King Tros is called Troia which name long time after it retained This King had three Sons Ilus Assaricus and Ganimedes all which he brought up in the knowledge of Arms and Martial Discipline unto which kinde of study he himself was much addicted and had many years together maintained Wars with the King of Grete named Jupiter the fourth of that name there In which Wars his Son Ganimedes was taken prisoner even by the hands of Jupiter himself who for that in his Ensign and Colours The Antiquity of bearing of Arms and badges of honour he gave an Eagle being his arms it should seem that Poets for that cause have feigned that Ganimede as he was hunting was snatcht up to heaven by Jupiter then transformed unto an Eagle and that he is now taken for one of the 12. Signs of the Zodiack called Aquarius Some other Authors also write that one Tantalus King of High Phrygia and Paphlagonia a most miserable covetous and avaricious Prince had laid certain snares and private means to entrap Ganimede and to take him prisoner as he used to sport himself in Hunting thinking by that devise to get a mighty ransom from Tros for redeeming of him and that this Tantalus sent him to Jupiter for to secure him and to have half the ransom that should be payed for his delivery and hence it may be that the Poets feign that Tantalus is plagued and tormented in Hell standing up to the chin in water and apples hanging down to his lips and yet can neither touch the one nor taste the other Tros thus having lost his son studied upon revenge and in the mean time comforted himself with his two other sons Ilus and Assaracus and this Ilus called Troy afterward Ilion who begot a son named Laomedon the father of the renowned Priamus and of Assaracus issued and came Anchises who was father to Æneas who as we said before married Creusa a legitimate daughter of King Priamus so that we see both by the Male and Female line in this marriage our Warlike Brute derives his lineal descent from Dardanus and so from Noe. Æneas after the fatal destruction of Troy gathered together the remnant and parcel of the War-shaken and distressed Trojans with whom he embarked and hoysing sail committed himself with the lives and fortunes of all his followers and fellow Adventurers to Fate and the protection of the Supream and highest Providence three years was he tossed not only with the merciless billows of the ever-unconstant Ocean but also by such Destinies as seemed no ways to favour his designs at last smiling fortune wasted his weather beaten Navy unto the Italian Continent where no sooner arrived having scarce refreshed his over-toyled Troops but Mars puts him upon present action Latinus king of the Country endeavours to impeach his setling and denies him admittance from words they come to blows Bellona seems to take no small pleasure to hear the groans of souls departing from their bodies ready to forsake their long enjoyed habitations many are the assaults approaches conflicts and combats which daily pass betwixt the two enraged parties the one labouring to encroach the other to keep his own Venus not willing to have Mars too long kept from her charming and soft embraces contrives to set a period to those bloody broyls a match must be concluded between the unparalleld Trojan Heroe and the fair Lavinia Latinu's daughter and sole inheritrix of that vast Kingdom Lucina favours the design and from this new married Couple of Matchless Progenitors in due time is born a son from whose loyns the worlds greatest Emperours and Brittains Warlike Kings deduce their Progenies From this branch budded forth our Brutus Some Writers will have him to descend from Silvius Posthumus Policronica Guido de Columna with others affirm that Ascanius the first son of Aenaeas by his first wife had a son named Sylvius Aenaeas who was Father to Brutus It is commonly held that the mother of Brutus died in Child-bed of this son and that at his coming to the age of fifteen years casually many and secret are the designs of the Celestial Star-chamber shooting at a wild and savage beast unfortunately though not ungraciously as being an act contrary to his will or intention slew his own Father for which Act divine Providence having designed him for this our Iland by the common consent and decree of the Magistrates of Latium he was adjudged to exile and for ever to be banished from his Country Necessity compels him to shift for himself neither yet so distressed or ill beloved but that he is followed by Troops of the noblest and most Heroick Spirits of his time who partly attracted by that worth which they finde innate in him and partly pusht forward with an ardent desire to purchase honour to their never dying fames engage both lives and fortunes â—ith him being now sufficiently stored with all manner of Provisions they put to Sea shaking hands for ever with their beloved Country Friends and Parents as having Spirits not confin'd to any one place Their propitious stars bring them to a province of Greece where they find encouragement as finding there many scattered Trojans so that of this unexpected aid I may say with the Prince of Poets Quid minime veris Graia pandetur ab urbe The Prince or King of this place according to some was called Vandrasus other Writers call him Vandarus Geffery of Monmouth proceedeth further and tells us that he was lineally descended from Achilles that mortal enemy of the Trojan glory and Hectors valour but Brute gathering these dispersed or it may be captived and enthralled Trojans which he found there and old Innicie received from Vlisses Agamemnon and other Chieftains of Greece sticking in their stomacks of the firing of old Ilium and the Dardanian Towers galls the almost closed sore whets his memory to call to mind things past and those once raked out of the embers of oblivion gather new flames and set all on fire with an unquenchable desire of Revenge which is so sweet and tickles the souls of those male-contents that nothing but fire and sword will serve their turn Pandrasus is assaulted in his own Court and so hardly put to â— that he is enforced to purchase his own peace by bestowing his daughter Ignogen upon Brutus and such other conditions as the almost conquering strangers please to demand the Solemnitie of these constrained Nuptials orderly finished the Trojans mutually consent to leave that place and put themselves upon new Adventures Ships are provided and questionless Vandrasus is not backward in the business willing to be rid of such unruly Guests who will take all things upon score at their own price and rates once more to Sea goes this gallant Chieftain with his new espoused Consort and Post varios casus tot discrimina rerum the whole Fleet safely arrives at an Isle in Africa as saith Guido and others called Lergesia or Leogetia in which the Superstitious
building of London or thereabouts builded the City of York calling it then Kair Baruch as both Brittains and Saxons ancient and modern agree where as Harding and Stow with others affirm he seated an Arch-Flamen He made a Temple in Ebrank City Of Diane where an Arch-Flamen he set Harding To rule Temples at that time was his det In the twentieth year of his Reign saith Mr. Stow he built Kaer Ebrank by the Saxons called Evorwick now corruptly York wherein he builded a Temple to Diana and set there an Arch-Flamen and was there buried when he had reigned sixty years Thus ancient these our Historians make Arch-Flamens in Brittain as I have related their very words not that I think the name and word Arch-Flamen but only their Office and Calling among the Gentiles to have been so ancient as the time assigned to our Brutus but of younger continuance and age by divers hundreds of years the word Flamen not known till the time of Numa Pompilius and taken from a kind of Attire worn upon their heads upon Festival days yet the Office of Flamen and Arch-Flamen Pontifex and Summus Pontifex was always the same among the Pagans Three Arch-flamens he made through all Brittain Harding As Arch-bishops now in our Laws been Three Temples all to govern and Domaine At Troynovant one Logres to overseen Her false gods to serve and to queme At Ebranch another for Albany And at Caerleon for Cambre one soveranly And this is so evident a Truth in Histories that the Bishop himself which before with one only opposed against Arch-flamens freely confesseth that at this time Arch-flamens Bishops were placed in these three Cities in Brittain and in them only Mr. Broughton fol. 281. 3. 2. Age. Godwin Cat. of Bish in Lond. Edit Anno 1615. where so many saith my Author have testified and shall testifie hereafter further these Arch-flamens were resident Thus he writeth At what time Christian Religion was first publickly received in this Island there were established in the same 28. Sees or Cathedral Churches which were the Seats of Arch-flamens and Flamens as shall be shewed hereafter with their names whereof three were Archbishopricks York whose Province was Scotland and the North of England c. Another Author saith Eboracensi vero scilicet Archiepiscopo tota terra Northumbrina ab arcui Humbri fluminis cum tota Albania To him of York all Northumberland from Humber with all Albania i. e. Scotland which is confirmed by these words Eboracensi Deira Albania under York Deira and Albania Giraldus Cambrensis according to the Tome or Book of St. Anacletus M. B. fol. 167. which divided this Island into five Provinces relateth as divers modern and others in this manner Giral Com. l. de sedis Mene vensis dignitate Matthew Parker lib. Antiq. Brit. p. 24. T. Pris defen Histo Brit. p. 73. 74. To. Leland Indice Brit. aut v. Brit. Beat. Renanus c. ibidem as he saith he found it then both in Papal and Imperial Acts and Constitutions Juxta Provinciarum numerum quas tempore gentilitatis habuerit Insula quinque Metropoles Juxta Tomum enim Anacleti Episcopi Romani sicut in Pontificalibus Romanorum gestis Imperialibus continetur directum Galliarum Episcopis juxta statum Gentilium ante Christi adventum Britannia habuit provincias numero quinque Britanniam primam Britanniam secundam Flaviam Maximiam Valentiam Prima dicta est occidentalis Pars Insulae Britannia secunda Cantia Tertia Flavia quae Mercia Quarta Maximia id est Eboraca Quinta valentîa scilicet Albania quae nunc abusive Scotia dicitur According to the number of Provinces which it had in the time of the Pagans the Island of Britany hath five Metropolitan Cities for according to the Tome of Anacletus Bishop of Rome as it is contained in the Decrees of the Popes of Rome and Emperors directed to the Bishops of France according to the State of the Gentiles before the coming of Christ Brittain had five Provinces Brittain the first Brittain the second Flavia Maximia Valentia the first was the West part of the Island the second Kent the third Flavia called also Mercia the fourth Maximia that is to say York the fifth Valentia Albania now corruptly called Scotland The Metropolitan City of the first Brittain was Caerlegeon The Metropolitan of the second Dorobernia now Canterbury In the third London in the fourth York and in the fifth Alba taken to be the City now named St. Andrews Thus far Giraldus of St. Anacletus Tome extant in his time as he hath witnessed Caerlegion the first Metropolis of the five in this Isle York is now esteemed the second City of England by some though others think Norwich and not a few Bristoll both for fame and greatness a pleasant large and stately place well fortified and beautifully adorned as well with private as publick Edifices and rich and populous withall seated on the river Ouse which cutteth it as it were in twain both parts being joyned together with a fair stone bridge consisting of high and mighty arches A City of great fame in the Roman times and of as eminent reputation in all ages since and in the several turns and changes which have befallen this Kingdom under the Saxons Danes and Normans hath still preserved its ancient Custom adorned it was with an Archiepiscopal See in the time of the Brittains nor stooped it lower when the Saxons received the Faith Richard the second laying to it a little Territory on the west side thereof made it a County of it self in which the Archbishops of York did enjoy the rights of Palatines and for a further lustre to it Hen. 8. appointed there a Councel for the Government of the Northern parts consisting of a Lord President certain Councellors a Secretary and other Officers And yet in none of these hath York been more fortunate then that it hath adorned so many Princes of the Imperial Line of Germany and blood Royal of England The Line of YORK 1461. 36. Edward the IV. 23. 1483. 37. Edward the V. 1483. 38. Richard the III. With the Title and Honour Stile and attribute of Otho of Bavaria Earl of York Gules two Lions Passant Gardant Or. Edmund of Langley fifth Son to King Edward 3. Earl of Camb. and D. of York Edw. Plantagenet Son of Edmund of Langley Earl of Rutland and D. of York Richard Plantagenet Nephew of Edmund of Langley by his Son Richard Earl of Cambridge D. of York Richard of Shrewsbury second Son to King Edw. 4. D. of York Henry 2. Son to King Hen. 7. D. of York Charles 2. Son to King James D. of York James 2. Son of King Charles D. of York Let us return again to our valiant and fortunate King Ebranck who having happily and with great Successe finished his Forrain Wars and living in peace the mother of plenty at home lends all his cares and endeavours both to beautifie and strengthen
Brute entered Brittain eleven hundred and thirty six After Alexander the Great near upon a eleven hundred and twenty five After the building of Rome seven hundred and twenty nine GVIDERIVS GVIDERIVS the first Son of Kimbeline was advanced to the Legal command of the Brittains who were under his Fathers subjection he was invested in the year of the world 5216. Anno Dom. 170. This King was potent and abounded in Treasure which indeed are the sinews of War and was alwaies a Prince of Haughty courage and where wealth and courage meet almost miracles may be wrought if the cause be good and guided by a celestial providence but self-Love Pride and Arrogancy often bringeth confusion Guiderius bolstered up with these supporters denies the covenanted Tribute to the Romans which if thus confirmed by Authors Expletis diebus vitae suae cessit gubernaculum Regni Guiderio Mr. Bro. fol. 23. 8. cum ergo Tributum quod appetebant Romani ipsis denegaret supervenit Claudius qui in Imperium subrogatus fuerat When Kimbeline was dead Guiderius succeeeded in the Kingdome therefore when he denied the Tribute the Roman Claudius came hither being then Emperor Mr. Br. 335. And I have read in a very good Author That in Claudius the Roman Emperors time he with his Romans brought the Orchades and after them Anglesey under the Roman subjection though this Act be commonly ascribed to Julius Agricola Fabian confirms my Authors Assertion saying Wherefore Claudius who was Uncle to Caius Caligula the Fourth Emperor of Rome arrived in Brittain with a great Army and not only as writeth Polychronican constrained the Inhabitants to pay the Tribute but also subjected to the Roman yoke the Iles of Orchades or Orkeys which are scituate beyond Scotland and at the end of six Months returned to his Imperial City In this Army as tells us the English Chronicle and Gaufride was a Captain called Hame or Hamo who to compasse his purpose against the Ilanders changed his Armour and Shield arming himself like a Brittain and in this Disguise did extreme Damage unto his Enemies and still pressing forward at length came to the very place where King Guiderius was fighting and by this unexpected Stratagem and Policy slew him which his Brother Arviragus perceiving used the like policy immediately investing himself in Princely Array that the Fall of the King was not perceived and thus personating a Soveraign in his Regal Ensignes he encouraged the Brittains and by his own Example Courage and Valour so animated them that they did Feats beyond belief insomuch that they put the Romans to flight Thus was Guiderius by the opinion of several Authors slain by Hamo after he had reigned the space of twenty eight years leaving his Brother Arviragus by reason that he had no Issue of his own to succeed him ARVIRAGVS ARviragus the youngest Son of Kimbeline and brothor to Guiderius was Crowned King of Great Brittain in the year of Christs Incarnation forty and four The English Chronicle calls him Armiger he was a Prince of a high Spirit and skilful in warlike Affairs maintaining with great resolution and prosperous successe his Wars against the invading Romans neither suffered he the death of his Brother to passe unrevenged For with his own hands he slew Hamo the Murderer of Guiderius near a Port or Haven which by reason of that Fact was called Hamons Haven and now with some alteration South-Hampton a Town populous rich and beautiful from which the whole Shire deriveth her Name most strongly walled with square stone containing in Circuit one thousand and two hundred Paces having seven Gates for entrance and twenty nine Towers for Defence two very stately Keyes for Ships arrivage and five fair Churches for God's divine Service besides an Hospital called God's House wherein the unfortunate Richard Earl of Cambridge beheaded for Treason lyeth inter'd On the West of this Town is mounted a beautiful Castle in form Circular and wall within wall the Foundation upon a hill so topped that it cannot be ascended but by stairs carrying a goodly prospect both by Land and Sea and in the East without the Walls a goodly Church sometimes stood called St Maries which was pulled down for that it gave the French direction of Course who with fire had greatly endangered the Town instead thereof is newly Erected a small and unfinisht Chappel In this place saith Learned Cambden stood the ancient Clausentium a Fort of the Romans whose Circuit on that side extended it self to the Sea this suffered many depredations by the Saxon Pirates and in Anno 980. was by the Danes almost quite overthrown In K. Ed. 3. time it was fired by the French under the conduct of the King of Sicills Son whom a Countryman encountred and struck down with his Club he crying Rancon that is Ransome but he neither understanding his Language nor the Law that arms doth allow laid on more soundly I know thee a Francon and therefore thou shalt die And in Richard the Seconds time it was somewhat removed and built in the place where now it is In this Clausentium Canute to evict his Flatterers made tryal of his Deity commanding the Seas to keep back from his Feet but being not obeyed acknowledged God to be the only supreme Governour and in a religious Devotion gave up his Crown to the rood at Winchester Earls of this Southampton have been 1067. 1 Bevis of Hampton that famous Souldier so much talked of Azure 3 Lyons passant gardant Or. 2 William Fitz-Williams Losenge arg and Gules 3 Thomas Wricthesley L. Ch. created E. by Ed. 6. and King at Arms. 4 Henry Wricthesley 5 Henry Wricthesley 6 Thomas Wricthesley 1641. Azure a Cross Or 4 fulcons closed argent Policr l. 4. c. 8. cited by Fabian fol. 41. After divers changes and alterations in War and Peace an Agreement was concluded between Claudius the Roman Emperor and Arviragus insomuch that the Emperor sent to Rome for his Daughter Genniss or Gennissa and espoused her to the Brittish King who had by her his Son and Heir Marius his Successor in the Kingdome This King Reigned in Brittain when St. Joseph came hither Mr. Bro. f. 22. who gave to him and his Followers a place of Residence in lateribus suae Regionis in the outside of K. Arviragus his Countrey in Regionis suae finibus saith the first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury in the very end of his Dominion Math. Parker A late Writer speaking of King Arviragus saith Quidam Historici testantur ipse omnium Regum Brittannorum primus Joes Pitseus Rel. Hist in Arvirago Fidem Christi cum Sacramentis Christianis Christianus factus suscepit Some Historians witness that of all Brittish Kings he was the first that being made a Christian received the Faith of Christ with the Christian Sacraments Another thus plainly writeth of St. Joseph He converted to the Christian Faith Marius and Coillus Son and Nephew to Arviragus and John Harding is
