and after the birth of our Lorde .1485 in the .xlvj. yeare of Frederike the thirde then Emperour of Almayne Maximilian his sonne being newly elected K. of Romaines 1485 in the seconde yeare of Charles the eyght then king of Fraunce and in the .xxv. of king Iames then ruling the realm of Scotland For the establishing of all things as well touching the preseruation of his owne estate as the commendable administration of iustice and preferrement of the common wealth of his realme he called his hygh court of Parliament at Westminster the seuenth day of Nouember A Parliament at VVestmivster and a generall Pardoâ—… wherein was attainted Richarde late Duke of Gloucester calling and namyng himselfe by vsurpation King Richard the thirde likewise there was attainted as chiefe ayders and assistants to him in the battayle at Bosworth auaunced againste the present Kyng Iohn late Duke of Norffolke Thomas Earle of Surrey Francis Louell knyght Vicont Louell Water Deuereux knight late lorde Ferrers Iohn lorde Souche Robert Harrington Richarde Charleton Richard Ratcliffe William Barkley of Weley Robert Midleton Iames Harrington Roberte BrakeÌ„bury Thomas Pilkinton Walter Hopton William Catesby Roger Wake WilliaÌ„ Sapcote of the countie of Huntington Humfrey Stafforde William Clerke of Wenlocke Geoffrey Sainte Germaine Richarde Watkyns Herraulde of Armes Rycharde Reuell of Darbyshire Thomas Pulter of the countie of Kente Iohn Walche otherwyse called Hastynges Iohn Kendall late Secretarie of the sayde Richarde late Duke of Gloucester Iohn Bucke Andrewe Rat and Willyam Brampton of Burforde in whiche atteynder neuerthelesse there were dyuers clauses and Prouisos for the benefyte of their wiues and other persons that hadde or myghte clayme any ryghte title or interest lawfully vnto any castels manours lordships townes townships honors lands tenementes rentes seruices fee fermes annuities knightes fees aduousons reuersions remainders and other hereditaments wherof the said persons atteynted were possessed or seysed to the vses of suche other persons with a speciall prouiso also that the sayd atteynder should not be preiudiciall to Iohn Catesby knight Tho. Reuell and William Ashby esquiers in of and vpon the manor of Kirkeby vpon Wretheke in the Countie of Leycester nor in of and vppon any other landes and tenementes in Kirkby aforesayde Melton Somerby Thropâ—…eghfield and Godeby whiche they had of the gift feoffement of Tho. Dauuers and Iohn Lye And further notwithstanding this attainder dyuers of the sayde persons afterwardes were not only by the Kig pardoned but also restored to their lands liuings and moreouer in this presente Parliamente hee caused poclamation to be made that al meÌ„ were pardoned and acquited of their offences whiche woulde submit themselues to his mercy and receiue an othe to be true and faithfull vnto hym whervpon many that came out of Sainctuaries and other places were receiued to grace and admitted for his subiectes After this hee began to remember his especiall frends of whom some he aduaunced to honor and dignitie and some hee enriched with goodes and possessions euery man according to his deserts and merites And to begin his vncle Iasper erle of Pembroke he created duke of Bedford Tho. lorde Stanley was created erle of Darby the L.
Cornehill But to speake of al y e solemne shew set forth that daye how y e crafts Aldermen and Lord Maior stoode in their appointed places or of the rich sumptuous apparel which not only y e K. and Quene ware that day but also other estates whiche dyd attēd their maiesties it would aske a long time yet I shoulde omit many things faile of the nūber The trappers rich furnitures of horses palfreys charets were wonderfull Of cloth of tissew golde siluer embroderies goldsmithes worke there was no want beside the great number of chaynes of gold handerikes both massy greate righte gorgeous to behold And thus w t great ioy and honor they came to Westminster The morrow following being Sunday also Midsomer day that noble Prince w t his wife Q. Katherine wente from the Palaice to the Abbey of Westmin where according to the ancient custome The coronation of Kyng Henry and Q. Katherine they were annointed Crowned by the Archb. of Cant. with other Prelates of the Realm there present the nobilitie and a greate multitude of the cōmons After with the solemnity of y e said coronation