Soveraigniz'd fifteen yeares Madan began his Réigne in the yeare of the World foure thousand one hundred twenty two of whom is little left worthy memory but that hee tyrannized over his Subjects and in the fortieth of his Reigne being at his disport of Hunting and lost by his Traine hee The death of Madan was devoured of Wolves which were then plenteous in the Land leaving two Sons Memprisius and Manlius These two brothers were at mortall enmity till in the end Memprisias the elder caused the other to bee traiterously slain after which he fell into all kinde of vices and abandoning the bed of his lawfull wife used the company of many prostitutes and Concubines and then into the brutish sin of Sodomitry for which hee grew hated both of God and man whose body also was in hunting torn to pieces by wild beasts leaving behind him one The death of Memprisius sonne begotten in lawfull wedlâ—…cke named Ebrank Hee beganne his Reigne in the yeare of the World foure thousand one hundred fourescore and two hee had one and twenty wives of whom hee received twenty sonnes and thirty daughters The eldest of which was Gualeu al of Anumerous issue them he sent to Alba Silvius the eleventh King of Italy and sixt of the Latins to have them maried to the blâ—…ud of the Trojans Hee was a great Warriour and conquered in Germany and els-where he builded Caerbranke now called Yorke one hundred and forty yeares after the The building of York erecting of London hee built also in Scotland the Castle of Maidens now called Edenborough Edenborough Castle Castle And after with a strong army pierced Gallia returning thence with great triumph and riches who when hee had reigned sixty yeares died and was buried in Yorke leaving his eldest sonne Brute Greenshield to succeed him in the Kingdome of whom is left no memory worthy the recitall but that he expired and lyeth buried by his Father whose successour was his sonne Leil or Leir who built Careleir or Carleil The 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 who in the latter end of his Reigne gave himselfe wholly to sloth by which divers uprores grew in the Realme not at his death appeased whom succeeded his sonne Lud sirnamed Hurdebras who was inaugurated in the yeare of the world foure thousand two hundred The building of Canterbury Winchester Shaftsbury threescore and nineteen he prudently appeased those combustions begot in his fathers days He builded the Town of Kaerkin now called Canterbury and Caerguent now Winton or Winchester and another titled Mount Palatine now Sexton or Shaftsbury hee reigned thirty nine yeares and left a sonne called Bladud This Bladud professed himselfe a great Astrologer and studied the art of Necromancy he builded the Towne of Caerbadon now called Bath and was the first founder of the hot Baths Bathe and the hot Baths this King attempting to flie from the top of Apollo's Temple to the ground his art failing him he broak his neck in the fall when hee had raigned twenty yeares leaving his sonne Leir to The death of Bladud succeed him Leir was of noble conditions and kept the Land in peace and tranquillity hee built the City of Caerleir now Leicester hee Leicester had no sonne but three only daughters Gonovilla Ragan and Cordeilla the youngest whom he best loved who being grown in age desired to know which of his daughters affected him most the first protested she loved him better then her owne soule the second swore her love was inexpressible for shee preferr'd his love before all things under the Sunne which answers Leirs three daughters much pleased him then hee demanded the like of the youngest who told him shee could not flatter like her sisters but she loved him as far as he was worthy to be beloved and as much as a childe ought to love a father which answer much distasting him hee maried his eldest daughter to the Duke of Cornwall and the second to the Duke of Albania and betwixt them divided his Land after his disease but for the younger he reserved no dowre at all Notwithstanding which Aganippus a King amongst the Galls hearing of her great beauty and vertue came into this Kingdome and took her to wife to whom her father would neither part with gold nor jewels nor any remembrance of his love but glad to be so rid of her It was not long after that the two sisters grieved that he liv'd so long incited the two Dukes The ingratitude of the two sisters their husbands called Maâ—…glanus and Hemminus who rose up in armes against him and divided his Dominion betwixt them so that of force he was compeld to flie into France to bee relieved of his youngest daughter whom hee hâ—…d before so much despised whom shee no sooner saw but she exprest unto him all the filiall duty that could be expected from a father so that hee now began to distinguish betwixt flattery and faire words and naturall and pious indulgence briefly shee animated her Husband to The love of Co deilla to her Father take his quarrell in hand who entred into the Land with a puissant army and re-instated him in his thrâ—ne who after he had ruled the Kingdome forty yeeres died and was buried at Caerleil leaving his daughter Cordeilla to inherit the Kingdome who by the generall assent of all the Peeres and Commons was admitted as Queen who for the space of five yeares governed the Land with great prudence and the generall love of the multitude til Morgan and Cunedagius the sons to her two elder sisters invaded her Kingdome and surprising her put her into close prison which servitude her great spirit not able to endure shee with her owne hands slue her The death of Cordeilla selfe These two Nephews to Cordeilla Morgan and Cunedagius divided the Land betwixt them and so continued in great amity for the space of two yeares when some evilly disposed persons whispered in the eares of Morgan that it was a great dishonour unto him being descended from the elder sister Gonewilla and her Husband Maglanus should part from any of his right to Cunedagius sonne to Ragan the second sister and her Hemminius and not possesse himselfe of the whole principality therefore hee made war upon his cousin who sent to him messengers to intreat of amity and unity to which hee would by no meanes condescend Therefore Cunedagie compeld to an unwilling war gave him battaile and rowted his whole army and after chaced him into Wales where in a second field Morgan was slain which place is to this day called Glamorgan or Morgans Glamorgan Land after whose death the victor possessed the sole soveraignty of whom nothing is left worthy memory but that after he had reigned three and thirty yeares hee was buried at Troynovant leaving to succeed him a sonne called Rivallo Rivallo Hee governed the Realme honourably for the space of forty six yeares in
The white Dragon shall invite the Almans daughter which implyeth a greater supply of the German nation and crowne themselves For from that time they bare the Scepter and had the absolute jurisdiction over the whole Land which they continued for a long season To passe over all the Saxon Kings to the time K. Etheldred the sonne of Alfride of Ethelredus in whose dayes An Eagle from the Rock which was Swanus King of Denmarke shall rise c. The better to explain our prophet and to carry the History along this Etheldred the sonne of the most Royall King Edward by his second Wife Alfrida by some cald Estrild when he came to bee crowned by Dunstane Archbishop of Canterbury hee could not containe himselfe but with a propheticall spirit uttered those words because by the bloudy slaughter of thy brother thou hast aspired to the Kingdome The sinne of thy most wicked and mischievous mother shall never bee expiated nor any who were of her Diabolicall counsell but by the greatest effusion of the Saxon bloud that ever was shed since their first comming into Britaine and further the beginning of thy Reigne shall be cruell the middle thereof miserable and the end shamefull all which accordingly hapned His Father King Edgar of ever surviving memory Edward the eldest sonne of King Edgar made King had by his first wife called Egelsleda a noble sonne named Edward and by his second Alfrida this Etheldred Edgar being dead the Barons assembled and made Edward King in the yeere of grace eight hundred threescore and fifteene at which his stepmother greatly repined using all the means both of power proofe and friends to have inaugurated her sonne Etheldred being then a lad but of seven yeeres old which in the end most