Douer and Sandwiche From whence to Caleys or Boloigne in Fraunce is the distaunce of .xxx. myles From this Angle whiche is agaynst France to the third Angle whiche is in the Nortte in Scotlande the mayne whereof boundeth vpon Germany but no land seene and there the Iland is lyke vnto a wedge euen at the very angle of the land in ScotlaÌd The leÌgth whereof is .vii. hundreth myles Agayne the length from this Corner at Douer in Kente to the vttermoste part of Cornewall beynge sainct Michaels mount whiche is the wesâe part or weast angle is supposed to be CCC myles From this left Angle ⪠beyng the west part and thuttermost part of Cornwall whiche hath a prospect towards Spayn in whiche part also standeth Irelande situated ⪠betwene Britayne and Spayne to the north angle in the further part of Scotland in which part the Iland dothe ende the length is .viii. hundred myles in whiche part there be very good hauens and saufe harboroughs for shippes and apt passage into Ireland beyng not past one day saylynge but the shorter passage is from wales to waterford a towne in Irelande vppon the sea coaste muche like to that passage betwene Douer and Calaice or somwhat more but the shortest passage of all is out of Scotland FroÌ this last angle to Hampton whiche is a towne vpon the sea coast with a hauen so called toward the south and therfore called Southhampton betweene the Angles of Kent and Cornewal they do mesure by a straight lyne the whole lengthe of the Iland and doo say that it contâineth viii C. myles as the breadth frome Menena or Saint Dauids to yarmouth which is in the vttermost part of the Iland towardes the east dothe conteyn CC. myles for the breadth of the Iland is in the south part which part is the front and begynnyng of the Land and endeth narowe or as it were in a straight So the circuite or compasse of the Iland is .xviii C. myles whiche is CC. lesse then Cesar dothe recken or accompt Thus muche I haue thought good to take âut of Polydore touchynge the dyuisyon of Englande with the fourme and situation of the same Muche other good matter that Author doth alledge whych here for breuitie I do omitte referryng those that desire to knowe farther hereof to that Boke where he shall fynd the style and story both pleasant and profytable THE RACE OF THE KINGES OF ENgland since Brute the first of this Realme and in the margent are placed the yeres before Christ his byrth when euery king began their reigns tyl ye come to Cimbilinus in whose tyme Christ y e Sauior of the worlde was borne then foloweth y e yeres froÌ Christ his byrthe date 1108 AFTER THE commune and beste allowed opinion of the âmoste auncient and beste approued Authors Brute the sonne of Syluius Posthumius arriued in this IlaÌd ⪠at a place now called Totnes in Deuonshire the yere of the worlde 2855. the yere before Christes Natiuitie 1108. wherein he first began to reigne named it Britayneâ which before was called Albion And. London buylded therin he buylded the noble citie of LoÌdon naâed it new Troy buildyng there a Temple to Appolin wherein He established the Troyane Lawes in this kyngdome he placed an Archfâamyn He deuideâ the same Iland among his thre sonnes vnto Locrine he gaue the middell part of Britayne nowe called Englande with the superioritie of all this I le Vnto Camber he gaue Wales and to Albanacte Scotlande After whiche partition he decessed when he had reigned xxiiii yeares and was buried at London then called newe Troye as is aforesayde date 1084 Locrine the eldest sonne of Brute reigned .xx. yeares he châsed the Hunnes which inuaded this Realme and pursued them so sharply that many of them with their kyng were drowned in a ryuer whych departeth England and Scotland And for so much as the king of HuÌnes named Humbar was Howe the Ryuer of Humber tooke that name there drowned the Ryuer is tyll this daye named Humber This kyng Locrine had to wyfe Guendolyn daughter of Corineus duke of Cornewall by whome he had a sonne named Madan he also kept as paramour the bean tifull lady Estrild by whome he had a daughter named Sabrine And afterthe death of Corineus duke of Cornewall he put from hym the said Guendolin