when he succeeded Ochus in the kingdome of Persia called himselfe by the princely name Darius So new names were given to them which were deified by the Paganish consecration as Romulus was called Quirmus Melicertus was called Portunus and Palaemon Likewise in adoptions into better families and testament as the sonne of L. Aemilius adopted by Scipio tooke the name of Scipio Africanus So Augustus who was first named Thureon tooke the name of Octavian by testament by enfranchising also into new Citties as he which first was called Lucumo when he was infranchised at Rome tooke the name of Lucius Tarquinius Priscus So Demetrius Mega when he was there made free of the Citty was called Publius Cornelius Cicero Epist 36. lib. 13. Likewise slaves when they were manumised tooke often their masters names whenas they had but one name in their servile state As they which have read Artemidorus do know how a slave who when he dreamed he had tria virilia was made free the next morning and had three names given him Neither is it to be forgotten that men were not forbidden to change name or surname by the rescript of Dioclesian L. Vinc. c. de mutat nom so be that it were Sine aliqua fraude iure licito As that great Philosopher which was first called Malchus in the Syrian tongue tooke the name of Porphyrius as Eunapius reporteth as before Suetonius the Historian looke to surname 〈◊〉 whenas his father was Suetonius Lâ—uis Those notvvithstanding of strange base parentage were forbidden L. super 〈◊〉 c. de quaest to insert or inthrust themselves into noble and honest families by changing their names which will growe to inconvenience in England as it is thought by reason that Surnames of honourable and worshipfull families are given now to meane mens children for Christian names as it is growen nowe in Fraunce to the confusion of their Gentry by taking new names from their purchased landes at their pleasures Among the Romans nevertheles they that were called ad Equestrem ordinem having base names were new named nomine ingenuorum veterumque Romanorum lest the name should disgrace the dignitie when according to Plato comely things should have no vncomely names It was vsuall amongest the Christians in the Primitive church to change at Baptisme the names of Catechuâ—eâ—i which were in yeeres as that impious Renegado that was before called Lucius was in his Baptisme called Lucianus So the Popes vse to change their names when they enter into the Papaciâ— which as Platiâ—a saith was begunne by Pope Sergius the second who first changed his name for that his former name was Hogges-mouth but other referre the change of names in Popes to Christ who changed Simon into Peter Iohn and Iames into Bonarges Onely Marcellus not long since chosen Pope refused to chaunge his name saying Marcellus I was and Marcellus I will be I will neither change Name nor Manners Other religious men also when they entred into some Orders chaunged their name â—n times past follovving therein as they report the Apostle that chaunged his name from Saule to Paule after he entred into the Ministery borrovving as some say that name from Sergius Paulus the Roman lievtenant but as other will from his lovve stature for hee was but three cubites high as Saint Chrysostome speaking of him Tricubitalis ille tamen coelum ascendit Of changing also Christian names in Confirmation we have saide before but overpassing these forraine matters let vs say somewhat as concerning chaunge of names in England As among the French in former time and also nowe the heire tooke the fathers surname and the yonger sonnes tooke names of their landes allotted vnto them So likewise in times past did they in England and the most common alteration proceeded from place of habitation As if Hugh of Suddington gave to his second sonne his Mannour of Frydon to his third sonne his Mannour of Pantley to his fourth his Wood of Albdy the sonnes calld themsâ—lves De Frydon De Pantley De Albdy and their posteritie removed De. So Hugh Montfortes second sonne called Richard being Lord of Hatton in Warwickeshire tooke the name of Hatton So the yongest sonne of Simon de Montfort Earle of Leicester staying in England when his father was slaine and brethren fled tooke the name of Welsborne as some of that name have reported So the name of Ever came from the Mannour of Ever neere Vxbridge to yonger sonnes of L. Iohn Fitz-Robert de Clavering from whom the Lorde Evers and sir Peter Evers of Axholme are descended So sir Iohn Cradocke knight great grandfather of sir Henry Newton of Somersetshire tooke first the name of Newton which was the name of his habitation as the issue of Huddard in Cheshire tooke the name of Dutton Bnt for varietie and alteration of names in one familie vpon divers respects I will give you one Cheshire example for all out of an antient roule belonging to sir William Brerton of Brerton knight which I sawe twenty yeares since Not long