Selected quad for the lemma: prayer_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
prayer_n	day_n	lesson_n	morning_n	4,110	5	9.5571	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A68197	The first and second volumes of Chronicles. [vol. 1] comprising 1 The description and historie of England, 2 The description and historie of Ireland, 3 The description and historie of Scotland: first collected and published by Raphaell Holinshed, William Harrison, and others: now newlie augmented and continued (with manifold matters of singular note and worthie memorie) to the yeare 1586. by Iohn Hooker aliàs Vowell Gent and others. With conuenient tables at the end of these volumes.; Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande. vol. 1	Holinshed, Raphael, d. 1580?; Stanyhurst, Richard, 1547-1618.; Fleming, Abraham, 1552?-1607.; Stow, John, 1525?-1605.; Thynne, Francis, 1545?-1608.; Hooker, John, 1526?-1601.; Harrison, William, 1534-1593.; Boece, Hector, 1465?-1536.; Giraldus, Cambrensis, 1146?-1223?	1587 (1587)	STC 13569_pt1; ESTC S122178	1,179,579	468

of errour as there cannot yet be had such number of able pastours as may suffice for euerie parish to haue one there are beside foure sermons appointed by publike order in the yeare certeine sermons or homilies deuised by sundrie learned men confirmed for sound doctrine by consent of the diuines and publike authoritie of the prince and those appointed to be read by the curats of meane vnderstanding which homilies doo comprehend the principall parts of christian doctrine as of originall sinne of iustification by faith of charitie and such like vpon the sabbaoth daies vnto the congregation And after a certeine number of psalmes read which are limited according to the daies of the month for morning and euening praier we haue two lessons wherof the first is taken out of the old testament the second out of the new and of these latter that in the morning is out of the gospels the other in the after noone out of some one of the epistles After morning prater also we haue the letanie and suffrages an inuocation in mine opinion not deuised without the great assistance of the spirit of God although manie curious mindsicke persons vtterlie condemne it as superstitious and sauoring of coniuration and sorcerie This being doone we procéed vnto the communion if anie communicants be to receiue the eucharist if not we read the decalog epistle and gospell with the Nicene créed of some in derision called the drie communion and then procéed vnto an homilie or sermon which hath a psalme before and after it and finallie vnto the baptisme of such infants as on euerie saboth daie if occasion so require are brought vnto the churches and thus is the forenoone bestowed In the after noone likewise we méet againe and after the psalmes and lessons ended we haue commonlie a sermon or at the leastwise our youth catechised by the space of an houre And thus doo we spend the sabaoth daie in good and godlie exercises all doone in our vulgar toong that each one present may heare and vnderstand the same which also in cathedrall and collegiat churches is so ordered that the psalmes onelie are soong by note the rest being read as in common parish churches by the minister with a lowd voice sauing that in the administration of the communion the quier singeth the answers the créed and sundrie other things appointed but in so plaine I saie and distinct maner that each one present may vnderstand what they sing euerie word hauing but one note though the whole harmonie consist of manie parts and those verie cunninglie set by the skilfull in that science Certes this translation of the seruice of the church into the vulgar toong hath not a litle offended the pope almost in euerie age as a thing verie often attempted by diuers princes but neuer generallie obteined for feare least the confenting thervnto might bréed the ouerthrow as it would in déed of all his religion and hierarchie neuerthelesse in some places where the kings and princes dwelled not vnder his nose it was performed maugre his resistance Uratislaus duke of Bohemia would long since haue doone the like also in his kingdome but not daring to venter so farre without the consent of the pope he wrote vnto him thereof and receiued his answer inhibitorie vnto all his proceeding in the same Gregorius septimus Vratislao Bohemorum duci c. Quia nobilitas tua postulat quòd secundū Sclauonicā linguā apud vos diuinum celebrari annueremus officium scias nos huic petitioni tuae nequaquàm possefauere ex hoc nempe se voluentibus liquet non immeritò sacram scripturam optimo Deo placuisse quibusdam locis esse occultam ne si ad liquidum cunctis pateret fortè vilesceret subiaceret despectui aut prauè intellecta à mediocribus in errorem induceret Neque enim ad excusationem iuuat quòd quidam viri hoc quod simplex populus quaerit patienter tulerunt seu incorrectum dimiserunt cum primitiua ecclesia multa dissimulauerit quae à sanctis patribus postmodum firmata christianitate religione crescente subtili examinatione correcta sunt vnde id nè fiat quod à vestris imprudenter exposcitur authoritate beati Petri inhibemus téque ad honorem optimi Dei huic vanae temeritati viribus totis resistere praecipimus c. Datum Romae c. I would set downe two or thrée more of the like instruments passed from that see vnto the like end but this shall suffice being lesse common than the other which are to be had more plentifullie As for our churches themselues belles and times of morning and euening praier remaine as in times past sauing that all images shrines tabernacles roodlofts and monuments of idolatrie are remooued taken downe and defaced onelie the stories in glasse windowes excepted which for want of sufficient store of new stuffe and by reason of extreame charge that should grow by the alteration of the same into white panes throughout the realme are not altogither abolished in most places at once but by little and little suffered to decaie that white glasse may be prouided and set vp in their roomes Finallie whereas there was woont to be a great partition betwéene the quire and the bodie of the church now it is either verie small or none at all and to saie the truth altogither needlesse sith the minister saith his seruice commonlie in the bodie of the church with his face toward the people in a little tabernacle of wainscot prouided for the purpose by which means the ignorant doo not onelie learne diuerse of the psalmes and vsuall praiers by heart but also such as can read doo praie togither with him so that the whole congregation at one instant powere out their petitions vnto the liuing God for the whole estate of his church in most earnest and feruent manner Our holie and festiuall daies are verie well reduced also vnto a lesse number for whereas not long since we had vnder the pope foure score and fiftéene called festiuall and thirtie Profesti beside the sundaies they are all brought vnto seauen and twentie and with them the superfluous numbers of idle waks guilds fraternities church-ales helpe-ales and soule-ales called also dirge-ales with the heathnish rioting at bride-ales are well diminished and laid aside And no great matter were it if the feasts of all our apostles euangelists and martyrs with that of all saincts were brought to the holie daies that follow vpon Christmasse Easter and Whitsuntide and those of the virgine Marie with the rest vtterlie remooued from the calendars as neither necessarie nor commendable in a reformed church The apparell in like sort of our clergie men is comlie in truth more decent than euer it was in the popish church before the vniuersities bound their graduats vnto a stable attire afterward vsurped also euen by the blind sir Iohns For if you peruse well my chronologie insuing you shall find that they went either

