to haue the precedence but vpon most secure cautions The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Legate vndertooke to yeeld themselues prisoners for him if the King released him not according to his promise But that would not serue the turne till they both had written their Briefes to the Pope to intimate the course that was taken herein and deliuered the same vnto him vnder their hands and seales So that if the King should as he might not care to hold the Bishops in prison yet the Pope if hard measure were offred might relieue him Which shewes the aduantage of credit in the businesse lay on this side and the king was to haue his fetters though at liberty The Queene and Eustace her sonne the Prince vpon the inlargement of Stephan remaine pledges in the Castle of Bristow till the Earle were released which was done vpon the kings comming to Winchester Where the Earle in familiar conference was by all are possible solicited to forsake the partie of Maude with promise of all preferments of honour and estate but nothing could moue him being fixt to his courses rather would he haue beene content to remaine a perpetuall prisoner then that Stephan should haue bene released had not his sister wrought him to this conclusion The Legat after this calls a Councell at London where the Popes letters written vnto him are openly read which argue him but mildly of some neglect of his brothers releasing and exhort him to vse all meanes Ecclesiasticall and Secular to set him at libertie The King himselfe came into the Councell complaines how his subiects to whom hee had neuer denied Iustice had taken him and reproachfully afflicted him euen to death The Legate with great cloquence labours to excuse his owne courses alledging How he receiued not the Empresse by his will but necessitie that presently vpon the kings ouerthrowe whilest the Lords were either fled or stood in suspence attending the euent she and her people came thundring to the walles of Winchester and that what pact soeuer he had made with her for the right of the Church she obstinately brake all besides he was certainely informed that she and hers had plotted both against his dignitie and life But God in his mercy contrary to her desire had turnd the businesse so as he escaped the danger and his brother was deliuered out of bands And therefore he from the part of God and the Pope willed them with all their vtmost power to aide the King annointed by the consent of the People and the Sea Apostolique and to Excommunicate all the disturbers of the peace that fauoured the Countesse of Aniou There was in the Councell a Lay Agent for the Empresse who openly charged the Legat That in respect of the faith he had giuen the Empresse to passe no act there preiudiciall to her Honour hauing sworne vnto her neuer to aide his brother with aboue twentie Souldiers that her comming into England was upon his often Letters unto her and his cause it was that the King was taken and held prisoner This and much more sayd the Agent with great austerity of words wherewith the Legat seemed not to be moued at all nor would stoope to reply Both parts thus set at libertie were left to worke for themselues holding the State broken betweene them and no meanes made to interpose any barre to keepe them asunder Their borders lay euery where and then the ingagements of their Partakers who looke all to be sauers or to recouer their stakes when they were lost which makes them neuer giue ouer entertaine the contention But the best was they were rather troubles then warres and cost more labour then bloud Euery one fought with Bucklers and seldome came to the sharpe in the field which would soone haue ended the businesse Some few moneths after these inlargements stood both sides at some rest but not idle casting how to compasse their ends The Empresse at the Vies with her Councell resolues to send ouer her brother into Normandy to solicit her husband the Earle of Aniou to come to aide her with forces from thence Her brother the better to secure her in his absence setles her in the Castle of Oxford well furnished for all assaults and takes with him the sonnes of the especiall men about her as pledges to hold them to their fidelity Stephan seekes to stop the Earles passage but could not and then layes siege to the Castle of Oxford which held him all the time the Earle was abroad Geffrey Earle of Aniou desirous rather to haue Normandie where of in this meane time he had attained the most part and in possibility of the rest then to aduenture for England which lay in danger refused to come in person but sends some small aide and his eldest sonne Henry being then but eleuen yeares of age that he might looke vpon England and be shewed to the people to try if that would moue them to a consideration of his right which proued of more effect then an Army The Earle of Glocester safely returning makes towards Oxford to releiue the Empresse who had secretly conueyed her selfe disguised out at a posterne gate onely with foure persons got ouer the Thames passed a foot to Abington and from thence conuayd to Wallingford where her brother and sonne met her to her more comfort after hard distresses Stephan seeing his enemy thus supplied and like to grow labors to winne frendes but mony fayles which made diuers of his Lords and especially his mercinaries whereof he had many out of Flanders to fall to the rifling of Abbayes which was of dangerous consequence And for Armies there was no meanes onely about Castles with small powers lay all the businesse of these times and they being so many were to small effect but onely to hold them doing which was for many yeares The Earle of Glocester the chiefe pillar of the Empresse within 2. yeares after his last comming out of Normandie dyed and shortly after Miles Earle of Hereford an especiall man of hers which had vtterly quasht her but that in stead of a brother she had a sonne grew vp to be of more estimatiō with the Nobilitie and shortly after of ablenes to vndergo the trauailes of warre His first expedition at 16. yeares of age was Northward to combine him with Dauid King of Scots his great vnkle to whom his mother had giuen the Country of Northumberland After him followes Stephan with an Army to Yorke least he should surprize that Cittie and to intercept him in his returne but according to his vsuall manner and French-like after the first heat of his vndertakings which were quicke and braue he quayles nothing was effected and both returne without incountring Now to aduance the State and meanes of Henry fortune as if in loue with young Princes presents this occasion Louys 7. King of France going in person to the holy warres and taking with him his wife Elenor the onely daughter and heire of William Duke of
surnamed Atheling to say the noble Edgar either by reason of his youth which yet was no barre to his right or being borne and bred a stranger little knowing or knowne to the kingdome had his claime neglected vpon the death of this pious king ANd Harald sonne to the Earle Godwin the next day after was preferredto the Crowne whether by any title he might pretend from the Danicque kings as discended from that nation and as some report sonne to Githa sister to Swayne or by meere election of the greater part of the Nobilitie we cannot say but it seemes the pressing necessitie of the time that required a more man to vndergo the burthen of warre and that trouble the world was like to fall into by reason of the claimes now made both by the Dane and Norman cast it suddenly vpon him as the most eminent man of the kingdome both by the experience of his owne deseruings and the strength of his alliance Neither did he faile but in fortune to make good this election taking all the best courses both for the well-ordering of the State and all prouisions for defence that a politicke and actiue Prince could do But being to deale in a broken world where the affections of men were all disioynted or dasht with the terror of an approching mischiefe failing as vsually is seene in these publicke feares both in their diligence and courage to withstand it soonefound more then enough to do And the first man which began to disturbe his new gouernment was his owne yonger brother Toustayne who in the time of the late king Edward hauing the gouernment of Northumberland was for his pride and immanities shewed in those parts banished the kingdome and now by reason of his former conceiued hatred against his brother easily set on by the Duke of Normandie and Baldouin Earle of Flanders whose two daughters the Duke and he had maried assailes first the Isle of Wight and after sets vpon the coast of Kent whence he was chased by the power of Harald and forced to withdraw into the North parts and there seeking to land was likewise repulsed by the Earles Morchar and Edwyn whose sister Harald had maried Then craues he aide of the Scots and after of Harald surnamed Harfager king of Norwey being then taking in the Orchades and exercising piracie in those parts whom he induced with all his forces to inuade England And landing at Tinmouth discomfeiting their first incounters they marched into the heart of the kingdome without resistance Neere Stamford king Harald of England met them with a puissant armie and after long and eager fight ended the day with victory and the death of his brother Toustayne and the king of Norwey But from hence was he called with his wearied and broken forces to a more fatall businesse in the South For now William Duke of Normandie pretending a right to the Crowne of England by the testament of the late king Edward his kinsman vpon the aduantage of a busie time and the disfurnishment of those parts landed at Pemsey not farre from Hastings in Sussex neere to which place was tried by the great Assize of Gods iudgement in battell the right of power betweene the English and Norman Nation A battaile the most memorable of all other and howsoeuer miserably lost yet most nobly fought on the part of England and the many wounds of Harald there slaine with the heapes of thousands of the English shew how much was wrought to haue sau'd their country from the calamitie of forraine seruitude And yet how so great a kingdome as England then was could with one blow be subdued by so small a prouince as Normandy in such sort as it could neuer after come to make any generall head against the Conquerour might seeme strange did not the circumstances fore-noted and other concurrent causes in the next booke to be declared giue vs faire and probable reason thereof Besides the indisposition of a diseased time as it is described by such as liued neerest it may giue vs great euidence in this examination For they say the people of this kingdome were by their being secure from their former enemy the Dane and their long peace which had held in a manner from the death of king Edmond Ironside almost 50 yeares growne neglectiue of armes and generally debaushed with luxurie and idlenesse the Cleargie licentious and onely content with a tumultuary learning The Nobility giuen to gluttony venery and oppression the common sort to drunkennesse and all disorder And they say that in the last action of Harald at Stamford the brauest men perished and himselfe growing insolent vpon the victorie retaining the spoyles without distribution to his souldiers not inured to be commanded by martiall discipline made them discontent and vnruly and comming to this battell with many mercinary men and a discontented Army gaue great occasion to the lamentable losse thereof Besides the Normans had a peculiar fight with long bowes wherewith the English then altogether vnacquainted were especially ouerthrowne And yet their owne Writers report how the maine battallion of the English consisting of Bils their chiefe and antient weapon held in a body so close lockt together as no force could dissolue them till the Normans faining to fly drew them to a disordered pursuite And so they excuse the fortune of the day And thus my noble Lord haue I in the streightest course the vneuen compasse of Antiquitie could direct me got ouer the wide and intricate passage of those times that lay beyond the worke I purpose more particularly to deliuer The end of the first Booke THE SECOND BOOKE of the Historie of England The life of William 1. I Come now my noble Lord of Rochester to write of a time wherin the State of England receiued an alteration of lawes customes fashion manner of liuing language writing with new formes of fights fortifications buildings and generally an innouation in most thinges but Religion So that from this mutation which was the greatest it euer had wee are to beginne with a new accompt of an England more in dominion abroade more in State and ability at home and of more honour and name in the world then heretofore which by being thus vndone was made as if it were in her fate to get more by her losses then her better fortunes For as first the conquest of the Danes brought her to the intyrest Gouernment shee euer possest at home and made her most redoubted of all the kingdomes of the North so did this of the Norman by comming in vpon her make a way to let her out and stretch her mightie armes ouer the Seas into the goodly Prouinces of the South For before these times the English nation from their first establishment in this Land about the space of 500 yeares neuer made any sally out of the Isle vpon any other part of the world but busied at home in a deuided State held a broken gouernment with the Danes
