standing let vs giue leaue to Antiquitie who sometimes mingleth falshoods with truth to make the beginnings of Policies seeme more honourable And whose power is farre scrued into the worlds conceit that with Hierome we may say Antiquity is allowed with such generall applause that knowne vntruthes many times are pleasing vnto many Yet with better regard to reuerend Antiquity whom Iobs opposer wills vs inquire after and to our owne relations in deliuering their censures let this be considered That more things are let slippe then are comprehended in any mans writings and yet more therein written then any mans life though it be long will admit him to reade Neither let vs be forestalled with any preiudicate opinions of the reporters that in somethings may iustly be suspected or in affection which by nature we owe to our naturall Countrey nor consent as Liuie speaketh to stand to the ancientnesse of reports when it seemeth to take away the certainty of truth To keepe a meane betwixt both my selfe with Bildad doe confesse that I am but of yesterday and know nothing and therefore wil relate the originall names and Nations of this famous Iland with the successions of her Monarches and Historicall actions so farre only as is most approued by the best Writers and will leaue other clouds of obscurity to be cleared by the labours of a more learned penne THE SITE AND CIRCVIT OF GREAT BRITAINES MONARCHIE CHAPTER I. BESIDES those fruitfull Ilands that dispersedly are scattered about the Mayne like to beautifull pearls that incompasse a Diademe the I le of GREAT BRITAINE doth raise it selfe first to our sight as the Bodie of that most famous mighty Empire whereof many other Kingdomes and Countries are parcels and members Being by the Almighty so set in the maine Ocean as that shee is thereby the High Admirall of the Seas and in the terrestriall Globe so seated as that she is worthily reputed both The Garden of Pleasure and The Storehouse of Profit opening her Hauens euery way fit to receiue all forraine trafficke and to vtter her owne into all other parts and therefore as the Soueraigne Lady and Empresse of the rest deserues our description in the first place 2 This Iland is so spacious and ample that Cesar the first Romane discouerer thereof supposed that he had found out another World for to his seeming it appeared that the Ocean was rather contained within that Mayne then that Mayne to be compassed with the Occan about And Iulius Solinus for her circuit and largenesse saith that it deserueth the name of Another World But Aristides a Greeke Author speakes much more properly who by way of excellencie termeth BRITAINE The Great Iland As likewise Tacitus that vndertooke to describe BRITAINE by his owne knowledge who saith that of all Ilands knowen to the Romanes it was the greatest And so doth Dionysius in his description of the World 3 But as Strabo compares the then knowen World to a Cloake Rutilius Numatianus Italy to an Oken leafe and Dionysius Spaine vnto an Oxe-hide so the said Tacitus in the life of Agricola from Liuie his ancient and Fabius Rusticus his moderne doth liken the fashion thereof to a long Dish or two-headed Axe whose forme notwithstanding may better be exposed to the eie in the draught before seene then can be explained in words to conceit or vnto any other thing bee compared besides it selfe especially seeing that so many good Writers haue had but very bad successe in their resemblances of Countries And this of them is rather vnlike to either if wee speake of the whole which then was vnknowen as it seemeth by Tacitus And the huge enorme tract of ground beyond Caledonia which runneth vnto the furthermost point growing narrow and sharpe like a wedge was first redoubled with the Romane fleet by Iulius Agricola and BRITAINE discouered to bee an Iland one hundred thirty and six yeeres after Iulius Cesars first entrance therein 4 Some haue beene induced by the narrownesse of the Sea and likenesse of the Soile to thinke that BRITAINE was sometimes ioined to the continent of France whereunto Seruius Honoratius subscribeth in his Commentarie vpon the first Eclog of Virgil who there mentioneth Penitùs toto diuisos orbe Britannos The Britaine people quite from all the world disioin'd As likewise by Claudian another ancient Poet it is stiled nostro deducta Britannia mundo The Britaine soile remooued from our worlds continent And Vinianus with them affirmes that in the beginning Britaine and Gallia were both one Land The like doth Virgil verifie of the I le of Sicilie which in times past hee reports to haue beene one with Italie Others hold that all Ilands had their first separation from the Mayne by the rage of the generall Deluge and that the mountaines thereby shewed their tops aboue the plaine grounds and the plaines setling lower became deepe vallies When or howsoeuer by Gods diuine ordinance and wisdome wee see that these Ilands situated in the Seas doe no lesse serue and adorne the Ocean it selfe then the Lakes and Pooles of water doe the drie land and all of them as members of one masse to minister sustenance for the life of all things liuing and pleasures to the vse and seruice of man 5 The Iland of BRITAINE of all others the most famous by Catullus reputed the furthest towards the West is bounded on the South with Normandie and France vpon the East with Germany and Denmarke vpon the West with Ireland and the Atlanticke Ocean and vpon the North with the vast Deâ—…calidon Seas The length thereof measured by the graduations to both extremes that is from the Lysard Point Southward in Cornwall which lieth in the Latitude of 50. degrees and 6. minutes to the Straithy head in Scotland being the furthest point of this Iland towards the North set in the degree 60. and 30. minutes containeth according to the scale of the terrestriall Globe six hundred twenty foure miles not to trouble the Reader with other accounts seeing the same so exactly to agree with the spaces of the heauens And the extent of the Land in the brodest part is from the Lands end in Cornwall in the West situated in 14. degrees and 37. minutes of Longitude according to Mercator his Atlas vnto the Iland Tenet in the East of Kent lying in 22. degrees 30. minutes and containeth miles 340. as they haue deliuered that with curious search haue laid the dimension thereof 6 The site of this Iland is set by the Mathematicks in the eighth Climate for Latitude and the Longitude likewise placed betwixt the Parallels fourteene and twenty six a seat as well for Aire as Soile both fruitfull and milde and for length of daies pleasant and delightfull for in the height of Summer the day is said to bee eighteene equinoctiall houres long wherof sixteen and a halfe are spent from Sunne to
Peace he had found most faithfull for his Warres and so arriued at the Mount Grampius where the Britaines had lodged themselues before and as men nothing deiected by the vnfortunate chance of the former battaile had now prepared themselues attending only for Reuenge or Seruitude And being taught that common danger must be repelled with mutuall Concord by Leagues and Embassages they assembled the power of all their Cities together aboue thirtie thousand armed men as by view was taken besides an endlesse number of youth which daily flocked vnto them and many lustie Old men renowmed in the former warres and bearing the Badges due to their honour at what time Galgacus for vertue and birth of all the Leaders the Principall man seeing the multitude hotly demaund the Battell is said to haue vsed this or the like speech 8 When I behold this present Assemblie and consider the cause of this instant necessitie I haue reason to presume that this day and this our agreement in consent will giue a happie beginning to our freedome and an end of troubles vnto our Iland For wee which inhabite these furthest Promontories know no Land beyond vs whereunto wee may flie nor no Seas left vs now for safetie the Romane Nauie thus as you see surueying our Coasts So that combat and armes which men of valour desire for honour the very dastard of force must now vse for his securitie Wee that are the flower of the British Nobilitie and are seated here in the vttermost part of the I le saw neuer yet the borders of those Countries which serued in slauerie our eies being vnpolluted and free from all contagion of Tyrannie Our former Battailes fought with the Romanes had their euents yet so that refuge and hope rested still in our hands wee haue hitherto liued in libertie whereas none beside vs