Daughter to Hen. 7. and Grandchild to Owen Tudor lineally descended from the Prince of South-Wales Ferdinando Sans Issue male  William Earl of Derby Elizabeth Daughter to Edward Vere Earl of Oxon and Anne Cecil his Wife by which March as in the Pologâ—â—â— of Oxford Salisbury and Ex câ—â—â—â— appears this Family descends from the Brittish Princely Stâ—â—â— James Earl of Derby lost his head as a most faithfull and loyal Subject for his leige Lord King Charles of blessed memory Charlâ—t Daughter to the Duke of Tremulia Charles Earl of Derby Lord Stanley of Latham Lord Strange of Knocking and of the Isle of Man a faithfull Subject to his King a Patron to his Countrey and Terror to his Enemies  DErby is a part of the Coritain and took that name from Derby the cheif City a Town coveniently seated on the River of Derwent beautified with five Parish Churches a goodly stone Bridge and a large Market place and no less famous for good Ale than Banbury for good Cakes and Cheese finally the Town is well traded and of good resort and is the usuall place of holding Sessions and Assises for all the County The Countrey of the East and South parts well manured and fruitfull yielding a very spacious and pleasing prospect both out of Cutbury Castle and that of Boulsover The West part which they call the Peak is not so pleasing to the eye though possibly as profitable to the Purse being rich in Iron Lead and Coals which it yields abundantly and grazing multitudes of Sheep on the Mountain tops It contains in it 106 Parishes of the which eight be Market-Towns the chief thereof being Derby as before is said the Catalogue of whose Earls here followeth 1. William de Ferrars 2. William de Ferrars 3. William de Ferrars 4. Robert de Ferrars 5. Edm of Lancaster second Son to K. Hen. 3. after which this Title was continued in the House of Lancaster 6. Henry of Lancaster Son of Henry Earl of Lancaster created Earl of Derby in his Fathers life time 11. Edw. 3. 7. Henry of Bullingbrook son of John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster created Earl of Derby in his Fathers life 9 Ri. 2. 8. Thomas Stanley created Earl of Derby by K. Hen. 7. Lord Constable 9. Thomas Stanley 10. Edward Stanley 11. Henry Stanley 12. Ferdinando Stanley 13. William Stanley 14. James Stanley 15. Charles Stanley now Earl 1661. The End of the first Part or Tome CAMBRIA TRIVMPHANS OR BRITTAIN IN ITS PERFECT LUSTRE SHEVVING THE Origen and Antiquity OF THAT ILLUSTRIOUS NATION THE Succession of their Kings and Princes from the First to KING CHARLES Of Happy Memory The Description of the Countrey The History of the Antient and Moderne Estate The manner of the Investure of the Princes with the Coats of Arms Of the Nobility The Second Tome By PERCY ENDERBIE Gent. LONDON Printed for Andrew Crooke and are to be sold at the Green Dragon in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1661. TO HIS ROYAL GRACE THE DUKE BROTHER TO His Sacred Majesty MONARCH of Great BRITTAIN King of France and Ireland c. SIR GOld the sinue and nerve of war without which the greatest Princes and Polititians fall short of their desired ends and History the faithfull mirrour in which the most accomplish't of Commanders may dress and modifie themselves even to the very height of vertue and perfection in this walk hand in hand and keep an equal sympathy that whether they flow from the hands of Peers or Peasants they still retain the same vigour force and vertue why did great Alexander set so great an estimate upon grave Homers works but that he found in them examples worthy imitation and also inglorious deeds to be avoyded like Rocks in raging Tempests This work great Prince which most humbly begs your Protection as the safest Azylum proceeds from a pen altogether Rural yet doth it contain matter fit for imitation selected from Authors of faithfull integrity Behold a Constantius memorable for an Act recorded by many Ancient Historians who to make trial of true Christians and accordingly advance them first exiled from his Court all who would not perpetrate themselves and adore the Pagan Gods and after trial made the Complyers he abhor'd and revoked the constant refusers preferring them to places of greatest trust and honour affirming that they would never be true to a mortal Emperour that would be false to an immortal Diety Quomodo inquit fidem erga Imperatorem servare poterunt inviolatam qui adversus Deum optimum maximum perfidi esse manifesto convincuntur and therefore saith the same Author Decrevit secum hos qui se fideles erga D. O. M. declarassent in amicorum atque adeo consiliorum munero habere And for this and such like his pious and vertuous transactions Fertur Constantio Angelus astistisse which Pomponius Laetus in these words confirmes Cum Pater Caesarem fecerat celesti nuntio admonitus Constantinum c. The body of this glorious Caesar was first withall Princely solemnity interred at York and after translated to Carnarvon in the time of King Edward I. and by him commanded to be enshrined in that Church Apud Carnarvon maximi principis patris nobilis Imperatoris Constantini erat inventum rege jubente honorifice collocatum Thus we clearly see vertue and Noble actions not only crowned here upon Earth with glorious Sepultures and inscriptions but even approved by Heaven it self by Divine and Celestial Revelation Let us march a little further into the Court of Honour and great Theater where mighty Emperors and Monarchs act their parts and there we shall find a great Brittish Constantine the first Christian Emperor doing what taking in hand a doubtfull yet cruel war what did he then Deum quem pater sancte adoravisset solum observandum colendumque statuit Quo circa hujus opem precibus imploravit hunc oravit hunc obtestatus est ut tum quinam esset ipsi vellet significare tum rebus quas apud animum proposuisset dexteram velut adjutricem porrigere he resolved to have the true God whom his Father adored devoutly to be only adored and worshiped wherefore by his prayers he implored his help he prayed and intreated his aid him he besought to declare himself unto him and assist him in his enterprise and what followed these divine and Heavenly ejaculations and inspirations About noon the day somewhat declining Constantine saw in the Sky a lightsome pillar in form of a cross wherein were these words engraven In this sign overcome and the night following in his sleep he beheld Christ who said thus unto him Frame unto thy self the form of a Cross after the example of the sign which appeared unto thee and bear the same against thy Enemies as a fit banner or token of victory And that the effects were answerable to the divine promises hear what Eusebius relates as spoken by Constantine himself Hoc salutari figno vero fortitudinis judicio vestram
they did set forth to Sea upon any Voyage their custome was to choose out of the number of their Captives every tenth man to be murdered and offered up as a purging sacrifice to their profane Gods esteeming it a work of Religion and much more behooveful for them then to receive any ransome for redemption of such prisoners as they had taken The Saxons from whence The Ancestours of the Saxons as approved Authors report did fetch their Original from the Sacae a people of Asia that came first out of Scythia to Europe with the Goths Suevians and Dacians and being either by nature inclined to War or by necessity constrained thereto for supplying their own wants ranged oft times from place to place as men alwaies ready upon hope of spoyle to be drawn into any action or to encounter any peril whatsoever In processe of time they seated themselves in Cimbria Chersonesus now called Denmark and in the Raign of Dioclesian the Emperour became famous for their Piracies committed upon the Coasts of Brittain and the Lower Germany when Carausius being sent forth with a Navy to represse them under colour of that service attempted and with some difficulty attained the Empire Afterwards passing over the River of Elbe they intruded themselves by little and little into the ancient seat of the Suevians encroaching also upon Friseland and Holland The Brittains send for the Saxons then called Batavia the greatest number of them planting themselves in that part of Germany which is now called Saxonie These were the men whom the Brittains supposed best able and most likely to assist them and thereupon Messengers were sent to declare unto them that the fame of their valour and experience in warlick actions had moved the Brittains to require their aid against the barbarous and bloody people which assayed by force to subdue the whole Island that next the Romans who had now abandoned them Brit. Hist part 2. l. 1. they knew no Nation more worthy then theirs that the very terrour of the Saxon name if they should but once set foot in the Isle was able to daunt their enemies who were for the most part men unarmed unskilful in military affairs and many times confounded by their own multitude Firâ—â—ly that if they would undertake this War they should want neither provision of Victual or any thing else for their maintenance the Isle being very large and fruitful yielding abundance of all things that might serve either for profit or delight The Saxons being very glad of this occasion of employment which themselves would have sought if it had not been thus offered promise to satisfie the Brittains request by sending over with speed such able men as they had then in readinesse till further provision could be made and so the messengers were dismissed Hengist and Horsa arrive in Brittain The messengers had scarcely made report of their negotiation at their returne into Britain when the news came that certain Saxons under the conduct of Hengist and Horsa two brethren were landed upon the Coasts of Kent whereupon the Brittains from most parts thereabout ran to meet them receiving them with salutations songs and feastings after their country guife The time of the Saxons first arrival here by the testimony of their own Writers was in the year of our Redemption 450. But Vortiger the King and the chief of the Brittish Nobility entertained them in other manner giving them thanks for the great care and diligence which they had shewed by their speedy repair into the Isle and acquainting them further with the present estate of their affairs Agreement between the Brittains and Saxons against the Picts Then was there a contract made between both Nations namely that the Saxons should undertake the war against the Picts and Scottishmen and that the Brittains should provide for them all things Necessary thereto as Victualls Armour and Souldiers wages the charge whereof should be borne by the Brittains only who were to leavy the same by the way of tax to be imposed upon every Inhabitant within the Province according to his ability which contract with other Articles depending thereupon being ratifyed on both parts Hengist considering wisely the nature of the People with whom he was to encounter and the likely advantage of suddain attempts thought it best to take the first oportunity by leading the Saxons who were very desirous to fight and such of the Brittains also as he supposed fit for service into those parts where the barbarous enemy was lodged And to that end provision of Victual and other necessaries were made in such measure as the shortnesse of the time would permit The Scottishmen and Picts although they did not greatly fear the Brittains whose courage was much abated by the ill successe that accompanied their late conflicts yet hearing that new supplies of strangers were arrived to assist them Brit. Hist part 2. l. 1. fol. 182. they waxed more wary keeping themselves for the most part in their strength and now upon certain intelligence of the approach of a well ordered Army they resolved to try with them the fortune of a set battail wherein they found themselves more hardly matched then in former times by reason that the Saxons nimbly avoiding the darts and spears wherewith they were assailed did fiercely rush upon the Picts and with their keen swords and weighty axes The first victory of the Saxons against the Picts made way through the thickest Troops So that having borne down the most valliant before them they enforced the rest to forsake the field and save themselves by flight After this victory they returned to the Isle of Thenet which at their first arrival was assigned to them for a place of Residence and Hengist their Captain fortified there divers places for defence hoping by that means both to keep his own Territory in surety as also as occasion might serve to inlarge it for he apprehended it as a matter of no great difficulty to make a conquest of the East part of the Isle considering that the natural Inhabitants were already brought upon their knees the King himself given over to ease and pleasure and in his own conceit the more secure the lesse he entermedled with publick affairs that the state of the war now in hand rested meerly in his own direction and the more freely he was trusted the more safely might he deceive that though he was sent for to help the Brittains yet this fair occasion being offered which Fortune seemed to have cast into his lap he had no reason to neglect it by seeking other mens advantage rather then his own And for the Contract made with them he was no further bound to it then the Brittains themselves who had already failed in performance of some Covenants that the breach of one dissâ—â—veth all the rest and finally that in him who hath power to prevail where he attempâ—â—â— nothing can be judged unlawful With those and other like
satisfaction for his former lewd living but casting that aside he seemed with his coule or hood and habit to cast away also all shame and feeling of piety and religion and humanity it self much more Gildas setteth down which drew upon the Brittish Nation the just vengeance which almighty God poured down upon them Cadwane Cadwane Duke of Northwales was made Soveraign of the Brittains Howe 's fol. 56. who gave strong battail to Ethelfred King of Northumberland and forced him to entreat for peace After which concord being made they continued all their life time loving friends he reigned twenty two years The Kingdom of the East Saxons began under Ercheminus about the year of Christ 614. The Kingdome of Mercia or middle England began under Penda 626. Hollenshed also saith that he reigned 22 years though saith he some allow but 13 and was slain by the Northumbers Cadwallin Cadwallin the son of Cadwane ruled over the Brittains How fol. 56. b. St. Martins in London by the Brittains he warred strongly upon the Saxons and made Penda King of Mercia tributary to him He reigned 48 years and was buryed in London in the Church of St. Martine neer unto Ludgate which Church was then new-founded and builded by the Brittains in anno 677. An other Authour maketh a longer relation of this Kings reign Holl. fol. 166. Edwin was not son to Ethelfred but to Alla or Ella and tells us that Cadwallo for so he calls him and Edwin the son of Ethelfred were brought up in France being sent thether unto Solomon King of Brittain by Cadwane when they were very young for this he cites Gaufred and that after their return into this land when they were made Kings Cadwall of the Brittains and Edwin of the Northumbers there continued for the space of two years great friendship betwixt them till at lenghth Edwin required of Cadwall that he might wear a Crown and celebrate appointed solemnities within his dominion of Northumberland as well as Cadwall did in his Country Cadwall taking advice in this matter at length by the perswasion of his Nephew Brian he denyed to grant unto Edwin his request wherewith Edwin took such displeasure that he sent word unto Cadwall that he would be crowned without his license since he would not willingly give it whereunto Cadwall answered that if he did so he would cut off his head under his Diadem if he presumed to wear any within the confines of Britany Hereupon discord arising betwixt these two princes they began to make fierce and cruel war each of them against the other and at length joyning in battail with their main armies Cadwall lost the field with many thousands of his men and being chased fled into Scotland and from thence got over into Ireland and finally passed over the seas into Brittain the lesse called Armorica where of his cofin King Solomon he was courteously received and at length obtained of him ten thousand men to go with him back into his Country to assist him in recovering his lands and dominions the which in the mean time were cruelly spoyled wasted and plundered by K. Edwin The same time Brian the Nephew of Cadwall whom he had sent into Brittanie a little before to kill a certain Wisard or Southsayer whom K. Edwin had gotten out of Spain named Pelitus who by disclosing the purpose of Cadwall unto Edwin greatly impeached Cadwals designes he fortified the City of Exceter meaning to defend it till the coming of Cadwall whereupon Penda King of Mercia besieged that City with a mighty army purposing to take it and Brian within it Cadwall advertised hereof immediately after his arrival hasted towards Exceter and dividing his people into four parts set upon his enemies and took Penda and overthrew his whole army Penda having no other shifs to escape submitted himself wholly unto Cadwall promising to become his liegeman and to fight against the Saxons in his quarrel And this Penda being subdued Cadwall called his Nobles together which had been dispersed abroad a long time and with all speed went against Edwin King of Northumberland and slew him in battail at Hatfield with his son Osfride and Godbold King of the Isles of Ockney who was come thither to his aid By this it should appear that Fabian hath gathered amiss in the account of the reigns of the Brittish Kings for it appeareth by Beda and others that Edwin was slain in the year of our Lord 634. And whereas Fabian attributeth that act and divers others unto Cadwan father of Cadwall yet both Galmon and Beda with the most part of all other writers say that it was done by Cadwall Hollenshed ut sup Harding assigneth but 13 years to the reign of Cadwall and declareth that he died in the year of our Lord 606. in the which year as he saith Cadwall began his reign which opinion seemeth best to agree with that which is set down by others But to return to Cadwall and his acts as we find them recorded by the Brittish writers After he had got this victory against the Northumbers he cruelly pursued the Saxons as though he meant so far as in him lay to destroy the whole race of them out of the land of Brittain and sending Penda against King Oswald who succeeded Edwin though at the first Penda received the overthrow at Havenfield yet afterwards Cadwall himself highly displeased with that chance King Oswald slain pursued Oswald and fought with him at a place called Bourne where Penda slew the said Oswald After that Oswald was slain his brother Osunus succeeded him in the government of the Northumbers and sought the favour of Cadwall now ruling as King over all Brittanie and at length by great gifts of gold and silver and upon his humble submission he obtained peace till at length upon disgust Penda obtained leave of Cadwall to make wars against the said Osunus in with Penda himself was slain Then Cadwal granted after the space of two years Vlfridus the son of Penda should succeed in the Kingdom of Mertia Cadwall absolute Prince of all Brittain and thus Cadwall ruled things after his own will and pleasure and finally when he had reigned as before is said as years he departed this life the 22d. of November His body being embalmed and dressed with sweet confections was put in a brazen Image by mervalous art melted and cast the which being set on a brazen horse of excellent beauty the Brittains erected aloft upon the West gate of London called Ludgate in sign of his victorious conquests and for a terror to the Saxons Cadwallader Cadwallader the last King of the Brittains descending from the Noble race of the Trojans by extreme plagues of death and famine was driven to forsake this his native Country and Kingdom and to sojourne with a great number of his Nobles and Subjects with his Cosin Alan King of Little Brittaine which is called in the Brittish tongue Lhydaw Of the first inhabiting of
Masbrook Chitbury Caurs Clonn which are now in Shropshire Ewyas Lacy Ewyas Harold Clifford VVinsorton Yardley Huntington VVhitney Loghardneis in Herefordshire Also this country of Southwales as all the rest of Brittain was first inhabited by the Brittains which remain there to this day saving that in divers places specially along the sea shore they have been mingled with Saxons Normans which the VVelsh history calleth Frenchmen and Flemings For that the Princes of VVales since the conquest of the Normans could never keep quiet possession thereof but what for strangers and what for disloyalty of their own people vexation and war were for the most part compelled to keep themselves in Caermardhenshire This shall suffice for the description of the Country After this great King had as it is said before disposed of his affairs had had war with Burchved King of Mercia which by the aid of Ethelwaph entred Northwales with a great power and destroyed Anglesey fought with the VVelshmen divers times and slew Meric a great Prince amongst them 846. Math. West Kongen P. of Pendieth at Rome 871. The year 846. was Ithel King of Gwent or Wetland slain in fight by the men of Brechnoch and in the year 854 Kongen King of Powis died at Rome being slain or choaked as some say by his own men Much about this time dyed Gwyan King of Cardigan This was that noble Gwyan ap Mevric ap Dunwal ap Arthen ap Sitsylt King or Prince of Cardigan who as some Brittish books have was at this time drowned by misfortune The Danes having entred the land being with shame and ignominy beaten and repulsed and compelled to abjure the Isle they bent whether equivocally or perfidiously their force against Wales and entred the Isle of Môn with a great army in the year of Christ eight hundred seventy three where Roderick gave them two battails one at a place called Menegd in Anglesey Dav. Powel fol. 34. 879. I find also saith my Authour that about this time Halden and Hungare two Captains of the Danes arrived in Southwales and overrun the whole Countrey destroying all before them with fire and sword neither sparing Churches nor Religious houses but within a while after they received their deserved reward at the hands of the West Saxons who awaiting for them on the coasts of Devonshire slevv both Halden and Hungare vvith 1200 of their people At this time Endon Bishop of Menevia or St. Davids died and Hubert was installed in his place And within two years after Dungarth King of Cornwal was drowned by a mischance In the year 876 the Englishmen entred into Anglesey and fought with the Welshmen a sore battail who in the year following slew Roderike King or Prince of Wales and Gwyriad his brother or as some say his son This Roderike had by his wife Enharad the daughter of Meyric the son of Difnwal or Dunwal the son of Arthen ap Sytsylt divers sons as Anarawd his Eldest son to whom he gave Aberfraw with Northwales Cadelh the second son vvho had Dinevour vvith Southvvales and also took Mathraval and Powis land by force from his brethren after the death of Mervin the third son to whom the father had given the same A Welsh manuscript which I have saith Rodri the great did bear G. a cheveron between three Roses arg Quarterly Gules and Or four Lions passant gardant Counterchange The Authour who sets down this coat as belonging to this King or Prince Mr. Mills catologue of honour fol. 209. compendiously gives us this relation Roderike the great in Welsh called Rodero Mawr Prince of all Wales a man of much strength and courage the son Essilt begotten by Mervin King of the Isles whose Grandfather by the Mothers side was Conan the son of Roderike the son of Idwall the son of Cadwallader the last King of the Brittains This Idwall conveyed the miserable Brittains that were oppressed and afflicted with the invasions and inroads of the Saxons into Cambria now called Wales and worthily governed them under the name and title of Prince of Wales Some are of of opinion that the Cambres were called Welshmen by this Idwallo as in old time the Brittains took their name from Brute But this is of no more truth then theirs is that would have them of one Wallo their Duke and governour or of Wendola a Queen of whom there is no mention made among them This Roderike of all the Princes of Wales The Authour also put Camber before Albanact preferring Wales before Scotland was the first that caused the histories of the Brittains to be written He renewed good Lawes he caused strong Castles to be built and procured that Churches or Temples should be kept and maintained for Divine Service at his decease he left the Principality of all Wales to be divided unto his three sons following the example of Brute who made Locrine Camber and Albanact Kings This matter of division was the very true and first Originall of the Welsh mens ruine as being divided into three Kingdomes which they called Principalities For allbeit whilst they lived one man held and maintained his own with much stoutness and magnanimity yet their posterity being distracted and falling to war among themselves were enforced every each to defend his part as well from their general enemies the English as from their Neighbours and Countreymen the Welsh by which the whole Kingdome of VVales was wrackt and overthrown Roderike ended his life in the eighty ninth year of his Age Mr. Wills ut ante and in the year of Christ eight hundreed seventy seven Alured the son of the godly King Ethelwolph being then King of the English Saxons He was buryed at Keyby Castle in Anglesey Engharad Princesse of VVales Wife of Roderike the great was daughter and heir to Meirich the son of Dyfnwal the son of Arthen ap Sytsilt King of Cardigan Their Issue Mervin Prince of Venâ—dosia or North-Wales of whom more hereafter Anarandus was second Son to whom his Father gave the 105. Cantreds or hundreds of Powis Land and for that of all his Brethren he was the most valiant and approved Warriour he seated him in the Marches or Borders of VVales his principal Seat and Mannour was at Mathraval The patrimony of this Anarandus namely the Principality of Powis in process of time devolved and came into the hands of a Woman named Hawis as her Right and Inheritance She being married to one John Chorlton an Englishman enfeoffed him with her Right and made him Lord of Powis From this Family it descended at last to the Greys of the North and thereby utterly lost that Name and Title of Principality For Andornus or Owen the Father of Hawis or Avis being called and sent for to a Parliament which King Edward the First held at Shrewsbury by the Decree and Judgment of the King and Barons took his Lands to be held in Capite under the Title and Tenure of Free Baronage of England and