and where his competitor Edgar liued to beget and nurse perpetuall matter for their hopes and at hand for all aduantages he enters that kingdome with a puissant Army which incountring with more necessities then forces soone grew tired and both Kings considering of what difficulties the victorie would consist were willing to take the safest way to there endes and vpon faire ouertures to conclude a peace Articling for the boundes of each kingdome with the same title of dominion as in former times All delinquents and their partakers generally pardoned Heere with the vniuersall turne of alteration thus wrought in England Scotland being a part of the bodie of this Isle is noted to haue likewise had a share and as in the Court of England the French tongue became generally spoken so in that of Scotland did the English by reason of the multitude of this Nation attending both the Queene and her brother Edgar and daily repairing thither for their safetie and combination against the common enemie of whom diuerse abandoning their natiue distressed Country were by the bountie of that King preferred and there planted spread their off-spring into many noble families remaining to this day The titles for distinguishing degrees of honour as of Duke Marquesse Earle Baron Rider or Knight were then as is thought first introduced and the nobler sort began to be called by the title of their Signories according to the French manner which before bare the name of their Father with the addition of Mac after the fashion of Ireland Other innouations no doubt entred there likewise at the opening of this wide mutation of ours fashion and imitation like weedes easily growing in euery soile Shortly after this late made peace Edgar Etheling voluntarily came in and submitted himselfe to the King being then in Normandy and was restored to grace and a faire maintenance which held him euer after quiet And it made well at that time for the fortune of the King howsoeuer for his owne being thought to haue ill-timed his affaires either through want of seasonable intelligence or dispaire of successe in making too soone that submission which was latter or neuer to haue bene done For in this absence of the King Roger fits Auber the yong Earle of Hereford contrary to his expresse commaundement gaue his sister in marriage to Ralph Waher Earle of Northfolke and Suffolke and at the great solemnization thereof the two Earles conspired with Eustace Earle of Boloigne who secretly came ouer to this festiuall and with the Earle Waltheof and other English Lords to call in the Danes and by maine power to keepe out and dispossesse the King Who hauing thus passed ouer so many gulfes of forraine dangers might little imagine of any wracke so neere home and that those whom he had most aduanced should haue the especiall hand in his destruction But no rewards are benefits that are not held so nor can euer cleere the accounts with them that ouer-value their merits And had not this conspiracie bene opportunely discouered which some say was by the Earle Waltheof moued with the vglinesse of so foule an ingratitude they had put him againe to the winning of England But now the fire bewrayed before it flamed was soone quenched by the diligence of Odon the Kings Vice-gerent the Bishop of Worcester and others who kept the conspirators from ioyning their forces So that they neuer came to make any head but were either surprized or forced to flie The Earle Roger fitz Auber was taken and some say executed and so was shortly after the Earle Waltheof whose dissent from the act could not get him pardon for his former consent though much compassion in respect of his great worthinesse But the wide distent of these tumors fed from many secret veines seemed to be of that danger as required this extremity of cure especially in a part so apt for infection vpon any the like humors For this conspiracie seemes to take motion from a generall league of all the neighbour Princes here about as may well be gathered by their seuerall actions First in the King of France by defending Dole in Britaigne a Castle of Raph de Waher against the King of England and in likelihood imploying the Earle of Boloigne towards the conspirators In Swayne King of Denmarke by sending a Nauy of two hundreth saile vnder the conduct of his sonne Knut and others In Drone King of Ireland by furnishing the sonnes of Harald with 65 ships In Malcoline and the Kings of Wales by their readinesse to assist But the Danes being on the coast and hearing how their confederates had sped with the great preparations the king had made after some pillage taken vpon the shores of England and Flanders returned home and neuer after arriued to disturbe this land Though in Anno Reg. 19. Knute then king of Denmarke after the death of Swaine intending to repaire the dishonour of his two last aduentures past and put for the Crowne of England his predecessors had holden prepared a Nauie of a thousand saile and was aided with sixe hundreth more by Robert le Frison Earle of Flanders whose daughter he had maried But the winds held so contrary for two yeares together as vtterly quasht that enterprize and freed the king and his successors for euer after from future molestation that way But this businesse put the State to an infinit charge the king entertaining all that time besides his Normans Hugh brother to the king of France with many companies of French Finding the English in respect of many great families allied to the Danes to incline rather to that nation then the Norman and had experience of the great and neere intelligence continually passing betweene them And these were all the warres he had within the kingdome sauing in Anno Regni 15. he subdued Wales and brought the kings there to do him homage His warres abroad were all about his dominions in France first raised by his owne sonne Robert left Lieftenant gouernour of the Duchy of Normandy the Countie of Mayne who in his fathers absence tasting the glorie of commaund grew to assume the absolute rule of the Prouince causing the Barons there to doe him homage as Duke not as Lieftenant and leagues him with the King of France who working vpon the easinesse of his youth and ambition was glad to apprehend that occasion to disioynct his estate who was growen too great for him And the profuse largesse and disorderlie expence whereto Robert was addicted is nourished by all wayes possible as the meanes to imbrake him in those difficulties of still getting money that could not but needes yeild continuall occasion to intertayne both his owne discontent and theirs from whom his supplies must be raised And though therby he purchased him the title of Courtois yet he lost the opinion of good gouernment and constrayned the estates of Normandie to complaine to his father of the great concussion and violent exactions he vsed amongst them The King
was vnderset with able ministers for the managing of these great affaires of his though time hath shut vs out from the knowledge of some of them it being in the fortune of kings to haue their ministers like riuers in the Ocean buried in their glory yet no doubt being of a strong constitution of iudgement he could not but be strongly furnished in that kind for weake kings haue weake sides and the most renowned Princes are euer best stored with able ministers The principall of highest imployment were Odon Bishop of Bayeux and Earle of Kent Lanfranke Archbishop of Canterbury and William Fitz Auber Earle of Hereford Odon supplied the place of Viceroy in the kings absence and had the management of the Treasury A man of a wide and agile spirit let out into as spacious a conceit of greatnesse as the heighth of his place could shew him And is rumord by the infinite accumulation of money which his auarice and length of office had made either to buy the Popedome or purchase the people of England vpon the death of the his brother who vnderstanding a purpose he had of going to Rome and seeing a mightie confluence of followers gathering vnto him made a close prison stay his iourney excusing it to the Church that he imprisoned not a Bishop of Bayeux but an Earle of Kent and Officer and accomptant vnto him Yet vpon his death-bed shortly following after many obsecrations that he would in respect of bloud and nature be a kind meane for the future peace of his sonnes he released him But the Bishop failed his request therein and became the onely kindle-fire to set them all into more furious combustion The motiue of his discontent the engine where-withall Ambition euermore turnes about her intentions was the enuy he bare to Lanfranc whose councell in his greatest affaires the king especially vsed and to oppose and ouer-beare him tooke hee all the contrary courses and part with Robert his nephew whom after many fortunes he attended to the holy warre and died in the siege of Antioche Lanfranc was a man of as vniuersall goodnesse as learning borne in Lumbardie and came happely a stranger in these strange time to doe good to England vpon whose obseruance though the King might in regard hee raised him lay some tye yet his affections could not but take part with his piety and place in so much as hee feared not to oppose against Odon the Kings brother seeking to gripe from the State of his Church And in all he could stood so betweene the kingdome and the Kings rigor as stayed many precipitious violencies that he whose power lay as wide as his wil might else haue fallen into For the Conqueror howsoeuer austere to others was to him allwayes milde and yeilding as if subdued with his grauity and vertue He reformed the irregularitie and rudenesse of the Clergie introducing a more Southerne formalitie and respect according to his breeding and the custome of his Country concurring herein likewise to be an actor of alteration though in the best kinde with this change of State And to giue entertaynement todeuotion he did all hee could to furnish his Church with the most exquisite ornaments might be procured added a more State and conueniency to the structure of religious houses and beganne the founding of Hospitals Hauing long struggled with indefatigable labour to hold things in an euen course during the whole raigne of this busie new state-building King And after his death seing his successor in the Crowne established especially by his meanes to faile his expectation out of the experience of worldly causes deuining of future mischeifes by present courses grew much to lament with his frendes the teadiousnesse of life which shortly after hee mildly left which such a sicknesse as neither hindred his speech nor memory a thing hee would often desire of God William Fitz Auber as is deliuered was a principall councellor and instrument in this action for England wherein he furnished 40. ships at his owne charge A man of great meanes yet of a hart greater and a hand larger then any meanes would well suffice His profuse liberalities to men of