vnto him for his habit after his oth taken before his stall and not before which doone he shall returne vnto the chapter house where the souereigne or his deputie shall deliuer him his collar and so he shall haue the full possession of his habit As for his stall it is not giuen according vnto the calling and countenance of the receiuer but as the place is that happeneth to be void so that each one called vnto this knighthood the souereigne and emperours and kings and princes alwaies excepted shall haue the same seat which became void by the death of his predecessor howsoeuer it fall out wherby a knight onlie oftentimes dooth sit before a duke without anie murmuring or grudging at his roome except it please the souereigne once in his life onelie to make a generall alteration of those seats and to set each one according to his degrée Now as touching the apparell of these knights it remaineth such as king Edward the first deuiser of this order left it that is to saie euerie yeare one of the colours that is to say scarlet sanguine in grain blue and white In like sort the kings grace hath at his pleasure the content of cloth for his gowne and whood lined with white satine or damaske and multitude of garters with letters of gold The prince hath fiue yardes of cloth for his gowne and whood and garters with letters of gold at his pleasure beside fiue timber of the finest miueuer A duke hath fiue yardes of woolen cloth fiue timber of mineuer 120 garters with title of gold A marques hath fiue yards of woollen cloth fiue timber of mineuer 110 garters of silke An earle fiue yardes of woollen cloth fiue timber of mineuer and 100 garters of silke A viscount fiue yardes of woollen cloth fiue timber of mineuer 90 garters of silke A baron fiue yardes of woollen cloth three timber of mineuer gresse 80 garters of silke A banneret fiue yards of woollen cloth thrée timber of mineuer 70 garters of silke A knight fiue yards of woollen cloth thrée timber of mineuer 60 garters of silke The bishop of Winchester chapleine of the garter hath eight and twentie timber of mineuer pure ninetéene timber gresse thrée timber and a halfe of the best and foure twentie yards of woollen cloth The chancellor of the order fiue yards of woollen cloth thrée timber of mineuer pure The register of the order fiue yardes of woollen cloth three timber of mineuer pure And this order to be holden generallie among the knights of this companie which are six and twentie in number and whose patrone in time of superstition was supposed to be S. George of whome they were also called S. Georges knights as I haue heard reported Would to God they might be called knights of honor or by some other name for the title of saint George argueth a wrong patrone Furthermore at his installation he is solemnelie sworne the maner whereof I haue thought good also to annex in this maner You being chosen to be one of the honorable companie of the order of the Garter shall promise and sweare vpon the holie euangelies by you bodilie touched to be faithfull and true to the kings maiestie and to obserue and kéepe all the points of the statutes of the said order and euerie article in them conteined the same being agréeable and not repugnant to the kings highnesse other godlie procéedings so far as to you belongeth apperteineth as God you helpe c. And thus much haue I thought good to note touching the premisses As touching the estatutes belonging to this order they are manie and therefore not to be touched here Howbeit if anie doubt doo arise aboue the interpretation of them the king who is the perpetuall souereigne of that order hath to determine and resolue the same Neither are anie chosen therevnto vnder the degree of a knight and that is not a gentelman of bloud and of sound estimation And for the better vnderstanding what is meant by a gentleman of bloud he is defined to descend of thrée descents of noblenesse that is to saie of name and of armes both by father and mother There are also foure degrées of reproch which may inhibit from the entrance into this order of which the first is heresie lawfullie prooued the second high treason the third is flight from the battell the fourth riot and prodigall excesse of expenses whereby he is not likelie to hold out and mainteine the port of knight of this order according to the dignitie thereof Moreouer touching the wearing of their aforesaid apparell it is their custome to weare the same when they enter into the chappell of S. George or be in the chapter house of their order or finallie doo go about anie thing apperteining to that companie In like sort they weare also their mantels vpon the euen of S. George and go with the souereigne or his deputie in the same in maner of procession from the kings great chamber vnto the chappell or vnto the college and likewise backe againe vnto the aforsaid place not putting it from them vntill supper be ended and the auoid doone The next daie they resort vnto the chappell also in the like order from thence vnto diner wearing afterward their said apparell vnto euening praier and likewise all the supper time vntill the auoid be finished In the solemnitie likewise of these feasts the thirtéene chanons there and six and twentie poore knights haue mantels of the order whereof those for the chanons are of Murreie with a roundell of the armes of S. George the other of red with a scutcheon onelie of the said armes If anie knight of this order be absent from this solemnitie vpon the euen and daie of S. George and be inforced not to be present either through bodilie sickenesse or his absence out of the land he dooth in the church chappell or chamber where he is remaining prouide an honorable stall for the kings maiestie in the right hand of the place with a cloth of estat and cushions and scutchion of the garter and therein the armes of the order Also his owne stall of which side soeuer it be distant from the kings or the emperours in his owne place appointed so nigh as he can after the maner and situation of his stall at Windsore there to remaine the first euening praier on the euen of S. George or thrée of the clocke and likewise the next daie during the time of the diuine seruice vntill the morning praier and the rest of the seruice be ended and to weare in the meane time his mantell onelie with the George and the lace without either whood collar or surcete Or if he be so sicke that he doo kéepe his bed he dooth vse to haue that habit laid vpon him during the times of diuine seruice aforesaid At the seruice time also vpon the morrow after S. George two of the

their charge brought woord againe of nothing else but that all duke Williams souldiers were priests For the Normans had at that time their vpper lips and chéekes shauen whereas the Englishmen vsed to suffer to haire of their vpper lips to grow at length But Harold answered that they were not priests but wether-beaten and hardie souldiers and such as were like to abide well by their capteine In the meane season Girth one of Harolds yoonger brethren considering that periurie is neuer left vnpunished aduised his brother not to aduenture himselfe at this present in the battell for so much as he had beene sometime sworne to duke William but rather to suffer him and other of the nobilitie to incounter with the said duke that were not bound to him by former oth or otherwise but Harold answered that he was free from anie such oth and that in defense of his countrie he would fight boldly with him as with his greatest enimie ¶ Where by the waie would be noted the conscience which Girth a yoonger brother made of an oth not concerning himselfe directlie but his elder brother Harold who had sworne the same meaning nothing lesse than the performance therof as the sequele of his dooings to his discredit and vndooing euidentlie declared which euents might séeme countable to him as due punishments and deserued plagues inflicted vpon him and others for his same sith he made no reckoning of violating a vow ratified with an oth to a prince of no small puissance who afterwards became a whip vnto him for his periurie a sinne detested of the heathen and whereof the poet notablie speaketh saieng Ah miser si quis primò periuria celat Sera tamen tacitis poena venit pedibus After peace offered refused on each side both armies meete in the field the order of the Englishmens attire arraie the maner how the Normans were placed to fight in battell the dissolute and 〈◊〉 behauior of 〈◊〉 Englishmen the night before the incounter farre deffering from the Normans deuout demenour duke Williams speech ●pon occasion of wrong putting on his armour the battell betwixt him and king Harold is valiantlie tried the English by duke Williams politike strategem are deceiued king Harold slaine his armie put to flight and manie of them slaine after a long and bloudie incounter manie of the Normans pursuing the English ouerhastilie procure their owne death they take the spoile of the English the dead bodies of both armies are licenced to be buried the differing reports of writers touching the maner of Harolds death a description