wedded Estryld but Guendolyn repaired to Cornewall where she gathered a greate power foughte with king Locrine and siue hym he Howe the Ryuer of Seâerâe tooke ⪠that name 1063 was buried at Troinouant She drowned the lady Estrylde with her doughter Sabrine in a ryuer that after the yong maideÌs name is called Seuern Gwendoline the daughter of Corineus and wife to Locrin for so muche as Madan her sonne was to yonge to gouerne the land was by common assent The quene reigned during the minoritie of her son of all the Britains made ruler of the whole Isle of Britayn which she well and discretely ruled to the comforte of her subiectes .xv. yeares and than left the same to her sonne Madan date 1053 Madan the sonne of Locrine and Guendolyne was made ruler of Britayn The King deuoured by wolâes he vsed great tiranny among his Britons And beyng at his disport of huntyng he was deuoured by wylde wolues when he had reigned .xl ⪠yeres He left after hym .ii. sonnes named Mempricius and Manlius date 1009 Mempricius the sonne of Madan beyng kyng by treason slewe his brother Manlius after whose death he liued in more tranquillitie where thorough he fel in slouth and so to lechery taking the wiues and daughters of his subiectes and lastly became so euyll that he forsoke his wife and concubines and fell to the synne of Sodomye with beastes wherby he becam odible to God and man And goinge on hunting The king deuoured of wolues lost his coÌpany was destroied of wild wolues wherof the land was then ful wheÌ he had reigned .xx. yeres date 989 Ebrank the sonne of Mempricius was made ruler of Britaine he Had xxi wiues of whom he receiued .xx. sonnes and .xxx. daughters whiche he sent into Italie there to be maried to the bloud of the Troianes In Albany now called Scotland he edified the DuÌbritain EdeÌbrugh BaÌburgh and Yorke builded ⪠castel of Alclude which is DuÌbritain he made y e castell of Maidens now called Edenbrough he made also y e castell of Bamburgh he builded Yorke citie wherin he made a teÌple to Diane and set there an Archeflame and there was buried whaÌ he had reigned .lx. yeares date 929 Brute Grienshielde the sonne of Ebranke ruled this lande .xii. yeres was buried at Yorke leauynge after hym a sonne named Leill date 917 Leill the son of Brute Greneshielde being a iust maÌ louer of peace in his time builded Carleil made ther a ââple placing therin a Flamin to rule y â same according to y â laws of their goddes at
that tyme there was buried when he had ruled Britain .xxv. yeres date 892 Lud Rudibras the son of Leill builded CaÌtorbury winchester Shaftesbury builded CaÌtorbury Winchester Shafâsbury wherin he builded .iii. teÌples placed in y e same .iii. Flamins like as bishops now be ⪠he reigned xxix yeres left a son after him named Bladud date 863 Bladud son of Lud Rudibras who had loÌg studied at AtheÌs brought with him iiii philosophers to kepe scole in Britain for y e which he builded Stamford Stamford buylded Iohn Harding alleging Merlyn Bath with y e hot baths builded The kinge ateÌpting to fiye brake his necke made it an vniuersitie wherin he had great nuÌbre of scolers studying in al y e seueÌ liberal scieÌces which vniuersitie dured to y e coÌming of S. Augustine At which time y e bish of Rome in terdited it for heresies y t fell amoÌg the SaxoÌs britoÌs together mixt he builded Bathe made ther a teÌple to Apollo and placed there a Flamyn he made there the hot bathes practised his necromaÌcy he decked himself in fethers presumed to fâie in y e aire fallynge on his teÌple of Apollo brake his neck when he had reigned .xx. yeres date 844 Leire y e son of Bladud succeded his father he builded Cair Leir now called Leicester and made there a temple oâ of Ianus placyng a Flamyne there to gouerne the same he had .iii. daughters Gonorell Ragan and Cordell ⪠which Cordelle for her wisedom vertue towards her father succeded hym in the kingdom wheÌ he had reigned xl yere he decessed was buried at Leycester date 805 Coâdyla the youngest daughter of Leire succedyng her father was sore vexed by her two nephues Morgan of Albanye and Conedagus of Camber and Cornewall who at the length toke and caste