armes gaue often sharpe offence to the King who could not indure any such improuident expences Amongst the lawes hee made which shewes the power these Earles then had in their Prouinces hee ordayned that in the Countie of Hereford no man of armes or soldier should be fined for any offence whatsoeuer aboue 7. shillings when in other Counties vpon the least occasion of disobeying their Lords will they were forced to pay 20. or 25. shil But his estate seeming to beare no proportion with his minde and enough it was not to be an eminent Earle an especiall Councellor in all the affaires of England and Normandie a cheife fauoritie to so great a Monarch but that larger hopes drew him away designing to marrie Richeld Countesse dowager of Flanders and to haue the gouernment of that Countrie during the non age of Arnulph her sonne of whom with the King of France he had the tutelarie charge committed by Baldouin the sixth Father to Arnulph whose estate Robert Le Frison his vncle called by the people to the gouernment vpon the exactions inflicted on them by Richeld had vsurped And against him Fitz Auber opposing was with Arnulph surprized and slayne And this was in the fate of the Conqueror to see most of all these great men who had beene the especiall actors in all his fortunes spent and extinct before him As Beaumont Monsort Harcourte Hugh de Gourney Vicount Neele Hugh de Mortimer Conte de Vennes c. And now himselfe after his being brought sicke to Rouan and there disposing his estate ended also his act in the. 74. yeare of his age and the. 21. of his raigne Three daies the Corpes of this great Monarch is said to haue layne neglected while his seruants attended to imbessill his mouables in the end his yongest sonne Henrie had it conueyed to the Abbey of Cane where first at the entry into the Towne they who carried the Corpes left it alone and ranne all to quench the fire Afterward brought to be intombed a Gentleman stands foorth and in sterne manner forbids the interment in that place claiming the ground to be his inheritance descended from his auncestors taken from him at the building of that Abbey and appeales to Row their first founder for Iustice whereupon they were faine to compound with him for an Annuall rent Such adoe had the body of him after death who had made so much in his life to be brought to the earth and of all he attaind had not now a roome to containe him without being purchased at the hand of another men esteeming a liuing Dog more then a dead Lyon He had a faire issue by Maude his wife foure sonnes and fiue daughters To Robert his eldest he lest the Duchy of Normandy to William the third sonne the kingdome of England to Henry
likewise relenting they sent for Henry and an agreement is made he should hold in morgage the Country of Costantine till the mony was paide and a day appointed to receiue it at Rouen Which accord King William the rather wrought to draw as much from Robert as he might whom by this voyage he not onely had wasted but possest himselfe of a safe and continuall landing place with a part of his Duchy caused him to put from him and banish out of Normandy Edgar Etheling whom Robert held his Pensioner and as a stone in his hand vpon all occasions to threaten William with anothers right if his owne preuailed not And besides he wrought so as either through promise of money or some farther ratification to be made here he brought his brother Robert with him ouer into England and tooke him along in an expedition against Malcolin who had incroched vpon his territories during his absence Which businesse ebing determined without battell Robert soone after returnes much discontented into Normandie and as it seemes without money to satisfie his brother Henry Who repairing to Rouen at his day appointed in stead of receiuing it was committed to prison and before he could be released forced to renounce the country of Costentine and sweare neuer to claime any thing in Normandy Henry complaines of this grosse iniustice to Philip king of France who gaue him a faire entertainement in his Court Where he remained not long but that a knight of Normandy named Hachard vndertaking to put him into a Fort maugre his brother Robert within the Duchy conueyed him disguised out of the Court and wrought so as the Castle of Damfronc was deliuered vnto him whereby shortly after he got all the country of Passays about it and a good part of Costentine by the secret aide of king William Richard de Riuieres and Roger de Manneuile Duke Robert leuies forces and eagerly wrought to recouer Damfronc but finding how Henry was vnderset inueighes against the persidie of his brother of England in so much as the flame of rankor burst out againe more then euer And ouer passes king William with a great Army but rather to terrifie then do any great matter as a Prince that did more cōtend then warre and would be great with the sword yet seldome desired to vse it if he could get to his ends by any other meanes seeking rather to buy his peace then win it Many skirmishes interpassed with surprisements of Castles but in the end a treatie of peace was propounded wherein to make his conditions what he would king William seemes hard to be wrought and makes the more shew of force sending ouer into England for an Army of 30000 men which being brought to the shore ready to be shipped an offer was made to be proclaimed by his Lieftenant that giuing ten shillings a man whosoeuer would might depart home to his dwelling Whereby was raised so much as discharged his expence and serued to see the king of France vnder-hand for his forbearing aide to Duke Robert who seeing himselfe left by the French must needes make his peace as the other would haue it Now for his affaires at home the vncertaine warres with Wales and Scotland gaue him more businesse then honour Being driuen in the one to incounter with mountaines in stead of men to the great losse and disaduantage of his people and in the other with as many necessities Wales he sought to subdue Scotland so to restraine as it might not hurt him For the last after much broyle both kings seeming more willing to haue peace then to seeke it are brought to an enteruiew Malcolin vpon publicke faith and safe-conduit came to Glocester where vpon the hautinesse of king William looking to be satisfied in all his demands and the vnyeeldingnesse of king Malcolin standing vpon his regalitie within his owne though content to be ordred for the confines according to the iudgement of the Primare of both kingdomes nothing was effected but a greater disdaine and rankor in Malcolin seeing himselfe dispised and scarce looked on by the king of England So that vpon his returne armed with rage he raises an Army enters Northumberland which foure times before he had depopulated and now the fifth seeking vtterly to destroy it and to haue gone farther was with his eldest sonne Edward slaine rather by the fraud then powre of Robert Mowbray Earle of that County The griefe of whose deaths gaue Margueret that blessed Queene hers After whom the State elected Dufnald brother to Malcolin and chased out all the English which attended the Queene and were harbored or preferred by Malcolin King William to set the line right and to haue a king there which should be beholding to his power aides Edgar the second sonne to Malcolin who had serued him in his warres to obtaine the Crowne due vnto him in right of succession by whose meanes Dufnald was expeld and the State receiued Edgar but killed all the aide he brought with him out of England and capitulated that he should neuer more entertaine English or Norman in his seruice This businesse setled Wales strugling for liberty and reuenge gaue new occasion of worke whither he went in person with purpose to depopulate the country but they retiring into the Mountaines and the Isle of Anglesey auoided the present furie But afterward Hugh Earle of Shrewsbury and Hugh Earle of Chester surprising the Isle their chicfest retreit committed there barbarous examples of cruelty by excoecations and miserable dismembring the people which immanity was there sodenly auenged on the Earle of Shrewsbury with a double death first shot into the eye and then tumbling ouer-boord into the sea to the sport and scorne of his enemy the king of Norway who either by chance or of purpose comming vpon that coast from taking in the Orchades encountred with him and that force he had at sea These were the remote businesses when a conspiracie brake out within the body of the kingdome complotted by Robert Mowbray Earle of Northumberland William d' Ou and many other which gaue the King more trouble then danger for by the speedy and maine prosecution of the businesse wherein hee vsed the best strength of England it was soone ended with the confusion of the vndertakers But it wrought an ill effect in his nature by hardening the same to an extreme rigor for after the feare was past his wrath and cruelty were not but which is hideous in a Prince they grew to be numbred amongst incurable diseases Many accusations of great men followed vpon this act and were easily beleeued howsoeuer proued William de Aluerie a man of goodly personage his Aunts sonne and his Sewer was at a Councell holden at Salisbury condemned to be hanged when both in his confession to Osmond the Bishop there and to all the people as he passed to his execution he left a cleere opinion of his innocency and the wrong he had by the king But now whilst these
THE FIRST PART OF THE HISTORIE Of England BY SAMVEL DANYEL LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes dwelling neere Holborne bridge 1612. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE SIR ROBERT CARR VISCOVNT ROCHEster Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter and one of his Maiesties most Honourable Priuy Councell TO giue a reason of my worke is in my part as well as to do it And therefore my Noble Lord why I vndertooke to write this History of England I alledge that hauing spent much time of my best vnderstanding in this part of humane Learning Historie both in forraine countries where especially I tooke those notions as made most for the conduct of businesse in this kind and also at home where it hath bene in my fortune besides conference with men of good experience to haue seene many of the best discourses negotiations instructions and relations of the generall affaires of the World I resolued to make triall of my forces in the contexture of our owne Historie which for that it lay dispersed in consused peeces hath bene much desired of many And held to be some blemish to the honour of our Country to come behinde other Nations in this kind when neither in magnificence of State glory of action or abilities of nature we are any way inferior to them Nor is there any Nation whose Ancestors haue done more worthy things both at home and abroad especially for matter of war For since the Romans no one people hath fought so many battailes prosperously And therfore out of the tender remorse to see these men much defrauded of their glory so deerely bought and their affaires confusedly deliuered I was drawne though the least able for such a worke to make this aduenture which howsoeuer it proue will yet shew the willingnesse I haue to do my Countrey the best seruice I could and perhaps by my example induce others of better abilities to vndergoe the same In the meane time to draw out a small substance of so huge a masse as might haue something of the vertue of the whole could not be but an extraction worthy the paines seeing it concernes them most to know the generall affaires of England who haue least leasure to read them And the better to fit their vse I haue made choyce to deliuer onely those affaires of action that most concerne the gouernment diuiding my worke into three Sections according to the Periods of those Ages that brought forth the most remarkable Changes And euery Section into three Bookes Whereof the first briefly relates the various mutations of State plantation and supplantation of the inhabitants in the chiefest part of this Isle before the comming of the Norman The second booke containes the life and Raigne of William the first The third the succession of William the