which people eat mans flesh In the 8. year he subdued Scotland and made them do homage In England he left no natural Noble man to bear rule but so impoverished the Nation by great Taxes that much Tillage was laid down and good ground laid wast many miles together When the Tyrant had brought the nation into extream poverty he imposed upon them an Oath of allegiance and went into Normandy and not long after falling to War with the King of France he was over-heat in his fat body by his harness upon him and got a painful disease and dyed the 9. of Sept. when he had reigned 20. years 10. moneths and about 25. daies Anno 1008. William Rufus the 3. son of Duke William took advantage of his elder brother Roberts absence stepped into the Royal Throne and began his reign from the death of his father Most of the Nobility stood for Robert and raised war against William But by pleasing words and fair promises he gained some of them to him and then subdued the rest by force After Robert claimed his right to the Crown and William refusing to surrender they fell to War and at length agreed that if either of them had not issue the Crown should descend to the survivers In the 11. year of Williams reign all the Lands belonging to Earl Godwin whose son proved a perfidious perjured man by the breaking in of the Sea was utterly overwhelmed with water which is added to the vast Ocean and still bears the name of Goodwins sands King William was one that fulfilled the curse of God upon that kind of Government for it is recorded of him that he did not only shave but slea the people of England But the just had of God found him out and at last Sir Walter Terril shooting at a Deer in New Forrest which his father had made a Forrest by the destorying the People and Town 30. miles together the King being there hunting the righteous Lord guided the Arrow to Williams brest of which wound he fell dead and spoke no word Some of his men laid the dead body upon a Colliers Cart drawn with one poor horse which came by accident which carried him to Winchester where he was buried the day after at whose burial men could not weep for joy He reigned 12. years 10. moneths and about 22. daies An. 1101. Henry brother to Rufus the 4. son of William Duke of Normandy who for his learning was called Beau-Clark got into the Throne after his brother William Rufus At first he abated the taxes and reformed the Laws But Robert Duke of Normandy returning from the holy Wars made War upon his brother Henry for the Crown of England At this time Robert was appeased with money but upon this quarrel was raised a second and third War Till at last Henry took Robert prisoner and Duke Robert endeavouring escape was taken and then Henry caused his brothers eyes to be put out and kept close prisoner to his death King Henry in a Council or Parliament had power given him over the Clergy But he took their Money and suffered them to do what they pleased And unto all other his black sins It 's plain he was a whore-monger for he made Robert his Bastard-son first Earl of Golcester Many dreadful judgements and great signs of Gods displeasure were manifested upon the Land about these times Yet Henry ruled 35. years and 4. moneths and died the first day of December An. 1136. Steven Earl of Bulloin son to Alice daughter to William the Conqueror claimed the Crown of England and succeeded his Uncle Henry He was a gallant Souldier and much favoured and eased the people But the Nobles of England sent for Maud King Henry's daughter who was married to the Emperorr of Rome of the French line and promised her to possess her in the Throne of England At this time also the King of Scots invaded the North parts and woful desolations were made in the Land by Armies on all sides But at last Steven made peace by adopting Henry son to Maud to succeed him in the Kingdom so Steven died in peace the 25. day of October when he had reigned 18. years 10. moneths and odd days An. 1155. Henry the 2. called Henry Plantagenet next took the Royal Scepter And now again the Saxon line was restored Maude daughter to King Henry son to William the Conqueror was first married to the Emperour and after to Geffery Plantagenet Earl of Angeou and Duke of Normandy by whom he had this Henry who married Elianor descended from Malcolme a Saxon. It was observed of this King that he was unsteadfast or unfaithful in his promises and a wedlock breaker He caused his son Henry to be Crowned in his life-time who married the King of France's daughter But Henry and his brethren raised great Wars against their father who died the 6. day of July An. 1189 when he had reigned 34. years 9. moneths and 12. days Richard the 2. son to Henry the 2. took the Crown of England He sold great possessions and immunities from the Câ—own and after pretending that he had 〈◊〉 his Seal caused all that had purchased to have their Deeds and Patents sealed again Richard left the Government of England with a Chancellor and went into Normandy and there he agreed with the King of France to go to Jerusalem In his absence John his brother set up himself King But upon Richards return John was perswaded by his mother