her in prison where she beyng in dispaire of recoueryng her estate Galfride slewe her selfe when she had reigned .v. yeares and was buried at Leicester in Ianus temple by her father date 800 Morgan the eldest sonne of Dame Gonorell claimed Britayn warred on his nephue Conedagus that was kyng of Camber that now is wales and of Cornwall but Conedagus met How Glamorganshire toke that name S. Iohns towne in Scotland builded with Morgan in wales and there siue him which place is called Glamorgan tyll this daye And then Conedagus was king of all Britayn he builded a temple of Mars at Perch that now is Sâ Iohns towne in Scotland placed there a Flamyne he builded an othââ of Minerue in wales which now Bangor ãâã wales builded is named Bangor The thyrd he made of Mercurie in Cornewall where he was borne he reigned .xxiiii. yeares and was buried at London It rayned bloud .iii. dayes date 766 date 721 Riuallo sonne of Conedagus succeded his father in whose tyme it rained bloud .iii. days after the whiche tempest ensued a great multitude of venemous flyes which slew much people And then a great mortalitie thoroughout this land which caused almost desolation of the same This Riuallo reigned ouer this whole IlaÌd xlvi yeres and than deceased and was buried at Caiâe branke that now is Yorke date 684 Gurgustus sonne of Riuallo succeded in the kyngdom of Britayn who reigned quietly but was a coÌmon dronkard wherof folowed all other viâes when he had reigned .xxxviii. yeres he deceased and was buried at Yorke date 630 Scicâlius the brother of Gurgustuâ succeded in the kyngdom of whom is leât but litle memory but that he reigned lix yeres was buried at Bathe Iago or Lago cousin of Gurgustus reigned .xxv. yeres for his euill gouernement he died of a litargie and was buried at Yorke date 612 Kynimacus succeded Iago in thys realme of Britayn wherin he reigned liiii yeares and was buried at Yorke date 559 Gorbodug succeded his father Kynimacus in this realm of britain as our Chronicles write He reigned lxiii yeres and was buried at London date 496 Forrex with his brother Porrex ruled this land of Britaine .v. yeres but it was not loÌg ere they fel at ciuil discorde for the soueraigne dominion in Porrex siue his brother Forrex Porrex was afterward slain by his mother whiche Forrex was slayn And Porrex afterwardes by his mother was killed in his bedde Thus cruelly was the bloud house of Brute destroyd wheÌ y t this realme by the space of ⪠vi C .xvi. yeres had ben gouerned by y t lynage After the death of the two brethren Forrex and Porrex this Realme was Brutus blud extinguished deuided with ciuile warres for lacke of one soueraigne gouernor which coÌtinued by the space of .li. yeres vntyll that noble Dunwallo reduced y t same into one Monarchy date 441 MVlmutius Dunwallo the son of Cloten duke of Cornwal reduced this realme into one Monarchie being before by ciuile warres disceÌtion seâered brought into diuers dominions he was the first that ware a crowne of golde he constituted The firste king of Englande that ware a crowne of gold who buylded Blackwel hall in LoÌdon The secoÌd laws were Mulmutiê° lawes The town of Malmsbury built good lawes which long after wer called Mulmutius lawes he gaue priuileges vnto TeÌples and ploughes and began to make the foure notable wais in Britayne In London called then Troy Nouant he builded a great temple which some suppose to be Saynte Paules some Blackwell hall whiche was called TeÌpluÌ pacis Finally wheÌ he had brought this Realme to welthe and quietnes reignyng herein xl yeares He died honourably leauing after him two valiant noble sonnes Belinus and Brennus as FabiaÌ writeth He builded the town of Malmesbury and of Vies He was buried at LoÌdon in the temple of Peace before named date 401 BElinus and Brennus sonnes of Mulmutius deuided this whole Isle of Britayne betweene them Vnto Beliâe y e elder brother was appointed England Wales Cornewall Vnto the other the North part beyond Humber But Brennus a yonge man ⪠desirous of glory and dominion thinkyng him self equal with his brother in marcial prowes was not therwith content Wherfore he raised war agaynst Beliue But in