second Henry the first and Stephan And this part I haue here done The second Section begins with Henry the second the first of the royall family of Plantagenet containes the liues of foureteene Princes of that Line and takes vp 339 yeares A space of time that yeelds vs a view of a wider extent of Dominion by the accession of a third part of France to the Crowne of England more matter of action with a greater magnificence and glory of State then euer in ermixt with strange varieties and turnes of Fortune the inflammation of three ciuill warres besides popular insurrections the deposing of foure kings and fiue vsurpations which in the end so rent the State as all the glory of forraine greatnesse which that line brought expired with it selfe The third Section containes the succession of fiue Soueraigne Princes of the Line of Tewdor and the space of 129 yeares A time not of that virilitie as the former but more subtile and let out into wider notions and bolder discoueries of what lay hidden before A time wherein began a greater improuement of the Soueraigntie and more came to be effected by wit then the sword Equall and iust incounters of State and State in forces and of Prince and Prince in sufficiencie The opening of a new world which strangely altered the manner of this inhancing both the rate of all things by the induction of infinite Treasure opened a wider way to corruption whereby Princes got much without their swords Protections Confederations to counterpoyse preuent ouer-growing powers came to bee maintained with larger pensions Leidger Ambassadors first imployed abroad for intelligences Common Banks erected to returne and surnish moneys for these businesses Besides strange alterations in the State Ecclesiasticall Religion brought forth to bee an Actor in the greatest Designes of Ambition and Faction To conclude a time stored with all varietie of accidents fit for example and instructi-on This is the scope of my designe And this I addresse to you my Noble Lord not onely as a testimonie of my gratitude for the honorable regard you haue taken of mee but also in respect you being now a publick person and thereby ingaged in the State of England as well as incorporated into the Body thereof may here learne by the obseruance of affaires past for that Reason is strengthned by the successe of exāple to iudge the righter of things present And withall that herein you seeing many precedents of such as haue runne euen and direct courses like your owne howsoeuer the successe was neuer wanted glory may therby be comforted to continue this way of integrity and of being a iust seruant both to the King and the Kingdome nor can there be a better testimony to the world of your owne worth then that you love and cherish the same wheresoeuer you finde it in others And if by your hand it may come to the sight of his Royall Maiesty whose abilities of nature are such as whatsoeuer comes within his knowleldge is presently vnder the dominion of his iudgement I shall thinke it happy and though in it selfe it shall not be worthy his leasure yet will it bee much to the glory of his Reigne that in his daies there was a true History written a liberty proper onely to Common-wealths and neuer permitted to Kingdomes but vnder good Princes Vpon which liberty notwithstanding I will not vsurpe but tread as tenderly on the graues of his magnificent Progenitors as possibly I can Knowing there may in a kind be Laesa Maiestas euen against dead Princes And as in reuerence to thē I will deliuer nothing but what is fit for the world to know so through the whole worke I will make conscience that it shall know nothing but as faithfully as I can gather it Truth protesting herein to haue no other passion then the zeale thereof nor to hold any stubborna opinion but lyable to submission and better information Your Lordships to command SAMVEL DANYEL THE FIRST BOOKE of the Historie of England Containing A briefe relation of the State of this land from the first knowledge we haue thereof to the comming of William the Norman I Intend by the helpe of God and your
this Land which retained nothing of the former nor held other memory but that of the dissolution thereof where scarce a Citie Dwelling Riuer Hill or Mountayne but changed names Britayne it selfe was now no more Britayne but New Saxonie and shortly after either of the Angles the greatest people of the inuadors or of Hengist called Engist-Land or England The distance made by the rage of warre lay so wide betweene the conquering and conquered people that nothing either of lawes rites and customes came to passe ouer vnto vs from the Britaynes nor had our Ancestors any thing from them but their countrie which they first diuided into eight kingdomes all which continued to the last extermination of the Britaynes vnder Caretius their King with whome they were driuen ouer Seuerne 136. yeeres after the first entertainement of Hengist And soone after the Saxons encroching vpon each othe rs parts or States which neuer held certaine boundes and the stronger vsurping vpon their weaker neighbours reduced them to seauen kingdomes that of the Northanimbrians being made one of two and then to sixe the west Saxons taking in the kingdome of Sussex to their dominion And so it continued about 250 yeares At the first by the space of 150 yeares they were meerely gouerned by their owne lawes without mixture of any other But after Augustine the Monke sent with 40 others by Pope Gregorie had conuerted Aethelbert King of Kent and some other they all shortly after receiued the Christian faith and had their lawes and rites ordered according to Ecclesiasticall constitutions Many of their Kings when their sterne asperitie grew molified by humility of the religion beganne to raise presently so many and great monuments of their piety in all parts of the Land as if they striued who should exceed therein and had no other glorie Diuers of them renounced their temporall dignities for Spirituall solitude and became Monkes as Aetheldred and Kinred Kings of Merena-Land Offa King of the East Saxons Kadwalla and Ina Kings of the west Saxons Eadberte King of the Northumbrians c. At length the kingdomes of Merc-naland and west Sax so far ouergrew the others in power as betweene them two it lay who should haue all For Ina a martiall wise and religious Prince gouerning the west Saxons first aduaunced that kingdome to a preheminencie did much to haue subdued Mercna-land but yet Offa afterwards King thereof was in faire possibility to haue swallowed vp both the west Saxons and all the rest of the kingdomes For whilst hee liued which was in the time of Carolus Magnus with whom hee held league and amity hee was esteemed as the especiall King of the Land But the many wrongs he did and the murther committed in his house vpon Aethelbert King of the East Angles comming to him vnder publique faith and a suitor to his daughter were iustly reuenged vpon his posteritie which after him declining in the end lost all For Egbert discended from Inegild the brother of Ina attayning the kingdome of the west Saxons beganne the way to bring all the rest into subiection And being a Prince who from a priuate fortune wherin he liued below with and not aboue other men had learned sufferance and moderation and by the Estate of an exile experience grew to haue great aduantages ouer the time and others borne fortunes and rose by these meanes Ina his great vncle renouncing the world with his kingdome and dying without issue left the succession imbroiled and out of the direct royall lyne as hee found it So that those foure Kings of the west Saxons who seuerally succeeded him Ethelard Sigibert Kinulph and Britric were rather Kings by election and their owne power then by right of discent And Britric knowing the weakenesse of his title and the much promising forwardnes of Egbert with his propinquitie in bloud to the former Kings practized to haue him made away which he perceauing fled first to Offa King of Mercna-land where finding little security in regard Britric had to strength himselfe married the daughter of that king hee escaped into France and there remayned till the death of Britric and then returning obtaines the kingdome of the Westsaxons subdues Cornewall inhabited by the Britaynes and after sets vpon Bernulph newly inuested in the kingdome of Mercna-land a State by the rupture of the Royall lyne likewise growne tottering For Egferth the sonne of Offa enioyed but. 4. monethes the inheritance of his fathers immanitie whereby that kingdome discended collaterally to Kennulph who left it to Kenelme a child after murthered by his sister Quinred Ceolulph brother to Kennulph succeeding after his first yeares raigne was expeld by Bernulph and Bernulph by Egbert who made that kingdome tributarie to the west Saxons as he did after that of the South and East Saxons with the kingdome of Northumberland And by this meanes in a manner attained to a soueraignty of the whole But the Danes imbroiling his peace in the end of his raigne held him backe from enioying such a fulnesse of power as that wee may account him the absolute Monarch of the kingdome nor yet any of his successors so long as the Danes continued vnsubiected For they hauing first made irruptions into the State in the raigne of the late King Britric his predecessor euer after held a part thereof and afflicted the whole till they had attayned the absolute soueraigntie to themselues The Danes were a people of Germanie next neighbours to the Saxons and of language and manners little different possessing besides Cimbrica Chersonesus now called Denmarke all the Isles adiacent in the Baltique Sea and sometimes the kingdome of Norway A mightie rough and martiall nation strong in shipping through their exercise of piracie and numerous in people for all suppliments Who perceauing heere the happie successe and plantation of the Saxons were drawne with desire and emulation likewise to put in for a part the coaste lying open to inuasion and the many diuisions of the Land with the discord of Princes making them an easie way thereunto So that in a manner as soone as the Saxons had ended their trauailes with the Britaynes and drew to settling of a Monarchie the Danes as if ordain'd to reuenge their slaughters beganne to assault them with the like āfflictions The long the many and horrible encounters betwene this two fierce nations with the bloudshed and infinit spoiles committed in euery part of the Land are of so disorded and troublous memory that what with their asperous names together with the confusion of place times and persons intricately deliuered is yet a warre to the reader to ouer-looke them And therefore to fauour myne owne paines and his who shall get little profit thereby I passe them ouer After the death of Egbert Aethelwolph his sonne succeeded in the State with the title of King of the west Saxons only and was a Prince more addicted to deuotion then action as may be seene by his donation of the tenth part of