after the Conquest William Bellward lord of the moietie of Malpasse had two sonnes Dan-David of Malpasse surnamed Le Clerke and Richard Dan-David had William his eldest sonne surnamed De Malpasse from whom the Baron Dudley is descended by heire generall His second sonne was named Philip Gogh one of the issue of whose eldest sonnes tooke the name of Egerton a third sonne tooke the name of David 〈◊〉 and one of his sonnes the name of Goodmâ—â— Richard the other sonne of the aforesaid William Belward had three sonnes who tooke also divers names viz. Thomas de Câ—tgrave William de Overton and Richard Little who had two sonnes the one named Ken-clarke and the other Iohn Richardson Heerein you may note alteration of names in respect of habitation in Egerton Cotgrave Overton in respect of colour in Gâ—gâ— that is Red in respect of qualitie in him that was called Goodmâ—n in respect of stature in Richard Little in respect of learning in Ken-clarke in respect of the fathers Christian name in Richardson all descending from William Bellward And verily the Gentlemen of those so different names in Cheshire would not easily be induced to beleeve they were descended from one house if it were not warranted by so antient a proofe In respect of stature I could recite to you other examples but I will onely adde this which I have read that a yong Gentleman of the house of Preux being of tall stature attending on the Lord Hungerford Lord Treasourer of England was among his fellowes called Long H who after preferred to a good marriage by his Lorde was called H. Long that name continued to his posteritie knights and men of great worship Other took their mothers surnames as A. Audley yonger brother to Iames lord Audley marrying the daughter and heire of H. de Stanley left a sonne William that tooke the name of Stanley from whome Stanley Earle of Derby aud other of that name are descended
Geffrey the sonne of Robert Fitz-Maldred and Isabel his wife heire of the Norman house of the Nevilles tooke the name of Nevill and left it to his posteritie which was spread into very manie honourable families of England In like manner the sonne of Ioscelin of Lovan a yoonger sonne to the Duke of Brabant when he had married Agnes the onely daughter of William Lord Percy so named of Percy forrest in the county of Maen from whome they came and not of piercing the king of Sâ—â—ts through the 〈◊〉 as Hâ—ctâ—r Bâ—â—tius fableth his sonne and posteritie vppon a composition with the same Lady tooke her name of Percy but retained theyr olde coate armour to shew from whome they descended So Adam de Montgomery marrying the daughter and heire of Carew of Molesford her sonne relinquishing his owne left to his posteritie his mothers name Carew from whom the Barons Carew the Carews of Haccomb of Berry of Authony Beddington c. have had their names and originall Likewise Ralph Gernon marrying the daughter of Cavendish or Candish left that name to his issue as Th Talbot a learned Genealogist hath prooved So Robert Meg the great favourite of king Iohn took the name of Braybrooke whereof his mother was one of the heires So sir Iohn de Haudlow marrying the daughter and heire of the Lorde Burnell his posteritie tooke the name of Burnell So sir Tibauld Russell tooke the name of De Gorges to him and his issue for that his mother was sister and one of the heirs of Ralfe de Gorges as it appeareth in the controversie betweene Warbleton and the saide Tibauld de Corges for the coate of Armes Lozengy Or and Azure 21. of Edward the third before Henry Earle of Lancaster and others at the siege of Saint Margaret Not many years since when Iames Hâ—rsey had married the daughter of De-Le-vale of Northumberland his issue tooke the name of De-la-vale Heerevnto may they also bee referred who changed their names in remembrance of their Progenitours being more honourable as the sonnes of Geffrey Fitz-Petre tooke the name of Magnavilla or Mandevile when they came to be Earles of Essex because their grandmother Beatrix was of the house of Mandevile as appeareth by the Abby booke of Walden So Thomas de Molton tooke the name of Lucy and many other which I omit Others also have taken the name of them whose lands they had As when King Henry the first gave the lands of the attainted Robert Moubray Earle of Northumberland being 120. Knights fees in Normandy and 140. in England to Nigall or Nâ—â—le de 〈…〉 who in the battell at 〈◊〉 tooke Robert Duke of 〈◊〉 prisoner he commanded withall that his posteritie should take the Surname of Moâ—bray which they accordingly did and retained the same as long as the issue male continued which determined in Iohn Moâ—bray Duke of Norfolke in the time of King Edward the fourth whose heires were married into the families of Howard and Barkeley Remembrance of benefits made others to change their names as William Mortimer descended from those of Richards Castle tooke the name of La-Zouch and named his sonne Alan de la-Zouch for some favour received from the Lord Zouch of Ashby de la-Zouch as appeareth by Inquisition 11. 