coÌclusion by the meanes of their mother they were accorded and Brennus beynge geuen wholly to the study of warres left his countrey to the gouernance of his brother and went into Fraunce amongest the Galles where in the prouince of LioÌs for his excelleÌt qualites he was greatly estemed of Siguinus kyng of the countrey whose daughter he maried And of the Galles was made souerain captain wheÌ they made their voiage to Rome Beline in the mean time Iohn Harding Thre archflames in Englande Foure notable wais made in Englande Iohn Leylande both in ciuil Iustice and also religion such as at that tyme was vsed greatly increased his realme Hee made three Archflames whose seas were at London Yorke and ⪠Carlion He finished the fowre great wayes begon by his father He subdued and
when he had reigned .ix. yeares Hee buylded the priory of Chanons at Excetor was buried at Winbourne date ALured the fourth sonne of Ethelwolphus began his reigne ouer the more parte of Englande and reigned xxviij yeares He was wyse discrete and lerned and fauoured good letters Shaftsbury Ethelingâei builded First schole ãâã OxeÌford excellently wel He buylded the house of Nunnes at Shaftisbury and an other at Ethelyngsey By the counsayle of Nottus Alured ordeined the fyrst Grammer schole in Oxenford and franchised the town with many great liberties He buylded the newe mynster in Wynchester Newabbel in winch date 901 Kyng Edward the senior Herford castel built The monastery of S. Peter in Gloucester buylded and there lyeth buried date 925 King cronned at Kingston EDward the elder sonne of Alured began his reigne ouer the most part of Englande and gouerned this lande well and nobly .xxiiij. yeares He builded Hereford castell and adioyned to his lordshyp all this Ilande sauynge onely Northumberlande whych was possessed of the Danes He lyeth buried at Wynchester by hys father in the newe mynster he builded the monastery of S. Peter in Gloucester ADelstane after the deathe of Edwarde senior his father began hys reygne in Englande He was a prince of worthy memorye valyant and wise in all hys actes and broughte thys lande to one Monarchye for he expelled vtterlye the Danes subdued the Scottes and quieted the Welshmen He reigned .xv. yeares and lyeth at Malmsbury date EDmunde the brother of Adelstane tooke on hym the gouernaunce of thys Realme of Englande whose shorte reygne tooke from hym the renoume of moste hyghe prayses that should haue redouÌded to his posterity for he was a man disposed of nature to noblenes iustice he reigned vi yeres and was buried at Glastenbury date 946 ELdred succeded Edmunde his brother King crowned at king hull for his sonnes Edwine and Edgar were thoughte to yong to take on them so great a charge This Eldred hadde the earnest fauoure of the commons because hee was a greate maynteyner of honestye and also most abhorred naughty and vnruly persons for his expertnes in feates of armes he was much commended Whereby he quieted and kept in due obeisance the Northumbers Scottes and exiled the Danes He reigned .ix. yeares and was buried in the cathedrall church of Wynchester EDwine succeded his vncle Eldred Crouned at Kingstone A vicious king in the kyngdome of whome is left no honeste memorye for one heynous acte by hym commytted in the begynnynge of hys reigne In the selfe daye of his Coronation he sodaynlye withdrewe him selfe from his Lordes and in the sighte of certayne persons rauished his own kynswoman the wife of a noble man of his Realme and afterwarde slew her husband that he might haue the vnlawfull vse of her beautye whiche acte and for banishinge Dunstane he becam odible to his subiectes and of the Northumbers people of middle England that rose agaynste The king depriued hym was depriued when he had reigned .iiij. yeres he was buried in the cathedrall churche of Winchester date 959 EDgar brother to Edwine began Crouned at Bath some say at Kingston his reigne in Englande He was a prince of worthye memorye for hys manifold vertues greatly renoumed so excellent in iustice and sharp in correction of vices aswel in his maiestrates as other subiectes that neuer before his dais was vsed lesse