we may see in the Histories whether by celestiall influence or other hidden causes I leave to the learned But so farre as I could hitherto reade it did never set foote in England before that time Besides these places before named of great name and marke wee must not overpasse neither Melton Mowbray neere unto this Burton a Mercate Towne bearing name of the Mowbraies sometime Lords thereof wherein is nothing more worth the seeing than a faire Church nor Skeffington standing farther off which as it hath given name to a worshipfull Family so againe it hath received worship and credit from the same The River that watereth this part of the Shire is by the Inhabitants about it called the Wreken along which upon resemblance of the name I have sought VERNOMETUM but in vaine This Wreken gathereth a strong streame by many lively Brookes resorting unto it whereof one passeth by Wimondham an ancient habitation of a younger branch of the house of the Lords Barkleis well encreased by an heire of Dela-Laund and so on by Melton Mowbray before mentioned by Kirkby Bellers where there was a Priory having that addition of the Bellers a respective rich and noble Family in their time by Brokesby a seat now of the Villiers of an old Norman race and descended from an heire of Bellers which Brokesby imparted formerly the sirname to the Brokesbies of especiall antiquity in these parts Then the Wreken speedeth by Ratcliffe high mounted upon a cliffe and within few miles conjoyneth it selfe to Soar neere unto Mont-Soar-hill before mentioned Whatsoever of this Shire lieth beyond the Wreken Northward is not so frequently inhabited and part of it is called the Wold as being hilly without wood wherein Dalby a seat of the old Family of the Noels of whom I shall speake elsewhere and Waltham on the Wold a meane Mercat are most notable Through this part as I have beene enformed passeth the Fosse-way made by the Romans from Lewing Bridge by Segrave which gave sirname to the honourable Family often mentioned and the Lodge on the Wold toward the Vale of Bever but the Tract thereof as yet I know not This Shire hath beene more famous from time to time by reason of the Earles thereof have beene very renowned And seeing it had under the Saxons government Earles by inheritance I will first reckon them up in order as Thomas Talbot a skilfull Antiquary hath delivered me a note of them out of the kings Records In the time of Aethelbald King of the Mercians and in the yeere of our Redemption 716. Leofrick was Earle of Leicester whom there succeeded in direct line Algar the first Algar the second Leofrick the second Leofstane Leofrick the third buried in Coventry Algar the third who had issue two sonnes Aeadwin Earle of March Morkar Earle of Northumberland and a daughter named Lucy first married to Ivon Talboys of Anjou afterwards to Roger of Romara who begat of her William of Romara Earle of Lincolne Now when as the issue male of this Saxon Family failed and the name of the Saxons was troden as it were under foot Robert Beaumont a Norman Lord of Pont Audomar and Earle of Mellent after that Simon an officiary Earle of Leicester was dead obtained his Earledome in the yeere of our Lord 1102. at the bountifull hand of King Henry the First which Robert A man for skill and knowledge excellent faire spoken subtile wise and witty and by nature wily who while hee lived in high and glorious estate an other Earle carried away his wife from him whereupon in his old age being much troubled in minde he fell into deepe melancholy After him succeeded from father to sonne three Roberts the first sirnamed Bossu because hee was crook-backed who after he had rebelled against King Henry the First weary of his loose irregular life became a Chanon Regular the second sirnamed Blanch-maines of his lily-white-hands who sided with the young King against King Henry the Second and dyed in the expedition of King Richard the First to the Holy Land the third sirnamed Fitz-Parnell because his mother was Parnels daughter and one of the heires to Hugh Grant-maismill the last in whose right hee was Seneschall or Steward of England and died issuelesse in the time of King John A few yeeres after Simon Montfort descended from a base sonne of Robert King of France who had married the sister of Robert Fitz-Parnell enjoyed this honour But after that hee and his were expelled in the yeere 1200. as wholy devoted to the French Ranulph Earle of Chester attained unto this Dignity not in right of inheritance but by his Princes favour Howbeit afterwards Simon Montfort sonne of the foresaid Simon obtained this honour when Almarik his eldest brother surrendred up his right before King Henry the Third This Simon stood in so gracious favour with King Henry the Third that hee called him home againe out of France when he was banished heaped upon him great wealth admitted him unto the Earledome of Leicester granted to him the Stewardship of England and to honour him the more gave him his owne sister in marriage But hee thus over-heaped with honourable benefits when he had no meanes to requite them such is the perverse wilfulnesse of men beganne hatefully to maligne him yea and did most wickedly molest the good King having so well deserved making himselfe Ringleader to the rebellious Barons and with them raising horrible tempests of civill warre in which himselfe also at length was overthrowne and slaine As for his Honours and Possessions King Henry the Third gave and graunted them to Edmund his owne younger sonne Earle of Lancaster So afterward this honour lay as it were obscured among the Titles of the house of Lancaster and Mawde the daughter of Henry Duke of Lancaster being married to Henry Duke of Bavaria Earle of Henault Holland Zeland c. added unto his other Titles this of Earle of Leicester also For in the Charter dated the five and thirty yeere of King Edward the Third hee is in plaine termes stiled William Earle of Henhault and of Leicester yea and as we finde in the Inquisition made Anno 36. of the said King Edward the Third shee by the name of Dutchesse of Bavaria held the Castle Manour and Honour of Leicester After whose decease without issue that honour reverted to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster who had wedded Blanch the other sister of Mawde From which time it became united to the House of Lancaster untill in our remembrance it reflourished in L. Robert Dudley who was by Queene Elizabeth girt with the sword of the Earledome of Leicester and extraordinarily favoured whereupon the States Generall of the united Provinces in their great troubles chose him triumphantly for their absolute Governour and soone after as contemptuously rejected him reserving all Soveraignty to themselves But after a short time he passed out of this transitory life
which were left behind to build fortresses in the Silures country And if the villages ans forts next adjoyning had not speedily come to rescue they had beene put to the sword every man Neverthelesse the Camp-Master with eight Centurions and all the forwardest maniples of common souldiers were slaine and not long after they put to flight our forragers and the very troupes of horsemen that were sent out to succour them Then Ostorius setteth out certaine companies lightly appointed and yet thereby could not stay their flight had not the Legions come in and undertooke the battell By their strength they fought with small ods on either hand but afterward wee had the better of it and the enemie betooke himselfe to his heeles and escaped with small losse because the day was farre spent After this they had many skirmishes and for the most part in manner of rodes and robberies in woods on marishes rashly or with foresight it skilled not according as it fell out either as occasion by chance or their owne hearts served them one while for anger another while for booty sometime by commandement from their Captaines and sometimes againe without their warrant and privitie but principally through the wilfull obstinacie of the Silures who were exasperated with a speech of the Roman Generalls that was bruted abroad and came to their eares which was this That as the Sugambri were rooted out and transported over into Gaul so the name of the Silures should utterly be extinguished And in this heat they intercepted two auxiliary bands as they through the avarice of their Praefects forraied and spoiled without advised circumspection Also by large giving away of spoiles and prisoners they drew the rest of the Nations to revolt And then Ostorius wearied with care and griefe of heart yielded up his vitall breath Whereat the enemies rejoyced as at the death of a Captaine not to be despised who though he died not in battell yet was toiled out and spent by reason of the warres But Caesar having intelligence of his Lieutenants death lest the Province should bee destitute of a governour appointed A. Didius in his place He beeing thither come with great speed yet found not all in good state For in the meane space the Legion whereof Manlius Valens had the charge met with an unlucky and disasterous fight The fame whereof the enemies had made greater than it was to terrifie the captaine which was comming who also in the like policie multiplied all that he heard to win more praise by appeasing those troubles or to purchase pardon more easily if they continued still The Silures were they that wrought us this displeasure and damage whereupon they overran the province far and nere untill such time as by Didius his comming they were driven backe About this time Claudius departed this life and Nero succeeded him in the Empire one who had no heart at all to attempt any thing in warfare nay he was minded once to withdraw the forces out of Britain Neither gave he over that intent of his but onely for shame lest he might have been thought to deprave the glory of Claudius After that Caractacus was taken Venutius a very expert man above the rest in military affaires borne under the state of the Iugantes long time trusty to us and defended by the Romanes power having to wife Queene Cartismandua by occasion soone after of a divorce and then of open war between them rebelled also against us and proceeded to plaine hostility At the first the quarrell was onely between them two untill Cartismandua by pollicie and craft had intercepted the brother and neere kinsmen of Venutius Whereupon our enemies kindled with rage and pricked forward with an ignominous indignity lest they should be brought under the yoke of a womans government with a strong power of choise youth by force of armes invaded her kingdome which was foreseen by us and thereupon were cohorts sent to aid her and they fought a hot battell The beginning whereof was doubtfull but the end more joifull The Legion also which Cesius Nasica commanded fought with like successe For Didius yee must thinke being strucken in yeeres and having many honours heaped upon him thought it sufficient to execute his charge and keep off the enemy by the ministery of others For what was woon by others he held onely a few fortresses he built forward farther into the country whereby he might purchase the name of enlarging his office These exploits although they were atchieved by two Propraetors Ostorius and Didius in many years yet I thought good to joyne together lest beeing severed they should not so well have beene remembred After Didius Avicus there succeeded Verannius who having with small rodes spoiled the Silures was hindered by death for warring any farther a man while he lived carrying a great name of precise severitie but in his last will he shewed himselfe manifestly ambitious For after much flattering of Nero he added this That he would have subdued the Province unto his obedience if he had lived the next two yeares But then Suetonius Paulinus governed the Britans one in martiall skill and opinion of the people which suffereth no man without a concurrent striving to match Corbule desirous to equall the honour which he won in recovering Armenia by subduing the enemies that stood out in this country And therefore hee maketh all the preparation hee can to invade the Isle of Mona peopled with strong Inhabitants and a receptacle of traiterous fugitives To this purpose hee buildeth flat botom vessels for the shalowes and uncertaine landing places Thus the footmen passed over and then followed the horsemen by the foord or if the waters were any thing high by swimming they put the horses over Against them the enemies stood upon the shore in divers places embattelled thicke in array well appointed with men and weapons with women also running among who all in blacke and mournefull array with their haire about their eares carried firebrands before them in their hands like the Furies of hell The Druidae likewise round about them lifting up their hands to heaven and pouring out deadly and cursing praiers with this so strange and uncoâ—th sight amazed the souldiers so as they stood still as stockes and stirred not a foot as if they would expose their bodies to receive all wounds presented unto them But afterwards being encouraged by their Captaine and animating one another that they should not feare a flocke of women and franticke people they displaied their ensignes and advanced forward Downe they went with such as encountred them and thrust them within their owne fires This done they planted garrisons in their townes and cut downe their woods and groves consecrated to their execrable superstitions For they accounted it lawfull to offer sacrifies upon their altars with the bloud of captives and to aske counsell of their Gods by inspection of mens fibres and entrailes As Suetonius was
which after sundry skirmishes with divers event delivered the Queenes person out of perill but the kingdome remained to Venutius and the warre unto us Now when as the state of Rome Citie was for Vespasian governed by Mutianus hee made Iulius Agricola who was gone to side with Vespasian and had behaved himselfe with great integritie and courage Lieutenant of the two and twentieth Legion in Britanny a Legion which slowly had sworne allegiance to Vespasian In which province his predecessour by report seditiously demeaned himselfe For the said Legion was out of awe or rather it over-awed even Lieutenants generall that had beene Consuls Neither was the ordinarie Legions Lieutenant who had beene but Praetor of power sufficient to restrain and keepe it under whether it were through his owne weaknesse or the stubborne disposition of the souldiers it is not certaine Thus being elected both to succeede and revenge hee shewed an example of most rare moderation in making choice to bee thought rather to have found them than to have made them dutifull souldiers And albeit that Vectius Bolanus Lieutenant Generall of Britannie for the time being governed in a gentler and milder manner than was fit for so fierce a Province Yet under him Agricola cunningly conforming himselfe to that humor and not unlearned to joyne profitable counsels with honest tempered the heat of his owne nature that it might not grow upon him still But when as Vespasian recovered together with the rest of the world Britanny also brave captaines good souldiers were sent and the enemies hope was greatly abated For straightwaies Petilius Cerialis strooke a terror into them by invading at his first entry the Brigantes thought to be the most populous state of the whole Province Many battels were fought and some bloudy And the greatest of the Brigantes he either conquered or wasted And whereas Cerialis would doubtlesse have dimmed the diligence and fame of another successor Iulius Frontinus a great man sustained also as hee might after such a predecessor that waightie charge with reputation and credit who subdued the puissant and warlike people of the Silures where he had beside the vertue of the enemie struggled with the streights and difficult places In this estate Agricola found the Province and the wars thus far proceeded in when as about the middest of summer he passed the seas at what time the souldiers as if the season were past attended an end for that yeare of their service and the enemie occasions to begin for to hurt The Ordovices a little before he entred the land had hewed almost wholly in pieces a wing which lay in their borders Vpon which beginning the countrey being awaked as men desirous of warre allowed the example and some staied to see how the new Lieutenant would take it Then Agricola although the Summer was spent and the bands lay dispersed in the Province and his souldiers had fully presumed of rest for that yeare which hindred much and crossed directly his undertaking of warre most men also being of opinion rather to keepe and assure the places suspected all this notwithstanding resolved fully to encounter the danger having gathered therefore the ensignes of the Legions and some few Auxiliaries because the Ordovices durst not descend into indifferent ground himselfe before the voward to give others like courage in the like danger led up in battell-ray to encounter the enemie And having slaughtered almost the whole nation knowing full well that fame must with instance be followed and as the first fell out so the rest would succeede hee deliberated to conquer the Island Mona from the possession whereof as before I have rehearsed Paullinus was revoked by the generall rebellion of Britannie But as in purposes not resolved on before ships being wanting the pollicie and resolutenesse of the captaine devised a passage over For he commanded the most choise of the Aid-souldiers to whom all the foords and shallowes were knowne and who after the usuall practise of their countrie were able in swimming to governe all at once themselves their armour and horses laying aside their carriage to put over at once and suddenly invade them Which thing so amazed the enemie attending for a fleet for shipping for tide that they surely believed nothing could bee hard or invincible to men that came so minded to war Whereupon they humbly intreated for peace and yielded the Island Thus Agricola at his first entry into this province which time other consume in vaine ostentation or ambitious seeking of complements entring withall into labors and dangers became famous indeed and of great reputation Neither abused Agricola the prosperous proceeding of his affaires to vanity or braving in speeches as to tearme it an exploit or a conquest thus to have kept in order persons subdued before or to bedeck with lawrell his letters of advertisement but by stopping and suppressing the fame he augmented it the more whiles men began to discourse upon what great presumptions of future successe hee should make so light an account of such great actions already performed as not to speake a word of them Now as touching civill government Agricola knowing right well the disposition and mind of the Province taught also by the experience of others that armes availe little to settle a new conquered State if injuries and wrongs bee permitted determined to cut off all causes of warres And beginning at home his owne house first of all he reformed and restrained a point of as much hardnesse with many as to governe a province He committed no manner of publike affaires to bond men or freed hee admitted no souldier about his person either upon private affection of partiall suiters or upon the commendation and intreatie of Centurions but elected simply the best presuming the same to be the most faithfull He would see into all things but not exact all things to the rigor Light faults he would pardon and the great severely correct not alwaies proceeding to punish but often content with repentance chusing rather not to preferre unto office and charge such as were like to offend than after offence to condemne them The augmentation of corne and tributes he mollified with equall dividing of charge and burthen cutting away those petty extortions which grieved the subject more than the tribute it selfe For the poore people were constained in a mockery to waite at the barnes fast locked against them and first to buy the corne then after to sell it at a price Severall waies were enioyned and far distant places by the purveiors commandement that the country should carry from the neerest standing-camps to those which were far off out of the way till that which lay open to all and at hand was turned in fine to the gaine of a few By repressing these abuses presently in his first yeare a good opinion was conceived from him of peace which either by the negligence or connivence of former Lieutenants was now no lesse feared than
said What ever vaine excesse affects what may mans need content Shall come from thee or else to thee from other lands be sent This plentifull abundance these goodly pleasures of Britain have perswaded some that those fortunate Islands wherein all things as Poets write do still flourish as in a perpetuall Spring tide were sometime heere with us For this doth one Isacius Tzetzes a Greek Author of no small credit affirme and our ancestours seeme to have believed the same as a certaine truth For what time as Pope Clement the sixth as wee read in Robert of Aevsburie had elected Lewis of Spaine to bee the Prince of those fortunate Islands and for to aid and assist him mustered souldiers in France and Italie our countrymen were verily perswaded That hee was chosen Prince of Britâ—ine and that all the said preparation was for Britaine as one saith he of the fortunate Islands Yea and even those most prudent personages themselves our Legier Embassadours there with the Pope were so deeply setled in this opinion that forthwith they withdrew themselves from Rome and hastned with all speed into England there to certifie their countreymen and friends of the matter Neither will any man now judge otherwise who throughly knoweth the blessed estate and happie wealth of Britaine For Nature tooke a pleasure in the framing thereof and seemeth to have made it as a second world sequestred from the other to delight mankind withall yea and curiously depainted it of purpose as it were a certaine portraict to represent a singular beautie and for the ornament of the universall world with so gallant and glittering variety with so pleasant a shew are the beholders eies delighted which way soever they glance To say nothing of the Inhabitants whose bodies are of an excellent good constitution their demeanour right courteous their natures as gentle and their courage most hardie and valiant whose manhood by exploits atchieved both at home and abroad is famously renowned thorow the whole world But who were the most ancient and the very first Inhabitants of this Isle as also from whence this word Britan had the originall derivation sundry opinions one after another have risen and many we have seene who being uncertaine in this point have seemed to put downe the certaine resolution thereof Neither can we hope to attaine unto any certaintie heerein more than all other nations which setting those aside that have their originall avouched unto them out of holy Scripture as well as wee touching their point abide in great darkenesse errour and ignorance And how to speake truly can it otherwise be considering that the trueth after so many revolutions of ages and times could not chuse but be deepely hidden For the first inhabitours of countreys had other cares and thoughts to busie and trouble their heads than to deliver their beginnings unto posteritie And say they had been most willing so to do yet possibly could they not seeing their life was so uncivill so rude so full of warres and therefore void of all literature which keeping companie with a civill life by peace and repose is onely able to preserve the memorie of things and to make over the same to the succeeding ages Moreover the Druidae who being in the olde time the Priests of the Britans and Gaules were supposed to have knowne all that was past the Bardi that used to resound in song all valours and noble acts thought it not lawfull to write and booke any thing But admit they had recorded ought in so long continuance of time in so many and so great turnings and overturnings of States doubtlesse the same had beene utterly lost seeing that the very stones pyramides obelisks and other memorable monuments thought to be more durable than brasse have yeelded long agoe to the iniquitie of time Howbeit in the ages soone after following there wanted not such as desired gladly to supplie these defects and when they could not declare the trueth indeed yet at least way for delectation they laboured to bring foorth narrations devised of purpose with certaine pleasant varietie to give contentment and delivered their severall opinions each one after his owne conceit and capacitie touching the originall of Nations and their names Unto which as there were many who neglecting further search into the trueth quickly yeelded connivence so the most sort delighted with the sweetnesse of the Deviser as readily gave credence But to let passe all the rest one Geffrey Ap Arthur of Monmouth among us whom I would not pronounce in this behalfe liable to this suspicion in the raigne of K. Henrie the Second published an Historie of Britaine and that out of the British tongue as hee saith himselfe wherein he writeth That Brutus a Trojane borne the sonne of Silvius nephew of Ascanius and in a third degree nephew to that great Aeneas descended from supreame Jupiter for the goddesse Venus bare him whose birth cost his mother her life and who by chance slew his owne father in hunting a thing that the wise Magi had foretold fled his country and went into Greece where he delivered out of thraldome the progenie of Helenus K. Priamus sonne vanquished King Pandrasus wedded his daughter and accompanied with a remnant of Trojans fell upon the Island Leogetia where by the Oracle of Diana he was advised to goe into this Westerne Isle From thence through the Streights of Gebraltar where he escaped the Mer-maydes and afterward through the Tuskan sea hee came as farre as to Aquitaine in a pight battell defeated Golfarius the Pict King of Aquitaine together with twelve Princes of Gaul and after he had built the citie Tours as witnesseth Homer and made spoile of Gaule passed over sea into this Island inhabited of Giants whom when he had conquered together with Gogmagog the hugest of them all according to his owne name he called it Britaine in the yeare of the world 2855 before the first Olympiad 334. yeares and before the nativitie of Christ 1108. Thus farre Geffrey of Monmouth Yet others there bee that fetch the name of Britaine from some other causes Sir Thomas Eliot by degree a worshipfull Knight and a man of singular learning draweth it from the Greeke fountaine to wit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a tearme that the Athenians gave to their publike Finances or Revenues Humfrey Lhuyd reputed by our countrymen for knowledge of Antiquitie to carrie after a sort with him all the credit and authoritie referreth it confidently to the British word PRID-CAIN that is to say a pure white forme Pomponius Laetus reporteth that the Britons out of Armorica in France gave it that name Goropius Becanus saith that the Danes sought heere to plant themselves and so named it BRIDANIA that is Free Dania Others derive it from PRVTENIA a region in Germanie Bodine supposeth that it tooke the name of BRETTA the Spanish word which signifieth Earth and Forcatulus of BRITHIN which as wee read in Athenaeus
they be wealthy Their bodies are died with woâ—d whether it bee for to make a gallant shew or for what else it is uncertaine They pick quarel of warre at their pleasure to satisfie their owne wills and so oftentimes molest one another but principally upon an ambitious desire of rule and soveraigntie and an encroaching mind they have to enlarge their owne possessions Their fight is not only with horse or footmen but also with wagons and chariots harnessed and armed after the Gaul-like manner such as they call Covinos and in those they use axeltrees armed at both ends with hookes and sithes Cornelius Tacitus The Britans neerest unto Gallia resemble likewise the Gaules either because they retaine still somewhat of the race from which they descended or that in countries butting one against another the same aspects of the heavens doe yield the same complexion of bodies But generally if a man consider all it is most likely the Gaules which lay neerest peopled the land unto them In their ceremonies and superstitious perswation there is to bee seene an apparant conformitie The language differeth not much Like boldnesse to challenge and set into dangers when dangers are come like feare in refusing Saving that the Britans make more shew of courage as beeing not mollified yet with long peace For the Gaules also were once as we read redoubted in war till such time as giving themselves over to ease and idlenesse cowardise crept in and shipwrack was made both of manhood and libertie together And so is it also befallen to those of the Britans which were subdued of old The rest remaine such as the Gaules were before Their strength in the field consisteth of footmen Yet some countries there make war in wagons also The greater personage guideth the wagon his waiters and followers fight out of the same Heretofore they were governed by Kings now they are drawne by petty Princes into Partialities and Factions and this is the greatest helpe wee Romans have against those puissant Nations that they have no common counsell Seldome it chanceth that two or three States meete together and concur to repulse the common danger So whilst one by one fighteth all are subdued In another place An usuall manner it was with the Britans to seeke for the direction of the Gods by looking into the inwards of beasts and to make warre under the conduct of women neither mattereth it whether sex beare rule over them Whereupon learned men thinke Aristotle spake of the Britaines where he writeth That certaine warlike nations beyond the Celtes were subject to the government of women Dio Nicaeus out of the Epitome of Xiphilinus as touching the Britans in the North part of the Island They till no ground They live upon prey venison and fruits For of fish although there is exceeding great plenty thereof they will not taste their abode is in tents naked and unshod Wives they use in common and the children borne of them they all doe foster among them the Comminaltie for the most part doth governe most willing they bee to practise robbing In warre their service is out of Chariots the horses they have be little and swift of pace their footmen runne most speedily whiles they stand they bee strongest the armour and weapons that they use are a shield and short speare in the neather part whereof there hangeth a round bell of brasse like an apple that when it is shaken they might with the sound terrifie and maskre the enemies they have daggers also But principally they can endure hunger cold and any labour whatsoever For sticking fast in the bogs up to the head many daies together they will live without food and within the woods they feed upon the barks and roots of trees A certaine kind of meat they provide ready for all occasions whereof if they take but the quantitie of a Beane they are not wont either to be hungrie or thirstie Herodian They know no vse at all of garments but about their belly onely and necke they weare yron supposing that to be a goodly ornament and a proofe of their wealth like as all other Barbarians esteeme of gold For why their very bare bodies they marke with sundry pictures representing all manner of living creatures and therefore it is verily that they will not be clad for hiding forsooth that painting of their bodies Now they are a most warlike nation and very greedy of slaughter content to bee armed onely with a narrow shield and a speare with a sword besides hanging downe by their naked bodies Vnskilfull altogether how to use either corslet or helmet supposing the same to be an hinderance unto them as they passe over the bogs and marish grounds through the hot vapours arising from whence the skie and aire is there most part foggie The rest of the particulars which are very few I will lightly gather and crop here and there Plinie writing of Magicke But what should I quoth he rehearse these things in an art that hath passed over the Ocean also so far as beyond which nothing is to be discovered but aire and water And even at this day verily it is in Britaine highly honoured where the people are so wholly devoted unto it and that with all compliments of ceremonies as a man would thinke the Persian learned all their Magicke from them The same Plinie There groweth an hearbe in Gaule like unto Plantine named Glastum that is Woad with the juce whereof the women of Britaine as well married wives as their young daughters annoint and die their bodies all over resembling by that tincture the colour of Aethiopians in which manner they use at some solemne feasts and sacrifices to goe all naked Againe Their is not a daintier dish of meate known in Britain than are the Chenerotes fowles lesse than wild geese Also The Britaines wâ—re rings on their middle finger Likewise The Britaines manured their grounds with Marle in stead of dung That they inammelled or branded themselves as it were with certain marks which Tertullian termeth Britannorum stigmata that is The Britans marks Solinus sheweth The Countrey saith he is partly peopled with Barbarians who by the meanes of artificiall incisions of sundry formes have from their childhood divers shapes of beasts incorporate upon them and thus having these their markes deepely imprinted within their bodies looke how a man groweth more and more so doe these pictured characters likewise waxe Neither doe these savage Nations repute any thing to signifie their patience more than by such durable skars to cause their limbs to drinke in much painting and colour Dio. The Britaine 's worshipped as their Goddesses Andate that is Victorie and Adraste Caesar and Lucan Ships they had of which the Keeles the footstocks also or upright standards were made of light timber the rest of the body framed of windings and Oyster was covered over with leather Solinus How long soever they held on their
British pearles the bignesse and weight whereof hee was wont to peize and trie by his hand or rather upon an ardent deâ—ire of glorie which wee must most easily believe considering that he rejected the Embassadors of the Britaines who having intelligence of his designement repaired unto him and promised to put in hostages and to become obedient to the Roman Empire But his entrance into the Island I wil compendiously set down even in his own very words Considering the coasts ports and landing places of Britaine were not well knowne unto Caesar he sent C. Volusenus before with a galley to discover what he might who having taken what view of the countrey hee could in five daies space returned In the meane time the resolution of Caesar being made knowne unto the Britans by merchants many particular States sent their Embassadours to him into Gallia promising both to put in pledges and also to submit themselves unto the Roman Empire Having then exhorted these to continue in that mind still he sent them home backe againe and together with them Comius of Arras a man in those countreys of great authoritie for the Attrebates had before time departed out of Gaule and planted themselves there to perswade the said Cities vnd States to accept of the friendship and protection of the people of Rome No sooner was hee set a shore but the Britaine 's cast him into prison and hung irons upon him Meane while Caesar having gotten together and put in readinesse about fourescore ships of burden for the transporting of two Legions and eighteene others besides which hee appointed for the horsemen put out to sea from the countrey of the Morini at the third watch and about the fourth houre of the day arrived upon the coast at an unfit landing place For the hilles lay so steepe over the sea that from the higher ground a dart or javelin might easily be cast vpon the shore beneath Having therefore at one time both wind and tide with him hee weighed anchor and sailed eight miles from that place unto a plaine and open shore and there hee rid at anchor But the Britaines perceiving the Romans determination sent their horse and chariots before and there kept the Romans from landing Here the Romans were exceeding much distressed For the ships were so great that they could not ride neere unto the shore where the sea was ebbe the souldiers in strange and unknowne places being loden with heavie armour were at one instant to leape downe of necessitie from those tall ships withall to stand amid the very billowes and to fight with their enemies whereas contrariwise the Britaines were perfect in the knowledge of those places lightly appointed as having all parts of their bodies at libertie fought either from the dry shore where they had sure footing or wading not farre into the water Hereupon the Romans being terrified behaved not themselves with the like courage and alacritie as before time But after that Caesar had caused the Gallies to be remooved from those hulkes to bee rowed and laid against the open side of the Britaines and so from thence the enemie to be beaten backe and displaced with slings ordinance and shot of arrowes the Britans being troubled with the strange forme of those Gallies the stirring of the Oares and the unusuall kind of their engines reculed Then the Eagle-bearer of the tenth Legion earnestly beseeching the Gods that it might fall out happily for the Legion Leape downe quoth he my fellow souldiers unlesse ye will forsake your standerd and betray it into the enemies hands For mine owne part I will bee sure to doe my devoir both to the common-weale and also to my Generall so forthwith hee cast himselfe into the sea and began to advance the Eagle against the enemie then all the rest followed hard at his heeles But if we believe Julian Caesar himselfe was the first that came downe from his ship The fight on both parts was very eager But the Romans encombred with their heavie armor and weapons tossed with the waves not able to get any firme footing and put out of array were wonderfully troubled untill such time as Caesar had caused the ship-boats pinnaces and smaller vessels to bee manned with souldiers and when he saw need of helpe sent them to rescue such as were overcharged As soone as the Romans got footing on the dry land they made head together charged the Britaines and put them to flight but they were not able to follow them in chace for want of the horsemen that were not arrived in the Island The Britaines beeing overthrowne in battell presently dispatched Embassadors unto Caesar to treat of peace and together with them the foresaid Comius of Arras whom they had detained bound in prison and withall laid the fault upon the multitude and excused all by their owne ignorance Caesar soone pardoned them and commanded hostages to be delivered unto him which they presently performed in part and gave their word to bring in the rest Thus was peace concluded foure daies after that Caesar was landed in Britaine At the same time those eighteene ships which transported the horsemen approching so neare the coast of Britanny that they were within view by reason of a suddaine tempest that arose were cast upon the west part of the Island from whence with much adoe they recovered the continent of France In the same night also it hapned that the Moone being in the full and the tides very high both the Gallies which were drawne up to the shore were filled with the tide and the ships of burden also that lay at anchor so shaken with the tempest that they became altogether unserviceable This beeing knowne to the Princes of Britaine when they understood also that the Romans now wanted horsemen shipping and provision of corne they rebelled and resolved to cut off their provision of graine Caesar suspecting that which fell out indeed brought corne daily out of the fields into his campe and with the timber and other stuffe of those twelve ships which were most weather beaten and dismembred repaired the rest While these things were in action the seventh Legion being sent out to fetch in corne and busie in reaping the Britains suddenly set upon and so with their horsemen and chariots all at once encompassed them round about The manner of their fight from out of these chariots is thus as I related a little before First they ride up and downe into all parts and cast their darts and with the very terrour of the horses and ratling of the wheeles often times disorder the rankes and when they have wound themselves betweene any troups of horsemen they forsake their chariots and fight on foot In the meane time the guiders of the chariots drive a little a side out of the battell and place their chariots so as that if the other chance to bee overcharged with the multitude of enemies they might have an easie passage unto them
Caesar being determined to winter in the continent of France commanded pledges to be brought unto him and imposed a yeerly tribute that Britaine should pay unto the people of Rome But withall he inhibited Cassivellaunus and commanded him to doe no harme either to Mandubratius or the Trinobants And thus with a great number of captives he embarked his army and transported it backe at two severall passages Thus much Caesar of his owne warre in Britain But Eutropius out of some writings of Suetonius now not extant addeth thus much moreover Scaeva one of Caesars souldiers with foure other fellow servitours crossed over sea before in a small barke unto a rocke neere the Iland and by the reflow or ebbe of the Ocean the while was there left The Britans many in number set upon the Romanes being but few howbeit the rest who here and there had been his companions returned in a ship Scaeva tarieth behind still undanted notwithstanding he was overlaid with darts from every side First he made resistance with his pike or massie speare and at length tooke him to his sword and fought alone with many of them When he was weary and wounded and had withall lost his helmet and target after many a stroke with two habergeons he swum unto Caesars campe and craved pardon of his Generall for his fool hardy rashnesse whom Caesar advanced to the honor and degree of a Centurion When Caesar came first into this Isle as Cotas one who then in the campe had the second place hath put downe in a Greeke Commentary of his concerning the Romane Common-wealth of such temperance he was and so far short of the pompe of our age that he had no more servants and attendants ordinarily in his domesticall retinue but three What time as Caesar saith Seneca travelled into Britaine and could not containe his owne felicitie within the Ocean he heard that his daughter was departed this life drawing with her a traine of publike calamities But he passed over this griefe of heart as lightly as he was wont all things else Being returned with conquest out of Britaine he dedicated unto Venus genitrix in her temple a breast-plate made of British pearles Some of his British prisoners he appointed for services in the Theatre and about these rich hangings of Tapestrie there wherein he had woven in colours his victories in Britaine Which the Britans were wont being themselves therein wrought to remove and take away whereupon Virgill Purpureaque intextitollant auleae Britanni Let Britans purple Tapestrie rid wherein themselves are wrought Neither were the Britans appointed to the ministeries and offices onely about the Theatre but also I note it by the way to the Emperors Licter as it appeareth manifestly by an antique inscription of this age wherein there is made mention of a Decurio over the British Licter-bearers Of this victorie of Caesar an old Poet hath thus written Vis invicta viri reparatâ classe Britannos Vicit hostiles Rheni compescuit undas Lo here the mans undaunted heart with navie rigged new He Britans vanquish'd and fell waves of Rhene he did subdue Hitherto may be referred those verses also of Claudian touching the valour of the Romanes Nec stetit Oceano remisque ingressa profundum Vincendos alio quaesivit in orbe Britannos In Ocaan rhode it rested not nor put to sea for nought But Britads in their otherworld for conquest sake it sought Moreover Cicero in a certaine Poeme now lost which hee entituled Quadrigas caried Caesar in poeticall Chariots of triumph through the midst of all praise and commendation for his acts atchieved in Britainc as Ferrerius of Piemont perswadeth us for thus he writeth Pingam Britanniam coloribus tuis penecillo autem meo that is I will depaint Britaine in your colours but with mine owne pencill Howbeit in the judgement of others he terrified onely the Britans with a fortunate fight or as Lucane who nothing favoured the house of the Caesars wrote Territa quaesitis ostendit terga Britannis He sought the Britans and for feare to them his backe he shew'd And Tacitus a right grave and substantiall author writeth That he discovered onely but delivered not unto the Romanes Britaine and Horace implieth that he scant touched them at all when to flatter Augustus hee saith That the Britaine was not medled withall in these words Intactus Britannus ut descenderet Sacrâ catenatus uiâ Or that the Britans heretofore not dealt withall in fight Might chained now the sacred street descend in all mens sight And Propertius Te manet invictus Romano Marte Britannus The Britans yet unconquered by Romanes stay for thee So farre it is off that it should be true which Velleius Paterculus a flattering Historian of the Emperours Court wrote Bis penetrata Britannia à Caesare that is twise Caesar passed through Britaine when as hee scarce made entry into it For many yeeres after this entrance of Caesar this Island was left to the free government of their owne Kings and used their owne Lawes Augustus seemeth of purpose and with good advise to have neglected Britaine when as he called that * Consilium as Tacitus saith that is Policie or a point of state haply because it was thought the best pollicie and safest for the State That the Romane Empire should be kept and held within bounds to wit the Ocean the rivers Ister and Euphrates limits set by nature to the end it might be a State Adamantine for so Augustus himselfe speaketh in Iulian that is invincible and lest as a ship of exceeding great bulke it might not possibly bee well governed and managed but endangered through the owne unweldy hugenesse sinke anone and fall downe at once which usually befalleth unto over-great States or as Strabo is of opinion he despised it seeing neither any cause at all of feare nor hope of much profit from the Britans and yet it seemed that no small dammage would be presented from other nations lying round about the said Island But what cause so ever it was certes after Iulius and the edge of Romane armes turned upon the Common-wealth it selfe Britaine was a long time forgotten even in time of peace Neverthelesse at last Augustus departed from Rome with a purpose to transferre the warre into Britaine At which verie time Isoratius framed this kinde of prayer unto the Goddesse Fortune at Antium Serves iturum Caesarem in ultimos Orbis Britannos Save Caesar now that readie is a journey long to take Against the Britans most remote a conquest there to make But after he was come into Gaule the Britans sent Embassadors unto him to crave peace and verily the British Princes and Potentates having by Embassages and dutifull services obtained his amity dedicated presents and oblations in the Capitol and brought the whole Iland in a manner to be familiar unto the Romanes and as it were their owne so as they could endure taxes and imposts which now
