his sad Companies surpriseth the Enimy unprovided takes Rufan their Danish Banner which had a Raven of needle-worke in it that had good fortune ever attendant and so scatters their Forces that they could not soone be reunited to indanger him About which time the Devonshire men slew Halden the Danish King with new supplies brought by his Brother of whom the place neere Exceter beares the Name 5. As his Valour and Prudence so his Studies and Piety were beyond compare Of the naturall dayes 24 houres eight he allotted for Devotion and Contemplation eight for refection and recreation and the eight remaining for matters of the Common-wealth 6. He Translated Gregories Pastorall Bedes History and Boethius de consolatione Philosophiae into the Saxon Tongue and began to do the like with Davids Psalmes 7. He restored the decayed Vniversity of Oxford by fixing therein a Colledg now bearing the name of Vniversity Colledg and annexed ample maintenance unto it Honoured Scholasticall Exercises with his Kingly attention and incouragement And so passing to his Fathers with the greatest applause left the Heire of his renowne and virtue his sonne 7. An. C. 901 EDWARD the Elder to follow him no way inferiour in Valour to his Father and not much in Learning 2. His many and dangerous conflicts which he had with the Danes of Northumberland proved farre the more hazardous in regard of his Nephew Ethelwald's Rebellions who joyned with them but to their owne overthrows 3. By his singular humanity he gained Leolyn the insolent and surly Prince of Wales to meet him in the Severne breast-hie and to imbrace his Boate and afterward to doe him Homage 4. His Sister Elfreda was a great help unto him not only by her wise directions but more then manly Valour which the Danes in diverse bickerings felt to their Cost 5. After all these troublesome passages he peaceably at length with honour dyed at Faringdon leaving behind him by three Wives fix Sonnes and nine Daughters whereof Editha was Married to the Emperour Otho the great Edburga having the Bible and royall Apparell set before her at her choyce she waving Royalty laid hold on the Bible and became a Votaresse Of his sonnes 8. ADELSTANE that succeeds him An. C. 925 is said to be the first Annoynted King of this I le He Married his Sister to Sithick the Danish King that held Northumberland on condition he should be Baptized which was done but to little purpose for the ends intended of furthering Peace or Religion 2. with Constantine of Scotland he had great Conflicts whom Anlafe of Ireland assisted and taking upon him the habitt of an Irish Harper had plotted to have surprized Adelstane which was prevented by the discovery of an honest Souldier and revenged by the losse of five petty Kings and five Dukes of his Enimies in prosecuting the project 3. Passing into Scotland he offers his knife for good luck's sake to St John of Beverly subdues the whole Kingdome makes a miraculous dynt in a stone at Dunbar with one stroake of his Sword of an Ell deepâ— to testifie his right to that Kingdome 4. Welch Princes Howell Wolferth are suffered there to Raigne under him professing that he held it more honourable to make then to be a King 5. Neare Winchester he was challenged by the insulting Danes to provide a Champion to encounter one Colbrond a Danish Gyant which they held invincible and none of his venturing to undertake it he gat a Pilgrim from among the Beggers as he was directed in his sleepe that entred the Lists and slew him Lidgate Rous. Papulwick Graston This proved to be Guy of Warwick of whose Valour and of his Wives Felices faithfulnesse tradition hath bin very prodigall 6. In what esteeme this King was with Neighbour Princes may be gathered by Presents sent unto him from Otho the Emperour a Lanscip of Precious Stones set to admiration From the King of Norway a Ship with a guilt Sterne and purple Sayles From the King of France Constantines Sword and Charles the great 's Speare the same that had wounded our Saviour with a Nayle of the same Implements 7. Which Riches and Reliques according to the Devotion of those times he bestowed on Consecrated Places dyes peaceably and leaves his Brother 9. An. C. 940 EDMUND to succeed him he had a great hand against the Danes whom he beat in the North and bestowed Cumberland upon Malcolme of Scotland for his faithful assistance 2. The good Lawes he made are extant in Saxon and Latine by the Industry of Mr William Lambard Where the Curse that he layes upon non-payment of Tithes should be more regarded 3. In parting of a fray between two of his Servants he is said to be wounded to death others report that it was done by a Villaine that he lay hold on too vnadvisedly which Dunstane foresaw by the Devils dauncing before him and made Duke Elstane doe the like only by Crossing his eyes In the Non-age of his sonne Edwy and Edwin his Brother 10. An. C. 946 EDRED or Eldred assumes the Government 1. The Danes in Northumberland oppose him being animated under hand by Wolstane Archbishop of Yorke and calling in Anlafe the Dane from Ireland whom they made their King and upon dislike of him put one Hericus into his place but matters at length were composed by the Kings Lenitie and an Act of Oblivion obtained 2. Dunstane Abbot of Glassenbury got such a hand over him that he committed most of his Treasure into his hand whereof there appeareth no account 3. He made St Germanes in Cornewall a Bishops Sea translated afterward to Kyrton by Canutus the Dane and setled at