are free vs hitherto this Corner and secret recesse hath defended now the Vttermost point of our Land is laid open and things the lesse they haue beene within knowledge the greater the glorie is to atchieue them But what Nation is there now beyond vs what else see we but Water and Rocks and the Romanes within Land-lords of all nay rather Robbers of all both in Land and Sea whose intollerable pride by humble subiection in vaine shall wee seeke to auoid If the Country bee rich they seeke to winne wealth if poore to gaine glorie but neither East nor west can satisfie their greedie affection much lesse this cold North can set an end to their desires To kill to spoile and take away by force that falsely they terme Empire and Gouernement and when all is made a waste wildernesse that they call Peace Most deare vnto man are his Children and blood but those are pressed for their warres and serue as their slaues we know not where our Goods are their tributes our Corne their prouision our Wiues Sisters and Daughters in Warre violently forced in Peace vnder title of friends and guests shamefully abused and our own Bodies worne consumed in pauing of Bogs and other seruile drudgeries with thousands of stripes and many indignities more Slaues which are borne to bondage are sold but once and after are fed at their Owners expences but Britanie daily buyeth daily feedeth and is at charges with her owne Bondage We are the last to be conquered and therefore is our destruction most sought as being the most vile in account No Fields we haue to manure no Mines to be digged no Ports to trade in and to what purpose then should they reserue vs aliue Besides the Manhood and fierce courage of the subiect pleaseth not much the iealous Soueraigne and this Corner being so secret and out of the way the more securitie it yeeldeth vs in them it workes the greater suspition Then seeing all hope of sauour is past let vs take courage to defend and maintaine our owne safetie as well as our honour The Icenians led by a Woman fired the Colonie forced the Castles and if that luckie beginning had not beene ended in a carelesse security the Southerne Britaines might with ease haue shaken off the yoake We as yet neuer touched neuer subdued and borne to bee free not slaues to the Romans wee I say now are to make proofe of our valour and to shew in this encounter what men Caledonia hath reserued for her selfe And do you thinke that the Romanes are as valiant in Warre as they are wanton in Peace I assure you nothing lesse for not by their Vertues but by our Iarrings they are growne into fame and of the enemies faults they make vse to the glory of their owne Armie composed we know most of diuers Nations and therefore as in prosperitie they hold not alalwaies together so doubtlesse if fortune turne aside their seruices will appeare vnlesse you suppose the Gauls and Germanes and to our shame be it spoken many of our owne Nation which now lend their liues to establish a forraine Vsurper bee lead with hearts affection whereas contrariwise it is apparant that Terrour and Distrust weake workers to conserue loue are the onely cause which once remoued then those that haue made an end to feare will soone begin to hate All things that may incite vnto victorie are for vs the Romanes haue no Wiues to harten them on if they faint no Parents to vpbraid them if they flie most of them haue no Countrie at all or if they haue it is by intrusion taken from others A few fearefull persons stand here before vs trembling and gazing at the strangenesse of the heauen it selfe at the Sea and at the Woods whom the Gods haue deliuered mewed vp and fettered into our hands Let not their braue shewes of glistering Gold or Siluer any way dismay you which of themselues neither offend nor defend And be you well assured amongst our enemies wee shall finde many on our side The Britaines will agnize their owne Cause The Gauls will remember their wonted libertie and former estate And the rest of the Germanes will leaue and forsake them as of late the Vsipians did What then shall we feare The Castles are emptie the Colonies peopled with aged and impotent persons the free Cities discontent and in factions whilest those which are vnder obey with ill will and they which doe gouerne rule against right Here you see before vs is the Generall and the Armie on each side Tributes Seruitudes and other miseries inseparable which whether we shall continue for euer or cast off subiection as free-borne Britaines it lyeth this day in this Field and your approued manhoods Wherefore I beseech you in ioyning Battell beare in your Minds your worthy Ancestors your Selues and following Posterities which if you faile shall for euer liue in subiection and slauerie 9 This speech was so vehemently deliuered and so cheerefully of them all receiued that with songs and confused acclamations after
seruice for Ierusalem wore continually vpon their backes a red Crosse whereby the name Crosse-backe or in old English Crouch-backe was to them attributed in which ranke Edmund Earle of Lancaster second sonne to King Henry the third was a principall and thereby got that name which he could not claw off from his backe euer since So likewise those men who entred that Religion of Monasticall life wore vsually vpon the outside of their Garments the signe of a Crosse whereby that Order was distinguished and noted from others by the name of Crouched or Crossed-Friers But whence or howsoeuer the name arose among all the Germans there were none in reputation for militarie deeds comparable vnto these Saxons neither had any aduentured by Sea and Land so farre to purchase renowne and praise or perhaps and that more likely to supply their owne wants ranging often from place to place as men alwaies ready to enter any action and in Germanie to this day a great Dukedome retaineth from them the name of Saxonie 9 The Gutae no doubt the Iutae Ptolomie likewise placeth in the Iland Scandia lying very neere the Coasts of Germanie vpon whose vttermost Promontorie as saith an ancient Manuscript the Iutes did for certaine inhabite which vnto this day of the Danes is called Iutland These Iutes Gutes Getes or Gothes or as Beda calles them Vites gaue names to those parts of Britaine which they inhabited as to this day the I le of Wight beareth their impression This variety of names we will no further inforce then that these Gothes were not the same that had passed Ister by Pontus Euxinus and ouer-ranne Europe who were also called the Getae by Iohn Maior Their name as Verstegan will haue it was taken from their agilitie or swiftnesse of foot and some of them as Sebastian Munster declareth went and inhabited among the Mountaines that diuide Germanie from Italie whereupon their name grew to be called the Hill-Vites which are now the Hel◅ans 10 The Angles by Fabius Quaestor Ethelwardus an ancient Writer and a Noble Person of the Saxons Royall Bloud are brought from Ould-Anglia a Portion lying betwixt the Countries of the Saxons and the Giots as he writeth them whose chiefe Towne was by them called Sleswic and of the Danes Haathby but more particularly it lay betwixt the Citie Flemburge and the Riuer Sly which Country by Albertus Crantzius is called Anglia From hence saith He◅ricus Rantzouius the Saxons who were also called the Angle-Saxons went to aid the Britaines And at this day there is a little Prouince in the Kingdome of Dania named Angell beneath the Citie Flemburge which Lindebergus calleth Little Anglia Their site notwithstanding is placed by most Authours in Westphalia where the Citie Engern standeth and where Tacitus and Ptolomy rangeth them among the Sueutans which in their times might very well be Others would haue them in Pomerania where the Towne Engloen doth somewhat sound their name so doe Engelheim Engleburg and Englerute places in Germanie beare witnesse and are prints of their footing among the Longobards and Sueuians But the most glorious remembrance of that their name hath beene for these many ages in this Kingdome of England though Saxo Grammaticus as erst we touched Lib. 5. Cap. 2 will needs haue Anglia named from Angul the sonne of Humblus and Giant-like brother of Danus the first King of Denmarke But Albertus Crantzius being offended at his folly telles him that England had the name of Britaine many hundred yeeres after that Angul was dead Others there are that deriue the name England from the manner of this Ilands situation being narrow in the West and North for that Eng in the ancient Teutonik Tongue as well