the manner is of Slaves during the Saturnalia to celebrate that festivall time in the habit of their Masters and so presently with willing hearts followed Plautius The forces being divided into three parts for feare lest if they arrived all in one place they might be put by their landing carried backe by a gale of wind found some trouble in their passage yet taking heart againe because as they sailed along there was seene a fire-drake in the Element shooting from the East the West they were conveied over into the Island and no man stopped them For the Britans supposing verily in regard of those things which I have related that they would not come had not assembled themselves and therefore without any conflict they lay hidden within bogs marishes and woods in hope by lingring delaies to wearie the Romans that they should be forced without any service exploited to retire hence like as it had befallen unto Iulius Caesar. Wherefore Plautius tooke great paines in seeking of them out After he had found them now they were not free States but ruled under divers Kings first he discomfited Caractacus afterward Togodumnus the sonnes of Cunobellinus for their father was deceased When these were fled part of the Bodunni who were subject to the Catuellani he received into his protection and having left a garrison there hee went forward to a certaine river but because the Britans thought the Romans could not possibly passe over without a bridge they lay encamped more carelesly on the farther side thereof Plautius therefore set the Germanes who were wont to wade through the most swift and violent rivers even in their very armour These comming upon the enemies at unawares hurt not a man of them but wounded the horses onely that drew their chariots who when they were troubled and disordered the men were not able to sit them Then sent hee Flavus Vespasianus who afterwards became Emperour and his brother Sabinus with him as Lieutenant who likewise having passed over the river surprised very many of the Barbarians and slew them Neither fled the rest away but the morrow after joyned battell wherein the victorie remained doubtfull untill such time as C. Sidius Geta at the very point to have beene taken prisoner by the enemies vanquished them so as that for his good service triumphall honours were granted unto him although he had not been Consull From thence the Barbarians retired themselves to the river Thames where it dischargeth it selfe into the sea and with the flowe thereof riseth high This river they soone passed over as being skilfull of such places as would affoord them firme footing and were passable fords And the Romans in pursuing them were in danger Soone after when the Germanes had swum over a second time whiles some of them passed over at a bridge higher up the river environing the Barbarians on every side they made a great slaughter of them but when unadvisedly they followed after the rest they fell upon blind bogs and lost many of their men Hereupon and for that the Britans by occasion of Togodumnus his death abated not their courage one whit but rather prepared themselves to fight the more fiercely in revenge of his death Plautius for feare went no farther but setting a guard to keep what he had gotten sent for Claudius having a warrant and commandement so to doe in case he were overlaid with any extraordinary violence For which expedition among much other Equipage Elephants also were gotten together and prepared Claudius advertised of these newes committed the affaires of the City and the souldiers likewise to the charge of Vitellius upon whom as also upon himselfe he had conferred a Consulship for six moneths Then went he downe in person by water from Rome to Ostra and so from thence sailed to Marshils and travelling the rest of the way partly by land and partly by sea came to the Ocean embarked crossed the channell into Britaine and went directly forward to his forces expecting him by the Thames side When he had received them into his owne charge and passed over the river he fought a set battell with the Barbarians assembled against his comming and obtained victory Then tooke he in Camalodunum the roiall seat of Cunobellinus and many thence he drave others upon their yeelding he tooke to mercy For these acts performed divers times he was stiled Imperator a thing directly against the Romanes custome for lawfull it is not in one war to assume that name oftner than once Furthermore Claudius disarmed the Britans and committed as well them to be governed as the rest to be subdued unto Plautius Himselfe made speede to Rome sending before him Pompeius and Silanus his sonnes in Law with tidings of this victorie Thus much Dio. Howbeit Suetonius reporteth that part of the Iland he tooke into his hands upon submission without any battell or bloodshed Sixteene daies or thereabout himselfe stayed in Britain in which time he remitted unto the Gentry and Nobility of the Britans the confiscation of their goods For which benefit of his they frequented his temple and adored him as a God Thus returned he to Rome in the sixt moneth after that he went forth from thence So great a matter it was and of such consequence to have conquered even so small a parcell of Britain that the Senate thereupon decreed in the honor of Claudius yearly Games triumphall Arches both in Rome and also at Gessoriacum in Gaul and a most honorable and stately triumph to the beholding whereof the governors of Provinces also yea and certaine banished persons were permitted to come into Rome a Navall coronet was fixed upon the looure of the Palace as it were the ensigne of the British sea subdued by him the Provinces brought in Crownes of gold and Gallia Comata one above the rest waighing 9. pounds and the hither part of Spaine another of 7. pound weight He mounted up into the Capitoll by the staires on his knees supported and heaued up by his sonnes in Law on either side He entred in triumphing wise the Adriaticke sea embarqued in a vessell more like to some exceeding great house than a ship Unto his wife Messalina was allowed by the Senate the highest place to sit in as also to ride in a Carroch or hanging coach After this he set forth triumphall plaies and games having taken upon him for that purpose the Consular office and authoritie The solemnities were exhibited at once in two Theatres and many times when hee was gone aside from the sight others had the charge thereof Horse runnings for the prize hee promised as many as those daies would admit Howbeit above ten there were not for betweene every course of horses Beares were killed champions performed their devoirs and choyce boies sent for out of Asia danced the warlike dance in armor Moreover upon Valerius Asiaticus Julius Silanus Sidius Geta and others in regard of this conquest hee heaped Triumphall
souldiers made a noise about him and bound themselves by oath every one according to the religion of his countrey that they would not give way and yeeld for any weapons or wounds whatsoever This couragious and cheerefull alacritie of theirs astonied the Romane captaine considering the river just before his face the rampier beside which they had cast up the high hils over their heads nothing but terrible and full of defendants put him into a wondrous fright Neverthelesse the souldiers called hard for battell crying still that there was nothing which valour could not overcome The Praefects and Tribunes also with like words much enforced the ardour and courage of the whole armie Then Ostorius having viewed round about what places were unpassable and what yeelded passage advanceth forward his men in boiling heat of choler and easily wadeth over the river Being come to the banke and rampier aforesaid so long as the volley of darts continued on both sides our men received more wounds and in greater number were slaine But after that by making of a targnet roofe of fence those rude and ill fashioned joynts of stones were plucked a sunder and the fronts of both armies came close to hand-strokes without ods the Barbarians fled to the hill tops But thither also as well the heavie corselets as the light armed souldiers brake in whiles these shot their darts and javelins at them the other preassed thicke and close together upon them Contrariwise the Britans rankes were broken and disordered as who had neither head peece nor coat of fence If they thought to resist our auxiliarie forces they were beaten downe with the arming swords massie pikes of the Legionarie souldiers if they turned to make head against them they were slaine with the Speares and bastard swords of the auxiliaries A noble and renowned victorie this was The wife and daughter both of Caractacus were taken prisoners his brethren also yeelded themselves Himselfe as generally there is no trusting to succour in adversitie craving defence and protection of Cartismandua Queene of the Brigantes was by her taken bound with yrons and delivered to the Conquerours nine yeeres after the warre began in Britaine Whereupon the fame of him being carried over into the Islands and spread abrode thorowout the Provinces adjoyning was famous also in Italie in so much as they desired to see who he was that so many yeeres had defied and contemned our forces Neither was the name of Caractacus meanly esteemed of at Rome And Caesar whiles he extolled his one worth and honour made the conquered Prince more glorious For why the people also was assembled and called as to see a notable spectacle The cohorts of the Emperours guard stood all armed in good order within an open plaine lying before their campe Then as King Caractacus his vassals and dependants marched before the caparisons chaines and whatsoever he had wonne in wars against strangers were brought in a shew then his brethren wife and daughter and last of all himselfe was shewed to the people The prayers of all the rest were by reason of feare base and nothing savouring of nobilitie but Caractacus neither hanging downe his head nor with words craving any mercy when he stood before the Emperours tribunall spake in this wise If my moderation in prosperity had beene as great as my nobility and fortune was I had come rather as a friend into this City than a Captive neither would you have disdained to receive me with covenants of peace being a Prince descended of Noble Progenitors and a commander over many nations My present state as it is to me dishonorable so to you it is magnificent I have had horses men armour and wealth what marvell if against my will I have forgone them all For if yee will be rulers over all men it followeth that all men must abide servitude If presently I had yeelded and been delivered into your hands neither had my fortune nor your glorie been renowned and oblivion would have followed my punishment But if you save me alive I shall be an example of your clemencie for ever Vpon these words Caesar pardoned him his wife and brethren And they being allunbound did their reverence likewise unto Agrippina who sat a loft not far off in another high seat to be seene giving her the like praises and in the same degrees of stile as they did the Emperor himselfe Surely a strange and unexampled precedent among all our ancestors that a woman should sit and command the Romane ensignes But shee carried her selfe as a fellow and associate in the Empire gotten by her progenitors After this the Lords of the Senate were called together who made long and glorious discourses as touching the captivity of Caractacus Neither was this as they affirmed lesse honorable than when Pub. Scipio shewed Siphax Luc. Paulus Perses or whosoever else exhibited conquered Kings unto the people As for Ostorius decreed it was hee should be honoured with triumphall ornaments These conquests of Britain writers have numbred among the most famous monuments and testimonies of the Romans prowesse And thereupon Seneca writeth thus Claudius might make his boast that he first vanquished the Britans for Iulius Caesar did but shew them only to the Romans And in another place writing of the same Claudius Ille Britannos Vltra noti Littora Ponti Et caeruleos Scuta Brigantes Dare Romuleis Colla catenis Iussit ipsum Nova Romanae Iura securis Tremere Oceanum The Britans those that seated are beyond the knowne sea-coast And Brigants with blew-painted shields he forced with his hoast To yeeld their necks in Romane chaines as captive to be led And even the Ocean this new power of Romane axe to dread And Seneca the Tragicke poet in his Octavia versified in this manner concerning Claudius Cuique Britanni Terga dedere ducibus nostris Antè ignoti jurisque sui And unto whom the Britans shew'd their backs who er'st unknowne To all our Captaines liv'd by lawes and customs of their owne And in the same tragedie for that he had passed over the Thames En qui orae Tamisis primus posuit jugum Ignota tantis classibus texit freta Interque gentes barbaras tutus fuit Et soeva maria conjugis scelere Occidit Behold who first the mouth and coast of Thamis did subdew And spread with mightie fleets those Firths the like that never never knew With nations rude in raging seas who lived safe and sound By wicked hand of cursed wife his death at home he found Semblably Egesippus saith thus of Claudius Witnesse here is Britaine which liing without the world is by the might of Romans reduced into the world Whom the former age knew not the Romans victory hath discovered and even they now are become servants who knew not what servitude was being born only for themselves and alwaies free unto themselves even they who being by the interflow of the sea divided frō the power of their superiors could not
contrariwise Wherefore seeing these things make nothing to his cause I will second Buchanan by way as it were of a fresh supply with the aid of Egesippus who is commonly reputed a verie ancient writer For thus writeth he where he treateth of the Romans power They make Scotland to quake which is beholden to no land for any thing before them Saxony trembleth that for Marishes is inaccessible But heare you me this author shal stand behind in the rereward for he lived after Constantines daies as may be gathered out of his owne writings neither can it bee prooved out of him that the Scots dwelt in Britain no more than out of that verse of Sidonius which erewhile I alleaged Yea mary but there is another reason of more weight and moment indeed which M. Iohn Crag a right famous and learned man found by most exquisite and curious search in Ioseph Ben-Gorion writing of the destruction of Ierusalem to wit that in an Hebrew copie the Scots are expresly named where Munster in his Latine translation hath untruely put downe Britans for Scots But in what age that Ben-Gorion lived I cannot find for certaine sure I am that hee was after Flavius Iosephus because he maketh mention of the Franks whose name long after began to be knowne But surely if I may be so bold as to interpose my selfe in this question among so great Scholars so farre as I have beene able to observe the first time that ever the Scotish nation became named in authors was whiles Aurelianus was Emperour For Pophyrie who then wrote against the Christians as Saint Ierome informeth us mentioned them in these words Neither Britaine a fertile Province of tyrants nor the Scotish nations together with the barbarous people round about as farre as to the Ocean had any knowledge of Moses and the Prophets At which time verily or somewhat before those that are well seene in Antiquities have noted that the names of the most potent nations of French and Almanes were not heard of before the time of Gallienus the Emperour It is no assured truth therefore which some write That the name and Kingdome of the Scots flourished in Britaine many hundred yeeres before the birth of Christ. But hearken to Girald who will tell you the just time When Great O-Nel saith he held the Monarchie of Ireland six sonnes of Mured King of Vlster seized upon the North parts of Britaine Hereupon from them was there a nation propagated which by a peculiar name called Scotica that is Scotish inhabiteth that part even to this day And that this befel at the very time when the Roman Empire in every mans sight grew to decay it is collected thus Whiles Lagerius the sonne of that O-Nel raigned over the Irish Patrick the Apostle of the Irish-men came into Ireland much about the yeere after Christs nativitie 430. So as it may seeme this hapned neere the daies of Honorius Augustus For then whereas before time ranging up and downe without any certaine place of abode as Ammianus doth report they had long annoyed Britaine and the places appointed for the Marches they seeme to have set their footing in Britaine But they themselves will have it thus that they did but returne then out of Ireland whither they had retired before what time they were put to flight by the Britans and driven away and so they understood that place out of Gildas of this very time The Irish spoilers returne home minding shortly to come backe againe And much about this time some think that Reuda whom Bede mentioneth either by force and armes or through favour planted himselfe in this Island upon an arme of the river Cluid Northward And of this Captaine Reuda saith he the Dalreudini even to this day take their name For in their tongue Dal signifieth a part and others think that from this Reuda it was that wee called the Irish-Scots Redshanks It is thought also that the same Simon Brech whom the Scots avouch to bee the founder of their nation flourished in these daies Sinbrech in truth was the name of the man which is as much to say as Sin with the freckled face as we read in Fordon And peradventure the same Brech he was who about the time of S. Patricke together with Thuibai Mac-lei and Auspac Scots infested Britaine as wee read in the life of Saint Carantoc But why the High-land Scots living in Britaine call that countrey which they inhabite Alban and Albin and the Irish name it Allabany were a question for an ingenuous and liberall wit to travell in as namely whether this word Allabany may not have it in some token of the ancient Albion or whether it came of whitenesse which they call Ban and therefore may import as much in Scotish as Ellan-Ban that is a white Island or whether it bee derived of Ireland which the Irish Poets name Banne so that Allabanny may sound as much as another Ireland or a second Ireland For Historiographers were wont to call Ireland Scotland the greater and the Kingdome of the Scots in Britaine Scotland the lesse Moreover seeing these Scots in their own language terme themselves Albin whereupon Blondus called the Scots Albienses or Albinenses and Buchanan Albini let Criticks consider whether that in Saint Ierome where hee inveigheth against a certaine Pelagian a Scot borne it should not be read Albinum for Alpinum when hee taketh him up in these termes The great and corpulent Alpine dog and who is able to doe more harme with his heeles than his teeth for he hath his of-spring of the Scotish nation neere neighbours to the Britans of whom also in another place he said that hee was full fatned with Scottish pottage brewesse Of Alpine dogs I never remember that I have read ought but that Scotish dogs were in much request at Rome in those daies Symmachus sheweth unto us Seven Scotish Dogs there were saith he the day going before the Games which in Rome they wondred at so as they thought they were brought thither in yron-grated Cages But after that the Scots were come into Britaine and had joyned themselves unto the Picts albeit they never ceased to vexe the Britans with skirmishes and in-roades yet grew they not presently up to any great state but kept a long time in that corner where they first arrived not daring as Beda writeth for the space of one hundred and seven and twentie yeares to come forth into the field against the Princes of Northumberland untill at one and the same time they had made such a slaughter of the Picts that few or none of them were left alive and withall the Kingdome of Northumberland what with civill dissentions and invasions of the Danes sore shaken and weakned fell at once to the ground For then all the Northerne tract of Britaine became subject to them and tooke their name together with that hithermore countrey on this side Cluid and Edenburgh Frith For that
fighting now with him as it were for their libertie and native country hee overcame his enemies and when hee spoiled the naturall Inhabitants killed them up and in manner left not one alive their land according to his promise hee set out and appointed for the Conquerours to possesse who dividing the same by casting lots seeing many of them were slaine in the wars and that by reason of their fewnesse the whole country could not be occupied and peopled by them part of it that especially which lyeth Eastward they made over to coloners and new Inhabitants to every one according as by lot it fell out to be holden and tilled for a certaine rent and tribute All the rest they themselves possessed On the Southside verily these Saxons have the Franks and a remnant of the Thuringers whom the precedent whirlewind of hostilitie had not touched and are divided from them by the channell of the river Unstrote Northward dwell the Normans a most fierce Nation East from them the Obotrites inhabite and Westward the Frisians from whom continually without intermission they defended their territories and marches thereof either by Covenants of league or necessary skirmishing But now returne wee to our English-Saxons For a long time the State and Empire of the Saxons flourished exceeding well under the foresaid Heptarchie untill those Kingdomes bruised and impaired one of another with civill warres came all in the end to bee subjest unto the West-Saxons For Egbert King of these West-Saxons having conquered already foure of these Kingdomes and swallowed up as it were in hope the other twaine also to the end that they which were subdued and reduced to the rule of one Prince might bee conjoyned likewise in one name commanded by an Edict and Proclamation that the Heptarchie which the Saxons held should bee called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is England whereupon in Latine it was named Anglia taking denomination of the Angles as beeing of those three nations most in number and of greatest prowesse For they kept in their possession the Kingdome of Northumberland and Mercia very great and large countries together with East-England whereas the off-spring of the Jutes held Kent only and the Isle of Wight The Saxons East-sex South-sex West-sex a small parcell verily if it be compared with those spatious territories lands of the English Of whom long before this they were generally throughout called English in their owne language Englatheod Anglcynne Engl-cynn and Englisc-mon albeit every Kingdome therein had a speciall name of the owne by it selfe And this appeareth for certaine as well out of other writers as Beda who intituled his Story The Historie of the English-Nation Yea and in that Heptarchie those Princes that over-ruled the rest were stiled Gentis Anglorum Reges that is Kings of the English nation At this time the name of Britaine lay forgotten and growne quite out of use among the Inhabitants of this Island remaining only in books and not taken up in common speech And hereupō it is that Boniface the bishop of Mentz descended frō hence called this our country Saxony beyond the Sea Howbeit K. Eadred about the yeare of our Lord 948. used in some Charters and Patents the name and title of King of Great Britaine like as Edgar in the yeare 970. bare this stile also The Monarch of all whole Albion Being now called Anglia or England the state and puissance of these Angles was come to the full height and therefore such is the revolution of all mortall things hastened apace to their period and end For the Danes continually infesting our coasts many yeares together at the length began to enter ransacking and mangling this countrie most pittifully NAMES OF ENGLISH-SAXONS MY purpose was even here to have set downe the orderly succession of the English-Saxon Kings both in the Heptarchie and also in their Monarchie but seeing that they seeme not properly to belong unto this place neither is the bare heaping up of names onely delightfull to the Reader perhaps it will be more acceptable if I briefly annexe hereto what I have observed by much reading and especially in Alfricus our ancient Grammarian as touching the force reason and signification of the ancient English names Not that my meaning is to interpret every name severally for that were a piece of worke very laborious neither can such barbarous names in which there lieth couched great significancie succinct brevitie and some ambiguitie be easily delivered in another tongue But considering that most of them bee compounded and that of few simples I will explaine the said simples that the significations of the compound implying all the osse and presage of good lucke wished-for and happie fortune may evidently appeare and that we may throughly perceive there is among all nations that Orthotes of names which Plato speaketh of AEL EAL and AL in names compounded like as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke compositions signifieth Al or Wholly Hereupon Aelwin is as much as Wholly or Fully Victor Albert All bright and dread wholly dread or reverend Alfred Altogether Pacificall or peacefull Whereunto in some sort are correspondent in Greeke Pammachius Pancratius Pamphilius c. AELF which with varietie of Dialect is pronounced Vlf Wolph Hulph Hilp Helfe and in these daies Helpe carrieth in it a signification of Helpe or Aide as for example Aelfwin that is a victorious aide Aelfwold a helpfull Governour Aelfgiva she that giveth helpe according to which are these Greeke names Boetius Symmachus Epicurus ARD betokeneth naturall disposition or towardnesse as Godard is as much as Divine towardlinesse or inclination Reinard Sincere disposition Giffard a franke and liberall nature Bernard a filiall and sonne-like affection ATHEL Adel and Ethel import Noble Thus Aethelred that is Noble in counsell Aethelard a noble nature or disposition Aethelbert famously Noble Ethelward a noble Tutor or Protectour BERT the same that with us at this day Bright and in Latin Illustris and clarus that is Splendent and cleare so Ecbert that is Bright and shining for ever Sigbert a splendent conquerour as also shee whom the Germans named Bertha the Greeke called Eudoxia as Luitprandus witnesseth And of this sort were Phaedrus Epiphanius Photius Lampridius among the Greekes Fulgentius and Illustrius c. among the Latins BALD with the people of the North parts is the same that Audax in Latine that is Bold as Jornandes sheweth a word that yet is not growne out of use So Baldwin and by inversion Winbald is the same that Bold Victour Ethelbald Nobly bold Eadbald Happily bold Unto which are consonant Thraseas Thrasimachus and Thrasibulus in Greeke c. KEN and KIN import Kinsfolke as Kinulph an helpe to Kinsfolke Kinhelm a Defender of his kin Kinburg a defence to kinred Kinric powerfull in or to kinsfolke CVTH beareth with it a signification of skill and cunning so Cuthwin that is a skilfull or politicke Conquerour
and the Normans of the other did what they could and left no stone unturned But when he in a pitched field had neere unto Stamford-bridg in Yorkshire slaine his brother Tosto and Harold King of Norway whom Tosto had drawn to take part with him in this war and so obtained a bloudy victorie behold within nine daies after the said WILLIAM surnamed the Bastard Duke of Normandie taking hold of the promises of King Edward late deceased and presuming of his adoption and neere alliance having levied a great armie arrived in England among the South-Saxons Against whom Harold forthwith advanced albeit his souldiers were sore wearied and his power by the former battaile much empaired And not farre from Hastings they encounter and joyne battaile where Harold engaging himselfe into the midst of the medley and fighting manfully lost his life with a great number of Englishmen left slaine in the place but how many they were just hard it is exactly to conceive and faithfully to put downe WILLIAM thus a Conquerour presently with banner displaid marched about in order of battaile by Wallingford to London where being received he was solemnly inaugurated King as unto whom by his owne saying The Kingdome was by Gods providence appointed and by vertue of a gift from his Lord and Cosen King Edward the Glorious granted and after some few lines the story runneth on and saith that the most beauteous King Edward had by adoption ordained him his heire in the Kingdome of England And if we list to believe the Historie of Saint Stephens in Caen of Normandie at his last breath he uttered these words The Regall Diadem which none of all my predecessours ever wore I got and gained by the grace of God only and no right of inheritance And a little after I ordaine no man heire of the Kingdome of England but I commend the same to the eternall Creator whose I am and in whose hands are all things For I became not possessed of so great honour by any hereditary right but by a terrible conflict and with much effusion of bloud I tooke it from that perjured King Harold and after I had either slaine or put to flight his favourers and adherents I subdued it under my Dominion But why doe I so briefly run over this so great alteration of the English state Have therefore if you thinke not much to read it what my selfe with no curious pen haply with as little studie and premeditation howbeit according to the truth of the Historie wrote when being but young not well advised nor of sufficiencie to undergoe so great a burthen I purposed to set forth our Historie in the Latine tongue VVHen Edward the Confessour was now without issue departed this life the Nobles and people of the land were in doubtfull care distracted about the setting up of a new King in his place Edgar surnamed Aetheling King Edmund Iron side his nephewes nephew by a sonne onely of all the issue male of the Saxons line remained alive unto whom by right of inheritance the kingdome was due But considering he was thought by reason of his tender yeares not meete to mannage the State and had beside intermingled his naturall disposition with forrain manners as being borne in Pannonia and the sonne of Agathra daughter to the Emperor Henrie the third who was in so remote a countrie farther off than that he could conveniently assist the young Gentleman either with aid or counsell in these regards hee was lesse affected of the Englishmen who desired nothing more than to have a King as it were out of their owne bodie And therefore all of them for the most part had their eies fixed with much respect upon Harold Goodwins sonne a man for his good parts as well in warre as peace very glorious For albeit he was of noble parentage but by one side and his father for his treacherie and treason as also for pilling and polling had incurred everlasting infamie and shame yet with his courteous affabilitie gentill deportment liberalitie and warlike prowesse he wound himselfe into exceeding great especiall favour with the people For there could not another bee set by him in whom there was more resolute hardinesse to adventure upon danger or more advised policie in the midst of dangers His valour also and fortitude shined out so apparantly in the Welsh warres which heretofore most happily hee had brought to an end that he was reputed verily a man passing well furnished with all vertues required in a soveraigne Commander and even borne to repaire the decaied state of England Moreover good hope there was that the Danes who onely terrified this country would bee the better contented and pleased with him because he was the son of Githa daughter to Sueno King of Denmarke And in case there should arise any other power against him either forraine or domesticall he was thought sufficiently enabled to make his part good with the affectionate hearts of the common people with the alliance also and affinitie that hee had among the Nobility For hee had to wife the sister of Morcar and Edwin two brethren men of exceeding great puissance and Edric surnamed the Wild a man of high spirit and in chiefe authoritie was linked to him in the neerest bond of Affinitie besides it fell out very well for him that at one and the selfe-same time Sueno King of the Danes had his hands full of warre with Sueden and betweene William Duke of Normandy and Philip the French King there fell some dislikes and emulation for that Edward the Confessor during his exile in Normandie had in expresse termes promised unto William of Normandie the Kingdome if hee died without issue For the performance of which promise Harold became as it were surety and bound himselfe with an oath what time hee was detained prisoner in Normandie but with this condition annexed that he might espouse the daughter of the said William of Normandie Whereupon most men thought it the wisest policy to set the Crowne upon William his head to the end that by performing oath and promise the warre that they foresaw now threatned and destruction which alwaies waiteth as a due punishment upon perjurie might be averted and withall by laying Normandie to England the Kingdome under so mightie a Prince might be surely established and the common-wealth very much advanced But Harold quickly preventing all consultations whatsoever thinking it not good for him to linger and delay any whit that very day on which King Edward was enterred contrary to the expectation of most men entred upon the soveraigne government and with the applause onely of such as were then present about him who with acclamations saluted him King without the due complements and solemnitie of Coronation set the Imperiall Diadem upon his owne head By which act of his as being a breach of ancient ordinance he exceedingly provoked and stirred up against him the whole Clergie and Ecclesiasticall state But he knowing well enough
how hard it was for a new Prince and an usurper to maintaine his royall place and dignitie without an opinion of pietie and vertue for to blot out that his offence given and to establish his Scepter did all he possibly could for the promoting of religion and preferment of Churchmen and to beautifie and adorne Monasteries and religious houses Edgar Aetheling Earle of Oxford and all the nobles he entertained with all love and favour the people he eased of theire tributes he gave bountifully a great largesse of mony to poore people and in one word with faire speech and affable language with mild hearing of causes and equitie in deciding the same he wonn to himselfe singular love and no lesse authoritie and reputation So soone as William Duke of Normandie was truly advertised of these newes he seemed to take the death of King Edward very heavily whiles in the meane time he was vexed at the heart that England which hee had in conceit and hope already swallowed and devoured was thus caught away out of his very chawes Forthwith therefore by advice of his counsell and friends he dispatcheth Embassadors to Harold with instructions to put him in mind of the promises and stipulation past but withall in his name to make claime to the Crowne Harold after some pause and deliberation upon the point returneth this answer As touching the promises of King Edward William was to understand that the Realme of England could not be given by promise neither ought he to bee tied unto the said promise seeing the kingdome was fallen unto him by election and not by right of Inheritance And as for his owne stipulation extorted and wrung it was from him then a prisoner by force and by guile in feare of perpetuall imprisonment to the hinderance of the English common-wealth and prejudice of the State and therefore void which neither ought hee if he could nor might if he would make good since it was done without the Kings privitie and consent of the people And a very hard and unreasonable demand it was of his that hee should renounce and surrender unto a Norman Prince a meere stranger and of forrein linage that kingdome wherein hee was invested with so great assent of all sorts With this answere William was not well pleased and he thought that Harold thereby sought starting holes for to hide his perjurie Others therefore he sent out of hand in Embassage about the same matter who should admonish him how religiously hee had bound himselfe by oath and that forsworne persons should be sure of finall perdition at Gods hands and reproachfull shame among men But when as now the daughter of William affianced unto Harold in the covenant the very strength and knot of the foresaid stipulation was by Gods appoinment taken away by death the Embassadours were with lesse courtesie entertained and received none other answere than before So that now by this time there was nothing like to follow but open warre Harold riggeth and prepareth his navie mâ—sters and presseth souldiers and placeth strong garrisons along the sea coasts in convenient places and provideth all things in readinesse which were thought needefull and meet for to beat backe the Normans forces Howbeit the first tempest of warre beside the expectation of all men arose from Tosto the brother in whole bloud of Harold He being a man of a proud hautie and fell heart ruled in great authority a good while over Northumberland but growing outragious in cruelty to his inferiors in pride towards his Soveraigne and in hatred to his brethren was outlawed by Edward the Confessor and so withdrew himselfe into France and now by the advice of Baldwine Earle of Flanders and perswasion of William Duke of Normandie as it seemeth probable For Tosto and William married two daughters of Baldwine Earle of Flanders beginneth to trouble his brother with open warre whom a long time he deadly hated From Flanders hee tooke sea with a fleet of 60. rovers-ships wasteth the Isle of Wight and annoyeth the sea-coast of Kent but terrified at the comming of the Kings navie hee set up saile and directing his course toward the more remote parts of England landeth in Lincolneshire and there harrieth the Countrey where Edwin and Morcar give him battell but beeing discomfited and put to flight into Scotland hee goes from thence to renew his forces and so to warre afresh Now were all mens minds held in suspense with the expectation of a twofold warre of the one side out of Scotland of the other out of Normandie and so much the more because at the feast of Easter there was seene about a sevennight together a blazing starre of an hideous and fearefull forme which turned mens minds already troubled and perplexed as it falleth out in a turbulent time to the forefeeling of some unluckie events But Harold carried an heedfull eie to all parts of his kingdome and the south coast hee fortified with garrisons Lesse feare hee had from Scotland and Tosto because Malcolme King of the Scots was more disquieted with civill dissensions Meane while William much busted in his mind about England casting about what course to take ever and anon communicated with his Captaines about the point whom hee saw cheerefull and full of forward hopes But all the difficulty was how to make money for defraying the charges of so great a warre For when in a publike assembly of all the states of Normandie it was propounded as touching a subsidie answere was made That in the former warre against the French their wealth was so much empaired that if a new warre should come upon them they were hardly able to hold and defend their owne That they were to looke rather unto the defence of their proper possessions than to invade the territories of others and this warre intended just though it were yet seemed it not so necessary but exceeding dangerous beside the Normans were not by their allegeance bound to military service in forain parts Neither could they by any meanes be brought to grant a levie of money although William Fitzosbern a man in high favour with the Duke and as gracious among the people endeavoured what he could to effect it yea and to drawe others by his owne example promised to set out fortie tall ships of his owne proper charges towards this warre Duke William then seeing he could not bring this about in a publike meeting goeth another way to worke The wealthiest men that were he sendeth for severally one by one to repaire unto him he speaks them faire and requireth them to contribute somewhat toward this warre They then as if they had strived avie who should helpe their Prince most promise largely and when that which they promised was presently registred in a booke there was a huge masse of money quickly raised and more than men would ever have thought These matters thus dispatched he craveth aid and helpe of the Princes his neighbours to wit the