last by Edward the Confessour in Exceter His two sonnes left behind him came not to the Crowne but his Nephew 11. An. C. 955 EDWY his brother Edmunds Eldest sonne had it by right 1. This man favoured not the Monkes which made them to write so scandalously of him he thrust them out of Malmsbury and Glassenbury placing married Priests in their roome and banished Dunstane into Flanders their great Champion 2. This made the Divell to laugh as the Monkes fable it whose calumniations so set the people against him 3. That some say he was Deposed which brake his heart Graft he left behind him no Issue and therefore the right descended to his brother 12. EDGAR a man of a higher spirit An. C. 959 and warier carriage 1. He recalled Dunstane from banishment and was altogether ruled by him and his complices this restrained not his Incontinency for by Wolfchild a Nunne he begat St Edith At Andevor plotting to lye with a Westerne Dukes daughter he was fitted by the Mother with a substituted waiting Creature whom he retained afterwards for his Concubine 2. More Tragicall was that of the Duke of Devonshires daughter whose Husband he slew for beguiling him of her whom he had trusted to Pander for him For these pranket and other he was enjoyned by B. Dunstane not to weare
opposing Pope Innocent the third in Stephen Langtons preferment to the See of Caterbury sleighting the Monks and vexing them 3. Their Combinations forced him after the Interdicting of the Realme for six years three moneths and sixteene dayes to render his Crowne to Pandulphus the Popes Legate and take it againe in Fee-Farme at the Rent of a Thousand Markes yearely which exasperated his Nobles against him howsoever it warped the Pope and Clergy to be for him 4. His Bickering abroad with the French and at home with his Barons made his Raigne very Tragicall which ended at Swansted Abby by Simon the Monkes Poyson as some say and gave way to his sonne 4. A.C. 1216 HENRY the third who Crowned between nine or tenne yeares Old 1. Cleared this Realme of the French who had Invaded it by the Popes interdiction by William Martiall Earle of Pembroke his Protector 2. Hubert De Burgo Earle of Kent did him much good service for which he had small recompence 3. His immoderate and exasperating favours cast on Strangers drew on the Barons Warres in which an Insanum Parliamentum held at Oxford appointed twelve Peeres in prejudice of his Regality The Earles of Leicester and Glocester are the greatest sticklers in it who took Prisoners the King with his brother Richard King of the Romanes and his sonne Prince Edward in the Battle of Lewes in Sussex 4. He confirmes Magna Charta The Earles fall at deadly fend between themselves Prince Edward tels the King of it and joyning with Glocester Rights himselfe by the Ruine of Leicester in the Battle of Eversham in Worcestershire 5. London is threatned to be Burnt by the King for taking the Barons part 6. Glocesters service failing of expected Favours repines to no purpose and undertakes to goe to the Holy Land but shrinking that enterprise is performed by Prince Edward and his Heroick Princesse Elianor who suck'd out there the poyson of an invenomed wound given him with the hazard of her owne life whereby he recovered He did there great service untill he was called back to succeed his Father that dyed after fifty six yeares Raigne by the Title of 5. EDWARD the first commonly called Longshanks A.C. 1273 1. He brought the Welch with their Valiant Prince Lewillin under the English Subjection 2. Conquered Scotland being at Variance who should be King brought thence the Marble Chayre in which the Scottish Kings were wont to be Crowned spoken of before 3. Hesleighted the Popes Inhibition to forbeare Scotland and in the Parliament of Lincolne under the subscription of the Peeres utterly renounced Pope Boniface his Supreame Authority 4. He banished the Jewes for their Exactions and Censured the Judges and Officers for their Corruptions 5. Vpon his Death-bed charged his sonne to continue the Banishment of Pearce of Goveston and to convey his Heart to be buried in the Holy Land 6. Of his sixteene Children which he had by two Wives Elianour of Spaine and Margaret of France 6. A.C. 1307 EDWARD the second surnamed Carnarvan the first English hereditary Prince of Wales succeeds him 2. He against his Oath calls Gaveston twice out of Banishment permits him to convey beyond the Seas his Iewels with a Table and Tressels all of Beaten Gold 3. In place of Gaveston beheaded by the Nobles he takes the Spencers Father and sonne to be his Favourites worse if it might be then Gaveston 4. At Estreveline and twice afterwards he received three notable overthrowes by the Scotts to the losse of all his Interest there and the Devastation of the Northerne parts of his Kingdome 5. Vpon these preposterous events Iohn Poydrus an Exeter man would needs prove the King a Changling and said himselfe was Long-shanks sonne But his claime was quickly strangled with an Halter 6. To right these wrongs the Barons by a Parliament get the Spencers banished The King recalls them the Barons take Armes receive a great overthrow and two and twenty of them are Behoaded The Spencers the more insult 7. The Queene flyes with the Prince into France is deserted by her bribed Brother the French King and commanded to returne by the Pope finds favour with Robert of Artois Earle of Henalt and Sr Iohn his brother returnes by their help into England is assisted by the Barons takes the King and