of his person his ambition did him much hurt and hinderance the number that were slaine on both sides his bodie buried at a Waltham nothing dispraise woorthie in him but his ambitious mind a view of his valiantnesse in a conflict against the VVelshmen his rigorous or rather pitilesse handling of them his seuere law or decree touching their bounds they are vtterlie subdued and by the kings leaue the VVelshwomen marrie with the Englishmen the Saxon line ceasseth how long it lasted and how long it was discontinued by the inuasion of the Danes The eleuenth Chapter NOw it fortuned that both armies as well the kings as the earles being prepared to battell diuerse offers were made on each side before they fell to the conflict for an vnitie to haue béene had betwixt the two princes but when no conditions of agreement could take place they forthwith prepared themselues to trie the matter by dint of sword And so on the 14 day of October being saturday both hosts met in the field at a place in Sussex not farre from Hastings whereas the abbeie of Battell was afterward builded The Englishmen were all brought into one entire maine battell on foot with huge ares in their hands and paled a front with paueises in such wise that it was thought vnpossible for the enimie to breake their arraie On the other side the Normans were diuided into seuerall battels as first the footmen that were archers and also those that bare gleiues and axes were placed in the forefront and the horssemen diuided into wings stood on the sides in verie good order All the night before the battell the Englishmen made great noise and slept not but sang and fell to drinking and making of reuell pastime as though there had beene no account to be made of the next daies trauell But the Normans behaued themselus warilie and soberlie spending all that night in praier and confessing their sinnes vnto God and in the morning earelie they receiued the communion before they went foorth to the battell Some write that when duke William should put on his armour to go to the field the backe halfe of his curasses by chance was set on before by such as holpe to arme him at which chance he tooke occasion of laughter saieng merrilie to them that stood by No force this is good lucke for the estate of my dukedome shall be yer night changed into a kingdome Beside this he spake manie comfortable woords vnto his men to incourage them to the battell Neither was Harold forgetfull in that point on his part And so at conuenient time when both armies were readie they made forward each incounter with other on the foresaid fouretéenth day of October with great force and assurance In the beginning of the battell the arrowes flue abroad freshlie on both sides till they came to ioine at hand strokes and then preassed each side vpon his counterpart with swoords axes and other hand weapons verie egerlie Duke William commanded his horssemen to giue the charge an the breasts of his enimies battels but the Englishmen kéeping themselues close togither without scattering receiued their enimies vpon the points of their weapons with such fiercenesse and in such stiffe order that manie of the Norman horssemen were ouerthrowne without recouerie and slaine at the first brunt When duke William perceiued this inconuenience as he that well and throughlie vnderstood the skilfull points of warre as well as the best he gaue a signe to his men according to an order appointed before hand vpon anie such occasion that they should giue backe and make a countenance as though they did flée which was quicklie doone by the Normans and withall they imbattelled their footmen in a new order so that their horssemen shifted themselues on the wings readie to rescue the footmen if their arraie should happen to be disturbed By this wilie stratagem and policie of warre the Englishmen were deceiued for they beholding the Normans somwhat shrinking backe to bring themselues into the aboue said order thought verelie that they had fled and therevpon meaning to pursue them before they should recouer their ground they brake their arraie and began to follow the chase wherevpon the Normans perceiuing now that all things came to passe as they desired spéedilie returned and casting themselues togither

shall not néed to remember ought héere that is there touched I will onelie speake of other things therefore concerning the estate of assemblie whereby the magnificence thereof shall be in some part better knowne vnto such as shall come after vs. This house hath the most high and absolute power of the realme for thereby kings and mightie princes haue from time to time béene deposed from their thrones lawes either enacted or abrogated offendors of all sorts punished and corrupted religion either dissanulled or reformed which commonlie is diuided into two houses or parts the higher or vpper house consisting of the nobilitie including all euen vnto the baron and bishop the lower called the nether house of knights squires gentlemen and burgesses of the commons with whome also the inferior members of the cleargie are ioined albeit they sit in diuerse places and these haue to deale onelie in matters of religion till it come that they ioine with the rest in confirmation of all such acts as are to passe in the same For without the consent of the thr●e estates that is of the nobilitie cleargie and laietie sildome anie thing is said to be concluded vpon and brought vnto the prince for his consent and allowance To be short whatsoeuer the people of Rome did in their Centuriatis or Tribunitijs comitijs the same is and may be doone by authoritie of our parlement house which is the head and bodie of all the realme and the place wherein euerie particular person is intended to be present if not by himselfe yet by his aduocate or atturneie For this cause also any thing ther enacted is not to be misliked but obeied of all men without contradiction or grudge By the space of fortie dais before this assemblie be begun the prince sendeth his writs vnto all his nobilitie particularlie summoning them to appeare at the said court The like he doth to the shiriffe of euerie countie with commandement to choose two knights within ech of their counties to giue their aduise in the name of the shire likewise to euerie citie and towne that they may choose their burgesses which commonlie are men best skilled in the state of their citie or towne either for the declaration of such benefits as they want or to shew which waie to reforme such enormities as thorough the practises of ill members are practised and crept in among them the first being chosen by the gentlemen of the shire the other by the citizens and burgesses of euerie citie and towne whereby that court is furnished The first daie of the parlement being come the lords of the vpper house as well ecclesiasticall as temporall doo attend vpon the prince who rideth thither in person as it were to open the doore of their authoritie and being come into the place after praiers made and causes shewed wherefore some not present are inforced to be absent each man taketh his place according to his degrée The house it selfe is curiouslie furnished with tapisterie and the king being set in his throne the spirituall lords take vp the side of the house which is on the right hand of the prince and the temporall lords the left I meane so well dukes and earles as viscounts and barons as I before remembred In the middest and a pretie distance from the prince lie certeine sackes stuffed with wooll or haire wheron the iudges of the realme the master of the rols and secretaries of estate doo sit Howbeit these iudges haue no voice in the house but onelie shew what their opinion is of such such matters as come in question among the lords if they be commanded so to doo as the secretaries are to answer such letters or things passed in the councell whereof they haue the custodie knowledge Finallie the consent of this house is giuen by each man seuerallie first for himselfe being present then seuerallie for so manie as he hath letters proxies directed vnto him saieng onlie Content or Not content without any further debating Of the number assembled in the lower house I haue alreadie made a generall report in the chapter precedent and their particulars shall follow here at hand These therefore being called ouer by name do choose a speaker who is as it were their mouth and him they present vnto the prince in whom it is either to refuse or