amore beneuolentia liberalitate prosequi denique iuxta eximias probitates easdem magnificentiùs ornare decorare quatenus in personis huiuscemodi congestis clarissimis virtutum praemijs ceteri socordia ignauiaque sepositis ad peragenda pulcherrima quaeque facinora laude gloria concitentur Nos ne à maiorum nrō laudatissimis moribus discedere videamur nostri esse officij putamus probatissimū nobis virum qui ob res ab se clarissimè gestas quà m maxima de nobis promeruit condignis honorū fastigijs attollere verè regijs insignire muneribus Strenuum insignem loquimur militē Willūm Herbert Dominum Herbart iam defunctū cuius in regni nostri primordijs obsequia gratissima tum nobis multipliciter impensa cum nrō pro iure decertaretur satis ambiguè obliuisci non possumus accessere de post in hoc vsque temporis continuata seruicia que non parum nobis fuere complacita presertim nuperimis hijs diebus quibus optimum se gessit militem ac non mediocres sibi laudis fame titulos comparauit Hijs equidem iampridē cū Rebellis hostisque nostri Iasper Owini Tedur filliū nuper Pembrochiae se Comitem dicens Walliae partes peruaderet multaque arte ad contra nos statum nostrum vilem populo seditionem concitandum truculentiam moliretur societatis sibi ad eandem rem conficiendam electissimis viris fidelibus nostris arma cepit confligendi copiam hostibus exhibuit adeoque valida manu peruasus ab ipsis partes peruagatus est nusquam eis locum permiserit quo nō eos complicesque affligauerit vires eorūdem fregerit morteque affecerit seu desperantes in fugam propulerit demum Castrum nostrum de Hardelagh nobis ab initio regni nostri contrarium quo vnicum miseris patebat refugium obsidione vallabat quod capi impossible ferebatur cepit inclusos que ad deditionem compulit adiacentem quoque primam omnem nostram Regiae Maiestati rebellem hactenus ad summam obedientiam reduxit Haec itaque sua laudabilia obsequia promeritaque memoriter vt decet intimè recolentes volentesque proinde eundem Willūm condignis honoribus regalibúsque praemijs ornare amplicare sublimare octauo die Septembris anno regni nostri octauo per Chartam nostram de gratia nostra speciali ac ex certa scientia mero motu nostris ipsum Willūm in Comitem Pembrochiae ereximus praefecerimus creauerimus ei nomē statum stilum titulum dignitatem Comitis Pembrochie cum omnibus singulis preëminencijs honoribus ceteris quibuscunque huius statui Comitis pertinentibus siue congruis dederimus concesserimus ipsumque huiusmodi statu stilo titulo honore dignitate per cincturam gladij insigniuerimus realiter nobilitauerimus This was set downe for causes more then one The world beléeues no more than it hath seene When things lye dead and tyme is past and gone Blynd people say it is not so we weene It is a tale deuisde to please the eare More for delight of toyes then troth may beare But those that thinks this may a fable be To Authors good I send them here from me First let them search Records as I haue done Then shall they finde this is most certaine true And all the rest before I here begun Is taken out not of no writers nue The oldest sort and soundest men of skill Myne Authors are now reade their names who will Their workes their words and so their learning through Shall shewe you all what troth I write of now BEcause many that fauoured not Wales parsiall writers and historians haue written set downe their owne opinions as they pleased to publish of that Countrey I therefore a little degresse from the orderly matter of the booke and touch somewhat the workes and wordes of them that rashly haue written more then they knewe or well could proue As learned men hath wrote graue works of yore So great regard to natiue Soyle they had For such respect I blame now Pollydore Because of Wales his iudgement was but bad If Buckanan the Scottish Poet late Were here in sprite of Brittons to debate He should finde men that would with him dispute And many a pen which would his works confute But with the dead the quick may neuer striue Though sondrie works of theirs were little worth Yet better farre they had not bene aliue Than sowe such seedes as brings no goodnesse forth Their praise is small that plucks backe others fame Their loue not great that blots out neighbours name Their bookes but brawles their bable bauld and bare That in disdaine of fables writers are What fable more then say they knowe that thing They neuer sawe and so giue iudgement streight And by