by fine force and true valour indeed get the upperhand betooke himselfe to stratagems commanding his men to sound the retreat and keeping them still in good order and array to give ground and retire The English men supposing now that they turned backe and fled and that themselves had the victorie in their hands display their ranks and being thus disraied presse hard upoÌ„ their enemies as making full account that the day was now sure enough theirs Wheras the Normans casting themselves suddenly againe into array and winding about charge the English afresh and thus setting upon them being scattered and out of order enclosed them round about and made an exceeding great slaughter of them Many of them whiles they stood doubtfull whether to fight or to flie were borne downe and slaine but more of them having recovered an higher ground casting themselves round into a ring and comforted with the exhortation one of another with good resolution turned head and resisted a long time as if they had made choice of that place for an honorable death until that Harold being shot through the head with an arrow together with his two brethren Gyth Leofwin lost his life Then Edwin and Morcar with some others that remained alive and escaped by flight yielded to the hand of God and gave place unto the time considering that the battell had continued without intermission from seven of the clock in the morning unto the evening twilight There were in this battell missed of Normans much about 6000. but of English many more by far William now Conqueror rejoyced exceedingly by way of a solemne supplication or procession which he appointed gave all honor to the Almightie and most gratious God and when he had erected his pavilion in the midst of the bodies lying slain by heapes there he passed that night The morrow after when he had buried his owne men granted leave unto the English men to do the like himselfe returned to Hastings partly to consult about following the traine of his victorie and in part to refresh awhile his wearied souldiers No sooner was the newes of this grievous overthrow by fearfull Messengers brought to London and to other cities of England but the whole land generally was striken into dumps and as it were astonied Githa the Kings mother like a woman gave her selfe to plaints and lamentations so as that she would admit no consolation but with most humble praiers intreated the Conquerour for the dead bodies of her sonnes And those she enterreth in the Abbey of Waltham Edwin sendeth Queen Algitha his sister into the farther parts of the Kingdome But the Lords and Peeres of the Realme will the people not to cast downe their hearts but lay their heads together about the State and Common wealth The Archbishop of Yorke the Citizens of London and the Sea souldiers whom they called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gave their advice to consecrate Edgar King and to begin warre againe with William Edwin and Morcar plotted secretly to usurpe the Imperiall rule and dignitie for themselves but the Bishops Prelates and others who were terrified with the flashing thunderbolts of the Popes curse thought best to yield and not by doubtfull battell to provoke the Conquerours heavie indignation against them nor to strive against God who now for the sinnes of the people calling for vengeance had delivered England as it wâ—re into the hands of the Norman William all this while fortifying the Towne of Hastings purposed to march directly with his armie in warlike manner to London but because he would raise the greater terrour abroad and make all sure behinde having divided his forces he rangeth over part of Kent over Southsex Suthrey Southampton shire and Berk shire fireth villages and upland houses driveth booties at Wallangford hee passeth over the Thames and terrifieth all the countrey as hee goeth Yet for all this the Nobles and Peeres wist not what counsell or course to take neither could they be brought to lay downe private grudges and enmities and with one heart to consult in common for the good of the State The Prelates to be absolved from curses of the Church and censures of the Bishop of Rome whereby he now exercised his authoritie not only over mens soules but also over Kingdomes seeing that the state of the Realme was now not decaied but quite ruinate and past recoverie persisted in this mind to submit in so much as many seeking to save themselves secretly departed out of the Citie But Alfred Archbishop of Yorke Wolstan Bishop of Worcester and other Prelates together with Eadgar Aetheling Edwin and Morcar at Berkhamsted doe meete the Norman Conquerour who made them many and large promises and having given hostages committed themselves to his protection and submitted Then forthwith speedeth he to London where being received with great and joyfull acclamations he was saluted King for the solemnizing of his Coronation which he appointed should be on Christmas day he made all the preparation that might bee and meane while bent his whole mind and all his thoughts to the setling of the State Now was the period and revolution of the English-Saxons Empire in Britaine come about which was determined within the compasse of 607. yeeres and a notable alteration and change made in the Kingdome of England which some lay upon the base a varice of the Magistrates and the superstitious lazinesse of the Prelates others impute to that Comet or blazing Starre and the powerable influence of celestiall bodies some againe made God the Author thereof who in his secret judgements and those never unjust disposeth of Kingdomes Others also there were who looked into neerer secondarie causes and they found a great want and lacke of wisedome in King Edward in that whiles under a goodly shew and pretext of religious and vowed virginitie he casting off all care of having issue exposed the Kingdome for a prey to ambitious humours WHat an insolent and bloudie victorie this was the Monks that write of it have declamed with full mouth neither is it to be doubed but in this Victorie as it hapneth in other wickednes tooke head and bare the full sway William the Conquerour in token as it were of a Trophee for this conquest abrogated some part of the ancient positive lawes of England brought in some Customes of Normandie and by vertue of a decree commanded That all causes should be pleaded in the French tongue The English hee thrust out of their ancient Inheritances assigned their lands and Lord-ships to his souldiers yet with this reservation to himself that he should still remaine chiefe Lord and bind them to doe due service and homage unto him and his successors that is to say That all of them should hold their lands in Fee or fealty He caused also a Seale for himselfe to be made of purpose with this inscription upon the one side Hôc Normannorum Guilielmum nosce Patronum The Normans Patron William know by this stamp that you
Canutus are in the Normans tongue translated under the name of Baro and loe what the very words are Exercitualia verò c. That is Let the Heriots or Relevies be so moderate as that they may bee tolerable Of an Earle as decent it is eight horses foure with saddles and foure without saddles foure Helmets and foure shirts of male eight launces or speares and as many shields foure swords and withall 200. mauces of gold Of a Viron or Baron to the King who is next unto him foure horses two with saddles and two without saddles two swords foure speares and as many targets one helmet and one coate of mauile and with fifty mauces of gold Also in the first time of the Normans Valvasores and Thani were ranged in degree of honour next after Earles and Barons and the Valvasores of the better sort if wee may beleeve those that write de Feudis were the very same that now Barons are So that the name Baro may seeme to bee one of those which time by little and little hath mollified and made of better esteeme Neither was it as yet a terme of great honor For in those daies some Earles had their Barons under them and I remember that I read in the ancient Constitutions and ordinances of the Frenchmen how there were under an Earle twelve Barons and as many Capitaines under a Baron And certaine it is that there be ancient Charters extant in which Earles since the comming in of the Normans wrote thus To all my Barons as well French as English Greeting c. Yea even Citizens of better note were called Barons For the Citizens of Warwick in Doomesday book were named Barones likewise Citizens of London and the Inhabitants of the Cinque-ports enjoyed the same name But some few yeares after like as at Rome in times past they chose Senators for their worth in wealth so were they with us counted Barons who held lands of their own by a whole Baronie that is 13. Knights Fees and a third part of one Knights Fee reckoning every fee as an old book witnesseth at 20. li. which make in all 400. marks For that was the value of one entire Baronie and they that had lands and revenues to this worth were wont to be summoned unto the Parliament And it seemed to bee a dignitie with a jurisdiction which the Court Barons as they terme them in some sort doe prove yea and the very multitude that was of these Barons perswaded me to thinke them to be Lords of this nature as that they might in some sort minister and execute justice within their circuit and seigniorie such as the Germans call Free-heires and especially if they had Castles of their owne For then they Jumped Just with the definition of that most famous Civilian Baldus who defineth him to be a Baron whosoever had a meere and subordinate rule in some castle by the grant of the Prince And all they as some would have it that held Baronies seeme to have claimed unto themselves this honor so that as divers learned in our lawes are of opinion a Baron and a Baronie a Count or Earle and a Countie a Duke and a Dutchie were Conjugata that is termes as one would say yoked together Certes in those daies Henrie the Third reckoned in England 150. Baronies And hereupon it is that in all the Charters and Histories of that age all noble men in manner be called Barons and verily that title then was right honorable and under the terme of Baronage all the superiour states of the kingdome as Dukes Marquesses Earles and Barons in some sort were comprised But it attained to the highest pitch of honor ever since that King Henrie the Third out of so great a number which was seditious and turbulent called the very best by writ or summon unto the high Court of Parliament For he out of a writer I speake of good antiquity after many troubles and enormous vexations betweene the King himselfe Simon of Mont-fort with other Barons raised after appeased did decree and ordaine that all those Earles and Barons of the Realme of England unto whom the King himselfe vouchsafed to direct his writs of Summons should come unto his Parliament and none others But that which he began a little before his death Edward the First and his successour constantly observed and continued Hereupon they onely were accounted Barons of the kingdom whom the Kings had cited by vertue of such writs of Summons as they terme them unto the Parliament And it is noted that the said prudent King Edward the First summoned alwaies those of ancient families that were most wise to his Parliaments but omitted their sonnes after their death if they were not answerable to their parents in understanding Barons were not created by Patent untill such time as King Richard the Second created Iohn Beauchamp de Holt Baron of Kiderminster by his letters Patent bearing date the eighth day of October in the eleventh yeare of his raigne Since that time the Kings by their Patâ—ents and the putting on of the mantle or roabe of honour have given this honour And at this day this order of creating a Baron by letters Patent as also that other by writs of Summons are in use in which notwithstanding they are not stiled by the name of Baron but of Chevalier for the Common law doth not acknowledge Baron to be a name of dignity And they that be in this wise created are called Barons of the Parliament Barons of the Realme and Barons of honor for difference of them who yet according to that old forme of Barons be commonly called Barons as those of Burford of Walton and those who were Barons unto the Count-Palatines of Chester and Pembroch who were Barons in fee and by tenure These our Parliamentarie Barons carie not the bare name onely as those of France and Germanie but be all borne Peeres of the Realme of England Nobles Great States and Counsellors and called they are by the King in these words To treat of the high affaires of the kingdome and thereof to give their counsell They have also immunities and priviledges of their owne namely that in criminall causes they are not to have their triall but by a Iurie of their Peeres that they be not put to their oath but their protestation upon their Honor is sufficient that they be not empanelled upon a Iurie of twelve men for enquest de facto No supplicavit can be granted against them A Capias cannot be sued out against them Neither doth an Essoine lie against them with very many other which I leave unto Lawyers who are to handle these and such like Besides these the two Archbishops and all the Bishops of England be Barons also of the kingdome and Parliament even as in our Grandfathers daies these Abbats and Priors following The Abbat of Glastenburie The Abbat of S. Augustines in Canterbury The Abbat of S. Peter in
faithfull Knights or upon the faith of a Knight how far they were from base gaine and lucre and what manner of paiment or Aid is to be levied for Knights fees when as the Prince the Kings eldest son should be invested in this honour c. I leave it for others to write as also when they had so far offended that being to suffer death therfore they were first dispoiled of their ensignes and of their degree to wit their militarie Girdle ungirted the Sword taken away their Spurs cut off with an hatchet their Gantlets or Gloves plucked from them and the Escutcheon of their Armes reversed like as in the degrading Ecclesiasticall order all the Ecclesiasticall ornaments booke chalice such like are taken away Let the curious also enquire whether those knights were truly by some termed Knights Bachelars or whether Bachelars were of a middle degree between these Knights and Esquires For in the Kings Record are read The names of Knights of Bachelars and of Valects of the Earle of Gocester and of others Whereupon there be that would have Bachelars so called as one would say Bas-Chevaliers that is knights of low degree although other derive that name from the French verbe Battailer which signifieth to combate or fight it out Withall let them weigh and consider whether these dignities of knighthood in times past so glorious as long as they were more rare and bestowed onely as the reward of vertue may not be vilified when it becommeth common and lieth prostitute as it were to the ambitious humour of every one Whereof in the like case Aemilius Probus complained long since among the Romans Next in degree after these Knights are Esquires termed in Latine Armigeri that is Costrels or Bearers of Armes the same that Scutiferi that is Shield-bearers and Homines ad arma that is Men at Armes the Goths called them Schilpor all of carrying the shield as in old time among the Romans such as were named Scutarii who tooke that name either of their Escutcheons of armes which they bare as Ensignes of their descent or because they were armour-bearers to Princes or to the better sort of the Nobilitie For in times past every Knight had two of these waighting upon him they carried his Morrion and shield as inseparable companions they stuck close unto him because of the said Knight their Lord they held certaine lands in Escutage like as the knight himselfe of the King by knights service But now a daies there be five distinct sorts of these for those whom I have spoken of already be now no more in any request The principall Esquires at this day those are accounted that are select Esquires for the Princes bodie the next unto them be knights eldest sonnes and their eldest sonnes likewise successively In a third place are reputed younger sonnes of the eldest sonnes of Barons and of other Nobles in higher estate and when such heires male faile togither with them the title also faileth In a fourth ranke are reckoned those unto whom the King himselfe together with a title giveth armes or createth Esquires by putting about their necke a silver colar of SS and in former times upon their heeles a paire of white spurres silvered whereupon at this day in the West part of the Kingdome they be called White-spurres for distinction from Knights who are wont to weare gilt spurres and to the first begotten sonnes onely of these doth the title belong In the fifth and last place bee those ranged and taken for Esquires whosoever have any superiour publike office in the Common-weale or serve the Prince in any Worshipfull calling But this name of Esquire which in ancient time was a name of charge and office onely crept first among other titles of dignitie and worship so farre as ever I could observe in the raigne of Richard the Second Gentlemen or the common sort of Nobilitie bee they that either are descended of worshipfull parentage or raised up from the base condition of people for their vertue or wealth Citizens or Burgesses be such as in their owne severall citie execute any publike office and by election have a roome in our High Court of Parliament Yeomen are they whom some call Free-borne or Free-holders and our law termeth Homines Legales that is Lawfull men and who of Free-hands may dispend fortie shillings at least by the yeare Lastly Craftsmen Artisans or Workemen be they that labour for hire and namely such as sit at worke Mechanicke Artificers Smiths Carpenters c. Which were termed of the Romans Capite censi as one would say Taxed or reckoned by the poll and Proletarii LAVV COVRTS OF ENGLAND AS touching the Tribunals or Courts of Justice of England there are three sorts of them among us for some bee Ecclesiasticall others Temporall and one mixt of both which being the greatest and most honourable of all is called by a name of no great antiquitie and the same borrowed out of French The Parliament The Anglo-Saxons our ancestours termed it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is An assembly of the wise and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is A Counsell and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Greeke word Synodus that is A great Synod or meeting The Latine writers of that and the ensuing age called it Commune Concilium Curiam altissimam Generale placitum Curiam magnam Magnatum Conventum Praesentiam Regis Praelatorum Procerumque collectorum Commune totius Regni Concilium c. That is The Common councell The Highest court The Generall Plea The Great court The meeting of States The Presence of the King Prelates and Peeres assembled together The Publike Councell of the whole Kingdome c. And like as the Generall Councell of all Etolia is named by Livie PANAETOLIUM so this may well be termed PANANGLIUM For it consisteth of the King the Clergie the superior Nobles the elect Knights and Burgesses or to speake more significantly after the Lawyers phrase of the King the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and the Commons which States represent the body of all England It is not held at set and certaine times but summoned by the King at his pleasure so often as consultation is to be had of high affaires and urgent matters that the Common weale may sustaine no damage at his will alone it is dissolved Now this Court hath soveraigne and sacred authoritie in making confirming repealing and expounding Lawes in restoring such as be attainted or outlawed to their former estates in deciding of the hardest controversies betweene private persons and to speake at a word in all causes which may concerne either the safetie of the State or any private person whatsoever The next Court after this in the daies presently following the Normans comming and some good while after was The Court of the King himselfe and the same kept in the Kings house or Palace accompanying the King whither so ever he retired or went in progresse
is The high hill in the wood which some would have to be Exceter But the situation in Ptolomee and the name remaining still prove this to be the ancient Vzella In these our dayes a small towne it is and nothing populous because the river Fawey which aforetime was wont at every tide or high water to flow unto the very towne and to beare and bring in ships hath his channell so choked and damned up now with sands comming from the tin-workes wherewith all the havens in this province are like in processe of time to be choked up as that it is hardly able to beare the least barge that is Howbeit the chiefe towne it is of the whole countie where the Shiriffe sitteth judicially every moneth and determineth causes and there the Warden of the Stannaries hath his prison It enjoyeth also the priviledge by the bounteous favour as themselves say of Edmund Earle of Cornwall who there in times past had his honor to seale or coyne the tin But there bee two townes above the rest that hinder the light and eclipse the fame of this to wit on the East side thereof Leskerd situat on the top of a very high hill much frequented for the mercat and renowned for an ancient castle there and on the North side Bodman which standeth on the side hand of it scarse two miles off and is named if I be not deceived Bosuenna in the Cornish tongue and Bodminian in old Deeds and Charters This towne situate thus in no healthy seat between two hils and lying out in length East and West is for the mercat there kept of great resort for the inhabitants populous beautifull enough for building and of name for their priviledge of coinage of tin but more famous in ancient time for the Bishops See there For about the yeere of our salvation 905 when the State of the Church lay in this tract altogether neglected by vertue of a decree from Pope Formosus King Edward the Elder erected heere a Bishops See and granted at that time unto the Bishop of Kirton three villages in this countrie Polton Caeling and Lanwitham that from thence every yeere he should visit the people of Cornwall to fetch out of them their errours for before time they did what they could to resist the truth and obeied not the Apostolicall decrees But afterwards in the furious heat of that terrible Danish warre the Bishoprick was translated to Saint Germans Hard by Leskerd lyeth that which sometime was the Church of S. Guerir that is if you interpret it out of the British speech S. Leech or Physician where as writeth Asserius King Alfred lying prostrate at his prayers recovered out of a sicknesse But when Neotus a man of singular holinesse and learning was afterwards entombed in the same Church hee outshone the light of the other Saint so as that in his memorie it was named Neotestow that is The place of Neotus and now Saint Neoths and the religious men that served God therein were named Saint Neoths Clerkes and had for their maintenance rich and large revenues as we may see in William Conquerours booke Neere unto this as I have learned within the parish of Saint Clare there are to be seene in a place called Pennant that is The head of the vale two monuments of stone of which the one in the upper part is wrought hollow in manner of a Chaire the other named Otherhalfe stone hath an inscription of Barbarous characters now in manner worne out in this wise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which as I take it should be read thus DONIERT ROGAVIT PRO ANIMA unlesse it please you to give this conjecture that those little pricks after DONIERT are the reliques of the letter E and then to read it after this manner DONIERT EROGAVIT as if he had given and bestowed upon those religious men that peece of land for his soule As for Doneert I cannot but thinke he was that Prince of Cornwall whom the Chronicles name Dungerth and record that he was drowned in the yeere of our Salvation 872. Hard by there is a number of good big rockes heaped up together and under them one Stone of lesser size fashioned naturally in forme of a cheese so as it seemeth to be pressed like a cheese whereupon it is named Wring-cheese Many other Stones besides in some sort foure square are to be seene upon the plaine adjoyning of which seven or eight are pitched upright of equall distance asunder The neighbour Inhabitants terme them Hurlers as being by a devout and godly error perswaded they had beene men sometimes transformed into Stones for profaning the Lords Day with hurling the ball Others would have it to be a Trophee as it were or a monument in memoriall of some battell And some thinke verily they were set as meere stones or land marks as having read in those authors that wrote of Limits that stone were gathered together of both parties and the same erected for bounders In this coast the river Loo maketh way and runneth into the sea and in his very mouth giveth name to two little townes joyned with a bridge together That on the West side which is the newer flourisheth most but the other Eastward time hath much decayed although it bee a Corporation retaining still the priviledge of a Maior and Burgesses Somewhat West-ward from this lieth Kilgarth the habitation of the Bevils of especiall good note for antiquity and gentry From Loo East-ward you meet with no memorable thing but a small river passing by Minhevet whereby is Pole the seat of the Trelawnies to whom with others the inheritance of the Courtneys Earles of Devon accrewed untill you come to the Liver a little river stored with oisters that runneth under S. Germans a small towne unto which during the tempestuous Danish warre the Bishops Sees were for feare translated where there is a prety Church dedicated unto S. German of Antiziodorum who rooted out the heresie of Pelagius that sprung up againe in Britaine Wherein after that some few Bishops had sitten Levinus the Bishop of Kirton who was in great favour with Canutus the Dane obtained by vertue of the Kings authoritie that it should be Joyned to his See Since which time there hath beene but one Bishop over this Province and Denshire both whose seat is now at Exceter and who appointed the little Towne of S. Germans to be the seat of his Suffragan For at this day it is nothing else but a village consisting of fishermens cabins that make a good gainfull trade by catching store of fish in the Ocean and rivers neere adjoyning Some few miles from hence upon the same river standeth Trematon bearing the name of a Castle though the wall bee halfe downe in which as we find in Domesday booke William Earle of Moriton had his Castle and held his mercate and was the capitall seat of the Baronie belonging to the Earles
any expedition set out either by sea or land it served in proportion to five hides It hath beene likewise from time to time much afflicted once spoiled and sore shaken by the furious outrages of the Danes in the yeare of our redemption 875. but most grievously by Suen the Dane in the yeare 1003. at which time by the treacherie of one Hugh a Norman Governor of the citie it was raced and ruined along from the East gate to the West And scarcely began it to flourish againe when William the Conquerour most straightly beleaguered it when the Citizens in the meane while thought it not sufficient to shut their gates against him but malapartly let flie taunts and flouts at him but when a piece of their wall fell downe by the speciall hand of God as the Historians of that age report they yielded immediatly thereupon At which time as we find in the said survey-booke of his The King had in this Citie three hundred houses it paid fifteene pounds by the yeare and fortie houses were destroyed after that the King came into England After this it was thrice besieged and yet it easily avoided all First by Hugh Courtney Earle of Denshire in that civill warre betweene the two houses of Lancaster and Yorke then by Perkin Warbecke that imaginarie counterfeit and pretended Prince who being a young man of a very base condition faining himselfe to be Richard Duke of Yorke the second sonne of King Edward the Fourth stirred up dangerous stirres against Henrie the Seventh thirdly by seditious Rebels of Cornwall in the yeare of Christ 1549 at which time the Citizens most grievously pinched though they were with scarcitie of all things continued neverthelesse in their faith and allegeance untill that Iohn Lord Russell raised the siege and delivered them But Excester received not so great damage at these enemies hands as it did by certaine dammes which they call Weares that Edward Courtney Earle of Denshire taking high displeasure against the Citizens made in the river Ex which stop the passage so that no vessell can come up to the Citie but since that time all merchandize is carried by land from Topesham three miles off And albeit it hath beene decreed by Act of Parliament to take away these Weares yet they continue there still Hereupon the little Towne adjoyning is call Weare being aforetime named Heneaton which was sometime the possession of Augustine de Baa from whom in right of inheritance it descended to Iohn Holland who in his signet which my selfe have seene bare a Lion rampant gardant among flowers de Lys. The civill government of this Citie is in the power of foure and twenty persons out of whom there is from yeare to yeare a Major elected who with foure Bailiffes ruleth heere the State As touching the Geographicall description of this place the old tables of Oxford have set downe the longitude thereof to bee nineteene degrees and eleven scruples the latitude fiftie degrees and fortie scruples or minutes This Citie that I may not omit so much hath had three Dukes For Richard the Second of that name King of England created Iohn Holland Earle of Huntingdon and his brother by the mothers side the first Duke of Excester whom Henrie the Fourth deposed from this dignitie and left unto him the name onely of Earle of Huntingdon and soone after for conspiracie against the King he lost both it and his life by the hatchet Some few yeares after Henry the Fifth set in his place Thomas Beaufort of the house of Lancaster and Earle of Dorset a right noble and worthy warriour When he was dead leaving no issue behind him John Holland sonne of that aforesaid John as heire unto his brother Richard who died without children and to his father both being restored to his bloud by the favour and bounty of King Henry the Sixth recovered his fathers honor and left the same to Henry his sonne who so long as the Lancastrians stood upright flourished in very much honor but afterwards when the family of Yorke was a float and had rule of all gave an example to teach men how ill trusting it is to great Fortunes For this was that same Henry Duke of Excester who albeit he had wedded King Edward the Fourth his sister was driven to such miserie that he was seene all tottered torne and barefooted to begge for his living in the Low countries And in the end after Barnet field fought wherein he bare himselfe valiantly against Edward the Fourth was no more seene untill his dead bodie as if he had perished by Shipwracke was cast upon the shore of Kent A good while after this Henry Courtney Earle of Denshire the sonne of Katharine daughter to King Edward the Fourth was advanced to the honour of Marquesse of Excester by Henry the Eighth and designed heire apparant But this Marquesse as well as the first Duke was by his high parentage cast into a great tempest of troubles wherein as a man subject to suspitions and desirous of a change in the State he was quickly overthrowne And among other matters because he had with money and counsell assisted Reginald Poole afterwards Cardinall then a fugitive practising with the Emperour and the Pope against his owne Country and the King who had now abrogated the Popes authoritie he was judicially arraigned and being condemned with some others lost his head But now of late by the favour of King Iames Thomas Cecill Lord Burleigh enjoyeth the title of Earle of Excester a right good man and the worthy sonne of so excellent a father being the eldest sonne of William Cecill Lord Burleigh high Treasurer of England whose wisedome for a long time was the support of peace and Englands happy quietnesse From Excester going to the very mouth of the River I find no monument of Antiquitie but Exminster sometime called Exanminster bequeathed by King Elfred to his younger sonne and Pouderham Castle built by Isabell de Ripariis the seat long time of that most noble family of the Courtneys Knights who being lineally descended from the stocke of the Earles of Denshire and allied by affinitie to most honorable houses flourish still at this day most worthy of their descent from so high Ancestors Under Pouderham Ken a pretty brooke entreth into Ex which riseth neere Holcombe where in a Parke is a faire place built by Sir Thomas Denis whose family fetcheth their first off-spring and surname from the Danes and were anciently written Le Dan Denis by which name the Cornish called the Danes But lower upon the very mouth of the river on the other banke side as the name it selfe doth testifie standeth Exanmouth knowne by nothing else but the name and for that some fishermen dwelt therein More Eastward Otterey that is The River of Otters or River-Dogs which we call Otters as may appeare by the signification of the word falleth into the sea which runneth hard under
service of Chamberlaine in Chef from our soveraigne Lord the King But under Edward the Third I have read that this was held by Sergeantie namely by holding the Laver or Ewre for the King his Soveraigne Lord to wash upon his Coronation day Also Raulph Moien held the Mannour of Owres neere adjoyning by service of Serjeantie in the Kitchin of the gift likewise of King Henry the First and R. de Welles the Mannour of Welles heereabout since the Conquest of England by the service of the Kings Baker Which I note onely by the way Where Frome maketh his issue into that Bay whereupon Poole is scituate hard by the very mouth is planted Warham in the Saxon tongue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a towne strongly seated on every side but Westward as being fenced on all parts beside with the rivers Trent Frome and the Sea together In King Edward the Confessors time it had two Mint maisters but whiles William the Conquerour raigned it could not reckon above seven dwelling houses in it Yet afterwards it flourished againe fortified with the wall furnished with a mint house a great number of Inhabitants and a most strong Castle which that King William the First built it continued in a most flourishing state untill the daies of King Henry the Second who when hee came to challenge the Crowne of England in the yeare 1142 hee arrived heere besieged and tooke the Castle which was defended by Robert Lacy against him in behalfe of King Stephen and afterward Robert of Lincolne a man of mightie possessions in these parts defended the same against King Stephen But from that time by occasion partly of warres and partly of sudden casualtie by fires by reason also that the sea by little and little which draweth the commoditie of an haven it is almost run to ruine and in the very heart of the old towne it bringeth forth store of garlick At this mouth likewise is discharged another small river with Frome Asserius calleth it Trent but now the Inhabitants thereby name it Piddle From the North banke whereof scarce three miles off I saw the ruins of Middleton Abbey which King Athelstane founded as a satisfaction to appease the ghost and soule of his brother Edwine whom hee had deprived both of his Kingdome and life For when that solicitous desire of raigning had caused him quite to forget all Justice hee put the young Prince heire apparant to the Crowne with one page into a little whirrey without any tackling or furniture thereto to the end he might impute his wickednesse to the waves And so the young Prince overcome with griefe of heart and unable to master his owne passions cast himselfe headlong into the sea Under this Middleton there is voided also another river which runneth hard by Bere a little mercate towne where for a long time that ancient and famous family de Turbida villa commonly Turbervill had their chief habitation whereof as some were famous so Hugh Turburvill in the time of King Edward the First was infamous for his traiterous practises with the French But to goe backe againe to the West part of the shire At the spring head of Frome where the soile is most fruitfull the forrest of Blackmore sometimes thicke and full of trees but now thinner growne yeildeth plentifull game for hunting This by a more common and better knowne name is called The Forrest of white hart The reason of which name the Inhabitants by tradition from their forefathers report to be thus When King Henry the Third came hither to hunt and had taken other Deere he spared a most beautifull and goodly White-Hart which afterwards T. de la-Lynde a gentleman of this countrey with others in his company tooke and killed but how perillous a matter it was to bee twitching as they say of a lion they soone found and felt For the King conceived great indignation and high displeasure against them put them to a grievous fine of money for it and the very lands which they held pay even to this day every yeare by way of amercement a piece of money into the Exchequer which is called White hart silver There joyneth neere to this forrest Shirburne towne named also Shirburne Castle in old time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which by interpretation is Fons Limpidus or as it is else where writen Fons clarus that is Pure fountaine or cleare well scited on the hanging of an hill a pleasant and proper seate as William of Malmesburie saith as well for the frequent number of Inhabitants as the scituation and now it is the most populous and best haunted towne of all this country and gaineth exceeding much by clothing In the yeare of our redemption 704 an Episcopall seat was heere erected and Aldelme the first Bishop there consecrated afterwards also in the raigne of Etheldred Herman the Bishop of Sunning having obtained this Bishoprick translated his Episcopall see hither and joyned the said Bishoprick of Sunning unto this which under William Conqueror the same Bishop translated to Sarisburie and reserved Shirburne to bee a retiring place for his Successors unto whom it belongeth as yet And one of them namely Roger built a strong Castle in the East-part thereof under which lay sometime a wide meere and many fish pooles and now being filled up are converted into most pleasant and rich medow ground As for the Cathedrall Church presently upon the translation of the See it became a monasterie againe and beareth shew of great antiquitie although not many became a monasterie againe and beareth shew of great antiquitie although not many yeares past in a broile betweene the townesmen and the Monks it was fired which the burnt and scorched colour upon the stones doth as yet most evidently shew Under this the river Iuell whereof I will speake some where else winding in and out with many curving reaches runneth Westward to Chiston the seate sometime of the linage de Maulbauch from which it descended hereditarily unto the family of the Horsâ—ies Knights where it entreth into Sommersetshire More toward the East the most famous river Stoure passing full of tenches and Eeles especially arising in Wiltshire out of six fountaines commeth downe to Stourton the honor and seat of the Barons of Stourton So soone as it entred in this Shire it passeth through Gillingham forrest in which Edmund surnamed Iron-side in a memorable battell put the Danes to flight and three miles from thence saluteth Shaftsbury standing upon an hill top very defective of water sometimes called by the Britaines as it is commonly but falsely thought Caer Paladur and in Latine by later writers Septonia by the Saxons 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 perhaps of the Churches Spire steeple such as they tearmed Scheafts A little before the Normans time it had in it 104. houses and three Mint masters as we read in that booke so often by me alleadged And afterwards it flourished the more by reason of a Nunnerie
mother to Edward Courtney the last Earle of Devonshire of that house and on the other side of the quier Iohn de Beaufort Duke of Somerset with his wife Margaret daughter and heire to Sir Iohn Beauchamp of Bletneshoe whose daughter Margaret Countesse of Richmond and mother of King Henry the Seventh a most godly and vertuous Princesse erected a Schoole heere for the training up of youth But now will I turne my pen from the Church to the Towne when the Danes by their crafty devices went about to set the Englishmen together by the eares and would have broken that league and unitie which was betweene King Edward the Elder and his cosen Aethelwald Aethelwald then lusting after the Kingdome and wholly set against his liege Prince fortified this towne as strongly as possibly he could But so soone as Edward came towards him with his forces and pitched his tents at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 now called Badbury he fled and conveied himselfe to his confederates the Danes This Badbury is a little hill upon a faire doune scarce two miles off environed about with a triple trench and rampier and had by report in times past a Castle which was the seate of the West-Saxon Kings But now if ever there were any such it lieth so buried in the owne ruines and rubbish that I could see not so much as one token thereof But hard by a sight I had of a village or mannour called Kingston Lacy because together with Winburne it appurtained to the Lacies Earles of Lincolne unto whom by covenant it came from the Earles of Leicester by the meanes of Quincie Earle of Winchester For King Henry the first had given it to Robert Earle of Mellent and of Leicester and at the last both places from the Lacies fell unto the house of Lancaster whose bountie and liberalitie Winburne had good triall of From this Winburne Stoure as it passeth admitteth Alen a little brook over which standeth S. Giles Winburne the habitation of the worshipfull and ancient house of Astleys Knights also Wickhampton the inheritance sometime of the Barons de Maltravers of whom the last in the raigne of Edward the Third left behind him two daughters onely the one wedded unto Iohn de Arundell grandfather to Iohn Earle of Arundell who left unto his posteritie the title of Barons de Maltravers the other wife of Robert Le-Rous and afterwards of Sir Iohn Keines Knight From hence the Stoure passeth on by Canford under which not long ago Iames Lord Montjoy studious in Minerall matters began to make Calcanthum or Vitriol we call it Coperas and to boile Alome And out of which in old time Iohn Earle of Warren to the great disteining of his owne good name and the damage of England tooke as it were by strong hand and carried away as it is to be seene in our Chronicles Dame Alice Lacey the wife of Thomas Earle of Lancaster And now by this time Stoure leaveth Dorsetshire behind him and after hee hath travelled through some part of Hantshire at length taketh up his lodging in the Ocean and yet not before hee hath entertained a pretty river that runneth to Cranburne a place well watered Where in the yeare of Salvation 930. Aelward a noble Gentleman surnamed for his whitenesse Meaw founded a little monasterie which Robert Fitz-Haimon a Norman unto whom fell the possessions of the said Aelward leaving heere one or two Monkes in a cell translated to Theoksbury From whom in order of succession by the Clares Earles of Glocester and Burghs Earles of Ulster it came to Lionell Duke of Clarence and by him to the Crowne But now Cranborne hath his Uicount now Earle of Salisburie whom King Iames for his approved wisedome and worth honored first with the title of Baron or Lord Cecil of Essendon and the next yeare after of Vicount Cranborne South from hence lieth Woodland emparked sometime the seat of the worshipfull family of Filioll the heires whereof were married to Edward Seimor after Duke of Somerset and Willoughby of Wallaton As touching the Earles and Marquesses of this shire King William the Conqueror having now by conquest attained to the Kingdome of England made Osmund that was Earle of Seez in Normandie both Bishop of Sarisbury and afterward also the first Earle of Dorset and his Chancellor highly admiring the godly wisedome of the man and his notable good parts Long after that King Richard the Second in the one and twentieth yeare of his raigne advanced Iohn de Beaufort Iohn of Gaunt his sonne and Earle of Sommerset to be Marquesse Dorset of which dignitie King Henry the Fourth in hatred of Richard the Second deprived him And when as in the high Court of Parliament the Commons of England there assembled who loved him very dearely made earnest intercession that the said dignitie of Marquesse might bee restored unto him hee himselfe distasting this new title and never heard of before those daies utterly refused it And then his younger brother named Thomas Beaufort was created Earle of Dorset who afterward for his warlike prowesse and valour was by King Henrie the Fifth adorned with the title of Duke of Excester and with the Earledome of Harcourt For he valiantly defended Harflew in Normandie against the Frenchmen and in a pitched field encountring the Earle of Armignac put him to flight After he was dead without issue King Henry the Sixth nominated out of the same house of Lancaster Edmund first Earle afterwards Marquesse Dorset and lastly Duke of Somerset whose sonnes being slaine in the civill wars Edward the Fourth when as now the family of Lancaster lay as it were over troden in the dust created Thomas Grey out of the house of Ruthin who was his sonne in law for the King had espoused the mother of the said Grey Marquesse Dorset when in right of his wife he had entred upon a great state and inheritance of the Bonvilles in this country and the territories adjoyning After him succeeded in the same honour Thomas his sonne and Henrie his nephew by the said Thomas who also was created by King Edward the Sixth Duke of Suffolk having wedded Lady Frances daughter of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk and Neece unto King Henry the Eighth by his sister This Duke in Queene Maries daies being put to death for high treason learned too late how dangerous a thing it is to marrie into the bloud royall and to feed ambitious hopes both in himselfe and in others From that time the title of Dorset was bestowed upon none untill King Iames at his first entrance into this Kingdome exalted Thomas Sackvill Baron of Buckhurst and Lord high Treasurer of England a man of rare wisedome and most carefull providence to the honour of Earle of Dorset who ended his life with suddaine death 1608. and left Robert his sonne his successor who deceasing within the yeare left the said honour againe to Richard his hopefull sonne whom he