the Spencers at Bristow The Londoners behead Walter Stapleton Bishop of Exeter for withstanding the Queenes proceedings The Spencers are executed the King is Deposed in Parliament sent to Killingworth as Prisoner and thence to Barkly Castle where he was barbarously Spitted to Death leaving his sonne 7. A.C. 1327 EDWARD the third otherwise calied Edward of Windsor to governe better 1. He surprised Mortimer the Minion of his mother and Executed him at Tyburne who had by his pernicious plotting caused King Edward the second to be made away by an Amphibologie Edvardum occidere nolite timere bonum est To shed King Edwards blood Refuse to feare I hold it good And the Scottish Ragman to be redelivered in the Non-age of this King whereby the English laid claime to Scotland together with their Black Crosse so that the People cried out Vae pueris terrae saepissime sunt ubi guerrae Woe to the Land where Rulers age Is not mature to stop mens rage 2. Notwithstanding the King repaired this afterward by the overthrow of the Scotts at Hallidowne Hill which wiped off their contumelious Rime made upon their Victorie over the English in his Fathers dayes being this Long Beards heartlesse Painted Hoods witlesse Gray Coates gracelesse Make England thriftlesse And also in taking their King David the valiant Bruces sonne Prisoner at Nevils Crosse in his absence in France by the Queene and placing in Edward Balioll to be King 3. Against the French by himselfe and this Valiant sonne Edward the Black Prince He obtained eminent Victories at Cressay and Poycters In the last of which their King John was taken and brought into England 4. He Founded the Order of the Garter first quartered his Armes with France In his old age was much abused by a Strumpet Alice Pears 5. After he had seene the death of his Victorious sonne Edward the Black Prince he died peaceably at Sheene in Surry leaving to succeed him his Grandchild the Black Princes sonne 8. RICHARD the second 1. A.C. 1378 He misled by his Favorite Michael De La Poole and other Syeophants incurres the hatred of his People Iohn Wall Priest Watt Tylor lack Sraw and Jack Shepherd raise a Rebellion against him which happily was quieted by the Maior of London's William Walworths mortall blow given Watt Tylor 2. Thirteene Commissioners were appointed to see matters reformed but it came to nothing 3. An Invasion of French with twelve hundred Ships under Sayle against England by Gods providence were utterly scattered Iohn of Gaunt his Vncle Warreth successively in Spaine and himselfe in Scotland 4. He continues his hatred against his Nobles executes diverse of them Banisheth his Cosen Henry of
his Crowne for seaven years which he penitently submitted unto but held on his lascivious courses 3. It was a successefull device to free his Country from Wolves by injoyning the Prince of north-North-Wales to bring him yearly 300 skinnes of them for a Tribute and another Ordinance he made for putting pinnes in cupps that none should quaffe whole ones 4. Vpon the river Dee he had seaven petty Kings to row his Barge to shew his greatnesse 5. After his death great stirre there was who should succeed him Elfrida the Queene and the Duke of Mercia interposed strongly for her sonne Ethelred but Dunstane and the Monkes carried it for 13. EDWARD the sonne of his former wife An. C. 975 Ethelfreda the White In this mans time the greatest troubles were between the Matried Clergy and Monkes Duke Alfarus standing for the Married men and Dunstane for the single 2. At an Assembly in Winchester the married Priests lost the day by the decision of a Woodden Rood which never spake before nor after and at another meeting the ruine of the House with the preservation in it of St Dunstane and his party ruind the poore Priests cause although manifest delusion appeared in both 3. The end of this young King was lamentable being stab'd by his Step-mothers treachery when he was drinking a cup of Wine on Horse-back when he in kindnesse came to visit her through which wound fainting and falling from his Horse he was drag'd to death by his foot intangled in the stirrop This made a bloody way for the succession of his brother 14. An. C. 978 ETHELRED or Egelred who had little comfort in it For the Danes grew upon him so fiercely that he was forced to purchase his Peace from them with great summes of Mony to the undoing of his poore Kingdome who yet never rested contented but multiplied the oppression of the Subject enforcing them to drudge to maintain these Lurdan's idle 2. To put a period to this insufferable Vassalage a Bloudy Massacre was executed upon them by the Kings secret Commission A.C. 1012 on St Brices day but such brutish courses never find a wished close 3. The Danes rather exasperated to revenge then any way thereby dismaied returne with Swaine their King and desolate all the Country The perfidious Earle Edrick with other of the Clergy and Nobility underhand abet them the King opposeth to his power but with extreame difficulty 4. After the death of Swaine who some say was miraculously gored by St Edmunds Sword for his Sacriledge in Thetford Canutus his Sonne arrives with greater forces The King dyes after a lingering sicknesse 5. His second Wife was Emma tearmed the flower of Normandy Duke Richards daughter by whom he had diverse children but more by his first Wife Elgiva of which 15. EDMUND surnamed Ironside succeeded in valour and performance if not beyond surely not inferior to any of his Predecessors 2. He raised