felonye by robbes or extortion or bribery by fals officers He chastised also the gret negligeÌce couetousnes vicious liuing of the clergy he refourmed brought them to a better order of stature he was but litle but of mynd valiaunt hardy and very expert in martial policie he prepared a great nauye of shyppes which he disposed in .iij. partes of hys This king builded repaired âiltoÌ Peterborowe Thorney Ramsei â realm and had souldiours alway prest and readye agaynst the incursions of forrein and straÌge enemies he reigned xvi yeares He builded Peters Bury Thorney Ramsey and manye other and was buried at Glastenbury date EDward the sonne of Edgar by his first wife beganne his reigne ouer this realme contrary to the mynd and pleasure of Elfride hys stepmother and other of her alliance In all kinds of honest vertue thys man myght wel be compared to his father and began his Reygne wyth suche modestie and myldenesse that he was worthylye fauoured of all men Excepte onely Elfride whyche euer bare a grudge agaynste hym for so muche as she desyred to haue the gouernaunce of the Realme for her owne soonne Egelrede Edwarde whyle he was huntynge in a forrest by chaunce lost his companye and rode alone to refreshe hym The kyng murdered by his stepmother at the castell of Corffe where by the counsayle of his stepmother Elphrede he was traiteroussye murthered as he satte on hys horse When he had reigned .iij. yeares Hee was buryed at Shaftesburye It is of some authors written that the foresayd Elphred did afterward take great penance and that she buylded Almesbury and Warwel âlmesâury â Warwel ââylded In whiche Warwell she after lyued a solitarye lyfe tyll she dyed ⪠date 978 EGelrede or Etheldrede the sonne of The King crowned at Kingston kyng Edgar and Elphrede was ordeyned kyng of Englande and crowned at Kyngston In his tyme y e Danes ariued in sundry places of Englad as in the Isle of Thenet in Cornewalle and Sussex In conclusion for aduoidyng of further daunger he was compelled to appeace them with great summes of money but when the money was spent they fell to newe robbyng and cessed not to spoyle the lande and London bâsieged by y â Danes lastlye besieged London And to augment the kyngs sorow Elphricus that then was admirall of England traiterously fled to the Danes And after beyng reconciled fledde to them the seconde tyme. The bloudy flixe the burnyng feuer with dyuers other maladies vexed the people throughout all Englande Swain king of Denmarke repeÌted of y e former couenantes made with the Englishmen with a strong armye entred Northumberlande and so wente foorthe tyll he came to London which he besieged destroied the countrey of Kent Egelrede despairyng of all recouerie ââed to Richard duke of NormaÌdy then possessed Swayn y e hole kyngdome of this realm who spoyled the landes of S. Edmunds But after his death succeded Canutus his sonne who inclosed y e same with a depe dich and graunted to thinhabitants therof S. EdmuÌdes bury buylded greate freedome And after buylded a church ouer the place of his sepulture and ordeyned there an house of monks enduyng them with fayre possessions The Englyshmen sent agayn for Etheldred out of Normandy who by y â helpe of the Normans and present assistance of his commons expelled Canutus ⪠but shortly Canutus retourned agayn into Englande where he spared nothyng that myght be destroyde with sword and fyre In whiche tyme king Etheldred ended
into the north partes and got from the Scots Cumberland and Northumberland which ⪠they said were geuen to theÌ by Maude his mother and set an order in that countrey Anno. 3. date IN Englande were sene .ii. sunnes in the fyrmameÌt and in the Moone appeared a redde crosse King Henry went into Wales and Castell of Rutland abbey of Basingwerk built quieted that countrey and after builded the strong castel of Rutlande and founded the abbey of Basyngwerke Anno. 4. date 1157 ABout this tyme came into EnglaÌd certayn Germaines to the number of xxx which taught y e abrogatioÌ of the Sacramentes of the alter Baptisme and Wedlocke Anno. 6. date 1159 IEwes kinge of Fraunce gaue his daughter Margaret in mariage to Henry the sonne