traiterously shee accomplished for the King hunting in the Forrest neere unto the Castle of Corffe in the West Country who having lost all his company bethought himselfe that his stepmother with her A wicked stepmother sonne liv'd in that Castle to whom hee would give a friendly visit who spying from her window afarre of cald to a Villaine that attended her and whispered in his eare what hee should doe by this the King was come to the gate and shee descended to meet him saluting him with a Iudas kisse and intreated him to alight and sojourne with her for that night which hee modestly refusing said hee would only drinke a horsback and so be gone which being brought as the cup was at his mouth her trayterous servant with a long Dagger strooke him quite through the body at which hee put spurs to his horse thinking to have recovered his servants but through his great losse of bloud hee fainted and falling from his horse one of his feet was fastned in the stirrop and so hurried to a place called Corisgate where his miserably mangled body was found and not being knowne at that The base murther upon King Edward present to be the King without ceremony buried whom as you have heard his brother by the Fathers side succeeded In whose reigne hapned divers prodigies pretending great disaster among which was the sterility of the earth the burning of London by an accidentall fire but the most ominous and terrible was the invasion of the Danes and their many massacres inhuman butcheries committed through all the shires and provinces of the Kingdome as more amply hereafter but by the way is to be noted that in the eighth yeere of his reigne hee was espoused to Ithelgina whom Ethelredus marriage and Issue some call Elgina daughter to Earle Edgebertus by whom in processe of time he received a sonne called Edmund after for his notable valour sirnamed Ironside and two others Edwin and Ethelstane with a daughter named Egina About the eleventh yeere of his reigne the The Invasion of the Danes Danes pierced the land in sundry places against whom the King being wholy addicted to effeminacie and cowardise durst make no hostile opposure but for the present appeased them with great summes of mony which being spent they fell to new robberies Then the King bribed them with more notwithstanding which they spoyled Northumberland and at last laid siege to London and to increase his sorrow and trouble Earle Elphricus who was Admirall of The son punisht for the the Navy fled like a Traitour to the Danes and took part with them against his naturall Liege for which the King commanded that his sonne Algarus should have his eyes torne out of his head during which time burning Fevers and the bloudy Flix destroyeth many of the Natives to which was added scarcity and penury amongst the commons in so much that they were forced to rob and steale from one another so that what by their owne pilfering and pillage Fathers treason of the Danes the land was brought to extreame misery by whose continuall invasions and the Kings pusillanimity the Tribute paid unto them was raised from ten thousand pounds to forty thousand named for the continuance thereof Dane-gelt they yet not satisfied to adde to the former the British Peeres were so hollow brested Dane-gelt amongst themselves that when they were at any time assembled and had determined any thing to the impeachment of the Danes they were warned thereof by some of the falshearted Counsell of whom were most suspected Elphricus Edricus intended by the Snake and Edricus the Snake formerly mentioned in the prophesie The Land besides other distresses continuing under this grievous Tribute the King by the The Kings second mariage advice of those familiars who were about him married Emma the daughter of Richard the third Duke of Normandy and first of that name who was for his boldnesse and valour sirnamed Richard the Hardy or without feare and she by the French Chronicles Emma the flowre of Normandy by which Match hee was greatly animated and incouraged so that presuming on the power of his Father in Law hee sent into all the Townes Cities and Villages of this Land secret and straight Commissions charging the Rulers and Magistrates upon the night succeeding the day of Saint Brice that all A generall Massacre of the Danes throughout all the Land the Danes should be murdered in their beds the execution whereof they committed to their Wives and Women which was also accordingly performed a strange wonder that so great a secret should passe generally through that sex without uttering or discovery This generall Massacre of the Danes as same reports began at a little Towne in Hertfordshire twenty foure miles from London called Wealwin from which act it tooke first name as if there the weal of their Country was first warm and the day of Saint Brice hapned that yeare upon the Monday which to this day is called Hoc or Hop-monday but wherefore I know not unlesse by Hoc this day as a remarkablenote Hoc or Hâ—…p Monday to posterity or by Hop as that day the Danes according to
which time the greatest thing of remark is that in the two and thirtieth yeare of his Reigne Rome was first The first building of Rome builded in the yeare of the World foure thousand foure hundred threescore and ten after the first erecting of Troynovant or London foure hundred and seven Solary yeares After Sisilius Rivallo reigned his sonne Sisilius forty nine yeares and was buried at Caerbadon or Bath leaving no heire of his body lawfully begotten Him Iago his Nephew succeeded hee Reigned Iago five and twenty yeares died without issue and lyeth buried by his Uncle Rivallo at Caerbrank or Yorke Kinimachus his brother governed the Land after him for the space of fifty foure yeares and lyeth buried by the two fore-named Kings hee left behind him a sonne called Gorboduc in whose time as in the Reigne of the foure last Kings nothing hapned deserving the remembrance of a Chronicle but that hee governed Gorboduc the Realme threescore and three yeeres dyed and was buried at London and left behind him two sonnes called Ferrex and Porrex These two brothers were made joynt Sovereignes Ferrex and Porrex of this Kingdome in the yeere of the world foure thousand seven hundred and eleven and continued in great fraternallamity for a certain time which expired Porrex being ambitious after the sole and entire sovereignty gathered a strong power unknowne to his brother purposing to supplant him from all Regall dignity so that being unprovided of an army he was forced to flye into France where hee implored the aid and assistance of a potent The death of Ferrex Duke named Gunhardus or Swardus who furnished him with souldiers sufficient so that hee re-entred the Land with his Host of Gauls of which Porrex hearing met him with his Britans and gave him battaile in which Ferrex was unfortunately slaine after which victory retyring himselfe to his palace where Widen or as some Authors name her Iudon his mother remayned she setting aside all motherly pity entred his chamber and by the helpe of her women in the dead of night when hee was fast sleeping A crueâ—…t mother The death of Porrex most cruelly slue him and after not sated with his death shee cut his body into small pieces Thus died the two brothers when they had ruled the Land in war and peace five yeers and in them ended the Genealogicall Line of Brute with whom also I conclude this first Chapter CHAP. 2. A Continuation of the History of the British Kings unto the time that Iulius Caesar made conquest of the Island The building of divers Cities and Townes Two things especially remarkable in an indulgent mother and a most naturall brother sundry other passages worthy observation The City of Troynovant how called London AFter the deaths of these two Princes the Nobles of the Land fell into great dissention amongst them selves all hating the memory of Gorbodue and his issue in regard that one brother slue the other and the most unnatural mother was the death of the surviver and because none of Brutus Line was left alive the Land was divided in foure parts so that in Albania Britain goverred by foure Dukes was one Waler called Staterius Pinnor governed Loegria or middle Britain Rudanlus guided Wales and Clotenus Cornwall whom the Britains held to be the most rightfull Heire and all these called themselves Kings to which some adde a fift Yevan King of Northumberland Briefely Munmutius Donwallo Dunwallo re duceth it into a Monerchy sonne to