according to the sacred obseruances vsed in that behalf ended the Lords Spirituall and temporall did to him homage Homage done to the King as his coronatiō by the lordes spirituall and temporall and then he returned to Westminster Hall with the Queene where they dined all the solemne customes and seruices being vsed done whiche in such cases apperteined euery L. other noble manne according to their tenures before claymed viewed seene and allowed entring into their roomths and offices that day to execute the same accordingly When the feast or diner was ended and the tables auoyded the King and the Quene went vnto their chambers For the more enobling of this coronation there was prepared both iustes and tourneys whiche within the palaice of Westminster were performed and done with great triumph and royaltie The enterprisers of which martiall feats wer these persons whose names ensue Thomas Lord Howard sonne and heire apparant to the Erle of Surrey sir Edward Howard Admirall his brother the Lorde Richarde Gray brother to the Marques Dorset sir Edmunde Howarde sir Edmunde Kneuet and Charles Brandon Esquier And on the other side as defendauntes were these eight persones Sir Iohn Pechye sir Edwarde Neuill sir Edwarde Euilforde sir Iohn Carre Sir Willyam Parre Sir Giles Capell Sir Griffeth Doun and Syr Roulande The King pardoned the Lorde Henrye brother to the Duke of Buckingham committed to the Tower as yee haue heard vppon suspition of treason But when nothyng coulde bee proued agaynste hym hee was sette at libertie and at the Parliament after created earle of Wilshire Also this yeare the kyng ordeyned fifty Gentlemen to bee speares euerye of them to haue an Archer a Demylaunce and a Custrell and euerye speare to haue three great horses to be attendaunt on his person of the whiche bende the earle of Essex was lieutenaunt and Sir Iohn Pechy Capitaine Thys ordynaunce continued but a while the chardges was so greate for there were none of them but they and their horses were apparayled and trapped in clothe of golde siluer and Goldsmithes worke A great plague ◅o Calais This yeare also was a greate pestilence in the Towne of Calais so that the King sente one Syr Iohn Pechie wyth three hundreth men to tarrye there vppon the defence of that Towne til the sickenesse was ceassed Furthermore A parliament this yeare the King sommoned his Parliament in the Monethe of Nouember to begin in the Monethe of Ianuarye nexte ◅syng Wherof Sir Thomas Ingleflelde was chosen speaker At this Parliament Syr Rycharde Empson Knight Empson and Dudley attainted of treason and Edmond Dudly esquier late counsellours to Kyng Henrye the seuenthe were atteynted of highe treason They were chardged with many offences cōmitted in the late kings dayes as partely beefore you haue hearde and being broughte before the counsell Polidor as they were graue and wise personages and bothe of them learned and skilfull in the lawes of this realm they alledged for themselues right constantlye in their owne defences muche good sufficient matter in so muche that Empson being the elder in yeres had these words I know right honorable that it is not vnknowne to you how profitable and necessarie lawes are for the good preseruation of mans lyfe withoute the which neither house town nor citie can long continue or stand in safetie which lawes herein Englande thorough negligence of magistrates were partly decayed and partely quite forgotten and worne out of vse the mischief wherof dayly increasing Henry the .vij. a most graue and prodent Prince wished to suppresse therfore appointed vs to see that suche lawes as were yet in vse might continue in three ful force and such as were out of vse might againe be reuiued and restored to their former state and that also those persons which transgressed the same mighte bee punished according to theyr demerites wherein we discharged oure dueties in moste faythfull wyfe and beste manner we coulde to the greate aduauntage and cōmoditie no doubt of y e whole common wealthe wherefore wee most humbly besiech you in respect of your honours courtesie goodnesse humanitie and iustice not to decree any greeuous sentence against vs as though wee were worthy of punishmente but rather to appoint how w t thankefull recompence our paines and trauaile may be worthily considered Many of the counsell thoughte that hee had spoken well and so as stoode