as in the moderne doth signifie Narrow Strait or a Nooke and to that purpose doe produce this verse of a Portugals allusion Anglia terra ferax et fertilis Angulus Orbis Insula praedines quae toto vix eget orbe A fruitfull Angle England thou another world art said An Iland rich and hast no need of other countries aid 11 Callepine without proofe deriueth the Name frō Queene Angela but on as weake a ground as those who will fetch it from their Angel-like faces alluded vnto by Pope Gregory the Great Or that of Goropius from the Angle or Fishing-hooke because saith he they hooked all things to themselues and might verie well therefore be called Good Anglers a very meane conceit in sooth But howsoeuer most certaine it is that these Angles stole the name of this blessed Iland from their elder brethren the Saxons as Iacob did the birth-right from Esau and called it after their owne as wee shall further shew when our Historie hath gotten to the age of the Saxons Monarchie 12 These all claime their descents from Prince Woden called by the ancient Latines Othinus and who is deduced by our Antiquaries as hath beene said from the eldest Sonne of the Patriarke Noah and is accounted the most noble of all the Progenitors of the Saxon Kings insomuch as they and especially the Angle-Saxons our Ancestors haue in their superstitious conceit of such wodden gods imagined Woden to be their principall God of Battell whose Wife named Frea was by the like fancie held a Goddesse of whom more hereafter 13 These had issue between them sundry Sons and from fiue of them all the Monarchs of the English-men haue claimed to haue been descended Wechta the first being reported to be the Progenitor to the Kings of the Kentishmen Caser the second to the Kings of the East-Angles Wethelgeat the third to the Kings of the Mercians Wegdeg the fourth to the Kings of the Dierians and Beldeg the fifth to the Kings of the South-Saxons to the Kings of the Bernicians afterwards Kings of Northumberland and also the Kings of the West-Saxons only the Kings of the East-Saxons claiming to descend of the same race deriue not their descents from any of the Sonnes of the same men This may suffice for the Originals of these three people who as Cisner affirmeth retained still the same manners after they were seated in Europe as they had formerly done in Asia And what those were let vs heare the reports of Tacitus and other ancient Authors who together with the Germans among whom they dwelled doe thus describe them THE MANNERS AND CVSTOMES OF THE ANCIENT SAXONS CHAPTER III. THese Germans and among them the Catti and Sueuians our Ancestors according to Albertus Crantzius were a people saith Tacitus well set sterne of countenance tall of stature gray eied and of a firie aspect and their haire yellow Vnto whom Witichindus the Monke addeth and saith that They were faire of complexion cheerfull of countenance very comely of stature and their limbes to their bodies well proportioned bold of courage hardy in fight and very ambitious of
receiue some breath of hopes and to shew themselues out of their Caues This Ambrosius saith Beda was a gentle natured man which only of all the bloud of the Romans remained then aliue his parents being slaine which had borne the name of the King of the Countrey Hee with his brother Vter commonly called Pendragon returning out of Britain Armorica where they had remained from the Tyrannie of Vortigerne landed at Totnesse in the West of this Iland vnto whom resorted great Troopes of Britaines His first Expedition was against Vortigern the scourge of his Country and murderer of his King whose Castle straightwaies hee besieged and by the iust reuenging hand of God with wilde fire consumed wherin those adulterous and incestuous persons were burned to ashes 16 Next following the common Enemie hee gaue battle to the Saxons on the North of Humber at a place called Maesbell wherein Hengist was discomfited and in flight taken by Earle Edol of Glocester and beheaded at Conningsborrow saith he of Monmouth Howbeit Matthew of Westminster maketh him fight another battle vpon the Riuer Dun in Anno 489. wherein saith he Hengist was taken And Polydore saith that in the same battle Hengist at the first onset was slaine with many of his Germans the fame of whose victorie saith he is had in memorie with the Inhabitants of those parts euen vnto this day Yet Gildas Beda and Ethelward Writers of those ancient times and two of them Saxons mention not the death of Hengist neither this great victorie of the Britaines And Marianus the Scotish Monke seemeth to affirme the contrarie where he saith that Hengist raigned thirty foure yeeres in great glorie and died peaceably leauing his sonne Eske to succeed him in the Kingdome of Kent With whom also Florentius the Monke of Worcester agreeth Howsoeuer sure it is had not the diuine power of God otherwise determined the waning estate of Britaine doubtlesse had recouered her former strength both by the praiers of Bishop German the prowesse of this last spoken of Ambrosius the valorous attempts of Vter Pendragon and the worthy industries of the Christian King Arthur The famous resistances of this last mentioned Arthur the Monke of Monmouth with such fables hath augmented that his Acts and Trauels may bee compared to those of Hercules or with the Conquests of Caesar himselfe insomuch that he hath beene accounted and ranged in the Catalogue of the worlds nine Worthies And surely by the testimonie of Malmesbury hee was a Prince of great worth and did often aduenture with his small power to meet the Saxons in the face and in Field But the Britaines strength daily decreasing and new supplies of these Saxons daily arriuing brought the one in despaire to enioy their owne right and the other to triumph in their intrusions of wrongs For continually incroaching forward and inlarging their limits wheresoeuer they came droue the inhabitauts before them from their wonted possessions seated themselues in the southern and best part of the Land laying the stones as it were of those foundations whereupon in short time they raised their most glorious buildings 17 For euery seuerall Captaine or Commander accounting that part his owne wherein he first entred or made conquest of with full resolution determined to keepe what he had got and as an absolute King commanded his Prouince whereby the Land became burdened with seuen of them at the first as Hengist of Kent Ella of those parts now called Sussex and Surrey Cherdik of the West Erchenwin of the East Ida of the North Crida of the Middle-land Vffa the parts now Middlesex and Essex which Kingdomes thus begunne and erected stood not long vnshaken by ciuill dissensions among themselues each King enuying his equals greatnesse and seeking to inlarge his owne Dominions vpon the next In which combustions few or none of them came to the graue in due time but were either slaine in warres or treacherously murdered in peace or else inforced to sheare himselfe a Monke and resigne his Crowne to another To speake of all these together I hold would bring too great a confusion to our Historie and a needlesse surcharge to the Readers memorie To auoid which I will briefly set downe the Conquests Circuits Acts and Descents that in euery seuerall Kingdome happened while they stood in their Heptarchie before they were vnited to an absolute Monarchie and then according to my prefixed purpose continue the succession of GREAT BRITAINES Monarchs 18 For albeit the Land was diuided into 7. seuerall Kingdomes and each of them carrying a soueraigne command within his owne limits yet one of them euer seemed to be supreme of the rest and that Prince who had the greatest power or successe in his warres was euer accounted and called The King of the English-men as Venerable Beda in the fifth Chapter of his second Booke and Historie of England euer termeth them 19 Such therfore as held the rest vnder either by Armes or alliance in amitie or subiection swaied the whole Monarchy and were acknowledged as Supremes in power ouer the rest which succeeded not euer in the same Familie neither continued in one and the same Kingdome without reuersement but were carried vpon the Flouds and Ebbes of variable successe or as destinie pleased to alter the chance wherof each of them sauing the East-Saxons only did attaine to the height of that gouernment as to the hauen of their wished desires See therefore if you please a generall view of the whole and afterwards the seuerall Histories of euery Kingdome apart before wee enter into the Succession of the English-Saxons Monarchs Heptarchy Kingdomes Counties Kings Successions Kingdomes Continuance Kings first Christians The Saxons Heptarchy The Kingdome of Kent contained Counties Kent Kings raigning 1. Hengist 31. 