admit him by the lord chancellor who in the princes name dooth answer vnto his oration made at his first entrance presentation into the house wherein he declareth the good liking that the king hath conceiued of his choise vnto that office function Being admitted he maketh fiue requests vnto that honorable assemblie first that the house may as in times past inioy hir former liberties and priuileges secondlie that the congregates may frankelie shew their minds vpon such matters as are to come in question thirdlie that if anie of the lower house doo giue anie cause of offense during the continuance of this assemblie that the same may inflict such punishment vpon the partie culpable as to the said assemblie shall be thought conuenient fourthlie if anie doubt should arise among them of the lower house that he in their name might haue frée accesse and recourse vnto his maiestie lords of the higher house to be further instructed and resolued in the same fiftlie and last he craueth pardon for himselfe if in his going to and fro betweene the houses he forget or mistake anie thing requiring that he may returne and be better informed in such things as be did faile in without offense vnto which petitions the lord chancellor dooth answer as apperteineth and this is doone on the first daie or peraduenture the second if it could not be conuenientlie performed in the first Beside the lord chancellor there is another in the vpper house called the clerke of the parlement whose office is to read the billes For euerie thing that commeth in consultation in either house is first put in writing in paper which being read he that listeth riseth vp and speaketh either with it or against it and so one after another so long as they shall thinke good that doone they go to another and so to the third c the instrument still wholie or in part raced or reformed as cause moueth for the amendment of the same if the substance be reputed necessarie In the vpper house the lord chancellor demandeth if they will haue it ingrossed that is to saie put in parchment which doone it is read the third time after debating of the matter to and fro if the more part doo conclude withall vpon the vtterance of these words Are ye contended that it be enacted or no the clerke writeth vnderneath So it baille aux commons and so when they sée time they send such billes approued to the commons by some of them that sit on the wooll sackes who comming into the house demanding licence to speake doo vse

we haue now at Westminster Wherefore Edmund gaue lawes at London Lincolne Ethelred at Habam Alfred at Woodstock and Wannetting Athelstane in Excester Grecklade Feuersham Thundersleie Canutus at Winchester c other in other places whereof this may suffice Among other things also vsed in the time of the Saxons it shall not be amisse to set downe the forme of their Ordalian law which they brought hither with them from beyond the seas out of Scithia and vsed onelie in the triall of guiltie and vnguiltinesse Certes it conteined not an ordinarie procéeding by daies and termes as in the ciuill and common law we sée practised in these daies but a short dispatch triall of the matter by fire or water whereof at this present I will deliuer the circumstance as I haue faithfullie translated it out of an ancient volume and conferred with an imprinted copie latelie published by M. Lambert and now extant to be read Neuerthelesse as the Scithians were the first that vsed this practise so I read that it was taken vp and occupied also in France in processe of time yea and likewise in Grecia as G. Pachymerus remembreth in the first booke of his historie which beginneth with the empire of M. Paleologus where he noteth his owne sight and vew in that behalfe But what stand I herevpon The Ordalian saith the aforesaid author was a certeine maner of purgation vsed two waies wherof the one was by fire the other by water In the execution of that which was doone by fire the partie accused should go a certeine number of pases with an hot iron in his hand or else bare footed vpon certeine plough shares red hot according to the maner This iron was sometime of one pound weight and then was it called single Ordalium sometimes of thrée and then named treble Ordalium and whosoeuer did beare or tread on the same without hurt of his bodie he was adiudged giltlesse otherwise if his skin were scorched he was foorthwith condemned as guiltie of the trespasse whereof he was accused according to the proportion and quantitie of the burning There were in like sort two kinds of triall by the water that is to say either by hot or cold and in this triall the partie thought culpable was either tumbled into some pond or huge vessell of cold water wherein if he continued for a season without wrestling or strugling for life he was foorthwith acquited as guiltlesse of the fact wherof he was accused but if he began to plunge and labour once for breath immediatlie vpon his falling into that liquor he was by and by condemned as guiltie of the crime Or else he did thrust his arme vp to the shoulder into a lead copper or caldron of seething water from whence if he withdrew the same without anie maner of damage he was discharged of further molestation otherwise he was taken for a trespasser and punished accordinglie The fierie maner of purgation belonged onelie to noble men and women and such as were frée borne but the husbandmen and villaines were tried by water Wherof to shew the vnlearned dealing and blind ignorance of those times it shall not be impertinent to set foorth the whole maner which continued here in England vntill the time of king Iohn who séeing the manifold subtilties in the same by sundrie sorcerous and artificiall practises whereby the working of the said elements were restreined did extinguish it altogither as flat lewdnesse and bouerie The Rubrike of the treatise entereth thus Here beginneth the execution of iustice whereby the giltie or vngiltie are tried by hot iron Then it followeth After accusation lawfullie made and three daies spent in fasting and praier the priest being clad in all his holie vestures sauing his vestiment shall take the iron laid before the altar with a paire of tongs and singing the hymne of the three children that is to saie O all ye workes of God the Lord and in Latine Benedicite omnia opera c he shall carie it solemnelie to the fire alreadie made for that purpose and first saie these words ouer the place where the fire is kindled whereby this purgation shall be made in Latine as insueth Benedic Domine Deus locum istum vt sit nobis in eo sanitas sanctitas castitas virtus victoria sanctimonia humilitas bonitas lenitas plenitudo legis obedientia Deo patri filio spiritui sancto Haec benedictio sit super hunc locum super omnes habitantes in eo In English Blesse thou O Lord this place that it may be to vs health holinesse chastitie vertue and victorie purenesse humilitie goodnesse gentlenesse and fulnesse of the law and obedience to God the father the sonne and the holie ghost This blessing be vpon this place and all that dwell in it Then followeth the blessing of the fire Domine Deus pater omnipotens lumen indeficiens exaudi nos quia tu es conditor omnium luminum Benedic Domine hoc lumen quod ante sanctificatum est qui illuminasti omnem hominem venientem in hunc mundum vel mundum vt ab eo lumine accendamur igne claritatis tuae Et sicut igne illuminasti Mosen ita nunc illumina corda nostra sensus nostros vt ad vitam aeternam mereamur peruenire per Christum c. Lord God father almightie light euerlasting heare vs sith thou art the maker of all lights Blesse O Lord this light that is alreadie sanctified in thy sight which hast lightned all men that come into the world or the whole world to the end that by the same light we may be lightned with the shining of thy brightnesse As thou diddest lighten Moses so now illuminate our hearts and our senses that we may deserue to come to euerlasting life through Christ our c. This being ended let him say the Pater noster c then these words Saluum fac seruum c. Mitte ei auxilium Deus c. De Sion tuere eum c. Dominus vobiscum c. That is O Lord saue thy seruant c. Send him helpe O God from thy holie place c. Defend him out of Sion c. Lord heare c. The Lord be with you c. The praier Benedic Domine sancte pater omnipotens Deus per inuocationem sanctissimi nominis tui per aduentum filij tui atque per donum spiritus paracleti ad manifestandum verum iudicium tuum hoc genus metalli vt sit sanctificatum omni daemonum falsitate procul remota veritas veri iudicij tui fidelibus tuis manifesta fiat per eundem Dominum c. In English Blesse we beséech thee O Lord holie father euerlasting God through the inuocation of thy most holie name by the comming of thy sonne and gift of the holie ghost and to the manifestation of thy true iudgement this kind of mettall that being hallowed and all fradulent practises of