with greate reason but yet the greater number supposing that the reuiuing of those lawes had proceeded rather of a couetous meaning in the King and them than of anye zeale of Iustice and hauing also themselues felte the smart lately before for their owne offences and transgressions hadde conceiued such malice towardes the men that they thoughte it reason that suche as hadde bene dealers therein were worthy to lose their heads in like sorte as they had caused others to lose their money Heerevppon their accusers were maynteyned and many odde matters narrowly sought out against thē as by two seuerall inditementes framed against Sir Richarde Empson the copies whereof I haue seene it may well appeare In the one hee is charged that to winne the fauoure and credite of the late King not waying hys honour nor the prosperitie of him or wealthe of his Realme hee hadde in subuersion of the lawes of the lande procured dyuers persons to be endited of diuers crimes and offences surmised agaynste them and therevpon to bee committed to prison without due processe of lawe and not suffered to come to theyr aunsweres were kept in durance till they had compounded for their fines to their great importable losses and vtter empouerishment Also diuers vntrue offices of intrusions and alienations made by sundrye the late Kyngs liege people into manors lands and tenements were found it being
that all the beholders spake of them honor Thursday the .xxj. of Iune the two Kings likewise kept the tourneys so that all those noble men that woulde proue their valiancies were deliuered according to the articles of the tourneys which this day tooke ende â—…ers Fryday the .xxij. of Iune the two kings with their retinue did battaile on foote at the Barriers and there deliuered all such as put forth themselues to trie their forces 〈◊〉 Cardinall â—…g Maâ—…e â—…re two 〈◊〉 On Saterday the .xxiij. of Iune the Lorde Cardinall sang an highe and solemne Masse by note aloft vpon a pompous stage before the two Kings and Queenes the which being furnished Indulgence was giuen to all the hearers The two kings dyned in one Chamber that day and the two Queenes in another After dinner the two kings with their bendâ—… entred the field on foote before the Bairiers and so began the fight which continued battaile after battaile till all the commers were answered There were deliuered this day thus at the barriers by battaile an C. and sixe persons the two last battails did the kings And so that Saterday the whole chalenge was performed and all men deliuered of the articles of iustes tourneys battayles on foote at the Barriers by the sayde two kings and their aydes After this there folowed royall maskes Maskes and on the Sunday the .xxiiij. of Iune the King of Englande with foure companyes in euerie companie senne trymlye appoynted in maskyng apparell rode to Arde and lykewise the Frenche king accoÌ„panied with .xxxviij. persons as maskers repayred to Guisnes They met on the way and eche company passed by other without any countenance making or disuisering They were honourably receyued as well at the one place as the other and when they had ended theyr pastime banquetting and daunces they returned and met againe on the way homewardes and then putting off their visers they louingly embraced and after amiable communication togyther they tooke leaue either of other and for a remembraunce gaue giftes eyther to other verie rich and princely King Henry departed from Guisnes to Caleys and from thence to Graueling to visite the Emperour On the Morrow after being Monday the xxv of Iune the king with the Queene remoued from Guisnes to Calays where hee remayned till the tenth of Iuly on whiche day he roade to Graueling and was receyued on the waye by the Emperor and so by hym conueyed to Graueling where not onely the king but also all his traine was cheared and feasted with so louing maner that the Englishmen highly praysed the Emperors Court This meeting of the Emperour and the king of Englande was a corosie to the French king and his people as by euident tokens afterwardes well appeared The emperour commeth to Caleys to king Henrye On Wednesday the eleuenth of Iuly the Emperour and his Aunte the Ladie Margaret came wyth the king of Englande to the towne of Calays and there continued in great ioy and solace wyth feasting banquetting daunsing and masking till Saterdaye the