contains in it 248. Parishes and in them 18. Market Towns the chief whereof is Dorchester as that which doth denominate the whole County A Town not much famous for much else then that it hath long been and doth still continue the honorary title of those noble Personages which have been severally Marquesses and Earls OF DORSET 1 Osmond de Sees E. 2 John Beaufort Marquess L. Adm. 3 Thomas Beaufort Earl Duke of Exceter Lord Chancellor and Lord Admiral 4 Edmund Beaufort E. and Marque 5 Henry Beaufort Marq. 6 Edmund Beaufort Marq. 7 Thomas Grey Marq. 8 Thomas Grey Marq. 9 Henry Grey Marq. D. of Suffolk 10 Thomas Sackvile Lord Buckhurst created Earl of Dorset 10 Jacobi Lord Treasurer and Chancellour of Oxford 11 Robert Sackvile E. 12 Richard Sackvile E. 13 Edward Sackvile E. Lord Chamberlain to the Queen 14 Edward Sackvile now Earl of Dorset 1661. The Earles of Salisbury and Exceter RObert Sitsylt came into Wales with Robert Fitz Hamon who conquered Jestin Prince of Glamorganshire an inheretrix by whom he had Halterennis and other lands in Herefordshire and Glocestershire James Sitsylt Esq  Iohn Sitsylt Esq The Lady Maud de Frenes Eustace Sitsylt Esq Elianor daughter to Sir VVill. Pembridge Knight Sir Baldwin Sitsylt Knight temp Hen. secundi daughter to Maurice de Brampton Esq Gerald Sitsylt Esq Mavil daughter to Sir Moygne Knight Robert Sitsylt Esq Alice daughter to Sir Rob. Trogois Knight James Sitsylt Esq Isabell daughter to Sir John Knell Knight Gerald Sitsylt Esq Margaret Daughter to Stephan de Ber. John Sitsylt Esq Sibil daughter to Robert of Ewyas Esquire Sir John Sitsylt Knight Alicia sister to Sir Richard Baskervile Knight Iohn Sitsylt Esq Jone daughter to sir Richard Monington Knight Thomas Sitsylt Esq Margaret daughter and heir to Gilbert de Winston Esq Philip Sitsylt Esq Margaret daughter to Iohn Philips Esq Richard Sitsylt Knight Cecil Esq Margaret daughter to Philip Vaughan Esq David Cecil Esq  Sir William Cecil Baron Burley Knight of the Garter c. Mary sister to Sir Iohn Cheek Kt. Rob. Cecil E. of Salisbury Elizab. d. to W. Brook L. of Cob. Will. Cecil E. of Salisbury 1661 Katherine d. to Tho. Howard E. of Suffolk Charles Lord Cranbourne Iane daughter to Maxwell Esq groom of the bed-Chamber to K. Charles of glorious memory Tho. Cecil E. of Exceter Dorothy d. and co-h to I. Nevil L Latimer Will Cecil E. of â—xceter Eliz. d h. of Ed. Mannors E. of Rutland D. Cecil now E of Exceter 1661 descended from a younger son of William L. Burley Eliz. d. to Iohn Egerton Earl of Bridgwater SALISBURY Salisbury is the chief City of Wilts it was at first seated high upon an hill as being a place designed for strength and war yet honoured for a while with a Bishops See and a fair Cathedral But the Bishops and the Clergy finding no good quarter amongst the Soldiers which were there in Garrison and being destitute of water upon so high an hill about the time of Rich. I. began to leave it and plant themselves down lower by the water-side being once setled there and raising a new Cathedral for Gods publick service the people also followed after and left old Sarum to it self which in short time became so totally deserted that now the ruines of it are hardly visible but for new Salisbury that grew up presently to a great renowne pleasantly seated on the river with water in every street thereof and for the populousness of the place plenty of provision and spacious market place and a fair Town hall is esteemed to be the second City of all that Tract and which adds no small lustre to it a place that hath been very fortunate in those eminent persons on whom the Kings of England have bestowed the title of Earls of Salisbury Earles of Salisbury Patrick d' Eureux Will. d' Eureux VVill Longespee base son to K. Henry 2. who married Ella daughter of VVill. d' Eureux VVilliam Longespee VVill. de Montacute VVill. de Mont. John de Mont. Tho. de Mont. Richard Nevil who married Elianor daughter of Thomas Mont. Lord Ch. Richard Nevil Earl of VVarwick George Duke of Clarence who maried Isabel daughter of Richard Earl of VVarwick Edward eldest son of King Richard 3. and Anne the second daughter of Richard Nevil Margaret daughter of George Duke of Clarence created Countess of Salisbury by King Henry 8. Robert Cecil Viscount Crambourne created Earl of Salisbury 3. Jacob. VVilliam Cecil now Earl of Salisbury 1661. EXCETER Exceter is now the chief City of Devonshire a fair and goodly seat it is placed upon the Eastern bank of the River Ex from whence it had the name of Exceter In circuit it contains within the walls about a mile and a half besides the suburbs which every way stretch out to a great length and in the circuit there are numbered fifteen Parish Churches besides the Cathedral the whole environed with deep ditches and very stronge wals having many Towers therein very well disposed and yet the animosity of the Inhabitants is a greater strength unto it then the walls or ditches whereof they have given notable proof in these later times to their great honour here followeth a Catologue of the Dukes Marquesses and Earles John Holland E. of Huntington made Duke of Exceter by Richard 2. Thomas Beaufort E. of Dorset Lord Ch. and Adm. made Duke of Exceter by King Henry 5. Iohn Holland Duke Lord Adm. Henry Holland Duke Lord Adm. Henry Courtney E. of Devon created Marquesse of Exceter by K. Henry 8. Thomas Cecil Lord Burley created Earl of Exceter 3. Jaco VVilliam Cecil David Cecil now Earl 1661. THE SECOND BOOK Arma Paterna year 877 ANARAWD the Son of Roderick began his Reign over VVales in the year of Christ 877. year 878 The year 878. died Fedan the son of Melht a noble man of VVales and the second year following there was a great Battel fought by the Danes and the Englishmen of Mercia against the Welshmen upon the River Conway where the VVelshmen had the Victory and this was called the Revenge of the Death of Roderick year 879 About this time Eveneth the Son of Bledrid a Baron of VVales died Forrain and alwaies pernicious and Anarawd King or Prince of North-Wales came with a great Army of English-men and made War against his Brother Cadeth and spoiled the country of Caerdigan and Ystradgwy The Danes being put hard to their shifts by Alfred left their Wives and children in Essex and passed spoiling the Land to * Forsan Cowbridge Quadbridge upon Severn and so passed the River and spoiled the countries of Brechnock Gwentland and Gwenthwg About the year 900. Igmond with a great number of Souldiers came to Anglesey and the Welshmen gaue him a Battel at Molerein There be some Brittish Copies of this History which affirm that this battel between Igmond Captain of the black Nations and the Brittains wherein Mervin was slain was
the cause ended This shall be sufficient for this time Some Authors write that Lhewelin ap Sitsylht who was after Prince of Wales assisted Edmund a Saxon King and entered Cumberland taking the two sons of Dummaille King of the Province put out their eyes and then gave that Country to Malcolme to be holden of him with condition to keep the North part of the Realm from incursion of enemies the which condition was afterwards but slenderly peformed This Malcome was the son of Donald King of Scotland and was the next King after Constantine the third being in number the 76. In the year 942. died Hubert Bishop of St. Davids and the year following Marclois Bishop of Bangor and Vssa the son of Lhavyr died the year 944. the Englishmen entered Wales with a stronge army and spoyled Strad Clwid and returned home At which time Conan the son of Elise was put in danger of death by poyson and Everus Bishop of St. Davids died In the year 948 died Howel Dha the noble and worthy King or Prince of Wales whose death was much lamented by all men for he was a Prince that loved peace and good order and that feared God he left behind him four sons Owen Run Roderike and Edwin betwixt whom and the sons of Edwal there ensued great wars for the chief rule of Wales as shall appear in the history following After the death of Howel Dha his sons did divide Southwales and Powis betwixt them And Janaf and Jago the second and third sons of Edwal Voel ruled North VVales because their elder brother Meyric was not a man worthy to rule who coming of the elder house would have had the chief rule of all Wales which the sons of Howel Dha denyed them And thereupon Jago or James and Janaf entred Southwales with a great power against whom came Owen the son of Howel and his brethren and fought together at the hills of Carno where Jago and Janaf had the victory And the year following the said brethren did twice enter into Southwales and spoyled Dinet and slew Dwnwalhon Lord thereof And within a while after dyed Roderike one of the sons of Howel Dha year 952 In the year 952. the sons of Howel gathered their strength together against Janaf and Jago and entred their land at the river of Conwy where they fought a cruel battail at a place called Gurgustu or Lhanrwst as some think where a great number were slain upon either side as Anarawd the son of Gwyriad or Vriel the son of Roderike the great and Edwin the son of Howel Dha in the which battail were overthrown the sons of Howel whom Janaf Jago pursued to Caerdigan destroyed their Country vvith fire svvord About this time Yarthyr the son of Mervyn vvas drovvned In the year 958 was a wonderful hot summer when Gwyan the son of Gwiriad the son of Roderike dyed After the which heat there followed a great plague in March ensuing In those dayes Jago and Janaf by force and strength ruled all Wales as they thought good And yet for all their power Abloic King of Ireland landed in Môn and having burnt Holyhead spoyled the country of Lhyyn year 961 In the year 961 the sons of Edwin the son of Colhoyn were slain after they had destroyed all the country to Towyn About this time Meyric the son of Cadvan Rytherch Bishop of St. Davids and Cadwalhon ap Owen departed out of this transitory life Not long after the country of Northwales was exceedingly spoyled by the army of Edgar King of England The cause of this was the not payment of the tribute that the King of Abersfraw by the lawes of Howel Dha was to pay to the Kings of London in the end there was a peace concluded Jo. Cast Holl. pag. 232. Wolves destroyed by the Prince of W. for King Edgar understanding what hurt the Countrys of England and Wales received daily by reason of the great multitude of Wolves that then abounded especially in Wales which destroyed much sheep and otherwayes did great harme released the tribute of money appointed by the said lawes of Howel Dha and bound the Princes of Northwales to pay him yearly certain Wolves for his tribute so to be released of the other tribute in mony which the said Prince performed untill he had left never a Wolf in all Wales or England year 966 In the year 966. Roderike the son of Edwal Voel was slain by the Irishmen by whom Abersfraw was destroyed The next year after fell a great debate betwixt the two sons of Edwal Jago and Janaf which had ruled joyntly together from the death of Howel Dha till that time and shortly after Jago having taken his brother Janaf by force very cruelly kept him in prison a long time about the which time Eneon the son of Owen Prince of Southwales wan seised to himself the land of Gwyr And in the year â—69 Machis the son of Haroald with an army of Danes did enter into Anglesey and â—poyled 〈◊〉 year 969 Theâ—â— â—â—â—nes were suffered by Edgar to inhabit quietly through all England till they â—â—re as strong as the Englishmen and then they fell to such ryotousness and drinking that â—â—ch mischief ensued thereof A law against immoderate drinking whereupon Edgar made a law that every man should drink by measure and caused a certain mark to be set in every pot how deep they should drink and so by these means he somewhat stayed the immoderate ingurgation Not long after that Godfryd the son of Haroald did subdue to himself the whole Isle of Anglesey which he enâ—oyed not long year 972 King Edgar likewise in the year 972 did send a great army to Gaâ—â—â—â—on upon Vsk which shortly turned back without doing any notable act Caerleon upon Vsk The next year following Howel the son of Janaf raised a great power against his Uncle Jago for the deliverance of his father out of prison and overcame his Uncle in fight whom he chased out of the land and took his eldest Unckle Meyric the son of Edwal and put out both his eyes and kept him in prison where he dyed shortly after leaving behind him two sons Edwal and Jonaval of the which Edwal came afterwards the most worthy Princes of Wales Howel notwithstanding he had set his father at liberty yet took upon himself the whole rule of the land for his lifetime He had three brethren all men of great estimation Meyrich Janaf and Cadwallon whose lines shall ensue hereafter Howel Son of Janaf After that Howel the son of Janaf had expelled his Uncle from the land Dunwalhon goes to Rome he took the rule to himself And at that time Dwnwalhon Prince of Strad Cwlyd took his journey to Rome Then dyed Edwalhon the son of Owen year 976 The year 976 Eneon the son of Owen King of Southwales destroyed the land of Gwyr the second time the year ensuing Howel the son of Janaf with a great army both of Welshmen
Castle of Ridcors and other castles thereabouts seeing they could not have the upperhand of Howel ap Grono in open fight fell to their accustomed practice of treason and so obtained their purpose in this manner There was one Gwgan ap Meyric who had nursed a son to Howel ap Grono and therefore very well trusted and beloved of him as the Custome of Wales is An odious detestable treason This Traitour being corrupted by the Normans procured his Masters death inviting him one night to his house to make merry whether he came willingly Then Gwgan gave notice to the Garrisous of the Castles who in the dawning of the day entred the Town and coming about the house gave a great shout which awaked Howel who couragiously leaped out of his bed and sought his weapons but the Traitor Gwgan had conveyed them away when he was asleep Then he called for his men but they were all fled to save their lives and as he would have gotten away The Welshmen still overthrown by their own nation he was taken by Gwgan and his company and strangled which cut off his head and brought it to the Castle of Ridcors and this traiterous murder of the Kings Lieutenant was left unpunished for whatsoever fault the Normans committed was alwaies winked at and if the VVelshmen did never so little offend the Laws of the King it was thought a most heinous and unpardonable Crime which was the cause that afterward they rebelled against the King who sought nothing but their utter destruction About this time Meirick and Gruffith the sons of Trabern ap Caradoc Easie for an Enemy to overcome where the natives destroy one another were both slain by Owen ap Cadogan ap Blethyn and Meredith ap Blethyn brake the prison where he had been a long time and recovered again his own Inheritance which he enjoyed in peace and Tranquillity The year 1108. the Rage of the Sea did overflow and drown a great part of the Low-Countries of Flanders in such sort that the inhabitants were forced to seek new dwellings and places of abode who came to King Henry and desired him to give them some void place to remain in who being very liberal of that which was none of his own gave them the land of Ros in Dynet or VVestwales where Pembroke Tenby and Hanerford are now built and there they remain to this day as well may be perceived by their speech and conditions far differing from that of the Countrey At that time Gerald the Steward dyed who built again the Castle of Pembroke in a place called Congarth Vechan and brought thither all his householdstuff and other goods with his wife and children Then also Cadogan ap Blethyn made a great feast in Christmas Christmas observed in those dayes and invited all the Lords of his Countrey to his house in Dynet among whom came Owem his son who being at his Fathers house and hearing Nest the Wife of Gerald Steward of Pembroke praised above all the Weomen in the land he was inflamed with a desire to behold her And forasmuch as Gladis daughter of Rees ap Theodore or Tewdor and Mother to Nest was daughter to Rywalhon ap Convin and cozen Germane to Cadogan his Father he with a few under the colour of Friendship or cosenage went to see her and finding the truth to surmount the fame he came home wounded with Love and in that doting humour the same night returned thither again with a crew of wild companions or Hectors entred the castle privately and compassed the chamber about and set the house on fire which awaked Gerald and his wife who would have issued out to know the cause of the Noise but his wife fearing some Treason impeached him and advised him to go to the Prince where drawing up the board she helped him out that way which done she came to the Chamber door and said that there was no body but she and her children yet they forced in and sought round about but not finding him they seized on her and her two sons and a son and a daughter born by a Concubine to Gerald and carried them away to Powis and burning the Castle they spoyled all the Country When Cadogan understood this rumour he was much displeased fearing the Kings heavy displeasure and forthwith went to Powis and commanded his son to send to Gerald his Wife and Children with his goods but Owen by no means would depart with the Lady yet at her request he sent unto Gerald his Children again And when Richard Bishop of London The Welsh still made authors of their own ruine whom the King had appointed Warden of the Marshes being at Shrewsbury heard of this he was highly offended and sent for Ithel and Madoc the sons of Kyrid ap Blethyn to whom he promised rich gifts and great rewards besides the rule of the Country if they could take or kill Owen to revenge the dishonour that he had done to the King and to them he added Lhywarch the son of Traburne ap Caradoc whose two brethern Owen had slain and Vchtrid the son of Edwyn which four promised the Bishop to bring him Owen and his father either alive or dead and thereupon forthwith gathered their power to destroy the whole Country but Vchtryd sent word privately before that all such of the People as would have their lives saved should come to him And when the Country heard this some fled to Arustly some t◠Melienith and some to Stradtywy and some to Dynet where Gerald was destroying the Country And at that time Walter Bishop of Hereford gathered an army to defend Caermarthyn and met with such as fled to Arustly and Mehenyth and destroyed a great number of them Those that went to Stradtywy were gently received by Meredyth ap Rytherck and Vchtryd saved all such as came unto him and thus these four came with their powers to the Castle of Rydcors and thought best to have entered the Country by night for fear of Ambuscado and to take Cadogan and Owen unawares but Vchtryd disswaded them from that stratagem counselling them to enter by day with their men in good order In the mean time Cadogan and Owen got a ship at Aberystwyth which was lately come from Ireland and escaped away so that the day after when they entered the Land they found none of those whom they sought for laying all the fault upon Vchtryd therefore they burned and plundered all the Country except the Sanctuaries of Padam and Lhandhewi Breni yet they took divers men out of those places and carried them away Prisoners and thus returned to their Castles again Owen with such as had been with him at the rape of the Lady and firing the Castle fled for Ireland to King Murcard who received him with great expressions of joy for he had been there before in time of the war of the two Earles in Anglesey or Môn and had brought the King rich gifts from Wales but