his kingdome with exemption of all regall seruice for the seruice of God besides an annuitie of 300 markes to be bestowed in pious vses at Rome whither he went twice in person with his yongest sonne Alfred whom he especially loued and whom Pope Leo 4 annointed a King at eleuen yeares of age as if deuining of his future fortune Vpon his last iorney and whole yeares stay at Rome Aethelbald his eldest sonne combin'd with the nobilitie of the Westsaxons to keepe him out and depriue him vtterlie of his gouernment and wrought so as notwithstanding the great loue his people bare him he was brought to yeeld vp the kingdome of the Westsaxons to Aethelbald and retaine onely the kingdome of the East Angles a State of far lesse dignitie to himselfe After which raigning but two yeares Aethelbald succeeded in the whole and with great infamy marrying his fathers widow Iudith daughter to Charles le Chauue King of Fraunce enioyed it but two yeares and a halfe when Aethelred the second sonne of Aethelulph entred to the gouernment which hee held 5 yeares in continuall conflict with the Danes After whome Alfred the mirrour of Princes made a King before he had a kingdome at 22 yeres of his age and in a yeere wherin eight seuerall battailes had beene giuen to the Danes by the Saxons begane his troublous raigne wherin he was perpetually in warre either against his enimies or cls against vices First after a great danger to lose all hee was forced to yeild vp a part of the kingdome which was that of the East Angles and Northumberland to Guthrun leader of the Danes whome vpon his baptization he made his confederate and owner of that by right which before he vsurped by violence And notwithstanding all the continuall and intricate toile he indured amidst the clattering and horror of armes he performed all noble actions of peace collecting first the lawes of his predecessors and other the Kings of the Saxons as if Offa King of Merena-land and Aethelbert the first christian english King of which by the graue aduise and consent of his States assembled hee makes choice of the fittest antiquates those of no vse and ads other according to the necessitie of the time And for that the wildenes of warre by reason of these perpetual conflicts with strangers had so let out the people of the Land to vnlawfull riots and rapine that no man could trauaile without conuoy hee ordained the diuisions of shires hundreds and tithings that euery Englishman now the generall name for all the Saxons liuing legally might be of a certaine hundred or tithing out of which hee was not to remoue without securitie and out of which if he were accused of any crime hee was likewise to produce sureties for his behauiour which if hee could not finde hee was to indure the punishment of the law If any malefactor before or after hee had put in sureties escaped all the Tithing or Hundred were fined to the King by which meanes he secured trauailers and the peace of his countrie The opinion he had of learning made him often complaine the want therof imputing it amongst his greatest infortunes to haue beene bred without it and to haue his kingdome so vtterly destitute of learned men as it was through the long continuance of this barbarous warre which made him send out for such as were any way famous for letters and hauing gotten them hee both highlie preferred them and also as they doe who know not to much themselues held them in great veneration rarenes then setting a higher price on meaner parts then after plenty did on more perfections Grimbald and Scotus hee drew out of France Asser who wrote his life out of wales others from other parts he was the first lettered Prince we had in England by whose meanes and incouragement publique schooles had here either their reuiuing or beginning Those wants of his owne made him take a greater care for the education of his sonnes with whome were bred vnder most deligent masters almost all the children of the Nobilitie within his kingdome All his owne time he could cleere from other businesse hee bestowed in studie and did himselfe and caused others to translate many things in the vulgar tongue which he laboured it seemes much to adorne and especially affected the Saxon meeters whereby to glorifie that of a King hee attained the title of Poet. The naturall daie consisting of 24 howers he cast into 3 parts whereof eight he spent in prayer studie and writing eight in the seruice of his bodie and eight in the affaires of his States Which spaces hauing then no other engine for it hee measured by a great waxe light deuided into so many parts receauing notice by the keeper thereof as the seuerall howres passed in the burning With as faire an order did he proportion his reuenues equalling his liberalities to all his other expences whereof to make the current runne more certaine hee tooke a precise notice of them and made a generall suruay of the kingdome and had all the particulers of his estate registred in a booke which hee kept in his treasurie at Winchester And within this circumference of order he held him in that irregularitie of fortune with a weake disposition of bodie and raigned 27 yeares leauing his sonne Edward a worthie succestor to mainteine the lyne of noblenes thus begun by him EDward though he were farre inferiour to him in learning went much beyond him in power for he had all the kingdome of Mercna-land in possession whereof Alfred had but the homage and some write helde soueraignitie ouer the east Angles and Northumbrians though wee finde in the ioynt lawes that hee and Guthrun made together they held the same confederation fore-concluded by Alfred Hee also subdued the Britaynes in wales fortified and furnished with garrisons diuers townes in England that lay fit to preuent the incursions of the Danes and was all his raigne of 23 yeares in continuall action and euer before hand with fortune And surely his father hee and many that succeeded during this Danicque warre though they lost their ease wonne much glory and renowne For this affliction held them so in as hauing little out-lets or leisure for ease and luxury they weare made the more pious iust and carefull in their gouernment otherwise it had beene impossible to haue held out against the Danes as they did a people of that power and vndauntable stomacke as no fortune could deterre nor make to giue ouer their holde And the imbecillitie of some vnactiue Prince at that time had beene inough to haue let them quite into the whole which may be the cause that in the succession of some of these Kings were certaine ruptures made out of course in respect of their ablenes As first after the death of this renowned King Edward Senior his sonne Athelstan of full yeares and spirit was notwithstanding the bracke in his birth preferred before his
it euer a barre in his way and hindred his standing cleere stood he neuer so highe The nobles of Normandie soone after his fathers death by much intreaty got him out of the French Kings handes thinking the hauing him amongst them would adde more grace to his Counsellors and such as were in office and the State of a Court awe his State the better But soone they found the hauing his person without his powre was but to put them out into more discord and faction For presently followed the murthering and poysoning of Gouernors displacing Officers intrusion supplantation surprizings and recouerings of his person by a Nobilitie stubborne haughtie and incompatible of each others precedencie or neerenes But this was the least as being done all for his person Now followed more daungerous practises against it His right was quarrelled by competitors cleere in bloud and great in meanes Whereof the first though farthest off in discent was Roger de Tresny bringing a faire lyne from Roule and much proofe of his owne worth by hauing gotten great experience in the Sarazine warre in Spaine whereby vpon his returne entertayning and feasting the great and especiall men of worth he was growen powerfull well followed and beloued of many in so much that at length measuring his owne height he vrges what wrong it was that a Bastard and a childe should be preferred before him in the succession of that Duchie his auncestors had noblie gotten and what a shame the Normans a people of that worth would indure to be so gouerned seeing they had others of the renowned race of Roule William and Richard Dukes of Normandie of a lawfull and direct lyne if they held him vnworthie to inherite the State and impatient as is ambition that cuer rides without raines of any long delay brings his claime to a strong battaile in the feild which by the valiancie of Roger de Beaumount was vtterly defeited and himselfe with his 2. brethren slayne Whereby all feare that way was extinquished and the reputation of the Duke and his so much aduanced as the King of France notwithstanding his tutelarie charge tooke from him the Castle of Thuilliers and demolisht it pretending the insolencies committed there by the Garrisons vpon his subiects and makes shew as yet only to keepe things euen But long it was not ere he plainely bewrayed his minde aiding in person William Earle of Arques brother to Duke Robert and sonne to Richard 2. making his clayme to the Duchie and bringes a mightie armye to succour Arques assieged by Conte Guiffard the Dukes Generall who by a stratageme so trayned the French into an ambushe as he ouerthrew their whole power and returnes the King to Paris with great losse and dishonor leauing Arques the first Arch of tryumphe to this conquerour not yet ariued to 17 yeares of age and the discomfeited competitor to seeke his fortunes with Eustace Earle of Bologne finding vpon his returne litle grace in Court where fortune euer alters credite and few regard men ouerthrowne This storme ouerpast another succedes more dangerous there liued with Duke William a young Lord of like yeares named Guy sonne to Regnalt Earle of Borgogne and Alix daughter to Richard 2. who comming to be sensible of his interest was aduised by some stirring spirits to attempt for the Duchie which they said apperteyned to him in right and was wrongfully vsurped by the Bastard And to aduance his purpose happens deadly hostility betweene two of the greatest Lords of Normandie Viconte Neele and the Earle of Bessin whose debate Duke William did not or could not pacific This Guy lately made Earle of Bryorn and Vernon interposed himselfe to compose this discord and by the aduice of Grimoult de Plessis a principall mouer in this worke so wrought that either of these Lords turned the point of their malice vpon him who in their quarrell fauouring neither made both to hate him and easily conspire with Guy to murther him at vnawares which they had done had not a certaine Foole whome for being held a naturall they suspected not noting their preparations got away in the dead of the night to Valogne knocking and crying at the gate till he was admitted to the Dukes presence whome he willed in all hast to fly or he would be murthered The Duke seeing the Foole in this affright thought dangers were not be weighed by the worth of the reporter but by their likelyhood and knowing his fortune was liable vnto all suddaine assasinations instantly takes horse and all alone postes to Fallaise his especiall place of strength on the way his horse being tyred about breake of daie hee comes to a litle village called Rye where by good fortune the gentleman of the place was standing at his dore readie to goe abrode of whom the Duke enquires the next way to Fallaise The gentleman perceiuing who he was though as then very vnwilling to be knowne humblie craues the cause of his so strange and vntimely riding alone The Duke seeing himselfe discouered tels the occasion the gentleman whose name was Robert de Rye furnishes him with a fresh horse and sendes two of his sonnes to conduct him the neerest way to Fallaise Noe sooner was he gone out of sight but after post the conspirators enquiring of the same gentleman whether hee saw the Duke who answered that hee was gone a little before such a way shewing them a diuers path and rode on with them offering his seruice to Conte Bessin of whom he held that village vnder the Duke and so long he lead them about that the Duke had recouered Fallaise Whereupon disappointed of their purpose they returned into the Countries of Constantin and Bessin where they made themselues so powrefull as the Duke withdrewe him to Roan and from thence to the King of France to craue his aide putting him in minde of the faithfull seruice his father had done him how he was his homager vnder his tutelarie charge and had no other sanctuary of succour to flie vnto in this case of his mutinous and turbulent nobilitie the effect whereof was of dangerous consequence to that Crowne And so far vrged the importancie of releife as the King at length who seemes was yet content to haue him be though not too strong and peraduenture rather him then his competitor Guy de Burgogne aided him in person with a puissant army against these competitors whom they found in the vale of Dunes with as great power and resolution to bid them battayle as they to assaile them Here one Guilleson vncle to Viconte Neel by the mother forced his horse into the battaillon of the French and made at the King strake him downe with his Launce which Conte Saint Paule perceauing hastes to incounter him with that violence as both fell to the earth but Guilleson soone gets vp and though his horse was slaine vnder him by Chastillon he escapes out of the presse and after fled into Apulia with others The King recouered and more