the Siege of London worsted the valiant Canutus foure times at least in plaine field and had in all likelyhood rid England of him if the Traytor Edrick and others of the perfidious Clergy and Nobility had not secretly assisted him 2. In a Duell between him and Canutus in the I le of Alney he overmatched the stout Dane and wounded him to be supplicant By compact they divide the Kingdome between them 3. But that Villanous Duke Edrick found the means to have this excellent Prince gored as he sate on a Draught for whose head presented to Canutus he had his own exalted upon a Pole above the rest of his Peeres as it was promised him An Advancement fit for betrayers of their King and Country 2. THis Distance runs a long with the Period of Charles the Great and his successors from whose Military Discipline our Egbert learned to Conquer and bring dismembred Polyarchies and Heptarchies into the best kind of Government which hath been approved by all to be Monarchy 2. Notice may be here taken of the continued irruptions of the Northerne Nations to infest the Southerne whom they excelled most commonly so much in boysterous strength and number as they came short of them in Learning Civility and Policy wherein the providence of God appeared that the Conquerors should be Conquered by those they had subdued being of Pagans made Christians and of boysterous Tyrants submissive brethren so that malum ab Aquilone became bonum Aquiloni by Divine disposition which permiteth not evill but to produce good out of it 3. Learning so stifled by tumults of former ages begins here to bud againe by Alcuinus Beda but especially by King Alfreds liberality encouragements and good Example INQVIRES 3. Whether 1. The Saxon Heptarchy were distinctly visible at any one time or grew up more successively by degrees 2. Alfred were the first founder of the Vniversity of Oxford or only a munificent Reviver 3. The Relations of the humorous carriage and strange atchievements of Guy of Warwick be for the most part put upon him without ground 4. The Nunnes of Codingham did well by mangling their faces to preserve their chastity 5. The miracles ascribed to St Dunstane were rather deluding sleights or Divelish Magick then Acts of Piety 6. Edward basely stabbed by his Step-mothers treachery may be justly held a Martyr 7. Ethelreds Massacre of Danes may passe for warrantable Policy Of the Danes DYNASTY III. THe third Dynasty that outed the Saxons and possessed their Dominions is that of the Danes who partly invited by Beorn Bocador Vice-Roy of Northumberland Speed to revenge the ravishing of his Lady by Osbright and partly taking occasion from the murther of Lothbrook alias Lether-breech by Benick St Edmunds Faulkouer for which no satisfaction could be obtained never desisted to Invade the whole Realme till they became sole Masters of it In this Dynasty or Government we have but three Danes and two others in this succession 1. CANUTUS the Conquerour A.C. 1018 a Valiant and prudent man He was an enimy to Dissemblers Traytors and Flatterers for the Nobility that to curry favour with him assented to the Disinheriting of Ironsides Issue were ever after slighted by him and came to Dishonourable ends The Traytor Ederick vaunting his good service in murthering his Soveraigne he caused to be executed with the extreamest and disgracefull tortures And a company of Flatterers that extolled his Greatnesse and Power to be unmatchable he caused to place him in a Chayre where the Sea Ebbs and Flowes at South-Hampton that by the disobedience of the Tyde that would not stop at his Command but presum'd to dash his Royall Garments they might learne how Low man is at the Highest not to applaud his fortune but feare his fall 2. By the valour of Earle Goodwin and English he drove the Vandales out of Denmarke which fell to him by his brother Swaynes death and got the neighbouring Norway by subduing Olave the King who had quarrelled with him without any provocation In like manner he vanquished Scotland so that
England Denmarke Norway some adde also part of Sweden together with Scotland were wholy subject unto him 3. His Iealousies of Ironsides Children moved him to send his sonnes Edward and Edmund to Swanus King of Denmarke to be dispatched but he abhorring such Villâ—ny transfer'd them to the King of Hungary where Edmund dying Edward Married Agatha the Emperour Henry the fourths Daughter by whom he had Edgar Etheling the surviving Heire of the Crowne of England which he could never recover 4. To strengthen his Title what he might he takes Emma to wife King Etheldreds Widdow M. Lambard makes good Lawes extant in the Saxon tongue and Latine gave one hundred Talents of Silver and one of Gold for St Augustince Arme which he bestowed on Coventry as a memoriall of his Zeale though not according to knowledge 5. He had Issue by Emma his second Wife the faire Gunhilda and Hardy-Canutus Gunhilda was Married to the Emperour Henry the third where falling into suspition of Incontinency she was vindicated by her English Page overthrowing in her quarrell a great Gyant Hardicanutus was designed to succeed by his Father here in England but was put by in his absence by his Brother 2. A.C. 1038 HAROLD called Harefoot by reason of his swiftnesse Earle Goodwin withstands his entrance but by secret prevailing meanes was soone made his friend 2. A Letter is forged in Queene Emma's name to bring over her sonnes Edward and Alfred which she had by Ethelred to claim their Right to the Crowne Alfred