fuit Hinc abiens illinc meritorum fulget honore Hic quoque gestorum lande perennis erit Two mountaines high that reach the stars two tops of Sion Faire From Libanon two cedar trees their flouring heads doe beare Two royall gates of highest heaven two lights that men admire Paul thundreth with his voice aloft Peter he flasheth fire Of all the Apostles crowned crew whose raies right glittering bee Paul for deepe learning doth excell Peter for high degree The one doth open the hearts of men the other heaven doore For Peter lets those into heaven whom Paul had taught before As one by meanes of doctrine shewes the way how heaven to win By vertue so of th' others Keys men quickly enter in Paul is a plaine and ready way for men to heaven hie And Peter is as sure a gate for them to passe thereby This is a rocke remaining firme a Master builder hee Twixt these a Church and altar both to please God built we see Rejoice ô England willingly For Rome doth greet thee well The glorious Apostles light in Glaston now doe dwell Two bulwarks strong afront the Foe are rais'd These towres of faith In that this Citie holds the head even of the world it hath These monuments King Ina gave of perfect meere good will Vnto his subjects whose good deeds remaine and shall doe still He with his whole affection in godlinesse did live And holy Church to amplifie great riches also give Well might he our Melchisedech a Priest and King be thought For he the true religious worke to full perfection brought The lawes in common weale he kept and state in Court beside The onely Prince that prelats grac'd and them eke rectifide And now departed hence to heaven of right he there doth reigne Yet shall the praise of his good deeds with us for ay remaine In this first age of the primitive Church very holy men and the Irish especially applied the service of God in this place diligently who were maintained with allowances from Kings and instructed youth in religion and liberall sciences These men embraced a solitarie life that they might the more quietly studie the Scriptures and by an austere kind of life exercise themselves to the bearing of the crosse But at length Dunstane a man of a subtile wit and well experienced when he had once by an opinion of his singular holinesse and learning wound himselfe into the inward acquaintance of Princes in stead of these brought in Monks of a later order called Benedictines and himselfe first of all others became the Abbat or ruler heere of a great covent of them who had formerly and afterward gotten at the hands of good and godly Princes a royall revenue And having reigned as it were in all affluence 600. yeres for all their neighbours round about were at their beck they were by K. Henry the Eighth dispossessed thrust out of all this their Monastery which was growne now to be a prety Citie environed with a large wall a mile about replenished with stately buildings was razed and made even with the ground and now onely sheweth evidently by the ruines thereof how great and how magnificent a thing it was Now I might be thought one of those that in this age have vanities in admiration if I should tell you of a Walnut tree in the holy Churchyard heere that never did put forth leafe before S. Barnabees feast and upon that very day was rank and full of leaves but that is now gone and a young tree in the place as also of the Hawthorne in Wiral-park hard by which upon Christmasday sprouteth forth as well as in May. And yet there bee very many of good credit if we may beleeve men of their word who avouch these things to be most true But before I returne from hence I wil briefly set downe unto you that which Giraldus Cambrensis an eie-witnesse of the thing hath more at large related touching Arthurs Sepulchre in the Churchyard there When Henrie the Second King of England tooke knowledge out of the Songs of British Bards or Rhythmers how Arthur that most noble Worthy of the Britans who by his Martial prowesse had many a time daunted the fury of the English-Saxons lay buried heere betweene two Pyramides or sharpe-headed pillars hee caused the bodie to be searched for and scarcely had they digged seven foot deepe into the earth but they lighted upon a Tomb or Grave-stone on the upper face whereof was fastened a broad Crosse of lead grosly wrought which being taken forth shewed an inscription of letters and under the said stone almost nine foot deeper was found a Sepulchre of oake made hollow wherin the bones of that famous Arthur were bestowed which Inscription or Epitaph as it was sometime exemplified and drawn out of the first Copie in the Abbey of Glascon I thought good for the antiquitie of the characters here to put downe The letters being made after a barbarous maner resembling the Gothish Character bewray plainely the barbarisme of that age when ignorance as it were by fatall destinie bare such sway that there was none to be found by whose writings the renowne of Arthur might bee blazed and commended to posteritie A matter and argument doubtlesse meet to have beene handled by the skill and eloquence of some right learned man who in celebrating the praises of so great a prince might have wonne due commendation also for his owne wit For the most valiant Champian of the British Empire seemeth even in this behalfe onely most unfortunate that hee never met with such a trumpetter as might worthily have sounded out the praise of his valour But behold the said Crosse and Epitaph therein Neither will it be impertinent if I annex hereunto what our Countrey man Ioseph a Monke of Excester no vulgar and triviall Poet versified sometime of Arthur in his Poeme Antiocheis wherein he described the warres of the Christians for recoverie of the Holy Land and was there present with King Richard the First speaking of Britaine Hinc celebri fato foelici claruit ortu Flos Regum Arthurus cujus cúm facta stupori Non micuere minús totus quód in aure voluptas Et populo plaudente favus Quemcunque priorum Inspice Pelaeum commendat fama tyrannum Pagina Caesareos loquitur Romana triumphos Alcidem domitis attollit gloria monstris Sed nec pinetum coryli nec sydera solem Aequant Annales Latios Graiosque revolve Prisca parem nescit aequalem postera nullum Exhibitura dies Reges supereminet omnes Solus praeteritis melior majorque futuris For famous death and happie birth hence flourish'd next in place Arthur the flower of noble Kings whose acts with lovely grace Accepted and admired were in peoples mouth and eare No lesse than if sweet hony they or pleasant musicke were See former Princes and compare his worth even with them all That King in Pella borne whom we great Alexander call The trumpe
gently runneth which breaking forth almost in the North limit of this shire keepeth his course southward and as Aethelward noteth was sometime the bound betweene the Kingdoms of the West-Saxons and the Mercians upon which many great battels from time to time were fought whiles it is but small he slideth under Malmesbury hill and receiving another streame well neare encloseth the place A very proper towne this is and hath a great name for clothing which as wee read in the Eulogie of Histories Cunwallow Mulmutius King of the Britaines built together with Lacok and Tetburie two Castles and named it Caer Baldon which being at length by heat of warres destroyed out of the ruines thereof there arose as writers record a Castle which our Ancestors in their tongue called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at which time the Saxon petie Kings had their royall palace at Caerdurburge now Brokenbridge a little village scarce a mile off Neither verily was this towne for a long time knowne by any other name than Ingelborne untill one Maidulph an Irish Scot a man of great learning and singular holinesse of life taking delight to a pleasant grove that grew up heere under the hill lived for a time a solitary Heremite there and afterwards teaching a Schoole and with his schollers betaking himselfe to a monasticall life built him a little monasterie or Cell From this time of that Maidulph the towne began to bee called Maidulfesburge for Ingleborne termed by Beda Maidulphi Vrbs that is Maidulps Citie and afterwards short Malmesburies and in some of our Histories and ancient Donations made unto this place Meldunum Malduburie and Maldunsburg Among the Disciples of this Maidulph flourished chiefely Aldelme who being elected his successour by the helpe of Eleutherius Bishop of the West-Saxons unto whom the place of right belonged built there a very faire Monasterie and was himselfe the first Abbat thereof of whom also in a certaine manuscript this towne is called Aldelmesbirig But this name soone perished yet the memorie of the man continueth still for canonized he was a Saint and on his festivall day there was heere kept a great Faire at which usuall there is a band of armed men appointed to keepe the peace among so many strangers resorting thither And right worthy is he that his memorie should remaine fresh for ever in regard not onely of his Holinesse but of his learning also as those times were For the first he was of the English nation who wrote in Latine and the first that taught Englishmen the way how to make a Latine verse the which in these verses hee both promised of himselfe and performed Primus ego in patriam mecum modo vita supersit Aonio rediens deducam vertice Musas I will be first God lending life that into country mine From Aon top at my returne shall bring the Muses nine This Adelme after his death Athelstane that Noble Prince chose to be his peculiar protector and tutelar Saint and for that cause bestowed very great immunities upon this towne and enriched the monasterie with a large and ample endowments In which he made choise to bee buried and his monument the Inhabitants shew to this day After Athelstane this Monasterie flourished long in continuall wealth and among other famous Clerks and great Scholars brought forth William surnamed thereof Malmesburiensis unto whom for his learned industry the Histories of England both Civill and Ecclesiasticall are deepely indebted The towne also maintained and upholden as it were by the meanes of the Monasterie was likewise fortified by Roger Bishop of Salisburie who in the beginning of the warres betweene Henrie of Anjou and King Stephen strengthned it with walls and a Castle which being once besieged by King Henrie the Second defended it selfe Moreover that magnificent Bishop both here and at Salisburie built houses for receit very large for cost as sumptuous and for shew right beautifull so even and orderly were the stones couched and laid together that the joynts could not be seene and the whole wall throughout seemed to the eie one entire stone But the Castle not many yeares after by K. Iohns permission was pulled downe to the use of the Monkes for enlarging their monasterie who encreased it still continually both in buildings livings and revenue untill that fatall thunder-clap overthrew all the Monasteries of England Then their lands rents and riches that had beene so many yeares in gathering and heaping up together which were as our Forefathers reputed them The vowes of the faithfull the ransome and redemption of sinnes and the patrimonies of poore people were quite scattered and the very Minster it selfe should have sped no better than the rest but beene demolished had not T. Stumpes a wealthy clothier by much suit but with a greater piece of money redeemed and bought it for the townesmen his neighbours by whom it was converted to a Parish-Church and for a great part is yet standing at this day From this Maiduphus Citie or Malmesburie as Avon runneth it commeth to Dantesey that gave name unto the possessions thereof worshipfull Knights of old time in this tract from whom by the Easterlings commonly called Stradlings it came unto the family of the Danvers Out of which Henry Danvers through the favor of King Iames obtained of late the title and honour of Baron Danvers of Dantesey Sixe miles from hence Avon taketh unto him from the East a Brooke which runneth through Calne an old little towne scituate upon a stony ground having in it a faire Church to commend it at which place when great adoe there was betweene the Monkes and Priests about single life a frequent Provinciall Councell or Synod was holden in the yeare of our redemption 977. But behold whiles they were debating the matter the Convocation house wherein the States sat by breaking of the maine timber-worke and falling asunder of the floore fell suddenly downe together with the Prelates Nobles and Gentlemen there assembled with the fall whereof many were hurt and more slaine outright onely Dunstane President of the said Counsell and held with the Monkes escaped without harme which miracle for so that age took it is thought wonderfully to have credited the profession of Monkerie and weakened the cause of married Priests From hence Avon now growne greater Chippenham in Saxon Cyppanham of note at this day for the market there kept whereof it tooke the name For Cyppan in the Saxon tongue is as much to say as to buy and Cyppman a buyer like as with us Cheapen and Chapman and among the Germans Coppman But in those daies it was the Kings manour and by King Elfred in his testament bequeathed to a younger daughter of his Nothing is there now worth the sight but the Church built by the Barons Hungerford as appeareth every where by their coats of Armes set up thereon Directly over against this but somewhat farther from the banke lieth Cosham
Alice his onely daughter being wedded unto Richard Nevill augmented his honour with the title of Earle of Salisburie who siding with the house of Yorke was in the battell fought at Wakefield taken prisoner and beheaded leaving to succeede him Richard his sonne Earle of Warwicke and Salisburie who delighting in dangers and troubles enwrapped his native countrey within new broiles of Civill warre wherein himselfe also left his life The one of his daughters named Isabell was married unto George Duke of Clarence brother to King Edward the Fourth and shee bare him a sonne called Edward Earle of Warwicke who being a very child and innocent was by King Henrie the Seventh beheaded like as his sister Margaret suffered the same death under King Henrie the Eighth An usuall pollicie and practise among suspicious Princes For the securitie of their own persons and their posteritie by one occasion or other that evermore are soone offered and as quickly pickt to make away or keepe under the next of their bloud Anne the other daughter of Richard Nevill Earle of Warwick and Salisburie became wife to Richard Duke of Glocester brother to King Edward the Fourth and brought him a sonne whom his uncle King Edward in the 17. of his reigne created Earle of Salisburie and Richard his father usurping the kingdome made Prince of Wales But he departed this life in his tender yeares about that time that his mother also died not without suspition of poison King Henry the Eighth afterward about the fifth yeare of his raigne in a full Parliament restored and enabled in bloud Margaret daughter to George Duke of Clarence to the name stile title honour and dignitie of Countesse of Salisburie as sister and heire to Edward late Earle of Warwick and Salisburie And about the 31. yeare of the said King she was attainted in Parliament with divers others and beheaded when she was 70. yeares old Since which time that title of honour was discontinued untill in the yeare of our Lord 1605. our Soveraigne Lord King Iames honored therewith S. Robert Cecill second sonne of that Nestor of ours William Cecill upon whom for his singular wisedome great employments in the affaires of State to the good of Prince and Countrey he had bestowed the honorable titles of Baron Cecill of Essendon and Vicount Cranburn Thus much of the Earles of Salisburie Lower still and not far from this Citie is scituate upon Avon Dunctone or Donketon a burrough as they say of great antiquitie and well knowne by reason of the house therein of Beavois of Southampton whom the people have enrolled in the number of their brave worthies for his valour commended so much in rhyme to posteritie This Salisburie is environed round about with open fields and plaines unlesse it be Eastward where lieth hard unto it Clarindon a very large and goodly parke passing fit for the keeping and feeding of wild beasts and adorned in times past with an house of the Kings Of which parke and of the twentie groves inclosed therein Master Michael Maschert Doctor of the Civill lawes hath prettily versified in this wise Nobilis est lucus cervis clausura saronam Propter a claro vertice nomen habet Viginti hinc nemorum partito limite boscis Ambitus est passus mille cuique suus A famous Parke for Stag and Hind neere Salisbury doth lie The name it hath of one faire downe or hill that mounts on hie Within the same stand xx groves enclos'd with severall bound Of which in compasse every one a mile containes in ground Famous is this Clarindon for that heere in the yeare 1164. was made a certaine recognition and record of the customes and liberties of the Kings of England before the Prelates and Peeres of the Kingdome for the avoiding discentions betweene the Clergie Iudges and Barons of the Realme which were called The Constitutions of Clarnidon Of the which so many as the Pope approved have beene set downe in the Tomes of the Councels the rest omitted albeit Thomas Becket then Archbishop of Canterburie and the rest of the Bishops approved them all Heereby is Jvy Church sometime a small Priory where as tradition runneth in our grandfathers remembrance was found a grave and therein a corps of twelve foote and not farre of a stocke of wood hollowed and the concave lined with lead with a booke therein of very thicke parchment all written with Capitall Roman letters But it had lien so long that when the leaves were touched they fouldred to dust S. Thomas Eliot who saw it judged it to be an Historie No doubt hee that so carefully laied it up hoped it should be found and discover somethings memorable to posteritie Toward the North about sixe miles from Salisburie in these plaines before named is to bee seeene a huge and monstrous piece of worke such as Cicero termeth Insanam substructionem For within the circuit of a Ditch there are erected in manner of a Crowne in three rankes or courses one within another certaine mightie and unwrought stones whereof some are 28. foote high and seven foote broad upon the heads of which others like overthwart pieces doe beare and rest crosse-wise with a small tenents and mortescis so as 〈◊〉 le frame seemeth to hang whereof wee call it Stonehenge like as our old 〈◊〉 â—â—rmed it for the greatnesse Chorea Gigantum The Giants Daunce The 〈…〉 whereof such as it is because it could not be so fitly expressed in 〈…〉 caused by the gravers helpe to bee portraied heere underneath as it 〈…〉 weatherbeaten and decaied A. Stones called Corsestones Weighing 12. tunne carrying in height 24. foote in breadth 7. foote in compasse 16. B. Stones named Cronetts of 6. or 7. tunne weight C. A place where mens bones are digged up Our countrie-men reckon this for one of our wonders and miracles And much they marvaile from whence such huge stones were brought considering that in all those quarters bordering thereupon there is hardly to be found any common stone at all for building as also by what meanes they were set up For mine owne part about these points I am not curiously to argue and dispute but rather to lament with much griefe that the Authors of so notable a monument are thus buried in oblivion Yet some there are that thinke them to bee no naturall stones hewne out of the rocke but artificially made of pure sand and by some glewie and unctuous matter knit and incorporate together like as those ancient Trophies or monuments of victorie which I have seene in Yorkshire And what marvaile Read we nor I pray you in Plinie that the sand or dust of Puteoli being covered over with water becommeth forthwith a very stone that the cesternes in Rome of sand digged out of the ground and the strongest kind of lime wrought together grow so hard that they seeme stones indeed and that Statues and images of marble chippings and small grit grow together so compact and firme
and worth the noting it is there is a vaine of potters earth highly commended and therefore the dearer sold for the making of those crucibles and small vessels which Gold-smiths use in melting their gold Nor farre from hence the cleare rivelet Wandle in Latin Vandalis so full of the best Trouts issueth forth from his head neare Cashalton and Wodcot where by a tuft of trees upon an hill-top there are to bee seene manifest signes of a pretty towne and diverse wels built of flint stones Concerning the populousnesse and wealth whereof the neighbour Inhabitants report very much This in my conceit was that Citie which Ptolomee called NOIOMAGVS and the Emperour Antonine NOVIOMAGVS Neither neede wee to seeke from else where proofe heereof but from the correspondencie of distance For as the old Itinerary noteth it is ten miles from London and twenty eight from Vagmiacj now Maidston Many a mile therefore went they out of the way that placed Noviomagus either at Buckingham or at Guildford This was a principall Citie of the REGNI not knowne to Marinus Tyrius a most ancient Geographer whom Ptolomee taking upon him to censure taxeth for that he had set NOVIOMAGVS of Britaine by Climate more North and by account of miles more South than London Wandle while it is yet small receiveth his first increase by a rill springing at Croidon in times past called Cradiden which standeth under the hils is very well known as well for the house of the Archbishops of Canterbury unto whom it hath belonged now this long time as for Char-coles which the townesmen make good chaffer of The inhabitants report that in old time there stood an house of the Kings in the West part of the towne neere unto Haling where the husbandmen dig up otherwhiles rubble stone which house the Archbishops having received it by gift from the King translated unto their owne neerer the river And neere unto this the right reverend father in God D. Iohn Whitgift Archbishop of Canterbury of most praise worthy Memory in his pious affection founded and endowed with living a very faire Hospitall for the reliefe of poore people and a schoole for the furtherance of learning As for that sudden swelling water or Bourne which the common people report to breake forth heere out of the ground presaging I wote not how either dearth of corne or the pestilence may seeme not worthy once the naming and yet the events sometime ensuing hath procured it credit Neere unto this place stands Beddington wherein is to be seene a very faire house beautified with a delightfull shew of right pleasant gardens and orchards by Sir Francis Carew Knight For the ancient seat it is of the Carews who being descended from the Carews of Moulesford of whom also are come the Carews of Devonshire have for a long time flourished in this country but especially since Sir Iames Carew matched in marriage with the daughter and one of the coheires of the Baron Hoo and Hastings To digresse a little from the river Eastward from Croidon standeth Addington now the habitation of Sir Oliff Leigh wherby is to be seene the ruble of a Castle of Sir Robert Agvilon and from him of the Lords Bardolph who held certaine lands here in fee by Serianty to find in the Kings kitchin at the Coronation one to make a dainty dish which they called Mapigernoun and Dilgerunt What that was I leave to the skilfull in ancient Cookerie and returne to the river Wandle increased with Croidon water passing by Morden divideth it selfe to water Merton in the old English tongue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 situate in a most fruitfull soile A towne made famous in times past by the death of Kinulph King of the West Saxons who was by a Clito that is a Prince of the bloud slaine here in a small cottage of an harlot upon whom hee was enamoured and Clito himself by K. Kinulphs followers immediately stabbed suffered condigne punishment for his disloyall treachery Now it sheweth onely the ruines of a Monastery that K. Henry the First founded for blacke Chanons by the procurement of Gilbert High Sheriffe of Surry in the yeare 1127. which was famous for the Statute of Merton enacted here in the 21. of King Henrie the Third and also for Water de Merton founder of Merton Colledge in Oxford borne and bred heere Above Merton farther from the river is seated Wibandune now commonly Wimbledon where when over much prosperitie had hatched civill broiles among the English Saxons after the British warres were now ceased Ethelbert King of Kent struck up the first Alarme of civill warre against his owne country men but Ceaulin King of the West Saxons discomfited him in this place with a mightie great slaughter and losse of his men having slaine his principall leaders Oslan and Kneben of whom peradventure that entrenched rampier or fort which wee have heere seene of a round forme is called Bensbury for But now the greatest ornament of this place is that goodly house so beautifull for building and so delectable for faire prospect and right pleasant gardens which Sir Thomas Cecill Knight sonne to that most prudent Counsellour of State Lord Burleygh built in the yeare 1588. when the Spanish Armado made saile upon the coast of England Wandle now after a few miles entreth the Tamis when it hath given name to Wandlesworth betweene Putney the native soile of Thomas Cromwell one of the flowting-stocks of fortune and Batersey sometimes in the Saxon tongue called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in latine Patricii Insula that is Patrickes Isle and which now we seeke an house of the Kings termed Kennington whereunto the Kings of England in old time were wont to retire themselves but now finde wee neither the name nor the rammell thereof Then is there Lambith or Lomehith that is to say a Lomy or clayish rode or hith famous in former times for the death of Canutus the Hardie King of England who there amid his cups yielded up his vitall breath For hee beeing given wholly to banqueting and feasting caused royall dinners foure times every day as Henry of Huntingdon reporteth to be served up for all his court choosing rather to have his invited guests to send away whole dishes untouched than other commers unbidden to call for more viands to be upon his table But now this place is of the greater name and more frequented by reason of the Archbishop of Canterburie his palace For Baldwine Archbishop of Canterbury about the yeare of Christ 1183. having made an exchange with the Bishop of Rochester purchased a manour in this place wherein hee began to build a palace for himselfe and his successours which they by little and little encreased But when they went about to erect a collegiat Church heere also good GOD what posting was there to Rome with complaints and appeales from the Monkes of Canterburie how many fiery thunderbolts
small trouble and labour about it and when he had hanged all the rest that he found therein he sent the wife and sonnes of Bartholmew aforesaid to the Tower of London Thus Medway having received this rivelet from Leeds fetching about through good grounds rūneth by Allington sometime a castle now lesse than a castellet where Sir T. Wyat the elder a worthy learned knight reedified a faire house now decaied whose son Sr. Thomas enriched by an heire of Sir T. Haut proposing to himself great hopes upō fair pretēses pitifully overthrew himself his state Hence commeth Medway to Ailsford in the old English Saxon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which H. of Huntingdon calleth Elstre Ninnius Episford who hath written that it was named in the British tongue Saissenaeg haibail of the Saxons there vanquished like as others in the very same sense termed it Anglesford For Guortemere the Britaine Guortigerns sonne did here set upon Hengist and the English Saxons whom being disraied and not able to abide a second charge he put all to flight so as they had beene utterly defeated for ever but that Hengist skil-full and provident to prevent and divert danger withdrew himselfe into the Isle of Tenet untill that invincible vigour and heat of the Britanes were allaied and fresh supplies came to his succour out of Germanie In this Battaile were slaine the Generalls of both sides Catigern the Britaine and Horsa the Saxon of whom the one buried at Horsted not farre from hence gave name to the place and Catigern honored with a stately and solemne funerall is thought to have beene enterred neere unto Ailesford where under the side of a hill I saw foure huge rude hard stones erected two for the sides one transversall in the middest betweene them and the hugest of all piled and laied over them in manner of the British monument which is called Stone heng but not so artificially with mortis and tenents Verily the unskilfull common people terme it at this day of the same Catigern Keiths or Kits Coty house In Ailsford it selfe for the religious house of the Carmelites founded by Richard Lord Grey of Codnor in the time of King Henrie the Third is now seene a faire habitation of Sir William Siddey a learned Knight painefully and expensfully studious of the common good of his country as both his endowed house for the poore and the bridge heere with the common voice doe plentifully testifie Neither is Boxley neere adjoyning to bee passed over in silence where William de Ipres in Flaunders Earle of Kent founded an Abbey in the yeare of our Lord 1145. and translated thither the Monkes from Clarevalle in Burgundie Medway having wound himselfe higher from the East receiveth a brooke springing neare Wrotham or Wirtham so named for plentie of wortes where the Archbishops had a place untill Simon Islep pulled it downe leaveth Malling which grew to bee a towne after Gundulph Bishop of Rochester had there founded an Abbey of Nunnes and watereth Leibourn which hath a Castle sometime the seate of a family thereof surnamed out of which Sir Roger Leibourn was a great Agent in the Barons warres and William was a Parliamentary Baron in the time of King Edward the first Neare neighbour to Leibourn is Briling now the habitation of the Lord Abergeveny in times past parcell of the Baronie of the Maminots then of the Saies whose Inheritance at length by heires generall came to the families of Clinton Fienes and Aulton Upon the banke of Medway Eastward somewhat higher after it hath passed by Halling where Hamo Heath Bishop of Rochester built an house for his successors there standeth an ancient Citie which Antonine calleth DVRO BRVS DVRO-BRIVAE and in another place more truely DVRO PROVae and DVRO BROVae Bede DVRO BREVIS and in the declining state of the Romane Empire processe of time contracted his name so that it came to be named ROIBIS and so by addition of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which commeth of the latin word Castrum betokeneth among our ancestors a city or Castle was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and now with us more short Rochester and in Latin Roffa of one Rhufus as Bede guesseth but it seemeth unto mee to retaine in it somewhat still of that old name Durobrevis Neither is there cause why any man should doubt of the name seeing that by the account of journies or distance betweene places and Bedes authoritie it is named expressely in the Charter of the foundation of the Cathedrall Church there DVROBROVIS yet thus much I would advertise the Reader that in the printed bookes of Bede it is read Darueruum whereas in the manuscript copies it is termed DVROBREVIS seated it is in a bottome fortified on the one side with a marsh the river the weake walles and as William of Malmesburie saith pent within too streight a roome whereupon in time past it was counted a Castle rather then a Citie For Bede calleth it Castellum Cantuariorum that is the Kentishmens Castle But now it stretcheth forth with large suburbs on the West East and South sides It hath passed through no few dangers and mischances In the yeare of Christ 676. it was overthrowne and laid along by King Aetheldred the Mercian and many a time afterward sacked by the Danes Aethelbert King of Kent erected there a sumptuous Church which also he made more famous with the dignitie of Bishopricke ordaining Iustus to bee the first Bishop of that See But when it fell to decay for very age Bishop Gundulph a Norman about the yeare 1080. reedified it and thrusting out the Priests brought in Monkes in their roomes and when they were cast out a Deane sixe Prebendaries and Scholars were substituted in their places Neere unto the Church there standeth over the river an old Castle fortified both by art and situation Which as the report goeth Odo Bishop of Bayeux and Earle of Kent built But it was no doubt King William the first that built it For in Domesday booke we read thus The Bishop of Rouecester holdeth in Elesford for exchange of the land on which the Castle is seated Yet certaine it is that Bishop Odo when his hope depended of a doubtfull change of the State held this against King William Rufus At which time there passed proclamation through England that whosoever would not be reputed a Niding should repaire to recover Rochester Castle Whereupon the youth fearing that name and most reproachfull and opprobrious in that age swarmed thither in such numbers that Odo was enforced to yeeld the place lose his dignitie and abjure the realme But concerning the reedification of this Castle about this time listen what the Text of Rocester saith when King William the second would not confirme the gift of Lanfrank as touching the Manour of Hedenham in the County of Buckingham made unto Rochester church unlesse Lanfranck and Gundulph Bishop of
PONTIFICE DIRECTVS ET A DEO OPERATIONE MIRACVLORVM SVFFVLTVS ET ETHELBERTHVM REGEM AC GENTEM ILLIVS AB IDOLORVM CVLTV AD FIDEM CHRISTI PERDVXIT ET COMPLETIS IN PACE DIEBVS OFFICII SVI DEFVNCTVS EST SEPTIMO KALENDAS IVNIAS EODEM REGE REGNANTE HERE RESTETH DAN AVGVSTINE THE FIRST ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY VVHO BEING IN TIMES PAST DIRECTED HITHER FROM BLESSED GREGORIE THE BISHOP OF ROME AND THROVGH THE VVORKING OF MIRACLES SVPPORTED BY GOD BOTH BROVGHT KING ETHELBERT AND HIS PEOPLE FROM IDOLATRY TO THE FAITH OF CHRIST AND ALSO AFTER THE DAIES OF HIS FVNCTION ACCOMPLISHED IN PEACE DIED THE SEVENTH DAY BEFORE THE KALENDS OF IVNE IN THE SAME KINGS REIGNE Together with him in the same porch were buried sixe Archbishops next succeeding and in memoriall of these seven namely Austen Laurence Mellitus Iustus Honorius Deus-dedit and Theodosius were these verses such as they are engraven there in marble SEPTEM SVNT ANGLIS PRIMATES ET PROTO PATRES SEPTEM RECTORES SEPTEM COELOQVE TRIONES SEPTEM CISTERNAE VITAE SEPTEMQVE LVCERNAE ET SEPTEM PALMAE REGNI SEPTEMQVE CORONAE SEPTEM SVNT STELLAE QUAS HAEC TENET AREA CELLAE Seven Patriarchs of England Primates seven Seven Rectors and seven Labourers in heaven Seven Cesternes pure of life seven Lamps of light Seven Palmes and of this Realme seven Crownes full bright Seven Starres are heere bestow'd in vault below I may not forget another Church neere unto this built as Bede saith by the Romans and consecrated to Saint Martin wherein before Austens comming Bertha wife to King Ethelbert descended from the bloud Royall of France was wont to frequent divine Christian service Concerning the Castle on the South side of the Citie the Bulwarks whereof now are decaied it maketh no shew of any great antiquity and there is no memorable thing thereof come to my knowledge but only that it was built by the Normans as touching the dignitie of the See of Canterburie which in times past carried a great State I will say nothing but this that as in former ages during the Roman Hierarchie the Archbishops of Canterbury were Primates of all Britaine Legates to the Pope and as Vrbane the second said The Patriarches as it were of another world so when the Popes authoritie was abrogated a decree passed in the Synode Anno 1534. that laying aside the said title they should bee stiled Primates and Metropolitanes of all England Which dignitie the right reverend Father in Christ D. Iohn Whitgift lately held who devoutly consecrated both his whole life to God all his painefull labours to the Church and in the yeare 1604. slept in the Lord a Prelate much missed of all good men After whom succeeded Doctor Richard Bancroft a man of singular courage and counsaile in establishing and supporting the state Ecclesiasticall For the Latitude of Canterbury the Pole Artick is elevated above the Horizon there fifty one degrees and sixteene minutes and the Longitude is reckoned to be foure and twenty degrees and fiftie one minutes Stour by this time having gathered his waters all into one streame runneth beside Hackington where Dame Lora Countesse of Leicester a most honourable Lady in those daies having abandoned all worldly pleasures sequestred her selfe from the world devoutly to serve God wholy Afore which time Baldwin Archbishop of Canterbury began a Church there in the honour of Saint Stephen and Thomas of Canterbury But being inhabited by the Bishop of Rome his authoritie for feare the same might prejudice the Monkes of Canterbury hee gave over the workes Howbeit ever since the name remained and the place is called Saint Stephens of which Sir Roger Manwood Knight L. cheife Baron of the Exchequer a man of exquisite knowledge in our common lawes unto whom for his bounteous liberalitie the poore inhabitants are much beholding was of late time a right great ornament and even so is his sonne at this day Sir Peter Manwood Knight of the Bath whom I cannot but mention when as he is a favourer of vertue and learning From thence Stour passeth by Fordich called the little Burough of Forewich in King William the Conquerours booke a place of note for excellent good trouts and so in former time to Stoure-mouth which it hath now forsaken a mile and more yet left and bequeathed his name to it But now by Stoure-mouth runneth a brooke which issuing our of Saint Eadburghs well at Liming where the daughter to King Ethelbert first of our nation tooke the veile while it seeketh the sea seeth Elham a mercate towne of which I have read nothing but that the Mannour was the inheritance of Iulian Leibourn a Ladie of great honour in her time who was mother of Laurence Hastings first Earle of Penbrooke of that surname and after wife to William Clinton Earle of Huntingdon Then it holdeth his course by divers villages which thereof receive the addition of Bourn as Bishops-bourn Hawles-bourn Patricks-bourn and Beakes-bourn This bourne is that river Stoure as Caesar calleth it as I have observed travailing lately in these parts which Caesar came unto when he had marched by night almost twelve Italian miles from the sea-coast and where hee had the first encounter in his second expedition into Britaine with the Britaines whom he drave into the woods where they had a place fortified both by nature and mens labour with a number of trees hewen downe and plashed to fore-close the entries But yet the Romans forced an entrie drave them out and there about encamped The place of campe as I heare is neare Hâ—rdes a place of ancien Gentlement of that surname descended from Esten grave Herengod and the Fitz-Bernards Belowe Stoure-mouth Stoure dividing his streame taketh two severall waies and leaving that name is called In-lade and Wantsume making the Isle of Tenet on the West and South side for on all other sides it is washed with the maine Sea This Iland Solinus named ATHANATON and in other copies THANATON the Britaines Iuis Ruhin as witnesseth Asserius happily for Rhutupin of Rhutupinae a Citie adjoining The English Saxons called it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and we Tenet All the Isle standeth upon a whitish maile full of goodly corne fields and being a right fertile soile carrieth in length eight miles and foure in breadth reckoned in old time to containe 600. Families in stead whereof it is corruptly read in Bede Milliarium Sexcentarum for Familiarum Sexcentarum But whereas Solinus writeth that there is not a snake creeping in this Isle and that the mould or earth carried from hence killeth snakes it is now proved to bee untrue That Etymologie therefore derived 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is from the death of snakes falleth quite to the ground Here the English Saxons landed first here by the permission of Guortigern they first seated themselves here was their place of refuge and here Guortimor the Britaine made a great
William who enjoyed it a short time dying also without issue So by Amice the second daughter of the forenamed Earle William married to Richard de Clare Earle of Hertford this Earledome descended to Gilbert her sonne who was stiled Earle of Glocester and Hertford and mightily enriched his house by marrying one of the heires of William Marshall Earle of Pembroch His sonne and successour Richard in the beginning of the Barons warres against king Henry the Third ended his life leaving Gilbert his sonne to succeed him who powerfully and prudently swaied much in the said wars as he inclined to them or the king He obnoxious to King Edward the First surrendred his lands unto him and received them againe by marrying Joane the Kings Daughter sirnamed of Acres in the Holy-land because shee was there borne to his second Wife who bare unto him Gilbert Clare last Earle of Glocester of this sirname slaine in the flower of his youth in Scotland at the battaile of Sterling in the 6. yeare of K. Edward the second Howbeit while this Gilbert the third was in minority Sir Ralph de Mont-hermer who by a secret contract had espoused his mother the Kings daughter for which he incurred the kings high displeasure and a short imprisonment but after reconciled was summoned to Parliaments by the name of Earle of Glocester and Hertford But when Gilbert was out of his minority he was summoned amongst the Barons by the name of Sir Ralph de Mont-hermer as long as he lived which I note more willingly for the rarenesse of the example After the death of Gilbert the third without children Sir Hugh Le De-Spenser commonly named Spenser the younger was by writers called Earle of Glocester because he had married the eldest sister of the said Gilbert the third But after that he was by the Queene and Nobles of the Realme hanged for hatred they bare to K. Edward the 2. whose minion he was Sir Hugh Audley who had matched in marriage with the second sister through the favour of King Edward the Third received this honour After his death King Richard the Second erected this Earledome into a Dukedome and so it had three Dukes and one Earle betweene and unto them all it prooved Equus Sejanus that is Fatall to give them their fall Thomas of Woodstocke youngest sonne to King Edward the Third was the first Duke of Glocester advanced to that high honour by the said King Richard the Second and shortly after by him subverted For when he busily plotted great matters the King tooke order that he should be conveyed secretly in all haste to Calis where with a featherbed cast upon him he was smouthered having before under his owne band confessed as it stands upon Record in the Parliament Rols that he by vertue of a Patent which hee had wrested from the King tooke upon him the Kings regall authority that he came armed into the Kings presence reviled him consulted with learned about renouncing his allegiance and devised to depose the King for which being now dead he was by authority of Parliament attainted and condemned of high Treason When hee was thus dispatched the same King conferred the Title of Earle of Glocester upon Thomas Le De-Spenser in the right of his Great Grand-mother who within a while after sped no better than his great Grand-father Sir Hugh For by King Henry the fourth he was violently displaced shamefully degraded and at Briston by the peoples fury beheaded After some yeares King Henry the Fifth created his brother Humfrey the second Duke of Glocester who stiled himselfe the first yeare of King Henry the Sixth as I have seene in an Instrument of his Humfrey by the Grace of God sonne brother and Uncle to Kings Duke of Glocester Earle of Henault Holland Zeland and Penbroch Lord of Friesland Great Chamberlaine of the Kingdome of England Protector and Defender of the same Kingdome and Church of England A man that had right well deserved of the common wealth and of learning but through the fraudulent practise and malignant envie of the Queene brought to his end at Saint Edmunds Bury The third and last Duke was Richard brother to King Edward the Fourth who afterwards having most wickedly murdred his Nephewes usurped the Kingdome by the name of King Richard the third and after two yeares lost both it and his life in a pitched field finding by experience that power gotten by wicked meanes is never long lasting Concerning this last Duke of Glocester and his first entry to the Crowne give me leave for a while to play the part of an Historiographer which I will speedily give over againe as not well able to act it When this Richard Duke of Glocester being now proclaimed Protector of the Kingdome had under his command his tender two Nephewes Edward the Fifth King of England and Richard Duke of Yorke he retriving after the Kingdome for himselfe by profuse liberality and bounty to very many by passing great gravitie tempered with singular affabilitie by deepe wisdome by ministring justice indifferently and by close devises wonne wholly to him all mens hearts but the Lawyers especially to serve his turne So shortly he effected that in the name of all the States of the Realme there should be exhibited unto him a supplication wherein they most earnestly besought him for the publike Weale of the Kingdome to take upon him the Crowne to uphold his Countrey and the common-weale now shrinking and downe falling not to suffer it to runne headlong into utter desolation by reason that both lawes of nature and the authority of positive lawes and the laudable customes and liberties of England wherein every Englishman is an inheritor were subverted and trampled under foote through civill wars rapines murthers extortions oppressions and all sorts of misery But especially ever since that King Edward the fourth his brother bewitched by sorcerie and amorous potions fell in fancie with Dame Elizabeth Greie widdow whom he married without the assent of his Nobles without solemne publication of Banes secretly in a profane place and not in the face of the Church contrary to the law of Gods Church and commendable custome of the Church of England and which was worse having before time by a precontract espoused Dame Aeleanor Butler daughter to the old Earle of Shrewsburie whereby most sure and certaine it was that the foresaid matrimony was unlawfull and therewith the children of them begotten illegitimate and so unable to inherite or claime the Crowne Moreover considering that George Duke of Clarence the second brother of King Edward the Fourth was by authority of Parliament convicted and attainted of high treason thereupon his children disabled and debarred from all right succession evident it was to every man that Richard himselfe remained the sole and undoubted heire to the Crowne Of whom they assured themselves that being borne in England he would seriously provide for the good of England neither could they make any doubt of his