their bookes the world in error bring That thinks it reades a matter of great weight When that a tale of much vntroth is told Thus all that shines and glisters is not gold Nor all the bookes that auncient Fathers wrate Are not alo'wd for troth in euery state Though Caesar was a wise and worthie Prince And conquerd much of Wales and England both The writers than and other Authors since Did flatter tyme and still abuse the troth Same for a fee and some did humors feede When sore was healde to make a wound to bleede And some sought meanes their patient still to please When body throwe was full of foule disease The worldly wits that with each tyme would wagge Were caryed cleane away from wisedomes lore They rather watcht to fill an emptie bagge Than touch the tyme then present or before Nor car'd not much for future tyme to come They rould vp tyme like thréede about the thome And when their clue on trifles all was spent Much rotten stuffe vnto the garment went Which stuffe patcht vp a péece of homely ware In Printers shop set out to sale sometyme Which ill wrought worke at length became so bare It neither seru'd for prose nor pleasant ryme But past like that and old wiues tales full vayne That thunders long but neuer brings forth rayne A kynd of sound that makes a hurling noyse To feare young babes with brute of bugges and toyes But aged sires of riper wit and skill Disdaines to reade such rabble farst with lyes This is enough to shewe you my goodwill Of Authors true and writers graue and wise Whose pen shall proue each thing in printed booke Whose eyes withall on matter straunge did looke And whose great charge and labour witnesse beares Their words are iust they offer to your eares Each Nation had some writer in their daies For to aduaunce their Countrey to the Starres Homer was one who gaue the Greekes great praise And honord not the Troyans for their warres Liui among the Romaines wrate right mitch With rare renowne his Countrey to enritch And Pollidore did ply the pen a pace To blurre
whose Armes are in the same Chappell William Smith Bishop of Lincolne was the first Lord President of Wales in Prince Arthurs daies Ieffrey Blythe Bishoppe of Couentrie and Litchfield Lord President Rowland Lée Bishoppe of Couentrie and Litchfield Lord President Ihou Uessie Bishop of Exeter Lord President Richard Sampson Bishop of Couentrie and Litchfield Lord President Iohn Duldley Earle of Warwick after Duke of Northumberland Lord President Sir William Harbert after Earle of Penbroke Lord President Nicholas Heath Bishop of Worcester Lord President Sir William Harbert once againe Lord President Gilbert Browne Bishop of Bathe and Welles Lord President Lord Williams of Tame Lord President Sir Harry Sidney Lord President Sir Andrew Corbret Knight Uicepresident There are two blancks left without Armes Sir Thomas Dynam Knight is mentioned there to doe some great good act Iohn Scory Bishop of Hartford Nicholas Bullingham Bishop of Worcester Nicholas Robinson Bishop of Bangore Richard Dauies Bishop of Saint Dauies Thomas Dauies Bishop of Saint Assaph Sir Iames Crofts Knight Controller Sir Iohn Throgmorton Knight Iustice of Chester and the three Shieres of Eastwales Sir Hugh Cholmley Knight Sir Nicholas Arnold Knight Sir George Bromley Knight and Iustice of the three shieres in Wales William Gerrard Lord Chauncellor of Ireland and Iustice of the three Shieres in Southwales Charles Foxe Esquier and Secretorie Ellice Price Doctor of the Lawe Edward Leighton Esquier Richard Seborne Esquier Richard Pates Esquier Rafe Barton Esquier George Phetyplace Esquier William Leighton Esquier Myles Sands Esquier The Armes of al these afore spoken of are gallantly and cunningly set out in the Chappell Now is to be rehearsed that Sir Harry Sidney being Lord President buylt twelue roumes in the sayd Castle which goodly buildings doth shewe a great beautie to the same He made also a goodly Wardrope vnderneath the new Parlor and repayred an old Tower called Mortymers Tower to kéepe the auncient Records in the same and he repayred a fayre roume vnder the Court house to the same entent and purpose and made a great wall about the woodyard built a most braue Condit within the inner Court and all the newe buildings ouer the Gate Sir Harry Sidney in his daies and gouernement there made and set out to the honour of the Quéene and glorie of the Castle There are in a goodly or stately place set out my Lord Earle