intending to deceive them who went about to do the like by him when the Enemies therefore came to the place where the Ambuscado was Haâ—m watch haâ—m catch the Earl Marshals army gave a great shout and so set upon their Enemies being unprovided and suddainly put them all to flight putting to the sword an infinite number of them as well Poictavians as others John of Monmoth himself escaped by flight whose Country with the villages buildings and all that he had therein the Earl Marshall did spoil and plunder leaving nothing but what fire and sword could not destroy and so full fraught with spoil returned home Salop taken by P. Lhewelyn Afterward in the week of Epiphanie Lhewelyn P. of VVales together with the Earl Marshall joyning their forces and entering the Kings land destroyed all with fire and sword from the confines of Wales unto the town of Salop which they also took and burnt a great part thereof enriching themselves with the plunder of the Country The King of England being all this while with the Bishop of Winchester â—t Glocester The K. careless of his honour little regarding war who for want of sufficient strength durst not meet his enemies in the field but being ashamed of the matter departed towards Winchester leaving the marches to be destroyed by the Enemies as any man might imagine The same year Richard Marshall Earl of Pembrock by councel of Geffrey de Marisco went with an army to Ireland where he was slain in fight by treason of his own Men after whom his brother Gilbert succeeded in the Inheritance Mr. Brook reporteth the story thus that whilst he with Lhewelyn was thus busied against the King word was brought him that Morice Fitz Girald and other Irish had sacked his Countries and Lands in Ireland Mr. Brook Alias Yorke fol. 270. upon the hearing whereof he hasted thither with fifteen Knights to encounter with his Enemies and joyned battail with them upon Saturday the first of April 1234. and fought eleven hours untill his horse was slain under him And then he falling to the ground one of the Irish perceiving his back part ill-armed lifted up his Habergeon and thrust a knife into his back up to the halft giving him his deadly wound and then brought him to a Castle of his own named Kilkenny which the said Morice had taken a little before from him where he died fifteen dayes after without issue What K. Hen. cannot do by the sword he thinks to do by the word In that year the King sent the Archbishop of Canterbury with the Bishops of Rochester and Chester to intreat with Lhewelyn to make peace with the King but they returned without doing any good Mathew Paris saith that the King going at this time to meet Edmond Archbishop of Canterbury and other Bishops which he had sent to conclude a peace with Lhewelyn Prince of Wales came to VVoodstock where being certifi'd of the death of the E. Marshall by certain messengers which came from Ireland he fell into great weeping and sorrow for the death of so valiant a Knight affirming withall that he had not left his Peer behind him in the Realm From thence he went to Glocester where the said Archbishop and Bishops coming unto him declared the treatice and form of peace taken between him and the said Lhewelyn The Welsh constant to their confederates in concluding of peace yet nevertheless upon this condition that the Noblemen of England which were confederates with the said Lhewelyn and by evill councel were exiled should first be reconciled to the King whereby the said peace might be more firm and stable Moreover the Archbishop said that with much ado they had brought the matter to that pass adding sometimes threatnings on the Kings behalfe with his Clergy To the which threatnings the said Lhewelyn is reported to have answered that he more regarded the Kings almes-deeds and his holy behaviour then he did fear the war of all his Clergy Then the King who wished peace with all his heart caused by his letters all the Nobles that were outlawes to be called again unto him to Glocester and Sunday before Ascension day next following to have their pardons and to receive their Inheritance Osculum paâ—â—â— which the King had seised into his own hands then Hubert de Burgh Earl of Kent came to the King and obtained his favour whom the King reverently embraced and kissed Prince Lhewelyn also this year set Gruffith his Son at liberty whom he had kept in prison six years for his disobedience and this year Cadwalhon ap Maelgon dyed and the next year Owen the Son of Gruffith ap Rees being a Noble Gentleman and very well beloved was buried by his brother Rees at Stratflur The year after Madoc the son of Gruffith Maylor Lord of the lower Powis or Bromfield Chirk and Pale a Man very just and mercifull dyed and was buried very honourably at the Abbey Lhan Egwest or Vale Crucis which he had built and left behind him a son named Gruffith to inherit his Lands also Owen ap Meredyth ap Rotpert ap Cydewen departed out of this World Marchan Castle The same year Gilbert Earl of Pembrock by treason got the Castle of Morgan ap Howel called Marchan and fortified it very strong for fear of the Prince The next spring Joan the daughter of King John Princess of VVales was buried upon the Sea-shore within the Isle of Anglesey at Lhanvaes as her pleasure was Lhewelyn builds a Fryery at Lhanvaes over his Wives Sepulchre where the Prince did build a house of barefooted Fryers over her grave In the year 1237. Lhewelyn Prince of VVales called all the Lords and Barons of VVales if any such title as Baron was amongst them it being altogether Norman as I conceive before him to Stratflur and there every one of them swore to be faithfull subjects and did homage to David P. Lhewelyns son An Act of a discreet Prince At this time Lhewelyn being impotent by reason of a palsey which had taken him and sore urged and disquieted by his son Gruffith sent Embassadours to the King to signifie unto him that forasmuch as his years were now well near spent The Prince of Wales whom power could not compel voluntarily submits himself he was desirous to lead the rest of his dayes in peace and quietness and therefore purposed now to submit himself to the government and protection of the King of England and that he would hold his lands of him promising withal that whensoever the King should stand in need of his aid he would be ready to help him with men and money to the utmost of his power There were sent as Mediators in this behalf the Bishops of Hereford and Chester who travelled about the same with the good liking of many of the Nobles of Wales although some openly opposed it and in no case would except of any such peace Then the said David
said Justice had no jurisdiction in those patts and not being contented to get Timber there for building as well of Ruthlan as of other places but also destroyed the same Woods sold it and carried it into Ireland 4. Item Where the said David took certain Out-lawes and Rovers in the Woods and caused them to be hanged yet the said Justice accused David to the King for succouring and maintaining the Thieves aforesaid which was not like to be true seeing he caused them to be hanged 5. Item It is provided in the peace that all the Welshmen and their causes should be judged after the Lawes of Wales This was in no point observed with the said David and his people Of these aforesaid griefs the said David required often amends either according to the Laws and Customs of Wales or of special favour but he could never obtain any of them both at his hands Further the said David was warned in the Kings Court that as soon as Reginald Grey should come from the Court Good service ill requited the said David should be taken and spoiled of his Castle of Hope his Wood should be cut down and his Children taken for Pledges who seeing he had taken great pains and peril for the King in all his wars as well himself as his people both in England and Wales and had lost thereby the most part of the Nobility of his Countrey and yet nevertheless could obtain neither Justice Amends nor favour at his hands having such great wrongs offered unto him and fearing his own life and his Childrens or else perpetual prison being enforced as it were against his will began to defend himself and his people Griefs and Injuries offered by the King and his Officers to the men of Ros. 1. This is the Form of peace which the King of England did promise the men of Ros before they did him homage which he promised them to observe inviolably That is to say That the King should grant to every of them their Right and Jurisdiction as they had in time of King Henry according as the said men do report that they had in the time of King Henry 2. Item The Lord the King did promise the same men that they should have Justice in their Suites after granting of the which Articles the said men did homage unto the King And then the King promised them with his own mouth faithfully to observe the said Articles This notwithstanding a certain Nobleman passing by the Kings high way with his wife in the Kings peace met certain English Labourers and Masons going to Ruthlan where they did then work A notorious ouragious murther and iniustice committed against the Welsh who attempted by force to take away his wife from him and while he defended her as well as he could one of them killed his wife and he who killed her with his followers were taken and when the kindred of her who was slain required Law at the Justice of Chesters hands for their kinswoman they were put in prison and the murtherers delivered 3. Item A certain man killed a Gentleman who had killed the son of Grono ap Heilyn and was taken but when certain of the kindred required justice before the Justice of Chester certain of them were imprisoned and the Offender set at liberty and justice denied to the kindred A profitable Judge to himself but unjust to the oppressed 4. Item Certain Gentlemen claimed some lands and offered the King a great sum of money to have justice by the Verdict of good and lawful men of the Countrey then the lands being adjudged to the Claimers Reginald Grey took the same lands corn goods and all upon the ground so that they lost their lands money corn and cattel 5. Item It is our right That no stranger should cut our Woods without our leave yet this notwithstanding A hard case there was a Proclamation at Ruthlan That it should be lawful for all other men to cut down our Woods but to us it was forbidden 6. Item Where divers honest men had lands of the gift of the said David the Justice taketh the said mens lands away A slavery worse than Jewish 7. Item When any cometh to Ruthlan with Merchandize if he refuse whatsoever any Englishman offereth he is forthwith sent to the Castle to prison and the Buyer hath the things and the King hath the price then the Souldiers of the Castle first spoil and beat the party and then cause him to pay the Porter and let him go 8. Item If any Welshman buy any thing in Ruthland and any Englishman do meet him he will take it from him and give him less than he paid for it 9. Item The King contrary to his promise made to the men of Ros hath given the Territory of Maynan Penmayn and Lhysuayn 10. Item Certain Gentlemen of the Cantref of Ros bought certain Offices and paid their money for the same yet the Justice of Chester took the said Offices from them without cause 11. Item Grono ap Heilyn took to Farm of Godfrey Marliney the Territory of Maynan and Lhysuayn for the term of four years yet Robert de Cruquer with Horses and Armes and 24 Horsemen came to vex the said Grono so that he had no safe going neither to Ruthlan nor Chester without a great guard of his kindred and friends 12. Item Certain Gentlemen were arrested for trespasses done before the wars and imprisoned and could not be delivered until they had paid 16 Mark which was contrary to the peace concluded 13. Item Our causes ought to be decided after the custome of our Lawes but our men be compelled to swear against their Consciences else they be not suffered to swear Furthermore we spent 300 Marks in going to the King for justice in the aforesaid Articles Sr. Reginald Gâ—ey a cruel Tyrant over the Welsh And when we believed to recover full justice the King sent to our parties the Lord Reginald Grey to whom the King hath set all the land to farm to handle the men of the said Cantref as it pleaseth him who compelled us to * To swear by his hand whereas we should swear by the hand of the King swear in his name whereas we should swear in the Kings name and where the Kings Cross ought to be erected he caused his Cross to be erected in token that he is the very true Lord and the said Reginald at his first coming to those parts of Wales sold to certain servants of the King Offices for 60 Marks which the said servants bought before of the King for 24 Mark which Offices ought not to be sold at the choice of the Lord. 14. Item The King gave Meredyth ap Madoc a Captainship for his service Reginald Grey took it from him neither could he get any remedy at the Kings hand for the same 15. Item One of the Councel of the said Reginald Cynwric Vachan told us by mouth that as soon as the
Lords it hath had good store and of several families but none of them a Parliamentary Peer in reverence hereunto till these later times of late it hath given title both to Lord and Earl of two several families Viz. to these year 1564 1. Robert Dudley created Baron of Denbigh and Earl of Leicester Eliz. 6. Sept. 29. 1622. Or a lyon rampant quene fourche vert incensed Cules a cressent for difference William Viscount Fielding created Earl of Denbigh 20. Jac. Sept. 14. Master of the Wardrobe c. Arg. Or a Fess B. 3. Fusils or Lozenges Or. The Lordship of Ruthin continued in the possession of the Greyes untill the Reign of Hen. 7. George Grey Earl of Kent and Lord of Ruthin passed the same upon some bargain to the King There came at the same time with King Edward divers Gentlemen who grew afterwards to be men of great possessions in the County many of whose posterity continue to this day Rees ap Meredyth served the King in all these wars who did most hurt of all men and was in good hope of great preferment at the Kings hand whom after the overthrow of the Prince the King made Knight and fed with many fair and good words After that he and all other his Countrymen and Neighbours had submitted themselves to the Government of the King of England it hapned that the Lord Pain Tiptoft Warden of the Kings castles nigh unto Rees his Country and the Lord Allen Plucknet the Kings Steward in Wales called the said Rees as they did all other of the Country to the Kings Court whether he refused to come alledging his ancient priviledges and liberties with the Kings promises but the said Officers proceeded according to the law against him whereupon a great variance arose between the said Pain Tiptoft and the said Sir Rees ap Meredyth so that sundry Skermishes were fought betwixt them and men slain on both sides to the great disturbance of the Country The King hearing of these things being then beyond Sea wrote unto Rees Meredyth requiring him to keep the peace till his return At what time he promised to reform all things in due and reasonable order but Rees would not give over the enterprise which he had begun Whereupon the King sent to the Earl of Cornwall whom he had left his Lieutenant in the Realm during his absence to send an army of Men into Wales to withstand the disordered attempts of the said Rees who went into Wales himself and overthrew Rees his Castle at Drofolan but by undermining the walls of that Castle with the fall thereof the Baron Stafford and the Lord William de Monchency with many other Knights and Esquires were oppressed and brused to death Afterwards Robert Typtoft Lord Deputy of Wales gathered an army and meeting the said Rees after the slaughter of 4000. of his people discomfited and took him who about Michaelmas following at the Kings going into Scotland was had to York and there condemned and executed Not long after the King wanting money there was a great subsidy granted towards the maintainance of the war in France about levying of which there was much a do in several places but especially the Welshmen who were never wont to be acquainted with such contribution stormed against it so that they took one of their own Captains named Roger de Puelesdon who at the Kings command gathered the said subsidy and hanged him with divers others and afterwards beheaded the said Roger. Whereupon the King being sore offended for the death of the said Roger whom he greatly favoured and hearing that the VVelshmen began to stir against him in divers places for the VVestwales Men had chosen Maelgon Vachan for their Captain and destroyed all Caerdigan and Pembrock and returned with spoiles They of Glamorgan and the Southparts took one named Morgan for their leader and driving the Earl of Glocester out of the Country they restored to the said Morgan again the possessions which the Ancestors of the said Earl by force and great wrong had taken from the said Morgans Predecessours The Northwales men had set upon Madoc being of the kindred of the last Lhewelyn who gathering a great power came to Caernarvon and slew a great number of Englishmen which were come thither to the Fair and spoiled the whole Town then I say the King called back his brother Edmund Earl of Lancaster and Henry Lacy Earl of Lincolne and John Lord Denbigh who had an army ready to pass into Gascoyne The remnant of the Welsh foyle the English These Earls came towards Northwales and as they approached neer unto the castle of Denbigh upon St. Martins day the VVelshmen with great force encountered them and giving them battail drove them back and discomfited their people Upon this ungratefull newes the King himself came into VVales and there kept his Christmas at Aberconwey where Robert VVinchesey Archbishop of Canterbury came unto him and did him homage and then returned home the King as he passed further into the country lost much of his carriages which the Welshmen took being loaden with victualls and provision for the army so that the King and his people endured great penury and were constrained to drink water mixt with hony and eat very gross and course meat where he was very like to have been distressed had not the other part of his army come to him in time While the King remained in Snowdon the Earl of Warwick hearing that a great number of Welshmen were assembled together and lodged in a vally betwixt two woods chose out a company of horsemen with certain cross-bowes and archers and coming upon the Welshmen in the night compassed them round about who pitching the ends of their spears and turning the points against their Enemies stood at defence so to keep off the horsemen But the Earl having placed his battail so that betwixt every two horsemen there stood a crossbow a great part of the Welshmen who stood at defence in manner aforesaid with their spears were overthrown and broken with the shot of the quarrells and then the Earl charged the residue with a troop of horsemen and bare them down with such slaughter as they had not sustained the like losse of people as was thought at any time before After this the King builded a strong Castle within the Isle of Anglesey and called the same Beaumarish and so setting all in quietness and punishing such as had put to death Roger de Puelesdon he returned home with his army Madoc victorious against the Lord Strange of Knooking and the Marchers but Madoc within a while after levying an army came to Oswestred where the people yielded unto him and meeting with the Lord Strange with a company of Marchers not far from Knooking overthrew him and spoiled his Country miserably and shortly after he gave the Marchers another overthrow But for all that the Lords Marchers nothing dismayd at this mischance gathered new forces and met Madoc as he
which the ebbing Sea in that place had make accessible The Brittains espying them made thitherwards the rest of the Romans escaping Scaeva was left alone upon the Rock to which Island the fury of the enraged multitude assailed him with their darts which he received upon his Shield and thrust at them with his Spear till it was broken and his Helmet and Shield lost then being tyred with extreme toyl and dangerously wounded he betook himself to flight carrying two little Harnesses on his back with much difficulty recovered Caesars Tent where he craved pardon for making so bold an attempt without commandment of his General Caesar did both remit the Offence and rewarded the Offender by bestowing upon him the Office of a Centurion This was that Scaeva who afterwards gave good cause to have his Name remembred in the Roman Histories for the memorable service he did to Caesar in the time of the civil Wars between him and Pompey at the battail near Dyrrachium The Romans having at length got footing on the dry land gave a fresh charge unto the Brittains and in the end forced them to turn their backs and leave the shore though they could not pursue them far into the Land for want of Horsemen Caesars accustomed Fortune failing him in this one accident The Brittains after this overthrow assembling themselves together upon consultation had amongst them sent Embassadors to Caesar promising to deliver in pledges or to do whatsoever else he would command them With these Embassadors came Comius of Arras whom Caesar had sent before out of Gallia into Brittain where having delivered the Message he had then in charge he was apprehended and committed to Prison and now after the battel released The chief States of the Brittains seeking to excuse their attempt laid the blame upon the multitude who being the greater number and wilfully bent to take Arms would neither by perswasion nor Authority be restrained And they pretended their own ignorance as being a free people and not experienced in the Customes of other Nations Caesar although he reproved them for making War in that manner considering that of their own accord they had sent Embassadors to him before his arrival in Brittany to desire peace yet was content to pardon them upon delivery of pledges whereof some he received presently and the rest being to come from remote places he appointed to be sent in by a set day so the Brittains were dismissed to return into their Countries and in the mean time there came divers Princes from other parts of the Isle to submit themselves and their Cities to Caesar The fourth day after the Romans Landing the ships before mentioned appointed for Transportation of Caesars Horse men having a favourable Gail of wind put out to Sea from the upper Haven and approaching near the Island in view of the Roman Camp a suddain storme arose and scattered them driving some back again to the Port from whence they came and some others upon the lower part of the Island Westward where after they had cast Anchor their Keeles being all most overwhelmed with the Waves they were carried by violence of the storm in the night into the Main and with very great peril recovered a harbour in the Continent The same night the Moon was at the full at which time commonly the Sea in those parts is much troubled and overfloweth the banks by reason of the high Tides a matter unknown unto the Romans insomuch as the long Boats which transported the Army then lying upon the shore were filled with the flood and the ships of burden that lay at Anchor were beaten with the storm and split in pieces the greater number of them perishing in the water and the rest being made altogether unserviceable the Anchors lost and Tacklings broken wherewith the Romans were much perplexed for that they neither had any other ships to transport them back again nor any means to repair what the Tempest had Ruined and Caesar had formerly resolved to winter in Gallia by reason he was unfurnished of victuals to maintaine his Army during the Winter season which being known to the chief States of the Brittains who had met together about the accomplishment of such things as Caesar had commanded them they supposed a fit opportunity was offered them to revolt while the Romans wanted Horsemen shipping and all manner of provisions the number of their Forces seeming also the lesse in respect of the small circuit of their Camp Caesar having transported his Legions without any Carriages or such like Warlike necessaries whereupon they concluded to keep them from Victuals and to prolong the War till Winter assuring themselves that if they could either vanquish the Romans or bar them from returning thence there would no Forraigne Nation after them adventure to set foot again in Brittany and hereupon they conveyed themselves by stealth out of the Roman Camp and gathered company to them privily from divers parts to make head against their Enemies Caesar albeit he was ignorant of the Brittains purpose yet supposing that the State of his Army and the loss of his ships were to them known and considering that they had broken day with him in detaining the pledges contrary to the contract he suspected that which afterwards proved true And therefore to provide remedies against all chances he caused b The Brittains not ignorant of Agriculture as som aver they then were as the Author from whom I took this seemeth to say Corn to be brought daily out of the Fields into his Camp and such ships as could not be made fit for service were used to repair the rest and such other things as were wanting thereto he appointed to be brought out of the same continent by which means and the diligence of his Souldiers by losse of twelve ships the rest of the Navy was made able to bear sail and brook the Seas again while these things were in doing the seventh Legion according to custome was sent forth a Forraging till which time the Brittains revolt was not certainly known for that some of them remained abroad in the Fields and others came ordinarily into the Roman Camp The Warders in the station before the Camp gave notice to Caesar that the same way which the Legion went there appeared a greater dust then was wont to be seen Caesar mistrusting some new practice of the Brittains commanded the Companies that kept Ward to march thither appointing two others to supply their rooms and the rest of his Forces to Arme themselves with speed and follow him when he approached near the place discried he perceived his Souldiers to be over-charged by the Brittains who assailed them on all sides with darts For the Brittains having commanded their Corn from all other parts this onely excerted and suspecting that the Romans would come thither lay in the woods all night to intexcept them and finding them dispersed and unready they suddenly set upon them as they were reaping killing a few of