21. Ed. 3. In respect of adoption also very many in all ages have changed their names I neede not particulate it for all know it Some of their owne dislike of their names have altered them for as I have read in the booke of Fornesse William Fitz-Gilbert Baron of Kendall obtained licence of King Henry the second to change his name and call himselfe and his posteritie Lancaster from whom the Lancasters in Westmâ—rlaud c. are descended Heerevpon some thinke that without the Kings licence new names cannot be taken or old names given away to others Yet Tiraquell the great Civilian of France in Leg. quin. Conub Tit. 92. seemeth to incline that both name and Armes may be transferred by will and testament and produceth Augustus who by his Testament commanded Tiberius and Livia to beare his name How in former times Herevile Dunvile Clauwowe gave and granted away their Armes which are as silent names distinctions of families and the same was thought vnlawfull afterward when the Lord 〈◊〉 would have done the same shall be declared in more convenient place But the inconvenience of change of names hath beene discovered to be such in France that it hath beene prâ—pounded in 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 that it should not be permitted but in these two respects eyther when one should bee made heire to any with especiall words to assume the name of the testatour or when any one should have a donation surmounting a thousand crownes vpon the same condition But to retyre to our purpose Not a few have assumed the names of their fathers Baronies as in former times the issue of Richard Fitz-Gilbert tooke the name of Clare which was their Barony and in late time since the Suttons came to the Barony of Dudley all their issue tooke the name of Dudleyes that I may omit others The dislike of others hath caused also a change of names for King Edward the first disliking the iteration of Fitz commanded the Lord Iohn Fitz-Robert a most ancient Baron whose Ancestours had continued their Surnames by their fathers Christian names to leave that manner and to be called Iohn Clavering which was the capitall seate of his Barony And in this time many that had followed that course of naming by Fitz tooke them one setled name and retained it as Fitz Walter and others Also at that time the names of Thomson Richardson Willson and other of that forme began to be setled which before had varied according to the name of the father Edward the fourth likewise as I have heard loving some whose name was Picard would often tell them that hee loved them well but not their names wherevpon some of them changed their names and I have heard that one of them which tooke the name of Ruddle being the place of his birth in that respect And in late yeares in the time of King Henry the eight an ancient worshipfull gentleman of Wales being called at the panniell of Iury by the name of Thomas Ap William Ap Thomas Ap Richard Ap Hoel Ap Evan Vaghan c. was advised by the Iudge to leave that old manner Wherevpon he after called himselfe Moston according to the name of his principall house and left that Surname to his posterity Offices have brought new names to divers families as when Edward Fitz-Thâ—â—bald of Ireland the Earles of Ormond and others descended from them tooke the name of Butler So the distinct families of the Constables in the County of Yorke are saide to have taken that name from some of their Ancestours which bare the office of Constables of some Castles In Like manner the Stewards Marshalls Spencers That I may say nothing of such as for well acting on the stage have carried
observed the very primary beginnings as it were of many surnames which are thought very antient when as it may be proved that their very lineall Progenitors bare other names within these sixe hundred yeers Mortimer and Warren are accounted names of great antiquitie yet the father of them for they were brethren who first bare those names was Walterus de sancto Martino He that first tooke the name of Clifford from his habitation was the sonne of Richard sonne of Puntz a noble Norman who had no other name The first Lumley was sonne of an antient English man called Liwulph The first Gifford from whome they of Buckingham the Lords of Brimesfeld and others descended was the sonne of a Norman called Osbert de Belebeâ— The first Windsor descended from Walter the sonne of Other Castellan of Windsor The first who tooke the name of Shirley was the sonne of Sewall descended from Fulcher without any other name The first Nevill of them which are now from Robert the sonne of Maldred a braunch of an olde English familie who married Isabel the daughter and heire of the Nevills which came out of Normandy The first Level came from 〈◊〉 de Perceâ—â—â—ll The first Montacute was the sonne of