of Warwicks Armes the Earle of Darbie the Earle of Worcester the Earle of Penbroke and Sir Harry Sidneys Armes in like maner al these stand on the left hand of the Chamber On the other side are the Armes of Northwales and Southwales two red Lyons and two golden Lyons Prince Arthurs At the end of the dyning Chamber there is a pretie deuice how the Hedgehog brake the chayne and came from Ireland to Ludloe There is in the Hall a great grate of Iron of a huge height so much is written only of the Castle ⧠The Towne of Ludloe and many good gifts graunted to the same KIng Edward fourth for seruice truely done When Henry sixt and he had mortall warre No sooner he by force the victorie wone But with great things the Towne he did prefarre Gaue lands thereto and libertie full large Which royall gifts his bountie did declare And dayly doth mainteyne the Townes great charge Whose people now in as great freedome are As any men vnder this rule and Crowne That liues and dwels in Citie or in Towne Two Bayliefes rules one yéere the Towne throughout Twelue Aldermen they haue there in likewise Who doth beare sway as turne doth come about Who chosen are by oth and auncient guise Good lawes they haue and open place to pleade In ample sort for right and Iustice sake A Preacher too that dayly there doth reade A Schoolemaster that doth good schollers make And for the Queere are boyes brought vp to sing And so serue God and doe none other thing Thrée tymes a day in Church good Saruice is At sixe a clocke at nine and then at three In which due howers a straunger shall not mis But sondrie sorts of people there to see And thirtie thrée poore persons they maintaine Who wéekely haue both money almes and ayde Their lodging free and further to be plaine Still once a weeke the poore are truely payde Which shewes great grace and goodnesse in that Seate Where rich doth see the poore shall want no meate An Hospitall there hath bene long of old And many things pertayning to the same A goodly Guyld the Township did vphold By Edwards gift a King of worthie fame This Towne doth choose two Burgesses alwaies For Parliament the custome still is so Two Fayres a yéere they haue on seuerall daies Three Markets kept but monday chiefe I troe And two great Parkes there are full néere the Towne But those of right pertaine vnto the Crowne These things rehearst makes Ludloe honord mitch And world to thinke it is an auncient Seate Where many men both worthie wise and ritch Were borne and bred and came to credit great Our auncient Kings and Princes there did rest Where now full oft the Presdent dwels a space It stands for Wales most apt most fit and best And néerest to at hand of any place Wherefore I thought it good before I end Within this booke this matter should be pend The rest of Townes that in Shropshiere you haue I néede not touch they are so throughly knowne And further more I knowe they cannot craue To be of Wales how euer brute be blowne So wishing well as duetie doth me binde To one and all as farre as power may goe I knit vp here as one that doth not minde Of natiue Soyle no further now to showe So cease my muse let pen and paper pause Till thou art calde to write of other cause ⧠An Introduction to remember Shropshiere HOw hath thy muse so long bene luld a sléepe What deadly drinke hath sence in slumber brought Doth poyson cold through blood and bosome créepe Or is of spite some charme by witchcraft wrought That vitall spréetes hath lost their feeling quite Or is the hand so weake it cannot write Come ydle man and shewe some honest cause Why writers pen makes now so great a pause Can Wales be nam'de and Shropshiere be forgote The marshes must make muster with the rest Shall Sallop say their countreyman doth dote To treate of things and write what thinks him best No sure such fault were dubble error plaine If in thy pen be any Poets vayne Or gifts of grace from Skyes did drop on thée Than Shrewsebrie Towne thereof first cause must bée Both borne and bred in that same Seate thou wast Of race right good or els Records do lye From whence to schoole where euer Churchyard past To natiue Soyle he ought to haue an eye Speake well of all and write what world may proue Let nothing goe beyond thy Countries loue Wales once it