birth parentage and Filiation whose wisdome also whose justice princely courage warlike exploits most valiantly atchieved in the defence of the State and whose roiall birth and bloud as who was descended from the bloud roiall of the three most renowned Kingdomes of England France and Spaine they knew assuredly Wherefore having throughly weighed these and such like motives they willingly and withall hearty affection tendring the welfare of the land by that their petition and one generall accord of them all elected him for their King and with prayers and teares lying prostrate before him humbly craved and besought his gracious favour to accept and take upon him the Kingdomes of England France and Ireland appertaining to him by right of inheritance and now presented to him by their free and lawfull election and so for very pitty and naturall zeale to reach forth unto his Countrey now forlorne his helping hand that after so great and grievous stormes the sonne of grace might shine upon them to the comfort of all true hearted English men This supplication being tendred privately to himselfe before that he entred upon the Kingdome was presented also afterwards unto him in the publike assembly of all the States of the Realme and there allowed and so by their authoritie enacted and published with a number of words as the maner is heaped up together that according to the law of God the law of Nature the lawes of England and most laudable custome Richard was and is by lawfull election Inauguration and Coronation the undoubted King of England c. and that the Kingdomes of England France and Ireland appertained rightfully to him and the heires of his body lawfully begotten And to use the very words as they stand penned in the originall Record By the authority of the Parliament it was pronounced decreed and declared that all and singular the contents in the foresaid Bill were true and undoubted and the Lord the King with the assent of the three States of the Kingdome by the foresaid authoritie pronounceth decreeth and declareth the same for true and undoubted These things have I laid forth more at large out of the Parliament Rowle that yee may understand both what and how great matters the power of a Prince the outward shew of vertue the wily fetches of Lawyers fawning hope pensive feare desire of change and goodly pretenses are able to effect in that most wise assembly of all the States of a Kingdome even against all Law and right But this Richard is not to be accounted worthy to have bin a Soveraigne had he not bin a Soveraigne as Galba was reputed who when he was a Soveraigne deceived all mens expectation but most worthy indeed of Soveraigntie had he not being transported with ambition which blasteth all good parts by lewd practises and mischievous meanes made foule way thereunto For that by the common consent of all that are wise he was reckoned in the ranke of bad men but of good Princes Now remembring my selfe to be a Chorographer I will returne to my owne part and leave these matters unto our Historiographers when God shall send them In this Countie there are Parishes 280. OXONIENSIS Comitatus vulgo Oxfordshyre qui pars olim DOBUNORUM OXFORD-SHIRE OXFORD-SHIRE in the Saxon Tongue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which as we said belonged also to the Dobuni on the West side joyneth upon Glocester-shire on the South which way it runneth out farthest in breadth is dissevered from Bark-shire by the River Isis or Tamis Eastward it bordereth upon Buckingham-shire and Northward where it endeth pointed in manner of a Cone or Pine-apple hath North-hampton-shire of one side and Warwick-shire on the other side confining with it It is a fertile Country and plentifull wherein the Plaines are garnished with Corne-fields and meddowes the Hilles beset with Woods stored in every place not onely with Corne and fruites but also with all kinde of game for Hound or Hawke and well watered with fishfull Rivers For ISIS or OUSE which afterwards comes to bee named Tamis maketh a long course and runneth under the South side Cherwell also a prety River well stored with fish after it hath for a time parted North-hampton-shire and Oxford-shire passeth gently with a still streame through the middest of the Country and divideth it as it were into two parts And Tamis with his waters conforteth and giveth heart to the East part untill both of them together with many other Riverets and Brookes running into them bee lodged in Isis. This Isis when it hath passed a small part of Wil-shire no sooner is entred into Oxford-shire but presently being kept in and restrained with Rodcot bridge passeth by Bablac where Sir R. Vere that most puissant Earle of Oxford Marquesse of Dublin and Duke of Ireland who as he stood in most high favour and authority with King Richard the Second so he was as much envied of the Nobles taught us as one said that no power is alwaies powerfull Who being there discomfited in a skirmish by the Nobles and constrained to take the River and swimme over found the Catastrophe of his fortune and subversion of his state For immediately he fled his country and died distressed in exile Of whom the Poet in his Marriage of Tame and Isis made these verses Hic Verus notissimus apro Dum dare terga negat virtus tendere contrà Non sinit invictae rectrix prudentia mentis Vndique dum resonat repetitis ictibus umbo Tinnitúque strepit circum sua tempora cassis Se dedit in fluvium fluvius laetatus illo Hospite suscepit salvum salvúmque remisit Heere VERE well knowne by badge of savage Bore While man-hood shames to yeeld yet strive againe Stout heart may not restrain'd by wisdomes lore Whiles shield resounds by doubled blowes amaine And helmet rings about his eares is faine The streame to take The River glad therefore His Guest tooke safe and set him safe on shore Isis from thence overflowing many times the flat and low grounds is first encreased with the Brooke Windrush which springing out of Cotteswold hath standing upon the banke side Burford in the Saxon Tongue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where Cuthred King of West-Saxons at that time by curtesie of the Mercians when hee could endure no longer the most grievous exactions of Aethelbald the Mercian who began to oppresse his people and sucke their bloud came into the field against him and put him to flight having won his Banner wherein by report of Authours there was a golden Dragon depainted Then passeth it by Minster Lovell the habitation in times past of the great Barons Lovels of Tichmerch who being descended from Lupellus a Noble man of Normandy flourished for many ages and augmented their estate by rich marriages with the daughters and heires of Tichmerch with the heires of the Lords Holland D'eyncourt and the Vicounts Beaumont But their line expired in Francis Vicount Lovell Lord
is hard by In that Church which I said was unfinished there is a small Chappell but all of wood whereinto on either side at a narrow and little Doore are such admitted as come with their Devotions and Offerings Small light there is in it and none other in manner but by tapers or wax-candles yeelding a most dainty and pleasant smell Nay if you looke into it you would say it were the Habitation of heavenly Saints indeed so bright shining it is all over with pretious Stones with Gold and Silver But within the memory of our fathers when King Henry the Eighth had set his minde and eye both upon the Riches and Possessions of Churches all this vanished quite away Touching Walsingham I have nothing else to say more but that the Family of the Walsinghams Knights as they will have it that curiously search after Genealogies fetched first their name and Originall from hence Out of which house flourished that Sir Francis Walsingham Secretary unto Queene Elizabeth a man as of deepe insight so also of as rare and painfull industry in the weightiest affaires of the Realme But hard by it at Houghton flourished sometime the noble Family of the Neirfords who by matching in marriage with Parnel de Vallibus who had about Holt Cley and elsewhere a goodly Inheritance was greatly enriched But now let us looke backe againe to the Shore Neere unto Walsingham Westward upon the Sea side was that ancient Towne BRANNODUNUM where when the Saxons first molested Britaine with their Invasions The Dalmatian Horsemen lay in Garrison under the Lieutenant of the Saxon Shore But now it is a country Village reteining nought but the remaines of that name and shewing a Trench and Rampire the neighbour Inhabitants call it the Castle that containeth within it a plot of ground much about eight Acres and is named Brancaster where peeces of Romane money are many times gotten out of the earth Very commodiously was there a Garrison planted in this place for at S. Edmunds Chappell neere adjoyning and Hunstanton built by that holy King Saint Edmund the coast draweth backe into the South and so admitteth a larger creeke for the Sea to enter into lying open for Pirats into which many Rivers also doe void themselves As for Hunstanton it is to be remembred in this regard if there were nothing else for that it hath beene the Habitation of the Family of Le Strange Knights by degree ever since that in the Raigne of Edward the Second Iohn Baron Le Strange of Knockin gave the same unto Hamon his younger Brother The catching of Hawkes and the plentifull fishing the Ieat and Amber also found oftentimes in this Shore I wittingly omit seeing that there is great store of these things else where along this Tract Yet Sharnborn in this Coast is not to be omitted both for that Foelix the Burgundian who brought these East Englishmen to the Christian Faith and state of perpetuall Felicity built in this place the second Church of Christians in this Country for the first he founded at Babingley where he landed as also because it is verily thought and that by the faithfull testimony of old deeds and evidences that an old Englishman Lord of this place before the comming of the Normans by vertue of sentence given judicially in open Court by William Conquerour himselfe recovered this Lordship against Warren unto whom the Conquerour had given it Which argument they enforce hard who would prove that the said William entred upon the Possession of England by Covenant and agreement and not by right of warre and Conquest The foresaid Creeke or Bay our Country men call the Washes Ptolomee termed it AESTUARIUM METARIS haply for Malthraith by which name the Britains called the like Frithes and Armes of the Sea in other places neither doth it signifie among them any other thing than an Arme of the Sea uncertainly changing the chanell such as this is Upon this where the River Ouse striveth forcibly against the Ocean standeth Linne peradventure so named of the waters broad spreading For that doth Lhyn import in the British tongue A large Towne this is encompassed with a deepe trench and wals for the most part thereof divided by two small Rivers that have fifteene bridges or thereabout over them and although it be of no great antiquity and not long since called Linnum Episcopi that is Bishops Linne because it appertained to the Bishops of Norwich untill King Henry the Eighth his daies for it had beginning out of the ruines of an elder Towne which stood over against it in Marshland and is at this day called Old Linne and Linnum Regis that is Kings Linne yet by reason of the safe Haven which yeeldeth most easie accesse for the number also of Merchants there dwelling and thither resorting for the faire and the goodly houses the wealth also of the townesmen it is doubtlesse the principall towne of this Shire except Norwich onely It hath likewise most large franchises and immunities which the Inhabitants bought with their owne bloud of King John whiles they tooke part with him and defended his quarrell who ordained there a Major and delivered unto them his owne sword to be carried before him yea and gave unto them a silver cup all gilt which they still doe keep These their liberties being afterwards lost they redeemed not without bloud also of King Henry the Third when siding with him and serving under his Banner they fought an unfortunate battaile against the outlawed Lords in the Isle of Ely as the booke of Ely and Mathew Paris doe both joyntly witnesse Over against Linne on the farther side of the River lieth Mershland a little moist mersh country as the name implieth divided and parted every where with ditches trenches and furrowes to draine and draw the waters away a soile standing upon a very rich and fertile mould and breeding abundance of cattell in so much as that in a place commonly called Tilneysmeth there feed much about 30000. sheepe but so subject to the beating and overflowing of the roaring maine Sea which very often breaketh teareth and troubleth it so grievously that hardly it can be holden off with chargeable wals and workes The places of greater note in this Mershland are these Walpole which the Lord of the place gave in times past unto the Church of Ely together with his sonne whom he had made a Monke there Wigenhall the possession of I. Howard in the Raigne of Edward the First whose Posterity spred and became a most honorable and noble Family whereof I have already spoken Tilney whence in old time the stocke of the Tilneys Knights tooke name and Saint Maries the seat of the ancient race of the Carvils Now have we passed along all the Sea-coast As for the inner part of the Country there are also very many Townes toward the West side but because they bee of later
memory I will briefly runne them over Neere to Linne upon an high hill standeth Rising-castle almost marchable to the Castle of Norwich the seat in times past of the Albineys afterwards of Robert de Monthault by one of the sisters and coheires of Hugh Albiney Earle of Arundell and at last the mansion place of the Mowbrays who as I have learned came out of the same house that the Albineys did But now after long languishings as it were by reason of old age the said Castle hath given up the ghost Below it is Castle-acre where was sometimes the habitation of the Earles of Warren in a Castle now halfe downe on a little Rivers side which carrying no name ariseth not farre from Godwicke a lucky good name where there stands a small house but greatly graced by the Lord thereof Sir Edward Coke Knight a man of rare endowments of nature and as in the Common lawes much practised so of deepe insight therein which all England both tooke knowledge of whiles hee discharged the function of Atturney Generall many yeares most learnedly and now acknowledgeth whiles being Lord Chiefe Justice of the Common Pleas he administreth justice as uprightly and judiciously Neither is he lesse to be remembred for that he loveth learning and hath well deserved of the present and succeeding ages by his learned labours This Riveret or brooke with a small streame and shallow water runneth Westward to Linne by Neirford that gave name to the Family of the Neirfords famous in times past and by Neirborrough where neere unto the house of the Spilmans knights upon a very high hill is to be seene a warlike Fort of passing great strength and of ancient worke so situated as it hath a very faire prospect into the Country about it After upon the said Brooke is seated Penteney a prety Abbay the ordinary buriall place in ancient time of the Noblemen and Gentlemen in this Tract Neere unto it lieth Wormegay commonly Wrongey which Reginald de Warren brother of William de Warren the second Earle of Surry had with his wife of whom as I have read the said Earle had the donation or Maritagium as they use to speake in the law phrase and by his sonnes daughter streightwayes it was transferred to the Bardolphs who being Barons of great nobility flourished a long time in honorable state and bare for their Armes Three Cinque-foiles or in a Shield Azâ—r The greatest part of whose Inheritance together with the Title came to Sir William Phellips and by his daughter passed away to the Vicount Beaumont More Eastward are seated Swaffham a Mercat Towne of good note sometime the Possession of the Earle of Richmond Ashele Manour by Tenure whereof the Hastings and Greies Lords of Ruthin had the charge of table clothes and linnen used at the solemne Coronation of the Kings of England North Elmham the Bishops See for a good time when as this Province was divided into two Dioceses Dereham wherein Withburga King Annas daughter was buried whom because shee was piously affected farre from all riotous excesse and wanton lightnesse our Ancestours accounted for a Saint Next unto which is Greshenhall and adjoyning thereto Elsing the possessions in ancient time of the Folliots men of great worth and Dignity which in right of dowry came by a daughter of Richard Folliot to Sir Hugh de Hastings descended out of the Family of Abergevenny and at length by the daughters and heires of Hastings the last Greshenhall aforesaid fell unto Sir Hamon le Strange of Hunstanton and Elsing unto William Browne the brother of Sir Antonie Browne the first Vicount Mount-acute In this quarter also is Ick-borrough which Talbot supposeth to have beene that ICIANI whereof Antonine speaketh Neither have I cause to write any more of these places And now I thinke it is good time to set downe the Earles and Dukes of Northfolke that I may proceed to Cambridgeshire William the Conquerour made one Raulph Governour of East-England that is to say of Norfolke Suffolke and Cambridgeshire who forthwith gaping as I said after an alteration and change in the State was dispossessed of that place After certaine yeares in the Raigne of Stephen Hugh Bigod was Earle of Norfolke For when peace was concluded betweene Stephen and Henry Duke of Anjou who became afterwards King Henry the second by expresse words it was provided that William King Stephens sonne should have the whole Earledome of Norfolke excepting among other things The third peny of that County whereof Hugh Bigod was Earle Whom notwithstanding King Henry the Second created Earle againe of the third peny of Norfolke and Norwich Who dying about the 27. yeare of Henry the Second Roger his sonne succeeded who for what cause I know not obtained at the hands of King Richard the first a new Charter of his creation Him succeeded his sonne Hugh who tooke to his wife Mawde the eldest daughter and one of the heires of William Marescall Earle of Pembroch By whom he had issue one sonne named Roger Earle of Norfolke and Marescall of England who at Tournament having his bones put out of joint died without issue and another called Hugh Bigod Lord chiefe Justice of England slaine in the battaile of Lewis whose sonne Roger succeeded his Uncle in the Earldome of Norfolke and dignity of Marescall but having incurred through his insolent contumacy the high displeasure of King Edward the First was compelled to passe away his honors and well neere his whole inheritance into the Kings hands to the use of Thomas of Brâ—therton the Kings son whom he had begotten of his second wife Margaret sister to Philip the Faire King of France For thus reporteth the History out of the Library of Saint Austens in Canterbury In the yeare 1301. Roger Bigod Earle of Norfolke ordained King Edward to bee his heire and hee delivered into his hands the rod of the Marshals Office with this condition that if his wife brought him any children he should without all contradiction receive againe all from the King and hold it peaceably as before and the King gave unto him a 1000. pounds in money and a thousand pound land during his life together with the Marshalship and the Earldome But when he was departed this life without issue King Edward the Second honoured the said Thomas of Brotherton his brother according to the conveiance aforesaid with the Titles of Marshall and Earle of Norfolke Whose daughter Margaret called Marshallesse and Countesse of Norfolke wife to Iohn Lord Segrave king Richard the Second created in her absence Dutchesse of Norfolke for terme of life and the same day created Thomas Mowbray the daughters sonne of the said Margaret then Earle of Notingham the first Duke of Norfolke To him and his heires males unto whom he had likewise granted before the State and stile of Earle Marshall of England This is hee that before the king was challenged and accused by Henry of Lancaster Duke
our Historians call Kings-delfe not farre from that great Lake Wittlesmere And as this Abbay did adorne the East side of the Shire so the middle thereof was beautified by Salâ—rie which the second Simon de Sancto Lizio Earle of Huntingdon built From which not farre is Cunnington holden anciently of the Honour of Huntingdon where within a foure square Trench are to be seene expresse remaines of an ancient Castle which as also Saltrie was by the gift of Canutus the seat of Turkill that Dane who abode heere among the East English and sent for Sueno King of Denmarke to make spoile of England After whose departure Waldeof the sonne of Siward Earle of Northumberland enjoyed it who married Judith Niece to William the Conquerour by his sister on the mothers side by whose eldest daughter it came to the royall family of Scotland For she by a second marriage matched with David Earle of Huntingdon who afterwards obtained the Kingdome of Scotland being the younger sonne of Malcolm Can-mor King of Scots and of Margaret his wife descended of the royall line of the English-Saxons For shee was Niece to King Edmund Iron-side by his sonne Edward sirnamed The Banished David had a sonne named Henry and Henry had another named David Earle of Huntingdon by one of whose daughters Isabel Cunnington and other lands by right of marriage descended to Sir Robert Bruse from whose eldest sonne Robert sirnamed the Noble James King of Great Britaine lineally deriveth his Descent and from Bernard his younger sonne unto whom this Cunnington with Exton fell Sir Robert Cotton Knight is lineally descended who over and beside other vertues being a singular lover and searcher of Antiquities having gathered with great charges from all places the Monuments of venerable Antiquity hath heere begunne a famous Cabinet whence of his singular courtesie hee hath oftentimes given me great light in these darksome obscurities But these Quarters considering the ground lying so low and for many moneths in the yeare surrounded and drowned in some places also floting as it were and hoven up with the waters are not free from the offensive noisomnesse of Meres and the unwholesome aire of the Fennes Here for sixe miles in length and three in breadth that cleare deepe and fishfull Mere named Wittles-mere spreadeth it selfe which as other Meres in this Tract doth sometimes in Calmes and faire weather sodainly rise tempestuously as it were into violent water-quakes to the danger of the poore fishermen by reason as some thinke of evaporations breaking violently out of the bowels of the earth As for the unhealthinesse of the place whereunto onely strangers and not the natives there are subject who live long and healthfully there is amends made as they account it by the commodity of fishing the plentifull feeding and the abundance of turfe gotten for fewell For King Cnut gave commandement by Turkill the Dane of whom ere while I spake That to every Village standing about the Fennes there should bee set out a severall Marsh who so divided the ground that each Village by it selfe should have in proper use and occupation so much of the very maine Marsh as the firme ground of every such Village touched the Marsh lying just against it And be ordained that no Village might either digge or mow in the Marsh of another without licence but that the pasture therein should lye all in common that is Horne under horne for the preservation of peace and concord among them But thus much of this matter When the sonnes and servants of the said King Cnut sent for from Peterborough to Ramsey were in passing over that Lake There fell upon them as they were cheerefull under saile and lifting up their voices with joyfull shoutings most untoward and unhappy windes wherewith a turbulent and tempestuous storme arose that enclosed them on every side so that laying aside all hope they were in utter despaire of their life security or any helpe at all But such was the mercifull clemency of Almighty God that it forsooke them not wholy nor suffered the most cruell Gulfe of the waters to swallow them up all quite but by his providence some of them he delivered mercifully out of those furious and raging waves but others againe according to his just and secret judgement he permitted amiddest those billowes to passe out of this fraile and mortall life And when the fame of so fearefull a danger was noised abroad and come to the Kings eares there fell a mighty trembling and quaking upon him but being comforted and releeved by the counsaile of his Nobles and freinds for to prevent in time to come all future mishaps by occasion of that outragious monster hee ordained that his souldiers and servants with their swords and skeins should set out and marke a certaine Ditch in the Marishes lying thereby betweene Ramsey and Whittlesey and afterwards that workemen and labourers should skoure and clense them whereupon as I have learned of ancient predecessours of good credite the said Ditch by some of the neighbour Inhabitants tooke the name Swerdesdelfe upon that marking out by swords and some would have it to bee termed Cnouts-delfe according to the name of the same King Yet commonly at this day they call it Steeds dike and it is counted the limit and bound between this County and Cambridge-shire In the East side of this Shire Kinnibantum Castle now called Kimbolton the habitation in times past of the Mandevilles afterwards of the Boâ—uns and Staffords and at this day of the Wingfields doth make a faire shew Under which was Stoneley a prety Abbay founded by the Bigrames A little from hence is Awkenbury which King John gave to David Earle of Huntingdon and John sirnamed the Scot his sonne unto Sir Stephen Segrave of whom I am the more willing to make mention for that he was one of those Courtiers who hath taught us That there is no power alwaies powerfull Hardly and with much adoe hee climbed to an eminent and high estate with great thought and care hee kept it and as sodainely hee was dejected from it For in his youth of a Clerke he became a Knight and albeit hee was but of meane parentage yet through his industry toward his later dayes so enriched and advanced that being ranged with the great Peeres of the Realme hee was reputed chiefe Justice of England and managed at his pleasure after a sort all the affaires of State But in the end he lost the Kings favour quite and to his dying day lay close in a Cloyster and who before time from a Clerkship betooke himselfe through arrogancy to secular service returning againe to the office of a Clerke resumed the shaven crowne which hee had forsaken without the counsell and advise of the Bishop Not farre from hence is Leighton where Sir Gervase Clifton knight lately made Baron Clifton beganne to build a goodly house and close to it lyeth Spaldwicke
the CORITANI who beyond the ICENI dwelling further within the Land and spreading themselves very farre through the Mediterranean part of the Island inhabited as farre as to the German Ocean to wit in these Countries which now are commonly called NORTHAMPTON-SHIRE LEICESTER-SHIRE RUTLAND-SHIRE LINCOLN-SHIRE NOTTINGHAM-SHIRE and DERBY-SHIRE With the Etymology of this their name I will not once meddle for feare least putting downe incertainties for certaine and undoubted trueths I may seeme to slip into an errour For although this People were spread farre and wide which GUR-TATI signifieth in the British tongue yet if I would boldly avouch that these were thence called CORITANI should I not play hazard at all aventure Let them for mee guesse more safely who can more happily As for mee I will in the meane time according to my purpose survey as diligently as I may these shires which I have now named each one by it selfe orderly in their severall places NORTHAMTONIAE COMITATVS DESCRIPTIO IN QVO CORITANI OLIM IN SEDERVNT NORTHAMPTON-SHIRE THis County of NORTHAMPTON in the English-Saxon tongue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Northanton-shire commonly called Northampton-shire situate in the very middle and heart as it were of England from the South-West side where it is broadest drawing it selfe narrower by little and little reacheth out in length to the North-East On the East lie Bedford and Huntingdon-shires on the South Buckingham and Oxford-shires Westward Warwickshire and Northward Rutlandshire and Lincoln-shire separated from it by Avon the lesse and Welland two Rivers The East side thereof from Ouse to Dowbridge one of the Romane high waies which they call Watling-streat runneth through The middle and East part the River Nen which by Writers is named also Aufona with his gentle streame parteth in twaine A champian countrey it is exceeding populous and passing well furnished with Noblemens and Gentlemens houses replenished also with Townes and Churches in so much as in some places there are twenty and in others thirty Steeples with Spires or square Towres within view at once The Soile very fertile both for tillage and for pasture yet nothing so well stored with Woods unlesse it bee in the further and hither sides But in every place as elsewhere also in England it is over-spred and as it were beset with Sheepe which according as that Hythodaus merrily said Were wont to bee so gentle and fed with so little but now in our daies as the report goes beginne to bee so ravenous and wilde that they devour men they waste and depopulate fields houses and Towneships On the South border where the River Ouse so often mentioned first springeth in a place rising with an easie ascent and out of which there walme Springs in great plenty standeth Brakley as one would say a place full of Brake or Ferne in old time a famous Mercat Towne and staple as it were for wool which how large and wealthy it was it maketh now demonstration to travailers only by the ruines thereof and by a Major whom it hath for the chiefe Magistrate The Zouches Lords of the place founded a College there from whom it came successively as a possession in marriage right unto the Hollands and the Lovels But when Lord Lovell in King Henry the Seventh his time was attainted the Stanleies became Lords of it by the Kings gift But the College there at this day ruinous belongeth to the Students of Mawdlen College in Oxford who use it for a retyring place Neither came this place to the least name and reputation that it had by occasion of the memory of Saint Rumbald a young Infant who as wee finde written in his life being a Kings sonne so soone as ever he was borne after he had spoken I know not what holy words and professed himselfe to be a Christian was forthwith baptised and so presently dyed and being canonized by the people amongst the Saints had his commemoration kept both here and at Buckingham From hence Northward when we had gone six miles forward and all the way well wooded first we saw Astwell where Sir T. Billing sometime Lord chiefe Justice in the Kings Bench with great state dwelt from whom it descended hereditarily to the Shirleis by the ancient Family of the Lovels then Wedon and Wapiham which the Family of the Pinkeneys held by Barony untill that H. de Pinkney ordained King Edward the First his heire Whom being a right good and excellent Prince many evill men made their heire whereas according to Tacitus a good father maketh no Prince but a bad one his heire Then came we straight waies to TRIPONTIUM which Antonine the Emperour mentioneth though not in due place For I am of opinion that this was the very same which now we call Torcester and to prove it there be some arguments of moment as yet remaining If Trimontium in Thracia had that name of three hils Triturrita in Tuskane of three Towres and Tripolis likewise of three Cities conjoyned in one I have no reason to doubt that this TRIPONTIUM of ours might be so called of three Bridges And heere at this Torcester the Roman Port way which in many places most evidently sheweth it selfe betweene it and Stony stratford is cut through by three speciall Chanels or streames that the little River there divideth it selfe into which in times past like as at this day had of necessity there severall Bridges over them Now if you ask a Britain how he saith in British Three Bridges you shall heare him by and by answer Taer ponte and there be certaine honest men from whom I have received heere peeces of Romane Coine that constantly avouch the true name of this place to be Torcester and think it was so called of Towres Howbeit Marianus nameth it Touecester if the booke be not faulty in whom we read that this towne was so fortified in the yeer of our Redemption 917. that the Danes by no meanes could winne it by assault and that King Edward the elder afterwards compassed it about with a stone Wall yet wee with all our seeking could see no tokens of any such Wall Only there is a Mount remaining cast up with mens hands they call it Berihill now turned into private mens Gardens and planted on every side with Chery trees And very time it selfe hath so conquered and subdued the towne that beholden it is to the situation to the name and old Coines other whiles heere found for that esteeme which it hath of antiquity For no memorable thing there is in it but one onely Church that it hath and the same is a large and faire building wherein D. Sponde sometime the Parson thereof by report a good benefactor to Church and towne both lieth entombed within a tombe of fine and curious workemanship But hard by at Easton-Nesson there is to bee seene a faire and beautifull dwelling house belonging to the Knightly Family of the Farmâ—rs The River that watereth Torcester as it goeth from hence toward Ouse runneth
military Fenses seeme to bee which are heere seene at Gildsborough and Dantrey betweene the Springheads of the two Aufons which run divers waies and where onely there is passage into the hither part of Britaine without any rivers to hinder it That fort at Gildsborough is great and large but this at Dantrey is greater and larger For being foure square upon an high hill from whence all the country beneath may bee seene farre every way about and having on the East side a Mount which they call Spelwell it encloseth within a banke cast up by mans hand more than one hundred acres of ground or thereabout Within which the country people other whiles finde coined peeces of money of the Roman Emperors as proofes of the antiquity thereof Much deceived are they therefore who will needs have it to bee a worke of the Danes and that of them the towne under it was named Dantrey which being a through-fare well knowne at this day by reason of the Innes there had a religious house of the Austen Friers that Sir H. de Fawesley founded as I have read At the head of Aufona or Nen standeth Catesby that gave name to an ancient Family but now of foule tainted memory for a most horrible and damnable complot never in any age exampled which that Robert Catesby of Ashby S. Leger the shame and indelible staine of his house and name detestably breathing forth savage cruelty in barbarous wise and compassing impiously the destruction of Prince and Country devised lately under a specious pretext of Religion Of whom let all times be silent least by making mention of him the foule staine and blot of our age appeare unto Posterity at the naming whereof we cannot chuse but with horror grieve and groane againe seeing the very dumbe and livelesse creatures seeme to be moved and troubled at so hellish Villany imagined by him and his complices Hard by it is Fawesley where have dwelt a long time the Knightleies worshipfull Knights descended from those more ancient Knightleies of Gnowshall in the County of Stafford and more Eastward hard by Nen as yet very small there is Wedon in the street sometimes the royall seat of Wolpher K. of the Mercians and converted into a Monastery by his daughter Werburg a most holy Virgine of whose miracles in driving away Geese from hence some credulous writers have made many a tale Verily I should wrong the Truth if I should not thinke albeit I have thought otherwise that this Wedon is the very station that Antonine the Emperour nameth BANNAVENNA BENNAVENNA BENNAVENTA and once corruptly ISANNAVENTA notwithstanding there now remaine no expresse tokens of that name considering how Time changeth all both names and things For the distance from the next stations and baiting Townes which were in ancient times answereth just and in the very name of BANNAVENNA the name of the River Aufon the head whereof is neere unto it in some sort doth plainly discover it selfe Likewise the high Port-way or Romane street goeth directly from hence Northward with a bridge or causey oft broken and worne out but most of all over against a Village named Creek where it was of necessity that there should be a bridge but in other places the bridge sheweth it selfe also as farre as to Dowbridge neere Lilborne most apparantly Somewhat more Northward wee saw Althorp the habitation of the Spensers knights allied to very many and those most honorable and worshipfull families out of which house Sir Robert Spenser the fifth Knight in a successive continued Descent a respective lover of vertue and learning was by our most gracious Soveraigne King James advanced to the honour of Baron Spenser of Wormeleighton Hard by Althorp Holdenby house a faire patterne of stately and magnificent building maketh a faire glorious shew which Sir Chistopher Hatton one of Queene Elizabeths Privie Councell Lord Chancellor of England and knight of the Order of the Garter built upon the lands and inheritance of his great grandmother heire unto the Family of the Holdenbeis for the greatest and last monument as himselfe afterwards was wont to say of his youth A man to say nothing of him but that which in truth is due for Religion and godlinesse right devout of approved faithfulnesse to the State of incorrupt equity for almesdeeds of all others most bountifull and one which is not the least part of his praise that was most willing and ready to support and maintaine learning Who as he lived a godly life so as godly he slept in Christ yet his commendation made knowne by the lightsome testimony of letters shall shine forth more cleerely than by that gorgeous Monument right well beseeming so great a Personage which Sir William Hatton his adopted sonne consecrated to his memory in the Church of Saint Paul in London Beneath these places Nen passeth on forward with a still and small streame and anone taketh in a small Brooke from the North and is thereby augmented where at the very meeting and confluence of both a City called after the River Northafandon and short Northampton is so seated that on the West side it is watered with the Brooke and on the South side with the foresaid Nen. Which City I was of late easily induced to guesse to have beene that ancient BENNAVENTA but if my conjecture missed the trueth the confession of my errour may salve it As for the name it may seeme to haue beene imposed of the situation thereof upon the North banke of the River Aufon The City it selfe which seemeth to have beene built all of stone is I assure you for houses very faire for circuit of good largenesse and walled about and from the Wall yee have a goodly prospect every way to a wide and spacious plaine Country On the West side it hath an old Castle and the very antiquity thereof giveth a grace unto it built by Simon de Sancto Lizio commonly called Senlyz the first of that name Earle of Northampton who also joyned unto it a beautifull Church called Saint Andrews for a place of his owne buriall and as men say reedified the Towne Simon also the younger his sonne founded without the Towne a Monastery commonly called De la prey for Nunnes During the Saxons Heptarchie it seemeth to have lien forlorne and of none account neither have Writers made any where mention of it in all those depredations of the Danes unlesse it were when Sweno the Dane in a furious and outragious moode made most cruelly havocke throughout all England for then as Henry of Huntingdon recordeth it was set on fire and burnt to the ground In the Raigne of Saint Edward the Confessour there were in it as we finde in the Survey Booke of England LX. Burgesses in the Kings Domaine having as many Mansions Of these in King William the Conquerours time Foureteene lay waste and voide and forty seaven remained Over and above these there were in the new Burrough forty Burgesses in the