to lay down the Crown and Richard was again crowned King of England the 12. day of March and then he entered again upon all the Lands he had sold unless they would buy them again How this man loved Money and let go Conscience any may judge But after he was shot with a poyson'd dart of which he died the 6. day of April or the second moneth An. 1200. when he had reigned 9. years and 9. moneths John now succeeded his brother Richard He was divorced from his wife and married another Amongst other the great evils he brought upon England this was not the least That he resigned his Crown with the Realms of England and Ireland to the Pope The Barons fell at difference with the King and obtained help from France upon which the King sleeing up and down ended his miserable life at Newark Castle as some say by poyson But when he was dead his servants divided what he had not leaving enough to cover his dead body and then left him He died the 19. of Octob. Ann. 1217. when he had run out 17. years and 6. moneths with some odd daies Henry the eldest son of Richard by a second wife or Concubine was set upon the Throne at 9. years of age Upon this the French withdrew out of the Nation He took to wife Elianor daughter of Raymond Earl of
Salsbury Plain and took the King prisoner In this low condition the King was constrained to give Kent Sussex Suffolk and Norfolk to Hingest and there he set up his Kingdom In this interim of time Aurelius Ambrosius son to Constantine brought over an Army out of France to recover his right and falling upon Vortiger burnt him in his Castle in Wales when he had reigned 6. years more An. 466. Aurelius Ambrose being set in the Throne hasted speedily with an Army against Occa son of Hingest at York In that battel he took Occa prisoner and soon after set up the great stones upon Salisbury Plain in memory of the Brittains that were buryed there who were treacherously murdered by the Saxons as before In this Kings time the Saxons grew fast They set up the South Kingdom of Saxons containing Somersetshire Dorsetshire and Cornewall Also Porthe set up the East Kingdom of the Saxons containing Norfolk and Suffolk Not long after Aurelius Ambrose was poysoned when he had reigned 32. years An 498. Uter Pendragon then bare the royal Diadem No Lady would please him but the Duke of Cornewall's wife and on her he begat Arthur Pendragon and reigned 18. years An. 516. Arthur the son of Uter succeeded his father He fought twelve battels with the Saxons when Arthur had much subdued these enemies at home he committed the Government of Brittain to one Mordred and followed the Wars beyond Sea But in his absence Mordred confederated with the King of the West Saxons and set up himself King of Brittain The news of this coming to Arthur he speedily returned to Brittain with an Army and gave battel to Mordred in Cornewal where Mordred was slain and Arthur deadly wounded yet they brought him to Glastenbury where he died when he had governed 16. years An. 532. Constantine a kinsman of Arthur got the Crown after him But Aurelius a Brittain raised War against him and slew him when he had reigned 3. years An. 535. Aurelius Conan Nephew to Arthur was crowned King of Brittain about An. 545. There was now great strife for the Kingdom and it appears that for some time one King was kill'd before another got to the Throne At this time Arthurs brother was next heir to the Crown but Aurelius his Couzin got it by great hand having the longer Sword and kept his Uncle a prisoner In the time while these were striving for the Crown the Saxons got ground and set up the fifth and sixth Kingdoms of the Saxons Aurelius reigned 33. years An. 578. Vortipor succeeded his father Conan He was a vile person he put away his wife and kept his daughter for his Concubine He reigned 4. years An. 582. Malgo-Conan then had the rule He delighted in the filthy sin of Sodomy he kill'd his wife and took his brothers daughter In wickedness he reigned 4. years An. 586. Cara next got the Crown This King was so vile abominable and wicked that the people moved the Saxons and the King of Ireland to make War against him and after two years they drove him out of his Kingdom An. 588. The Brittains were now exceedingly wasted the Christian faith before received neer worn out The Saxons prevailing against the Brittains drive them to the desolate Mountains in Wales and got the whole Dominion of this Land In the time of the Saxons the Inhabitants of this Land were called Angles or Anglishmen and now English-men and the Brittains Welch-men But though the Brittains were driven into Wales yet there they elected Kings over them and as they had strength made War upon the Saxons until King Cadwalladar Anno 687. The Saxons being now masters of Angland or England they set up their Heptarchy or seven several Kingdoms and every King had his Dominion But when other competitors were gone Ambition and a varice set them at variance until one Kingdom had swallowed up all the other Alas alas It 's not Towns or Countries or some Nations that will satisfie aspiring spirits Time and great experience hath proved this Possibly it may be expected