the diuels vtterlie remoued the manifest truth of thy true iudgement may be reuealed by the same Lord Iesus c. After this let the iron be laid into the fire and sprinkled with holie water and whilest it heateth let the priest go to masse and doo as order requireth and when he hath receiued the host he shall call the man that is to be purged as it is written hereafter first adiuring him and then permitting him to communicate according to the maner The office of the masse Iustus es Domine c. O Lord thou art iust c. The Praier ABsolue quaesumus Domine delicta famuli tui vt à peccatorum suorum nexibus quae pro sua fragilitate contraxit tua benignitate liberetur in hoc iudicio quoad meruit iustitia tua praeueniente ad veritatis censuram peruenire mereatur per Christum Dominum c. That is Pardon we beséech thée O Lord the sinnes of thy seruant that being deliuered from the burden of his offenses wherewith he is intangled he may be cleared by thy benignitie and in this his triall so far as he hath deserued thy mercie preuenting him he may come to the knowledge of the truth by Christ our Lord c. The Gospell Mar. 10. IN illo tempore cùm egressus esset Iesus in via procurrens quidam genuflexo ante eum rogabat eum dicens Magister bone quid faciam vt vitam aeternam percipiam Iesus autem dixit ei Quid me dicis bonum c. In those daies when Iesus went foorth toward his iourneie and one méeting him in the waie running and knéeling vnto him asked him saieng Good master what shall I doo that I may possesse eternall life Iesus said vnto him Whie callest thou me good c. Then followeth the secret and so foorth all of the rest of the masse But before the partie dooth communicate the priest shall vse these words vnto him Adiuro te per patrem filium spiritum sanctum per veram christianitatem quam suscepisti per sanctas relliquias quae in ista ecclesia sunt per baptismum quo te sacerdos regenerauit vt non praesumas vllo modo communicare neque accedere ad altare si hoc fecisti aut consensisti c. I adiure thée by the father the sonne and the holie Ghost by the true christendome which thou hast receiued by the holie relikes which are in this church and by the baptisme wherewith the priest hath regenerated thée that thou presume not by any maner of means to communicate nor come about the altar if thou hast doone or consented vnto this whereof thou art accnsed c. Here let the priest suffer him to communicate saieng Corpus hoc sanguis Domini nostri Iesu Christi sit tibi ad probationem hodie This bodie this bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ be vnto thee a triall this daie The praier Perceptis Domine Deus noster sacris muneribus supplices deprecamur vt huius participatio sacramenti à proprijs nos reatibus expediat in famulo tuo veritatis sententiam declaret c. Hauing receiued O Lord God these holie mysteries we humblie beséech thée that the participation of this sacrament may rid vs of our guiltinesse and in this thy seruant set foorth the truth Then shall follow Kyrieleson the Letanie and certeine Psalmes and after all them Oremus Let vs praie Deus qui per ignem signa magna ostendens Abraham puerum tuum de incendio Chaldaeorum quibusdam pereuntibus eruisti Deus qui rubum ardere ante conspectum Mosis minimè comburi permisisti Deus qui de incendio fornacis Chaldaicis plerísque succensis tres pueros tuos illaesos eduxisti Deus qui incendio ignis populum Sodomae inuoluens Loth famulum tuum cum suis salute donasti Deus qui in aduentu sancti spiritus tui illustratione ignis fideles tuos ab infidelibus decreuisti ostende nobis in hoc prauitatis nostrae examine virtutem eiusdem spiritus c per ignis huius feruorem discernere infideles vt à tactu eìus cuius inquisitio agitur conscius ex orrescat manus eius comburatur innocens verò poenitus illaesus permaneat c. Deus cuius noticiam nulla vnquam secreta effugiunt fidei nostrae tua bonitate responde praesta vt quisquis purgandi se gratia hoc ignitum tulerit ferrum vel absoluatur vt innocens vel noxius detegatur c. In English thus O God which in shewing great tokens by fire diddest deliuer Abraham thy seruant from the burning of the Chaldeis whilest other perished O God which sufferedst the bush to burne in the sight of Moses and yet not to consume O God which deliueredst the thrée children from bodilie harme in the fornace of the Chaldeis whilest diuerse were consumed O God which by fire didst wrap the people of Sodome in their destruction and yet sauedst Lot and his daughters from perill O God which by the shining of thy brightnesse at the comming of the holie ghost in likenesse of fire diddest separate the faithfull from such as beléeued not shew vnto vs in the triall of this our wickednesse the power of the same spirit c and by the heat of this fire discerne the faithfull from the vnfaithfull that the guiltie whose cause is now in triall by touching thereof may tremble and feare and his hand be burned or being innocent that he may remaine in safetie c. O God from whom no secrets are hidden let thy goodnesse answer to our faith and grant that whosoeuer in this purgation shall touch and beare this iron may either be tried an innocent or reuealed as an offendor c. After this the priest shall sprinkle the iron with holie water saieng The blessing of God the father the sonne and the holie ghost be vpon this iron to the reuelation of the iust iudgement of God And foorthwith let him that is accused beare it by the length of nine foot and then let his hand be wrapped and sealed vp for the space of three daies after this if any corruption or raw flesh appeare where the iron touched it let him be condemned as guiltie if it be whole and sound let him giue thanks to God And thus much of the firie Ordalia wherevnto that of the water hath so precise relation that in setting foorth of the one I haue also described the other wherefore it shall be but in vaine to deale anie further withall Hitherto also as I thinke sufficientlie of such lawes as were in vse before the conquest Now it resteth that I should declare the order of those that haue beene made and receiued since the comming of the Normans referred to the eight alteration or change of our maner of gouernance and therevnto doo produce thrée score and foure seuerall courts But for asmuch as I am no lawier and therefore haue

enimie twelue hundred of them are slaine Edelfride entreth the citie of Chester the Britains assembling their power vnder three capteins incounter with Edelfride slaie manie of his souldiers and put him to flight warres betweene Edelfride and Redwald king of the Eastangles about Edwine the sonne of king Elle Edelfride is slaine Ceowlfe king of the Westsaxons dieth The xxij Chapter AFter the deceasse of Chelricus king of the Westsaxons we find that Ceowlfe or Ceoloulph succéeded in gouernment of that kingdome and reigned twelue yéeres He began his reigne as should appéere by some writers about the yeere of our Lord 597 and spent his time for the more part in warres not giuing place to idlenesse but séeking either to defend or inlarge the confines of his dominion He was the sonne of Cutha which was the sonne of Kenrike which was the sonne of Certike After Wibba or Wipha king of Mercia who nothing inferiour to his father did not onelie defend his kingdome but also inlarge it by subduing the Britains on ech side one Ceorlus succéeded in that kingdome being not his sonne but his kinsman This Ceorlus began his reigne about the yéere of our Lord 594 as Matth. West recordeth Ye haue heard that Edelferd which otherwise is called also by writers Edelfride surnamed the wild gouerned still the Northumbers which Edelferd did more damage to the Britains than anie one other king of the English nation None of them destroied their countries more than he did neither did anie prince make more of the Britains tributaries or inhabited more of their countries with English people than he Héerevpon Edan king of those Scots which inhabited Britaine being therewith mooued to see Edelfride prosper thus in