of kynge Henry of England By reason wherof was âacifyed the warre betwene Englande and Fraunce for the landes of Pâytowe and others Anno. 7. date 1160 KIng Henry went into Scotlande and made war vpon king William so that he toke him and made him yeld the castel of Carlile the castel of Camburgh with diuers other and receiued of him fealtie and homage Anno. 8. date 1161 THis yere the citie of Canterburye Gret fire at Cantorbury was fiered by negligence a great part therof brent Anno. 10. date 1161 THomas Becket byshop of Canterbury fled to Rome to complayn vppon the king to the byshop Anno. 14. date 1167 KIng Henry caused Henry his eldest R. Henris so crouned his father being aliue son to be crouned king as he thoght to the great quietnes aswel of himselfe as of the realm but as it proued to the vtter disturbance of them bothe Anno. 17. date 1170 THomas Becket by the mediation of Alexander bishop of Rome and Lewes the French king was restored to his bishopricke and not longe after by certayne gentilmen he was slayne at Cantorbury Anno. 18 date 1171 KIng Henry sent Ambassade to Alexander bishop of Rome to purge him self of the deth of Thomas Becker Amonge other thinges it was enioyned him in his penance that it should be lawful to his subiectes as often as theÌ listed to appeale to the see of Rome that no man shoulde be accompted as king vntill such tyme as he were confirmed by the Romayne byshop Anno. 19. date THomas Becket was canonised by the byshop of Rome Anno. 21 date 1174 HEnry the sonne of kinge Henry of The kings sonne the second time crowned England was crouned the seconde time with his ⪠wife Margaret y e french kinges daughter Anno. 22. date 1175 KIng Henry the sonne by the settyng Henrye the son of king Henry rebelled against his father on of the king of France Elanour his mother and certaine other nobles toke armes râiâed dedly war against his naturall father Diuers strong battels were foughten as well in England by the deputies frendes of both parties as also in NormaÌdy Poytow Guyen Britayn wher they wer corporally present but y â victory fel alway to the father There toke party against king Henry the father Lewis king of France William kyng of Scotlande Henry Geffrey Iohn his own sons Robert Earle of Leicester Hughe of Chester and other But in the ende the sonnes with their alies were constrained to yelde to their father and desyre peace which he gentilly graunted and forgaue their trespace Anno. 24. date 1177 IN Englande fell grent wetherynge and tempest of thunder lightening in the middes of winter and in Sommer folowyng âell hayle of such gretnes that it slew both man and beast Anno. 26. date 1179 AT this time were manye Iewes in England which agaynst the feast of Easter did vse to sacrifice yong childreÌ in despite of christen religion Anno. 28. date 1181 Henry the eldest sonne of Henry of England ended his lyfe Shortly after began the warre betwene king Henry and Philip of France for homage that the Frenche kinge required to be done for the landes of Poytow and other for the castell of Gysours Anno. 29. date 1182 RObert Harding a bourgis of ârystrow S. Iustes at bristowe builded to whoÌ kyng Henry gaue the Garonye of Geâklaye butlded the abbey of S ⪠Austen at Bristow Anno. 31. date 1184 HEraclius Patriarke of Ierusalem which had bene in diuers parts of Europe came to king Henry desyring him of ayde againste the Turkes but was denied therof Anno. 32. date 1185 At Bury the Iewes crucified a child in despite of Christes passion Anno. 34. date 1187 RYcharde Earle of Poytowe made warre against kyng Henry his father and taking part with the French king in proces of tyme wan from him diuers cities tounes and castels and namely the citie of Cenomannia For sorow wherof at the lengthe that is to say on the .vi. day of Iuly in the yeare of our Lord. 1189. king Henry ended his life when he had reigned 34. yeres 9. monethes and. 12. days he was buryed at Founteuerard King Richard the first called Cueur delion Anno regni â date 1189 RIcharde the firste of that The fyrste batliffes in London name for his valiantnesse surnamed Cueurdelion beyng the second son of Henry the seconde