another place this Dignity had an end and therewith the stately part of the Towne by little and little was empaired untill that Edelfleda a most vertuous and noble Lady in the yeere after our Saviours Nativity 914. repaired and strongly walled it new about in so much as Matthew of Paris in his lesser Story wrote thus Legecester is a right wealthy City and notably well fenced with an indissoluble Wall which if it had a strong foundation were inferiour to no City whatsoever About the Normans entring into this Land it was well peopled and frequented yea and had very many Burgesses in it out of whom they were bound by an ancient custome as we reade in William the Conquerours booke To send twelve with the King so often as he â—ent in person to the warres But if hee made a voyage by sea against his enemies they sent foure horses to carry armour as farre as to London This City paid yeerely to the King 30. pounds by tale and twenty in ora that is by weight also 25. measures called Sextaries of hony But in the time of King Henry the Seconds Raigne it was sore overpressed with a world of great and grievous calamities and the wals throwne downe what time as Robert sirnamed Bossu that is Crouch backe Earle of Leicester conspired and rebelled against the King Which Matthew of Paris sheweth in these words For the obstinate stubbornesse of Earle Robert spurning against the King the noble City of Leicester was besieged and overthrowne by King Henry and the Wall which seemed indissoluble was utterly cast downe all round about For that I may adde thus much out of the lesser History abovesaid when the Wall of the City wanting a good foundation was undermined and the props that sustained it at length burnt the peeces and fragments of the Wall fell downe which even to this day such is the indissoluble tenacity and stifnesse of the morter remaine fast and retaine the bignesse of sound rockes Miserable also was the imposition of a fine upon the Citizens at that time and their banishment as lamentable who having obtained by paying summes of money licence to depart tooke Sanctuary for extreame feare in Saint Albans and Saint Edmundsbury The Castle likewise was dismantled of all Fortifications which verily was a large and strong peece Beneath which there is a very faire Hospitall or house for receit of poore people and a Collegiat Church wherein Henry Earle of Lancaster and Henry of Lancaster his sonne who was the first Duke of Lancaster lie buried For the said Duke when he was now stepped farre in yeeres of a pious minde built this Hospitall for the maintenance of poore folke and to that end dedicated it Concerning which Henry Knighton of Leicester who lived in that age writeth thus in his story Henry the first Duke of Lancaster built a Collegiat Church and an Hospitall without the South Gate of Leicester wherein hee ordained a Deane with 12. Canons Prebendaries as many Vicars and other Officers an hundred poore and feeble people and ten poore able women to give attendance upon the said feeble folke and this Hospitall hee endowed with sufficient revenewes As for this Hospitall it continueth in some good state as an other Bede-house in the Towne built by W. Wigeston But the Collegiat Church which was a magnificent worke and the greatest ornament of Leicester was demolished when religious houses were granted to the King At the other side of the City among most goodly and pleasant medowes which the River Soar watereth there was an Abbay called of that place De Pree of which the said Knighton hath written thus Robert de Bossu Earle of Leicester when he begun Gerondon Abbay for Cistertians founded the Monastery of S. Mary De Pratis at Leicester endowed it richly with Lands Possessions and Revenewes and himselfe with the consent of Amice his Wife became a Chanon Regular in the same and for the space of fifteene yeeres in habite of a Chanon served God there and so slept in the Lord That thus forsooth he might make amends by repentance in a Chanons weed of that offence which beforetime hee had committed by rebelling with a traiterous minde against his Liege Prince What name Leicester had in the Romans time it is not knowne In the Catalogue of Ninnius I thinke it to bee that which is called Caer Lerion But that Leir a King of whom there goe many tales built it they that will may beleeve it for mee But the situation thereof upon the Foss-way and the distance both from BENNONES and VEROMETUM agreeth so just with the description of Antonine that I cannot but thinke it to be that RATAE which Ptolomee nameth RAGAE although there is neither tippe nor toe remaining in it of the name RATAE unlesse peradventure it be in that old long Ditch and Rampire which they call Rawdikes scarce halfe a mile without the South Gate Heere am I at a stand and looke about me what way to follow for the seeking out of ancient Townes Ranulph a Monke of Chester recordeth that the ancient street way went through the wasts from hence to Lincolne but hee telleth us not through what Wasts The common voice goeth that it went on still full North through Nottingham-shire Antonine the Emperour if I have any insight at all seemeth to insinuate that it passed North-Eastward through this County into Lincoln-shire And verily this way there are places of antique memory that by some of their remaines and tokens shew themselves but the other way I could not my selfe ever yet meete with any what others have done I know not and would willingly learne North-West from Leicester and not farre off is Grooby a large Lordship and Manor which from Hugh Grantmaismill whom King William the Conquerour had enriched with great possessions and revenewes came by the Earles of Leicester and the Quincies unto the house of the Ferrers out of which the Lord Ferrers of Grooby flourished a long time in the honorable state of Barons and in the end Isabel the only daughter remaining of the right line brought it by her marriage into the name of the Greies from whence it fell againe at the last by Attainder into the Kings hands But whiles I was revising of this Worke our Soveraigne Lord King James restored Sir Henry Grey a worthy Knight to the ancient honour of his noble Progenitors creating him Baron Grey of Grooby in the first yeare of his Raigne Now let us returne to the River Soar which being past Leicester first giveth name to Montsorell or rather Mont-Soar-hill a name compounded of Norman and English both which now is famous onely for a Mercate there kept but in old time most renowned for the Castle seated upon a steepe and craggy Hill hanging over the River which before time belonged to the Earles of Leicester but afterwards to Saer de Quincy Earle of Winchester in the Barons warre at this day nothing
thereof For in this tenour runne the very words of the Charter She likewise bestowed it upon John de Lacy Constable of Chester and the heires whom hee should beget of the body of Margaret her daughter This John had issue Edmund who dying before his mother left this honour for Henry his sonne to enjoy who was the last Earle of that line For when his sonnes were taken away by untimely death and he had but one little daughter onely remaining alive named Alice hee affianced her being but nine yeeres old to Thomas the sonne of Edmund Earle of Lancaster with this condition That if he should fortune to dye without heires of her body or if they happened to dye without heires of their bodies his Castles Lordships c. should in Remainder come to the heires of Edmund Earle of Lancaster for ever But the said Alice had no childe at all by her husband Thomas But when Thomas her husband was beheaded shee that by her light behaviour had not a little steined her good name tooke Sir Eubul le Strange with whom she had lived before time too familiarly for her husband without the assent and privity of her Soveraigne who being hereat highly offended seised her possessions into his owne hands Yet both Sir Eubul Strange and Sir Hugh Frene her third husband are in some Records named Earles of Lincolne After Alice now very aged was departed this life without issue Henry Earle of Lancaster Nephew to Edmund aforesaid by his second sonne entred upon her large and faire patrimony by vertue of that conveiance which I spake of before and from that time it accrued to the House of Lancaster Howbeit the Kings of England at their pleasure have bestowed the name and honour of Earles of Lincolne as King Edward the Fourth gave it to Sir John De la Pole and King Henry the Eighth to Henry Brandon both the Sonnes of the Dukes of Suffolke who both ended this life without Issue the first slaine in the battaile at Stoke and the other taken away by the sweating sicknesse Afterward Queene Elizabeth promoted Edward Baron Clinton Lord high Admirall of England to the said honour which his sonne Henry enjoyeth at this day There are in this Shire Parishes much about 630. NOTINGAMIAE Comitatus olim pars CORITANORVM NOTTINGHAM-SHIRE VPon the West side of Lincolne-shire confineth the County of NOTTINGHAM in the English Saxon tongue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in English Nottingham-shire being farre lesse in quantity limited Northward with York-shire Westward with Darby-shire and in some parts with York-shire and on the South side with Leicester-shire The South and East part thereof are made more fruitfull by the noble and famous River Trent with other Riverets resorting unto it The West part is taken up with the Forest of Shirewood which stretcheth out a great way This part because it is sandy the Inhabitants tearme The Sand the other for that it is Clayish they call the Clay and so have divided their Country into these two parts The River Trent in the old English Saxon tongue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which some Antiquaries of small note and account have called Triginta in Latine for the affinity of the French word Trent that signifieth that number Triginta that is thirty having gone a long journey so soone as hee is entred into this Shire and hath recepto Souro flumine ex agro Leicestrensi taking in the River Soure from the field of Leicester runne by Steanford where I have learned there be many tokens remaining of old antiquity and peeces of Roman money oftentimes found and then by Clifton which hath given both habitation and sirname also to the ancient family of the Cliftons much enriched by one of the heires of Cressy taketh in from the West the little River Lin which rising neere unto Newsted that is New place where sometime King Henry the Second founded a small Abbay and which is now the dwelling house of the ancient Family of the Burons descended from Ralph de Buron who at the first comming in of the Normans flourished in great state both in this Countrey and also in Lancashire runneth hard by Wallaton rich in veines of cole where Sir Francis Willoughby a Knight nobly descended from the Greis Marquesse Dorset in our daies built out of the ground with great charges upon a vaine ostentation of his wealth a stately house with artificiall workemanship standing bleakely but offering a very goodly prospect to the beholders farre and neere Then runneth it by Linton or Lenton much frequented and famous in old time for the Abbay there of the Holy Trinity founded by William Peverell the base sonne of King William the Conquerour but now all the fame is onely for a Faire there kept Where on the other banke at the very meeting well neere of Lin and Trent the principall Towne that hath given name unto the Shire is seated upon the side of an hill now called Nottingham by softning the old name a little for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for so the English Saxons named it of certaine caves and passages under the ground which in old time they hewed and wrought hollow under those huge and steepe cliffes which are on the South side hanging over the little River Lin for places of receit and refuge yea and for habitations And thereupon Asserius interpreteth this Saxon word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Speluncarum domum that is An house of Dennes or Caves and in the British Tui ogo bauc which signifieth the very selfe same The Towne for the naturall site thereof is right pleasant as where on the one hand lye faire and large Medowes by the Rivers side on the other rise hils with a gentle and easie ascent and is plentifully provided of all things beside necessary for mans life On the one side Shirewood yeeldeth store of wood to maintaine fire although many use for that purpose stinking pit cole digged forth of the ground on the other Trent serveth it aboundantly with fish And hence hath beene taken up this od barbarous Verse Limpida sylva focum Triginta dat mihi piscem Shire-wood yeelds me fuell for fire As Trent yeelds fish what I require At a word for largenesse for building for three faire Churches a passing spacious and beautifull Mercat place and a most strong Castle it maketh a goodly shew The said Castle is mounted upon an huge and steepe worke on the West side of the City in which place it is thought that Castle stood in times past upon whose strength the Danes presuming held out against the Siege of Aethered and Aelfrid so long untill they frustrate of their purpose brake up their Siege trussed up bagge and baggage and dislodged For when the Danes had taken this Castle Burthred King of the Mercians as mine Authour Asserius writeth and the Mercians addresse their messengers to Aethered King of the West Saxons and to
Romanists But this See few yeeres after was removed againe to Lichfield yet so as that one and the selfe same Bishop carried the name both of Lichfield and of Coventry The first Lord of this City so farre as I can learne was this Leofricke who being very much offended and angry with the Citizens oppressed them with most heavie tributes which he would remit upon no other condition at the earnest suite of his wife Godiva unlesse she would herselfe ride on horse-backe naked through the greatest and most inhabited street of the City which she did in deed and was so covered with her faire long haire that if we may beleeve the common sort shee was seene of no body and thus shee did set free her Citizens of Coventry from many payments for ever From Leofricke it came into the hands of the Earles of Chester by Lucie his sonne Algars daughter for shee had beene married to Ranulph the first of that name and the third Earle of Chester out of this line who granted unto Coventrey the same liberties that Lincolne had and gave a great part of the City unto the Monkes the rest and Chilmore which is the Lords Manour hard by the City hee reserved to himselfe and to his heires After whose death when for want of issue male the inheritance was divided betweene the sisters Coventry came at length mediately by the Earles of Arundell unto Roger Mont-hault whose grand sonne Robert passed over all his right for default of issue male of his body begotten unto Queene Isabel mother to King Edward the Third To have and to hold during the whole life of the Queene herselfe and after her decease to remaine unto Iohn of Eltham the said Kings brother and to the heires of his body begotten and for default the remainder to Edward King of England c. For thus is it to be seene in the Fine in the second yeere of King Edward the Third Now the said John of Eltham was afterwards created Earle of Cornwall and this place became annexed to the Earldome of Cornwall From which time it hath flourished in great state Kings have bestowed sundry immunities upon it and King Edward the Third especially who permitted them to chuse a Major and two Bailiffes and to build and embattle a Wall about it also king Henry the Sixth who laying unto it certaine small Townes adjoyning granted That it should bee an entire County corporate by it selfe the very words of the Charter runne in that sort in deed and name and distinct from the County of Warwicke At which time in lieu of Bailiffes he ordained two Sheriffes and the Citizens beganne to fortifie their City with a most strong Wall wherein are beautifull Gates and at one of them called Gosford Gate there hangeth to bee seene a mighty great Shield bone of a wilde Bore which any man would thinke that either Guy of Warwicke or else Diana of the Forest Arden slew in hunting when he had turned up with his snout that great pit or pond which at this day is called Swansewell but Swinsewell in times past as the authority of ancient Charters doe proove As touching the Longitude of this City it is 25. Degrees and 52. Scruples and for the Latitude it is 52. Degrees and 25. Scruples Thus much of Coventrey yet have you not all this of me but willingly to acknowledge by whom I have profited of Henry Ferrars of Baddesley a man both for parentage and for knowledge of antiquity very commendable and my especiall friend who both in this place and also elsewhere hath at all times courteously shewed me the right way when I was out and from his candle as it were hath lightned mine Neere unto Coventrey North-west ward are placed Ausley Castle the habitation in times past of the Hastings who were Lords of Abergavenney and Brand the dwelling place in old time of the Verdons Eastward standeth Caloughdon commonly Caledon the ancient seat of the Lords Segrave from whom it descended to the Barons of Berkley by one of the daughters of Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolke These Segraves since the time that Stephen was Lord chiefe Justice of England flourished in the honorable estate of Barons became possessed of the Chaucombes Inheritance whose Armes also they bare viz. A Lion rampant Argent crowned Or in a Shield Sable But John the last of them married Margaret Dutchesse of Northfolke Daughter of Thomas Brotherton and begat Elizabeth a daughter who brought into the Family of the Mowbraies the Dignity of Marshall of England and Title of Duke of Norfolke Brinklâ— also is not farre from hence where stood an ancient Castle of the Mowbraies to which many possessions and faire lands thereabout belonged But the very rubbish of this Castle time hath quite consumed as Combe Abbay is scant now apparent which the Camvills and Mowbraies endowed with possessions and out of the ruines and reliques whereof a faire house of the Lord Haringtons in this very place is now raised As you goe East-ward you meet anon with Cester-Over whereof I spake incidently before belonging to the Grevills neere unto which the High port-way Watling-street dividing this shire Northward from Leicester-shire runneth on forward by High-crosse whereof also I have already written neere unto Nun-Eaton which in ancient time was named Eaton But when Amice wife to Robert Bossu Earle of Leicester as Henry Knighton writeth had founded a Monastery of Nunnes wherein her selfe also became professed it began of those Nunnes to be called Nun-Eaton And famous it was in the former ages by reason of those religious Virgines holinesse who devoting themselves continually to prayers gave example of good life A little from this there flourished sometimes Astley-Castle the principall seate of the Familie of Astley out of which flourished Barons in the time of King Edward the First Second and Third the heire whereof in the end was the second wedded Wife of Reginald Lord Grey of Ruthin from whom came the Greies Marquesses of Dorset some of whom were enterred in a most fine and faire Collegiat Church which Thomas Lord Astley founded with a Deane and Secular Chanons Somewhat higher hard by Watling street for so with the common people wee call the High-way made by the Romanes where as the riuer Anker hath a stone bridge over it stood MANDVESSEDUM a very ancient towne mentioned by Antonine the Emperour which being not altogether deprived of that name is now called Mancester and in Ninnius his Catalogue Caer Mancegued Which name considering there is a stone-quarry hard by I may ghesse was imposed upon it of the stones digged forth and hewed out of it For out of the Glossaries of the British tongue we finde that Main in the British language signified a Stone and Fosswad in the Provinciall tongue to digge out which being joyned together may seeme very expressely to import that ancient name MANDVESSEDUM But what how great or how faire soever it hath been
watereth Eovesham so called as the Monkes write of one Eoves Swinheard to Egwin Bishop of Worcester whereas before time the name of it was Eâ—th-home and Heath-field A very proper Towne situate upon an hill arising from the River in the Suburb as it were whereof was sometime Bengeworth Castle at the Bridge head which Castle William de Audevill the Abbot recovered by law against William Beauchamp utterly rased it and caused the place to be hallowed for a Church-yard A Towne this is well knowne by reason of the Abbay which that noble Egwin with the helpe of King Kenred the sonne of Wolpher King of the Mercians founded about the yeere of our Lord 700. knowne likewise for the vale under it named thereof The Vale of Evesham which for plentifull fertility hath well deserved to be called the Garnary of all these countries so good and plentifull is the ground in yeelding the best corne aboundantly But most knowne in elder time by occasion of the great overthrow of the Barons and our Catiline Simon Montfort Earle of Leicester For this man being of a lewd disposition and profound perfidiousnesse hath taught us that which another truly said That good turnes are so long acceptable as they may be requitable For when King Henry the Third had with full hand heaped upon him all the benefits he could yea and given him his owne sister in marriage what other fruit reaped he of his so great bounty but most bitter and deadly hatred For he raised a most dangerous Warre hee spoiled shamefully a great part of England under pretense of restoring the common wealth and maintaining liberty neither left he any thing undone to bring the King under to change the State and of a Monarchy to bring in an Oligarchy But in the end after that fortune had for a good while favourably smiled upon him he was slaine at this place with many others of his complices by the prowesse of Prince Edward and forthwith the sinke of lawlesse rebels being as it were pumped and emptied out of the common weale joyfull peace which hee had banished shone againe most comfortably on every side Upon the same River hard by standeth Charleton the possession sometime of the ancient family of Hansacres Knights but now of the Dinleies or Dingleies who being descended from that ancient stocke of the Dinleies in Lancashire came unto this by hereditary succession More beneath in the primitive Church of our English Nation there was another place wherein religious men lived to God then called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 now Flatbury and neere unto it Pershor in the English Saxons language 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taking the name from Peares which as we reade in that worthy Historiographer William of Malmesbury Egelward Duke of Dorset a man bearing no nigardly minde but exceeding liberall founded and finished in King Eadgars time But what detriment hath it sustained one part of it the ambition of the rich seized upon another part oblivion hath buried but the greatest portion King Edward the Confessour and King William bestowed upon the Church of Westminster Then receiveth Avon a Riveret from the North upon which standeth Hodington a seat of the Winters out of which were Robert Winter and his brother Thomas who when as they were of the hellish damned crew in the Gunpowder Treason let their memory lie damned From thence Avon running gently downe by Strensham the habitation of the Russels Knights by degree of ancient descent in the end out-ladeth his owne streame into Severn Neere to these places on this South side is Oswaldslaw Hundred so called of Oswald Bishop of Worcester who obtained it for himselfe of King Eadgar The immunity whereof when William Conquerour made a Survey and taxation of all England was registred in the Domesday booke after this manner The Church of Saint Mary of Worcester hath the Hundred called Oswaldslaw wherein lye 300. Hides out of which the Bishop of the same Church by ancient order and custome hath all the revenewes of Soches and all customes or duties there appertaining to the Lords victuall and the Kings service and his owne so that no Sheriffe may hold there any action or suit neither in any plea nor in any other cause whatsoever This witnesseth the whole County A place there is about this Shire but precisely where it should be is not certainly knowne called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Augustines Oke at which Augustine the Apostle of the Englishmen and the Bishops of Britaine met and after they had disputed and debated the matter hotely for a good while touching the celebration of Easter preaching Godâ— Word also to the English Nation and of administring Baptisme according to the rites of the Roman Church in the end when they could not agree they departed on both sides with discontented mindes upon their dissenting opinions This Province since the Normans comming in had for the first Sheriffe Vrsus or Vrso de Abtot unto whom and his heires King William the Conquerour granted that office together with faire and large possessions After him succeeded his sonne Roger who as William of Malmesbury the Historiographer reporteth enjoying his fathers possessions through the high displeasure and indignation of King Henry the first was disseized thereof because in a furious fit of anger hee had commanded one of the Kings Officers to be killed But this Sheriffedome was by Emeline this Rogers sister translated hereditarily into the Family of the Beauchamps For she was married to Walter Beauchamp whom king Stephen after he had put downe Miles of Glocester ordained Constable of England Within some few yeeres king Stephen created Walleran Earle of Mellent twin-brother to Robert Bossu Earle of Leicester the first Earle of Worcester having given unto him the Citie of Worcester who afterwards became a Monke and died at Pratellae in Normandie in the yeere 1166. As for his sonne Robert who had wedded the daughter of Reginald Earle of Cornwall and advanced the Standard of rebellion against King Henry the Second and Peter his sonne who in the yeere 1203. revolted to the French neither of them used the title of Worcester but onely of Mellent so farre as ever I could yet read For King Henry the Second who succeeded Stephen would not easily suffer that any under him should enjoy the honors received from Stephen an usurper and his enemy For as I finde in the Annales of Waverley Abbay he put downe those imaginary and counterfeit Earles among whom King Stephen had inconsideratly distributed and given away all the revenewes pertaining to the Exchequer Neither to my knowledge was there any one that bare the title of the Earldome of Worcester untill the daies of King Richard the Second For he bestowed it upon Sir Thomas Percy who when he conspired against King Henry the Fourth was taken at the battaile of Shrewsbury and there beheaded Then Sir Richard Beauchamp descended from the Abtots received
afterward this honor at the hands of King Henry the Fifth Who shortly after in the French war lost his life at the siege of Meaux in Brye leaving one onely daughter married to Sir Edward Nevill from whom descended the late Lords of Abergevenny Afterward King Henry the Sixth created John Tiptoft Earle of Worcester But when he presently taking part with King Edward the Fourth had applied himselfe in a preposterous obsequiousnesse to the humor of the said King and being made Constable of England plaied the part as it were of the butcher in the cruell execution of diverse men of qualitie himselfe when as King Henry the Sixth was now repossessed of the crowne came to the blocke Howbeit his sonne Edward recovered that honor when King Edward recovered his Kingdome But after that this Edward died without issue and the inheritance became divided among the sisters of the said John Tiptoft Earle of Worcester of whom one was married to the Lord Roo◠another to Sir Edmund Ingoldesthorpe and the third to the Lord Dudley Sir Charles Somerset base sonne to Henry Duke of Somerset Lord Herbert and Lord Chamberlaine to King Henry the Eighth was by him created Earle of Worcester After whom succeeded in lineall descent Henry William and Edward who now flourisheth and among other laudable parts of vertue and Nobility highly favoureth the studies of good literature There are in this Shire Parishes 152. STAFFORDIAE COMITATVS PARS olim Cornauiorum STAFFORD-SHIRE THE third Region of the old CORNAVII now called STAFFORD-SHIRE in the English Saxons Language 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Inhabitants whereof because they dwelt in the middest of England are in Bede termed Angli Mediterranei that is Midland Englishmen having on the East Warwick-shire and Darby-shire on the South side Worcester-shire and Westward Shropp-shire bordering upon it reacheth from South to North in forme of a Lozeng broader in the middest and growing narrower at the ends The North part is full of Hilles and so lesse fruitfull the middle being watered with the River Trent is more plentifull clad with Woods and embroidered gallantly with Corne fields and medowes as is the South part likewise which hath Coles also digged out of the earth and mines of Iron But whether more for their commodity or hinderance I leave to the Inhabitants who doe or shall best understand it In the South part in the very confines with Worcester-shire upon the River Stour standeth Stourton Castle sometimes belonging to the Earles of Warwicke the natall place of Cardinall Pole and then Dudley Castle towreth up upon an hill built and named so of one Dudo or Dodo an English Saxon about the yeere of our Salvation 700. In King William the Conquerours daies as we finde in his Domesday Booke William Fitz-Ausculph possessed it afterwards it fell to Noble men sirnamed Somery and by an heire generall of them to Sir Richard Sutton knight descended from the Suttons of Nottingham-shire whose Posterity commonly called from that time Lords of Dudley but summoned to Parliament first by King Henry the Sixth grew up to a right honourable Family Under this lyeth Pensueth Chace in former times better stored with game wherein are many Cole-pits in which as they reported to mee there continueth a fire begunne by a candle long since through the negligence of a grover or digger The smoke of this fire and sometime the flame is seene but the savour oftener smelt and other the like places were shewed unto mee not farre off North-West ward upon the Confines of Shropp-shire I saw Pateshull a seat of the Astleies descended from honourable Progenitours and Wrotesley an habitation of a Race of Gentlemen so sirnamed out of which Sir Hugh Wrotesley for his approoved valour was chosen by King Edward the Third Knight of the Garter at the first institution and so accounted one of the founders of the said honourable Order Next after this the memorable places that wee meet with in this Tract more inwardly are these Chellington a faire house and Manour of the ancient Family of the Giffards which in the Raigne of Henry the Second Peter Corbuchin gave to Peter Giffard upon whom also Richard Strongbow that Conquerour of Ireland bestowed in free gift Tachmelin and other Possessions in Ireland Theoten hall which is by interpretation The habitation of Heathens or Pagans at this day Tetnall embrued with Danish bloud in the yeere 911. by King Edward the Elder in a bloudy Battaile Ulfrunes Hampton so called of Wulfruna a most godly and devout woman who enriched the Towne called before simply Hampton with a religious House and for Wulfrunes Hampton it is corruptly called Wulver Hampton The greatest name and note whereof ariseth by the Church there annexed to the Warden or Deane and Prebendaries of Windsor Weadsbury in these dayes Weddsborrow fortified in old time by Aethelfled Lady of the Mercians and Walshall a Mercate Towne none of the meanest Neere unto which the River Tame carryeth his streame which rising not farre off for certaine miles wandereth through the East part of this Shire seeking after Trent neere unto Draiton Basset the seat of the Bassets who springing out from Turstan Lord of this place in the Raigne of Henry the First branched forth into a great and notable Family For from hence as from a stocke flourished the Bassets of Welleden of Wiccomb of Sapcot of Cheddle and others But of this of Draiton Raulph was the last who being a right renowned Baron had marryed the sister of John Montfort Duke of Britaine and in the Raigne of Richard the Second died without issue Then Tame passing through the Bridge at Falkesley over which an ancient high way of the Romanes went runneth hard under Tamworth in the Saxon Tongue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Marianus calleth it Tamawordia a Towne so placed in the Confines of the two Shires that the one part which belonged sometime to the Marmions is counted of Warwick-shire the other which pertained to the Hastings of Stafford-shire As for the name it is taken from Tame the Riuer running beside it and of the English Saxon word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth a Barton Court or Ferme-house and also an Holme or River Island or any place environed with water seeing that Keyserwert and Bomelswert in Germanie betoken as much as Caesars Isle and Bomels Isle Whiles the Mercians Kingdome stood in state this was a place of their Kings resiance and as we finde in the Lieger Booke of Worcester a Towne of very great resort and passing well frequented Afterward when in the Danes Warre it was much decaied Aethelfled Lady of Mercia repaired and brought it againe to the former state also Edith King Eadgars Sister who refusing Marriage for the opinion that went of her for holinesse was registred in the roll of Saints founded heere a little house for Nunnes and veiled Virgins which after some yeeres was translated to
Vale underneath along Corve which commonly is called Corves-dale to Sir Foulque of Dinan Afterwards it belonged to the Lacies of Ireland and by a daughter fell to Sir Geffrey de Ienevile a Poictevin or as some will have it of the house of Lorain from whose heires it descended againe by a daughter to the Mortimers and from thence hereditarily to the Crowne Then the Inhabitants in processe of time built in the very bosome of the Towne and on the highest ground a very faire Church and the onely Church they have And so it beganne to be of great account and to excell other neighbour Townes adjoyning And although by King Stephen Simon Montfort and King Henry the Sixth it suffered much damage in the civill Warres yet it alwayes flourished againe and now especially ever since that King Henry the Eighth ordained the Councell of the Marches not unlike to those Parliaments in France the Lord President whereof doth for the most part keepe Courts and Terme here which a man could hardly have seene at any time without Suites whether it were for the great state and authority that it carryed or because the Welshmen are so forward and hote to goe to Law This Councell consisteth of the Lord President so many Counsellers as it shall please the Prince to appoint a Secretary an Attorney a Sollicitour and the foure Iustices of the Counties in Wales Somewhat lower upon the River Temd is seene Burford which from Theodoricke Saie and his Posterity came unto Robert Mortimer and from his posterity likewise unto Sir Geffrey Cornwaile who derived his Descent from Richard Earle of Cornwall and King of the Alemans and his Race even unto these daies hath flourished under the name of Barons of Burford but not in the dignity of Parliamentary Barons whereas it is holden as we reade in the Inquisition of the King for to finde five men for the Army of Wales and by service of a Baronie As for those that I may note thus much by the way who held an entire and whole Barony they were commonly in times past reputed Barons and as some learned in our common lawes are of opinion Baron and Barony like as Earle and Earledome Duke and Dukedome King and Kingdome were Conjugata that is Originally yoke-fellowes When Temd now is leaving Shropp-shire behinde it not farre from the bankes thereof there raise themselves up Northward certaine hils of easie ascent Cleehill they call them much commended for yeelding the best Barly in great plenty neither are they without iron mines at the descent whereof in a Village called Cleybury Hugh Mortimer built a Castle which King Henry the Second forthwith so rased because it was a noursery of sedition that scarce there remaine any tokens thereof at this day also hard by standeth Kinlet where the Blunts flourished Their name in this Tract is very great so sirnamed at first of their yellow haire the Family noble and ancient and the branches thereof farre spread Then saw we on the right hand banke of Severn Brug Morfe commonly but corruptly called Bridg-North so called of Burg or Burrbugh and Morfe a Forest adjoyning whereas before time it was named simply Burgh A Towne fortified with wals a ditch a stately Castle and the Severn which betweene the Rockes runneth downe with a great fall seated also upon a Rocke out of which the waies leading into the upper part of the Towne were wrought out Achelfleda Lady of the Mercians first built it and Robert de Belesme Earle of Shrewesbury walled it who trusting to the naturall strength of the place rebelled against King Henry the First like as afterward Roger Mortimer against King Henry the the Second but both of them with ill successe for they were both forced to yeeld and submit themselves absolutely to the Kings command At the Siege of this Castle as we reade in our Annales King Henry the Second being levelled at with an arrow had beene shot therewith quite through the body had not Sir Hubert Syncter a noble and trusty Servitour to the King interposed himselfe and to save the King received both the arrow and his deaths wound withall Before time also Sir Raulph de Pichford bare himselfe so valiantly heere that king Henry the First gave unto him the little Burgh hard by To hold by service for to finde dry wood for the great chamber of the Castle of Burgh against the comming of his Soveraigne Lord the King Willeley or Willey is not farre from hence the habitation in old time of Sir Warner De Willeley from whose Posterity by the Harleis and Peshall it came to the notable Family of Lacon advanced by marriage long since with the heire of Passelew and of late by the Possession of Sir I. Blunt of Kinlet There be in like manner other Townes and Castles heere and there in this Tract as Newcastle Hopton Castle Shipton and upon the River Corve Corvesham which Walter Clifford had by the gift of king Henry the Second also Brancroft and Holgot commonly Howgate which belonged sometime to the Manduits then to Robert Blunt Bishop of Bath and afterwards to the Lovells More higher are Wenlocke now knowne for the lime but in king Richard the Seconds time for a mine of Copper there But much more knowne in the Saxons dayes for a most ancient Nunnery where Milburga that most holy virgin lived in great devotion and was entombed the which Nunnery Earle Roger de Montgomerie repaired and replenished with Monkes In later times Sir Iohn Winell called also Wenlocke because he heere inhabited for his faithfull service to king Henry the Sixth was by him advanced to the state and honor of Baron Wenlocke and elected knight of the Garter in whose cause he manfully lost his life in the Battaile of Tewkesbury leaving no issue but from his cozin and heire generall the Lawleys of this County are lineally descended A little more West is Acton Burnell a Castle of the Burnels and after of the Lovels made famous by the Court of Parliament there held in the time of king Edward the First This Family of the Burnells was in old time of great name and antiquity very much enriched also by that Bishop aforenamed But it failed and had an end in the Raigne of Edward the Second when Mawde the heire was married unto John Lovell first and secondly to John Haudlow whose sonne Nicholas assumed to himselfe the name of Burnell from whom the Ratcliffes Earles of Sussex and others draw their pedegree Scarce a mile from hence standeth Langley seated very flat and low in a Parke full of Woods the dwelling place of the Leas which may well challenge to be ranged among the Families that are of the better worth and greater Antiquity in this Tract Next unto these is Condover a Manour sometimes of the Lovells but of late the possession of Thomas Owen
worke also a fragment of an Altar with this Inscription engraven in great capitall letters three inches long erected by Haterianus the Lieutenant Generall of Augustus and Propretour of the Province Cilicia The next yeere following hard by was this Table also gotten out of the ground which prooveth that the foresaid Image was the personage of Diana and that her Temple was repaired by Titus Flavius Posthumius Varus an old souldier haply of a Band of the second Legion T. FL. POSTUMIUS VARUS V. C. LEG TEMPL DIANAE RESTITUIT Also a votive Altar out of which GETA the name of Caesar may seeme then to have beene rased what time as he was made away by his brother Antonine Bassianus and proclaimed an Enemy yet so as by the tract of the letters it is in some sort apparent PRO SALUTE AUGG. N. N. SEVERI ET ANTONINI ET GETAE CAES. P. SALTIENUS P. F. MAECIA THALAMUS HADRI PRAEF LEG II. AUG C. VAMPEIANO ET LUCILIAN This most beautifull Altar also though maimed and dismembred was there found which I thinke is thus to be made up Also these fragments 7. VECILIANA VIII 7. VALER MAXSIMI Moreover a little before the comming in of the English Saxons There was a Schoole heere of 200. Philosophers who being skilfull in Astronomy and all other Arts diligently observed the course and motion of the Starres as wrote Alexander Elsebiensis a rare Author and hard to be found out of whom Thomas James of Oxford a learned man and a true lover of Bookes who wholly addicted to learning and now laboriously searching the Libraries of England to the publique good purposeth that God blesse his labour which will be to the great benefit of all Students hath copied out very many notes for me In the Raigne of Henry the Second what time Giraldus wrote it seemeth that this City was of good strength For Yrwith of Caer Leon a courageous and hardy Britan defended it a great while against the English untill he was vanquished by the King and so disseized of the possession thereof But now that it may serve for an ensample that as well Cities have fatall periods of their flourishing state as men of their lives it is decaied and become a very small Towne which in times past was of that greatnesse and reaching out so farre in length on both sides of the River that Saint Julians an house of the late Sir William Herbert Knight was by report sometime within the very City where Saint Julius the Martyrs Church stood which now is much about a mile out of the Towne Also out of the ruines thereof a little beneath at the mouth of Vske grew up Newport which Giraldus nameth in Latine Novus Burgus a Towne of later time built and not unknowne by reason of the Castle and commodiousnesse of the Harbour in which place there was in times past some one of these Roman High wayes or Streets whereof Necham hath made mention in these Verses Intrat auget aquas Sabrini fluminis Osca Praceps testis erit Julia Strata mihi Vske into Severn headlong runnes and makes his streame to swell Witnesse with me is Julia Street that knoweth it full well This Julia Strata was no doubt some Port-high way and if we may be allowed to make a conjecture what great absurdity were it to say that it was cast up and made by Julius Frâ—ntinus the vanquisher of the Silures There creepeth saith Giraldus in the bounds of this New-burgh or Newport a little River named Nant Pencarn which cannot bee waded and passed over but at certaine Fourds not so much for any depth that the water is of as for the hollownesse of the Chanell and the easie mudde in the bottome and it had of old a Fourd named Rydpencarn that is The Fourd under the top of a Rocke Which when Henry the Second King of England chanced at a venture to passe over even then when it was almost growne out of remembrance the Welshmen who were over credulous in beleeving of Prophesies as if now all had beene sure on the Kings side and themselves hopelesse of all helpe were quite out of heart and hope of good successe because Merlin Silvester the British Apollo had prophesied that then the Welshmens power should bee brought under when a stout Prince with a freckled face and such a one was King Henry the Second should passe over that Foord Under the Saxons Heptarchy this Region was subject to the mountaine Welshmen whom the English called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who notwithstanding as the ancient lawes doe shew were under the command of the West Saxons But at the first comming in of the Normans the Lords Merchers most grievously plagued and annoyed them but especially Hamelin Balun of whom I spake Hugh Lacy Walter and Gilbert both sirnamed of the house of Clare Miles of Glocester Robert Chandos Pain Fitz-Iohn Richard Fitz Punt and Brien of Wallingford unto whom after that the Kings had once given whatsoever they could get and hold in this tract by subduing the Welsh some of these before named by little and little reduced under their subjection the upper part of this Shire which they called Over-went others the lower part which they termed Nether-went And this Shire is not accounted among the Shires of Wales This Shire containeth Parish Churches 127. GLAMORGAN-SHIRE THE last Country of the Silures was that I thinke which wee at this day call GLAMORGAN-SHIRE the Britans Morganuc Glath-Morgan and Glad Vorganuc that is The Region of Morganuc so named as most suppose of one Morgan a Prince as others thinke of Morgan an Abbay But if I derived it from Mor which in the British tongue signifieth The Sea I know not verily whether I should dally with the trueth or no Howbeit I have observed that a Towne in little Britaine standing upon the Sea-coast now called Morlais was of Ptolomee and the ancient Gaules tearmed Vorganium or Morganium for M. and V. consonant are often changed one for another in this tongue and whence I pray you but from the sea And this our Morganuc also lieth upon the sea for stretching out directly more in length than it spreadeth in bredth on the South side it is accoasted with the Severn sea But where it looketh toward the Land it hath on the East side Monmouth-shire on the North Brechnock-shire and on the West Caermarden-shire bordering upon it The North part by reason of the Mountaines is rough and unpleasant which as they bend downe Southward by little and little become more milde and of better soile and at the foote of them there stretcheth forth a Plaine open to the South-Sunne in that position of situation which Cato judged to bee the best and for the which Plinie so highly commendeth Italie For this part of the Country is most pleasant and fruitfull beautified also on every side with a number of Townes Jestine a great Lord in the Raigne of William Rufus