his conquests came against him with a mightie armie but ioining in battell with Edelfride and his power at a place called Degsastane or Degsastone or Deglaston he lost the most part of his people and with the residue that were left aliue he escaped by flight This was a sore foughten battell with much bloudshed on both parties For notwithstanding that the victorie remained with the Northumbers Theobaldus the brother of Edelferd was slaine with all that part of the English host which he gouerned and it was fought in the yéere of our Lord 603 in the 19 yeere of the reigne of the foresaid Edelferd and in the sixt yéere of Ceowlfe king of the Westsaxons and in the first yéere of the emperor Phocas or rather in the last yéere of his predecessor Mauricius From that day till the daies of Beda not one of the Scotish kings burst presume to enter into Britaine againe to giue battell against the English nation as Beda himselfe writteth But the Scotish writers make other report of this matter as in the historie of Scotland ye maie find recorded The Britains that dwelt about Chester through their stoutnesse prouoked the aforesaid Edelferd king of the Northumbers vnto warre wherevpon to tame their loftie stomachs he assembled an armie came forward to besiege the citie of Chester then called of the Britains Carleon ardour deué The citizens coueting rather to suffer all things than a siege and hauing a trust in their great multitude of people came foorth to giue batell abroad in the fields whome he compassing about with ambushes got within his danger and easilie discomfited It chanced that he had espied before the battell ioined as Beda saith where a great number of the British priests were got aside into a place somewhat out of danger that they might there make their intercession to God for the good spéed of their people being then readie to giue battell to the Northumbers Manie of them were of that famous monasterie of Bangor in the which it is said that there was such a number of moonks that where they were diuided into seuen seuerall parts with their seuerall gouernors appointed to haue rule ouer them euerie of those parts conteined at the least thrée hundred persons the which liued altogither by the labour of their hands Manie therefore of those moonks hauing kept a solemne fast for thrée daies togither were come to the armie with other to make praier hauing for their defender one Brocmale or Broemael earle or consull as some call him of Chester which should preserue them being giuen to praier from the edge of the enimies swoord King Edelferd hauing as is said espied these men asked what they were and what their intent was and being informed of the whole circumstance and cause of their being there he said Then if they call to their God for his assistance against vs suerlie though they beare no armour yet doo they fight against vs being busied in praier for our destruction Wherevpon he commanded the first onset to be giuen them and after slue downe the residue of the British armie not without great losse of his owne people Of those moonks and priests which came to praie as before is mentioned there died at that battell about the number of 12 hundred so that fiftie of them onelie escaped by flight Brocmale or Broemael at the first approch of the enimies turning his backe with his companie left them whom he should haue defended to be murthered through the enimies swoord Thus was the prophesie of Augustine fulfilled though he was long before departed this life as Beda saith ¶ Héere is to be noted if this battell was fought in the seuenth yéere of Ceowlfe king of Westsaxon as some haue written and that Augustine liued 12 yéeres after his entrance into the gouernment of the sée of Canturburie as some write it is euident that he liued foure yéeres after this slaughter made of the British priests and moonks by Edelferd as before is recited For Ceowlfe began his reigne as before is mentioned about the yéere of our Lord 596 and in the seuenth yeere of his reigne the battell was fought at Degsastane betwixt the English the Scots which chanced in the yéere of our Lord 604 as Beda himselfe recordeth A late chronographer running vpon this matter and preciselie setting downe his collection saith that Athelbright or Edelfride K. of the Northumbers Ethelbert K. of Kent hauing Augustine in their companie in the eight yéere after his arriuall made warre vpon such Britains as refused to obserue the canons of the late councell mentioned 603 and killed 1200 moonks of the monasterie of Bangor which laboured earnestlie and in the sweat of their browes thereby to get their liuings c. Uerclie Galf. Mon. writeth that Ethelbert king of Kent after he saw the Britains to disdaine and denie their subiection vnto Augustine by whome he was conuerted to the christian faith stirred vp Edelferd king of the Northumbers to warre against the Britains But heereof Maister Fox doubteth and therefore saith that of vncerteine things he hath nothing certeinlie to saie much lesse to iudge But now to the matter where we left After

sacrament of baptisme by the preaching and vertuous instruction of Pauline But the other kingdome of Northumberland called Bernicia Eaufride the son of Edelfred or Edelfride tooke vpon him to gouerne This Eaufride during the time of Edwins reigne had continued in Scotland and there being conuerted to the christian faith was baptised But doth these princes after they had obteined possession of their earthlie kingdoms did forget the care of the heauenlie kingdome so that they returned to their old kind of idolatrie But almightie God did not long suffer this their vnthankefulnesse without iust punishment for first in the next summer when Osrike had rashlie besieged Cadwallo king of the Britains within a certeine towne Cadwallo brake foorth vpon him and finding him vnprouided to make resistance slue him with all his armie Now after this whilest Cadwallo not like a conqueror gouerned the prouinces of the Northumbers but like a tyrant wasted and destroied them in sleaing the people in tragicall maner he also slue Eaufride the which with twelue men of warre came vndiscréetlie vnto him to sue for peace and thus within lesse than twelue moneths space both these runagate kings were dispatched THen Oswald the sonne of Edelfred and brother to the foresaid Eaufride was created king of the Northumbers the sixt in number from Ida. This Oswald after that his father was slaine liued as a banished person a long time within Scotland where he was baptised and professed the christian religion and passed the flower of his youth in good exercises both of mind bodie Amongst other things he practised the vnderstanding of warlike knowledge minding so to vse it as it might stand him in stead to defend himselfe from iniurie of the enimies that should prouoke him and not otherwise Herevpō Cadwallo king of the Britains made in maner no account of him for by reason that he had atchiued such great victories against the Englishmen and hauing slaine their two kings as before is expressed he ceassed not to proceed in his tyrannicall dooings reputing the English people for slouthfull and not apt to the warre boasting that he was borne to their destruction Thus being set vp in pride of courage he feared no perils but boldlie without considering at all the skilfull knowledge which Oswald had sufficientlie learned in feates of war tooke vpon him to assaile the foresaid Oswald that had brought an armie against him and was encamped in a plaine field néere vnto the wall which the Romans had builded in times past against the inuasion of Scots and Picts Cadwallo streight prouoked Oswald to trie the matter by battell but Oswald forbare the first day and caused a crosse to be erected in the same place where he was incamped in full hope that it should be an ensigne or trophie of his victorie causing all souldiers to make their praiers to God that in time of such necessitie it might please him to succour them that worship him It is said that the crosse being made and the hole digged wherein it should be set he tooke the crosse in his owne hands and putting the foot thereof into that hole so held it till his souldiers had filled the hole and rammed it vp and then caused all the souldiers to knéele downe vpon their knées and to make intercession to the true and liuing God for his assistance against the proud enimie with whom they should fight in a iust quarell for the preseruation of their