fourtenth of Iuly on the whiche day about noone hee tooke leaue of the Queene of Englande hys Aunte and departed towarde Graueling beeing conducted on his way by the king of England to a Village towardes Flanders called Waell and there they embraced and tooke leaue eyther of other in most louing maner They did not altogither spend the tyme thus whilest they were togither in vayne pleasures and sporting reuels for the Charters before time concluded were there read and all the Articles of the league tripartite agreed betwixt the Emperour the King of Englande and the French king were at full declared to the whiche the French king had fully condescended and for the more proufe thereof and exemplyfication of the same he sent Monsieur de Roche with letters of credence to signifie to the Emperour that in the worde of a Prince he woulde obserue fulfil performe and keepe all the same articles for him his realme and subiects The king returneth into England Shortly after that the Emperour and the King had taken leaue eche of other and were departed the king shipped and with the Queene and all other the Nobilitie returned safely into England The King kept hys Christmasse at Grenewiche this yeare with much noblenesse and open Court About the same tyme 1521 the King hauing regarde to the common wealth of his realme Polidor considered how for the space of fiftie yeares past and more the Nobles and Gentlemen of Englande being giuen to grasing of cattell and keeping of sheepe had inuented a meane howe to encrease their yearely reuenues to the great decay and vndoing of the husbandemen of the lande For the sayde Nobles and Gentlemen after the maner of the Numidians more studying how to encrease their pastures than to mainteyne tyllage beganne to decay husbande tackes and tenements and to conuert errable grounde into Pasture furnishing the same with beastes and sheepe and also deare so enclosing the fieldes with hedges dytches and pales whiche they helde in theyr owne handes engrossing woolles and selling the same and also sheepe and beastes at theyr owne pryses and as might stande most to theyr owne pryuate commoditie whereof a threefolde euill chaunced to the common wealth as Polidore noteth one for that thereby the number of husband men was sore diminished the whiche the Prince vseth chiefely in his seruice for the warres an other for that many Townes and Vyllages were left desolate and became ruynous the thirde for that both Wooll and Cloth made thereof and the fleshe of all maner of beastes vsed to bee eaten was solde at farre higher pryces than was accustomed These enormityes at the fyrst beginning beeyng not redressed grewe in shorte space to suche force and vigour by euyll custome that afterwarwardes they could not be well taken away nor remoued The King therefore causing suche good statutes as had beene deuised and established for reformation in thys behalfe to be reuyued and called vppon Commissâ—… graunted for the maintenaunce of â—…llage and laying open of inclosure taketh order by directing forth hys Commission vnto the Iustices of peace and other suche Magystrates that presentmente shoulde bee hadde and made of all suche Inclosures and decay of husbandrye as had chaunced within the space of fiftie yeares before that present tyme. The Iustices and other Magistrates according to their commission executed the same And so commaundement was giuen that the decayed houses should be buylt vp again that the husbandmen should be placed eftsoones in y e same and that inclosed grounds shuld be laid open and sore punishment appointed agaynste them that disobeyed 〈…〉 These so good and wholesome ordinances shortely after were defeated by meane of bribes giueÌ„ vnto the Cardinal for when the nobles and Gentlemen whiche had for their pleasures imparked the common fieldes were loth to haue the same againe disparked they redemed their vexation with good summes of money and so