withdrawne it selfe more inwardly Upon this Bay Kidwelly first offereth it selfe to our sight the Territory whereof Kâ—tani the Scot his sonnes held for a time untill they were driven out by Cuneda the Britan. But now it is counted part of the inheritance of the Dutchy of Lancaster by the heires of Maurice of London or De Londres who making an outroad hither out of Glamorgan-shire after a dangerous war made himselfe Lord heereof and fortified old Kidwelly with a wall and Castle to it which now for very age is growne to decay and standeth as it were forlet and forlorne For the Inhabitants having passed over the little River Vendraeth Vehan built a new Kidwelly entised thither by the commodity of the haven which notwithstanding at this day being choked with shelves and barres is at this present of no great use Whiles Maurice of London invaded these parts Guenliana the wife of Prince Gruffin a stout and resolute woman in the highest degree to recover the losses and declining state of her husband came with displaied banner into the field and fiercely assailed him but the successe not answerable to her courage shee with her sonne Morgan and other men of especiall note as Girald recordeth was slaine in battaile By Hawis or Avis the daughter and heire of Sir Thomas of London this passing faire and large patrimony together with the Title of Lord of Ogmor and Kidwelly came unto Patricke-Chaworth and by his sonne Patrickes daughter unto Henry Earle of Lancaster Now the heires of the said Maurice of London as we learne out of an old Inquisition for this inheritance were bound to this service that if their Soveraigne Lord the King or his chiefe Justice came into the parts about Kidwelly with an Army they should conduct the foresaid Army with their banners and their people through the middest of Nethland as farre as to Loghar A few miles beneath Kidwelly the River Tovie which Ptolomee calleth TOBIUS falleth into the the Sea after he hath passed through this Region from North-East to South first by Lanandiffry so called as men thinke of Rivers meeting together which Hoel the sonne of Rhese overthrew for malice that hee bare unto the English then by Dinevor a princely Castle standing aloft upon the top of an hill and belonging unto the Princes of South Wales whiles they flourished and last of all by Caer Marden which the Britans themselves call Caer-Firdhin Ptolomee MARIDUNUM Antonine MURIDUNUM who endeth his Journeies there and through negligence of the transcribers is in this place not well used For they have confounded the Journeies from Galena to Isca and from Maridunum to Viriconium This is the chiefe City of the country for medowes and woods pleasant and in regard of antiquity to be respected Compassed about very properly as Giraldus saith with bricke walles which are partly yet standing upon the famous river Tovit able to beare small ships although there be now a barre of sand cast up against the very mouth thereof In this City was borne the Tages of the Britans I meane Merlin For like as Tages being the sonne of an evill Angell taught his Countrimen the Tuscans the art of Sooth saying so this Merlin the sonne of an Incubus Spirit devised for our Britans prophesies nay rather meere phantasticall dreames Whereby in this Island he hath been accounted among the credulous and unskilfull people a most renowned Prophet Straight after the Normans entring into Wales this City was reduced but I wot not by whose conduct under their subjection and for a long time sore afflicted with many calamities and distresses being oftentimes assaulted once or twice set on fire first by Gruffin ap Rise then by Rise the said Gruffins brother at which time Henry Turbervill an Englishman succoured the Castle and hewed downe the Bridge But afterwards by the meanes of Gilbert de Clare who fortified both the walles thereof and the Castles adjoyning it was freed from these miseries and being once eased of all grievances and in security endured afterwards more easily from time to time the tempests of warre and all assaults And the Princes of Wales of the English bloud I meane the first begotten sonnes of the Kings of England ordained heere their Chauncery and Exchequer for all South Wales Neere unto this City on the East side lyeth Cantred-Bichan that is The lesse Hundred for the Britans terme a portion of land that containeth 100. Villages a Cantred in which beside the ruines of Careg Castle situate upon a Rocke rising on every side steepe and upright there are many under-mines or caves of very great widenesse within the ground now covered all over with green-sord and turfe wherein it is thought the multitude unable to beare armes hid themselves during the heate of warre there is also heere a Fountaine that as Giraldus writeth Twice in foure and twenty houres ebbing and twice flowing resembleth the unstable motions of the maine Sea But on the North-East side there stretcheth it selfe a great way out Cantredmaur that is The great hundred a most safe refuge for the Britans in times past as being thicke set with woods combersome to travaile in by reason the waies are intricate by the windings in and out of the hils Southward stand Talcharn and Lhan-Stephan Castles upon rockes of the Sea which are most notable witnesses of martiall valour and prowesse as well in the English as in the Welsh Beneath Talcharn Taff sheddeth it selfe into the Sea by the side whereof was in times past that famous Twy Gwin ar Taff that is The white house upon the River Taff because it was built of white Hazels for a summer house where in the yeere of our Redemption 914. Hoel sirnamed Dha that is Good Prince of Wales in a frequent Assembly of his States for there met there beside others of the Clergie one hundred and forty abrogated the ancient ordinances and established new lawes for his Subjects as the Prooeme to the very lawes themselves doe witnesse In which place afterward a little Abbay named White land was built Not farre from whence is Killmayn Lhoyd where of late daies certaine country people hapned upon an earthen Vessell in which was hourded a mighty deale of Romane Coine of embased silver from the time of Commodus the Romane Emperour who first embased silver unto the fifth Tribuneship of Gordian the third which fell just with the yeere of Christ 243. Among these were certaine peeces of Helvius Pertinax of Marcus Opellius of Antoninus Diadumenianus of Julius Verus Maximus the sonne of Maximinus of Calius Balbivus of Clodius Pupienus of Aquilia Severa the wife of Elagabalus and of Sall. Barbia Orbiana which among Antiquaries are of greatest price and estimation as being most rare of all others Now it remaineth that I should relate how upon the river Tivy that separateth this County from Cardigan-shire there standeth New-Castle for so they call
with too much affectation derived our Brigantes from Spaine into Ireland and from thence into Britaine grounding upon no other conjecture but that he found the Citie Brigantia in his owne country Spaine he hath I feare me swarved from the truth For in case our Brigantes and those in Ireland had not the same name both for one cause I had rather with my friend the right learned Thomas Savil judge that as well diuers of our Brigantes as also other nations of Britaine from the first comming of the Romanes hither departed into Ireland some for desire of quietnesse and ease others that the Lordly dominion of the Romanes might not be an eye-sore unto them and others againe because they would not by their good will loose that libertie in their old age which by nature they were endowed with in their childhood But that Claudius the Emperour was the first of all the Romanes who set upon these our Brigantes and brought them under the Romane dominion Seneca in his Play sheweth by these verses Ille Britannos Ultra noti littora Ponti caerueleos Scuta Brigantes dare Romulaeis colla catenis Jussit ipsum nova Romanae jura securis Tremere Oceanum The Brigants such as seated are beyond the knowne Sea-coast And Brigants with blew painted shields he forced with his hoast To yeeld their necks in Romane chaines as captive to be led And even the Ocean this new power of Romane-ax to dred And yet I have been of this minde that they were not then conquered but committed themselves rather into the tuition and protection of the Romanes For that which he Poetically endited the Historiographers doe not mention And Tacitus recordeth how by occasion at that time of certaine discords risen among the Brigantes Ostorius who now made preparation for new warres was hindered and pulled backe which he with the execution of a few easily appeased At which time the Brigantes had Cartismandua a right noble and puissant Lady for their Queene who intercepted Caratacus and delivered him into the Romanes hands Herevpon ensued wealth of wealth and prosperitie riotous and incontinent life in so much as forsaking her Husband Venutius his bed she joyned her selfe in marriage with Vellocatus his Esquire and made him King Which foule fact was the overthrow shortly after of her house and thereby a bloudy and mortall warre was enkindled The love and affection of the Country went generally with the lawfull Husband but the Queenes untemperate lust and cruelty were peremptory in maintaining the adulterer She by craftie plots and mischievous meanes intercepteth the Brother and kinsfolke of Venutius Venutius againe for his part pricked forward with shamefull disgrace by the helpe of friends whom he procured and the rebellion withall of the Brigantes themselves brought Cartismandua into great extremities Then upon her instant unto the Romanes for aide Garisons were set Cohorts and wings oâ— foot and horse were sent which after sundry skirmishes with variable event delivered her person out of perill yet so as that the Kingdome remained to Venutius and the warre with the Romanes who were not able to subdue the Brigantes before the time of Vespasian For then Petilius Cerealis having invaded this Country fought many battailes and some of them very bloudy and either conquered or else wasted a great part of the Brigantes Whereas Tacitus writeth that this Queene of the Brigantes delivered Caracus prisoner unto Claudius the Emperor there is in that excellent author a manifest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the same noted a good while since by Iustus Lipsius deepely insighted in understanding old authors For neither was this Caratacus Prince of the Silures and Ordevices led in pompe at that triumph of Claudius nor yet Caratacus the Sonne of Cunobelinus for so is he called in the Romane Fasti whom Dio nameth Catacratus Of whom Aulus Plautius if not in the very same yeere yet in the next following triumphed by way of Ovation But let others sift out these matters and thereof I have already said somewhat In the Emperour Hadrians time when as Aelius Spartianus saith The Britaines could not be contained under the Romanes dominion it may seeme that these our Brigantes revoited from the Romanes and made a turbulent insurrection For had it not been so there was no cause why Iuvenall who then lived should thus write Dirue Maurorum attegias castra Brigantum Downe with the Moores sheepe cotes and folds Downe with the Brigantes forts and holds Neither afterward in the time of Antoninus Pius was their courage as it may seeme very much abated when he tooke away part of their territories from them because they had made rodes as I have said before into Genunia or Guinethia a Province confederate with the Romanes If I durst by our Critickes good leave who in these daies presuming so much of their great wits are supercriticall me thinks I could heere cleare Tacitus of a fault or two which sitteth close to him as concerning the Brigantes The one is in the twelfth Booke of his Annales where I would reade for Venutius out of the State of the Iugantes out of the State of the Brigantes which Tacitus himselfe seemeth to insinuate in the third Booke of his Histories The other in the life of Agricola The Brigantes saith he under the leading of a Woman burnt the Colonie c. Where truth would have you reade The Trinobantes For he speaketh of Queene Boadicia who had nothing to doe with the Brigantes But the Trinobantes she stirred indeede to rebellion and burnt the Colonie Camalodunum But this Country of theirs so exceeding large which the further it goeth the narrower it waxeth riseth on high in the mids with continued ridges and edges of hils as Italic is raised up with Apenninus which make a partition betweene those Counties into which it is now divided For beneath those hilles toward the East and the German Sea lieth Yorke-shire and the Bishopricke of Duresme and on the West side Lancashire Westmorland and Cumberland all which Countries in the first infancy of the English-Saxons Empire were contained within the Kingdome of the Deiri For they call these Countries the Kingdome of the Nordanhumbers and divided them in two parts Deira called in that age 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is neerer unto us and on this side Tine and Bernicia which lying beyond Tine reached as farre as Edenborrough Frith in Scotland which parts although they had their severall Kings for a long time yet at length grew all to bee one Kingdome And that I may note this one thing by the way whereas in the life of Charles the Great it is read thus Eardulph King of the Nordanhumbers that is De-Irland being driven out of his Country unto Charles the Great c. Wee must reade ioyntly Dierland and understand the place of this Country and not of Ireland as some have misconceived EBORACENSIS Comitatus pars Occidenâ—aâ—is vulgo WEST RIDING YORKE-SHIRE THE
Temple of Bellona by the errour of a rusticall Augur or Soothsaying Priest At which time the Tribunal or Justice Haul of this City was in this respect most happy because therein sat to minister justice that Oracle of the law Aemelius Paulus Papinianus as Forcatulus witnesseth And from this place it was for certaine that Severus and Antoninus Emperours being consulted in a case or question of Right gave forth their Imperiall constitution De rei Vindicatione An hundred yeeres or thereabout after the death of Severus Fl. Valerius Constantius sirnamed Chlorus an Emperour surpassing in all vertue and Christian piety who came hether When the Gods as the Panegyrist saith called him now to the inmost entry and doore of the earth ended his life also in this City and was deified as we may see by ancient Coines And albeit Florilegus recordeth that his Tombe was found in Wales as I have said yet men of credite have enformed me that in our fathers remembrance when Abbaies were suppressed and pulled downe in a certaine Vault or crowdes or a little Chappell under the ground wherein Constantius was supposed to have beene buried there was found a Lampe burning for Lazius writeth that in ancient time they preserved light in Sepulchres by resolving gold artificially into a liquid and fatty substance which should continue burning a long time and for many ages together This Emperor begat of his former wife Helena CONSTANTINE THE GREAT THE DELIVERER OF ROME CITY as ancient inscriptions give testimony THE FOUNDER OF PEACE AND THE REPAIRER OF THE COMMON VVEALTH Who was present in Yorke at his fathers last gaspe and forthwith proclaimed Emperour The souldiers as the Panegyricall Oratour saith regarding rather the good of the State than private affections cast the purple robe upon him whiles hee wept and put spurs to his horse to avoid the importunity of the Army attempting and requiring so instantly to make him Emperour But the happinesse of the State overcame his modestie Whence it is that the Author of the Panegyricall oration crieth out in these words O fortunate Britaine and now blessed above all lands which first sawest Constantine Emperor Hence it may be gathered in what and how great estimation Yorke was in those daies seeing the Romane Emperours Court was there held For our owne Country Writers record that this City was by Constantius adorned and graced with an Episcopall See But yet that Taâ—rinus the Martyr Bishop of Eureux sat heere and governed I will not say as others doe For Vincentius out of whom they sucked this errour would by his owne words convince me of untruth But when the Romanes were departed and had left Britaine for a prey to barbarous Nations this City sore afflicted with many calamities suffered her part also of miseries and was little or nothing better about the end of the Scottish or Saxons Warres than a poore small shadow of a great name For when Paulinus preached Christian Religion to the English Saxons in this Country it lay so desolate that there remained not so much as a Chappell in it for King Edwin to bee baptized in Who in the yeere after Christs Birth 627. built a little Oratory of wood and when as afterward he went in hand with building a greater Church of stone scarce had he laid the foundation thereof when he was prevented by death and left it to be finished by his Successour Oswald Ever since that time the Ecclesiasticall Dignity in this Church encreased and by a Pall sent unto it from Honorius the Pope became a Metropolitane City which beside twelve Bishoprickes in England exercised the power of a Primate over all the Bishops of Scotland But many yeeres since Scotland withdrew it selfe from this her Metropolitane and the Metropolitane City it selfe hath so devoured other Bishoprickes adjoyning being but little to say truth and of small account that it hath now but foure within the owne Dioecese namely the Bishoprickes of Durrham of Chester of Carlile and of Man or Sodorensis in the Isle of Man And the Archbishop Egbert who flourished about the yeere of our Salvation 740. erected at Yorke A most famous Library the Cabinet as I may so terme it these be the words of William of Malmesbury and Closet of all liberall Arts. Touching which Library Alcwin of Yorke Schoolemaster to Charles the Great first Founder of the University of Paris and the onely Honour of this City in an Epistle to the said Charles wrote thus Give mee the bookes of deeper and more exquisite scholasticall learning such as I had in mine owne Country by the good and most devout industry of the Archbishop Egbert And if it please your wisedome I will send backe some of your owne servants who may exemplifie out of them all those things that be necessary and bring the floures of Britaine into France that there may not be a Garden of learning enclosed onely within Yorke walles but that streames of Paradise may be also at Towres Then also it was that Princes bestowed many and great livings and lands upon the Church of Yorke especially Ulphus the sonne of Toral I note so much out of an old booke that there may plainly appeare a custome of our ancestour in endowing Churches with livings This Ulphus aforesaid ruled in the West part of Deira and by reason of the debate that was like to arise betweene his sonnes the elder and the younger about their Lordships and Signiories after his death forthwith hee made them all alike For without delay hee went to Yorke tooke the horne with him out of which hee was wont to drinke filled it with wine and before the Altar of God and blessed Saint Peter Prince of the Apostles kneeling upon his knees he dranke and thereby enfeoffed them in all his lands and revenewes Which horne was there kept as a monument as I have heard untill our fathers daies I might seeme to speake in derogation of the Clergy if I should report what secret heart-burnings or rather open enmities flashed out betweene the Archbishops of Yorke and of Canterbury upon worldly ambition whiles with great wast of their wealth but more losse of their credite and reputation they bickered most eagerly about the Primacy For the Church of Yorke as he writeth inferiour though it were unto that of Canterbury in riches yet being equall in dignity albeit of later time founded and advanced on high with the same power that Canterbury hath confirmed also with the like authority of Apostolicall Priviledges tooke it ill to bee subject unto that of Canterbury by vertue of a Decree of Alexander of Rome who ordained That the Church of Yorke ought to be subject unto Canterbury and in all things to obey the constitutions of the Archbishop thereof as Primate of all Britaine in such matters as appertaine to Christian Religion Concerning the Archbishops of Yorke it is no part verily of my purpose to write any thing heere although there bee very many of
fortune to escape it selfe This was called The battaile of the Standard because the English keeping themselves close together about the standard received the first onset and shock of the Scotish endured it and at length put them to flight And this Standard as I have seene it pictured in ancient bookes was a mighty huge chariot supported with wheeles wherein was set a pole of a great height in manner of a mast and upon the very top thereof stood a crosse to bee seene and under the crosse hung a banner This when it was advanced was a token that every one should prepare himselfe to fight and it was reputed as an holy and sacred altar that each man was to defend with all power possible resembling the same for al the world that Carrocium of the Italians which might never be brought abroad but in the greatest extremitie and danger of the whole state Within this litle shire also Threske commonly called Thruske is worth to bee mentioned which had sometime a most strong Castle out of which Roger Mowbray displaied his banner of rebellion and called in the king of Scots to the overthrow of his owne native Country what time as King Henry the Second had rashly and inconsiderately digged as it were his owne grave by investing his sonne King in equall authority with himselfe But this rebellion was in the end quenched with bloud and this Castle quite dismantled so that beside a ditch and rampire I could see nothing there of a Castle Another firebrand also of rebellion flamed out heere in the Raigne of Henry the Seventh For when the unruly Commons tooke it most grievously that a light subsidie granted by the States of the Kingdome in Parliament was exacted of them and had driven away the Collectors thereof forthwith as it is commonly seene that Rashnesse speeding once well can never keepe a meane nor make an end they violently set upon Henry Percie Earle of Northumberland who was Lieutenant of these parts and slew him in this place and having John Egremond to be their leader tooke armes against their Country and their Prince but a few daies after they felt the smart of their lawlesse insolency grievously and justly as they had deserved Heere hard by are Soureby and Brakenbake belonging to a very ancient and right worshipfull family of the Lâ—scelles also more Southward Sezay sometime of the Darels from whence a great family branched and afterwards the Dawnies who for a long time flourished heere maintaining the degree and dignity of Knights right worthily The first and onely Earle of Yorke after William Mallet and one or two Estotevils of the Norman bloud who they say were Sheriffes by inheritance was Otho son to Henry Leo Duke of Bavar and Saxony by Maude the daughter of Henry the Second King of England who was afterwards proclaimed Emperour and stiled by the name of Otho the fourth From whose brother William another sonne of Maud are descended the Dukes of Brunswicke and Luneburgh in Germanie who for a token of this their kinred with the Kings of England give the same Armes that the first Kings of England of Norman bloud bare to wit two Leopards or Lions Or in a shield Gueles Long after King Richard the Second created Edmund of Langley fifth sonne of King Edward the Third Duke of Yorke who by a second daughter of Peter King of Castile and of Leon had two sonnes Edward the eldest in his fathers life time was first Earle of Cambridge afterwards Duke of Aumarle and in the end Duke of Yorke who manfully fighting in the battaile at Agincourt in France lost his life leaving no children and Richard his second sonne Earle of Cambridge who having marryed Anne sister of Edmund Mortimer whose grandmother likewise was the onely daughter of Leonell Duke of Clarence and practising to advance Edmund his wives brother to the royall dignity was streightwaies intercepted and beheaded as if hee had beene corrupted by the French to destroy King Henry the Fifth Sixteene yeeres after his sonne Richard was restored in bloud through the exceeding but unadvised favour of King Henry the Sixth as being sonne to Richard Earle of Cambridge brother to Edward Duke of Yorke and cozin also to Edmund Earle of March. And now being Duke of Yorke Earle of March and of Vlster Lord of Wigmore Clare Trim and Conaght hee bare himselfe so lofty that shortly hee made claime openly in Parliament against King Henry the Sixth as in his owne right for the Crowne which he had closely affected by indirect courses before in making complaints of the misgovernment of the State spreading seditious rumours scattering Libels abroad complotting secret Conspiracies and stirring up tumults yea and open Warres laying downe his Title thus as being the sonne of Anne Mortimer who came of Philip the daughter and sole heire of Leonel Duke of Clarence third sonne of King Edward the Third and therefore to be preferred by very good right in succession of the Kingdome before the children of John of Gaunt the fourth sonne of the said Edward the Third And when answere was made unto him that the Nobles of the Realme and the Duke himselfe had sworne Alleageance unto the King that the Kingdome by authority of Parliament had beene conferred and entailed upon Henry the Fourth and his heires that the Duke claiming his Title from the Duke of Clarence never tooke upon him the Armes of the Duke of Clarence that Henry the Fourth held the Crowne in right from King Henry the Third hee easily avoyded all these allegations namely that the said oath unto the King taken by mans law was in no wise to bee performed when as it tended to the suppression of the truth and right which stand by the Law of God That there was no need of Parliamentary authority to entaile the Crowne and Kingdome unto the Lancastrians neither would they themselves seeke for it so if they had stood upon any right thereunto As for the Armes of the Duke of Clarence which were his by right hee forbare of purpose to give them untill then like as hee did to claime his right to the Imperiall Crowne And as for the right or Title derived from king Henry the Third it was a meere ridiculous devise and manifest untruth to cloake the violent usurpation of Henry the Fourth and therefore condemned of all men Albeit these plees in the behalfe of the Duke of Yorke stood directly with law yet for remedy of imminent dangers the matter was ordered thus by the wisdome of the Parliament That Henry the Sixth should enjoy the right of the Kingdome for tearme of life onely and that Richard Duke of Yorke should be proclaimed heire apparant of the Kingdome he and his heires to succeed after him provided alwaies that neither of them should plot or practise ought to the destruction of the other Howbeit the Duke immediately was transported so headlong with ambition that hee went about to preoccupate and forestall
time and from out of them three hundred yeeres agoe and thirtie Robert Stewart by Marjorie his mother daughter to King Robert Brus obtained the Kingdome of Scotland and now lately James Stewart of that name the sixth King of Scots by Margaret his great grandmother daughter to King Henrie the seventh the divine power of that most high and almightie Ruler of the world so disposing is ascended with the generall applause of all nations to the height of Monarchicall majestie over all Britaine and the Isles adjacent ROSSIA THe Province ROSSE so called by an old Scottish word which some interpret to be a Promontorie others a Biland was inhabited by the people named CANTAE which terme in effect implieth as much in the time of Ptolomee This extendeth it selfe so wide and large that it reacheth from the one sea to the other What way it beareth upon the Vergivian or Western Ocean by reason of huge swelling mountaines advancing their heads aloft and many woods among them it is full of stagges roe buckes fallow Deere and wilde foule but where it butteth upon the German sea it is more lovely bedect with corne fields and pastures and withall much more civill In the very first entrance into it Ardmanoch no small territorie whereof the second sonnes of the Kings of Scotland beare the title riseth up with high mountaines that are most trustie preservers of snow As touching their height some have reported unto me strange wonders and yet the ancient Geometers have written that neither the depth of sea nor height of hills exceed by the plumbe line ten stadia that is one mile and a quarter Which notwithstanding they that have beheld Tenariffe amongst the Canarie Ilands which is fifteene leagues high and sailed withall the Ocean neere unto them will in no wise admit for truth In this part standeth Lovet Castle and the Baronie of the worthy family of the Frasers whom for their singular good service for the Scottish kingdome King James the second accepted into the ranke of Barons and whom the Clan-Ranalds a most bloodie generation in a quarrell and braule between them had wholly destroied every mothers sonne but that by the providence of God fourescore of the principall persons of this family left their wives at home all great with child who being delivered of so many sonnes renewed the house and multiplied the name againe But at Nesse mouth there flourished sometimes Chanonrie so called of a rich Colledge of Chanons whiles the Ecclesiasticall state stood in prosperitie in which there is erected a See for the Bishop of Rosse Hard by is placed Cromartie where Urqhuart a Gentleman of noble birth by hereditarie right from his ancestours ministreth justice as Sheriffe to this Sheriffdome and this is so commodious and safe an harbour for any fleet be it never so great that both Sailers and Geographers name it PORTUS-SALUTIS that is The Haven of safetie Above it is LITTUS ALTUM whereof Ptolomee maketh mention called now as it seemeth Tarbarth for there indeed the shore riseth to a great height enclosed on the one side with Cromer a most secure and safe haven and on the other with CELNIUS now Killian the river and thus much of the places toward the East Ocean Into the west sea the river LONGUS mentioned in Ptolomee at this day named Lough Longus runneth then the CERONES anciently dwelt where now is Assinshire a countrey much mangled with many inlets and armes of the sea in bosoming it selfe with manifold commodities As for the Earls of Rosse it is full of difficulty to set them down in order successively out of writers About foure hundred yeers past we read that Ferqhuard flourished enjoied this title But for default of issue male it came by a daughter to Walter Lesley who for his noble feats of armes courageously atchieved under Lewis the Emperour was worthily named The Noble Knight he begat Alexander Earle of Rosse and a daughter married unto Donald Lord of the Islands Hebrides This Alexander had issue one onely daughter who made over by her deed all her owne title and right unto Robert Duke of Albany whereat the said Donald of the Islands being highly enchafed and repining stiled himselfe in the reigne of James the third King of the Islands and Earle of Rosse having with fire and sword laied waste his native country far neere At length the said K. James the third by authoritie of Parliament in the yeere 1476. annexed the Earldome of Rosse to the crowne so as it might not be lawfull for his successours to alienate by any meanes from the crowne either the Earldome it selfe or any parcell thereof or by any device to grant the same unto any person save onely to the Kings second sonnes lawfully borne whence it is that Charles the Kings second sonne Duke of York at this day holdeth an enjoieth the title of Earle of Rosse SUTHERLAND BEyond Rosse Sutherland looketh toward the East Ocean a land more meet to breed cattell than to beare corne wherein there be hills of white marble a wonderfull thing in this so cold a climate but of no use almost considering excesse in building and that vain ostentation of riches is not yet reached to these remote regions Here is Dunrobin a castle of very great name the principall seat of the ancient Earles of Sutherland descended if I be not deceived out of the family of Murray Among whom one William under King Robert Brus is most famous who married the sister of the whole blood to K. David and had by her a son whom the said David declared heire apparant of the crown and compelled his Nobles to sweare unto him alleageance but he within a little after departed without issue and the Earldome in the end came by a daughter and heire hereditarily unto A. Gordon one of the line of the Earles of Huntly CATHANES HIgher lieth CATHANES butting full upon the said East sea bending inward with a number of creakes and compasses which the waves as it were indent In which dwelt in Ptolomees time the CATINI but written falsly in some copies CARINI among whom the selfe same Ptolomee placeth the river Ila which may seem to be the Wifle at this day The inhabitants of this province raised their greatest gaine and revenues by grazing and raising of cattell and by fishing The chiefe castle therein is called Girnego in which the Earls of Catnesse for the most part make their abode The Bishops sea is in Dornock a little meane town otherwise where also King James the fourth appointed the Sheriffe of Catnesse to reside or else at Wik as occasions should require for the administration of justice The Earles of Catnesse in ancient times were also Earles of the Orcades but at last they became distinct and by the eldest daughter of one Malise given in marriage to William Seincler the Kings Pantler his heires successively came to be Earls of Catnesse
his Kingdome divers authors affirme to have granted by his Charter or Patent Ireland and England both unto the Church of Rome to be held of it ever after in fee and to have received it againe from the Church as a Feudatarie also to have bound his successours to pay three hundred Markes unto the Bishop of Rome But that most worthie and famous Sir Thomas Moore who tooke the Popes part even unto death affirmeth this to be false For hee writeth that the Romanists can shew no such grant that they never demanded the foresaid money and that the Kings of England never acknowledged it But by his leave as great a man as hee was the case stood otherwise as evidently appeareth by the Parliament Records the credit whereof cannot bee impugned For in an assembly of all the States of the Realme in the reigne of Edward the third the Lord Chancellour of England proposed and related that the Pope would judicially sue the King of England as well for the Homage as the tribute which was to be yeelded for England and Ireland to the performance whereof King Iohn in times past had obliged himselfe and his successours and of this point which hee put to question required their opinion The Bishops desired to have a day by them selves for to consult about this matter the Nobles likewise and the people or Communaltie The day after they all met and with one generall accord ordained and enacted That for asmuch as neither King Iohn nor any other King whatsoever could impose such servitude upon the Kingdome but with the common consent and assent of a Parliament which was not done and whatsoever he had passed was against his oath at his coronation by him in expresse words religiously taken before God Therefore in case the Pope should urge this matter they were most readie to the uttermost of their power to resist him resolutely with their bodies and goods They also who are skilfull in scanning and sifting everie pricke and tittle of the lawes cry out with one voice That the said Grant or Charter of King Iohn was voide in Law by that clause and reservation in the end thereof Saving unto us and our heires all our Rights Liberties and Regalities But this may seeme beside my text Ever since King Johns time the Kings of England were stiled Lords of Ireland untill that King Henrie the eighth in the memorie of our fathers was in a Parliament of Ireland by the States thereof declared King of Ireland because the name of Lord seemed in the judgement of certaine seditious persons nothing so sacred and full of majestie as the name of King This name and title of the Kingdome of Ireland were by the Popes authoritie what time as Queene Marie in the yeere 1555. had by her Embassadours in the name of the Kingdom of England tendred obedience unto the Pope Paul the fourth confirmed in these words To the laud and glorie of almightie God and his most glorious mother the Virgin Mary to the honour also of the whole Court of heaven and the exaltation of the Catholike faith as the humble request and suite made unto us by King Philip and Queen Marie about this matter wee with the advice of our brethren and of plenarie power Apostolicall by our Apostolicall authoritie erect for ever Ireland to bee a Kingdome and endow dignifie and exalt with the title dignitie honour faculties rights ensignes prerogatives preferments preeminencies royall and such as other Realmes of Christians have use and enjoy and may have use and enjoy for the times to come And seeing that I have hapned upon those Noblemens names who first of all English gave the attempt upon Ireland and most valiantly subdued it under the imperiall crowne of England lest I might seeme upon envie to deprive both them and their posteritie of this due and deserved glorie I will set them downe here out of the Chancerie of Ireland according as the title doth purport The names of them that came with Dermot Mac Morrog into Ireland Richard Strongbow Earle of Pembroch who by Eve the daughter of Morrog the Irish pettie King aforesaid had one only daughter and she brought unto William Mareschall the title of the Earldome of Pembroch with faire lands in Ireland and a goodly issue five sonnes who succeeded one another in a row all childlesse and as many daughters which enriched their husbands Hugh Bigod Earle of Norfolke Guarin Montchensey Gilbert Clare Earle of Glocester William Ferrars Earle of Derby and William Breose with children honours and possessions Robert Fitz-Stephen Harvey de Mont-Marish Maurice Prendergest Robert Barr. Meiler Meilerine Maurice Fitz-Girald Redmund nephew of Fitz-Stephen William Ferrand Miles de Cogan Richard de Cogan Gualter de Ridensford Gualter and sonnes of Maurice Fitz-Girald Alexander sonnes of Maurice Fitz-Girald William Notte Robert Fitz-Bernard Hugh Lacie William Fitz-Aldelm William Maccarell Humfrey Bohun Hugh de Gundevill Philip de Hasting Hugh Tirell David Walsh Robert Poer Osbert de Herloter William de Bendenges Adam de Gernez Philip de Breos Griffin nephew of Fitz-Stephen Raulfe Fitz-Stephen Walter de Barry Philip Walsh Adam de Hereford To whom may be added out of Giraldus Cambrensis Iohn Curcy Hugh Contilon Redmund Cantimore Redmund Fitz-Hugh Miles of S. Davids and others The Government of the Kingdome of Ireland EVer since that Ireland became subject unto England the Kings of England have sent over thither to manage the state of the Realme their Regents or Vice-gerents whom they tearmed in those writings or letters Patents of theirs whereby authoritie and jurisdiction is committed unto them first Keepers of Ireland then afterwards according as it pleased them Iustices of Ireland Lievtenants and Deputies Which authoritie and jurisdiction of theirs is very large ample and royall whereby they have power to make warre to conclude peace to bestow all Magistracies and Offices except a very few to pardon all crimes unlesse they be some of high treason to dub Knights c. These letters Patents when any one entreth upon this honourable place of government are publikely read and after a solemne oath taken in a set forme of words before the Chancellour the sword is delivered into his hands which is to be borne before him he is placed in a chaire of estate having standing by him the Chancellour of the Realme those of the Privie Councell the Peeres and Nobles of the kingdome with a King of Armes a Serjeant of Armes and other Officers of State And verily there is not looke throughout all Christendome againe any other Vice-Roy that commeth neerer unto the majestie of a King whether you respect his jurisdiction and authoritie or his traine furniture and provision There bee assistant unto him in counsell the Lord Chancellour of the Realm the Treasurer of the Kingdome and others of the Earles Bishops Barons and Judges which are of the Privie Councell For Ireland hath the very same degrees of States that England hath namely Earles Barons Knights