Clotenus Duke of Cornwall by vanquishing the rest became sole Soveraigne of this Island in the yeare of the World foure thousand seven hundred forty eight Hee was in all his actions very noble and built within London a famous structure which he cald the Temple of Peace which some hold to bee the same now called Blackwell Hall He instituted many good and wholsome Lawes Hee gave great priviledges to the maintaining of Temples Cities Ploughes c. He began the foure high waies of Britaine which were perfected by his sonne Belinus Hee built the two Townes of Malmsbury and the Vies and was the first that made for himselfe a Diadem of Gold with which hee was crowned with great solemnity Insomuch that some Writers name him the first King of Donwâ—…llo the first crowned King of Brit. Britaine stiling all his predecessors only Dukes Rulers and Governours Hee when hee had well and honourably governed the Land for the terme of forty yeares dyed and was buried in the foresaid Temple of Peace within London leaving to succed him two sonnes Belinus and Brennus These two brothers divided the land betwixt them and continued in great fraternall unity for the space of five yeares after which terme Beliuns and Brennus Brennus ambitious to have more Land or all made mortall warre against his Brother who vanquished him in battaile so that hee was forced to forsake the land and arrived in Armorica now called Little Britaine some write into Norway Howsoever by the supply and assistance of forraigne Princes he made many inroads into the Land too long here to relate to the great disturbance of his brother At length he assembled a strong and puissant Army against whom Belinus came with a mighty hoast as his manifest and mortall enemy But as their armies were ready to joyne battaile their Mother whose name was * or Corniven na Corneway of An indulgent mother a more indulgent and penetrable nature than the cruell and savage Widen before named exposed her selfe in person betweene the two Hoasts and in a discreet manner and motherly demeanour using withall such passionate and moving Oratory to her two sonnes that at length shee setled a steadfast unity and peace betwixt them After which accord made they joyned both their hoasts and with them Conquered a great part of Gallia Italy and Germany which done Belinus returned into Britaine Where when he came hee repaired old and decaied Cities and also built a new one upon The City of Legions Carleon the River of Vske neare unto Severne called Careuske and after the City of Legions because in the time of Claudius Caesar divers Roman Legions were there billited and lodged now called Carleon Hee built also an harbour or small Haven for ships to ride in in Troynovant in the Summet or top whereof stood a vessell of Brasse in which after his death his burnt ashes were inclosed which still retaines the name of Belingsgate In which interim The building of Belliâ—…sgate Brennus desirous to win fame and honour abroad with an hoast of Senonensian Galls so called because they dwelt about the City of Sena built in Italy and Gallia these Cities following Cities builded by Brennus Mediolanum or Milleine Papia or Pavie Burganum Sena Comum Brixia Verona Vialcnza Cremona Mautua c. Hee overcame the Romans at the River Albia eleven miles from Rome and tooke the City all save the Capitoll to which they layd
that tenth putting them to cruel deaths as winding their guts out of their bellies with other torturing deaths then he caused the elder brothers eys to be pluckt out and sent to a religious house in Ely where hee dyed shortly after but the younger he preserv'd as an husband for his daughter and sent him to his mother Emma all which fulfils the former prophesie which saith And he an Hidra with seaven heads shall grace Glad to behold the ruine of his race And then upon the Neustrian blood shall pray By Neustria is understood Normandy And tithe them by the pole c. Emma not trusting the tyranny of Goodwin by whom she had left one son the better to secure the other shee sent him into Normandy but Edward after sirnamed the Coâ—…fessor made King Hardy Canutus beeing dead he was sent for over to receive his iust and lawfull inheritance so that this Edward the sonne of Egelredus and his last wife Emma began his Raigne over England in the yeare of Grace 1043. and was soon after maried to Goditha whom Guido calleth Editha the sole daughter of Earle Goodwin who as all Authors affirme lived with her without any carnall society whether it were in hatred of her kinred as by the greatnesse of her father compel'd to that match or for that he altogether devoted himselfe to chastity it is left uncertaine In the beginning of his Raigne his mother The Kings mother accused of adultery with Alwin Bishop of Winchester Emma was accused to have too much familiarity with the B. of Winchester therefore the King by the counsell of Earl Goodwin seised vpon many of her iewels and confined her to a strict keeping in the Abby of Worwell the Bishop Alwin was also under the Custody of the Clergy but shee more sorrowing for his defame then her owne wrote unto divers Bishops to doe their Iustice affirming she was ready to undergoe any triall whatsoever to give the World satisfaction of her innocence who laboured to the King that their cause might have a just and legall hearing but Robert Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Archbishop of Canterbury against the mother Queen not pleased with the motion said unto them My Brethren Bishops how dare ye plead for her who is a beast and no woman as by defaming the King and her sonne and yielding her selfe a prostitute to the incontinent Alwin proceeding further but if it be so that the woman would purge the Priest who shall then purge the woman who is accused to have been consenting to the death of her sonne Alfred and hath prepared infectious Drugs for the poysoning of her sonne Edward but be she guilty or no if shee will agree to goe bare foot upon nine plough-shares burning and fiery hot for her selfe foure shares and for the Bishop five he may be then cleered and she also To which shee granted and the day of her This 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chronicles of same for truth purgation assigned at which day the King in person with many of his Lords were present she was hoodwinkt and led to the place where the Irons lay glowing hot and having passed over the nine shares unhurt shee said Good God when shall I come to the place of my purgation When they opened her eyes and shee saw that she had past the torment without any sence of paine she kneeled downe and gave thanks to the protectour of chastity and innocence Then the King repented him of his credulitie restoring unto her what hee had before taken from her asking of her forgivenes and blessing But the Archbishop Robert who was once a Monke in Normandy and was sent for over by the King and first made Bishop of London and Emma acquit from the suspition of Incontinency after raised to be Metropolitan fled into his Countrey and was no more seene in England after After many insolencies committed against the King by Earle Goodwin and his sonnes too long to reherse they were forced to abandon Earle Goodwin and his sons flie the Land the Land and flie into Flanders to Earle Baldwin whose daughter Iudith Swanus his eldest sonne had married and then by a Parlament they were made Out-lawes and Rebels and their goods and Lands seized where they continued as exiles for the space of two yeeres during which time William the bastard Duke of Normandy came with a Noble Traine to visit the King his Cousin and were royally entertained returning with great gifts and presents into his Country after which Goodwin by intercession of his friends here in England was called home with his sonnes who were received into grace and restored to their former dignities and possessions giving for pledges of his fidelity his sonne Wilnotus and Hacun the sonne of Goodwin and his sons restored Swanus whom the King sent to William Duke of Normandy to be kept in safe custodie Not long after in the twelfth yeere of the Reigne of this Edward the Confessor upon an Easter Monday Goodwin sitting with other Lords at the Kings Table in the Castle of Winsor it hapned that the Kings Cupbearer stumbled but recovered himselfe of a fall at which the Earle laughed heartily and said there one brother helped the other meaning one leg had supported the other which the King observing