Drogo â—â—venis as it is in Record The first Stanley of them now Earles of Derby was likewise sonne to Adâ—vn de Aldeleigh or Audley as it is in the olde Pedegree in the Eagle tower of Latham And to omit others the first that tooke the name of de Burgo or Burks in Ireland was the sonne of an English man called William Fitz Aldelniâ— as the first of the Giraldâ—â—es also in that Countrey was the sonne of an Englishman called Girald of Windsor In many more could I exemplifie which shortly after the conquest tooke these surnames when either their fathers had none at all or else most different whatsoever some of their posteritie doe overweene of the antiquitie of their names as though in the continuall mutabilitie of the worlde conversions of States and fatall periods of families five hundred yeeres were not sufficient antiquitie for a family or name whenas but very few have reached thereunto In the autentical Record of the Exchequer called Domesday Surnames are first found brought in then by the Normans who not long before first tooke them but most noted with de such a place as Godefridus de Mannevilla A. de Grey Walterus de Vernon Robert de Oily now Doyley Albericus de Vere Radulphus de Pomerey Goscelinus de Dive Robertus de Buslâ—â— Guilielmus de Moiun R. de Braiâ—se Rogerus de Lacy Gislebertus de Venables or with Filius as Ranulphus Asculphi Guilielmis filius Osbernie Richardus filius Gisleberti or else with the name of their office as Eudo Depifer Guil Camerarius Hervaeus Legatus Gislebertus Cocus Radulphus Venator but very many with their Christian names onlie as Olaff Nigellus Eustachius Baldricus with single names are noted last in every shire as men of least account and as all or most vnderholders specified in that Booke But shortly after as the Romans of better sorte had three names according to that of Iuvenal Tanquam habeas trianomina that of Ausonius Tria nomina nobiliorum So it seemed a disgrace for a Gentleman to have but one single name aâ— the meaner sorte and bastards had For the daughter and 〈◊〉 of Fitz 〈◊〉 a great Lord as Robert of Gloucester in the Librarie of the industrious Antiquary maister Iohn Stowe writeth when king Henry the first would have married hir to his base sonne Robert she first refusing answered It were to me a great shame To have a Lord without'n his twa name whereupon the king his father gave him the name of Fitz-Roy who after was earle of Gloucester and the onely Worthy of his age To reduce surnames to a Methode is matter for a Ramist who should happly finde it to be a Typocosmie I will plainely set downe from whence the most have beene deduced as farre as I can conceive hoping to incurre no offence heerein with any person when I protest in all sinceritie that I purpose nothing lesse than to wrong any man in any respect or to make the least aspersion vpon any whosoever The end of this scribling labour tending onely to maintaine the honor of our names against some Italianated who admiring strange names doe disdainefully contemne their owne countrey names which I doubt not but I shall effect with the learned and iudicious to whom I submit all that I shall write The most surnames in number the most antient and of best accompt have been locall deduced from places in Normandy and the countries confining being either the patrimonaill possessions or native places of such as served the Conquerour or came in after out of Normandy as Aulbeny or Mortimer Warren Albigny Percy Gournay Devreux Tankervil Saint-Lo Argenton Marmion Saint Maure Bracy Maigny Nevill Ferrers Harecourt Baskervile Mortaigne Tracy Beufoe Valoyns Cayly Lucy Montfort Bonvile Bovil Auranch c. Neither is there any village in Normandy that gave not denomination to some family in England in which number are all names having the French De Du Des De-la prefixt beginning or ending with Font Fant Beau Sainct Mont Bois Aux Eux Vall Vaux Cort Court Fort Champ Vil which is corruptly turned in some into â—eld as in Baâ—kerfeld Somerfeld Dangerfeld Trublâ—feld Grâ—â—feld 〈◊〉 for Bâ—â—kervil Somervil Dangervil Turbervil Greeâ—â—vil 〈◊〉 vil and in others into Well as Boswell for Bâ—ssevil 〈◊〉 for Freschevil As that I may note in passage the 〈◊〉 Nobilitie take their names from places adding Ski or Ki thereunto Out of places in Britaine came the families of Saint Aubin Morâ—ey Dâ—nant lately called Denham Dâ—le Balâ—â— Conquest Valtort Lascells Bluet c. Out of other partes of Fraunce from places of the same names came Courtney Corby Bâ—llâ—in Crevecuer Saiâ—t-Leger Bohun Saint George Saint Andrew Chaworth Sainct Quâ—â—tiâ— Gorges Villiers Cromar Paris Reims Cressy Fines 〈◊〉 Coignac Lyons Chalons Chaloner Estampes or Stampes and many more Out of the Netherlands came the names of Levayne Gaunt Ipres Bruges Malines Odingsells Tournay Doway Buers Beke and in latter ages Dabridgecourt Robsert Mâ—â—y Grandâ—son c. From places in England and Scotland infinite likewise