2. Eske 24. 3. Octa 20. 4. Ymerick 29. 5. Ethelbert 56. 6. Eabald 24. 7. Ercombert 24. 8. Egbert 9. 9. Lother 11. 10. Edrik 6. 11. Withred 33. 12. Edbert 23. 13. Edelbert 11. 14. Alrik 34. 15. Ethilbert 3. 16. Cuthred 8. 17. Baldred 18. Beganne in An. 455. Continued yeers 372. Ended in Anno 827. Ethelbert The Kingdome of Souh-Saxons contained Counties Sussex Surrey Kings raigning 1. Ella 32. 2. Cissa 75. 3. Edilwach alias Ethelwolf 25. 4. Berthum 5. Authum Beganne in An. 488. Continued yeers 113. Ended in Anno 601. Ethelwolse The Kingdome of West-Saxons contained Counties Cornwall Deuon-shire Dorset-shire Somerset-sh Wilt-shire Hant-shire Bark-shire Kings raigning 1. Cherdik 33. 2. Kenrike 26. 3. Cheulin 33. 4. Ceaclik 5. 5. Chelwold 12. 6. Kingils 32. Quithelin 1. 7. Kenwald 30. 8. Eskwyn 2. 9. Kentwin 9. 10. Ceadwald 7. 11. Inas 37. 12. Ethellard 14. 13. Cuthred 16. 14. Sigebert 2. 15. Kenwolfe 29. 16. Brightrik 16. 17. Egbert 19. Beganne in An. 519. Continued yeers 561. Ended in An. 1066. Kingils The Kingdome of East-Saxons contained Counties Essex Middlesex Kings raigning 1. Erchenwin 34. 2. Sledda 10. 3. Sebert 21. 4. Sexred Seward
thongs out of other mens Leather his Conquests of thirty Kingdomes and killing of Denabus the huge Spanish Giant his combat with Frolo Gouernor of France and with Lucius Hiberus the Roman Legate whose slaine body hee sent to the Senate for the tribute of Britaine by them demanded seeing that others before mee farre more ripâ—… Historians haue made both doubts and obiections against them And therefore I conclude with this Arthur as Saint Augustine with the Athenians whose men saith he were euer greater in fame then in deeds And with Ninius will end with his saying Arthurus puâ—…a bat contra illos in diebus illis licet multi ipso noâ—…res essent ipse tamen duodecies Dux belli fuit Victorque bellorum Arthur made warre against them in those daies and though many were more noble then be yet was hee twelue times Generall in the Field and returned Conquerour But more constant is the memorie of his death and place of his buriall both which are reported vpon warrantable credit for Mordred the sonne of Lotho whereof wee haue spoken affecting the Crown vpon a pretence of right from King Vter and supposed bastardise of Arthur gaue many attempts through the aid of his Picts and assistance of the Saxons to dispossesse him of that wherein he was seated and lastly at Kamblan or Cambula in Cornwall saith Leland this British Hector encountring Mordred slew him out-right and receiued of him his owne deaths wound The witnesse of this Field as yet are those peeces of Armour horse-harnesse and other habiliments of Warre which are daily digged vp in tillage of the ground vnlesse those reliques of Battle be the seales of that fight which Marianus writeth to haue beene in this place betwixt the Britaines and Saxons in the yeere of our Lord eight hundred and twenty If then it bee true that Arthur heere died this place we may say seemeth to be consecrated vnto Mars for Tindagell Castle standing hard by first brought into the world this glorious Prince for one of her nine Worthies and Cambula againe receiued his last bloud But from this place he was carried vnto Glastenburie in Somerset-shire where he died the one and twentieth of May in the yeere of our Saluation fiue hundred forty and two after he had most victoriously raigned twenty six yeeres His body was there buried and six hundred yeeres after was taken vp and found vpon this occasion When Henry the second and first Plantagenet had swaied the English Scepter to the last of his raigne it chanced him at Pembrooke to heare sung to the Harpe certaine Ditties of the worthy exploits and acts of this Arthur by a Welsh Bard as they were termed whose custome was to record and sing at their Feasts the noble deeds of their Ancestours wherein mention was made of his death and place of buriall designing it to be in the Church-yard of Glastenburie and that betwixt two Pyramides therein standing whereupon King Henry caused the ground to be digged and at seuen foot depth was found a huge broad stone wherein a leadden Crosse was fastned and in that side that lay downeward in rude and barbarous letters as rudely set and contriued this inscription written vpon that side of the Lead that was towards the stone HIC IACET SEPVLTVS REX ARTVRIVS IN INSVLA AVALONIA Heere lieth King Arthur buried in the I le of Aualonia And digging nine foot deeper his body was found in the trunke of a Tree the bones of great bignesse and in his scull perceiued ten wounds the last very great and plainely seene His Queene Guineuer that had beene neere kinswoman to Cador Duke of Cornwall a Lady of passing beautie lay likewise by him whose tresses of haire finely platted and in colour like the gold seemed perfect and whole vntill it was touched but then bewraying what all beauties are shewed it selfe to be dust Giraldus Cambrensis a worthy Author and an eie-witnesse is the reporter of this finding of Arthurs bones and the Crosse of Lead with the Inscription as it was found and taken off the stone was kept in the Treasurie or Reuester of Glastenburie Church saith Stowe till the suppression thereof in the raigne of King Henry the eight whose forme and rude letters we haue here expressed to thy sight The bones of King Arthur and of Queene Guineuar his wife by the direction of Henry de Bloys Nephew to King Henry the second and Abbat of Glastenbury at that present were translated into the great new Church and there in a faire Tombe of Marble his body was laid and his Queenes at his feet which noble Monument among the fatall ouerthrowes of infinite more was altogether raced at the dispose of some then in Commission whose too forward zeale and ouer hastie actions in these behalfes hath left vnto vs a want of many truths and cause to wish that some of their imployments had bin better spent CONSTANTINE 6. Constantine the sonne of Cador Duke of Cornwall and cosen to King Arthur by his alliance in mariage at his death was appointed by him to succeed in his Dominions and most ioifully receiued of the Commons as the man in the opinion of this worthy elector and themselues accounted most fit to defend the Land from the many oppressions of the Saxons who now beganne to spreade the wing as farre as to Tyne in the North and to set downe the limits of their seuerall Kingdomes which notwithstanding these strangers daily enlarged vpon the home-bred Inhabitants the ciuill warres of the Britaine 's giuing way to the same and that not onely among themselues but by the Picts also in the behalfe of the two sonnes of Mordred that sought to dispossesse him of the Crown In which quarrel many battles were fought but with such successe to the attemptors that these two Competitors were forced for refuge into London and Winchester whither Constantine pursued them they taking Sanctuarie in the Churches and not farre from the Altars he slew them for which deede the Priest Gyldas that flourished in those daies in his inuectiue reprehensions thus writeth Britaine hath Kings saith hee but they are Tyrants Iudges it hath but they are wicked pilling and harming the innocent people reuenging and defending but whom Such as be guilty and robbers They haue many wiues yet breake they wedlocke many times swearing yet periure themselues vowing but for the most part with dissembling lies warring but stillmaintaining vniust and ciuill broiles abroad pursuing theeues and yet at home cherish them euen at their owne Tables and sometimes also reward them They giue large almes indeed yet heape they vp sinnes high as the Mountaine They sit in the Seat of sentence yet seldome seeke the rule of right iudgement despising the humble and innocent persons and extolling vp to Heauen proud and bloudie Murderers Theeues and Adulterers yea and if he would permit them the very enemies of God Many they keepe in prison