the towne 〈◊〉 of the gray Friers The .xxi. of September Doctor Taylor maister of the Rolles was discharged of that office and Thomas Cromwell 〈◊〉 in hys place the .ix. of October Moreouer the thirde of Nouember The Parliament againe beginneth the Parliament began againe in the which was concluded the Act of Supremacie which authorized the kings highnesse to be supreme head of the church of England and the authoritie of the Pope chalished out of the realme In the same Parliament also was gyuen to the king the first fruites and tenthes of all spirituall dignities and promotions This yeare came the great Admiral of France into EnglaÌ„d Ambassador from the French king The Admirall of France coÌ„meth in Ambassade into England 1535. and was honorably receyued In this â—…medyed the Earle of Kildare prisoner in the Tower and his son Thomas Fitz-Garet begon to rebell and tooke all the kings ordinance and sent to the Emperor requiring him to take his part Also he fiue the bishop of Dublyn and robbed all suche as woulde not obey him In the beginning of this yeare An. reg 27. the Duke of Norffolke and the Bishop of Elie went to Calays and thither came the Admirall of Fraunce The .xxij. of Aprill the Prior of the Chartereux at London the Prior of Beuall Stow. the Prior of Exham Reynalds a brother of Sion Iohn Vicar of Thisleworth were arraigned and condemned of treason and thervpon drawne hanged and quartered at Tiburne the fourth of May. Their heades quarters were set ouer the bridge and gates of the citie one quarter excepted which was set vp at the Chartereux at London The eight of May the king commaunded that all belonging to the Court should poll theyr heades and to giue ensample caused his owne heade to be polled and his heard from thenceforth was cut round but not shauen The .xix. of Iune were three Monkes of the Charterhouse hanged drawne Monkes of the Charterhouse executed and quartered at Tyburne and their heades and quarters set vp about London for denying the king to bee supreme heade of the Church Their names were Exmew Middlemoore and Nudigate Also the .xxj. of the same Moneth The Bishop of Rochester beheaded and for the same cause doctor Iohn Fisher Bishop of Rochester was beheaded and his heade set vppon London bridge This Bishop was of many sore lamented for hee was reported to bee a man of great learning and of a verie good life The Pope had elected him a Cardinall and sent hys hatte as farre as Calais but his head was off before his flat could come Sir Thomas Moore beheaded The sixt of Iuly was sir Thomas Moore beheaded for the like crime that is to wit for denying the king to be supreme head This man was both learned and wise but giues much to a certaine pleasure in merye tauntes and leâ—…sting in moste of his communication whiche manner hee forgatte not at the verye houre of hys death This yeare in the tyme that the king went his progresse to Gloucester and to other places Westwarde The king of Scots knight of the garter the king of Scottes was installed knight of the Garter at Windsore by his procurator the Lorde Erskyn and in October following The Bishop of Winchester Ambassador into France Stephen Gardiner whiche after the Cardinalles death was made Byshoppe of Wynchester was sente Ambassadoure into Fraunce where hee remayned three yeares after Stow. In August the Lorde Thomas Fitzgerarde sonne to the Erle of Kyldare was taken in Ireland and sent to the tower of London In the Moneth of October Doctor Lee and other were sent to visite the Abbayes Priories and Nunries in Englande who set all those religious persons at liberty that would forsake their habite and all that were vnder the age of .xxiiij. yeres and the residue were closed vp that would remaine Further they tooke order that no men shoulde haue accesse to the houses of women nor women to the houses of men except it should bee to heare theyr seruice The Abbot or Prior of the house where any of the brethren was willing to depart was appoynted to giue to euerie of them a priestes gowne for his habit xl.ss in mony the Nunnes to haue such apparell as secular women ware and to go whither them liked best The .xj. of Nouember was a great Procession at London for ioy of the French kings recouerie of health from a daungerous sicknesse In December a suruey was taken of al ChaÌ„teryes and the names of them that had the gyft of them 1536 The Lady Katherin dowager deceaseth The Princes Dowager lying at Kimbalton fell into hir last sicknesse whereof the King being aduertised appoynted the Emperours Ambassadour that was leger here with him named Eustachius Caputius to go to visite hir and to doe his commendations to hir and will hir to bee of good comfort The Ambassadour with all diligence doth his dutie therein comforting hir the best hee myght but shee within sixe dayes after perceyuing hir selfe