vnderstanding the fire thus kindled in his owne house that had set others all in combustion hastes with forces into Normandie to haue surprized his sonne who aduertised of his comming furnisht with 2000. men at armes by the King of France lay in ambush where hee should passe sets vpon him defeited most of his people and in the pursuite hapned to incounter with himselfe whom he vnhors'd and wounded in the arme with his Launce but perceauing by his voice it was his father he hasted to remounte him humbly crauing pardon for his offence which the father seeing in what case he was granted howsoeuer he gaue and vpon his submission tooke him with him to Rouen whence after cured of his hurt hee returned with his sonne William likewise wounded in the fight into England Long was it not ere he was againe inform'd of his sonnes remutyning and how hee exacted vpon the Normans vsurpt the intire gouernment and vrged his fathers promise thereof made him before the King of France vpon his Conquest of England which caused his litle stay heere but to make preparatiōs for his returne into those parts whether in passing he was driuen on the Coast of Spaine but at length ariuing at Burdeaux with his great preparations his sonne Robert came in and submitted himselfe the second time whom hee now tooke with him into England to frame him to a better obedience imploying him in the hard and necessitous warres of Scotland the late peace beeing betweene the two Kings againe broken and after sent him backe and his yong sonne Henry with the association of charge and like power but of more trust to the gouernment of Normandie After the two Princes had beene there a while they went to visite the King of France at Conflance where feasting certaine dayes vpon an after dinner Henry wanne so much at chesse of Louis the Kings eldest sonne as he growing into choller called him the sonne of a Bastard and threw the Chesse in his face Henry takes vp the Chesse-bord and strake Louis with that force as drew bloud and had killed him had not his brother Robert come in the meane time and interposed himselfe Whereupon they suddenly tooke horse and with much adoe they recouered Pontoise from the Kings people that pursued them This quarrell arising vpon the intermeeting of these Princes a thing that seldome breeds good bloud amongst them re-inkindled a heate of more rancor in the fathers and beganne the first warre betweene the English and French For presently the King of France complots againe with Robert impatient of a partner enters Normandie and takes the Citie of Vernon The King of England inuades France subdues the Countrie of Zaintonge and Poictou and returnes to Rouen where the third time his sonne Robert is reconciled vnto him which much disappoints and vexes the King of France who thereupon summons the King of England to do him homage for the kingdome of England which he refused to do saying he held it of none but God and his sword For the Duchie of Normandie he offers him homage but that would not satisfie the King of France whom nothing would but what he could not haue the Maistery and seekes to make any occasion the motiue of his quarrell and againe inuades his territories but with more losse then profite In the end they conclude a certaine crazie peace which held no longer then King William had recouered a sicknes whereinto through his late trauaile age and corpulencie he was falne at which time the King of France then yong and lustie ieasting at his great belly whereof hee said he lay in at Rouen so irritated him as being recouered he gathers all his best forces enters France in the cheifest time of their fruites making spoile of all in his way till he came euen before Paris where the King of France then was to whom he sendes to shew him of his vp-sitting and from thence marched to the Citie of Mants which he vtterly sackt and in the distruction thereof gate his owne by the strayne of his horse among the breaches and was thence conueyed sicke to Rouen and so ended all his warres NOw for his gouernment in peace and the course he held in establishing the kingdome thus gotten first after he had represt the conspiracies in the North and well quieted all other partes of the State which now being absolutely his he would haue to be ruled by his owne law beganne to gouerne all by the Customes of Normandie Whereupon the agreeued Lordes and sadde people of England tender their humble petition beseeching him in regard of his oath made at his Coronation And by the soule of Saint Edward from whom he had the Crowne and kingdome vnder whose lawes they were borne and bred That he would not adde that miserie to deliuer them vp to be iudged by a strange law they vnderstood not And so earnestly they wrought that he was pleased to confirme that by his Charter which hee had twice fore-promised by his oath And gaue comaundement to his Iusticiaries to see those lawes of Saint Edward so called not that he made them but collected them out of Merchen-law Dane law and Westsex law to be inuiolablie obserued throughout the kingdome And yet notwithstanding this confirmation and the Charters afterward granted by Hen. 1. Hen 2. and King Iohn to the same effect there followed a generall innouation both in the lawes and gouernment of England So that this seemes rather done to acquiet the people with a shew of the continuation of their ancient customes then that they enioyed them in effect For the little conformitie betwene those lawes of former times and these that followed vpon this change of State shew from what head they sprang And though there might be some veynes issuing from foriner originals yet the mayne streame of our Comon law with the practice thereof flowed out of Normandie notwithstanding all obiections can be made to the contrary For before these collections of the Confessors there was no vniuersall law of the kingdome but euery seuerall Prouince held their owne customes all the inhabitants from Humber to Scotland vsed the Danicque law Merchland the midle part of the Countrie and the State of the West Saxons had their seuerall constitutions as being seuerall dominions And though for some few yeares there seemed to be a reduction of the Heptarchie into a Monarchie yet held it not so long together as wee may see in the succession of that broken gouernment as to setle one forme of order current ouer all but that euery Prouince according to their perticuler founders had their customes a part and held nothing in comon besides religion and the constitutions thereof but with the vniuersalitie of Meum Tuum ordered according to the rites of nations and that ius innatum the Comon law of all the world which wee see to be as vniuersall as are the cohabitations and societies of men and serues the turne to hold them together
their Lords by their obsequious seruice or agreed for by any lawfull pact they should hold by an inuiolable law during their owne liues The next great worke after the ordering his lawes was the raising and disposing of his reuenues taking a course to make and know the vtmost of his estate by a generall suruey of the kingdome whereof he had a president by the Dome booke of Winchester taken before by king Alfride But as one day informes another so these actions of profit grew more exact in their after practise and a larger Commission is graunted a choice of skilfuller men imployed to take the particulars both of his owne possessions and euery mans else in the kingdome the nature and the quality of their lands their estates and abilities besides the descriptions bounds and diuisions of Sheires and Hundreds and this was drawne into one booke and brought into his treasurie then newly called the Exchequer according to the soueraigne court of that name of Normandy before termed here the Talee and it was called the Dome booke Liber iudiciarius for all occasions concerning these particulars All the Forests and Chases of the kingdom he seized into his proper possession and exempted them from being vnder any other law then his owne pleasure to serue as Penetralia Regum the withdrawing chambers of kings to recreate them after theirserious labours in he State where none other might presume to haue to do and where all punishments and pardons of delinquents were to be disposed by himselfe absolutely and all former customes abrogated And to make his commaund the more he increased the number of them in all parts of the Land and on the South coast dispeopled the country for aboue thirty miles space making of old inhabited possessions a new Forest inflicting most seuere punishments for hunting his Deere and thereby much aduances his reuenues An act of the greatest concussion and tyranny he committed in his raigne and which purchased him much hatred And the same course held almost euery king neere the Conquest till this heauie grieuance was allayed by the Charter of Forests granted by Henry 3. Besides these he imposed no new taxations on the State and vsed those he found very moderately as Dangelt an imposition of two shillings vpon euery hide or plough-land raised first by king Ethelred to bribe the Danes after to warre vpon them he would not haue it made an Annuall payment but onely taken vpon vrgent occasion and it was seldome gathered in his time or his successors saith Geruasius yet we find in our Annals a taxe of 6. shil vpon euery hide-land leauied presently after the generall surucy of the kingdome Escuage whether it were an imposition formerly laide though now newly named I do not find was a summe of money taken of euery Knights fee In after times especially raised for the seruice of Scotland And this also saith Geruasius was seldome leauied but on great occasion for stipends and donatiues to souldiers yet was it at first a due reserued out of such lands as were giuen by the Prince for seruice of warre according to the custome of other nations As in the Romans time we find lands were giuen in reward of seruice to the men of warre for terme of their liues as they are at this day in Turkey After they became Patrimoniall hereditarie to their children Seuerus the Emperor was the first who permitted the children of men of warre to inioy their Fiefs prouided that they followed Armes Constantine to reward his principall Captaines grāted them a perpetuity in the lands assigned them The estates which were but for life were made perpetuall in France vnder the last kings of the race of Charlemaine Those Lords who had the great Fiefs of the king sub-deuided them to other persons of whom they were to haue seruice Mulctuary profits besides such as might arise by the breach of his Forest-lawes he had few or none new vnlesse that of Murther which arose vpon this occasion In the beginning of his raigne the rankor of the English towards the new-come Normans was such as finding them single in woods or remote places they secretly murthered them and the deed doers for any the seuerest courses taken could neuer be discouered whereupon it was ordained that the Hundred wherein a Norman was found slaine and the Murtherer not taken should be condemned to pay to the king some 36 pounds some 28 pounds according to the quantity of the Hundred that the punishment being generally inflicted might perticularly deterre them and hasten the discouery of the malefactor by whom so many must otherwise be interessed For his prouisionary reuenues he continued the former custome held by his predecessors which was in this manner The kings Tenants who held their lands of the Crowne paid no money at all but onely Victuals Wheate Beifes Muttons Hay Oates c. and a iust note of the quality and quantity of euery mans ratement was taken throughout all the Sheires of the kingdome and leauied euer certaine for the maintenance of the kings house Other ordinarie in-come of ready moneys was there none but what was raised by mulcts and out of Cities and Castles where Agriculture was not vsed What the Church yeelded him was by extent of a power that neuer reached so farre before and the first hand he layd vpon that side which weighed heauily was his seizing vpon the Plate Iewels and Treasure within all the Monasteries of England pretending the rebels and their assistants conueyed their riches into these religious houses as into places priuiledged and free from seizure to defraud him thereof Besides this he made all Bishoprickes and Abbeys that held Barronies before that time free from all secular seruices contributary to his warres and his other occasions And this may be the cause why they who then onely held the Pen the Scepter that rules ouer the memory of kings haue laide such an eternall imposition vpon his name of rigour oppression and euen barbarous immanity as they haue done When the nature and necessary disposition of his affaires being as he was may aduocate and in many things much excuse his courses But this name of Conquest which euer imports violence and misery is of so harsh a sound and so odious in nature as a people subdued cannot giue a Conquerour his due how euer worthy and especially to a stranger whom onely time must naturalize and incorporate by degrees into their liking and opinion And yet therein this king was greatly aduantaged by reason of his twenty yeares gouernment which had much impaired the memory of former customes in the yonger sort and well inured the elder to the present vsances and forme of State whereby the rule was made more easie to his sonnes who though they were farre inferior to him in worth were somwhat better beloued then he and the rather for that their occasions made them somewhat to vnwrest the Soueraignty from that height whereunto he had strayned it How he