7 His warres thus prospering his puissance grew dreadfull and his glory much enuied at by the other Princes whereof Bernulfe of Mercia was the first attempter that sought to plucke the wing of this west-Saxon Eagle but thereby wrought his owne downefall for Egbert ioyning battaile with him at Ellenden ouerthrew his power and in that quarrell Bernulfe was lastly slaine 8 Kent was the next and fairest marke in Egberts 〈◊〉 whose 〈◊〉 not gratious in his own subiects â—…ight was the 〈◊〉 to be subdued him he chased ouer Thamisis and added not onely that Countie but also Sussex and Surrey for Prouinces vnto his owne Kingdome next were the East-Saxons the East-Angles and in truth all both vpon the North and the South of Humber gaue him obedience so that the bounds of his Dominion were greatly enlarged and his royall authority by those seuerall Kings acknowledged 9 Then hee to confirme his estate called an assembly vnto the City Winchester where causing himselfe to bee solemnly crowned became the first Saxons absolute Monarch of the whole Iland so reducing the Monarchiall title from the Mercians to the West-Saxons in whose Progeny it continued without reuersement vntill the Danes first got and againe lost it and the Saxons issue failing the same fell to the Normans Duke by Conquest as in continuance of our history Christ assisting shall be seene 10 His Coronation was at Winchester and entrance in the yeare of Grace eight hundred and nineteene at which time by his Edict in that City dated he caused all the South of the Iland to bee called England according to the Angles of whom himselfe came and promising great felicity to his State and Successors was therein not so happy as in his affaires he had beene fortunate 11 For those Saxons that by warre and blood had made themselues Lords of other mens rights and of one Kingdome no lesse then seuen are now endangered to bee made seruants vnto subiection and by warre and bloud their seuen-fold Kingdome brought againe vnto one neither yet freed from the reuenge of bloodie violence for that a fierce and cruell nation the Danes ceased not continually to inuade them till they had subdued and set the crowne thereof vpon their owne heads who in King Brightrick dayes and about the yeere seuen hundred eighty seuen hauing with three vessels landed in the West of England at three seuerall times in so many seuerall places sought the ruine of the land in the raigne of this Egbert 12 The first was in his thirty third yeare when with thirty fiue ships they landed at Lindisferne vpon the North of England where they were met and fought with at Carham but with such losse to the English that two chiefe Captaines Dudda and Osmond two Bishops Herefrid of Winchester and Vigferd of Shirborne with many Souldiers were therein slaine King Egbert himselfe hardly escaping by the couert of the night 13 Their second attempt was in the second yeare following when in West-Wales they landed vnto whom the Britaines there ioyned and in the place called Hengistenton abode the King in field where Egbert with prosperous fortune vanquished and slew both the Danes and the Welsh 14 The third place of their arriuage was Sheepie in Kent which Iland they sacked and with much a doe were expelled in the last of King Egberts raign and but the new beginning of their sauage cruelties 15 This Egbert by Florentius of Worcester is said to be the sonne of Alkemund who was the sonne of Eafa and he the sonne of Eoppa the sonne of Ingils the brother of Ine the eleuenth King of the West-Saxons and both of them the sonnes of Kenred descended from Cherdik the first King of that Prouince he was but â—…ow oâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 strong of â—…mme very valiant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 skilfull souldier and as great in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in warre he raigned ouer the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of thirty six yeares and seuen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the whole Iland seuenteene his dâ—…th 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fourth day of February and yeare of Chrâ—…s â—…nation eight hundred thirty six 16 His bodie was with all 〈◊〉 solemnly buried at Winchester and his bones sinâ—… taken vp â—…maine with others in that Cities Cathedral 〈◊〉 bestowed in Chests set vpon the Wall of each 〈◊〉 the Quier with these verses neither ancient nor 〈◊〉 thereon inscribed Hic Rex Egbertus pausat cum Rege Kenulpho Nobis egregia munera vterque tulit His wife 17 Redburg the wife of King Egbert was the first of the West-Saxons that by their new made law was depriued of title authority or place of a Queene notwithstanding it seemeth shee bare a great stroke with her husband in that Iohn Bâ—…uer the Monke of Westminster reporteth that shee procured a law to be made against the Britains the penalty whereof was present death for any of them to set footing within the realme of England or to passe the Ditch that King Offa had made His Issue 18 Ethelwolfe the eldest sonne of King Egbert and Lady Redburg his wife was in his childhood committed to the charge of Helmestan 〈◊〉 of Winchester vnder whom hee was carefully trayned vp in learning and vertue who comming to mans estate proued also a perfect Souldier and had 〈◊〉 leading of his fathers power against Baldred King 〈◊〉 Kent whom he forced to flie ouer the Thamisis and to abandon his Kingdome which he subdued to the subiection of his father and afterwards succeeded him in the Monarchy of the Englishmen 19 Ethelstane the younger sonne of King Egbert and of the Lady Redburg his wife was by his father deputed King ouer the Kentishmen the South-Saxons and the East-Saxons after hee had brought them vnto his subiection which people hee most valiantly defended against the inuasions of the Danes defeating their forces both by sea and land and at Sandwich gaue them a most memorable ouerthrow in the yeare of our Lord eight hundred fifty one being the sixteenth of his brother King Ethelwolfes raigne in whose time hee deceased and is reported to haue left a sonne named Ostride who by reason of his minority succeeded not in his fathers dominions which Ethelbert the second sonne of King Ethelwolfe entred vpon and being Monarch reunited these kingdomes inseparably vnto the Monarchy 20 Edgith commonly called Saint Edith the daughter of King Egbert was in her childhood by her brother Ethelwolfe committed to the charge and bringing vp of a Lady in Ireland greatly renowmed for her holinesse of life named Modewine by whom she was afterwards recommended to a Disciplesse of the said Lady named Athea and made Gouernesse of a Monastery of the Ladies by her planted in a place which the King her brother had giuen her called Pollesworth situated in Arden in the north verge of the County of Warwicke wherein she liued died and was honourably buried and the place in regard of her afterwards called Saint Ediths of Pollesworth ETHELVVOLFE THE
brother 2 Hee beganne his raigne in the yeare of his age twenty two and of our Lord God eight hundred seuenty two being crowned in the City of Winchester the twenty third King of the West-Saxons and the twenty foure Monarch of the Englishmen but of some Historians he is famoused by the stile of the first absolute Monarch 3 His raigne beganne with troubles and wars in defence of the land which the Pagan Danes intended to destroy and though his powers were smal yet was he forced into the field within one month after his Coronation the place was Wilton in the County of Wiltstire on the south-banke of the riuer Wily where the Danes at first gaue backe and fled but seeing the fewnes of their pursuers reenforced their battle and got the field with whom the West-Saxons entred league and compounded for their departure from among them 4 These Rouers then with their associates at Reading got themselues into London where they wintred with whom the Mercians likewise compoūded for their peace which proued shortly to be the destruction of their princely bloud and lastly the lands subuersion to a forraine nation For the Danes hauing got footing in the North the West and the South of this land vnto whose aide many new-come guests from their Easterne countries were arriued vnder the leading of other three Kings Gurthrun Esketel and Ammond all together set their griping tallents with such fast hold vpon Mercia that at Ripendon they constrained Burthred the King with his Queene Elswith out of the land and in his stead placed a King of their owne choise vpon condition to deliuer vp the same againe vnto them when they would demaund it 5 In the fourth yeare of King Elfred their armies diuided themselues into two parts the one of them guided by King Halden returned into Northumberland where hee bestowed that Country among his followers and therein remained for two yeares continuance doing much harmes both to the English