of and yet deserueth most greatest lawdation And in deede the more honorable it is for that your Highnesse princely Auncestors sprong forth of the noble braunches of that Nation Thus duetifully praying for your Maiesties long preseruation by whose bountie and goodnesse I a long while haue liued I wish your Highnesse all the hap honour victorie and harts ease that can be desired or imagined Your Highnesse humble Seruant and Subiect Thomas Churchyard ⧠To euery louing and friendly Reader IT may seeme straunge good Reader that I haue chosen in the end of my daies to trauaile and make discription of Countries whereas the beginning of my youth and a long while after I haue hauÌ„ted the warres and written somewhat of Martiall Discipline but as euery season breedeth a seuerall humour and the humours of men are diuers drawing the mynd to sondrie dispositions so common occasion that commands the iudgement hath set me a worke and the warme good will affection borne in breast towards the worthie Countrey of Wales hath haled me often forward to take this labour in hand which many before haue learnedly handled But yet to shewe a difference in writing and a playnnesse in speech because playne people affects no florishing phrase I haue now in as ample a maner without borrowed termes as I could declared my opinion of that sweete Soyle and good Subiects therof euen at that very instant when Wales was almost forgotten or scarce remembred with any great lawdation when it hath merited to be written of for sondrie famous causes most meete to be honored and necessary to be touched in First the world will confesse or els it shall do wrong that some of our greatest Kings that haue conquered much were borne bred in that Countrey which Kings in their times to the glory of England haue wrought wonders brought great benefites to our weale publicke Among the same Princes I pray you giue me leaue to place our good Queene Elizabeth and pardoÌ„ me withall to commit you to the Chronicles for the seeking out of her Auncestors noble actions and suffer me to shewe a little of the goodnesse gathered by vs from her Maiesties well doing and possessed a long season from her princely and iust dealings An act so noble notorious that neither can escape immortall fame nor shall not passe my pen vnresited Now weigh in what plight was our state when she came first to the Crowne and see how soone Religion was reformed a matter of great moment peace planted and warres vtterly extinguished as the sequell yet falleth out Then behold how she succoured the afflicted in Fraunce let the going to Newhauen beare witnesse and chargeably without breaking of League mainteyned her friends and amazed her enemies Then looke into the seruice and preseruation of Scotland at the siege of Leeth and see how finely the French were al shipped away they being a great power and sent home in such sort that neuer since they had mynd to returne thether againe in that fashion and forme that they sayled towards Scotland at the first Then consider how bace our money was in what short tyme with little losse to our Countrey the bad coyne was conuerted to good siluer and so is like to continue to the end of the world Then in the aduancing of Gods word and good people regard how Rochell was relieued and Rone and other places fouÌ„d cause to pray for her life who sought to purchase their peace and see them in safetie Then thinke on the care she tooke for Flaunders during the first troubles and how that Countrey had bene vtterly destroyed if her Highnes helping hand had not propped vp that tottering State Then Christianly coÌ„ceiue how many mulâ—itudes of strangers she hath giuen gracious countenance vnto and hath freely licensed them to liue here in peace and rest Then paise in an equall ballance the daungerous estate of Scotland once againe when the Kings owne Subiects kept the Castle of Edenbrough against their owne naturall Lord Maister which presumptuous part of Subiects her Highnesse could not abide to behold wherevpon she sent a sufficient power to ayde the Kings Maiestie which power valiantly wonne the Castle and freely deliuered the same to the right owner thereof with all the treasure and prisoners therein Then regard how honourably she hath dealt with diuers Princes that came to see her or needed her magnificeÌ„t supportation and countenance Then looke throughly into the mightinesse managing of all matters gone about and put in exercise princely and yet peaceably since the day of her Highnesse Coronation and you shalbe forced to confesse that she surmounts a great number of her Predecessors and she is not