to waxe verie weake and feeble and to feele death approching at hande caused one of hir Gentlewomen to write a letter to the King commending to him hir daughter and his beseeching him to stande good father vnto hir and further desired him to haue some consideration of hir Gentlewomen that had serued hir and to see them bestowed in maryage Further that it woulde please him to appoynted that hir serâ—… might 〈◊〉 their â—…e wages and a yeares wages beside This in effect was all that shee requestâ—… and so immediately herevpon shee departed thys life the .viij. of Ianuarie at Kimbaltors aforesaid and was buried at Peterborow The fourth of Februarie the Parliamente beganne Religious houses giâ—… to the king in the whiche amongst other things inacted all Religious houses of the value of three hundred Markes and vnder were gyuen to the King with all the landes and goodes to them belonging The nuÌ„ber of these houses were .376 the value of their laÌ„ds yerely aboue 32000..ss their mouable goodes one hundred thousand Stâ—…w The religious persons put out of the same houses amounted to the number of aboue ten thousand This yeare was William Tindall burned at a towne betwixt Bruyssels and Maclyn called Villefort William Tindall burne This Tyndal otherwise called Hichyus was borne in the Marches of Wales and hauing a desire to translate and publishe to his Countrey dyuerse bookes of the Byble in English doubting to come in trouble for the same if he shoulde remaine here in Englande got him ouer into the parties of beyond the sea where he translated not onely the newe Testament into the Englishe tongue but also the fiue bookes of Moses Iosua Iudicum Ruth the bookes of the kings Paralipâ—…menon Nehemias or the first of Esdras the Prophet Ionas Beside these translations he made certain treatises and published the same which were brought ouer into Englande read with great
they prouided for the Lazee to keepe him oute of the Citizen 〈◊〉 clapping of â—…ysshes and ryligion of â—…rtâ—…s to the great trouble of the Littâ—…s and also to the daungerous infection of manye that they shoulde bee remoued at home at their present with seuerall pensionâ—… Now after this godâ—… 〈◊〉 to taken the citizens by such means as may truised willing to further y e lande the report therof man made 〈◊〉 y e 〈…〉 hereof was not onely willing to graunt suche as shoulde be the ouersiers and gouernors of the said houses a corporation and authoritie for the gouernement thereof but also required that he might bee accounted as the chiefe sounder and patrone thereof And for the furtherâ—…unce of she sayde worke King Edwarde the sixth founder of the hospitals in London and continuall maintenaunce of the same he of his meere mercie and goodnesse graunted that where before certaine landes were giuen to the maintenaunce of the house of the Sanoy founded by King Henrie the seauenth for the lodging of pilgrimes and straungers and that the same was nowe made but a lodging of loyterers vagabondes and strumpets that laye all daye in the fields and at night were harboured there the which was rather the mayntenance of beggerie than the reliefe of the poore gaue the same landes being first surrendred into his hands by the Maister and felowes there whiche landes were of the yearely value of sixe hundreth poundes vnto the Citie of London for the maintenaunce of the foundation aforesayde And for a further reliefe a petition being made to the Kings maiestie for a licence to take in mortmayne or otherwise without licence landes to a certaine yearely value and a space left in the patent for his Grace to put in what summe it woulde please him he looking on the voyde place called for penne and ynke and with his owne hande wrote this summe in these wordes Foure thousande markes by yeare and then sayde in the hearing of his Counsaile A blessed king Lord God I yeelde thee most heartie thanks that thou hast giuen mee life thus long to finishe this worke to the glorie of thy name After whiche foundation established he liued not aboue two dayes Sir William Chester Iohn Calthrop Draper By example of whiche acte of this vertuous yong king sir William Chester Knight and Alderman of London and Iohn Ealthrop Citizen and Draper of the sayd Citie at their own proper costes and charges made the brickwals and want on the backeside that leadeth from the sayde new hospitall vnto the hospitall