and Picts The other part led by the last new-come King came to Granabridge whence they wintered and spoiled the Country and there spreading themselues as Grashoppers vpon the face of the earth eate vp all where they came so that King Elfred was enforced to compound for their departure out of his owne kingdome in West-Saxia to which couenants they promised and swore yet contrary to both tooke into Deuonshire and wintred at Excester vnto whom a further supply by sea sought to ioine themselues but met with such boisterous blasts that one hundred and twenty of their ships were cast away by tempest at Swanwicke vpon our coasts and their land-army marching towards Excester were there welcommed with so sharpe an encounter by King Elfred that they gaue him both pledges and oath to depart with all speed 6 But Fortune euer dallying with them whom shee meanes to down-cast set the chance of losse presently vpon the Saxons side for now the three Kings Gurthrun Esketel and Ammond thought it not good to let Elfred thus rest and thereupon drew their forces westwards towards him where at Chipingham a Mannor of his they wintred and compelled th West-Saxons there either to yeeld or to forsake the Country 7 King Elfred therefore with such strength as he had hasted towards them and seuenteene miles from Bristow pitched downe his tents euen in the face of the enemy where betwixt these fierce nations a great battaile was fought to the infinite losse of bloud on both sides and that vpon such equall departure as neither could challenge to bee masters of the field yet the report went that King Elfred was discomfited which turned greatly to his aduantage for thereupon many of the English hasted to his succour lest the ouerthrow of him should be the bane of them all his strengthes thus renued with an vnexpected supply no time was detracted to stay the Danish rage who were now returned further into the heart of the land and at Abington by Oxford had pitched their standreds for fight 8 Thither the English repaired and the next morning he ordered his Army neither were the enemies vnprepared but with braues stood ready to receiue the encounter The battaile ioyned continued with such losse of bloud that it is accounted one of the sorest that euer betwixt them before had beene fought and onely parted by the approch of the night neither party challenging the honor of the day the losse being so great vpon both sides Seuen of these battailes are reported to be fought in that yeare whereby both their strengthes were much abated and their spilt bloud so cooled their liuers that lastly they concluded vpon a peace one article was this that the Danes should admit no more of their nation to arriue in this Iland but how soone that was broken the sequels did shew 9 For in the yeare eight hundred seuenty sixe saith Simon Dunelmensis Rollo a nobleman of Denmarke with a great Army entred into England with no lesse spoile and destruction then other of those Danes before him had done notwithstanding the truce with whom King Elfred met and gaue him so hoat welcome that hee liked not greatly his entertainement and being warned forsooth in his sleepe that better fortune attended him in France hee left his countrimen to tugge with the English 10 The Danes then accounting the peace to be broken like Bees from the Hiue infect all the land insomuch that this vndaunted King Elfred was ofttimes brought to such extremities that he hid himselfe out of sight and in the Fens Marsh grounds was forced with such small companies as he had to liue by fishing fowling and hunting of wild beasts for his food hauing no more of his great Monarchy left him but Somerset Hamton and Wiltshires only neither yet them free from the incursions of the Danes 11 The solitary place of his most residency was an Iland inclosed with the two riuers Tho◅e and Parret at their meeting in the County of Sommerset commonly called Edelingsey where he in very poore attire disguised was entertained into a Cow-heards house if not into his seruice where on a time as he sate by the fire in trimming of his bow and shafts a cake of dow baking vpon the hearth before him chanced to burn the Cowheardesse comming in and seeing him mind more his bow then his bread in a great fury cast away both his bow and arrowes and checking him as her Groom said Thou fellow doest thou see the bread burne before thy face and wilt not turne it and yet art thou glad to eate it before it bee halfe baked little suspecting him to be the man that had beene serued with more delicate cates 12 But this Prince the very mirrour of Princes more minding the wealth of his subiects then the maiesty of State disguised himselfe in the habite of a common Minstrell and in person repaired to the Danes Campe who lay like sena◅ wallowing in
long after and died without issue by her Her second husband was that Martiall and pompous Gentleman Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke 78 Katharine fourth daughter of this seuenth Henry and of Elizabeth his Queene was borne vpon Candlemas day in the yeere of our Lord one thousand fiue hundred and three and in the eighteenth yeere of her fathers raigne who was called to her part in a far better Kingdome within a short while after HENRIE THE EIGHT OF THAT NAME KING OF ENGLAND FRANCE AND IRELAND DEFENDER OF THE FAITH c. THE FIFTIE EIGHT MONARCH OF THE ENGLISH HIS RAIGNE ACTS WIVES AND ISSVE CHAPTER XXI THe rich and wise King Henry the seuenth gone as is said the way of all flesh his sonne bearing the same name a most magnanimous heroical Prince succeded in his Throne ouer al his dominions as the only true heir vnto the Crowne by both the houses of Lancaster and Yorke His birth was at Greenwich in the yeere of Grace 1491. the twentieth two of Iune and his youth so trained vp in literature that he was accounted the most learned Prince of all Christendome indued with parts most befitting a King both in lineaments of body and liberality of minde besides his ripe knowledge in politicke affaires and was made the more agreeable to the affections of men by the consideration of his flourishing age as hauing not attained vnto nineteen at his fathers death In his infancy hee was created Duke of Yorke at twelue yeeres his brother deceased Prince of Wales and at eighteene became sole Monarch of the land when at Westminster vpon Sunday the twenty fift of Iune euen the festiuall of Saint Iohn Baptist and yeere of Christ Iesus 1509. hee with his beauteous Queene Katherine receiued their Crowns at the hands of William Warham Archbishoppe of Canterbury no Prince giuing better hopes vnto iustice or seeking the wealth of his subiects more then himselfe 2 His Counsellors he chose of the grauest diuines and the wisest Nobility with whom hee not onely often sate to the great encrease of his politicke experience but would also yeeld his authority to their graue and farre inseeing wisdomes Of whom the plaints of Petitioners were so mouingly regarded that Proclamations went forth with promise of restitution to them that had beene wronged by Dudley or Empson two persons that had abused the authority of K. Henrie his Father by enriching their owne coffers with the vrter vndoing of many better subiects These men King Henry the seuenth had made his Instruments for the finding out of offenders in his penall Statutes themselues being learned in the lawes and apt inough to execute their Commissions to the full for by their daily informations and recouering of fines they digged and brought a filuer Mine into the Kings Exchequer some veines whereof by the way ranne also into their owne coffers to the great vexation of all and vtter vndoing of many whereat the Noblemen grudged the Gentility repined the Commons lamented and all of them felt the teeth of these rauening Wolues But the father King departed and his sonneset on his throne the complaintes of the oppressed so oppressed the King and his Councell that Dudley and Empson were sent prisoners to the Tower and both of them by Parliament attainted of Treason 3 Edmund Dudley by descent was a Gentleman and by profession a Lawyer hauing both wit and wordes at will had hee not abused both to his own destruction Richard Empson his inferiour by birth was the sonne of a poore Sieue-maker but yet had hee stepped before him to the degree of a Knight These night-sprung Mushrumps that sucked the earthes fatnesse from far better plants then themselues saw not the many hands ready to plucke vp them by the rootes when the season should serue to cleare the land of such