For every towne village or hamlet hath made names to families as Darbyshire Lancaster do not looke that I should as the Nomenclators in olde time marshall every name according to his place Essex Murray Clifford Stafford Barkley Leigh Lea Hasting Hamleton Gordon Lumley Douglas Booths Clinton Heydon Cleydon Hicham Henningham Popham Ratcliffe Markham Seaton Framingham Pagrave Cotton Cariâ— Hume Poinings Goring Prideaux Windsor Hardes Stanhope Sydenham Needehaus Dimoc Wiâ—nington Allington Dâ—cre Thaxton Whitney Willoughby Apseley Crew Kniveton Wentworth Faâ—shaw Woderington Manwood Fetherston Penrudock Tremaine Trevoire Killigrew Roscarroc Carminow and most families in Cornewall of whome I have heard this Rythme By Tre Ros Pol Lan Caer and Pen You may
of Bergeuenny and of many other great Lordships whose body resteth here vnder this tombe in a full faire vaulte of stone set in the bare roche The which visited with long sicknesse in the castle of Rohan therein deceased full Christianly the last day of Aprill in the yeare of our Lord God 1439. he being at that time Lieutenant generall of France and of the Duchie of Normandie by sufficient authoritie of our Soueraigne Lord King Henry the sixt The which body by great deliberation and worshipfull conduct by sea and by land was brought to Warwicke the fourth of October the yeare abouâ—said and was laid with full solemne exequies in a faire Chest made of Stone in the West dore of this Chappell according to his last Will and Testament therein to rest till this Chappell by him deuised in his life were made the which Chappell founded on the Roche and all the members therof his executors did fully make apparail by the auctority of his said last Will Testament And therafter by the said auctoritie they did translate worshipfully the said body into the vaulte aforesaid Honoured be God therefore His sister the Countesse of Shrewsbury was buried in Saint Faithes vnder S. Paules at London with this Here before the image of Ihesu lyeth the Worshipfull and right noble Lady Margaret Countesse of Shrouseburie late wife of the true victorious Knight redoubted Warriour Iohn Talbot Earle of Shrousebury which worshipfully died in Gien for the right of this lond the first daughter and one of the heires of the right famous and renowned Knight Richard Beauchampe late Erle of Warwicke which died in Roane and of dame Elizabeth his wife the which Elizabeth was daughter and heire to Thomas late Lord Berkely on his syd and of 〈◊〉 moders side Lady Lisle and Ties which Countesse passed from this world the xiiii day of Iune the yeare of our Lord 1468. On whose soule the Lord haue mercy For that valerous Earle her husband the terror of France I found no Epitaph but insteed thereof I will giue you â—o vnderstand that not long since his sworde was found in the riuer of Dordon and solde by a pesant to an Armorour of Burdeaux with this inscription but pardon the Latin for it was not his but his Camping priests SVM TALBOTI M. IIII.C.XLIII PRO VINCERE INIMICO MEO This inscription following is in the Cathedrall Church at Roan in Normandie for Iohn Duke of Bedford and Gouernour of Normandie Sonne to King Henry the fourth buried in a faire plaine monument which when a French Gentleman aduised Charles the eight French King to deface as being a monument of the English victories he said Let him rest in peace now he is dead whom we feared while he liued Cy gist feu de noble memoire haut puissant prince Iean en son viuant regent du Royaume de France Duc de Bethfort pour lequel est fondè vne Messe estre par chacun iour perpetuellement celebrâ—e en cest autel par le college des Clementins incontineâ—â— apres prime trespassa le 13. Septembre 1435. Au quel 13. iour semblablement est fondè poâ—r luy vn obït en ceste eglise Dieu face pardon à soname Vpon an auncient Knight Sir Iernegan buried Crosse-legd in Somerly in Suffolke some hundred yeares since is written Iesus Christ both God and man Saue thy seruant Iernegan Happy prudent K. Henry the 7. who stopped the streames of ciuill bloud which so long ouer-flowed England left a most peaceable state to his posteritie hath his magnificall monument at Westminster inscribed thus Septimus hic situs est Henricus gloria regum Cunctorum illius qui tempestate fuerunt Ingenio atque opibus gestarum nomine rerum Accessere quibus naturae dona benignae Frontis honos facies augusta heroica forma Iunctaque ei suauis coniunx perpulchra pudica Et faecunda fuit foelices prole parentes Henricum quibus octauum terra Anglia debes Hic iacet Henricus huius nominis VII Angliae quondam rex Edmundi Richmundiae Comitis filius qui die 22. Aug. Rex creatus statim post apud Westmonasterium 30. Octob. coronatur anno Domini 1485. moritur deinde xxi April anno aetatis Liii Regnauit annos xxii mens viii minùs vno die This following I will note out of Hackney Church that you may see that the Clergie were not alwaies anticipating