comes and by Earle Goodwin is made away with all those that came with him at Gilford 3. Emma is banished but courteously entertained by Baldwin Earle of Flanders Harold thus secured as he thought from Competitors lives loosly dyes speedily and without Issue leaves the Kingdom to 3. A.C. 1041 HARDICANUTUS who made it his first worke to disintombe his Predecessors Corps and threw it into Thamisis but some Fishermen more courteous recovered it and buryed it againe in St Clements neare Temple-Barre 2. His recalling his Mother Emma and half Brother Edward and entertaining them respectively deserves commendations As also the prosecuting Earle Goodwin and the Bishop of Worcester for Prince Alfreds death but the Earle quitted himselfe by his Oath and a rich Present and the Bishops questioning is said to be for the Murther of the Kings Taxe-Collectors in Worcester by the inraged Citizens for which their City was afterwards consumed with fire 3. His Epicurismo left an ill Custome to all posterity Foure times a day his Table must be covered to invite men to Intemperancy Through which at a Marriage he is thought to have Choaked himselfe at Lambeth most rejoycing to be rid of him in memory whereof Hock-tide a Feast of scorning was a long time continued after In this third Heire expired the Danish Line and the Saxon revived againe in 4. EDWARD the sonne of Ethelred Emma A.C. 1043 commonly called the Confessour 1. To gaine the more love of his Subjects at his first entrance he remitted the Taxe of Danegilts so greivous to the Commonds collected the Lawes of his predecessors into a body for the administrationof Iustice which some say are the ground of our Common-Law though the Pleading be altered since the Norman Conquest 2. He was threatned by the Dane See M. Lambards Archnom and vexed by Griffith the Welch Prince who was quelled by Harold especially who was imployed against them Betweene him and the potent Earle Goodwin were such debates that twice came to the hazard of dangerous Battles if wise mediation of the Nobles had not prevented them the death of which Earle is reported to be his Choaking with a bitt of Bread upon an imprecation laid on himselfe that that might be his last if he had a hand in the death of the Kings Brother Prince Alfred though some say he died of the deadpalsie 3. Grafton In this man's time Coventry purchased its Freedome from Earle Leofrie by the Riding of his Countesse Godina naked through it but such order was taken by the Townesmen that shutting up all Doores and Windowes none beheld it 4. His unnaturall dealing with his good Mother Emma and vertuous faire Wife Editha Earle Goodwins Daughter cannot be excused For upon a poore surmise of Incontinency with Alwin Bishop of Winchester his Mother in his presence was put to the Ordalium to passe Blindfolded between nine glowing Coulters which she did untouched and his spotlesse Queene Editha denied Marriageright perchance for hatred to her Father and with one Waiting-maid to live disrespected in a Nunnery 5. Such actions so opposite to Gods word should Saint no man The first curing the Kings Evill is referred to him and thence to have continued to his Successors More Laudable was his respect to Edgar Etheling Grandchild to to Ironside by his sonne Edward the Out-law that died in banishment whom he intended for his successour and he had the best right to it but he being young and wanting meanes and friends to support him 5. A.C. 1066 HAROLD sonne of Earle Goodwin makes bold to take the place a man of excellent parts and approved valour as the Welch and others which he subdued in his Predecessors time found to their cost 2. He droven by Tempest into Normandy was affianced to young Adeliza Duke William's Daughter with whom he Covenanted upon Oath to make him successour to Edward in the Kingdome of England 2. But this contract he held as a nicity or complement and constrained Oathes no way to bind wherein he soothed himselfe but God is not mocked and usurpations thrive not long 3. Three Enemies at one time assault him Tosto his owne Brother Harold Harefager or Fairelocks of Norway and William Duke of Normandy The two former he manfully quelled but fell under the hand of William in that famous Battle of Hastings in Sussex the setter up of the next Dynasty 2. IN those times whiles Princes sought the ruines one of another Popes grew up to dispose of them and their Kingdoms and those that protested against such deformities and enormities could not be heard INQVIRIES 3. Whether 1. Canutus had the largest Dominious of any that ever Ruled in this Kindome 2. St Augustines Arme were worth so much as he gave for it 3. Edward the sonne of Etheldred deserved the Title of Confessour 4. Our Common-Law have its grounds from his Collections 5. Ordalium by hott Coulters be fit to purge suspition of Incontinency 6. Stopping the rights of Marriages without consent for a time of both Parties be not directly against Gods word 7. Harold were bound to keep his Oath to William of Normandy for the Crowne of England in prejudice to Edgar Etheling the apparent right Heire Of the Normans DYNASTY IV. THe Fourth Dynasty is of the Normans to the Plantagenets and hath in it 1. A.C. 1067 WILLIAM the Conquerour the seaventh Duke of Normandy the sonne of Robert begotten on Arlot a poore Skinners daughter whom he affected for her