said yea and so my brother Alphred might have lived to have helped and sustained me had it not bin for Earl Goodwin by which words the Earl apprehending that he upbraided him with his brothers death thinking to excuse himself of the Act said so may I safely swallow this morsell of bread that is in my hand as I am innocent of that deed in swallowing of which hee was choaked which the King seeing commanded him to be dragged from the board his bodie being Goodwins remarkable death conveighed to Winchester and there interred Macrinus saith that he was suddenly struck with a palsie of which hee died â—…hree days after howsoever hee underwent a most remarkable judgement His eldest sonne living who was Harold for Swanus died in his pilgrimage to Ierusalem had all his Fathers Dignities and Honours conferd upon him But in processe of time all those his Lands in Kent of which hee was Earle were eaten up and devoured by the Sea upon whâ—…se dangerous shelves and quick-sands many thousands have beene wrackt and drowned and they are called Goodwins Sands unto this day which verifieth that part of the prophesie of the Hydra where he saith Burst shall he after gordg'd with humane blood And leave his name in part of the salt flood Harold having done many noble services for the King and the countrey in all which hee came off with great honour and victorie about the 20. yeere of King Edward hee sayled towards Normandy to visite his brother Wilnotus and his Nephew Hucun who lay there as pledges for the peace betwixt the King and Harold sayleth into Normandie Earle Goodwin buteither by the mistake of the unskilfull Pilot
was inscribed Hic jacet in tumba Rosamundi non Rosamunda Her inscription on her tombe Non redolet sedolet quae redolere solet Which by an ancient Writer was thus paraphrased into English The Rose of the World but not the clean flower Is graven heere to whom beauty was lent In this grave full darke now is her bower That in her life was sweet and redolent But now that she is from this life blent Though she were sweet now fouly doth she stink A mirrour good for all that on her think Such was their English poetry in those dayes Long after the death of Rosamond was shewed in that Abbey a rare Coffer or Casket of hers about two foot in length in which was a strange artificiall motion where were to be seen Giants fighting Beasts in motion Fowls flying and Fishes swimming This Henry was troubled by the Queenes animating of his sonnes against him betwixt whom were divers conflicts which would appeare tedious to bee rehearsed It is written of this King that in his Chamber at Windsore hee had painted an Eagle with foure Henries character of his foure sonnes young ones whereof three of them pulled and pecked the body of the old Eagle and the fourth picked at his eyes and being asked what that picture should signifie hee made answer This old Eagle figureth my selfe and the foure birds my foure sonnes who cease not to pursue my life but most of all my sonne Iohn whom I most have loved and therefore Some of his numerous ayrie will retain The nature of the Desert Pelican The nature of the Pelican in the Desert being to pierce her brest with her bill and feed her young ones with her owne bloud In the The death of King Henry sonne of King Henry twenty eight yeere of this Henry died his eldest sonne Henry whom hee had before crowned much repenting on his death-bed for his unnaturall rebellion against his Father Rainold Monke of Chester relates that soon after the death of the Lady Rosamond Lewis the French King and the eighth of that name sent to King Henry one of his daughters to bee kept for his second sonne Richard whom the King vitiated and laboured to Haguntia a Cardinall then in the Land for a Divorce betwixt Henry laboureth a divorce betwixt him and his wife him and his wife intending to have maried that French Lady but he failed of his purpose for he meant by that match to have disinherited his unnaturall sonnes It is further recorded that when William King of Scots was taken by the King of England Hee did him Homage at the City of Yorke and in witnesse of subjection he offered his Hat and Saddle upon Saint Peters Altar which were kept there many yeeres after This King had many strange admonitions for Sundry admonitions to the King to amend his life the amendment of his life one was that in his returne from Ireland as he was taking his horse there appeared unto him a man of a pale and meager aspect bare-foot and in a white Mantle who spake unto him and said I am sent to thee from the Lord of the Sabbaoth who commandeth thee to take order that no Markets bee kept nor any servile worke bee done on the Lords day dressing of meate excepted only which if thou feest performed whatsoever thou purposest thou shalt bring to a good and happy end whose speech the King seemed to distaste and said to him that held his bridle aske of this Churle if he have dreamed that which hee speaketh to which the apparition answered againe whether I have dreamed or not take thou heed to my words and amend thy life or what thou now mockest shall returne to thy great misery which having said he vanisht suddenly the strangenesse whereof though he seriously apprehended yet of the former there was nothing amended He had a second admonition by an Irishman His second admonition who told him all things which the King had done in secret which hee had thought none had knowne but himselfe and withall advised him to repentance and amendment of life but hee regarded it as the former about which time being the foure and twentieth yeere of his The bones of King Arthur and his Queen found Reigne were taken up the bones of King Arthur and his Queene Guenever in the Vale of Avalon the haire of her head seeming white and of a fresh colour but as soone as touched they turned to powder their bones were after translated to the Church in Glastenbury and there the second time buried they were found by a Bard or Singer of Rythmes under the root of an Oke fifteen foot within the ground his third admonition I leave to the next Chapter CHAP. 15. The inauguration of Richard the first sirnamed Cordelion a prediction of his Reigne His warres in the Holy Land his imprisonment by the Duke of Austria his brother Iohns usurpation his second Coronation with his unfortunate death c. A Knight called Sir William Chesterly alias Lindsey told him boldly that His third admonition there were seven severall things by him specially and suddenly to be reformed First to see better to the defence of the Church and provide for the maintenance thereof Secondly to see his Lawes better executed and Iustice more exercised Thirdly not to rob the rich nor extort from them their goods by violence Fourthly to make restitution of all those lands and goods as hee had so wrested Fiftly to make no demurre or delay in just sentence but suffer the right to have lawfull processe Sixtly to see his subjects satisfied for such things as had beene taken up to his use and to pay his servants and souldiers which fell to robbery for that default Seventhly that he should speedily cause the Iewes to avoid the Land But this advise prevailed with him as the former In his thirtieth yeere Heraclius Patriarch of Ierusalem came into England to solicite his aid against the Saracens who had invaded the Christian Territories and to defend the holy City which by Saladine King of Surry was wonne soon after For by the relation of Peter Desroy a French Chronicler Ierusalem was wonne by Godfrey of Bulloigne in the yeere of Grace one thousand fourescore and nineteene and continued under nine Christian Kings of which Guy of Resingham was the last this Heraclius Nine Christian Kings raigne successively over Hierusalem further profered the King the keyes of the holy City and of our Lords grave presenting him Letters from Pope Lucius the third of that name which charged him to take upon him the journey according to an Oath by him formerly made to which the King answered The King refuseth to be Generall foâ—… the Holy Land he could not leave his Land in trouble as a prey to the French and his owne aspiring sonne but he would give largely out of his owne coffers to such as would take that voyage in hand To which the Patriarch replyed we