that I should go through the Lines of these several Saxon Kings But I find them treading in the same steps of those that went before them and those that follow after are the right sons of their Progenitors Therefore I will enter again with Monarchy and pass all the rest from the expulsion of the Brittains into Wales and the whole Land as divided amongst the Saxons until the Nation was again run up into one Monarchy which was from An. 588. to 872. In the time of the Saxon Heptarchy the Danes made their first inroad into England by Portland Island in the West but were then repulsed An. 800. Yet after they came with redoubled force and entered in Northumberlaud against whom Ethreldred King of the West Saxons who had greatest strength of the Saxon Kings gave them battel but the King was there slain when he had reigned 5. years and the Danes still kept their hold about An. 871. Alfred or Alured last King of the West Saxons began the first Monarchy of the Saxons in England He put the Saxons Laws into English he restored and repaired the City of London and made it again habitable which was wasted and burnt by the Danes An. 839. It is thought also that this King was the first Founder of the University of Oxford He reigned 29. years and 6. moneths Ann. 900. Edward the elder succeeded his father Alfred He subdued the Kings of Scotland and Wales He built divers Towns and Nottingham-Bridge and reigned 24. years An. 924. Adelstain or Athelstain son to Edward took the Throne and did much in his time He expell'd the Danes out of the Land and reigned 15. years Anno 939. Edmund succeeded his brother Athelstain and was slain when he had reigned 5. years An. 344. Edmund left two sons young and Eldred brother to Edmund took on him the Government as Protector but soon after he was Crowned King and reigned 9. years An. 953. Edwin the son of Edmund succeeded his Uncle Eldred and in the day he was Crowned he ravished his own kinswoman the wife of a Noble man and put her husband afterwards to death that he might have her For this and some other abominable acts his Subjects deprived him of his Royal dignity when he had reigned 4. years An. 957. After Edwin Edgar his brother was set on the Throne He was a good Commonwealths-man and reigned 16. years An. 973. Edward the second son of Edgar succeeded his father but was murdered when he had reigned 3. years Anno 976. Etheldred the second son of Edgar murdered his brother and set up himself in the Throne But by this bloody act and other ill carriages he lost the hearts of
them When Hezekiah had reigned 29. years he went to the Lord about Anno mund 3245. In the reign of Hezekiah Israel was carryed away Captive and the Kings of Israel ceased and so not mentioned after Manasseh succeeded his father Hezekiah and was 12. years old when he began to reign But he did evil in the sight of the Lord and was a gross Idolater In the former part of his reign he builded again the High places reared Altars for Baal sacrificed his own son c. and did worse then the Heathen In his time the Lord left not Manasseh and Judah without reproof But they hearkned not Therefore the Lord threatned to bring the same destruction upon Manasseh and Jerusalem as he had brought upon Samaria and the house of Ahab and to wipe them clean from all their filthiness as a man wipeth a dish and turneth inside down to keep it from dust and soon after the Lord brought up the King of Assyria the Rod of his anger who took Manasseh among the thornes whither he was run to hide himself and bound him in fetters and carryed him to Babylon In this low estate Manasseh humbled himself greatly before the Lord and the Lord heard his prayer and restored him again to his Kingdom And now Manasseh knew out of real experience that the Lord was God After this Manasseh repaired and reformed yet the people still sacrificed in the High places and when Manesseh had reigned 55. years he slept with his fathers and they brought him not into the Sepulchres of the Kings but buried him in the Garden of his own house at Uzza about Anno mund 3300. Amon the son of Manasseh at the age of 22. years was Crowned King of Judah he again destroyed Religion set up Idolatry walked in all the wicked ways of his father and his own servants conspired against him and slew him in his own house when he had reigned 2. years about Anno mun 3302. Amon coming to the Crown at 22. years of age reigning but 2. years and his son Josiah 8. years old when he came to the Crown unless Amon had Josiah at 15. years of age which is not ordinary there must be an interval between Amon and Josiah After the death of Amon the people took Josiah his son when he was 8. years old and made him King Josiah walked in all the waies of David he again destroyed Idolatry repaired the Temple and was a choice Reformer Josiah also renewed the Covenant with the Lord and all the people to be the Lords people and keep his Commandments Nevertheless the Lord turned not from his fierce and great wrath before denounced against Judah because of the sin of Manasseh whereby he provoked the Lord in Josiahs daies the King of Egypt went to War against the King of