with his Countrymen by working their subversion to his own dishonour and advantage of a Forraign enemy His Father Imanentius having been sometime chief Ruler of the City of Trinobantes and well esteemed among them was slain by Cassibelin the present Governour against whom the Citizens desired Caesar to protect Mandubratius and to commit unto him the Government of that City which Caesar granted upon delivery of a certain number of Pledges and a sufficient proportion of Victuals for provision of his Army Hereupon divers petty states thereabout sent Embassadors and yielded themselves to Caesar who understood by them that Cassibelina his Town being well stored with Men and Cattle was not far from thence this Town was only a circuit of ground inclosed with wood and marshes or else entrenched with a Ranger of Earth about it Caesar coming with his Legion to this place which he found very strong as being fortifyed Naturally and also by the industry of man began to assail it on both sides The Brittains having expected a while the event of the enterprise and perceiving themselves unable to withstand the assault issued out at a back way where many of them being slain and some taken as they fled the Town it self and all the provisions within it were left as a spoil to the Romans while these things were doing among the Trinobants Cassabelin dispatched messengers into Kent or Cantium that lyes upon the Sea The Inhabitants of these parts were better furnished to make War then any other of the Isle the Country at that time was Governed by four Kings as Caesar himself calleth them either for that they had among them a kind of absolute Government in several or else for that being the Register of his own Acts he supposed it would be more for his glory to be reputed a Conqueror of Kings their names were Cingetorix Carvilius Taximugulus and Segonax whom Cassibelin then required to raise all the power they could make and on the sudden to assail the Roman Forces that Guarded their ships at the Sea side This was attempted accordingly but with ill successe for that the Romans having timely advertisement of their purpose prevented the execution thereof by setting upon them as they drew near the Roman Army and so after a great slaughter made of the Brittains Cingetorix a Noble Captain and one of the Princes being taking prisoner the Romans returned safe to their Camp Cassibelin hearing of the unhappy issue of his enterprize after so many losses sustained on his part his Country being wasted with War and himself in a manner forsaken by the revolt of the Cities round about which most of all discâ—uraged him sent Embassadors to Caesar by Comius of Arras offering to submit himself upon reasonable conditions Caesar determining to winter in Gallia the state of his affairs there requiring it and the summer being almost spent commanded that he should deliver certain pledges for assurance of his obedience and that he should offer no wrong nor give cause of offence to Mandubratius or the Troynobants whom he had taken into special protection and then having imposed a Tribute to be paid yearly by the Brittains to the people of Rome he marched towards the sea side where he embarked his Forces and arrived with them safely in the Continent Thus Caesar having rather shewed some part of Brittain to the Romans then made a Conquest of the whole supposed he had done sufficiently for his own glory in undertaking a matter so rare and difficult in those Times At his coming to Rome he presented there certain Captives which he had taken in the Brittish Wars whose strangenesse of shape and behaviour filled the peoples eyes both with wonder and delight He offered also in the Temple of Venus Genetrix a Surcote embroidered with Brittish Pearl as a Trophy and spoil of the Ocean leaving to posterity a perpetual remembrance of his Enterprize in this Iland to the honour both of his own Name and of the Roman Nation After the death of Julius Caesar by reason of the civil Wars among the Romans the Isle of Brittain was for a time neglected and Augustus Caesar being setled in the Empire which was then grown to such greatness as it seemed even cumbred therewith accounted it good policy to contain the same within it known bounds Besides the attempt was like to prove dangerous and a matter of very great expence to send an Army so far off to make War with the Brittish Nation for desire of glory only no special cause besides moving thereto Howbeit as some Writers Report above Twenty years after Julius Caesar's first Entrance Augustus intended a Voyage hither in person alledging for pretence of the War the wrong offered to the Roman State by such Princes of the Isle as had for certaine years witheld the Tribute which Caesar his Praedecessor had imposed upon them intelligence whereof being got the Brittains sent over Embassadours who meeting the Emperour in a The Countrey between the Rivers Garony and Seinin France Gallia Celtica declared their submission and desired pardon And the better to win favour they had carried over certain gifts of good value to be presented as offerings in the Roman Capitol having already learned the Art to flatter for Advantage and to appease Princes by rewards Hereupon a conditional peace was granted them and the Emperour having pacifyed some troubles in Gallia returned to Rome then began the Ilanders to pay Tribute and Custome of all kind of Wares which they exchanged with the Gaules as namely Ivory boxes Iron chaines and other trinkets of Amber and Glasse which were Transported Too and Fro both out of Gallia and Brittain The year following the Brittains having failed in performance of Conditions he prepared for another expedition but being set forward on his Voyage the revolt of the b The Biscayans Cantabrians and c The Inhabitants between Gallicia and Portugal Assyrians stayed him from proceeding any further therein after which time the Brittains were left to themselves to enjoy their Liberty and use their own Laws without molestation of forraign Invaders for that the Romans having found the sweetnesse of peace after long civil Wars sought rather to keep in obedience such Provinces as had been before time brought under subjection then by attempting new Conquests to hazard the losse of that they had already gotten In those dayes the Countrey of the Troynobants in Brittain was Governed by Conobelin who kept his residence at a Malden in Essex Camalodunum he began first to reclaim the Brittains from their ill customes and to make his state more respected he afterwards caused his own Image to be stamped on his Coyne after the manner of the Romans a custome never used by the Brittains before his dayes and but then newly received by the Romans themselves for before that time the Brittains used Rings of Iron and little plates of Brasse of a certaine weight instead of Coyne During the time of his Government
abroad least they should make head again and that a Faithlesse or a cloaked peace might not give either the Captain or Souldier any time of idle repose he Disarmed all those whom he suspected and Hemmed them in with Garrisons between a The River on which Northampton is seated as it is conjectured Antona and b the River of Severn Pabrina The first that began to stir were the d The ancient Inhabitants of Norfolke Canbridgeshire and Huntingtonshire Icenians a strong people and unshaken with Wars as having of their own accord in former times sought the Roman Alliance and Amity The Countries also adjoyning neer unto them following their example prepared themselves to Fight choosing a place that was compassed about with a rude trench which had a narrow entrance to impeach the coming in of the Horsemen That Fence the Roman Captain not having the strength of the Legions went about to force with the aid of the Confederates alone and having placed his Cohorts in rancks he set his Troops of Horsemen also in like readinesse then giving the sign of battle he assailed the Rampire and brake it disordering the Brittains who being touched with a kind of remorse for their rebellious attempts and seeing the passages stopped up on all sides shewed very great courage and valour in defending themselves as it falleth out oft times where extremity of danger it self takes away all fear of danger In this fight M. Ostorius his son was Crowned with an Oaken Garland as an Honourable reward for saving a Roman Citizen Now by the slaughter of the Icenians the rest of the Brittains who stood upon doubtful termes as wavering between War and peace were well quieted and Ostorius led his Army against the a The Inhabitants of Cheshire as is conjectured Caugi whose Countrey he spoiled and wasted whilst the inhabitants doth not come into the Field but privately surprised such as they found stragling behind the Roman Army which was now come near to the Sea Coast that looks towards Ireland when as certain tumults stirred among the Brittains brought back the General who thought it best not to enter into any new action before he had made all sure in those parts howbeit upon his coming thither some few of the Brittains that first began to take Arms being taken in and put to death the residue were pardoned and the Country quieted For the General wisely considering that in such cases Lenity sometimes prevaileth where Force and Rigour cannot did seek to win favour of the Brittains by courteous usage of such as either fled unto him for protection or else by the fortune of War fell into his Hands sometimes pardoning them sometimes rewarding them and sometimes using them in service against their own Nation as he did Cogidunus a Brittish Prince The ancient Inhabitants of Southwales upon whom he had bestowed certain Cities in free gift according to an ancient custome amongst the Brittains who used even Kings themselves for instruments of bondage But the Silures could neither by cruelty nor fair means be held in so as the General saw there was no way to keep them under but with a Garison of Legionary Souldeirs and to that end the Colony of Camalodunum consisting of a strong Company of old Souldiers was brought into the subdued Country to defend it against such as should rebell and to make the Confederates more willing to live in obedience This done the Army marched against the Silures who besides their natural boldnesse relied much upon the strength of Caracticus their Leader a man that had waded through great dangers and had been fortunate in many adventures having gotten thereby such reputation as he was preferred before all the British Captains But as in policy and knowledge of the Country he had an advantage of the Romans so perceiving himself to be unequally matched in strength he removed the War to the a The ancient Inhabitants of Northwales Ordovices who entering into the action with him as fearing alone the Roman power resolved jointly to hazard the chance of War and hereupon they prepared for battle having chosen a place very commodious for themselves and disadvantageable to their Enemies then they went to the top of an Hill and where they found an easie passage up they stopped the way with heaps of stones in manner of a Rampire not far off ran a River with an uncertain ford where upon the bank a company of the best Souldiers were placed for a defence in the foreward the Leaders went about exhorting and encouraging the common Souldiers using such perswasions as may best fit their humors and the present occasion and Caracticus himself posting up and down protested that that day and that battle should be either the beginning of the recovery of their Liberty or of perpetual Servitude Then he called upon the names of his Ancestors that had chased Caesar the Dictator out of the Island and had delivered them from Hatches and Tributes and had protected their Wives and Children from shame and violence while he uttered these or the like speeches the people round about him made a noyse and every man sware according to the Religion of his Country that neither the Enemies Weapons nor their own Wounds should make them give over that chearful cry terrified and astonished the Roman General and the rather when he considered how he was couped in having the river beneath him the Fort before him the high Hills hanging over it and all things on every side threatning danger and destruction to the Assailers howbeit his fellow Souldiers demanded the battle crying That there was no thing which Valour could not overcome using the like speeches added courage to the rest Then Ostorius having viewed the places of difficulty led his Souldiers being hot or eager of the Fight unto the further side of the river and from thence to the Rampire where while they fought with their Darts they had the first but having broken down the rude compacted heap of stones with a Testudo and both Armies coming to handy stroaks upon equal advantage the Brittains turned their backs and ran to the Hill top the Romans pursuing them both with their light and heavy armed Souldiers the one assailing with Darts the other as they marched thick together breaking the ranks and beating down the Natives who had neither Head piece nor Armour to defend themselves so that being hedged in between the Legionary Souldiers and the Auxiliaries the greatest part of them was slain in the place At this assault Caracticus his Wife and Daughter were taken prisoners and his Brethren yielded to the Enemies but himself driven to extremity scaped by Flight into the Country of the Brigants hoping to receive some aid of Cartismandua the Soveraigne Lady there But as it falleth out commonly with men in adversity to be forsaken and left succourlesse so instead of finding the relief which he expected he fell into the danger which he little doubted for
Cartismandua either fearing her own estate or thinking to winne favour of the Conqueror as Princes oftentimes make use of one anothers mis fortunes to serve their own turnes detained him in prison a while and afterward delivered him to Odorius who was exceeding glad he had gotten him and forthwith sent him to Rome as a prize of great worth and the happy fruit of nine years service in the Wars The report of Caracticus misfortune was soon spread throughout the Isles and Provinces adjoyning for his name was renowned in most parts of Italy and each man desired to see him who had so long time withstood and continued that power which held all the world in awe and obedience The City of Rome for many dayes together was filled only with the talk of him and expectation of his coming and the Emperour himself as a Conquerour by extolling his own worthinesse covertly added more glory to the Conquered the people assemble together as it were to see some notable and rare spectacle the Emperours guard in Arms were orderly placed in the Field before the Camp after this preparation made the Prisoners and Trophies were presented in this manner First The Vassals of Caracticus going formost bowed their bodies to the people as they passed and seemed by their Ruefull Countenances to discover their fear the Caparasons Chaines and other spoiles taken in the War were carried after them then Caracticus his Brethren Wife and Daughters followed And last of all came Caracticus himself his body was naked for the most part and painted with the figures of divers Beasts he wore a Chain of Iron about his Neck and another about his Middle the Hair of his head hanging down in long Locks curled by nature covered his back and shoulders and the Hair of his upper lip being parted on both sides lay upon his breast the rest of his body was shaven all over neither was his behaviour lesse noted then the strangenesse of his habit for he neither hung down his head nor craved mercy as did the rest but went on boldly with a settled and stern Countenance till he came before the Emperours Tribunal Seat and there standing still a while he after spake these or the like words CARACTICVS his Speech IF either my vertues in prosperity had been answerable to the greatnesse of my estate or the successe of my late attempts to the resolution of my mind I might have come to this City to have been entertained rather as a Friend then as a Captive to be gazed upon For it would have been no disgrace for the Romans to have admitted me into society with them a man Royally Descended and a Commander of many Warlike Nations But what cloud soever fortune hath cast over my estate she is not able to take from me those things which the Heavens and nature have given me that is the dignity of my Birth and the courage of my mind which never failed me I know it is a custome among you to make your Triumphs the spectacles of other mens miseries and in this my calamity as in a mirrour you do behold your own glory yet know that I was sometimes a Prince furnished with strength of Men and ability of War and what marvell is it that I have now lost them since your own experience hath taught you that the events of War are variable and uncertain I thought that the deep waters which like a wall inclose us whom the Heavens seem to have placed far off in another world by it self might have been a sufficient defence for us against Forrain Invasion but I see now that your desire of Soveraignity admits no limitation since neither the danger of an unknown Sea nor the distance of place can any longer warrant our safety and liberty if you will needs command the whole world then must all men become your Vassals and live under a forced obedience For mine own part so long as I was able I made resistance being unwilling to submit my Neck to a Forrain Yoak The Law of natural reason alloweth every man to defend himself being assailed and to withstand force to which force had I yielded at the first thy Glory and my Mishap had not been so renowned but both of them would soon have been forgotten Fortune hath done her worst and we have now nothing left us but our lives which if thou spare having power to spill thou shalt do that which best beseemeth a great Mind and a Noble Nature The Emperour hearing his Speech and wondering to see such boldnesse and constancy of a mind in dejected estate pardoned both him and the rest of his company commanding them to be unbound and so dismissed them For many daves together Caracticus his fortune ministred matter of discourse to the Lords of the Senate who affirmed the spectacle of his Captivity to be no lesse honourable then that of Syphax the Numidian King over whom P. Scipio triumphed or that of Perses whom P. Aemilius vanquished or of any other Kings that had in former times been taken in War and shewed to the people the publick honours of triumph were decreed for Ostorius whose fortunes being now at the highest began afterwards to decline by reason that either Caracticus the object of his valour being removed he supposed he had made a full conquest and therefore followed the service more carelesly or else for that the residue of the Brittaines having compassion of the misfortune of so mighty a Prince and being eager of revenge renewed the War for they assailed the Legionary Cohorts which were left behind to build Fortresses in the Silures Country killed the Camp Master and eight Centurions besides some of the forewardest Souldiers and they had put all the rest to the sword if speedy rescue had not come from the Villages and Forts adjoyning divers other sallies they made as time and place gave them advantage prevailing sometimes by strength sometimes by policy and sometimes by chance the principal motive that induced the rest to take Armes was the example of the Silures who were most resolutely bent as being exasperated by reason of a speech that the Roman Emperour had used which was that he would root out the name of the Silures as the Sicambrians had been in former time this made them bold and desperate to adventure as men knowing their destiny before hand many skirmishes they had in surprising the scattered Troops of the Roman Souldiers and oftentimes with good successe in taking rich Booties and Prisoners and distributing the spoiles among their Neighbours by which means they drew them also to revolt In the mean time Ostorius wearied with care and travel ended his Life Claudius the Emperor being advertised of the death of Ostorius sent Aulus Didius to take charge of the Army in Brittain where notwithstanding all the haste he made he found all out of Frame Manlius Valens with his Legion having encountred the Brittains with ill successe which by report of the Ilanders