was crowned King of England He began his reigne the .vi. daye of Iuly in the yere of our Lord .1189 and he deceased the yere of our Lord 1199. the vi day of Aprill so that he reigned .ix. yeres and .ix. monethes THe fyrste yere of his reigne the citisens of London obteined two officers to guide their Citie which were called Bayliffes whose names shal folowe here vnder Anno regni â Baylyffes date 1189 Henry Cornhyll Richard Reineây IN this yere y e Iewes were very brag here in this realm for that their number Iewe âslain in england was so great But the commoÌ people especially about London fel vpon them and despoyled them without pitie or mercy they so hated theÌ for theyr vsury and other euill conditions THis yere the king set at libertie Elianor Elianor released oute of prison his mother which loÌg before at the coÌmaundement of his father her husband had ben kept close prisoner But after her enlargement the realme was much gouerned by her KIng Richard gaue ouer the Castelles of Bar wike and Rokesburge to the Scottishe Kinge for the summe of x. â .li. He also solde to the bishop of Durham his own prouince for a great piece of money and created him erle of the same Wherfore the king saide after in game I am a wonderous craftsman I haue made a newe earle of an olde bishoppe He gaue his brother Iohn many dignities as the prouinces of NotinghaÌ Deâoâshyre and Cornwall and created him earle of Lancaster Anno reg 2 ⪠Batliffes date 1190 Iohn Herlyon Roger Duke IN this yeare kyng Richarde betooke the guiding of this land to the bishop of Ely then beyng Chancelour of England and sayled into Normandy and when he had appoynted good gouernoures ouer that countrey he went to mete the frenche kinge and
power and becam a pore man went to Rome on pilgramage he is of Beda called Hunne or Iewe. date 724 AFter him Ethelarde was kynge of west Saxons in whose tyme the reuereÌd Beda was famous and wrote S. Beda in this time wrot in England his boke called Anglica historia to Of frick king of Northumberland Ethelarde reigned .v. yeres date 729 CVthred was king of west Saxons This man made warre vpon Ethelwald of Mercia and sped therin diuersly two comeââor blasyng starres Crowland abbey builded Beda deceased In his tyme appered two blasyng sterres castyng as it were burnynge brandes towardes the north He reigned .xvi. yeres Ethelwald before named builded the abbay of Crowland The holy man Beda which for hys learnyng godly life was renoumed in al y e world ended his last day about the yere of Christe 734. he in hys lyfe compiled .lxxviij. bookes date 745 SIgebert was made kynge of Weste Saxons he was cruel tirannous towards his subiectes changed aunciente lawes and customes after his owne will and pleasure And because a certain noble man some deale sharply aduertised him to change his maners he maliceously caused the same person to be put cruelly to death And for soo much as he continued in his malice would not amend he was depriued of all kyngly authoritie and lastely as a The kyng depriued slayne by a swineherd person desolate and forlorn wandring alone in a wood was slayn by a swineherde whose lorde and maister when he had reigned as king he was wrong fully put to deathe when he had reigned .iij. yeres date 748 KEnulphus of the linage bloud of Cerdicus fyrst king of west saxoÌs reigned in the kingdom .xxxi. yeres Kenuife king of Mercia builded the Winchomb abbey builded The abbey S. Albons builded abbey of Wynchcombe Offa king of Mercia builded the abbey of saint Albons he chased the britons or Welshemen into Wales and made a famous dike betwene Wales and the vtterboundes of Mercia whiche is nowe called Offa dike Kenulphus as he haunted to a woman which he kept at Merton was The kinge Kenulphus slayne slayne by treason of one Clio the kinsman of Sigebert late kinge He was buried at Winchester date 778 BRithricus of the bloude of Cerdicus was made kynge of weste saxons and knyghtly ruled his lande y e space ⪠of .xvii. yeres he maried one of the daughters of Offa king of Mercia In his tyme it reygned bloude from It rayned bloud heauen which fallynge on mens clothes appeared lyke crosses The Danes fyrst