Merlin well verst in many an hidden spell His Countries Omen did long since foretell Grac'd in his Time by sundry Kings he was And all that he predicted came to passe The Life of MERLIN Sirnamed AMBROSIVS His Prophesies and Predictions Interpreted and their truth made good by our English Annalls Being a Chronographicall History of all the Kings and memorable passages of this Kingdome from BRUTE to the Reigne of our Royall Soveraigne King CHARLES A Subject never published in this kind before and deserves to be knowne and observed by all men Quotque aderant vates Rebar adesse Deos. LONDON Printed by I. Okes and are to be sold by Iasper Emery in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Eagle and Child neare St. Austins Gate 1641. To the worthy and by me much Honoured Master IAMES METTAM Esquire c. SIR BY that generous and noble Character which long since I have heard confer'd upon you my sole ambition was to attend so happy an opportuninity as to be any way knowne unto you But when time so farre seconded my wishes that upon an unexpected meeting I was made so fortunate not onely to be admitted into your company but accepted into your knowledge for which I stand much ingaged to your kinseman and friend Mr. T. B. I instantly apprehended that report came much short of your worth and merit which I ingenuously confesse transcended my expectation for besides your generous affability and courtesie the most gracefull garnish and best decorements that become and adorn a true-bred Gentleman finding you not onely generally addicted to the incouragement of all good Arts and Sciences but especially to the professours of Literature and Learning and when upon further discourse I understood that you more particularly had not only took view of some of my weake Labors but crowned them with your Verdict These inducements so farre emboldned mee as to offer these my unpolisht papers to your perusall and patronage which if you shall be pleased to countenance I shall remayne confident against all malicious prejudice desiring rather to stand to the judicious censure of one truly rationall then to the ignorant Nonsence of a numerous rabble Worthy Sir complement is a thing I have ever studied to avoid and I presume you were never pleased to affect then in a word wishing you the accomplishment of all your noble desires alternatly corresponding to your worthy deserts I commend you my generous Patron to the Almighties gracious protection ever remayning Yours obsequiously devoted T. H. To the Reader COurteous and considerate Reader I have here exposed to thy especiall perusall the life and prophesies of our famous predictor Merlinus sirnamed Ambrosius who though he lived in the time of profane paganisme was a professed Christian and therefore his Auguries the better to be approved andallowed thou hast withall their exposition and explanation expresly and punctually making plain and evident how genuinely and properly they comply with the truth of our Chronologie in which you shall finde adding the supplement of the History from Brute who laid the first foundation of our British Colony to the time of King Vortigernus or Vortiger the Usurper of the Crowne under whose Reign Merlin first flourisht a true catalogue of all the Kings of this Island with a summary of all passages of State Ecclesiasticall or Temporall of any remarke or moment during their Principalities and Dominions in so much that scarce anything shall be here wanting to thy best wishes if thou beest desirous to be instructed and faithfully informed in the knowledge of our English Annalls For in the steed of a large study book and huge voluminous Tractate able to take up a whole yeare in reading and to load and tyre a Porter in carrying thou hast here a small Manuell containing all the pith and marrow of the greater made portable for thee if thou so please to beare in thy pocket so that thou mayst say that in this small compendium or abstract thou hast Hollinshed Polychronicon Fabian Speed or any of the rest of more Giantlike bulke or binding to which my short Abbreviary I strive to make this my Prologue or Preface to thee alike sutable being as succinct and briefly contrived as the former summarily comprehended desiring thee to read considerately and withall to censure charitably and so without further complement wishing thy care in the one and courtesie in the other with a favourable pardon of some few errours committed in the presse I bid thee farewell Thomas Heywood A narration of the Kings Reignes from Brute to Vortiger and from Vortiger to King Lud in the first six Chapters and from K. Lud to K. Charles Chap. 1. Brutes first plantation in this Island How he divided it amongst his three sons of severall famous Cities builded here by sundry Kings and how divers Rivers took their first name Of all the remarkable passages that hapned in their Reigns A catalogue from Brute c. Chap. 2. A Continuation of the History of the British Kings unto the time that Iulius Caesar made conquest of the Island the building of divers Cities and Townes Two things especially remarkable in an indulgent mother and a most naturall brother sundry other passages worthy observation The City of Troynovant how called London Chap. 3. The first conquest of this land by Iulius Caesar Britain made tributary to the Romans The birth of our Saviour under Cimbeline K. of Britaine How Southampton came to be so called Vespatians conquest of the Isle of Wight of Catnesse in Scotland of Lucius the first Christian K. of the Britains and of other Roman Governours Chap. 4. The Duke of Cornwall made King of Britain how Walbrooke took first name Constantine the Roman marieth with Helena daughter to King Coill and is made King His Reigne and buriall His son Constantine made King after him who was cald the Great and was the first Christian Emperour His great devotion and after falling into Heresie Octavian his Deputy in Britain usurpeth and after made King Maximinus a Roman by mariage with his daughter succeeds him Chap. 5. Maximian made King of Britain and after Emperour How Armorica came to be called Little Britain and this Britain the Great Of Ursula and the 11000 Virgins Gratian the last Roman that was King of the Land The great distresses of the Kingdome the cessation of their Tribute paid to Rome Constantine brother to Aldroenus made K. of the Realme his death issue Chap. 6. A necessary digression shewing the lives and reigns of 33 Kings of Britain scarce mentioned by any of our English remembrancers with an exact computation of the times c. Chap. 1. Of the strange birth of Ambrosius Merlin whether he were a Christian or no and by what spirit he prophesied c. pag. 1. Chap. 2. In whose Reign Merlin was born How the state of Britain stood in those days with divers necessary occurrences pertinent to the story pag. 9. Chap. 3. By what miraculous accident young
death with the yong Earle of Warwicke the death of the king A prophesie of the reigne of Henry the eighth p. 293 Chap. 32. Prince Henry married to his brothers wife hee winneth Turwin and Turney in France Floden-field with the famous victory against the Scots Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke marrieth the French Queen the kings sister The Emperour Charles the fift made knight of the Garter c. p. 304. Chap. 33. The death of Henry the eighth Edward the sixt crowned a calculation of his reigne Musse Iborow field won by the Lord Protector c. p. 315. Chap. 34. The Lady Iane proclaimed Q. Northumberlands Commission to suppresse the Lady Mary He is arrested of high treason The Coronation of Q. Mary A prediction of her Reigne The Romish Religion restored The death of Northumberland Of Suffolke Of Guilford Dudley Of the Lady Iane Gray her character The death of Cranmer Ridley and Latimer The life of Cardinall Poole twice elected Pope c. p. 326 Chap. 36. King Philips entertainment into the Land presented with the Garter Hee is made K. of Naples and Hierusalem the great solemnity of the King and Queens Marriage at Winchester Their titles their riding through London The Queen rumoured to be with Child King Philips cautelous proceedings hee favoureth the Lady Elisabet He leaveth the Land Queen Maries discontent at his departure The losse of Callis p. 336 Chap. 37. A brief nomination of her troubles wrought by the Popish Clergie Her passage through London to her coronation with the speeches spoke in the pageants A short remembrance of the prime passages in her reign The former prediction fulfild her death other predictions fathered upon Merlin explained c. p. 347 Chap. 38. The title of King Iames to the Crown His comming into England A prophesie of his Reigne The first