and griping many liuings by this worthy man which relinquished great dignities and refused greater Christopherus Vrswicus Regis Henrici Septimi Elemozinaerius vir sua aetate clarus summatibus atque infimatibus iuxtà charus Ad exteros reges vndecies pro patria legatus DecanatuÌ„ Eboracensem Archidiaconatum Richmundiae DecanatuÌ„ Windsoriae habitos viuens reliquit EpiscopatuÌ„ Norwicensem oblatum recusauit Magnos honores totâ vita spreuâ—t frugali vita contentus hic viuere hic mori voluit Plenus annoruÌ„ obiâ—â— ab omnibus desideratus Funeris pompam etiam testamento vetuit Hic sepultus carnis resurrectionem in aduentum Christi expectat Obijt anno Christi incarnati 1521. Die 23. Martij Anno aetatis suae 74. This testamentarie Epitaph I haue read in an ould Manuscript Terram terra tegit Daemon peccata resumat Res habeat Mundus spiritus alta petat The name of the defunct is as it were enigmatically expressed in this ould epitaph Bis fuit hic natus puer bis bis iuuenisque Bis vir bisque senex bis doctor bisque sacerdos In the Cathedrall church of S. Pauls in London a stone is inscribed thus without name Non hominem aspiciam vltra OBLIVIO This man yet would not willingly haue bene forgotten when he adioyned his Armes to continue his memorye not vnlike to Philosophers which prefixde their names before their Treatises of contemning glorie Another likewise suppressing his name for his Epitaph did set downe this goodly admonition Looke man before thee how thy death hasteth Looke man behind thee how thy life wasteth Looke on thy right side how death thee desireth Looke on thy left side how sinne thee beguileth Looke man aboue thee ioyes that euer shall last Looke man beneth thee the paines without rest The Abott of S. Albanes which lieth buried there in the high Quire suppressed his name as modestly as any other in this Hic quidam terra tegitur Peccato soluens debitum Cuius nomen non impositum In libro vitae sit inscriptum In the Cloister on the north side of S. Pauls now ruinated one had this inscription vpon his Graue without name VIXI PECCAVI PAENITVI NATVRAE CESSI Which is as Christian as that was prophane of the Romane AMICI DVM VIVIMVS Vâ—VAMVS Queene Iane who died in Child birth of King Edward the sixt and vsed for her deuice a Phaenix has this therevnto alluding for her Epitaph Phenix Iana iacet nato Phaenice doendum Secula Phaenices nulla tulisse duos The noble
buried at Westminster to which Church she would come dayly barefoote while the Court laye there had an excellent Epigramme made to her commendation whereof these foure verses onely remaine Prospera non laetam fecere nec aspera tristem Aspera risus erant prospera terror erant Non decor effecit fragilem non sceptra superbam Sola potens humilis sola pudica decens No bad Poet was he which wrote to the honor of Adeliza second wife to King Henry the first who was daughter to the Duke of Brabant sister to Lord Ioscelin from whom the Percies Earles of Northumberland descended Anglorum Regina tuos Adeliza decores Ipsa referre parans Musa stupore riget Quid Diadema tibi pulcherrima quid tibi gemma Pallet gemma tibi nec Diadema nitet Deme tibi cultus cultum natura ministrat Non exornari forma beata potest Ornamenta caue nec quicquam luminis inde Accipis illa micant lumine clara tuo Non puduit modicas de magnis dicere laudes Nec pudeat dominam te precor esse meam But among all our olde Epigrammatists all commendation is carried away by olde Godffery Prior of Winchester who liued Anno 1100. which Citie hath brought forth so many excelling in Poeticall facultie not onely in former ages but also in latter out of the worthy Colledge there that the very Genius loci doth seeme Poeticall Out of his Epigrammes first imparted to me by the right learned Maister Th. Allen of Oxford I will here impart a few vnto you To one that would know how long he should learne he wrighteth thus Discendi Damiane modum te quaerere dicunt Discas dum nescis sit modus iste tibi That the contempt of fooles is not to be respected Contemptum stulti contemnere Dindime laus est Contemni a stulto dedecus esse nego Against pride in prosperitie Extolli noli quùm te fortuna beauit Pompone haec eadem quae leuat ipsa premit Against such as teach well and liue not accordingly Multa Solon sed plura Cato me verba docetis At nemo vestrum quanta docetis agit To one which had eaten stinking meate Druse comedisti quem misit Siluius hircum Vel tibi non nasus vel tibi nasus olet He teacheth vs to relye vpon firme and sure supports lest we fall to the ground with them in this Non est securus super titubantia fultus Iungere labenti labitur ille ruis That we must looke for like measure if we doe not as we would be done vnto he admonisheth all vnder the name of Albius Iurgia clamores tibi gloria gloria lites Et facis dicis omnibus vnde noces Expectes eadâ—m quae nobis seceris Albi Nam quem tu laedis te ferit ille libens Youth which in their haughty