people and countrie After this on the next morning he boldlie gaue battell to his enimies so that a sore and cruell fight insued betwixt them At length Oswald perceiued that the Britains began somwhat to faint and therfore caused his people to renew their force and more lustilie to preasse forward so that first ●e put that most cruell enimie to flight and after pursuing the chase ouertooke him and slue him with the most part of all his huge and mightie armie at a place called Denisborne but the place where he caused the crosse to be erected he named Heuenfield Thus Cadwallo the most cruell enimie of the English name ended his life he was terrible both in nature and countenance for the which cause they say the Britains did afterwards set vp his image that the same might be a terror to the enimies when they should behold it ¶ But here is to be remembred by the British historie of Gal. Mon. it should appeare that Cadwallo was not slaine at all but reigned victoriouslie for the space of 48 yéeres and then departed this life as in place afterwards it shall appéere But for that the contrarietie in writers in such points may sooner be perceiued than reformed to the satisfieng of mens fansies which are variable we will leaue euerie man to his libertie to thinke as séemeth him good noting now and then the diuersitie of such writers as occasion serueth PEnda the sonne of Wilba succéeded in the gouernement of the kingdome of Mercia after Ciarlus and began his reigne in the yéere of our Lord 636. He was fiftie yéeres of age before he came to be king and reigned 30 yeres he was a prince right hardie and aduenturous not fearing to ieopard his person in place of danger assured and readie of remembrance in time of greatest perill His bodie could not be ouercome with anie trauell nor his mind vanquished with greatnesse of businesse But these his vertues were matched with notable vices as first with such bitternesse of maners as had not béene heard of crueltie of nature lacke of courtesie great vnsted fastnesse in performing of woord and promise and of vnmeasurable hatred toward the christian religion Now vpon confidence in these his great vertues and vices from that time he was made king as though the whole Ile had bene due to him he thought not good to let anie occasion passe that was offered to make war as wel against his friends confederats as also against his owne sworne enimies Part of his dooings ye haue heard and more shall appeare hereafter ¶ Of the kings of the Eastsaxons Eastangles ye haue heard before of whom in places conuenient ye shall find further mention also and so likewise of the kings of the Southsaxons but bicause their kingdom continued not past fiue successions litle remembrance of them is made by writers Cadwallo king of Britain diuers deeds of his as the British writers haue recorded them wherevpon discord arose betweene Cadwallo Edwin who for two yeres space were linked in friendship Cadwallo vanquisht his flight of Pelitus the Spanish wizard Cadwallo ouerthroweth Penda and his power besieging Excester he arreareth battell against the Northumbers and killeth Edwin their king he seeketh to expell the Saxons out of the land Penda slaieth Oswald whose brother and successor Osunus by gifts and submission obteineth peace whom Penda spitefullie attempting to kill is killed himselfe Cadwallo dieth a brasen image on horssebacke set vp in his memoriall saint Martins at

now receiued the christian faith when he should returne into his countrie required king Oswie to appoint him certeine instructors and teachers which might conuert his people to the faith of Christ. King Oswie desirous to satisfie his request sent vnto the prouince of the Middleangles calling from thence that vertuous man Cedda and assigning vnto him another priest to be his associat sent them vnto the prouince of the Eastsaxons there to preach the christian faith vnto the people And when they had preached taught through the whole countrie to the great increase and inlarging of the church of Christ it chanced on a time that Cedda returned home into Northumberland to conferre of certeine things with bishop Finnan which kept his sée at Lindesherne where vnderstanding by Cedda the great fruits which it had pleased God to prosper vnder his hands in aduancing the faith among the Eastsaxons he called to him two other bishops and there ordeined the foresaid Cedda bishop of the East saxons Héerevpon the same Cedda returned vnto his cure went forward with more authoritie to performe the woorke of the Lord building churches in diuerse places ordeined priests and deacons which might helpe him in preaching and in the ministerie of baptising speciallie in the citie of Ithancester vpon the riuer of Pent and likewise in Tileburge on the riuer of Thames Whilest Ced was thus bufle to the great comfort and ioy of the king and all his people in the setting forward of the christian religion with great increase dailie procéeding it chanced thorough the instigation of the deuill the common enimie of mankind that king Sigibert was murthered by two of his owne kinsmen who were brethren the which when they were examined of the cause that should mooue them to that wicked fact they had nothing to alledge but that they did it bicause they had conceiued an hatred against the king for that he was too fauourable towards his enimies and would with great mildnesse of mind forgiue iniuries committed against him such was the kings fault for the which he was murthered bicause he obserued the commandements of the gospell with a deuout hart Notwithstanding in this his innocent death his offense was punished wherein he had suerlie transgressed the lawes of the church For whereas one of them which slue him kept a wife whome he had vnlawfullie maried and refused to put hir away at the bishops admonition he was by the bishop excommunicated and all other of the christian congregation commanded to absteine from his companie This notwithstanding the king being destred of him came to his house to a banket and in his comming from thence met with the bishop whome when the king beheld he waxed afraid and alighted from his horsse and fell downe at his féet beséeching him of pardon for his offense The bishop which also was on horssebacke likewise alighted and touching the king with his rod which he had in his hand as one something displeased and protesting as in the authoritie of a bishop spake these words Bicause saith he thou wouldst not absteine from entring the house of that wicked person being accurssed thou shalt die in the same house and so it came to passe Suidhelme king of the Eastsaxons he is baptised the bishoplike exercises of Ced in his natiue countrie of Northumberland Ediswald K. of Deira reuerenceth him the kings deuout mind to further and inlarge religion the maner of consecrating a place appointed for a holie vse the old order of fasting in Lent bishop Ced dieth warre betweene Oswie and Penda Oswie maketh a vow to dedicate his daughter a perpetuall virgine to God if he got the victorie he obteineth his request and performeth his vow she liueth dieth and is buried in a monasterie the benefit insuing Oswies conquest ouer his enimies the first second and third bishops of Mercia the victorious proceeding of king Oswie prince Peada his kinsman murthered of his wife The xxxij Chapter AFter Sigbert succeeded Suidhelme in the kingdome of the Eastsaxons he was the son of Sexbald and baptised of Ced in the prouince of the Eastangles at a place of the kings there called Rendlessham Ediswald king of the Eastangles the brother of king Anna was his godfather at the fontsone Ced the bishop of the Eastsaxons vsed oftentimes to visit his countrie of Northumberland where he was borne and by preaching exhorted the people to godlie life Wherevpon it chanced that king Ediswald the son of king Oswald which reigned in the parties of Deira mooued with the fame of his vertuous trade of liuing had him in great reuerence and therefore vpon a good zeale and great deuotion willed him to choose foorth some plot of ground where he might build a monasterie in the which the king himselfe and others might praie heare sermons the oftener and haue place where to burie the dead The bishop consenting to the kings mind at length espied a place amongst high and desert mounteins where he began the foundation of a monasterie afterwards called Lestinghem Wherefore meaning first of all to purge the place with praier