there seemed to fear and reverence him and the causes of his coming were diversly reported at the first But the Brittains derided him for as men being born free they knew not till that time the power of the Libertines men made free but rather marvelled that a Captain and an Army which had atchieved so great an enterprize could be brought to obey and yield an account of their actions to a base bond-slave as they termed him These things howsoever they were censured by others yet they were reported to Nero in such manner as the reporters thought might best content him And Suetonius after the losse of some of his shipping was commanded the War being not yet finished to deliver up his Army to Petronius Turpilianus who had but even a little before given up his Counselship Turpilianus was a man of a soft spirit and being a stranger to the Brittains faults was more tractable and ready to remit them by which means having composed his former troubles he delivered up his charge to Tribellius Maximus whose unfitnesse for action and want of experience in military matters gave the more boldnesse to the Brittains that began now to discover the defects of the Governours having learned both to flatter and dissemble in confirming themselves to the present time and occasion for their advantage and for the most part yielding themselves to those pleasures which security useth to endanger even in minds well-disposed by Nature For Trebellius besides his insufficiency abused the authority of his place to enrich himself by polling the common Souldiers and Roscuis Caelius Lieutenant to the twentieth Legion whetted them on against him as against an ancient Enemy so that in the end they brake out into hainous terms the one objecting matter of crime against the other Trebellius charged Caelius with factious behaviour Caelius again Trebellius with beggering the Legions and the discord between them grew so far that Trebellius being despised as well by the Hides as the Legions both of them sorting themselves to Caelius his side was in great fear of his life the danger whereof he sought to prevent rather by flying away then by executing any exemplary justice upon offenders in the mean time the Souldiers neglecting the ancient discipline of War fell to Mutiny and all kind of Riot as men that had rather be doing ill then doing nothing Afterwards Trebellius taking again his former place as it were by capitulation seemed to govern onely at the discretion of the Souldiers who finding his weaknesse and want of judgement to use his Authority took upon them to do what they listed and herewith also the Lieutenant himself seemed contented as being now given over altogether to a sloathful kind of life terming it peace and quietnesse for which the death of Nero the Emperour and the civil discord at that time between Otho and Vitellius contending for the Soveraignty ministred some colour of excuse Not long before this time the fourteenth Legion famous for many great attempts and growing now more insolent then the rest was revoked out of the Isle to have been sent to the streights about the Caspian Sea though afterwards upon intelligence of the revolt in Gallia Spain when Julius Vindex took Armes against Nero it was retained about the City of Rome for a safeguard to those parts in the turbulent times that ensued Nero's death it took part with Otho against Vitellius at the battle near Bebriacum where Otho was overthrown and Vitellius after the victory suspecting the Souldiers of that Legion as knowing their great stomachs and ill affection towards him thought it expedient to joyn to them the a Bands of Hollanders Battanian Cohorts that by reason of the inveterate hatred between them they might one oppose the other and himself in the mean time remain more secure Vectius Bolanus a man not much unlike Trebellius in some respects was sent over by Vitellius during the time of whose Government the like disorders still continued in the Camp Vitellius was third after Nero for Galba succeeded him and continued Emperor for six months and a little more him Otho slew whose Empire continued a lesse time for being in the fourth battle which he fought with Vitellius Mr. Br. f. 763. conquered by him having had victory in the three former impatient of his dishonour killed himself bearing the name of Emperour but three months and Vitellius which triumphed over him enjoyed as short and imperial a life onely eight months or thereabouts and his death for his cruel wickednesse was dishonourable stabbed to death cast into the River Tiber and wanting burial Cum Vitellius multa crudeliter ac nequiter Romae ageret minutissimorum ictuum punctionibus est excarnificatus ad ultimum in Tiberim mersus communi caruit sepultura saying that Bolanus by the mildnesse of his nature being not touched otherwise in his reputation had purchased love and good will instead of fear and disobedience in this time divers choice men of War taken out of the Legions in Brittain were conducted to Rome by Hordonius Flaccus in aid of Vitellius but when Vespasian made War for the Empire Bolanus refused to send Vitellius any sucour by reason that the Brittains finding the Romans state encumbred with civil dissension began to revolt in divers places of the Isle and some of them also shewed openly in favour for Vespasian who had carried himself honourably in Brittany when Claudius was there and seemed now by many ominous predictions to be a man specially marked for the Empire The death of Vitellius quenching the flame of civil broyles among the Romans confirmed the possession of the Empire to Vespasian who shewed the care and respect he had to the Isle of Brittain by employing great Captaines and good Souldiers there of this Vespasian saith that grave Author Mr. Broughton Mr. Brough fol. 166. we find in ancient Histories Manuscripts and others written divers hundred years since that this Vespasian being miraculously cured of a natural incurable disease by the power of Christ did plainly acknowledge him to be the Sonne of God Fuist le filz de Dieu and promised thereupon to revenge his death upon the Jewes which he performed when he sacked Jerusalem and slaved that people for executing which justice of God and desolation of the Jewish Nation from this Kingdome of Brittain though so far distant thence were present there Joseph Bengor apud Rich. Hakluit praef l. Naviga Ang. as both Hebrew and English Writers witnesse 20000 souldiers I read saith a learned Author in Joseph Bengorion a very Authentical Hebrew Author a testimony of passing of twenty thousand Brittains valiant Souldiers to the siege and fearful sacking of Jerusalem under the conduct of Vespasian and Titus the Roman Emperours Therefore so many thousands going so great a journey to fight under so Christianly minded a General and for the quarrel of Christ we cannot think but many of these were in judgement also act or both Christian And so
we may worthily Register Brittain for one of the first believing Nations though so far distant from the place of the life death and first preaching of Christ and boldly say it was the first chiefest principal and onely Kingdome that sent so great Forces and so far off through so great difficulties to execute the just revenge of God upon his enemies And the Christian either publick profession or known disposition of many Brittish Souldiers there mixed with the Roman under Vespasian must needs be a motive to justifie his words for true to force Josephus to these forcible complaints to the Jews at that time That they could not expect any help from God for as they had forsaken him so he also had forsaken them and he that was wont to defend them Ora. Josephi ad Judaeos Egesip l. 5. excid Hierosol c. 15. was gone to the Romans their enemies who then worshipped the true God whom the Jews had offended the true God was with the Romans Au praesidium speratur divinum atque auxilium de penetralibus sed qui nos defendebat ad hostem migravit quoniam quem nos colebamus Romani venerantur nos offendimus Quis autem ignorat cum illis esse Deum So that whithersoever we go where Brittains were in that time either in Jury about Hierusalem or at Rome in Italy or in Brittain then termed by Josephus and Egesippus another world Quid asseram Brittannias interfuso Mari à toto orbe divisas à Romanis in orbem terrarum reductas We find there were many Christians among them and their chief Rulers even in temporal Affairs not unchristianly minded as Vespasian in Jury King Marius in Brittain at Rome Coillus a great Friend to Christians both there and in Brittain when he came to Rule The Lieutenantship which was assigned to Petilius Cerealis a man that had given good proof of his sufficiency in former services upon his first entrance into office he invaded the Country of the Brigants the most populous state of the whole Province the greatest part whereof after many bloody Battels was either conquered or wasted and the hope of the Brittains greatly abated when as Julius Frontinus whose reputation was nothing impared by the Fame of his Predecessor took upon him the charge which he afterwards executed with great commendation in subduing the strong and warlike Nation of the Silures The praise of the South-wales men among whom he seemed to fight not onely with men whose strength and valour was able to make opposition against his Attempts but also with mountains straits and places of very great and difficult accesse In this Estate Julius Agricola having been trained up for the most part in the Brittish war did find the Province at his first coming thither He crossed the narrow seas about the midst of Summer at which time as though the season of the year had been past to begin a new War the Roman souldiers attended an end of their travel and the Brittains a beginning of an annoyance to their enemies The a North-wales men Ordovices a little before he had landed had almost cut in pieces a Troop of Horsemen that lay in their borders upon which Attempt the Country being awaked as desirous of war allowed the example and some then staid to see how the new Lieutenant would take it Agricola in the mean time although the Summer was spent and the Bands lay dispersed in the Province his Souldiers presumed of rest for that year and divers Officers of the Army being of opinion that it were better to assure and keep the places suspected then to make any new attempt yet all this notwithstanding he resolved directly to encounter the danger and gathering together the Ensignes of the Legions and some few Auxiliaries because the Ordovices durst not descend into indifferent ground himself first of all to give others like courage marched up to begin the assault And having in that Conflict destroyed almost all the whole Nation of the Ordovices and knowing right well that Fame must with instance be followed for as the rest should fall out so the rest would succeed he deliberated to conquer the Isle of Mona from the possession whereof Paulinus had been formerly revoked by the general Rebellion of Brittany But Ships being then wanting as in an enterprize not intended before the policy and resolutenesse of the Captain devised a speedy passage for he commanded the most chief of the Aids to whom all the shallows were known and who after the use of their Country were able to swim in their armour if need were to lay aside their carriage and putting over at once suddenly to invade it which thing so amazed the Inhabitants who supposed that the Romans would have a certain time for Ships and such like provision by sea that now believing nothing could be hard or invincible to men which came so minded to make war they humbly intreated for peace and yielded the Iland This Agricola at his first entrance into office which time others used to consume in vain ostentation and ambitious seeking of Ceremonies entring withall into labours and dangers became famous indeed and of great reputation Howbeit he abused not the prosperous proceedings of his Affairs to vanity or braving in speeches for he esteemed it an action not worthy the name of a Conquest to keep in order onely persons subdued by force neither decked he with laurel his Letters of Advertisement but stopping and suppressing the same of his doings he greatly augumented it when men began to discourse upon what great presumptions of future successe he should make so light an account of so great actions lately performed As touching the civil Government Agricola knowing how the Province stood affected and being taught of others that Armies avail little to settle a new conquered State if violence and wrongs be permitted determined at the first to cut off all causes of War and Rebellion and beginning at home he first of all reformed his own house a point of more hardnesse to some men then to govern a Province He committed no manner of publick Affairs to Bondmen or Libertines he received no Souldier near his person upon private affection of partial Suiters nor upon commendation or intreaty of Centurions but elected the best and most serviceable He would look narrowly into all things yet not exact all things to the very most light faults he would pardon and the great severely correct not alwayes punishing Offenders but ofttimes satisfied with repentance choosing rather not to prefer to office such as were likely to offend then after the offence to condemn them The augmentation of Tribute and Corn he tempered with equal dividing of burdens cutting away those petty extortions which grieved the Brittains more then the Tribute it self for the poor people in former times were constrained in a mockery to wait at the barn-doors which were locked againg them first to lay Corn and after to sell at a low price
Companies whereupon least he should be inclosed about and entrapped either by their multitude or by their skill in the passages he marched also with his Army divided in three patts which when it was known unto the Calidonians they changed advice on the sudden and uniting their Forces together jointly assaulted by night the ninth Legion as being of weakest resistance and having slain the watch partly asleep and partly amazed with fear they broke into the Camp and were fighting within the trenches when Agricola having understood by spies what the Brittains had taken and following their footsteps commanded the lightest Horsemen and Footmen to play upon their backs and to maintain the skirmish when the day drew near the glittering of the Ensigns dazled the eyes of the Brittains who being daunted with fear of danger on each side began to draw back the Romans like men that were now out of peril of their lives did fight more chearfully for their honour freshly assailing the Brittains and driving them to their own Gates where in the very streets the conflict was sharp and cruell till in the end the Brittains were forced to flie whilst the Roman Forces severally pursued them contending with a kind of emulation the one to have helped the other and the other to seem to have needed no help upon the success of this battle the Roman Souldiers presuming that to their power all things were easie and openly cried to the General to lead them into Caledonia that with a course of continual conquest they might find out the utmost limits of Brittain Now such as before the battle were so weary and wise in adventuring waxed forward enough after the event and grew to speak gloriously of themselves such is the hard condition of war if ought fall out wel all challenge a part misfortunes commonly are imputed to one contrariwise the Brittains presupposing that no true valour but the coming of the General by using the occasion had carried away the victory abated not much their wonted courage but armed their youths transported their children and Wives into places of safety and sought by Assemblies and Religious rights to establish an association of the Cities together and so for that year both parties as Enemies departed incensed away In the beginning of the next summer Agricola sending his Navy before which by spoiling in sundry places should induce a greater and more uncertain terror followed himself with his Army by land having drawn to his party some of the valiantest Brittains whom by long experience in peace he had found most faithfull and so armed at the Mount a Grants lane in Scotland Grampius where the Brittains had lodged themselves before For they were not altogether dejected with the unfortunate event of the former battle but now as men prepared for all chances they attended nothing else but revenge death or servitude and being taught at length that common danger must be repelled with mutual concord by leagues and embassages they had assembled the power of all the Cities together in number above thirty thousand Armed men the view being taken besides a great company of youths which daily flocked unto them and lastly old men renowned in War and bearing the badges due to their honour at what time Galgacus for virtue and birth the principal man of all the Leaders seeing the multitude hotly demand the battle is said to have used this or the like Speech The Speech or Oration of Galgacus to his Souldiers WHen I consider the cause of this War and our present necessity I have reason me seems to presume that this day and this our general agreement will give a happy beginning to the freedom of the whole Island for we have all hitherto lived in liberty and now no Land remaineth beyond us no Sea for our safety The Roman Navy as you see surveying and environing our Coasts so that combat and Armes which men of vertue desire for honour the dastard must also use for his security The former battles which have with divers events been fought with the Romans had their refuge and hope resting in our hands for we the flower of the Brittish Nobility and seated in the furthest part of the Isle did never yet see the borders of those Countries which were brought under servile subjection our eyes being still kept unpolluted and free from all contagion of Tyranny beyond us is no land besides us none are free us only hither to this corner and secret harbour hath defended you see the uttermost part of the line is laid open and things the lesse they be which in knowledge the greater is the glory to atchieve them but what Nation is there now beyond us what else but water and Rocks and the Romans Lords of all within the Land whose intolerable pride in vain shall you seek to avoid by services and humble behaviour They are the Robbers of the world that having now left no Land to be spoiled search also the Sea if the enemy be Rich they seek to win wealth if poor they are content to gain the glory to themselves whom neither the East or West can satisfie as being the only men of all Memory that seek out all places be they wealthy or poor with like greedy affection to take away by main force to kill and spoile they term Empire and Government when all is wast as wildernesse that they call peace his Children and blood each man holds most dear and yet even they are pressed for Souldiers and carried away to be slaves we know not where our Sisters and Wives though they be not violently forced as in open Hostility yet are they under the colour and title of friends and guests shamefully abused our goods and substance they daily draw from us rewarding us only with stripes and indignities slaves which are born to bondage and sold but once and after are fed at their owners expences but Brittain daily burieth and daily feedeth and is at charge with her own bondage and as in a private retinue the fresh man and last comer is scoffed at by his fellow servants so in this old servitude of the whole world they seek only the destruction of us as being the latest attempted and of all others in their opinion the most vile we have no Fields to Mannure no Mines to be digged no Ports to trade in and to what purpose then should they keep us alive considering that the manhood and fierce courage of the Subject doth not much please the jealous Soveraigne And this corner being so secret and out of the way the more security it yieldeth to us the greater suspition it worketh in them seeing therefore all hope of pardon is past it behoveth you at length to shew courage in defending and maintaining both your safety and honour The Igenians led by a Woman Fired the Roman Colony Forced the Castles and had the prosecution of the War being answerable to so lucky a beginning the Southern Brittains might have then