treason attempted against him The Gunpowder treason and what the conspirators were The king of Denmarke twice commeth into England King Charles proclaimed King his Fathers Funerals c. p. 361 A Chronographical History of the Kings of Britaine from the first plantation of this Island by Brute and his Cousin Corinaeus to the Reigne of King Vortiger In whose time Ambrosius Merlinus began to utter his Predictions CHAP. 1. Brutes first plantation in this Island How hee divided it amongst his three sonnes of several famous Cities builded here by sundry Kings and how divers Rivers took their first name of all the remarkable passages that hapened in their reignes A Catologue of the Kings continued from Brute to the end of his Line and off-spring FOr the better illustration of this present worke intended it shall not be amisse to shew you a briefe progresse of all the memorable passages of the time before wee come to the Prophesie with a Catalogue of the Kings of this Island and what Remarkable things happened in their reigne To begin with the first Brute who was of the ancient and noble bloud of the Trojans discended from Aeneas and Creusa the How Brute was discended daughter of King Priam These had a sâ—…nne called Ascanius after his Father King of Italy Brute was the sonne of Sylvius Aenaeas the son of Ascanius This Brute at fifteene yeares of age being hunting by the unfortunate glanceing of an Arrow slue his father and had beene also in his birth the death of his mother but for the last disasterous act hee willingly exiled himselfe and taking with him a choice company of adventurers thought to discover some new plantation To omit his many troubles both by Land and Sea in which hee was still most victoriously prosperous at length hee incountred with a small navy of ships of which a Trojane and his neare kinseman was Captain whose name was Corinaeus who joyning their Corinaeus cousin to Brute forces together and after divers and sundry perills landed in this Island of the white and chalky Cliffes called Albion where finding none but Giants of mighty stature he destroyed the most part of them of whom the greatest both in bulke and command was called Gogmagog with whom Corinaeus wrastling to prove their triall of strength Gogmagog in his gripe broke a rib in the side of Corinaeus at which he being inraged gathering all his spirits about him cast him downe the high Rocke of Dover the place where they proved the mastery which is called the fall of Gogmagog unto this day for which and other his valiant acts before The fall of Gogmagog atchieved hee gave him that intire Province which from his name beareth the title of Cornwall Brute then taking full view of the Island The building of Troynovant since called London searching up the River of Thames built upon it a City which in remembrance of the late subverted Troy he called Troynovant or new Troy now London this done he put his Souldiers to tilling of the Earth and governed the Realme peaceably for the space of twenty foure yeares He had by his wife Ignogen the daughter of Pandrusus three sonnes betwixt whom in his life time he divided his Kingdome to How hee divided the Kingdome Locrine the eldest hee gave all that is called England but then Logria after his name To the second Cambrius or Cambre hee left the Countrey of Wales at first from him called Cambria To the third Albanact hee gave the North part of the Land then titled from him Albania now Scotland That done hee expired The death of Brute and was buryed at Troynovant and this happened in the yeare of the world foure thousand fourescore and seven Locrine being King of Britaine hearing that a King of Scythia had invaded his brother Albanacts Dominions and having slaine him in battaile governed in his stead Hee with his brother Cambre assembled a mighty Hoast to avenge his death and in a sharpe conflict discomfited his whole Army and so hotly pursued him in his flight that this Scythian which was called Humber was drowned in that River Plow the River Humber came to be so cald which runneâ—…h up from Ravenspurn up to Hulâ—… which hath since borne his name even to this day After which victory Locrin who had espoused Guendolina daughter to Corinaeus Duke of Cornwall grew inamoured of Estrild a beauteous Lady and Daughter to the aforesaid Humber by whom He had a Daughter named Sabrina of which his Queene having intelligence the accited her Father and friends to make Warre upon her Husband and flew him in fight when hee had governed the Realme for the space of twenty yeares then the Masculine spirited Lady tooke his Concubine Estrild with her beautifull young daughter Sabrina and caused them to bee both drowned in that River which parteth England and Wales and from Sabrina is called Severne to all posterity The River Severne whence called Then Guendolina took upon her the government of the Land till her young Son Madan came to mature age and then resigned it up intirely into his owne hands after shee had
began his Dominion over the Land in the yeare of the Incarnation two hundred Coil made 〈◊〉 Britains threescore and two who governed peaceably for a time for the Senate of Rome were glad of the death of the former King who had beene a great enemy and persecutour of theiâ—… Nation being then in great trouble amongst themselves could not conveniently send over fresh forces in the Land but at length their domestick discords being compounded and the State setled in peace Hearing that this Coil also denied them tribute they sent hither a Noble Constantius first comming into Britain prudent Prince cald Constantius with a puissant army against whom Coil assembled his Britains but greatly dreading the power of this Roman President he sent to him to commune and treat of peace with the acknowledgment of the Tribute due unto the Senate of which assurance being given and taken on both sides Coil died within a moneth after having governed the Britains for the tearme of twenty seven yeares Constantius at the intercession of the Nobles of the Land tooke to wife Helena the daughter Constantius married to Helena of the late King with the entire possession of the Realme and was inaugurated in the yeare two hundred fourscore and nine This Helena was held to be the fairest Lady in the whole land withall very well verst in literature and language by whom hee received a sonne called Constantine This Constantius being of great courage and valour ambitious to adde unto his Dominion subdued the Almains or Germans and slue of them in one battail threescore thousand and after many other victories the two Emperours Dioclesianus and Maximinianus resigned up their Imperiall Dignitie to Constantius Constantius made Emperor making one Galerius a partner with him in the Empire which these two Caesars divided betwixt them Galerius governed in the East that is Illiricum and all Graecia with the Ilands and Constantius Italy and the Westerne Kingdomes after he subdued Spain and a great part of Gallia or France of which two Kingdomes he made his son Constantine President and Governour in the time that Constantius was King of Britaine under the two foresaid Emperours S. Albon was martyred at Verâ—…m in the tenth persecution of the Church which began in the eighteenth yeer of Dioclesian and endured for the space of ten yeares which was so violent and cruell that in the space of one moneth were martyred seventeene thousand holy men and women for the faith of Christ This Noble Prince Constantius after he had governed Britaine and the West part of the Empire for This Constan tius lyeth buried at York the terme of thirty yeares leaving his Successor Constantine his sonne by the famous Queene Helena Who began his Reigne in the yeare of Grace three hundred and nineteen and at the decease Constantine made King of Britain of his Father was busied in the wars of Gallia but hearing the report of his death came over into Britain and was made King Hee was off a noble and affable condition who though hee â—…ere a Pagan and misbeliever yet hee used no â—…yrannie towards his subjects neither compeld them to the worship of Idols but to use their own laws with the liberty and freedome of conscience whilst he thus governed Britain with the Westerne part of the Empire one Maxentius sonne to Herculeus Maximianus who was parrner with Dioclesian in the Imperiall purple Maxâ—…s was by assent of the Senate chosen Caesar who first insinuated with all cunning affability into the hearts of the