in Irish Bala-Mac-Andan that is The towne of Antonies sonne For it tooke both names of the founder Thomas Fitz-Anthonie an Englishman who flourished under King Henry the third whose heires are yet acknowledged the Lords thereof Beneath this towne the river Callan voideth his streame into Neore upon which standeth the third Burrough or incorporate towne of this county bearing the same name Callan Like as Inise-Teog which is the fourth The family of Butlers hath spread and branched farre and wide throughout this County men that with much honour bare a great port and for their worth and vertues were adorned with the titles of Earles of Carick Ormond Wiltshire in England and of Ossorie as is before said and at this day there remaine of their line beside the Earle of Ormond Vicount Thurles and Knight of the Order of Saint George Vicount Montgarret Vicount Tullo the Barons of Dunboyn and of Cahir a goodly race also and progenie of Noble Gentlemen The rest of the Gentry in this Tract that are of better birth and parentage be likewise of English descent as the Graces Walshes Lovells Foresters Shortels Blanch-felds or Blanchevelstons Drilanas Comerfords c. THE COUNTY OF CATERLOGH THe County of CATERLOGH by contraction Carlogh toward the Sunne rising adjoineth to the County of Kilkenny wholly in manner situate betweene the rivers Barrow and Slane of a fertile soile and shaded well with woods hath two townes in it of better note and importance than the rest both standing upon the West banke of Barrow namely Caterlogh which Leonel Duke of Clarence began to wall and Bellingham a most renowned Lord Deputy fortified with a castle Also Leighlin called in Latine Lechlinia where there was an Episcopall Chaire now united to the See of Fernes These townes have both of them their wards or garrisons and Constables over them And whereas the greatest part of this County belonged in right of inheritance unto the Howards Dukes of Norfolke who by the Earles of Warren drew their descent from the eldest daughter of William Mareschall Earle of Penbroch King Henry the eighth by a generall consent of the States of the Realme tooke unto himselfe both from them and also from other Noblemen yea and from Monasteries in England all their lands and possessions in Ireland for that the Lords thereof by neglecting in their absence their owne private estates carelesly brought therewith the publike state into danger as is already shewed From hence Barrow passeth through the Baronie Ydron which by right belonged to the Carews for Sir John Carew an English Knight died seised thereof in the time of King Edward the third and which Peter Carew within our memorie recovered as it were by a writ of remitter after it had been unlawfully usurped and a long time in the occupation of unjust detainers Upon the river Slane appeareth Tullo memorable in this regard that King James hath lately honoured Theobald Butler the Earle of Ormonds brothers sonne with the title of Vicount Tullo The Cavanaghs dwell a great many of them every way hereabouts who being descended from Dovenald a younger sonne as they say the Bastard of Dermot the last King of Leinster are spred and branched out into a very great sept or linage a warlike generation renowned for their good horse-manship and who as yet though they bee exceeding poore beare themselves in spirit answerable to their ancient nobilitie But being at deadly feud amongst themselves for I wot not what man-slaughters which many yeeres agoe they committed one upon another they daily work their owne mischiefe by mutuall wrongs and hurts When as the English had set some of these to oversee and mannage the possessions they had in this part of Ireland about King Edward the seconds time they by little and little usurped the whole country unto themselves and assumed the name of O-Mores and taking into their societie the Toles and Brenes by little and little disseized the English of all the territorie betweene Caterlogh and the Irish sea Among these is the confluence of Neore and Barrow which after they have travailed in a joint streame some few miles from hence in one channell present both their name and their waters unto their eldest sister the Shour which straightwaies is swallowed up at a mouth full of rockes within the gulfe of the Ocean where on the left hand there shooteth out a little promontorie with a narrow necke that sheweth a prettie high tower unto the sailers erected by the merchants of Rosse what time they were in their prosperity for their direction and safer arrivall at the rivers mouth QUEENES COUNTIE ABove Caterlogh toward the North-west there spreadeth out a little country full of woods and bogs named in Irish Lease and QUEENES Countie in English which Queene Mary ordained to be a Countie by Commission given unto Thomas Ratcliffe Earle of Sussex then Lord Deputie who reduced it into the tearmes of civill order and governement whence it is that the chiefe towne thereof is called Mary-Burgh where certaine garrison souldiers with their Seneschall keep ward and have much adoe to defend themselves against the O-Mores who beare themselves as the ancient Lords thereof against Mac-Gilpatric the O-Dempsies and others a mischievous and tumultuous kind of people who daily practise and plot all they can to annoy the English and to shake off the yoke of lawes For to subdue this wilde and hostile part of the countrey at the first entrie of the English thither Meilere was sent For whom Hugh Lacie governour of Ireland erected one Castle at Tahmelio like as a second at Obowy a third likewise upon the river Barrow and a fourth at Norrach But among the rest he fortified Donemaws an ancient Castle standing in the most plentifull part of the territorie which came hereditarily unto the Breoses Lords of Brecknocke by Eua the younger daughter of William Mareschall Earle of Pembroch and what way as Barrow which rising out of Slew Blomey hills Westward runneth solitarie alone amongst the woods he visiteth that ancient RHEBA mentioned by Ptolomee which keeping the name still intire is called at this day Rheban but insteed of a citie it is altogether as one saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is A citie citilesse or The remaines of that which was a citie even a few little cottages with a fortresse Notwithstanding it giveth the title of a Baronet unto that Nobleman Nicholas of Saint Michael the Lord thereof who is commonly called the Baronet of Rheban KINGS COUNTIE LIke as the Queenes Countie aforesaid was so named in honour of Queene Marie so the territorie bordering next unto it Northward divided with Barrow running betweene and called in times past Offalie was in honour of Philip King of Spaine her husband tearmed Kings Countie and the principall towne in it Philips Towne where is placed a Seneschall with a ward and divers Gentlemen of English blood are here planted
hands upon him For which barbarous and inhumane murdering of his cousin german he was charged in England but the Queene of her royall clemency and for the hope that she had conceived of the Earle craving with repentance forgivenesse of this fault and submitting himselfe to divers good orders for his obedience pardoned him to the great griefe of some good men But this soone after more grieved him yea pricked as it were and sore galled him that the Deputy had suppressed the name of Mac Mahon in the country next adjoyning unto him and withall to abate and weaken the power of that mighty family had divided the country among many He I say hereupon conceived a feare lest the same would befall unto him and other Chieftanes of Ulster At which very time there began some secret grudges and heart burnings to arise between the Earle and Sir Henrie Bagnall the Marshall whose sister the Earle had carried away and married The Earle complained that whatsoever he had with the losse of his blood and painfull travell reduced to the obedience of the Prince the Marshall and not he reaped the fruit and gaine thereof that the Marshall by suborning most base and vile persons as witnesses had falsely brought him into question for high treason had incited Sir William Fitz-Williams then Lord Deputy his deadly enemy by corruptions and bribery to worke his destruction and that he lay in waite to take away his life And in very truth the Deputies information against the Earle found credit in the Court of England untill the said Earle wrote his letters and offred judicially to be tried either in England or in Ireland This is for certain known that much about this time he together with the chiefery or greatest men of Ulster by secret parlees combined in an association that they would defend the Romish religion for Religion now a daies is made the mantle for all rebellion that they would in no wise admit Sheriffes or Garrison souldiers in their Territories and mutually maintain one anothers right yea and withstand all wrongs offered by the English The first Champion thrust forward to sound the alarum was Mac-Gwyr a man of a turbulent spirit he by way of preying all before him maketh a road into Conaght accompanied with Gauran a Priest who being ordeined by the Pope Primate of Ireland commanded him in the name and with the helpe of God to try his fortune and to fight the Lords battell assuring him of most happy successe yet fell it out otherwise for Mac-Gwyr through the valour of Sir Richard Bingham was discomfited and put to flight and the Primate with others slaine Soone after Mac-Gwyr brake out into open rebellion whom the Earle himselfe together with the Marshall in a shew of dutifull attendance pursued and in this service with great commendation of his forwardnesse was wounded in the thigh Howbeit wholly intentive to provide for his own security he intercepteth the sons of Shan O-Neale and makes them sure for doing any harme neither would he by any meanes being requested thereto set them at liberty but minding another matter maketh most grievous complaints of the injuries offered unto him by the Deputy the Marshall and the garrison souldiers which notwithstanding within a while after he carried so covertly that as if he had forgotten all quarels he came under safe conduct unto the Deputy submitted himselfe and after hee had professed all manner of dutifull obedience returned home with great commendation When as now Sir William Fitz Williams the Lord Deputy was revoked home out of Ireland Sir William Russell succeeded in that office Unto him repaired the Earle of his own accord exhibited an humble submission upon his knees to the Lord Deputy wherein he dolefully expressed his great griefe that the Queen had conceived indignation against him as of one undutifull and disloyall Hee acknowledged that the late absenting himselfe from the state was disagreable to his obedience albeit it was occasioned by some hard measures of the late Lord Deputie as though he and the Marshall had combined for his destruction He acknowledged that the Queene advanced him to high title and great livings that she ever upheld him and enabled him that shee who by grace had advanced him was able by her force to subvert him and therefore if he were voide of gratitude yet he could not be so voide of reason as to worke his owne ruine Furthermore he made liberall promises that he would most willingly do whatsoever should be enjoyned him which hee also had promised in his letters sent unto the Lords of the Councell in England and earnestly besought that he might be received into favour againe with the Queene as before time which he had lost not by any desert of his owne but through the forged informations and suggestions of his adversaries At the same time Bagnall the Marshall was present in the place who exhibited articles against the Earle and accused him that hee had underhand suborned and sent Mac-Guir with the Primate above named into Conaght that hee had complotted secretly with Mac-Guir O-Donel and other conspirators and had aided them by Cormac-Mac-Baron the Earles brother and Con the Earles base son and some of his servants in the wasting of Monaghan and besieging of Inis-Kellin and by means drawn away the Captaines of Kilulio and Kilwarny from their loialty and obedience to the Queen Hereupon it was seriously debated among the Councellors of the kingdome whether the Earle should be staied to make his answer or no The Deputy thought good that he should be detained But when it was put to question generally the more part either upon a vaine feare or forward inclination to favour the Earle were instant to have him dismissed the matter to be put off unto a further day of hearing pretending certaine waighty considerations and that the Articles exhibited were without proofe or time Thus the Deputie in a sort was forced to yeeld to the experience of the Councell and the Earle was permitted to depart and his accusers there present had no audience Which troubled and disquieted the Queen not a little considering that his wicked designements and acts were now apparent to every one and the Queene her selfe had given warning afore hand that he should be detained untill he had cleered himselfe of those imputations The Earle being now returned home when he heard that a new supply of souldiers was comming out of England and thirteene hundred besides of old servitors out of the Low-countries who had served in little Britaine under Sir John Norris and that the English entended now to possesse themselves of Balashanon and Belik Castles upon the mouth of Logh-Earn he being privie to himself of his own evill purposes and carrying a guilty conscience on a sudden assaileth the fort at Blackwater by which the entry lay into Tir-Oen his owne country and had it surrendred up unto him And at the very same instant in maner hee wavering in his minde with one
Fort at Blackewater repaired and re-enforced by the Rebels by which the way lieth into the Countie of Tir-Oen and which besides woods and marshes was the onely strength that the Rebels had and by this first attempt gave good proofe that if the warre were well prosecuted they might easily be vanquished The very same day whereon this Fort was taken whiles the Deputie together with his armie were giving thankes unto God for this victorie suddenly an allarum was given and the enemie shewed himselfe from an hill hard by against whom Henrie Earle of Kildare presently marched with a cornet of horse and certaine of the better sort of Gentlemen voluntaries and setting upon them put them to flight Yet were there slaine of the English part Francis Vagham brother to the Lord Deputies wife R. Turner Serjeant Major a doughty and approved servitour two of the Earle of Kildares foster brethren whose death he tooke so heavily that himselfe within few daies after for griefe of heart ended his life For there is no love in the world comparable by many degrees to that of foster-brethren in Ireland But many more were wounded and among the rest Sir Thomas Waler highly commended for his Martiall forwardnesse After that this Fort was with new munitions re-enforced no sooner had the L. Deputy withdrawne his army from thence but the Rebels waving now betweene hope feare and shame thought it their best and safest course straightly to besiege it For the Earle supposed it was the most important place to offend and annoy them as that both his honour and fortunes were for ever at their down-set if he might not recover it With a strong power therefore he beleaguered it round about Against whom the Deputy straightway setteth forward and marched without intermission but alas marching on thus in his full pace to victory hee was arrested by violence of sicknesse and cut off by untimely death leaving a great misse of him to the State and security to the ranging Rebels Certes if he had lived longer by the judgement of wisemen he had abated their insolencies and the State had not beene plunged into so great perils The Rebels understanding of the Deputies death became exceeding stout and bold and so eft-soones with mighty out-cries and furious violence assaulted the Fort but repulsed alwaies they were with the greater losse they that gave the Scallado were thrown down headlong and most of them by the Garrison souldiers sallying resolutely upon them borne downe and troden under foot in so much as distrusting now to maine force they changed their copy and determined to protract the siege being perswaded that they within had victuals but for few daies and besides they conceived good hope that the Garrison souldiers for very want would bee wavering in their alleageance and turne traitours But through the singular valour of Thomas Williams the Captaine and of the band within the place was manfully defended who having suffered hunger sharp fights and all extremities after they had eaten up their horses were driven to pluck up the weeds growing among the stones for their food and endured all the miseries that might be Now by this time the government was by authority from the Queene committed unto the Earle of Ormond under the title of Lievtenant Generall of the Armie unto the Chancellor and Sir Robert Gardiner Then Tir-Oen recapitulateth in a long letter unto the said Lievtenant all his greivances afore specified and not leaving out the least insolencie either of souldiers or of Sheriffes coldly excuseth his breach of Covenants with Sir John Norris But principally he complaines that Feogh Mac-Hugh a â—eere associate and kinsman of his had been persecuted and executed and in the end That his letters unto the Queen were in England intercepted and suppressed as also that those impositions and compositions laid both upon the Nobles and Commons were intolerable He addeth moreover and saith he saw full well that all the Territories of the Nobility and Gentry of Ireland would shortly bee parted and shared among the Councellors Lawyers Souldiers and Notaries And herewith he closely sendeth succour unto the sonnes of Feogh Mach-Hugh that they might kindle new coales in Leinster So that now every man might see that this war was begun to no other end whatsoever was pretended but to extirpate the English quite out of Ireland All this while the Earle continued his siege about the Fort at Black-water for the raising whereof the Lievtenant Generall of the Armie for there was no Deputy as yet substituted sent the most choice troupes fourteene Ensignes under the conduct of Sir Henry Bagnall the Mareschall and the bitterest adversary the Earle had upon whom as he marched with divided troupes the Earle edged with fretfull malice assailed most furiously neere unto Armagh and forthwith the Mareschall against whom he had bent all his force being slaine amongst the thickest of his enemies as he obtained a most joyous triumph over his private adversarie so he went away with a glorious victory over the English And verily since the time that they set first footing in Ireland they never had a greater overthrow wherein thirteene valiant Captaines lost their lives and fifteene hundred of the common souldiers who being routed and put to shamefull flight as they were disparkled all over the fields were cut in pieces and such as remained alive laid the fault reproachfully not upon their owne cowardice but their chiefe leaders unskilfulnesse a thing now a daies ordinary Immediately upon this followed the yeelding up of the Fort at Black-water when as the garrison souldiers having held out with loyaltie in heart and weapon in hand unto extreme famine being now driven to exceeding great distresse saw all hopelesse of succour and reliefe A notable victory this was and of great consequence to the Rebels who furnished themselves hereby with armour and victuals and now the Earle renowned all Ireland over and magnified in every place as the founder of their freedome above all measure swelled with haughty arrogancy and sent into Mounster Ouny-Mac-Rory-Og-O-More and Tirell who although by his first originall he were of English blood yet none so maliciously bent against the English name as hee with 4000. preying rogues against whom Sir Thomas Norris President of that Province advanced forward with a strong power as far as to Kilmalock but before hee saw the enemy he dispersed his forces and retired backe to Corcke Which when the Rebels understood having a great rabble of most lewd rascals flocking from all parts unto them they fell to waste the country to drive booties before them to ransack and burne where ever they went the castles houses and farme places of the English and most cruelly in all places to kill them Iames Fitz-Thomas one of the family of the Earles of Desmond they set up as Earle of Desmond yet so as he should hold as tenant in fee of the O-Neal or Earle of Tir-Oen And thus after a month when they had kindled this
the Kingdome that had dealt before time so craftily and deceitfully with him And as for the Cessation would he never so faine he could not revoke it because he had already entred another course and appointed O-Donel to goe into Conaught and other of his confederates into other parts In this meane space there ran among the Rebells rumours very rife and the Earle of Tir-Oen questionlesse was the authour that there should be within a while the greatest and strangest alteration that ever was in England and lewd persons began daily to encrease both in number and in courage For they that were of the Irishry aspired now to their ancient freedome and Nobility contrariwise good and honest men of the English blood were much dejected and discouraged seeing so great expences of the Prince came to nothing who also complained one unto another that they had been of late excluded as meere strangers from bearing offices in the common-Weale But the Earle all in a glorious jollity giveth it out every where and that with open mouth That he would recover the liberty both of Religion and of his Country he receiveth in every place busie and tumultuous persons into his protection he sends them succour and aide strengthneth and comforteth the distrustfull stoutly streineth and setteth-to his helping hand to subvert the English government in Ireland being drawne on and fed with hope which the King of Spaine by sending now and then munition and some money made shew of and the Pope by promises and indulgences maintained as having sent unto him before the plume of a Phoenix haply because Pope Urban the third had sent in times past a little Coronet platted with peacocks feathers unto Iohn King Henries the second his sonne when he was invested Lord of Ireland And now triumphantly glorying of his victories to the end that he might make a goodly shew of his greatnesse in every place and by his personall presence set that fire to burne out light which in his absence hee had kindled in Mounster under a faire and religious pretence of visiting a little peece of wood of Christs Crosse which is thought to be kept in the Monastery of the Holy Crosse in Tipperary in mid-winter thither hee goes on Pilgrimage and sent out into the grounds of true and faithfull subjects a number of preying robbers under the conduct of Mac-Guir he by chance hapned upon Sir Warrham Saint Leger who runne him through with his lance and was withall at the same instant himselfe runne through by him Whose funeralls when the Earle had performed he hasteneth home sooner than all men looked for as having heard that the Earle of Ormond appointed Generall of the Army was raising of a power from all parts and that Sir Charles Blunt Baron Monâ—joy appointed the Lord Deputy was comming unto whom the Queene before time had purposed in her minde this government but Robert Earle of Essex who for to pleasure military men and to deserve the better of them into whose love he studiously insinuated himselfe sought though covertly to compasse the same himselfe wholly opposed against him as if he the said Lord Montjoy had seene no service nor beene experienced in the warres more than in the Netherlands had no followers and dependants nor much aforehand with the world and overmuch bookish He arriveth in Ireland in the moneth of February without any great noise and stirre accompanied with a small traine and so entred upon the Government Now hee found the state of Ireland very distressed or rather desperately sick and past all hope of recovery yea at the point as it were to give up the ghost for every good and honest meaning minde was dismaied to see such a confluence of calamities without all hope of remedy or any allevation at all but the worst sort seeing all to goe well on their side and prosper still to their desire rejoiced and applauded one the other and the Earle himselfe without any resistance had passed through the whole length of the Iland in triumphant manner even from the utmost part of Ulster into Mounster The Rebells moreover to terrifie the Deputy now at his first comming strucke up an Al'arme in the very suburbs of Dublin But he full of good courage desired nothing more than to set upon the Earle himselfe who as hee had intelligence given him was to returne out of Mounster Mustering up therefore in all haste such a power as hee could for the companies of choice souldiers were in Mounster already with the Earle of Ormond he hastened to stop the Earles passage in Fereal and there to give him battell But the Earle by celerity and quicke speed prevented him being privily enformed of the Deputies designes for certaine there were even of the Queenes Councell there who alwaies highly favoured and tendered his proceedings The Deputy being returned to Dublin was wholly busied in mustering of the old souldiers that should be sent by shipping to Logh-Foile and Bala-shanon neere unto the mouth of Logh-Earn that by placing garrisons there they might make sallies upon the Earle both on backe and sides as also about sending aide unto the garrison souldiers in Lease and Ophaly a matter by reason of so many enemies round about of great danger and difficulty In the beginning of May the Deputy put himselfe on his march toward Ulster with this purpose to divert the Earle another way whiles Sir Henry Docwra at Logh-foile and Sir Matthew Morgan at Bala-shanon planted the garrisons which they with small adoe effected for Sir Henry Docwra tooke Logh-foile and Sir Iohn Bâ—lle who accompanied him tooke Don-a-long and Lhiffer castles suppressing the rebells with divers overthrowes Whiles the Earle was every day kept occupied by the Deputy with light skirmishes wherein he evermore had so bad successe that hee perceived now the fortune of warre was turned and himselfe driven back into his owne corners The Lord Deputy being returned in Mid-June when as the garrisons aforesaid were placed accordingly required out of England certaine companies of souldiers and victuals for to bestow and plant a garrison also in these parts at Armagh thereby to bring the Rebels within a straighter compasse Meane while hee tooke a journey into Lease which was the place of refuge and receipt of all the Rebels in Leinster where he slew Ony-Mac-Rory-Og the chiefe of the O-Mores family a bloody bold and most desperate young man who of late had made so soule a stirre in Mounster him I say he slew with other most wicked and mischievous Rebells and after he had layed their fields waste hee chased them into woods and forrests so as that in those parts they were scarcely ever after seene When as now new succours were come out of England although he wanted both come and money the Equinoxe was past and winter weather began already in that climate yet marched hee forward to the very entrance of Moyery three miles beyond Dondalk This passage is naturally the most combersome of all others
seas into England out of Ireland the Earle of Ulster Roger Mortimer and Sir Iohn Fitz-Thomas Item Sir Theohald Verdon died MCCCX. King Edward and Sir Piers Gaveston tooke their journey toward Scotland to fight against Robert Bruâ— Item in the said yeere great dearth there was of corn in Ireland an eranc of wheat was sold for 20. shillings and above Also the Bakers of Dublin for their false waight of bread suffered a new kinde of torment which was never seen there before for that on S. Sampson the Bishops day they were drawne upon hurdles through the streets of the Citie at horse-tailes More in the Abbey of S. Thomas Martyr at Dublin died Sir Neile Bruin Knight Escheator to the Lord the King in Ireland whose bodie was committed to the earth at the Friers minors with so great a pompe of tapers and waxe lights as the like was never seene before in Ireland The same yeere a Parliament was holden at Kildare where Sir Arnold Pover was acquit for the death of the Lord Bonevile because he had done this deed in his owne defence Likewise on S. Patricks day by assent of the Chapter M. Alexander Bickenore was elected Archbishop of Dublin Item the Lord Roger Mortimer returned into Ireland within the Octaves of the Nativitie of the blessed Virgin Marie Also the same yeere the Lord Henrie Lacie Earle of Lincolne died MCCCXI In Thomond at Bonnorathie there was a wonderfull and miraculous discomfiture given by the Lord Richard Clare unto the side of the Earle of Ulster Which Lord Richard aforesaid tooke prisoner in the field the Lord William Burke and John the sonne of the Lord Walter Lacie and many others In which battaile verily there were slaine a great number as well of the English as the Irish the 13. day before the Galends of June Item Taslagard and Rathcante were invaded by the robbers to wit the O-Brines and O-Tothiles the morrow after the Nativitie of S. John Baptist. Whereupon soon after in Autumne there was a great armie assembled in Leinster to make head and fight against the said robbers lurking in Glindelory and in other places full of woods Also a Parliament was holden at London in August betweene the King and the Barons to treat about the State of the kingdome and of the Kings houshold according to the ordinance of sixe Bishops sixe Earles and sixe Barons as they might best provide for the good of the Realme Item on the second day before the Ides of November the Lord Richard Clare slew sixe hundred of Galegalaghes More on All-Saints day next going before Piers Gaveston was banished the Realme of England by the Earles and Barons and many good Statutes necessarie for the commonwealth were by the same Lords made Which Piers abjured the Realme of England about the Feast of All-Saints and entred into Flanders foure moneths after the said Piers returned presently upon the Epiphanie and by stealth entred into England keeping close unto the Kings side so that the Barons could not easily come neere unto him And hee went with the King to Yorke making his abode there in the Lent whereupon the Bishops Earles and Barons of England came to London for to treat about the State of the kingdome for feare lest by occasion of Piers his returne the Common wealth should bee troubled with commotions Item Sir John Cogan Sir Walter Faunt and Sir John Fitz-Rerie Knights died and were buried in the Church of the Friers Preachers at Dublin Item John Mac-Goghedan is slaine by O-molmoy Item William Roch died at Dublin with the shot of an arrow by an Irish mountainer Item Sir Eustace Power Knight died Item in the Vigill of Saint Peters Chaire began a riot in Urgaly by Robert Verdon Item Donat O-Brene is traiterously slaine by his owne men in Tothomon MCCCXII Sir Peter or Piers Gaveston entred the castle of Scardeburgh resisting the Barons But soone after the Calends of June hee yeelded himselfe unto Sir Aumare Valence who had besieged him yet upon certaine conditions named before hand who brought him toward London But by the way he was taken prisoner at Dedington by the Earle of Warwicke and brought to Warwicke whereupon after counsell taken by the Earles and Barons he lost his head the thirteenth day before the Calends of July whose bodie lieth buried in the coventuall Church of the Friers Preachers at Langley Item John Wogan Lord Justice of Ireland led forth an armie to bridle the malice of Robert Verdon and his abettors which was miserably defeated the sixth day before the Ides of July in which fight were slain Nicolas Avenel Patrick Roch and many others For this fact the said Robert Verdon and many of his complices yeelded themselves unto the Kings prison at Dublin in expectance of favour and pardon Also on Thursday the morrow after Saint Lucie Virgin in the sixth yeere of King Edward the Moone was wonderfully seene of divers colours on which day determined it was that the order of Templars should be abolished for ever More in Ireland Lord Edmund Botiller was made the Lievtenant of Lord John Wogan Justice of Ireland which Edmund in the Lent following besieged the O-Brynnes in Glindelorie and compelled them to yeeld yea and brought them almost to confusion unlesse they had returned the sooner unto the peace of the Lord the King Item the same yeere on the morrow after Saint Dominickes day Lord Maurice Fitz-Thomas espoused Katherin daughter of the Earle of Ulster at Green-castle And Thomas Fitz-Iohn espoused another daughter of the same Earle the morrow after the Assumption in the same place Also the Sunday after the feast of the exaltation of the holy Crosse the daughter of the Earle of Glocester wife to the Lord Iohn Burke was delivered of a sonne MCCCXIII Frier Roland Joce Primate of Ardmach arrived at the Iland of Houth the morrow after the annuntiation of the blessed Virgin Marie and rising in the night by stealth tooke up his Crosier and advanced it as farre as to the Priorie of Grace Dieu whom there encountred certaine of the Archbishop of Dublins servants debasing and putting downe that Crosier and the Primate himselfe of Ardmagh they chaced with disgrace and confusion out of Leinster Item a Parliament was holden at London wherein little or nothing was done as touching Peace from which Parliament the King departed and tooke his journey into France at the mandate of the King of France and the King of England with many of his Nobles tooke the badge of the Crosse. Also the Lord John Fitz-Thomas knighted Nicolas Fitz-Maurice and Robert Clonhull at Adare in Mounster More on the last day of May Robert Brus sent certaine Gallies to the parts of Ulster with his rovers to make spoile whom the men of Ulster resisted and manfully chased away It is said that the same Robert arrived with the licence of the Earle to take truce Item in the same summer Master John Decer a Citizen of Dublin caused a necessarie bridge to
Constables a great family ibid. High Constables of England 621. c Constantius Chlorus riddeth Britaine of Usurpers 73. elected Emperor 74. espoused Helena mother of Constantine the great 74. putteth her away ibid. weddeth Theodora ib. a godly Emperour ibid. died at Yorke ibid. buried there 703 Constantine the Great Emperor 74. his warlike exploits 75. advanceth Christian religion 75 proclaimed Emperor in Yorke 703. e. f. his renowned titles 76. first entituled Dominus Noster 76. taxed for subverting the Roman Empire ibid. altereth the state of the government ibid. Constantine the younger ruleth Britaine 77. slaine by his brother Constans ibid. Constans an Emperiall Monke 264. c. 85. is killed ibid. Constans Emperour in Britaine 77. holdeth a councell at Sardica ibid killed by Magnentius ibid. Constantius the yonger Emperor ibid. favoureth Arianus 78. holdeth a councell at Ariminum 79 Constantine created Emperor in Britaine for the name sake 270. d. 85. his exploits ibid. his gourmandise ibid. Constantine a tyrant among the Danmoniâ— in Britaine 113 Constitutions of Clarinton 251 Conwey a river 667. b. 669. d Conwaie a towne 669 â— Convocation 181 Converts their house 428. b Sir Th. Cooke a rich Maior of London 441. f Counts Palatine See Earles Th. Cooper Bishop of Lincolne 540. c Copes a family 376. e Copper or Brasse mynes 767. a Coper as made 217. â— Copland or Coupland 765. d Iohn Copland or Coupland a brave warrior 775. e. made Baneret 171 Coquet the river 812. e Copthall 439. â— Corbets a great family 592 e 594 e Corbet a forename ibid. Sir Wil. Cordall Knight 462. e Corinaea and Corinaeus 184 Corinaeus and Gogmagog 200 c Coritani 504 Cornden hill 662 b Cornelius Nepos for Ioseph of Excestre 32 Cornavii 614 560 Cornovaille in little Britaine 184 Cornage 787 a Cornwalleies a family 467 f Cornwailes of Burford highly descended 590 f Cornwall a dukedome 198 c why so called 184 Cornwallians soone subjected to the Saxons 114 Corpus Christi Colledge in Oxford 383 a Court Barons 168 Cornishmens manners 186 Cornish Chough 188 Corham in Coverdale 729 Corbridge 808 b Corby Castle 777 f Corstopitum ibid. Corve a river 590 c Corvesdale ibid. Coway stakes 296 a Cowling Castle 329 d Cosham 243 c Coughton 565 â— Covinus 18 Costrells See Esquires Coy-fi a convert Bishop of the heathen 711 c Coteswold why so called 364 c Henry Courtney Marquesse of Excester 206 a Courtneyes knights 206 b. Earls of Denshire 207 208. Courtneyes 190 f Cottons knights 313 â— Coverts knights ibid. Cottons of Cambridge-shire knights 491 a Cottons of Cunnington 526 c Sir Robert Cotton of Cunnington a learned knight highly descended 500 d Covetousnesse complained of 562 â— Coventry 567 c Coventry Lords 568 a Councell of the Marches 590 e Cow a Towne West and East 274 c Cowbridge 643 c Cradiden 493 a Cranburn 217 b Crecan or Crey a river 328 f Creeke Lade 241 e Credendon or Credon 396 Creplegate in London 413 d Cressy a family 550 â— Crevequeurs 331 c Crawdundale 761 f Crew a place and notable family 608 c Creden a river 203 d Crediantun or kirton ibid. Craven 694 b Creake in Cliveland 723 e Le Craux 21 Croco or Croke a river 609 b De Croeun or de Credonio a Barony 532 f Crococalana 537 b Croidon 302 b Cromwells knights 497 d Sir Th. Cromwell 526 b. Earle of Essex 454 e Cromer 479 a Croft Castle 619 Crofts knights an ancient family 619 f Crophuls a family 620 c Crouch a creekâ— 443 b Crowland 530 b Crowland Abbey 530. the foundation and building of it 531 c. d. e Cruc Maur 537 c Cruc Occhidient ibid. Cuckmere 315 d Cucul 19 Saint Cudman 313 c Cuentford a brâ—oke in Coventry 567 d Culchil 747 c Culfurth 461 â— Cumberland 765 Kings and Earls of Cumberland 788 a Cumbermer Abbey 607 e. 799 Cumero 21 Cuneglasus a Tyrant in Britain 113 Cuno what it signifieth 98 Cunobelinus 418 a Cunobelin 447 b Curia Ottadinorum 818 b Curiales what they were 771 a Cursons a family 553 c Sir Rob. Curson Baron Imperiall ibid. Robert Curthose an unfortunate Prince 361 d Curcies 221 a Iohn Curcie his vertues ibid. Curtius Montanus a dainty teothed glutton 342 e Saint Cuthberts parcimony 735 Saint Cuthbert Bishop of Lindefarn ibid. Cworwf 20 Curwens knights 769 a Custodes or captaines in every shire 159 Cuthred King of the West Saxons 373 f Cyprus called Keraftis 184 Cyrch 18 Cythariftes 21 D DAbernoun 297 b D'acre Barons of Gillesland 594 c Dacre castle 776 c D'acre Baron ibid. Leonard D'acre a Traitour and Rebel 784 f Dacor a river 776 c D'airells or D' Hairells 369 e Dalaley castle 593 Dalison or D'alanson a family 544 c Dalrendini 126 Dan or Daven a river 608 d Danby 721 f Danbury 446 b Dancastre 690 b Danewort See Walwort Danes infest the coasts of England 139. why so called 141 they land in England c. 142 Danes massacred by the English 143 Their detestable sacrifice 142 Danegelt atribute ibid. Danmonii 183. whence their name commeth ibid. Daning-schow a riveret 608 e Dantesey a town 243 c Danteseys knights ibid. Dantrey towne 508 a. the fort there ibid. Henry Baron Danvers of Dantesey 243 c Darby shire 553 Darby towne 554 c Darby Lords and Earles 558 d Darcies de Nocton c. 543 c Darcies Barons de Chich 451 c Darent river 328 d Darenford or Dartford 328 â— Darwent a river and city 709 Davenport or Damport a place and notable family 609 a Saint Davids land 653 c Saint Davids an Archbishops See 653 d David bishop refuteth the Pelagians 657 b Davery or de alta rupe 312 b Dawnes of Utkinton foresters of Delamere 607 a Deben a river 465 b Depenham or Dapenham ibid. d ee a river 594 c. whence so called 602 c. Dee-mouth 604 b Dee head 666 b Devonshire or Denshire 199 a Walter and Robert Devreux Earles of Essex 455 a Iohn Dee a famous Mathematician 746 c Decimes See Tithings Decuman a Saint 220 e. murdered ibid. Decuriones what they were 771 Saint Decombs 220 e Deale or Dole 343 a Deanries how many in England 161 Deanforest 358 b Deane a place 514 a Deanes a family ibid. Deifying of Roman Emperours 70 Deiri that is Hol-der-Nesse 136 De la-mares 233 a De la mere forest 607 a De-la-pree a Nunnery 509 b D' eincourts Barons of Blankenay 535 f Edmund Baron D'eincourt desirous to perpetuate his name 536 a De la cres Abbay 787 c Iohn De la Pole Earle of Lincolne slaine 549 a. 388 f De la bere an ancient family 620 c D'elveseyes a family 607 e Delgovitia 711 b Delgwe what it signifieth 711 b De la val Baronie 811 f De la ware 364 c Dench-worth townes 281 a Denelage 153.159 Dengy or Dauncing hundred 443 c Dengy towne ibid. Dengy Nesse 352 a Dennington castle 284 a Edward Deny Baron of Waltham 439 b Denisses 206 c Denbigh-shire 675 Denbigh towne 675 d Denbigh Baron
which were either doubtfull or knowne adversaries were wasted with fire and sword But nothing distressed them so much as famine being negligent in sowing of corne by reason that of all ages they were given to warre for that also they made full account to live of our provision and as all other fierce and stout nations slowly give eare to peace because Iulius Cliassicianus being sent to succeed Catus and at variance with Suetonius hindred the common good with private grudges and had given it out abroad that they were to expect and tarrie for a new Lieutenant who without any hostile rancour and pride of a Conqueror would gently entreat and use with all clemencie such as yielded unto him Withall he sent word to Rome that they should looke for no end of warre unlesse some one or other succeeded Suetonius upon whose overthwartnesse he laid all his ill proceedings and attributed all fortunate successe to the happy fortune of the common weale To see therefore in what state Britaine stood Polycletus one of Neroes freed men was sent for good hope he had that by his authoritie there should not onely be wrought a perfect agreement betweene the Lieutenant and the Procurator but also that the rebellious minds of the Barbarians would be won to peace Neither failed Polycletus being with his mightie hoast burdensome to Italie and Gaul after he had passed the Ocean sea to shew himselfe terrible even to our souldiers also But to the enemies he was but a laughing stocke who whiles libertie was still fresh on foot among them knew not what the power of these freed men was and they made a marvell of it that a Captaine and an armie which had atchieved so great a war should yield to obey slaves But of all these things the best was made to the Emperor And Suetonius being busied still in these affaires for that he had lost afterwards some few Gallies upon the shore and the gallie slaves in them as if the warre continued still was commanded to deliver up the armie to Petronius Turpilianus who now was newly out of his Consulship as unto a man more exorable-unacquainted with the delinquencies of the enemies and therefore more ready to accept of their repentance who neither incensing the enemie nor provoked by him colouring a lazie and idle life with the honest name of peace after hee had dared and done no more but composed former troubles and debates delivered the charge of the province unto Trebellius Maximus But he a man unfit for action and altogether unexpert in war-service by a kind of courteous and mild regiment entertained the country in quiet For now the Britaines also had learned the good manners not rudely to repulse the sugred assaults of flattering vices and the disturbance of civill dissentions comming between ministred a lawfull excuse for his doing nothing But much discord arose among them whiles the souldier accustomed to warfare waxt wanton with ease and grew to be mutinous and he for his niggardly sparing and base taking of bribes was both despised and hated of the armie This hatred of theirs against him was enflamed by Roscius Caelius Lieutenant of the twentieth Legion an ancient enemie of his but now by occasion of civill dissentions they were fallen out farther and brake into more heinous tearmes Trebellius objected ever and anon to Caelius and charged him with factious behaviour and confounding the order of discipline Caelius againe that Trebellius had spoiled and beggered the Legions But in the meane time whiles the Lieutenants thus jarred the modest cariage of the armie was marred and the discord at length grew so great that Trebellius was driven away with the railing of the Auxiliaries also in cohorts and wings sorting themselves to Caelius side was glad as a man forsaken to give place and flie to Vitellius The Province although the Consular Lieutenant Generall was absent remained in quiet whiles the Lieutenants of the Legions supplied the charge in right of equall authoritie But Caelius indeed bare the greater stroke because he was of more boldnesse Whiles the Civill war betweene Galba Otho and Vitellius grew hot Vectius Bolanus was by Vitellius sent to succeed him Neither troubled he Britanny with any discipline The same default continued still against the enimies and the like licentiousnesse in the campe saving onely that Bolanus a good honest harmelesse man and not odious for committing any crime had wonne himselfe love and good will in lieu of obedience and albeit Vitellius sent for aids out of Britanny yet Bolanus made no hast for that Britain was never quiet enough As for the Island that great favour and reputation in warlike affaires which Vespasian had gotten being Lieutenant there of the second Legion under Claudius did easily win it unto him yet not without some stir of the other Legions wherein many centurions and souldiers who had bin advanced by Vitellius were loth to change that Prince whom they had proved already And besides the souldiers of the fourteenth Legion called the subduers of Britain removed from thence by Nero to the Caspian wars and in the quarrell of Otho vanquished were by Vitellius sent backe into Britanny and called away againe by Mutianus letters For all this civill warre no quarrell nor mutinies there were in the Britaine armie And to say a truth during all the troubles of civill warres no Legions behaved themselves more harmelesse either because they were farre off and severed by the Ocean or for that they were taught by continuall service and soulderie to hate the rather all hostility and dealing with enemies Howbeit by meanes of these dissentions and rumours still of civill war the Britaines tooke heart and rebelled through the procurement of Venusius who besides a naturall fiercenesse of courage and hatred of the Roman name was incensed particularly by private unkindnesses between him and his wife Queene Carthismandua This Carthismandua was Queene of the Brigantes of high and noble linag who upon the delivery of King Caractacus whom shee tooke by fraud and sent to furnish and set out the triumph of Claudius that glorious spectacle I meane in manner of a triumph wherein Caractacus was shewed had woon favour with the Romans and greatly increased her strength Whereupon ensued wealth of wealth and prosperitie riotous and incontinent life in so much that casting off Venusius her husband and intercepting his kinsfolke shee joyned her selfe in marriage with Vellocatus his harnesse-bearer and crowned him King which foule fact was the overthrow immediately of her house The good will of the country went generally with the lawfull husband but the Queenes intemperate affections were peremptory and violent in maintaining her minion the adulterer Whereupon Venutius by the helpe of friends which he procured and the revolt of the Brigantes themselves made warre upon Carthismandua and brought her into great extremities Then upon her instant praier unto the Romans for aid our garrisons cohorts and wings were sent to defend her