Bullingbrook for his freedome to have things reformed In his absence seâ—zeth upon his whole estate Bullingbrook returnes when the King was in Ireland The People flock to him The King resignes his Crowne to him is committed to Pomfred Castle there assaulted by eight Assassines valiantly kills foure of them and so is slaine himselfe 2. WIthin compasse of this Section are remarkable 1. The strange Vsurpation of Popes to make good or disanull the Titles of Kings and Demising of Kingdomes to Farme 2. The bringing in of Auricular Confession and Transubstantiation not for informing but infatuating Gods People 3. The persecutions of the poore Waldenses not for detestation of their Tenents which they laboured not to examine but out of a Iealousie lest these mens plaine dealing should discover their drifts and marre their Maâ—kets 4. The protestations of Wicliff and his followers against the grosse Superstition brought in by Monkes and Friers in Doctrine Discipline notably scourged by Ieffery Chaucer the Learned and Famous Poet of those times 5. Lastly upon remissnesse in Government and neglect of execution of Iustice the breaking out of such Out-Lawes as were Robin Hood and Little John with their Comrades or starting up of such Impostors and Villaines as were 1. William Longbeard under Richard the first a sharp reprover of Vice and Disorders in the Common Wealth Himselfe at last being found to be a Murderer that had fleaed a man and a Whoremaster that had used his Concubine in a Church and a Witch that worshiped at home a familiar in forme of a Catt 2. John Poydras a Tanners sonne of Exeter that stood upon it that Edward the second was a Changling substituted in his Cradle for him who was the right Heire to the Crowne 3. Iohn Wall a Preist 4. Wat Tyler 5. Jack Straw 6. Jach Shepherd with 7. William Lister their Captaine would make all Leveli without distinction of King or Subject Master or Servant INQVIRIES 3. Whether 1. Henry the second consented to the Murther of Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury 2. The cause he suffered for were pertinent to saint him 3. Expiatory Pennance enjoyned for that murder were fit for a Preist to propose or a King to undergoe 4. King Iohn could forfeit his Kingdome to the Pope or the Pope let it to Farme 5. He were poysoned by a Monke or dyed otherwise 6. Queene Isabell were not more to blame for prosecuting her Husband Edward the second then the King was for sticking so close to Gaveston 7. King Richard the second were starved to death or barbarously Butchered by St Piers of Exton Lancastrians DYNAST V. SECT II. THus farre the Plantagenets have continued in an unquestionable right line Now followes the division of the Houses of Lancester and Yorke three of each succeeding in their order Of Lancaster we have 1. A.C. 1399 HENRY the fourth surnamed Bullinbrooke 1. This man backt his usurpation of the Crowne by Parliament Wherein John the Religious Learned and resolute Bishop of Carlile openly contradicted but could not be heard whereupon the Duke of Anmerle his Cosen Then the Percyes joyning with the Scots and French together with Owen Glendore and his Welch make a strong head against him 3. But in the Battell of Shrewsbury Henry Hotspurre is slaine outright Douglas the valiant Scot taken but released without ransome The Earle of Worcester beheaded Owen Glendore pursued by the Prince into Wales and famished there in the Woods 4. The like successe he had in discovering and suppressing the Earle of Northumberlands Rebellion with some Nobles and the Scots his Complices 5. Intending a voyage into the Holy Land he is arrested by an Apoplexie acknowledged to his sonne who had seized upon his Crowne upon supposall he was dead the little right he had to its and so by his Death leaves it to his eldest sonne 2. A.C. 1412 HENRY the fifth of Monmoth 1. At his first entrance he cashiered all his dissolute companions that followed him when he was Prince Reformes abuses in the Commonwealth growes upon the Clergy but was Politiquely diverted by Henry Chichesly Arch-Bishop of Canterbury to imploy his forces for the recovering of his Title to France 2. Vpon which he enters having cut off Richard Earle of Cambridge brother to the Duke of Yorke who by Treason would have prevented it takes Harflew gave the French with the oddes of about sixe to one an admirable overthrow at Agencourt where more Prisoners were taken then their surprisers whose throats were cut upon an after Alarum by Robinet of Bonvill 3. In a Sea-fight before Harflew the French had another extraordinary overthrow 4. He subdues all Normandy and takes Cane and Roane 5. The Dolphin of France being in disgrace by rifling his Mothers treasure and murthering John the young Duke of Burgoyne an agreement is made that Henry should marry Katharine the Kings Daughter of France and so succeed him in the Kingdome 6. This was Proclaimed and Performed accordingly He keeps his Court at Paris as Regent with incomparable Magnificence Returnes with his Queene into England who is delivered of a Sonne at Windsor upon which he is said to have spoken Prophetically I Henry of Monmoth shall remaine but a short time and gaine much but Henry of Windsor shall Raigne long and loose all 7. In his returne into France to rescue his friend Philip Duke of Burgoyne he sickneth and dyes at Bloys leaving his Sonne to succeed him but of nine Months old 3. HENRY the sixth of Winsor 1. A.C. 1422 His Protector was Humphrey Duke of Glocester Regent in France Iohn Duke of Bedford Manager of many weighty businesses at home Thomas Duke of Exeter his three Vnkles 2. All went well in Erance of which he was Crowned