fractures here at home the vnrepairable breaches abroad were such as could giue the king no longer assurednesse of quiet then the attempters would and that all the Christian world was out either at discord amongst themselues or in faction by the schisme of the Church Pope Vrban assembling a generall Councell at Cleirmont in Auuergne to compose the affaires of Christendome exhorted all the Princes thereof to ioyne themselues in action for the recouery of the holy land out of the hands of infidels Which motion by the zealous negotiation of Peter the Hermit of Amiens tooke so generally meeting with the disposition of an actiue and religious world as turn'd all that flame which had else consumed each other at home vpon vnknowne nations that vndid them a broad Such and so great grew the heate of this action made by the perswasion of the iustice thereof with the state and glory it would bring on earth and the assurednesse of heauen to all the pious vndertakers that none were esteemed to containe any thing of worth which would stay behind Each giues hand to other to leade them along and example ads number The forwardnesse of so many great Princes passing away their whole estates and leauing all what the deernesse of their Country contained drewe to this warre 300000 men all which though in armes passed from diuerse countries and ports with that quietnesse as they seemed rather Pilgrimes then Souldiers Godefroy of Bouillon nephew and heire to the Duke of Lorrayne a generous Prince bred in the warres of the Emperour Henry 4. was the first that offered vp himselfe to this famous voyage and with him his two brothers Eustace and Baudouin by whose examples were drawne Hugh le Grand Count de Vermendois brother to Philip king of France Robert Duke of Normandy Robert le Frison Earle of Flanders Stephen Earle of Blois Chartres Aimar Byshop of Puy William Byshop of Orange Raimond Earle of Tholouse Baudouin Earle of Hainaut Baudouin Earle of Rethel and Garnier Earle of Gretz Harpin Earle of Bourges Ysoard Earle of Die Ramb and Earle of Orange Guillaum Conte de Forests Stephen Conte de Aumaul Hugh Earle of Saint Pol Rotron Earle of Perche and others These were for France Germany and the Countries adioyning Italie had Bohemond Duke of Apulia and England Beauchampe with others whose names are lost Spayne onely had none being afflicted at that time with the Sarazins Most of all these Princes and great personages to furnish themselues for this expedition sold or ingaged their possessions Godefroy sold the Duchie of Bologne to Aubert Byshop of Liege and Metz to the Cittizens besides he sold the Castle of Sarteney and Monsa to Richard Byshop of Verdun and to the same Byshop Bandouin his brother sold the Earldome of Verdun Eustace likewise sold all his liuelihood to the Church Herpin Earle of Bourges his Earldome to Phillip King of France and Robert morgaged his Duchie of Normandie the Earldome of Maine and all he had to his brother King William of England Whereby the Pope not onely weakened the Empire with whom the Church had to the great affliction of Christendome held a long and bloudie businesse about the inuestitures of Byshops tooke away and infeobled his partisans abated as if by Ostrocisme the power ofany Prince that might oppose him but also aduanced the State Ecclefiasticall by purchasing these great temporalties more honorable for the sellers then the buyers vnto a greater meanes then euer For by aduising the vndertakers seing their action was for CHRIST and his Church rather to make ouer their estates to the Clergie of whom they might againe redeeme the same and be sure to haue the fayrest dealing then vnto lay men he effected this worke Whereby the third part of the best Fiefs in France came to be possest by the Clergic and afterward vpon the same occasion many things more sold vnto them in England especially when Richard 1. vndertooke the voyage who passed ouer diuers Mannors to Hugh Byshop of Durham and also for his mony created him Earle of Durham This humor was kept vp and in motion aboue 200. yeares notwithstanding all the discouragements by the difficulties in passing the disasters there through contagion arysing from a disagreeing clime and the multitudes of indigent people cast oftentimes into miserable wants It consumed infinit treasure and most of the brauest men of all our West world and especially France For Germanie and Italie those who were the Popes friends and would haue gone were stayd at home by dispensation to make good his partie against the Emperour who notwithstanding still strugled with him but in the end by this meanes the Pope preuayled But these were not all the effects this voyage wrought the Christians who went out to seeke an enemy in Asia brought one thence to the danger of all Christendome the losse of the fairest part thereof For this long keeping it in a warre that had many intermissions with fits of heates and coldnesses as made by a league consisting of seuerall nations emulous and vnconcurrent in their courses taught such as were of an entire bodie their weakenesses the way to conquer them This was the great effect this voyage wrought And by this meanes king William here was now rid of an elder brother and a Competitor had the possession of Normandy during his raigne and a more absolutenesse and irregularity in England Where now in making vp this great summe to pay Robert he vsed all the extreme meanes could be deuised as he had done in all like businesses before Whereby he incurred the hatred of his people in generall and especially of the Clergie being the first king which shewed his successors an euill precedent of keeping their Liuings vacant and receiuing the profits of them himselfe as he did that of Canterbury foure yeares after the death of Lanfranc and had holden it longer but that being dangerously sicke at Glocester the sixth yeare of his raigne his Clergie in the weaknesse of his body tooke to worke vpon his minde so as he vowed vpon his recouerie to see it furnished which he did but with so great ado as shewed that hauing escaped the danger he would willingly haue deceiued the Saint And Anselme an Italian borne though bred in Normandy is in the end preferred to that Sea But what with his owne stiffenesse and the kings standing on his regalitie he neuer enioyed it quietly vnder him For betweene them two began the first cōtestation about the inuestitures of Bishops and other priuiledges of the Church which gaue much to do to many of his successors Anselme not yeelding to the Kings will forsooke the Land whereupon his Byshopricke was re-assumed and the King held in his hands at one time besides that of Canterburie the Byshopricks of Winchester Sarum and eleuen Abayes whereof he tooke all the profits He vsually sold all sprituall preferments to those would giue most and tooke fines of Priests for fornication he vexed
Commons as gaue all satisfaction He made diuers progresses into remote partes of the Land to see how the State was ordred And for that purpose when so euer he was in England he kept no certayne residence but solemnized the great festiuals in seuerall and far distant places of the kingdome that all might pertake of him And for that he would not wreste ny thing by an imperiall powre from the kingdome which might breede vlcers of dangerous nature he tooke a course to obtayne their free consents to serue his occasions in their generall Assemblies of the 3. estates of the Land which he first and often conuoked and which had from his time the name of Parlement according to the manner of Normandie and other States where Princes keepe within their circles to the good of their people their owne glorie and securitie of their posteritie He was a Prince that liued formally himselfe and repressed those excesses in his subiects which those times interrayned as the wearing of long hayre which though it were a gaytie of no charge like those sumptuous braueries that waste kingdomes in peace yet for the vndecencie there of he reformed it and all other dissolutenesse His great businesses and his wantes taught him frugalitie and warynesse of expence and his warres being seldome inuasiue and so not getting put him often to vse hard courses for his suppliments of treasure Towards the marriage of his daughter with the Emperour and the charge of his warre he obtayned as it might seeme at his first Parlement at Salisbury Anno. Reg. 15. three shillings vpon euery hide-land but he had no more in all his raigne except one supply for his warres afterward in France He kept Byshopricks and Abbayes voyd in his hands as that of Canterbury 5 yeares together By an act of Parlement at London Anno. Reg. 30. he had permission to punish mariage and incontinencie of Priests who for fines notwithstanding he suffred to inioy their wiues but hereby he displeased the Clergie and disappoynted that reformation Punishments which were mutilation of member he made pecuniarie And by reason of his often and long being in Normandie those prouisions for his house which were vsed to be payde in kinde were rated to certayne prices and receiued in mony by the consent of the State and to the great content of the subiect who by reason that many dwelling far off throughout all shires of England were much molested with satisfying the same otherwife He resumed the liberties of hunting in his Forests which tooke vp much faire ground of the kingdome and besides renuing former penalties made an Edict that if any man in his owne priuate woodes killed the Kings Deere should forfeit his woodes to the King But he permitted them inclosures for Parkes which vnder him seemes to haue their originall by the example of that of his at Woodstoke and after their multitude grew to be a diseaze His expences were cheifly in his warres and his many and great fortifications in Normandie His buildings were the Abbay of Reading the Mannour of Woodstoke and the great inclosure about that Parke The most eminent men of his Councell were Roger Byshop of Sarum and the Earle of Mellent both men of great experience in the affaires of the world Roger was euer as Viceroy had the whole management of the kingdome in his absence which was sometimes three and foure yeares together He had managed the Kings monyes and other affayres of his house when he was a poore Prince and a priuat man whereby he gayned an especiall trust with him euer after and discharged his part with great policie and vnderstanding had the title of Iusticiarius totius Anglia Of whose magnificence and spacious mynde we haue more memorials left in notes of stone then of any one Man Prince or other of this kingdome The ruynes yet remayning of his stately