Assyria at Euphrates and Josiah went out against him I do not finde the ground of his quarrel but probably Josiah might take offence at the King of Egypt for passing through his Land yet Pharaoh Necho King of Egypt sent Embassadors to Josiah to let him know he intended not to War against him but against the house against which God had commanded him to fight and charged Josiah not to meddle with him left God should destroy him But Josiah being a man of courage would not be said to turn his face upon any yet his resolution being not rightly ordered and not hearkning to the words of Necho from the mouth of God Josiah was shot in the sight and his servants brought him in his Chariot to Jerusalem and he died there and all Judah and Jerusalem and the Prophet Jeromiah lamented Josiah who reigned 31. years about Anno mund 3333. Upon the death of Josiah the people took Jehoahaz a younger son and Crowned him King when he was 23. years old Jehoahaz did evil in the sight of the Lord according to all that his fathers had done But Pharaoh Necho King of Egypt came up put Jchoahaz in bonds when he had reigned 3 moneths laid a Jerusalem taken by the King of Tax upon the Land of 100. talents of Silver and one Talent of Gold and made Eliakim Jehoahaz his elder brother King of Judah in the room of Josiah his father and called his name Jehoiakim but took Jehoahaz into Egypt and he died there Jehoiakim now succeeded being 25. years old Jehoiakim seems to be well pleased to have the Crown and to gratifie his new Master he forthwith gave the Tribute of silver and gold to Pharaoh but taxed all the Land for it It 's an easie matter to grant large sums of Money when they lay it upon others to pay and this the holy Pen-man notes in general that Jehoiakim did evil according to all that his fathers did so Nebuchadnezzer came up against him and Jehoiakim became his servant and submitted to him Ah how doth sin unman men and render them low slavish spirits When men leave God they will stoop to any bondage But Jehoiakim after three years rebelled against the King of Babylon and the Lord sent against him the Caldees the Syrians the Moabites and Amonites to destroy Judah for the sins of Manasseh and for the innocent bloud he brought upon Jerusalem which the Lord would not pardon so Jehoiakim ended his daies in trouble when he had been King but hardly reigned 11. years about Anno mund 3344. Jehoiachim the son of Jehoiakim succeeded his father in the Throne and in his sin but the King of Babylon came up with an Army and laid siege to Jerusalem and Jehoiachim and his Princes went out rendred themselves prisoners and delivered up the City when he had reigned three moneths in the eighth year of Nebuchadnezzers reign At this time the King of Babylon made havock of the Temple took away the Treasures of the Lords house and the Kings house and carryed all away Captives but the poor of the Land and made Mattaniah Jehoiakims brother King of Judah and called his name Zedekiah Zedekiah was 21. years old when he came to the Throne and did according as his fathers had done before him And after some time he also rebelled against the King of Babylon and in the 9. year of Zedekiahs reign in the 10. day of the 10. moneth Nebuchadnezzer brought up all his Army and laid siege to Jerusalem In the 11. year of Zedekiah on the 9. day of the 4. moneth June the Famine prevailed in the City which was exceeding great the City was broken up and the men of war fled by a back way and the King went towards the plains of Jericho But the Chaldeans pursued him and brought him to the King of Babylon to Riblah where they gave sentence upon him so they put the sons of Zedekiah to death before his eyes
his reign An. 383. Gratian now came to the Throne The Roman State was now greatly weakened and the barbarous people strengthened so Gratian took into Government to him Theodosius a Spaniard But Maximus a Captain under Gratian conspired the death of Gratian who was murdered when he had reigned 15. years Theodosius being established in the Government with Gratian set himself to suppress this bloudy Tyrant and therefore drew his Army neer to Maximus But when the Souldiers of Maximus understood that the Emperour Theodosius came against them with a mighty Army they soon took Maximus bound him and brought him to Theodosius who as soon caused the Tyrant to be executed Theodosius was very laborious and in his time called several Councils to finde out the truth and to advance the purity of Religion This Emperour had two sons Arcadius and Honorius whom he took into Government when they were both young Theodosius being at Millain and finding bodily sickness increase he sent for his son Honorius who came to his father forthwith but he departed this life the 17. of January the 60. year of his age when he had reigned 16. years An. 414. Arcadius and Honorius after the death of their Father divided the Roman Empire Arcadius went to the East and Honorius rul'd tâ—e West At this time Christian Religion began greatly to flourish and spread so that the greatest troubles did arise from the ambition of Bishops which after I shall speak more to In the reign