weedes for albeit they had their discharge vnder the Kings owne hand to doe what they did and their seruice knowne Crowne seruice a matter impugnable yet no sooner were they left to stand vpon their owne basis but that they felt the weight of their done wrongs too importunable for them any longer to beare for so importune were all degrees against them that Dudley forthwith in Guild-hall London was arraigned and condemned to die and King Henry in progresse through the cry of the people could take no pleasure til he had sent for Empson into Northamptonshire where among them hee was arraigned and receiued sentence of death which was so desired and followed as to satisfie his Subiects the King sent a speciall writ for their executions which with great ioy of all was performed vpon Tower hill by taking from them their heades when they left their riches to be spent by others and their names to remaine vpon Record for the Caterpillers of those times whose like if any such liue shall leaue their hatefull remembrance to the like staines of reprochfull infamy how pleasing soeuer the promotion so gotten in their owne eyes shall seeme or the employments in their selfe conceites accounted profitable to the State 4 This iustice of King Henry wanne him great praise of his people and his charity extended towards London when that City was sore distressed with famine by sending sixe hundred quarters of corne great loue so that neuer any King entred his raigne with better hopes then himselfe That his person was tall is not to bee doubted though not like vnto Soules as some haue alleadged whose report is that at the siege of Bulloigne he was higher by the head then any in his Campe and euery ioint proportionable to so royall a stature but that hee was strong his many Iusts and Tilts and fights at Turnay most dangerously performed was manifested vpon them that vnderwent his heauy hand for at Tilt hee bare downe a man at Armes both horse and all and threw Sir William Kingston a Knight of great strength to the ground at Barryers with battell-axe he combated against one Giot a Germane very strong and tall and lent him better blowes then he could againe repay 5 His glorie thus mounted the Trophie of fame and young Henry the onely morning starre in this Westerne Orbe Pope Iulius the second fearing the further incroch of the French who then had entred into some part of Italy thought this Prince the strongest pillar whereunto to trust and the fittest Carde to trumpe the French King well knowing the Title that the English Kings had vnto France and the readinesse of his Subiects to forward that way wherupon writing his letters vnto King Henry complained against Lewis the French king and twelfth of that name who neither as hee alleadged esteeming of God good fame nor conscience detained the reuenewes of the Clergy supported the Cardinall William to aspire the Papacy aided in the siege of Bonen Alfonso of Ferrara and the Benteuoly both traitors to the Papal Sea where hee
say to you from vs do there in our name Yeouen vnder our Signet at the Castle of Windsor the of in the fift yeare of our Raigne 1556. 81 The fruites of which Religion this godly King shewed by his workes of compassion towardes the poore that especially vpon the foundation of Christs Hospitall the late suppressed place of the Grey Friers in London and that vpon occasion as followeth It chanced the reuerend Bishop Doctor Ridley to preach before his Maiesty at Westminster wherin hee Christianlike exhorted the rich to be merciful vnto the poore and to that end amplified the words of the Text against the mercilesse rich and the negligence of such as were in great place The Sermon ended and the King set to dinner hee sent to the Bishop commanding him not to depart the Court before he knew his further pleasure and thereupon causing two Chaires to be set in the Gallery all others auoided hee compelled the Bishoppe to sit downe by his side and in no wise would admitte him to bee vncouered 82 Where entring conference he first gaue him heartie thankes for his Sermon repeating vnto him the chiefe points thereof and coming to his exhortation for the poore he then told him that he thought himselfe first touched in the speech for saide he my Lord you speake to them in authority whereof vâ—… God I am the chiefe and must first maâ—…e answere to him if I be negligent and therefore I thinke you principally meant me Gods commandement I know most expresly inioineth vs to haue compassion of â—…s poore members for whom we must make account and truly my Lord I am most willing to trauell that way not doubting but that your long approued learning and wisdome whose zeale is such as wisheth them helpe but that also you had conference with others what is best herein to be done which I am also desorous to know and therefore I pray say freely your mind 83 The mouer vnto these pious considerations little looking for such questions of the Prince sate a while silent ouerioyed at his words and lastly vnprepared of any present instructions told the King that the Citizens of London were best able to direct the plot whose great Charity and well ordered gouernement besides their dayly charges being ouer-burdened with poore had sufficient experience and if it would please his Maiestie to direct his letters vnto â—…em himselfe he would be very ready to further this godly resolution so far as his meanes might any wise extend whereupon the King presently commanded his letters to be writ and would not suffer the Bishoppe to depart before himselfe had thereto set his hand and signet desiring him to deliuer the same to the Lord Maior and with him to conferre about this businesse which hee wished might be accomplished with all expedition 84 The Bishoppe as ready as the King was desirous posted apace to the Lord Maior of London where deliuering the letter offered his assistance to forward the worke and they together with some Aldermen and twenty foure Commoners agreede vpon three degrees of the poore and them diuided againe into nine 85 The Booke thus drawne and presented to the King he thereupon desired to be accounted the chiefe Founder of their reliefe and forth with 〈◊〉 vnto the City S. Bartholmewes Hospitall by Smithfield and the Grey-Friers Church neere adioyning Heraclite Theophrastu 2. Sam. 19. 35. Socrates Deut. 6. 6. 7. Deut. 4. 32. Thales Cicero Simonides Cassidore Bale in Leylands New-yeeres gift Gen. 49. 29. Ierem. 37. 1. Matt. 13. 57. Ierem. 9. 1. Luke 19. 41. Matt. 15. 26. Habak 2. 9. Gene. 13. 10. Tho. Lanquet Ouid. Metam lib. 15. Histories vncertaine to the Flood and from the Flood to the first Olympias fabulous Plutarch Diodorus Siculus Lucretius Thucydides Tully Iosephus contra Appion lib. 1. M. Cato in a fragment of his Titus Liui. Fenestella Plutarch in the life of Romulus Thucydides lib. 2. cap. 7. Iosephus contra Appion li. 1. Hellanicus Acusilaus Diodorus Herodotus Ephorus Timaeus Philistus Callias Thucydides Suetonius in vita Caesar. Sect. 55. Tacitus F. Maximus Silenus Antigonus Hierome Dionysius Hai. Bodine Hierom in his Prolog in Iob. Iob. 8. 8. Titus Liui. lib. 8. BRITAINE Admirall of the Seas In Panegy Orat. to Constanâ—…s Aristides Tacit. in vit Agr. BRITAINE the greatest Iland knowen to the Romanes Dionysius Strabo Rutil Numat Fabius Rustic BRITAINE discouered to be an Iland 136. yeeres after Iulius Cesars entrance â—…to it Tacitus in vita Agric. BRITAINE thought one continent vvith FRANCE Seruius Honorat Clandian Vinianus Sicilie thought once one continent with Italie Dâ—… Niger Thought of some that all Ilands had their first separation from the Mayne by the rage of the generall Deluge Catullus Britaines length Britaines bredth BRITAINE in the 8. Climate for Latitude and for Longitude placed betweene the parallels fourteene and twenty six In the furthest North part of BRITAINE the nights so short as the space betwixt the daies going and comming can hardly be perceiued In vita Agricolae Caesar. Com. lib. 5. The cold in Britaine lessâ—… then in France Probus in Virgil. Georgic The Arabicke Geographie British Seas warme De natura Deorum Lib. 2. Minutius Foelix adioined to Arnobius as his eighth booke Britaines sea-windes in summer asswage the heat In vita Agricolae In vit Caesar. cap. 47. Britaine aboundeth with all sorts of Graine Caesar. Com. lib 5. Britaine called the â—…eat of Q. Ceres Romanes laded 800. vessels with corne in Britaine for their armies elsewhere Zosoâ—…us Panegyric to Constantius In Britaine neither excessiue cold of winter nor extreme heat of summer