then all the rest adorned with Christian Religion and perfectly instructed with his holy word and doctrine He reigned as some write 21 years though others affirme but twelve Again some testify that he reigned 77. others say 54. and Harrison 43. King Lucius dyed without issue by reason whereof ensued much trouble as is said before Concerning the first inclination of K. Lucius to christian Religion in the time of Pope Higinius Mr. Broughton thus discourseth Although I do not find it expresly affirmed by any Antiquary but Harding that St. Higinius in that time Bishop of Rome did so particularly give assistance and direction in this business of our Brittains conversion yet many and very renowned Writers give such testimony therein that we must needs grant that to be most true which Harding affirmeth and that after-coming Scribes and Copiers of their Histories have done the Authors wrong by their negligence or ignorance in writing one man for another Elutherius for Higinius for among others St. Bede as he is extant saith that King Lucius of Brittain did write to the Pope of Rome in the year of the Incarnation of our Lord 156. that by his order and command he might be a Christian The M. S. Antiquities of the Church of Landaff more ancient in probable judgment then St. Bede and written by a Brittain which should not be ignorant in that the greatest businesse of his Country giveth the same testimony of the same year 156. The ancient author of the Brittish History also a Brittain maketh K. Lucius a christian in and before this year 156 in direct termes So Testifyeth the old History called Brutus ancient Records belonging to Guild-hall in London the Antiquities of St. Edwards lawes Goceline in the life of St. Aug. so writeth Naucl. and divers ancient manuscript writers which I have seen saith the learned Mr. Br. This was the state of the Church in Brittain when new troubles began to the disturbance of the Province For the Northern Brittains making a breach in the wall Mr. Br. fol. 210. which Adrian the Emperour had built and finding the borders but weakly guarded entered the province and surprised the Roman General and killed many of his Souldiers then ranging the Countries they wasted and spoyled everywhere without resistance till Vlpius Marcellus being sent over by Commodus the Emperor stayed the fury and with great difficulty forced them to retire within the wall by which means the Province being quieted he applied himself to reforme abuses in his Campe reviving the ancient discipline of war which had been for a time discontinued among the Roman Souldiers whom long service and many victories had made bold to say and to do oftentimes more then became them For Marcellus indeed was a man somthing austere in reproving and punishing otherwise very temperate diligent in time of war not idle in peace his diet was the same which the common Souldier used in quantity more sparing for he would eat no bread but such as was brought from Rome which he did to the end he might avoid excesse and take no more then sufficed nature the staleness of his bread having taken away all tast that might either please the sense or provoke the appetite The day time for the most part he spent in viewing his campe and training young Souldiers and giving direction to Officers In the night he wrote letters and made dispatches into divers parts of the Province as occasion required He slept very little by reason of his thin diet and much business wherewith he was continually occupied for he thought that man who slept a whole night together was no meet man to be either a Counsellour to a Prince or a Commander of an army Every evening he used to write instructions upon twelve Tables made of Linden tree which tables he delivered to one of his servants appointing him to carry them at sundry hours of the night to certain of his Souldies who thereby supposing that their General was still waking and not gone to bed were the more careful in keeping the watch and preventing suddain attempts in the night season he was severe in execution of Justice not to be led by favour nor to be corrupted with bribe he levied monies only as necessary for the war not to enrich himself or his friends as other Governours in former times had done for he never preferred his own private before the publick nor a wealthy estate before an honorable reputation The fame of those vertues as they made him much respected both of his own Souldiers and the Brittains so they procured Envy which alwaies followeth vertue inseparably as a shadow doth the body For Commodus the Emperor understanding how Marcellus had carried himself in Brittain was much displeased therewith and thought it best to cut him off but some accidents happening in the mean time to make him change that purpose he only sent letters of discharge and so dismissed him of the Office After departure of Marcellus the army having been kept in by hard hand and finding now the reine let loose upon a suddain began to be mutinous and refused to acknowledge Commodus for their Emperor these disorders Perennius one of his favorites took upon him to redresse by displacing such persons as he suspected and committing their Offices to Men of meaner quality wherewith the Legions were much discontented disdaining that instead of Senators Men of consular degree they should now be governed by upstarts and base companions In the heat of those broyles about fifteen soldiers forsook the Army and went to Rome where they exhibited to the Emperor a bill of complaint against Perennius whom they charged as the chief Author of the dissention in the Army by bringing in new customes by exceeding his commission and doing things derogatory to the Majesty of the Roman Empire These and other things as well false as true were objected against him by the multitude who for the most part dislike such as exercise authority over them and keep no measure in their affections either in love or hatred But that which touched to the quick was an accusation of treason put up against him for conspiracy against the life of the Emperor and in seeking to advance his Son to the Empire this point was quickly apprehended by Commodus who thought that the suspicion of the fact or the report only to have intended it was a sufficient cause of condemnation howsoever the party accused was either indeed guilty or innocent Hereupon Perennius was declared Traitor and delivered to the Soldiers who stripped him of his apparel whipped him with rods and in the end cruelly murdered him Then Helvius Pertinax a Man of mean fortune by Birth as having risen from the State of a common Soldier to the dignity of a Commander was sent into Brittain to appease the tumults there He was one of them that Perennius had before discharged from bearing office and sent into Liguria where he was born At his first entrance
an Officer entituled by him with a limitation of place and restriction of that power which the ancient Praefectus Praetorio had under the first Emperors Then Constantine intending to make war in Persia either to defend or enlarge the limits of the East Empire removed the Emperial Seat from Rome to the City of Bizantium which he re-edified and caused the same to be called of his own Name Constantinople drawing thither the Legions in Germany that guarded the Fronteers of the Western Empire which was thereby laid open to the Incursions of those barbarous People that afterwards assayed it and in the end possessed the greatest part thereof The borders also of the Province in Brittain were weakened by removing the Garrisons there into other Cities and Towns which being pestered with Soldiers for the most part unruly Guests were abandoned by the ancient Inhabitants There be Authors that write Hollin Hist of Engl. f. 92. that Constantine conveyed over Sea with him a great Army of Brittains by whose Industry obtaining Victory as he wished he placed a great number of such as were discharged out of pay and licensed to give over the War in a part of Gallia toward the West Sea coast where their posterity remain unto this day and marvellously encreased afterwards somewhat now differing from our Brittains the Welshmen in manners and language Among those Noblemen which he took with him when he departed out of this Land as our Writers do testifie were the three Uncles of his Mother Helen Hoelus Trabernus and Marius whom he made Senators in Rome After the wars betwixt Constantine and the Persians Mr. Br. fol. 532. the King of Persia sent Embassadors unto Constantine to procure peace and he writ back unto King Sapores that the Christians in his Dominions which were there in great numbers might live at liberty and freedom for their Religion And if we may believe Eusebius then living Euseb lib. 4. Sozom. lib. 2. Hist cap. 14. and best knowing the affairs and proceedings of this most noble Emperor after all these things were compassed and brought to an end he began that glorious and renowned work and Foundation of the most sumptuous Church of the twelve Apostles in Constantinople where it is evident by this then living Author and witness that he did not begin to build this Church till long after his triennial Feast And yet the glory and stateliness of that work as it is described by the same Writer was such that it could not be effected and finished under many years and yet that it was finished before his death it is certain for he there erected a Tomb for his own body to be buried in and there was interred There he erected saith Eusebius twelve Monuments to the honour and memory of the twelve Apostles and in the midst between them he placed his own Tomb with six Apostles encompassed on either side surely as I have said before considering with discreet Councel Euseb ut sup that the Tabernacle of his dead body should worthily and decently rest there when he had considered these things long time before he dedicated the Church to the Apostles thinking that their memory would bring much profit to his soul And both Baronius and Spondanus confess that Constantine did not begin this great and wonderfull work until the 336. Baronius Spond Annal. in ann 336. year of Christ and after his concluding peace with the Persians had not before so much as resolved it Therefore this Church being so costly and magnificent as these men confess and Eusebius at large proveth and yet Constantius lived to see it roofed and quite finished he must needs live a longer time than until the next year the 337. of Christ which they limit unto him to live and much more longer than Socrates their Author continueth his life for by his reckoning setting down his death the same year wherein the Persian Embassadors came to him for peace we must be forced to say this admirable Church was quite finished in the space of seven weeks or if we should adventure as Baronius doth to make Socrates our Author and yet add unto his account a whole year as he doth it must needs be yielded unto by such calculation that it was not begun or any materials prepared for it and yet quite finished within the space of one year and seven weeks for as before it was not begun at the Feast of Easter and yet ended the same year by Socrates before the Feast of Pentecost when by Eusebius Constantine died and by Socrates about the eleventh of the Calends of June the 22. day of May and by Baronius before the Feast of Pentecost and the 22. day of May the year following which is morally impossibly to be true for besides the amplitude thereof and Ornaments therein Euseb lib. 4. de Vit. Const c. 64. Socr. l. 1. c. ult Eusebius who had seen it and knew the building of it saith that Constantine erected it to an infinite altitude and made it from the ground with all variety of Stones even to the top the Roof was curiously wrought and within covered with Gold throughout and covered above with Brasse and much Gold And therefore Nicephorus also a Greek Author who had diligently examined Socrates and citeth his very words of this matter before related affirmeth plainly and constantly notwithstanding that opinion that Constantine did not die until the 342. year of Christ in the Feast of Pentecost Euseb lib. 4. de vit Const c. 64. Cap. 66. sup towards the end of it about noon time of the day to speak in Eusebius his words this Emperor was received to his God leaving his mortal part like to other mortal men to the earth but joyning his Intelligence and Divine part of his Soul unto God He dying in Bethinia his Soldiers enclosing his Body in a Golden Coffin covered it all over with Purple and conveyed it to Constantinople and placed it in the Emperial Palace adorned with Emperial Robes Purple and a Diadem Lights set upon Golden Candlesticks round about it which gave such an admirable shew unto the Beholders as was never seen All the Nobles of his Army which worshipped him whilst he lived kept their old manner and custom at certain times entring in and prostrating themselves on the ground saluted the Emperor after his death lying in his Coffin as if he had been still living The Senate and all other Magistrates worshipped his Body with like reverence All sorts of people even Women and Children in infinite number came to see the solemnity and these things were performed many daies This blessed Emperor was he alone which reigned when he was dead Euseb Ca. 66. and to him alone God himself being Author thereof all honors which were wont to be given when he lived were given after his death For he being the only Emperor which in all the actions of his life piously and religiously worshiped God the King of
l. 3. c. 11. for Valens himself being Brother to Valentinian and by him chosen Assistant in the Empire was then a Catholick and so continued in the time of Julian that he forsook all preferment under him rather than his Religion Thodoret Hist l. 4. c. 12. And although by the perswasion of his Arian Wife and others he after fell into Heresie he being Emperor of the Eastern remote Nations from hence this Kingdom was free from his afflictions being under the command of the Catholick Emperors Valentinian and Gratian his Son until Maximus descended of a Brittish race was both King of Brittain and Emperor also who also being a Catholick Brittain could not then be endamaged in spiritual affairs by the temporal Rulers thereof Maximus Emperor a Brittain excused and defended Ruff. l. 2. c. 14. Socr. l. 3. c. 11. although in civil respects it was much infested by the Scots and Picts from which Maximus freed it in his time by his climbing and aspiring minde to be Emperor and to compass that ambition spoiling Brittain of the armed force and power thereof transporting it into foreign Nations gave occasion of greater miseries here afterward both by the Scotch Picts and Saxon Pagans About this time saith the Brittish History the Picts Scots Brit. Hist l. 3. fol. 142. and Atticots invaded the Roman Province here in Brittian These Picts and Scots as some Writers report came first out of Scythia Picts who from whence though it be not probable that the Picts were any other than such Brittains as being either born in the Northern Promontory of this Isle or fleeing thither out of the South parts entred into confederacy with the Scotchmen and retained for a time their ancient name of Picts as being so called by the Romans in respect of the old custom of painting their bodies to distinguish them from the Brittains then dwelling within the Province Neither is there any mention made of their name before the time of Dioclesian and Maximian These Picts encreasing in number did afterwards inhabit the Isles of the Orcades and being for the most part rude and Savage as the Scottish men also then were did often times harrow the borders and grievously annoy their civil Country-men there being commonly no greater hatred than that which is bred and nourished among the people of one Nation when they are severed each from other by difference of manners and customes The name of Picts in processe of time being changed into that of Scotish men as of the more popular Nation was in a manner clean forgotten when by society and alliance they became one people The Scots from whence at first That the Scotish men had their original from the Scythes their very name may seem in some sort to discover howbeit divers histories affirm that they travelled first into Cantabria in Spain where perhaps dislikeing that barren Soile they continued not long but sailed into Ireland and from thence a great number of them came over into Brittain Brittish Hist l. 3. fol. 142. landing in the North part of the Isle where afterward they seated themselves They were for the most part addicted to war using peace only but as a means to repair their losses they were people of great courage and boldnesse of stature tall strong of body their complexions some what Ruddy and high Coloured their apparrel was either very slender or none at all save only to cover their shame Neither was their peace altogether Idle for even then they accustomed their bodies to labour no less painfull than war it self and ofttimes no lesse dangerous To ride with swift pace up a steep hill to swim over Lakes and standing Meeres to pass over Bogs and Fenny grounds were things in ordinary use with them as being accounted exercises of recreation only But above all others the Nobility and better sort were delighted with hunting and that in such measure that they could more patiently endure the want of meat drink and sleep than restraint from that pastime which they esteemed manly and generous In their consultations they were very secret and sudden in the execution thereof by which meanes they ofttimes struck terror and amazement to the hearts of their Enemies and so much annoyed the Roman Princes in Brittain They were better contented with the necessities of nature and more able to endure all extremities of fortune than the Brittains in those times as being lesse acquainted with the vain superfluities and delicacies of the Romans In behaviour the Brittains were noted to be more civil but the Scotish men as a people unconquered and admitting no customes but their own refused to imitate them who were brought under the subjection of a stranger or to be reputed like to any other then to themselves Wrongs and Indignities offered as well to others as themselves they sharpely revenged the slaughter wounding or disgrace of any of their kinred allies or companions being commonly the occasion of rooting out the whole family of him that first gave the offence violent persuits seising by strong hand the goods and possessions of their neighbours burning the houses and killing upon cold blood such as they had taken in War which others termed crueltie they accounted manhood and policie supposing the assurance of their estates to consist rather in diminishing the number of their enemies by open acts of hostility than by pretended reconciliations and leagues of amity which are either kept or broken at the will of him that hath the greater power Their names first mentioned in histories about the reign of Constantine the Great Though the Scotish Writers affirme that they were governed by Kings of their own Nation many hundred yeers before this time But of things so ancient to have the certain knowledg it is no easie matter neither is antiquity in it selfe very much to be regarded where true Nobility and Vertue is wanting For all nations at the first were of barbarous and uncivil behaviour till time taugh them other customes and emulation kindled the hearts of the better sort to seek fame by their own valour rather then the Genealogies of their Ancesters Those Scotish men and Picts being now assisted with forraine power presumed more boldly to assail the Brittains both by Sea and Land killing Nectaradius the Admiral of the Brittish Fleet and surprizing Bulchebandes one of their chief Captaines the mutiny at that time in the Roman Campe giving them opportunity and boldnesse to do in a manner what they listed For the Legionarie Souldiers refused to obey their Leaders and even the Deputies themselves complaining of the partiality of their Generals who punished the least offence of a Common Souldier and winked at the great abuses of Commanders and Officers hereupon a warlike troope of Almans were sent over under the Conduct of Fraomarius their King who exercised there the authority of a Tribune Severus the Emperors steward of his houshold and Jovinius were appointed to second him with certain
with all those Meteors which are engendered in the middle Region of the Air From whence the name Thursday first derived consecrating to him the fifth day of the week which was afterwards called Thursday The name of Woden they attributed to Mercury or as some write to Mars whom they reverenced as a Protector in war and a giver of strength and courage against their Enemies To him they usually sacrificed with mans blood and dedicated the fourth day of the week naming it Wodensday as yet retaining the first denomination with very little difference Wednesday from whence Under the name of Freâ— they sacrificed to Venus as the giver of peace and pleasure whom they adored sometimes under the figure of Priapus committing to her the Patronage of the sixth day called Frea-day Of these three Thor was placed upon a three footed stool in the midst Friday from whence and Woden and Frea on each side To the Goddess Eoster they alwayes offered Sacrifice in the moneth of April which thereupon was called Eoster-moneth In their consultations of any weighty matter they observed south-saying and casting of lots Their custom of casting of lots was first to cut a branch from a fruit-bearing tree into many pieces which being distinguished with several marks they did cast upon a white garment at a venture then if the matter concerned the Common-Wealth in general the Priest The manner of casting lots among the Saxons if a private person only the Master of the house having prayed the Gods and looked towards heaven did take up every one of the said pieces three times and interpreted the future success according to the form and similitude of the marks if the lots fell out contrary to their minds they consulted no more that day if otherwayes yet they would make further tryal by observing the flying and singing of birds They had another practise also to search out the event of great and weighty battails with their Enemies For they would get some one of that Nation with which the war should be made and then take another choice man of their own arming them both after their Country guise Horses much honoured by the Saxons and so make trial of their valour conjecturing by the success of that fight on whose side the victory should afterwards fall but of all other passages the neying of horses was of greatest credit both with the Preists and People who fondly supposed that those beasts understood and were privy to their secrets Why a horse for the Saxons Armes And hereupon as some suppose the Dukes of Saxony in times past gave a horse for their Ensign The names also of Hengist and Horsa the first men of note of the Saxon Nation that arrived in Brittain do signifie in their own language a horse Brit. Hist part 2. fol. 195. Mr. Bro. fol. 199. Jo. Gosc Hist Eccle. Mat. Parker Antiq. Brit. p. 8. Antiq. Glast Capgrave in vita St. Patricii Gul. Malm. l. de Antiq. Caenob Glast which denominations whether they were given in respect of their strength and courage qualities by nature proper to that beast or whether they received them upon any other occasion or accident I cannot certainly affirm sayes my Authour In this age we had here in Brittain many Monasteries and Religious houses both of Men and Women Our old Religious house in Glastenbury continued in this age as in the former having twelve religious Eremites belonging unto it dwelling in the places and Cells of the first twelve in the time of St. Joseph of Aramathea This is testified by the old Manuscripts of that place and Will of Malms in his book of the antiquity thereof witnesseth that those holy men in the number of twelve thus successively lived and served God untill St. Patricks coming The names of the twelve then living were Brunbam Dyregaan The great sanctity of the Brittish Nobility Viwall Wentreth Bantonnewing Adeloobre Loyor Wellyas Breden Swellwis Hinloirmus and Alius all of them descended of noble families rather preferred this poor penitential eremitical life then worldly honour The antiquities of Glestenbury further witness that about this time there was new founded or renewed an other little Religious house in honour of St. Michael the Archangel and particularly to honour and pray to him And that Arnulphus and Ogmar two religious holy men were the first that supplyed that office and duty there Math. West an 543. That there were divers Monasteries in Brittain as well in London Winchester Kent and other places appeareth evidently by divers Authors For say they Hengist the Pagan Saxon at his coming into Kent Stow. Howes Brit. Sax. in Const Vortiger found many religious houses both of Men and Women and many of them were glorious Martyrs by the Saxon persecutors Hengist slew the good Archbishop Vodine and many other Priests and Religious Men. All the Churches in Kent were polluted with blood the Nunns with other Religious persons were by force put from their houses and goods These religious houses must needs be builded and so furnished with goods and consecrated persons before the Saxons entred and so in or before this age these men being then Pagans were no founders but destroyers of such monuments Bed 1. c. 6. not only in Kent but all places where they prevailed by all histories Among these these sumptuous and stately Church Math. West an 313. 586. and Monastery of St. Alban builded within ten years after his Martyrdome was one for the Monastery there was not as Math. West proveth founded first by King Offa Kaer Carodoc Salisbury Manuscript Gallic Antiq. c. 24. Galf. Mon. Hist Brit. l. 8. c. 9 but being destroyed by the Saxons was re-edified by him There was also a noble monastery at Amsbury in Wiltshire near Salisbury in which as an old French Manuscript and others say there were at this time three hundred This was founded long before the Saxons came by one Ambrius near Kaer Carodoc Salisbury Our old English Chronicle treating of the desolation which the Pagan Saxons wrought in this Kingdom in destroying religious Houses and Churches and how Aurelius Ambrosius restored and builded them again thus delivereth that in general and particularly of this Monastery King Aurelambros went throughout the Land Mr. Breugron fol. 610. and put away the name of Hengist Land that Hengist after his name had called it before Then he let call it again great Brittain and let make again Churches and Houses of Religion Castles and Cities and Boroughs Old English Chronicle part 5. fol. 43. and Townes that the Saxons had destroyed The Brittains led him to the Mount of Ambrian where sometime was an house of Religion which then was destroyed through the Paynims whereof a Knight that was called Ambross that sometime was founder of that house and therefore the hill was called the holy Mount of Ambrian and after it was called Ambesbury The King Aurclambros let amend and