fasting he asked leaue of the king that he might remaine there all the Lent which was at hand and so continuing in that place for that time fasted euerie daie sundaie excepted from the morning vntill euening according to the maner nor receiued anie thing then but onlie a little bread and a hens eg with a little milke mixt with water for he said that this was the custome of them of whome he had learned the forme of his regular order that they should consecrate those places vnto the Lord with praier and fasting which they latelie had receiued to make in the same either church or monasterie And when there remained ten daies of Lent yet to come he was sent for to the king wherefore he appointed a brother which he had being also a priest named Cimbill to supplie his roome that his begun religious woorke should not be hindered for the kings businesse Now when the time was accomplished he ordeined a monasterie there appointing the moonks of the same to liue after the rules of them of Lindesferne where he was brought vp Finallie this bishop Ced comming vnto this monasterie afterwards by chance in time of a sicknesse died there and left that monasterie to the gouernance of another brother which he had named Ceadda that was after a bishop as afterwards shall be shewed There were foure brethren of them and all priests Ced Cimbill Ceulin and Ceadda of the which Ced and Ceadda were bishops as before is said About the same time Oswie king of Northumberland was sore oppressed by the warres of Penda king of Mercia so that he made great offers of high gifts and great rewards vnto the said Penda for peace but Penda refused the same as he that meant vtterlie to haue destroied the whole nation of Oswies poeple so that Oswie turning himselfe to seeke

bodie of saint Thomas in India Sighelmus the bishop of Shireborne bare the same and brought from thence rich stones and swéet oiles of inestimable valure From Rome also he brought a péece of the holy crosse which pope Martinus did send for a present vnto king Alfred Moreouer king Alfred founded three goodlie monasteries one at Edlingsey where he liued sometime when the Danes had bereaued him almost of all his kingdome which was after called Athelney distant from Taunton in Sumersetshire about fiue miles the second he builded at Winchester called the new minster and the third at Shaftesburie which was an house of nuns where he made his daughter Ethelgeda or Edgiua abbesse But the foundation of the vniuersitie of Oxford passed all the residue of his buildings which he began by the good exhortation and aduise of Neotus an abbat in those daies highlie estéemed for his vertue and lerning with Alfred This worke he tooke in hand about the 23 yéere of his reigne which was in the yéere of our Lord 895. So that the vniuersitie of Cambridge was founded before this other of Oxford about 265 yeeres as Polydor gathereth For Sigebert king of the Eastangles began to erect that vniuersitie at Cambridge about the yéere of our Lord 630. King Alfred was learned himselfe and giuen much to studie insomuch that beside diuerse good lawes which he translated into the English toong gathered togither and published he also translated diuerse other bookes out of Latine into English as Orosius Pastorale Gregorij Beda de gestis Anglorum Boetius de consolatione philosophiae and the booke of Psalmes but this he finished not being preuented by death So this worthie prince minded well toward the common wealth of his people in that season when learning was little estéemed amongst the west nations did studie by all meanes possible to instruct his subiects in the trade of leading an honest life and to incourage them generallie to imbrace learning He would not suffer anie to beare office in the court except he were lerned and yet he himselfe was twelue yéeres of age before he could read a word on the booke and was then trained by his mothers persuasion to studie promising him a goodlie booke which she had in hir hands if he would learne to read it Herevpon going to his booke in sport he so earnestlie set his mind thereto that within a small time he profited maruellouslie and became such a fauorer of learned men that he delighted most in their companie to haue conference with them and allured diuerse to come vnto him out of other countries as Asserius Meneuensis bishop of Shirborne Werefridus the bishop of Worcester who by his commandement translated the bookes of Gregories dialogs into English Also I. Scot who whiles he was in France translated the book of Dionysius Ariopagita intituled Hierarchia out of Gréeke into Latine and after was schoolemaister in the abbeie of Malmesburie and there murthered by his scholers with penkn●ues He had diuerse other about him both Englishmen strangers as Pleimond afterward archbishop of Canturburie Grimbald gouernor of the new monasterie at Winchester with others But to conclude with this noble prince king Alured he was so carefull in his office that he diuided the 24 houres which conteine the day and night in thrée parts so that eight houres he spent in writing reading and making his praiers other eight●● emploied in relieuing his bodie with meat drinke and sléepe and the other eight he bestowed in dispatching of businesse concerning the gouernement of the realme He had in his chapell a candle of 24 parts whereof euerie one lasted an houre so that the sexton to whome that charge was committed by burning of this candle warned the king euer how the time passed away A little before his death he ordeined his last will and testament bequeathing halfe the portion of all his goods iustlie gotten vnto such monasteries as he had founded All his rents and reuenues he diuided into two equall parts and the first part he diuided into thrée bestowing the first vpon his seruants in houshold the second to such labourers and workemen as he kept in his works of sundrie new buildings the third part he gaue to strangers The second whole part of his reuenues was so diuided that the first portion thereof was dispersed amongst the poore people of his countrie the second to monasteries the third to the finding of poore scholers and the fourth part to churches beyond the sea He was diligent in inquirie how the iudges of his land behaued themselues in their iudgements and was a sharpe corrector of them which transgressed in that behalfe To be briefe he liued so as he was had in great fauour of his neighbours highlie honored among strangers He maried his daughter Ethelswida or rather Elstride vnto Baldwine earle of Flanders of whome he had two sonnes Arnulfe and Adulfe the first succéeding in the erledome of Flanders and the yoonger was made earle of Bullogne The bodie of king Alured was first buried in the bishops church but afterwards because the Canons raised a fond tale that the same should walke a nights his sonne king Edward remoued it into the new monasterie which he in his life time had founded Finallie in memorie of him a certeine learned clarke made an epitath in Latine which for the woorthinesse thereof is likewise verse for verse and in a maner word for word translated by Abraham Fleming into English whose no litle labor hath béene diligentlie imploied in supplieng sundrie insufficiences found in of this huge volume NObilitas inhata tibi probitatis honorem Nobilitie by birth to thee ô Alfred strong in arme● Armipotens Alfrede dedit probita que laborem Of goodnes hath the honor giuen and honor toilesome harmes Perpetuúmque labor nomen cul mixta dolor● And toilesome harmes an endlesse name w●ose io●es were alwaies mext Gaudia semper erant spes semper mixta timori With sorow and whose hope with feare was euermore perplexe Si modo victor eras ad crastina bella pauebas If this day thou wert conqueror the next daies warre thou dredst Si modo victus eras in crastina bella parabas If this day thou wert conquered to next daies war 〈◊〉 spedst Cui vel●es sudore iugi cul sica cruore Whose clothing wet wit● dailie swe●● whose blade with bloudie staine Tincta ●ugi quantum sit onus●egnare probarunt Do pra●e how great a burthan ti● in roialtie to raine Non fuit immensi quisquam per climata mundi There hath not beene in anie part of all the world so wide Cui tot in aduet sis vel respirare liceret One that was able breath to take and troubles such abide Nec tamen aut ferro contritus ponere ferrum And yet with weapons wearie would not weapons lay aside Aut gladio potuit vitae fimisse labores Or with the sword the ●oile