of Saint Bartholomewes and also couered and vanted the towne ditch from Aldersgate to Newgate which before was very noisome and contagious vnto the sayde Hospitall Richard Castel shoomaker This Hospitall being thus erected and put in good order there was one Richarde Castell alias Castellee shown mater dwelling in Westminster a man of great tâ—…ile and labor in his facultie with his owne handes and suche a one as was named the Edeke of Westminster for that both Winter and Sommer as was at his worke before foure of the clock in the morning This maÌ„ thus truly and painfully laboring for his liuing God blessed and increased his â—…hocâ—… so abundantly that heputt hâ—…sed lands and 〈◊〉 in Westminster to the yearely value of xliiij â—… And hauing no childe with the consent of his wife who also yet liueth and is a vertuous and good woman gaue the same landes wholye to Christes hospitall aforesayde to the reliefe of the innocent and fatherlesse children and for the succor of the miserable sore and sicke harboured in the other hospitals about London whose example God graunt many to followe About this time there were three notable ships set forth and furnished for the great aduenture of the vnknowne voyage into the East by y e north seas The great doer and encourage of which voiage was Sebastian Caboto an EnglishmeÌ„ Sebastian Caboto born at Bristow but was the sâ—… of a Genawaies These ships at the last arriued in the couÌ„trie of Moscouia not without great lusse danger namely of their captaine who was a worthie aduenturous gentleman called sir Hugh Willough by knight who being tossed and driuen by tempest hernous at the last founde in his ship frosen to death and all his people But now the sayde voyage and trade is greatly aduaunced and the merchants aduenturing that waye are newly by acte of Parliament incorporated and moued with sundrie priuiledges and liberties About the beginning of the moueth of Maye next following Three noâ—… mariages there were three notable mariages concluded and shortlye after solemnised at Durham place The first was betweene the Lorde Guilforde Dudley the fourth sonne of the Duke of Northumberlande and the Ladie Iane eldest daughter of Henrie Duke of Suffolke and the Ladie Frauncis his wife was the daughter of Marye seconde sister to king Henrie the eyght first married to Lewes the Frenche King and after to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke The seconde mariage was betweene the Lorde Harbert sonne and heyre of William Earle of Pembroke and the Ladie Katherine second daughter of the said Lady Francis by the said Henrie Duke of Suffolke And the thirde was betweene Henrie Lorde Hastings sonne and heyre of Frauncis Earle of Huntington and Katherine yongest daughter of the Duke of Northumberlande which three mariages were â—…mpassed and concluded chieflye vppon purpose to chaunge and alter the order of succession to the Crowne made in the tyme of King Henrie the eyght from the saide Kings daughters Marye and Elizabeth and to conuey the same immediatlye after the death of King Edwarde to the house of Suffolke in the right of the sayde Ladie Fraunces wherein the sayde yong King was in â—…most trauaylee in the time of his sickenesse and all for feare that if his sister Marie being next heire to the Crowne shoulde succeede that she would subuert all his lawes and statutes made conuerning religion whereof he was most carefull for the continuance whereof he sought to establishe a meete order of succession by the alliaunce of great houses by way of mariage which neuerthelesse were of no force to serue his purpose For tending to the disherison of the rightfull heyres they proued nothing prosperous to the parties for two of them were soone after made frustrate the one by death the other by diuorce In the meane whyle the King became euery day more sicker than other of a consumption in his lungs so as there was no hope of his recouerie wherevppon those that then bare chiefe authoritie in Counsayle with other Prelates and Nobles of the Realme called to them diuerse notable persons learned as well in Diuinitie as in the lawes of the lande namely Bishops Iudges and other fell to consultation vpon this so weightie case and lastly concluded vpon the deuise of King Edwardes will to declare the sayde Ladie Iane eldest neece to K. Henrie the eyght and wife to the sayde Lorde Gullforde