entred this land of The danes first entred this land Britayne but by the strength and puissance of Brithricus and other kynges of the saxons they were driuen backe and compelled to voyde the land Brichricus was poysoned by his wife Ethelburga The kinge poysoned by his wife For which dede the nobles ordeined that frome thencefoorth the kynges wyues shoulde not be called Quenes nor suffred to syt with theym in places of estate date 795 EGbert the Saxon whiche by Brithricus was chased out of the Realme hauing knowledge of the deathe of Brithricus returned out of France and in so knightly wyse demeaned him selfe that he obteined the gouernment of weste saxons hee tamed the wel she men vanquished Berthulphus kyng of myddle Englande and reigned as kyng ouer the more part of Englande the space of .xxxvii. yeres and was buried at Winchester The Danes with a gret host entred The danes seconde entring this lande this lande the second time and spoyled the Isâe of Shepey in Kente agaynst whom Egbert the kyng addressed him with his power who the Danes forste to flee the field After which time som of the Danes continually abode in one place or other of this lande date 832 EThelwolphus the son of Egbert An hospital for english meÌ builded at Rome Oxenforde buylded began his reign ouer the more part of England He went to Rome where he repaired the englishe schole which was first fouÌded by Offa king of Mercia This schole was after tourned to an hospitall for englyshemen whiche came to Rome he first fouÌded the vniuersitie of Oxenford which som writers attribute to Offa king of Mercia He reigned .xxiij. yeares and was buried at Winchester date 855 EThelwaldus after the death of his father began his reign in England he maried a woman which his father had kept before as his concubine and dyed when he hadde not reygned fully one yeare date 856 EThelbert the brother of Ethelwold The Danes thirde entrynge this lande was made kyng ouer the more part of Englande In the beginnyng of his reigne the Danes entred the west part of the realm and spoiled the countrey afore theim tyl they came to Winchester and by streÌgth toke it But by the kyng and his dukes they were forced to leaue Wynchester and in retirynge towards their shyps they lost a greate number of their men He reigned vij yeares and was buried at Sherborn date 893 ETheldred the third sonne of Ethelwolphus This king deuided the day night in 3. parts 8 ⪠hours to serue god 8 houres to here suites of his peple 8. hours to take his slepe rest ⪠toke on him y e gouernaÌce of Westesaxons and other prouinces of England He was a man framed of nature aswel to peace as warre AmoÌg his subiectes he was myld gentil louing and pleasant against his aduersaries seuere fierce valiant and hardye He lyued in continuall war with the Danes whiche all the tyme of his reign vexed this land with most deadly warres he deuided the day in three parts .viij. houres to serue god .viij. to here suites of his people and .viij. to take his slepe and rest A company of Danes landed in Northumberlande The danes landed in Northumberland and after many sayrmyshes and battayles to theym geuen by strength they possessed and held that countrey the space of .lx. yeares and got also the Citie of Yorke A company of the Danes entred the Kyng Edâmund slain by y e danes countrey of Norffolk where they siue the holy kyng Edmond which gouerned the prouince of Norffolke because he wolde not forsake y e faith of Christ At Colingham abbey saint Ebbe abbesse Women to kepe theiâ cut of her nose ouerlip persuaded al her sisters to do the like that they being odible to y â Danes mought the better kepe their virginitie in despite wherof the Danes burned the abbey and the Nunnes therin Also those Danes landed agayne in Southerey and went forward til they came to Readyng and toke that towne and castell at which tyme whyle Etheldred was busied agaynst them hee had worde of the landyng of Offrike kyng of Denmarke with an other companye The kyng slayne by Danes The priory at Excetor buylded to whom the kynge gaue many stronge battayles But in the ende he was put to the woorse and receyued a wound wherof he died