heat reiect the aduise of ould men he aduiseth thus Pannorum veterum facile contemnitur vsus Non sic consilium posthumiane senum The vanity of them which vaunt of their auncient nobility and haue no nobility in themselues he thus taxeth Stemmata continuas recitas ex ordine patres Queis nisi tu similis Rufule quid recitas That there was no contending with him who with missiue bribes can preuaile against Iustice Missilibus Daciane tuis Astraea recessit Vincis mâ—ssilibus Ius Dacâ—â—nc tuis The common prouerbe Loue me loue mine he thus aduised vs to obserue Me tanquam socium te dicis amare Trebati Et quos totus amo dente furente teris Sed nisi sis socius socijs amicâ—s Non potero nostrum dicere te socium Against hooked gifts which draw others Multa mihi donas vereor ne multa requiras Nolo mihi doncs Aulice si repetas Against one that sought a benefice and would teach before he could teach Quâ doceat sedem quaerit Plâ—timus aedem Quarit quâ doceat non ea quae doceat Against a couetous wretch Nasidiane diu vixisti semper anarus Oro tibi â—â—uas Nasidiane dus Against one that would exact of others and do nothing himselfe Exâ—gis a nobis quem 〈◊〉 soluis amorem Quam nulli praestes exigis Aule sidem Exigâ—â— Ã nobis quem non mâ—rearis honorem Mirum est quod non das id tibi velle 〈◊〉 Against an Abbot that would defend his monks from others but worrye them himselfe Tollit onem de fauce lupi persaepe molossus Ereptamque lupo ventre recondit ouem Tu quoque Sceuae tuos praedone tueris ab omni Vnus praedo tamen perdis vbique tuos One amidst the warres betweene King Stephen and Henrie the second commended the same Henry in these verses Praelia quanta mouet Stephanus moucat volo namque Gloria nulla foret si pralia null moueret Tu contra Stephanum cui copia multa virorum Duxisti pautos our paucos gloria maior Est multos paucis quà m paucos vincere multis At the same troublesome time and as it were desolation of England were written to the same Henry as it were in a Prosopopcia of England Dux Henrice nepos Henrici maxime magni Anglia tota ruo nec iam ruo tota ruina c. Vpon two other fearfull flights of the French one at Vernoil the other at Vandosme in the time of King Henry the second one made this Gallia fugisti bis hoc sub rege Philippo Nec sunt sub modio facta pudenda duo Vernolium sumit testem fuga prima secunda Vindocîum noctem prima secunda diem Nocte fugam primam celerasti mane secundam Prima pauore fuit vique secunda fuit When one had flattered William Longchampe Bishop of Elye the only powerable man of England in his time with this blandation Tam benè tam facile tu magna negotia tractas Vt dubium reddas sis homo siue deus Giraldus Cambrensis a man well borne and better lettered of that house from whence the Giraldines of Ireland are descended and secretary to King Iohn played vpon these verses and that Bishop after he was apprehended in womans attire flying out of the realme Tam male tam temerè tam turpiter omnia tractas Vt dubium reddas bellua sis vel homo Sic cum sis minimus tentas maioribus vti Ve dubium reddas simia sis vel homo He that made the verse following some ascribe it to that Giraldus could adore both the sonne rising and the sonne setting when he could so cleanly honour King Henry the second then departed and King Richard succeeding Miracano sol occubuit nox nulla sequuta Great was the commendation of Maecenas who when he could do all with Augustus yet neuer harmed any wherevpon in an Elegie vpon his death Pedo Albinouanus writeth Omnia cum posses tanto tam carus amico Te sensit nemo posse nocere tamen Which commendation king Henry the eight gaue to that worthy Duke of Suffolke Charles Brandon
of Flaunders nephew to this King William the Conquerour sonne to Robert who vnhappy in his state loosing the hope of the Kingdome of England dying of a wound in his hand was not altogether vnhappy in his Poet which made him this Epitaph Vnicus ille ruit cuius non terga sagittam Cuius nosse pedes non potuere fugam Nil nisi fulmen erat quoties res ipsa mouebat Et si non fulmen fulminis instar erat King Henry the first for his learning surnamed Beauclerc had this flatterng Epitaph as Poets could flatter in all ages Rex Henricus obit decus olim nunc dolor orbis Numina flent numen deperijsse suum Mercurius minor eloquio vi mentis Apollo Iupiter imperio Marsque vigore gemunt Anglia quae curá quae sceptro Principis huius Ardua splenduerat tam tenebrosa ruit Haec cum rege suo Normania cum Duce marcet Nutrijt haec puerum perdidit illa virum Of him also another composed these in respect of his peaceable gouernment and the troubles which ensued vnder King Stephen both in England and Normandie Anglia Iugeat hinc Normannica gens fleat illinc Occidit Henricus modò lux nunc luctus vtrique Vpon William sonne of King Henry the first and heire apparent of this Realme drowned vpon the coast of Normandie I haue found this Epitaphe Abstulit hunc terrae matri maris