Britaine abounding with all plentie of foode for mans sustenance and delight Britaines nights neuer without some light Panegyr spoken to Constantine BRITAINE full of mines of metals Remaynes Isaciâ—… Tzetzes Robert of Auesburie Britaine taken for the fortunate Ilands Adâ—… 1246. Pope Innocent maketh suit to the King of England to see Britaine Ioseph bell Iudas lib. 7. cap. 13. BRITAINE sustained at once no lesse then 11. Kings commanding great powers D 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 the Great The I le of Maâ—… belonging to Britaine a kingdome within it selfe Cyprus and some prouinces subdued to Britaine A Colonell of Britaines in VIRGINEA Vitus Basingstocke The limits of the British Empire in times past from the Orcades vnto the Pyereâ—… Mountaines Isa. 54. Eight Nations conuerted to Christ by Englishmen The first Inhabiters of this Iland being meerely barbarous neuer troubled themselues to transmit their Originals to posteritie Caesar. Com. lib. 6. Druides the onely wise men among the first Inhabitants of this Iland If the first Inhabitants of this Iland had written any thing of their originall yet it must needs haue perished Gildas de excidiâ—… Britaâ—…iae No vnderstaÌ„ding of the first afâ—…aires of this Iland but from sorraine Writers Polybius Romane Writers the best directers for the antiquitie of Britaine The originall names of Countries and
Vincenâ—… Antonin Edgar 〈◊〉 with a damsell Malms de regibus Duke Ordgarus Ethelwold Edgar a suter for Ethelwold Edgars plot to discouer Ethelwold Ethelwolds speech to Elfrida 2 Sam. 13. 〈◊〉 Virgil Aened Amnon and Thamar Wolfhilds Ethelfled Elfridaalone Elfridâ—… disloialtie Ethelwold slaine The fifteenth saith Higden Ethelfleds parents Elfridaes second wife Wil. Malmsbury Edward the eldest sonne Edmund the second sonne Ethelred the third sonne Edgith Acts and Monuments in vita Edgar Polychr lib. 6. c. 9. Iohn Capgraue in vita sanâ—… Ediâ—… Monarch 31 Edward An. Do. 975. Simon Dunel Roger Hâ—…en Edward the son of Ethelfleda An. Do. 975 A blaâ—…ng starre Wil. Malâ—… Fox Wil. Malâ—… Simon Dâ—… Raâ—… Higd. Iohn Capgraâ—… 〈◊〉 in vita Edgari Dunstans counsell The Priests suspition of the Monkes An. Do. 977. A heauy mischance Polychr lib. 6. c. 12 Priests without cure but not without care Wil. 〈◊〉 Malâ—…s de gestis Ponti â—…1 〈◊〉 Wil. Malâ—… Polydâ—… Rand Chest. 〈◊〉 Pâ—… Alfredus 〈◊〉 Flares Histor. Rich. Cirecest Speculum hist. Queene Elfridâ—… perfidie Mat Westminster Simon Dâ—…l Fabian Polydor. Wil. Malâ—… Almesbury and Worwel Monasteries founding Habacuc 〈◊〉 11. Ethelred Monarch 32. An. Do. 979. Wil. Malmsbury Speâ—…l Histor. 〈◊〉 life malitiously reported 〈◊〉 Bishop of Râ—…ester An. Do. 980. â—…lyer lib. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 13 An. Do. 981. Siâ—… Dâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 An. Do. 982. Tâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Polychron lib. 6. cap. â—…3 Wil. Malmsbury Mat. Westminster Simon Dun. An. Do. 989. An. Do. 991. Malmsb. de gest Pontif. l. 1. Polycr lib. 6. 〈◊〉 13. An. Do. 992. Wil. Malmsbury Elfrick Earle of Mercia An. Do. 993. Simon Dun. Polydor. Mal. West A Fleete of Danes on the Thames besiege London Matt West Simon Dun. An. Do. 997. An. Do. 998. An. Do. 999. An. D. 1000. Roger Houed Annal. pars prâ—… Higden 〈◊〉 The Clergies coustousnesse The effects of it Hector Boetius Ethelreds bad policie Polycr li. 6. ca. 15. The massacre of the Danes Henry Hunting Matth. West Register of S. Frideswydes Malmsb. 〈◊〉 Charter Hen. Hunting Simon Dun. King Swaines inuasion An. D. 1003. Earle Edrick for his auarice surnamed 〈◊〉 An. D. 1004. Simon Dun. Norwich raced An. D. 1005. Henry Hunt An. D. 1006. The Danes in the I le of Wight An. D. 1007. Edrick an vntrusty Councellor Simon Dun. His accusations His subtilty His treachery An. D. 1008. An. Reg. 30. Henry Hunting Simon Dun. Matth. West Brithrick chasing Wilmot crossed by tempest Money paid the Danes An. D. 1009. Three Danish Captaines Money paied the Danes Three thousand Pound â—…aith Simon Dun. Edrick againe perfidious An. D. 1010. Henry Hunt The Deneâ—… forrage the Countries before them An. D. 1011. Henry Hunt Vincentius Addit ad Asseriâ—… Wil. Lambert in Peram Polychr li. 6. c. 16. An. D. 1012. Money paied the Danes An. D. 1013. Simon Dun. Canute London besieged Simon Dunel Mat. Westminster Henry Hunt Polyâ—… Wil. Malms Mat. Westminster A Battaile betweene Danes English Ethelreds Oration Paines taking for safetie Henry Hunting Simon Dun. An. D. 1014. An. Reg. 35. Swaine and Turkils domineering Houeden Annal. pars prior Fabian Chron. par 6. cap. 200. Polychron lib. 6. cap. 10. An. D. 1015 Canutus winneth loue of the English He is chased by 〈◊〉 Matth. West Wil. Malâ—… Turkil inciteth Caâ—… against England Canutus and his Nauie Money collected for the Danes Wil. Malmsbury Henry Hunt Mat. Westminster Simon Dunel Matth. West Simon Dun. An. D. 1016. Londons fidelley Canutus deuastatioÌ„s Ethelred dieth The time of his raigning His Tombe in S. Pauls in London Fox Mâ—…yrologe in King Egelreds life ex Hist. Iorâ—…lens Polycr li. 6. ca. 13. Elgiua the first wife by some called Elflede Emme the second wife Ethelstane the eldest sonne Egbert the second sonne Edmund the third sonne Edred the fourth sonne Edwy the fifth sonne Edgar the sixt sonne The eldest daughter Edgith the second daughter Elfgine the third daughter Gode the fourth daughter Edward the seuenth onne Elfred the eight sonne Edmund Monarch 33 An. D. 1016. Polycr lib. 6. 〈◊〉 â—…7 Henry Hunting Simon Dun. Proffer of single combat An. D. 1016. In the Rogation 〈◊〉 Polydor. Simon Dun. Matt. West Wil. Malmsbury Edrickâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Canut marcheth to London Dislodged by Edmund Edrikâ—… wicked counsell Henry Hunt Edmunds preparations Polydâ—… Fabian Ran. Higd. Mat. Westminster Henry Hunt Wil. Malms A battaile between Edmund Canute Wil. Malmsb. Simon Dun. Ran. Higden Edmund put to retire London yeeldeth to Canute Mat. Westminster Polydor. The aduice of a Captaine for single combat Matth. West Edmund and Canute at single fight Mat. Westminster 〈◊〉 â—…o 〈◊〉 The Kingdome parted betweene them Edmund murthered A Spit saith Higden 〈◊〉 punisheth the traiâ—… Wil. Malmsbury Old Manâ—…st Fabian Ran. Higden Simon Dâ—…el Marian. Scotus Edâ—…ds raigne Polychr The feature of Edmâ—…nd Algiâ—… Edward the outlaw His wife His daughters Edmund Mat. Westminster Ier. 48. 〈◊〉 Esay 51. 17. 〈◊〉 2. And. 〈◊〉 Dudo S. Quint. Ptol. Geograp where some read 〈◊〉 Tacit. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Verstegan Ant. cap. 6. Iosephus Antiq. lib. 18. cap. 6. Ionas Iacob Cambd. Brit. Dudo Cambd. Britan. The Religion of the Danes Verstegan Dudo Cambd. Brit. An. Do. 787. Cambden in Danâ—… Iohn Stow. Lambert in Perâ—… mentioneth their Landing at Tyâ—…mouth in the North the neernesse of the name it seemes deceiued him An. Do. 800. See the seuenth Booke chap. 31. 〈◊〉 l. 5. c. 1 Fabian cap. 158. 2. Sam. 13. 1â—… * That is Leather-brichs Flores historiarum Murther will out Rob. Fabian cap. 169. Polycr li. 5. ca. 3â—… Abbas Floriacensis Alcuinus Wil. Malmsb. Roger Houed Ran. Higden Rob. Fabian Bloud reuenged with bloud Henry Hunt 〈◊〉 Angl. 〈◊〉 15. Rand. Hig Iohn Stow. Flores bister Some say forty eight thousand Languet saith fifty An. D. 1017. Polychr li. 6. c. 18. Feare makes flatterers Canutus eare and policies to 〈◊〉 his Crowne Booke 7. cap. 44. sect 20. Wil. Malms Henry Hunt 〈◊〉 Fabian Canutus marrieth Queene Emma Emma a very prudent Lady Matth. West A Parliament at Oxford Wil. Lambert Canutus his godlie Lawes 〈◊〉 An. D. 1019. Wil. Malmsbury Mat. Westminster Earle Goodwins good seruice to Canutus Henry Hunting 〈◊〉 Fabian Alb. Krantius An. D. 1028. Wil. malmsbury Mat. Westminster Rom. 10. 2. Wil. Malmsb. Canutus complaineth of the Popeâ—… extortions in England His godly resolution touching his own actions Touching his Counsellours Touching his Iudges and Iustitiaries Touching his Treasure Touching Godâ—… Church Apocal. 3. 7. His Munificence His magnificent buildings c. Iosselin de Brâ—…klond S. Augustines arme at a high rate Canutus his flatterers Henry Hunt Mat. 〈◊〉 16. 17. Exod. 14. 21. His hâ—…ility Peter Pictan Iohn Castor Simon Dun. Polydor hist. Angl. lib 〈◊〉 Lanquet Saxo Grammaticus Alber. Crantius Aimundus Bremensis Holinsh. inuasion of Ireland Albert. Cramâ—… Polychr Ran. Higden lib. 〈◊〉 cap. 23. Wil. Malmsb. Albert. Crant Wil. Malmsb. de 〈◊〉 Augs cap. â—…2 Ran. Higden in Polycr lib. 6. ca. 〈◊〉 Henry Hunt lib. 6. Marian Scot.