plebeian multitude but when he found himselfe strong in their opinions hee exercised all tyranny that could be possibly devised especially against the Christians He likewise expelled hâ—… Father Maximianns from Rome who sought to be again Emperour with other great oppressions used against the Senate and Prime Nobility of which Constantine having intelligence he assembled a strong hoast of Brâ—…tains and Galls to suppresse his great pride and insolence leaving in his absence a great Duke called Octavius or Octavian to governe Octavian made Dâ—…puty Governour of Britain the Land of Britain as his Vicegerent or Deputy Constantine having setled the State here being on his journy he saw as in a Vision being upon his bed a Crosse shining in the firmament held by an Angell who said unto him Constantine iâ—… hoc signo vinces that is of Constantine under this signe or banner thou shalt have victory After which awaking and considering well of his vision or dream hee called his chiefe Captains about him and acquainted them therewith presently giving order that the Crosse should be The Crosse first used in any Imperiaâ—… Ensigne portrayed in all his Ensignes Escutcheons and Banners being thus accommodated he marched against the Tyrant Maxentius and met him at a bridg called Pont Milvium where after long fight he chaced him and his whole army where Maxentius drowned a great part of them were drowned in the River with himselfe also when hee had ruled as Caesar about five yeares after which victory Constantine marched to Rome where hee was received of the Senate and people with great honour and triumph soone after he received the Christian Faith and was baptized by Sylvester the first of that name Bishop of Rome which done he opened the prisons destroyed the Temples of the false gods and dedicated others to the true everliving God pulling down their idols and opening those Christian Oratories as had beene shut commanding divine service to bee said in them He was the first also that gave any possessions to the Church of Rome and ordained that the Bishop of Rome should be a chiefe Bishop Constantinus great devot on and zeale and all others to be obedient unto him which was before any superstition crept into the Church hee also bore clay and stones upon his shoulders to the foundation of the great Church dedicated to Saint Peter Whilst Constantine thus laboured to plant the Christian Faith his mother Hellen being then Hellen the mother of Constantine in Britain sent unto him commendatory Letters gratulating his great victories in which shee seemed to rejoyce that hee had suppressed Idols and demolisâ—… their Temples but wondred that hee had chosen for his God a man who had been nayled to a Crosse c. to which hee returned her answer that hee would sufficiently prove the God whom hee honoured and worshipped was the Creatour of Mankind and Maker of the World and all the creatures therein and not man only but God and Man c. For proof of which after she had assembled a Synod of Iews to the number of sevenscore Sylvester with other Christian Clerks were appointed to dispute with them concerning the Faith and Gospel in which arguing the Iews were confounded and she converted and was a constant professour of the true Faith and Religion all her life time after I leave what the Legend relates concerning her seeking and
finding the true Crosse and the nayles with which our blessed Saviour was fastned thereto and returne to Hellena sindeth 〈◊〉 Cressâ—… her sonne the Emperour who greatly inlarged the famous City Bizantium and beautified it with stately and sumptuous buildings and for the pleasure which hee tooke in the situation thereof made it his Royall Seat and caused it to be called after his name Constantinople which is the City of Constantine He was also of such power and might in armes that hee purchased to himselfe the Title of Constantine the Great Constantine the Great Hee was moreover stiled the first Christian Emperour and did many things for the upholding of the Faith of which seven by a learned Authour are especially noted First that Christ our blessed Saviour should bee worshipped as God throughout his whole Dominions Secondly Seven Derees made by Constantine to the honour of his Saviour that what man or woman soever spake any blasphemy against him hee should be most severely punished Thirdly that person who did any violence or injury to a Christian man because he was of that belief should forfeit half his goods and possessions Fourthly that as the Emperor of Rome is Head of all temporall Princes so the Bishop of Rome should be chief of all Ecclesiasticall Prelats Fiftly that who so fled to a Church for refuge and made it his Sanctuary should be there free from molestation and danger Sixtly that no man should offer to erect any Church or Temple without the leave and licence of the Bishop of that Diocesse Seventhly that every Prince should give the tenth part of his Revenues toward the mayntenance of Churches and Temples which law for example sake hee confirmed by contributing unto them from his own possessions after all which care of his to establish the true Faith and Gospell hee fell into the detestable Heresie of the Arrians banished Bishop Sylvester beforenamed and persecuted many zealous and godly professors Constantine infated with the Aâ—…rian heresie after which as mine Author affirmeth hee was strook with an incurable Leprosie But now I return to Octavian whom hee left his substitute in Britain Who during the long absence of the Emperour ruled the Land to the great content of the Natives but when hee had throughly invested himselfe into the hearts of the people and thinking his Lord so far remote and could not easily be drawne from so great a charge as the government of both the East and Westerne Octavian usurpeth the Crowne of Britain Empires He thought to usurpe the Title of King and to that purpose distressed such Romans as Constantine had left heere in the Land and so took upon him the sole Soveraignity of which when the Emperour had notice hee sent hither in all haste a Prince called Traherne who was uncle to his mother Helena with three Legions of Romans every Legion consisting on six thousand six hundred and six Knights whom Octavian met in battaile neare unto Portchester or as some Authors write neere Winchester and Trahernesent into Britain compeld Traherne to forsake the field and flie towards Scotland whither Octavian pursued him and gave him a second battaile where hee and the Britains were discomfited and himselfe with some few took shipping and sailed to Norway but not long after he returned into England with a strong Armâ—… of Britains and Norwayes in which interim a British Earle who greatly loved Octavian slue Traherne so that with little difficulty hee subdued the rest of the Commons who were left without a Commander and repossessed the Land which was from the time that Constantine made him Governor or Protector of the Land ten years Octavian thus re-instated gathered great Octavian made absolute K. of Britain riches and treasure in so much that hee feared not the power of any forreigne Prince and ruled the Nation in great peace and quietnesse who being growne aged and full of yeares by the counsell of some of his British Noble men he sent one Mauritius son to Caradock Duke of Cornwall unto Rome For an hopefull young Gentleman called Maximian who was neere allyed to Helena the mother of Constantine that he would come into this Land and by marrying his only daughter enjoy the Kingdome of Britain after him though divers perswaded him to confer that honour upon Conan Meriadock his neere Cousin but the former motion prevailed Conon Meriadock And Maximian the sonne of Leonine brother to Hellen and Uncle to Constantine the Great was sent over with the beforenamed Mauritius and with a sufficient guard of Romans landed safely at the port of Southampton which Conan Meriadock hearing hee gathered a company of his friends and kinsmen and because the other came Maximians first entrance into Britain to dispossesse him of that whicâ—… hee held to be his right Her purposed to ambush him in the way and give him battaile which being told to the King he by his wisdome and power pâ—…evented it so that Maximian came peaceably to Court unto whom the King gave his daughter and the Land with her for her Dower and dyed soon after when he had nobly and peaceably governed the Kingdome for the space of fifty foure yeares CHAP. 5. Maximian