structures especially that of the Deuises in Wiltshire thewes vs the carkasse of a most Roman-like Fabricke Besides he built the Castles of Malmsburie and Shirburne two strong and sumptuous peeces new walled and repayred the Castle of Salisburie but all these he liued to see rent from him and seased into the next Kings handes as being thinges donne out his parte and ly now deformed heapes of rubble But the goodly Church of Salisburie a worke appertayning to his function remaynes as of another fate Robert Earle of Mellent was the sonne of Roger Beaumont who of all the great men which followed William I. in his ciuill warres of Normandie refused to attend him in his expedition for England though with large promises inuited thereunto saying The inheritance left him by his predecessors was sufficient to maintaine his estate at home and hee desired not to thrust himselfe into other mens possessions abroad But his sonne Robert was of another mind and had a mighty estate both in England and Normandy Was a man of great direction in Councell and euer vsed in all the waighty affaires of the State His parsimony both in apparell and diet was of such example being a man of eminent note as did much good to the kingdome in those dayes But in the end he fell into disgrace the fate of Court and eminency opposed against the king and died bereft of his estate Besides these this king was serued with a potent and martiall Nobility whom his spirit led to affect those great designes of his in France for the preseruation of his state in Normandy Whither in the 32 yeare of his raigne he makes his last voyage to dye there and in his passage thithe happened an exceeding great Ecclips of the Sunne which was taken to fore-signifie his death for that it followed shortly after in the thirty fiue yeare of his reigne Hee was of a gracefull personage quicke-eyed browne haire a different complexion from his brothers and of a close compacted temperament wherein dwelt a minde of a more solid constitution with better ordered affections Hee had in his youth some taste of learning but onely as if to set his stomake not to ouer-charge it therewith But this put many of his subiects into the fashion of the Booke and diuers learned men flourished in his time King Stephen THE Line Masculine of the Norman extinct and onely a daughter left and she married to a French-man Stephen Earle of Bologne and Mortagne son of Stephen Earle of Blois and of Adela daughter to William I. was notwithstanding the former oath taken for Maud elected by the State and inuested in the Crowne of England within 30 dayes after the death of Henry Vpon what reasons of Councell we must gather out of the circumstances of the courses held in that time Some imagine the state refused Maude for not being then the custome of any other kingdome Christian whose Kings are annoynted to admit women to inherite the Crowne and therefore they might pretend to be freed from their oath as being vnlawfull But Roger
Guien grew into such an odious conceipt of her vpon the notice of her lasciuious behauiour in those partes as the first worke he doth vpon his comming backe he repudiates and turnes her home with all her great dowrie rather content to loose the mightie estate she brought then to liue with her With this great Lady matches Henry before he was 20. yeares of age being now Duke of Normandie his father deceased who had recouered it for him and had by her the possession of all those large and rich Countries apertaining to the Duchy of Guien besides the Earldome of Poicton Whereupon Louys inraged to see him inlarged by this great accession of State who was so neere and like to be so dangerous and eminenta neighbour combines with Stephan and aydes Eustace his sonne with mayne power for the recouery of Normandie wherein he was first possest But this young Prince furnished now with all this powerfull meanes leaues the management of the affayres of England to his frendes defendes Normandie wrought so as the King of France did him little hurt and Eustace his competitor returned home into England where shortly after he dyed about 18. yeares of his age borne neuer to see out of the calamities of warre and was buried at Feuersham with his mother who deceased a little before and had no other ioy nor glorie of a Crowne but what we see Stephan whilst Duke Henrie was in Normandie recouers what he could and at length besieges Wallingsord which seemes in these times to haue bene a peece of great importance and impregnable and reduced the Defendants to that extremitie as they sent to Duke Henrie for succour who presently thereupon in the middest of winter ariues in England with 3000. foot and 140. horse Where first to draw the King from Wallingford he layes siege to Malmesbury and had most of all the great men in the West and from other partes comming in vnto him Stephan now resolued to put it to the tryall of a day brings thither all the power he could make and far ouer-went his enemy in number but flouds and stormes in an vnseasonable winter kept the Armies from incountring till the Bishops doubtfull of the successe and seeing how dangerous it was for them and the whole State to haue a young Prince get the maistry by his sworde mediated a peace which was after concluded in a Parlement at Winchester vpon these conditions 1 That King Stephan during his naturall life should remayne King of England and Henrie inioy the Dukedome of Normandie as discended vnto him from his mother and be proclaymed heire apparent to the kingdome of England as the adopted sonne of King Stephan 2 That the partizans of either should receiue no damage but inioy their estates according to their ancient rights and titles 3 That the king should resume into his hands all such parcels of inheritance belonging to the Crowne as had beene aliened by him or vsurped in his time And that all those possessions which by intrusion had beene violently taken from the owners since the dayes of king Henry should be restored vnto them who were rightly possessed therein when the said king raigned 4 That all such Castles as had beene built by the permission of Stephan and in his time which were found to be 1117 should be demolished c. There is a Charter of this agreement in our Annals which hath other Articles of reseruation for the estates of particular persons And first for William the second sonne of Stephan to enioy all the possessions his father held before he was king of England and many other particulars of especiall note After this pacification and all businesse here setled Duke Henry returnes into Normandy and likewise there concludes a peace with the king of France and for that he would be sure to haue it buyes it with twenty thousand Markes And now king Stephan hauing attained that he neuer had Peace which yet it seemes he enioyed not a yeare after vses all the best meanes he could to repaire the ruines of the State makes his progresses into most parts of the kingdome to reforme the mischiefes that had growne vp vnder the sword and after his returne cals a Parliament at London to consult of the best meanes for the publicke good After the Parliament he goes to meete the Earle of Flanders at Douer who desired conference with him and hauing dispatcht him fals presently sicke dies within few dayes after and was buried in the Abbey he founded at Feuersham with the vnfortunate Princes A man so continually in motion as we cannot take his dimension but onely in passing and that but on one side which was war on the other we neuer saw but a glance of him which yet for the most part was such as shewed him to be a very worthy Prince for the gouernment He kept his word with the State concerning the relieuement of Tributes and neuer had Subsidie that we find But which is more remarkeable hauing his sword continually out and so many defections and rebellions against him he neuer put any great man to death Besides it is noted that notwithstanding all these miseries of warre there were more Abbaies built in his raigne then in 100. yeares before which shewes though the times were bad they were not impious The end of the third Booke Errata For the Faults committed herein Charitable Reader know they are not the Printers who hath bin honestly carefull for his part but meerly mine owne freely confessing my selfe to be more an honorer then searcher of antiquities that lie far off from vs and onely studious of the generall notions which especially concerne the succession of affaires of action which is the part I haue vndertake And therefore I trust all worthy spirits in that respect will pardon me and reforme my knowledge rather by way of conference then detraction for no man truly ingenious is malignant And if Iliue after this priuate impression which is but of a few coppies for my friends I will amend what is amisse in the publique I haue gote ouer the worst and roughest part of this worke and am now come into a more playne and open passage where I shall be better able to stand to answer for what shall be done and I trust haue more helpes of my frendes and all worthy men that are furnisht with matter of this nature whom I inuoke to assist mee and who seeing my honest ends I trust will not deny their Country the knowledge of what they haue And especially herein I rely vpon the ayde of the right worthy and well-deseruing knight Sir Robert Cotton who out of his choyce and excellent store can best furnish this worke FINIS Caes. comment libro 5. Complures sunt apud cos dominationes Strabo lib. 4. Cic. in Ep. ad Atticum vbi belli Britannici exitiâ— expectari scribit nullius ex ea spem praedae nisi ex mancipijs ait ex quibus nullos puto te literis aut musicis cruditos expectare Et lib. de Nat. Deorum paris eos cum Scithis barbaries insimulat Ingenio GalloruÌ„ partim simileis sunt partim simplicioreis magis barbari Srabo lib. 4. And it was after the subiection of Gaule that they intertayned Philosophers and physitions for publique Readings and became a schoole for those parts as we may perceiue by Strabo libro 2. Nostra aetate inquit Strabo lib. 4. Regulorum quidem Britanicorum legationibus officys amicitiam Augusti Caef. consecuti donarâ—a in Capitolio dedicarunt familiaremque Romanis totam pene insulam redigerunt And at that time it seemes by Strabo held it not worth the garding for that it would not quit the charge Camolodunum now Maldon Noticia The end of the Romans Gouerment in Britayne Anno. 447. Gildas de excidio Britaniae The State of the Saxons Vortigern is deposed Vortimer elected King of Brittayne King Arthur The seuerall entries made by the Saxons The absolute subuersion of Britayne Egbert obteyned the kingdome which by him was named EngLind Anno. 802. The discription of the Danes Alfred 872. Mat. Westm. The first furuay of the kingdome Edwardus Senior 900. Anno. 924. Edmond 940. Edred or Eldred 946. Edwin 959. Saint Edward 975. Elfred his stepmother is sayd to haue murthered him hunting in the Isle of Purbeck Ethelred 978. The originall of Dane gelt the first imposition laid vpon the kingdome The massacre of the Danes 1002. Edmond Ironside sonne to Ethelred by his first wife Ethelgina 1016. The death of King Edmond Ironside at Oxford Knute the first Danic King 1018. 1038. Harald Hardiknute 1041. The reason of the extinction of the Danes in England Anno 1043. Edward the Confessor 1043. Harald the Second 1066. Malmsbury The originall of the Normans Or Osborne The English Nobilitie forsake the kingdome Scotland before this time generally spake a Kind of Irish. Edgar Atheling submitted himselfe to King William His gouernment in peace Geruasius Tilburiensis The new Forest in Hamshire His Councellors Roger Houedew An Emperour of Germanie 2. Kings of France with their wiues a King of England and a King of Norwey went all thither in person The antiquity of Informers This Ranulph gaue a thousand pounds for his Bishopricke and was the Kings Chancellour Anno Reg. 20. Queene Maud liued not to see this disaster Anno Reg 21 His gouernment in peace The cause of Progresses The begining of Parlements The first Parlement at Salisbury Anno. Reg 15. His reformations His meanes to raise monies His Councellors His personage Presumptions 1154. He raigned 18 yeares and 10 moneths