of Honorius by the treachery of Stilicus the Goths took Rome but stay'd not long I finde no certain account given of Honorius his death or the time of his reign Valentinian had the Empire of Rome and desired in Marriage his Couzen Endoxia daughter to Theodosius the second Emperour of the East The motion being accepted Valentinian went to Constantinople where the Marriage was solemnized Long it was not but Valentinian was slain by the treason of Maximus and to revenge this treason Endoxia call'd in Genzericus King of the Vandals but by him Rome was burnt and the Western Empire brought to great desolation After the death of Maximus Avitus took the Imperial power but was taken away by the Plague when he had reigned 8. moneths The Empire now was vacant for some time but in the year following Majorinus took the Government upon him but was soon murdered by Severus Severus now come to the Imperial Diadem and Rome lying in her ashes he made Ravenna the chief seat Woful confusions now wasted the Western Empire yet Severus kept the Crown 4. years In the distractions and distresses of the Roman State between Genzericus and others Ambassadours were sent to Leo the second Emperour of the East to desire him to send an Emperour to Rome Hereupon Leo sent Anthemius and with him a great Army to settle him in the Roman Empire But Anthemius was slain when he had governed 5. years Olimbrius then ascended the Imperial Throne and was dispatched in seven moneths Glicerius next succeeded in the Roman Empire but after 5. years was deposed by Nepos Nepos took the Crown but had it taken again from him by Orestes when he had worn it but 56. daies Orestes possest the Empire but gave it to his son Augustulus Augustulus was the last Emperour of Rome and reigned but one year It is said that Odoazer succeeded Augustulus but so low was the Roman State that he refused the title of Emperour and took only the stile of King Thus this Roman Empire which had been the glory and terror of the World for the space of 500. years was now through sedition pride and cruelty brought to woful ruine In these distractions several Provinces of the Empire fell off and set up Kings amongst themselves and here the Roman Empire ceased The Monarchy of England IT is agreed by Writers that England was a Province of the Roman Empire Some suppose it was first subjected by the Emperour Severus who in the 18. year of his reign was slain at York Ann. Christ. 213. But it 's granted that Constantine the great upon the division of the Empire to his three sons France Spain England and Ireland were sub-Kingdoms given to his eldest son Constantinus about An. 343. Our Chronologers acknowledge Brittain continued a Roman Province until the time of Theodosius the second At this time the Emperour had drawn the strength of this Nation over into France and in those Wars were much wasted so that Brittain was very weak of men and upon this advantage the Picts and Scots made Inroads into England and invaded some Countries and did great hurt Hereupon the Brittains required aid of the Romans But the Roman Empire was now brought very low and they having at that time Wars in Italy and in France they neglected poor Brattain who were forced to provide for themselves as well as they could and so Brittain cast off the Roman Government about the 16. year of Theodosius the 2. about Anno Christi 441. The Brittains when left to themselves continued in doubtful Wars with the Picts and Scots about 6. years and then with one consent they Elected Vortiger to be their King An. Christi 447. Vortiger was the first Brittish King In whole time the Land was greatly wasted by a destroying Plague that the living could scarcely bury the dead This woful mortality gave the cruel Picts and Scots advantage again to enter England who did make great spoil while there was no strength to resist them Hereupon Vortiger sent for aid into Germany from whence came Hingest and Horsus with some Saxons When Vortiger had beat back the Picts and Scots He gave the Isle of Thanet in Kent to the Captains and their Companies to inhabit as the reward of their good service Captain Hingest grew into great favour and King Vortiger married to him his daughter Rowan who was a very beautiful creature Upon this match the Saxons did come into the Land abundantly and carryed so high that the Brittish people complained to the King fearing they might invade the Land But by the Queens interest the peoples complaints were slighted and the Saxons encouraged Whereupon the people deposed Vortiger from the Crown and made Vortimer their King in his fathers stead when Vortiger had reigned 7. years An. 454. Vortimer hotly pursued the growing Saxons who as stifly stood it out But he got the better of them in divers battels yet in revenge Rowan his Stepmother poysoned him when he had reigned 6 years An. 460. Vortiger the father of Vortimer once again obtained the Crown and shortly after Hingest entred the Land again with an Army of Saxons Hingest finding a great preparation of the Brittains against him desired a Treaty for peace and while they were treating he treacherously slew 440. Earles and Barons upon