made King of Britaine and after Emperour How Armorica came to be called Little Britaine and this Britaine the Great Of Ursula and the eleven thousand Virgins Gratian the last Roman that was King of the Land The great distresses of the Kingdome the cessation of their Tribute paid to Rome Constantine brother to Aldroenus made King of the Realm his death and issue MAximian the sonne of Leonine and Cousin German to Constantine the great was made King of Britaine Maximian K. of Britaine in the yeare of Grace three hundred fourescore and two who proved a valiant and victorious Prince but somewhat proud and withall a persecutor of the Christians And first there was great strife betwixt him and Conan with sundry Conflicts in which they sped diversly but at length they were reconciled and made friends so that he raigned for a time in great peace in which interim he gathered together much treasure and riches At last he was accited to move warre against the Galls and landed with a great Hoast in Armorica now Armorica first called Litle Britaine called Little Britaine which after hee had subdued by the sword hee gave it to Conon Meriadock to hold of him and of the Kings of great Britaine for ever commanding from that time Armorica to be called Little Britain and this Land Britaine the great For which victory and others his Knights proclaimed him Emperour which increased both his pride and tyranny so that he invaded the Lands of the Empire and conquered a great part both of France and Germany which was contrary to his Oath before sworne to the two Emperors Gratian and Valentinian to whom when tydings was brought of this his invasion Gratian prepared to resist him but fearing his power
and stratagems abroad French machins and the Italianated god The Spanish Engins Porteguized Iew. The Iesuitick mines and politick crew Of home-bred Traytors let their menaces come By private pistoll or by hostile Drum c. Yet notwithstanding over these and many others strengthened and protected by the hand of the Almighty shee was miraculously victorious whose fame can never faile or Her memory perish and therefore I draw my present conclusion from the premisses Though all these Dogs chace her with open cry Live shall she fear'd and lov'd then Sainted die Many other prophesies have beene disperst abroad under the name of Merlin of which I will give you the tast of one onely and that 's this When Hemp is ripe and ready to pull A prophesie conferd on Merlin Then Englishman beware thy scull In this word Hemp be five Letters H. E. M. P. E. now by reckoning the successive Princes from Henry the Eighth this Prophesie is easilie explaned H. signifieth Henry before named E. Edward his sonne the sixth of that name M. Mary who succeeded him P Philip of Spain who by marrying Queene Mary during the time of her life participated with her in the English Diadem lastly by E. Qu. Elizabeth after whose death there was great feare that some troubles might have rose about the Crowne or that King Iames her successour of like blessed memory might have come in after an hostile manner and so to have made that good Then Englishman beware thy scull Yet proved this augury true though not according to the former expectation or imagination for after his happy and peaceable proclamation and Inauguration there was great mortality not in London only but through the whole Kingdome from which the Nation was not quite clean in seven yeeres after CHAP. 38. The title of K. Iames to the Crown His comming into England A prophesie of his Reigne The first treason attempted against him The gun-powder treason and what the conspirators were The K. of Denmark twice commeth into England An Epitaph upon Prince Henry One of the Duke of Richmond and Lenox Another of Q. Anne An Epitaph upon K. Iames K. Charles proclamed King his Fathers Funeralls c. UPon Thursday being the twenty fourth of March about two of the clock in the morning deceased Queen Elizabeth of blessed memory at her palace of Richmond being aged three score and ten yeares and having reigned forty foure yeares five moneths and King Iames his lineall title to the Crown of England c. odde dayes and the same day about eleven of clock in the forenoone was proclaimed Iames the sixth King of Scotland King of England Scotland France and Ireland at the high Crosse in Cheapside with the Title of Defonder of the Faith being lineally descended from Margaret eldest daughter to King Henry the seventh by Elizabeth his wife who was the eldest daughter to King Henry the fourth the same Margaret was married to King Iames the fourth of that name King of Scotland in the yeare of Grace one thousand five hundred and three who had issue Iames the fifth who was Father to Mary Queene of Scotland Mother to Iames the sixth Monarch of great Britain and King of France and Ireland of whom ere I further proceed to speake any more let me acquaint you with one thing most remarkable A thing worthy to be observed namely how ominous the Thursday hath beene to King Henry the Eighth and to all his posterity for hee himselfe died upon Thursday the eight and twentieth of Ianuary his sonne King Edward the sixth on Thursday the sixth of Iuly Queen Mary on Thursday the seventeenth of November and Queene Elizabeth on Thursday the twenty fourth of March but I returne to King Iames and the prediction made of him and his prosperous Reigne On Boreas wings then hither shall be borne Through Week o're Tweed a Princely Vnicorn The prophesie of K. Iames. Who brought into the world his own fair crest A rampant Lion figured on his brest And to his Armes six Lions more shall quarter With six French Flowers inviron'd with the Ioyning by fates unchangable dispose Garter The Northern Thistle to the Southerne Rose He shall the true Apostolike Faith mayntain With pious zeale During the blessed Reigne Of this faire sprig deriv'd from Richmonds stock No Noble head shall stoop unto the block Yet shall from th' old Lupanar Wolves be sent To undermine both Crown and Government Striving in Hell to register their names By blowing up the State in powder flames Ah wo the while Rebellion and prestigion Should masque themselves in visors of religion All which the holy book meerly gain-says But man's corrupt God Iust in all his wayes Witnesse their wretched ends but happy they Who keep for that an annuall holiday That King shall be a second Salomon Whom all Kings else with wonder gaze upon Who as to an Oracle to him shall come And when he speaks be silent all and dumbe Peace shall he keep within him and without him Whilst all lands else combustions are about him Him shall a second issue male succeed Gracious in word victorious in his deed Though divers adulterate copies something alluding to this purpose have been frequent in the mouths of many yet this best agreeing with the Authors meaning ought to be first received which though it need no explanation at all yet thus much briefly for the satisfaction of the vulgar By Boreas is meant the North-wind upon whose wings the Vnicorne is borne is implide King Iames who gives the Unicorne in The Vnicorne part of the Scottish Arms. Heraldry Through Week over Tweed that is he came through Barwick over the River Tweed which parteth England and Scotland Hee King Iames born with a Lion on his brest was also borne with the exact portraiture of a Lion upon his brest presaging that the white Lion of Scotland should have a proximity and alliance with the three red Lions of England quartered with the three Flower delyces of France the noble remembrance of Edward sirnamed the Black Prince sonne to Edward the Third who by taking the King prisoner in battaile added them to the Arms of England which are incompast by the Garter an Order first made by the aforesaid Edward the Third Theâ—…e came into the peaceable possession of King Iames who also brought the Thistle part of the Arms of Scotland to joyne The Thistlâ—… joyned with the Rose with the two united Roses the White and Red figuring of the two divided Houses York and Lancaster to make one perfect Damaske I omit the manner of his Majesties comming out of Scotland and his Royall entertainment into this Kingdome with joyfull acclamations of the people and the unanimous suffrage of the whole Nation with his Inauguration Coronation and solemne and pompous passing from the Tower through the City of London to Westminster with the severall pageants and showes his Creating of Barons Viscounts and Earles and making of Knights