vnda nouerca Proh dolor occubuit Sol Anglicus Anglia plora Quaeque priùs fueras gemino radiata nitore Extincto nato viuas contenta parente But well it was with England in that he was so preuented which threatned to make the English draw the Plough as Oxen. Hypodigma Mawd daughter to the foresaid King wife to Henry the Emperour mother to King Henry the 2. who intitled her selfe Empresse Augusta for that she was thrice solemnly crowned at Rome as R. de Diceto test fieth Anglorum Domina because she was heire apparent to the crowne of Englād was very happy in her Poet who in these 2. funerall verses contained her princely parentage match issue Magna ortis maiorque viro sed maxima partu Hic iacet Henrici filia sponsa parens Alberic Vere graundfather to the first Earle of Oxford and his sonne William were buried together Anno 1088. with this Epitaphe at Colne where he was founder afterward Monke as it is in the Annales of Abingdon En puer en senior pater alter filius alter Legem fortunam terram venêre sub vnam In which the maker seemed to imitate that of Conrad the Emperour at Spires in Germany Filius hîc pater hîc annus hî proauus iacet istic Thomas Beket Arch-bishop of Canterbury had these Epitaphes expressing the cause the time place of his death made by his especiall fauourer Pro Christi sponsa Christi sub tempore Christi In templo Christi verus amator obit Quinta dies natalis erat flos orbis ab orbe Carpitur et fructus incipit esse poli Quis morritur praesul cur pro grege qualiter ense Quando natali quis locus ara Dei For Theobald of Bloys Earle of Champaine nephew to King Henry the first Giraldus Cambrensis Bishop of S. Dauids in Walles made this Ille comes Comes ille pius Theobaldus eras quem Gaudet habere polus terra carere dolet Non hominem possum non audeo dicere numen Mors probat hunc hominem vita fuisse Deum Trans hominem citraque Deum plus hoc minus istud Nescio qui◠neuter inter vtrumque fuit Vitalis Abbot of Westminster which died in the time of the Conquerour had this Epitaph Qui nomen traxit a vita morte vocante Abbas Vitalis transijt hicque iacet And for Lawrence Abbot of the same place which died 1176. was made this alluding to his name Pro meritis vitae dedit isti Laurea nomen Detur ei vitae laurea pro meritis These two happely may finde as much fauour with some if one word do not preiudice as that auncient one of Floridus so highly commended Quod vixi flos est seruat lapis hic mihi nomen Nolo Deos manes flos mihi pro titulo Geruays de Bloys base sonne to King Stephen and Abbot also of the same church was buried with the foresaid in the cloyster with this De Regum genere pater hic Geruasius ecce Monstrat defunctus mors rapit omne genus William de Albeney Erle of Arundel and Butler to the King was buried at Wimodham which he founded with this Hunc Pincerna locum fundauit hîc iacet alla Quae dedit huic domui tam sine fine tenet That mighty Monarch King Henry the second which by his owne right adioyned Anioy Maine and Tourain by his wife Aquatine Poyctov and by conquest Ireland to the Crowne of England and commanded from the Pyrene mountaines to the Orcades had this Epitaph according to his greatnesse Rex Henricus eram mihi plurima regna subegi Multiplicique modo Duxque Comesque fui Cui satis ad votum non essent omnia terrae Climata terra modo sufficit octo pedum Qui legis haec pensa discrimina mortis et in me Humanae speculum conditionis habe Sufficit hic tumulus cui non suffecerat orbis Res breuis ampla mihi cui fuit ampla breuis Rosamond the faire his paramour daughter to Walter Lord Clifford and mother to William Longspee the first Earle of Sarisbury aeternised by maister Daniels muse had this nothing answerable to her beauty Hac iacet in tumba rosa mundi non Rosamunda Non redolet sed olet quae redolere solet William Longspee Earle of Sarum base sonne to King Henry the second by this Lady had an Epitaph not vnlike to that of his mother Flos comitum Willielmus cognomine longus Ensis vaginam caepit habere breuem The glory of that magnanimous and lionlike prince king Richard the first renowned for his Conquest of Cyprus The king whereof he tooke and kept in setters of siluer and for his great exployts in the holy land stirred vp the wits of the best Poets in that age to honor him with these Epitaphs which follow when he was slaine in viewing the Castle of Chaluz in Limosin Hic Richarde iaces sed mors si cederet armis Victa timore tui cederet ipsa tuis Another also writt of him Istius in morte perimit formica leonem Proh dolor in tanto funere mundus obit An English poet imitating the epitaph made of Pompey his children whose bodies were buried in diuerse contries made these following of the glory of this one king deuided in three places by his funerall Viscera Carccolum corpus fons seruat Ebrandi Et cor Rothomagum magne Richarde tuum In tria diuiditur vnus qui plus fuit vno Non vno iaceat gloria tanta loco At Font Euerard where