King in Paris untill the Seige of Orleance where Ioane the Sheapherdesse of Lorraine put in with her devices which wrought much mischiefe but at length she was taken and executed 3. Mountecute the valiant Earle of Salisbury and the Lord Talbot failing all things in France went to wrack till all was lost 4. Humphrey Duke of Glocesters murther the Kings Marriage with Margaret poore King Rayners daughter of Scicily with the Rebellion of Blewbeard and Iack Cade weaken the affaires at home 4. Richard Duke of Yorke sets on foot his Title to the Crowne got it by Parliament so farre forth as to be Heire apparent to Henry who was taken Prisoner in the Battle at St Albone but in prosecution of that businesse he lost his life with his Sonnes young Rutland 5. Notwithstanding at length Edward Richards Sonne the right Heire overthrew the King in Towton field and so recovered his Due 2. FAlling in with these times may be observed 1. That as Popes had deposed Kings now the Councells of Constance and Basill deposed Popes and set other in their places without the suffrages of Cardinalis 2. The perfidious dealing with Iohn Husse and Hierome of Prague which the Bohemians then complained of and yet sticks to Rome as an
Astronomers 5. Geographers 6. Architectonists or Builders 7. And Mâ—sitians will yeeld matter to worke upon And so 7. In PHILOSOPHY as 't is termed those that have written 1. Metaphysicks 2. Pneumatology or the doctrine of Spirits 3. Physicks 4. Ethicks 5. Oeconomiques 6. Politiques 7. Thaumaturgicks in working strange conclusions are almost innumerable and therefore require the more painefull search After which among 8. The Physitians See Zacutuâ— Lucitan He that gathereth the Histories of the 1. Latines 2. Greekes 3. Arabians and Iewes 4. Paracelsians 5. Galeno-chymicks 6. Prophylacticks and 7. Empericks shall find more to doe perchance then he expected As also in the throng of 9. LAWYERS that have written concerning 1. Lawgivers and Lawes in generall 2. Then distinctly of the Law of Nature 3. Nations 4. Of the Lawes of the Hebrews Melchior Adamus 5. Of Civill 6. Canon And our 7. Municipall Lawes great judgement will be required upon representation of so many in History to pitch upon the best to follow 10. Lastly DIYINITY requires a larger scope for the History of 1. Naturall 2. Chatecheticall 3. Exegeticall in Commentators 4. Polemicall in all sorts of Controversies 5. Syneideticall for cases of Conscience 6. Propheticall concerning Preaching And 7. Guberneticall Divinity for setling of Church Government either of which are distinctly handled by Authors of great Learning and Piety that worthily deserve to be Registred by them who intend to receive directions from them neither are the 1. Glossators 2. Postillators 3. Sententiaries 4. Summists 5. Cabalists 6. Dictionarists 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 5.14 Ier. 15.19 7. Or Conciliators wholly to be rejected especially of those who have exercised senses to separate the pretious from the vile and as one said to gather Gold out of Enniu's drosse Amongst all which the Historie of the 1. Pelagians 2. Donatists 3. Anabaptists 4. Waldenses 5. Bannians 6. That of the Tridentine Councell And 7. Thhose of diverse Subjects set forth by Hospinian in seaven volumes are worthy of especiall perusall 1. See the Catalogue of Sir Francis Bacon L. Verulam and Vicount of S. Albons proposing no lesse then 130 particulars in this kind Gerards and Perkinsous Herballs c. Gesner Aldrovandus Topsell c. Laurentius Spegelius Grooke c. THe Fift sort of History which by Plinie in tearmed NATURALL describeth 1. The Heavens with the fixed Starres and Planets the Eclipses New starres or any other changes that have hapned in them 2. The Elements Fire Aire Water Earth with the strange alterations and contingencies in them 3. The Meteâ—rs with their fearfull Stormes Apparitions and Prodigies recorded in all Ages 4. The Inanimate treasures in this inferior Globe made up of Earth and Water as Pretious stones Mettalls Mineralls c. 5. The Vegetant or Growing Creatures as Hearbs Shrubbs Trees 6. The Sensible that have motion annexed as Beasts Fowles Fishes 7. And last of all the rare structure of Mans Body peculiarly called Anotomy All which are comprised in the Hexameron or sixt daies Worke under the Titles of Heaven and Earth and Sea and all that is therein For contemplation of which that should mount our soules to the Admiration and Celebration of the Omnipotent Creator and preserver of them one Day is set a side of seaven to be imployed especially in the study of this Grand History 2. In a VARIOUS HISTORY no other Method is to be expected but the noting of the time and place as things come to hand In this kind may be taken Aristotles wonderfull relations Aelians various History Valerius Maximus Memorialls Hackluits Navigations Mr Purchases Pilgrims Wolfius Mâ—morialls Pancerollahs Nova reperta and vetera amissa John Latius of the West Indies c. Gallobelgicus Newes and all the rest of the Mercuries and Journals that dayly multiply in the same straine last of all 3. ROMANCE'S or the Bastard sort of Histories may be noted not for any great uses in them See S. Augutine confess l. 1. c 23. â—ossivine Icsuit Biblioth select l. 16. §. 