at this day no whit inferiour to the greatest Monarke of the world Is not such a peereles Queene then a comfort to Wales a glorie to England and a great reioysing to all her good neighbours And doth not she daily deserue to haue bookes dedicated in the highest degree of honor to her Highnesse Yes vndoubtedly or els my sences and iudgement fayleth me So good Reader do iudge of my labours my pen is procured by a band of causes to write as farre as my knowledge may leade and my duetie hath no end of seruice nor no limits are set to a loyall Subiect but to wish and worke to the vttermost of power Within this worke are seuerall discourses some of the beautie blessednes of the Countrey some of the strength and statelynesse of their inpregnable Castles some of their trim Townes and fine situation some of their antiquitie shewing from what Kings and Princes they tooke their first name and prerogatiue So generally of all maner of matters belonging to that Soyle as Churches Monuments Mountaynes Valleys Waters Bridges fayre Gentlemens houses and the rest of things whatsoeuer may become a writers pen to touch or a readers iudgement to knowe I write not contenciously to find fault with any or confute the former writers and tyme but to aduaunce and winne credite to the present trueth agreeing and yeelding to all former tymes and ages that hath iustly giuen euery Nation their due and truely without affection hath set downe in plaine words the worthines of plaine people for I honor and loue as much a true Author as I hate and detest a reporter of trifeling fables A true Historie is called the Mistresse of life and yet all Historyographers in writing of one thing agree not well one with another because the writers were not present in the tymes in the places nor saw the persons they make meÌ„tion of but rather haue leaned and listned on the common report than stayed or trusted to their owne experience Strabo a most famous writer findes fault for the like occasion with Erstaotheus Metrodorus Septius Possidonius and Patrocles the Geographer And such discord did arise amoÌ„g writers in tyme past as Iosephus saith against Appio that they reprooued one another by bookes and all men in
Archbishop that Dubrick hight Did crowne this King in déede Foure Kings before him bore in sight Foure golden Swords we réede These Kings were famous of renowne Yet for their homage due Repayrd vnto Carleon Towne As I rehearse to you How many Dukes and Earles withall Good Authors can you tell And so true writers shewe you shall How Arthur there did dwell What Court he kept what Acts he did What Conquest he obtaynd And in what Princely honor still King Arthur long remaynd Quéene Gueneuer was crown'd likewise In Iulius Church they say Where that fower Quéenes in solemne guise In royall rich aray Foure Pigeons white bore in their hands Before the Princesse face In signe the Quéene of Brittish Lands Was worthie of that grace Carleon lodged all these Kings And many a noble Knight As may be prou'd by sondrie things That I haue seene in sight The bounds hath bene nine myles about The length thereof was great It shewes it self this day throughout It was a Princes Seate In Arthurs tyme a Table round Was there whereat he sate As yet a plot of goodly ground Sets foorth that rare estate The Citie reacht to Creet church than And to Saint Gillyans both Which yet appeares to view of man To trye this tale a troth There are such Uautes and hollowe Caues Such walles and Condits déepe Made all like pypes of earthen pots Wherein a child may créepe Such streates and pauements sondrie waies To euery market Towne Such Bridges built in elders daies And things of such renowne As men may muse of to behold But chiefly for to note There is a Castle very old That may not be forgot It stands vpon a forced Hill Not farre from flowing flood Where loe ye view long Uales at will Enuyron'd all with wood A Seate for any King aliue The Soyle it is so swéete Fresh springs doth streames of water driue Almost through euery streate From Castle all these things are seene as pleasures of the eye The goodly Groues and Uallies gréene and wooddie Mountaines hye The crooked Créekes and pretie Brookes that are amid the Plaine The flowing Tydes that spreads the land and turnes to Sea againe The stately Woods that like a hoope doth compasse all the Uale The Princely plots that stands in troope to beautifie the Dale The Riuers that doth daily runne