4. c. 3. but for manifold abuses by them 1. In wasting pretious time which might be better imployed 2. In stuffing the Fancy and Memory with ridiculous Chimerah's and wandering Imaginations to the excluding or stifling of more serious and profitable meditations 3. For transporting and deluding the affections with languishing Love impossible attempts and victories stupendious inchantments wherewith the weake Reader is often so taken that he makes himselfe as it were a Party in the businesse and rejoyceth or is sorry as matters are brought to succede according to his Fancy or otherwise 4. Such Brats of Invention and Spawne of Idle houres are well most found to be either 1. Rude or 2. Endlesse 3. or Depraved 4. or Superstitious or else 5. Morall 6. Politicall or 7. Satyricall 5. Rude those may be reckoned which neither favour of Ingenuity Language or Invention as that of Huon of Burdeaux Valentine and Orson Arthur of Little Britaine Fortunatus seuen wise Masters foure sonnes of Amâ—n Mervin Gerilion of England Bellianis of Greece and others not worth the naming 6. Endlesse may be accounted Amades de Gaule Palmerin and Primalion of Greece the Mirrour of Knighthood with the like which though they may have some taking incitements to Noblenesse and Valour yet continuing boundlesse by Conjuring up new Spirits they lead the Reader like an Ignis Fatuus into an endlesse maze leave him at length in a Quagmire 7. To the Tattle of depraved Romances belong such Peeces as we have of King Arthur Camden Mills Heylin in his Geog. and his Knights of the Round Table Guy of Warwick Bevis of Southampton to which may be added Father Turpins Rolando or Orlando Sr William Wallis of Scotland and the like Who although they were truely Famous in their times and deserved an Homer or Virgill to set them forth yet falling into the hands of Illiterate and sorded Monkes their Stories are so depraved that the Persons are made ridiculous And 8. Metaphrastes Lippoman Melchior Canus What should we call the Legends of Abdias Babilonius James de Voragine and our Iohn Capgrave to omitt infinite others but superstitious Romances of whose impudency and doltish forgery their owne men complaine yet Dominus opus habet Popery must have such props to uphold its policy and hoodwinke the vulgar and therefore the like Wares are at this day set forth to sale by Ribadineira Thenaft Messengham Yangas and our Miracle-mongers in English where the stuffe is the same though the dresse be neater the cuts more artificiall and a new glosse set upon it In a different way from these 9. The wandering Knights Spencers Fairy Queene Sir Philip Sydnies Arcadia with other peices of the like straine may passe with singular Commendations for morall Romances being nothing else but Poeticall Ethicks that with apt contrivance and winning Language informe Morality In which sense Heliodorus Aethiopicall History and Achilles Statiu's his Clitophon and Licippe were had in esteeme among diverse of the Ancients And Horace tels us that Homer in his Iliads and Odysses under those stories of Achilles and Vlisses Quid sit pulchrum quid turpe quid utile quid non Plenius melius Chrysippo Crantore dicit Informes us better for our compleat behaviour then Chrysippus or Crantor or the exquisite Athenian Philosophers 10. To Romances that poynt at Policy Xenophons Cyropaedia Sir Thomas Moores Vtopia Lord Verulams Atlantis Barkley's Argenis and Euphormio The Vocall Forrest Raynard the Fox diverse passages in Chaucer and many other in the same kind may be referred The vanity especially of the foure first kinds is wittily scourged by the 11. Satyricall Romances of Don Quicshot Lazarillo de Tormes Gusman Pantagruell Don Diego's visit of the Inhabitants of the Moone and the like 12. Concerning all which it were to be wished that 1. The Ruder Endlesse Depraved and Superstitious were utterly abolished or restrained at least from Youth of both kinds for preventing of Fantasticall Impressions 2. That the multiplying of new Follies as that wild Romance of Romances Pol Alexander as pernitious as the former were strictly forbidden and 3. That the Morall Politicall and Satyricall might be permitted only to those that can read them with Iudgment and make use of them with discretion 2. TO this pile of Histories are reducible 1. All Catalogues as those of Gesner Molanus Draudius those of Libraries and Marts continually increased 2. All Journalls Navigations and Discoveries 3. All Jesuiticall and other relations of strange things done in China or the like which to continue the method all along observed may be shut up with these INQVIRIES 3. Whether 1. Vpon a resolution to Study any Faculty it would not doe well to have an Historicall Catalogue of the Professors that have bin Eminent in it 2. Sir Iohn Mandevills Travels with the strange adventures in them or Binjamin Tudelitanus Iewish Iournals of multitudes of his Countrymen found abroad deserves the greater credit 3. Hartmanus Schedels Men-monsters inhabiting diverse Parts of the World or Olaus magnus Witches and Giants in the Northerne Regions be the hansomer creatures 4. Giraldus Cambrensis relation of the black Rook under the North-Pole or Ferdinando's de la Quir of the Civill Inhabitants neere to the South-Pole be the truer History 5. Prince Meredith of Wales discovered not the West Indies long before Columbus was borne 6. The Irish St Brendons Travels to the Land of Beheast in the English Legend or Owens Travels through St Patricks Purgatory described by Messengham amongst his Irish Saints be the likelier Narration 7. An Index or rather Ignis Expurgatorius be not more profitable and proper for such delusions then for castrating and castigating such Authors as relate disliked Truths LAVS SOLI DEO