as cleare as Christall stone Shewes that most pleasures vnder Sunne Carleon had alone Great ruth to see so braue a Soyle Fall in so sore decay In sorowe sit full nere the foyle As Fortune fled away And world forsooke to knowledge those That earst hath bene so greate Where Kings and graue Philosophers Made once therein their Seate Vrbs legionum was it namde In Caesars daies I trowe And Arthur holding resdence there As stories plainly showe Not only Kings and noble Péeres Repayrde vnto that place But learned men full many yéeres Receiu'd therein their grace Than you that auncient things denyes Let now your talke surcease When profe is brought before your eyes Ye ought to hold your peace And let Carleon haue his right And ioye his wonted fame And let each wise and worthie wight Speake well of Arthurs name Would God the brute thereof were knowne In Countrey Court and Towne And she that sits in reagall Throne With Scepter Sword and Crowne Who came from Arthurs rase and lyne Would marke these matters throwe And shewe thereon her gracious eyne To helpe Carleon now Thus farre my pen in Arthurs praise Hath past for plainnesse sake In honor of our elders daies That kéepes my muse awake All only for to publish plaine Tyme past tyme present both That tyme to come may well retaine Of each good tyme the troth ¶ An Introduction to the Letters sent from Lucius Tyberius at the Coronation of King Arthur NOt vnwilling to delate and make large the matter now written of further because the raigne of King Arthur is diuersly treated on and vncertainly spoken of the men of this world are growen so wise I haue searched and found in good Authors such certaintie of King Arthur and matter that merits the reading that I am compelled with pen to explaine and with some paines and studie to pâ—esent the world with in generall The substance whereof being in Latin may be read and vnderstood by thousands is englished because the common sorte as well as the learned shall see how little the Kings and Princes of this Land haue esteemed the power of the Romaines or manasing and force of any forraine foe whatsoeuer And for the amending of my tale let our Soueraine Ladie be well considered of whose graces passeth my pen to shewe and you shall see great things are encountred and no small matters gone about and brought to good passe in the action afore named which becommeth well a Quéene of that race who is descended of so noble a progenie But now purposing orderly to procéede to the former discourse and to rehearse word for word as it was left by our forefathers men of great learning and knowledge I haue set doune some such Letters and Orations as peraduenture wil make you to maruell of or at the least to thinke on so much that some one among a multitude will yéeld me thankes for my labour and rather encourage a true writer to continue in the like exercises then to giue him any occasion to sit ydle and so forget the vse of pen. There followeth hereafter those things before mentioned which I hope the Readers will iudge with aduisement and construe to the best intent and meaning For this matter not only shewes by good authoritie the royall Coronation of King Arthur but in like maner declares with what pride and pomp the Romaines sent hether at the very instant of this great tryumph for tribute and homage at which proud and presumptuous demaund King Arthur and all his other Princes about him began to bee greatly moued and presently without further delay gaue so sharpe and sodaine an answer to the Embassadors of Rome that they were so vexed and abashed therewith that they neither knewe well how to take it nor made any further reply as followes by matter presently here if you please throughly to reade it Consider withall that after this Embassage King Arthur in plaine battaile slue Lucius and had gone to Rome to haue bene crowned Emperour there if Mordred had not made a reuolt in Arthurs owne kingdome The Coronation and solemnitie therof The Embassage and proude message of the Romaines And the whole resolution of King Arthur therein is first set forth here in English THE appoynted tyme of the solemnitie approching and all being readie assembled in the Citie of Carleon the Archbishops London and Yorke and in the Citie of Carleon the Archbishop Dubright were conueighed to the Palace with royall solemnitie to crowne King Arthur Dubright therefore because the Court then lay within his Diocesse furnished