envying his prosperitie made war against him but he valiantly vanquished them with their Picts and Scots and at his pleasure appointed them a Governour named Anguisel whom the French Author of the book of the Knights of the round table printed at Lyons 1590. Le Roy Aquisant d' Escosse and sail H. portoit d' argent a un lyon de guenles The armes of Anguisel arme de sable un cordelire a l' entour he fought 12. battails against the Saxons and alwayes bare away the victory These battails saith Nennius were fought in these places following The first battail was fought in the mouth of the Well Gleyne or Gledy The Second Third Fourth and Fifth nigh unto the River Douglasie in the county of Lineux The sixt on the River Bassus The seventh in the wood Calidon or Coile Calidon The eighth beside the castle called Guinien The ninth at Caerleon in Wales The tenth by the Sea-side in a place called Trachenrith or Rithorwood The elventh upon a hill named Agule Cathegonien The twelfth at the hill or tower of Bath then named Bathenhill where many were slain by the force of Arthur for he alone saith Will. Malmes having the Image of our Lady sowed upon his armour set upon 900. of his Enemies and with an incredible slaughter put them to flight But now concerning this Bath before mentioned it is to be noted that Bath in Somerset-Shire standeth low compassed about with hills whereby it is evident that either it is removed from that place where it stood in Nennius his time or else the place which he called Mons Badonicus was not the town it self as Reyland and others conjecture but some other high place near which is not unlikely for at this day within a mile of it is a town called Bannardowne which is so called either corruptly for Bathendowne or else in memory of the banners displayed there Bannardowne as seemes to me both upon the sight of the place and report of such as have gathered caps full of mens teeth in following the plough there to be the same that Nennius or Bede meaneth though Polydore mistakes it for Blanchmere Thus much of Badon Hill now King Arthur having abated the rage of the Saxons Howe 's fol. 55. Arthurs round table he constituted the Order of the round table into which order he only entertained such of his Nobility as were most renowned for vertue and chevalry This round table he kept in severall places especially at Caerleon in Monmoth-Shire Winchester and Camilet in Somersetshire Camilet Castle one of the places of the round table This Camilet sometimes a famous Town or Castle standeth at the South end of the Church of South Gadburie The same is situate on a very high hill wonderfully strengthened by nature to the which be two enterings up by very steep wayes by North one and the other by South-VVest The very root of the hill whereon this fortress stood is more then a mile in compass In the upper part of the top of the hill above all the trenches The discription of Camilet as now is Magna Arca or Campus of twenty acres or more where in divers places men may see foundations or Rudera of walls there was much duskie blue stone that people of the village there by have carried away This Camilet within the upper wall being more then twenty Acres hath often been ploughed and born very good corn much gold silver and Copper of Roman coyne hath been found there in ploughing and likewise in the fields about the roots of the hill with many other Antick things especially by East Such another place is at Caerleon triple-trenched now called the lodge in the Park There was found in memory of Men a horse-shoe of silver at Camilet The coat of Lord of Earl Hungerford the people can tell nothing there but that they have heard say that Arthur much resorted to Camilet The old Lord Hungerford was owner of this Camilet who bore for his Coat of armes G. and V. indented per pale a cheveron Or since the right honourable the Lord Hastings Earl of Huntington from which family my wife is descended by her Grandmother Daughter to the Earl of Huntington and wife to the Earle of Worcester Elizabeth married to Edward Somerset Father and Mother to Henry Earl of Wigorne whose fourth Daughter Frances was married to William Morgan of Lantarna Esquire who left issue Sir Edward Morgan Baronet Henry Morgan and Winefred wife to Percy Enderby Gentleman Author of this book There is to be seen in Denbighshire in the parish of Lansanan in the side of a stone hill a place encompassed wherein be twenty four seats for men to sit in some less and some larger cut out of the main Rock by mans hands where children and young men coming to seek their cattel use to fit and play They commonly call it Arthurs round table The Order and Institution of the round table About the year of Christ 490. there reigned in England then called Brittain Sir William Segar King at armes a King named Arthur whose valour was so great and admirable that many men now living do hold the same rather fabulous then credible yet who so shall consider enterprises of later times atchieved by private persons may be easily induced to think that a great part of the praise written of that mighty Monarch may seasonably receive belief but omitting to speak of his prowess perhaps by others already over largely discoursed I say that this most famous King having expulsed out of England the Saxons conquered Norwey King Arthur crowned in Paris Scotland and the most part of France and was crowned in the City of Paris from whence returnd he erected a certain association a brotherhood of Knights who vowed to observe these articles following The Articles of the round table 1. First that every Knight should be well armed and furnished to undertake any enterprise wherein he was employed by Sea or Land on horse-back or a foot 2. That he should be ever prest to assail all tyrants or oppressours of the people 3. That he should protect widdowes and maids restore Children to their right repossess such persons as were without just cause exiled and with all his force maintain the Christian faith 4. That he should be a Champion for the weal publick and as a Lyon repulse the Enemies of his Country 5. That he should advance the reputation of honour and suppress all vice releive people afflicted by adverse fortune give aid to the holy Church and protect Pilgrims 6. That he should bury Souldiers that wanted Sepulture deliver prisoners ransome Captives and cure men hurt in service of their Country 7. That he should in all honourable actions adventure his person yet with respect to justice and truth and in all enterprises proceed sincerely never failing to use his uttermost force of body and labour of mind 8. That after the attaining of any enterprise he should cause
resigned to the King his Heirs and to the Crown of England the name and Title of Principality Cadel the youngest son and Prince of Demetia or South-VVales which the VVelshmen call'd Dehenbarsh that is the Right Side or South part this Country although it be very fruitfull and far greater then North Wales yet was it alwaies esteemed the worser part and the reason was for that the Nobles thereof refused to obey their Princes and the sea-coast was evermore infested and troubled with the invasion of the English men Normans and Flemings by which the Prince was enforced to leave his royal Seat at Marydune and place the same at Dynefar in Cantremaur And although these Princes had great Authority in VVales yet after Rhese the Son of Theodore the great was by Treason of his own people slain in the time of VVilliam Rufus Anno Domini 1093 they were no more called by the names of Dukes or Princes but onely Lords until at last by civil Wars amongst themselves and the Lands divided among strangers and many others the English seeking to possess all the Principality was so weakned and brought so low that after the death of Rhese the Son of Griffith a most worthy man they lost both Name and Authority of Principality and Lordship And all this while the Lines of the Princes of Venedosia or North-VVales did prosperously continue and held on their course as shall hereafter be specified by that which followeth THE SECOND BOOK TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE ANTHONY GREY Earl of Kent Lord Grey of Ruthen Hastings and Valence John Mannors Earl of Rutland Lord Ross of Hamlake Trusbut and Belvoir Philip Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery Lord Herbert of Cardiff Ross of Kendal Par Marnnon and Saint Quintin Edward Sackvil Earl of Dorset Lord Buâ—khurst William Earl of Salisbury Viscount Crambourn Lord Cecil of Essenden David Earl of Exeter Lord Burley THE EARLES OF KENT GRiffith ap Meredith ap Blethin Owen Cynelioc Gwenwynwyn Griffith of Gwenwynwyn Owen ap Griffith Lord Powis John Charleton Lord of Powis by the gift of King Edward the first to whom he was Valectus Regis jure uxoris Lord of Powis Hawis Gardan i. e. the Hardy Son and Heir to Owen ap Griffith Lord of Powis John Charleton second Lord of Powis of that name John Charleton third Lord of Powis of that Name One of these Johns married a daughter to Roger Lord Mortimer by which means this Family descended from the Brittish blood Edward Charleton fourth Lord of Powis of that Name Alianor daughter and one of the heirs of Thomas Holland Earl of Kent Edward Charleton the last John dying without Issue fifth Lord of Powis and last of that Family who left onely two daughters his heirs  Sir John Grey Knight Jane daughter and co-heir to Edward Charleton Lord of Powis Henry Grey Lord Powis created Earl of Tankervile Antigone natural daughter to umphery Duke of Glocester Edward * Or Edmund Grey Lord of Ruthine descended from the Lord Grey Lord of Powis created Earl of Kent Katherine daughter to Henry Percy second Earl of Northumberland by which match the Brittish blood descended George Grey Earl of Kent Anne Daughter to Richard Woodvile Earl Rivers Richard Grey Earl of Kent sans Issue Elizabeth Daughter to Sir VVilliam Hussey Knight Lord chief Justice Reiginold Grey grand-child to George by his second Wife daughter of VVilliam Herbert Earl of Pembroke by which match comes in the Brittish blood sans Issue  Henry Grey Brother and Heir to Reginold Earl of Kent Sans Issue Mary daughter to Sir George Cotton of Cheshire Knight Charles Grey Brother to the two former Earls and their Heir Susan daughter to Richard Cotton of Hantshire squire Henry Grey Earl of Kent sans Issue Elizabeth daughter and co-heir to Gilbert Earl of Shrewsbury Anthony Grey of Burbage Com. Leic. son of George son of Anthony Grey of Branspath son of George Hrey Lord Grey of Ruthin second Earl of Kent by his wife Daughter to William Herbert Earl of Pembroke continueth the Brittish line Henry Lord Grey KENT Kent is a very rich and pleasant Country lying between the Thames and the narrow Seas A country very good for Corn and fit for pastorage according to the several Plots and parts thereof and wondrous full of fruitfull and well ordered Orchards from whence the City of London is supplyed with most sort of Fruit the Villages and Towns stand exceeding thick being in all three hundred ninety eight parishes besides lesser Hamlets which make up the two Diocesses of Canterbury and Rochester It hath also divers safe Roads and sure Harbours for Ships and those exceeding well defended with Forts and Castles Caesar when he arrived in Kent found here four Kings for so they called the chief of the principal Families and gives this Testimony of the People that they were the most courteous and civil of all the Brittains in the declining of whose Empire Vortiger gave this County unto the Saxons who being Heathens when the rest of the Isle were Christians gave an occasion to the Proverb Kent and Christendome at that time it was made a Kingdome as in the entrance of the Normans it was made an Earldome and so it hath continued in the persons of these Earles of KENT Odo Bishop of Baieux half Brother to the Conquerour Lord chief Justice and Lord Treasurer William of Ypres Hugh de Burg Lord chief Justice Edmund of Woodstock Son to King Edward the First Edmund Plantagenet John Plantagenet Thomas Holland Thomas Holland Thomas Holland Duke of Surrey Edmund Holland Lord Admiral Edmund Grey Lord Ruthin Earl of Kent George Grey Richard Grey Reginald Grey Henry Grey Charles Grey Henry Grey Anthony Grey now living 1661 Henry Lord Grey heir apparent The Earle of Rutland Owen ap Griffith Lord of Powis who left one only daughter and heir who married as followeth Iohn Charleton born in Appley near Wellington was Valectus Regis Hawis Guardan i. e. the hardy sole daughter and heir to Griffith L. of Powis formerly a Prinpality Iohn Charleton L. of Powis  Iohn Charleton L. of Powis  Iohn Charleton L. of Powis  Edward Charleton his brother dying without issue Lord of Powis who left two daughters his heirs Elinor one of the daughters and coheirs of T. Holland E. of Kent Iohn Lord Typtoft of Worcester Ioyce D. and Co-h. to Ed. L. Powis Iohn L. Typtoft E. of Wocester sans issue left his four sisters his co-heirs  Thomas L. Ross of Hamlack which line devolved into the family of Mannours E. of Rutland by the marriage of Elianor sister and heir of Ed. L. Ross of Hamlack Belvoir Trusbut to Sr Roger Mannours Grandfather to Thomas first E. of Rutland of that name Philip the eldest daughter and coheir to Iohn L. Tiptoft E. of Worcester Thom. Mannours first E. of Rutland Elinor daughter to Sr. Will. Paston of Norfolk Sir Iohn Mannours second son Kt. Elizabeth daughter and co-heir of George Vernon of Haddon in
undermine the walls which when the garrison discovered and knowing that their enemies were three to one they were content to yield up the Castle upon condition that they might depart with their armes freely whichafter the Archbishop took suffering them to pass quietly fortifying the Castle strongly to the Kings use and placing therein a garrison for defence thereof departed into England But immediately VVenwinwin or Gwenwinwin begirt it again and in short space reduced it upon the same conditions that his men had surrendred it and kept the same to his own use P. Rees dieth Hol. p. 534. The next year after the fourth of May Rees the son of Gruffith ap Rees ap Theodore P. of Southwales died the only hope and stay of all that part of VVales as he that brought them out of the thraldom and bondage of strangers and set them at liberty and had defended them divers times in the field manfully Mr. Powel Fol. 249. daunting the pride and courage of their cruel enemies whom he did either chase out of the land or compelled by force to live quietly at home The Encomiums of prince Rees woe to that cruel destiny that spoyled the miserable land of her defence and shield who as he descended of noble and princely blood so he passed all other in commendable qualities and laudable vertues of the mind He was the overthower of the mighty the setter up of the weak the overturner of the holds the separater of troopes the scatterer of his foes among whom he appeared as a wild bore among the whelps or a Lyon that for anger beateth his tail to the ground See more of him in Polychronicon and Grafton The Kings of England descend from this P. Rees This Prince had many sons and daughters as Gruffith who succeeded his father Cadwalhon Maelgon Meredyth Rees and of his daughters one called Gwenlhian was marryed co Ednivet Vachan who was ancestor of Owen Theodore or Tudor that married Queen Katharine the widow of K. Henry the fifth and the rest were marryed to other Lords in the country After the death of Rees Gruffith his son subdueth all the country to himself and enjoyed it in peace untill Maelgon his brother whome his father had dis-inherited made league with Gwinwynwyn the son of Owen Civelioc Lord of Powis who both together levied forces and came suddainly upon Gruffith and slaying many of his people took him prisoner and so recovered all the Country of Caerdigan with the Castle Thus Maelgon having taken his brother sent him to be imprisoned with Gwinwynwyn who in despite delivered him to the English Then Gwenwynwyn gathered his power and entred Arustlie and subdued the same to himself About this time there was a great war in Northwales for the late Prince David ap Owen came with a great army as well English as Welsh purposing to recover the land again but Lhewelin his Nephew who was the lawful heir and then in possession thereof came boldly and met him Powis Wenwynwyn why so called add gave him battail and putting his people to flight took him prisoner and secured him by which means he injoyed his country in quiet tranquillity Towards the end of this year Owen Cyvelioc prince of higher Powis died and left his territories to Gwenwinwin his son after whom that part of Powis was called Powis Gwenwinwin for a difference from the other called Powis Vadoc which was in the possession of the Lords of Bromfield At this time also dyed Owen the son of Gruffith Maylor Lord of Bromfield and Brichtyr the son of Howel ap Jevaf likewise Maelgon the son of Cadwalhon ap Madoc Lord of Melienyth Not long after Traherne Vachan a man of great power in the Country of Brecknock as he came to Lancors to speak with William Bruse Lord thereof was suddainly taken A cruel murther and by the Lords command tyed to a horse tail and drawn through the town of Aberhodny or Brecknock to the gallows and there beheaded and his body hanged up by the feet three dayes This cruelty shewed upon no just cause caused his brother wife and Children to avoid the Country The year ensuing Maelgon the son of Prince Rees after he had imprisoned his elder brother got his Castles of Aberteini and Stratmeiric also the youngest son of P. Rees wan the Castle of Dinevowr from the Normans The Summer following Gwenwinwin intending to extend the limits of VVales to the old Meers gathered a great army and laid siege first to the Castle of Paine in Eluel which was of the possessions of VVilliam de Bruse making a Proclamation that as soon as he had won the Castle he would burn all the whole Country to Severne without mercy in revenge of the murder of Traherne Vachan his Cosen but because he had not Engins and Miners he lay three weeks at the Castle whilst the murderer sent to England for aid whereupon Jeffrie Fitz Peter Lord Chief Justice of England raised forces and joyning with him all the Lords Marchers came to raise the seige And because Fortunes in battails are various and uncertain he sent first Gwenwinwin to have a treaty of peace concluded but he and his adherents would by no means condescend thereunto but answered that they would that journey revenge their old wrongs The Welsh still made instruments to one anothers ruine Whereupon the English Lords did first enlarge Gruffith the son of Prince Rees of Southwales whom they knew to be an enemy to Gwenwynwyn which Gruffith gathered a great power and joyned with the English Lords and so they came towards the Castle against whom Gwenwinwin advanced very stoutly and there began a cruel fight with much slaughter on either side but at the last the English carryed the victory and Gwenwynwyn lost most of his men among whom were Anarawd son of Eneon Owen ap Cadwalhon Richard ap Jestin and Robert ap Howel also Meredith ap Conan was then taken prisoner with divers others Matthew Paris saith that this battail was fought before Mauds Castle and that of the Welshmen were then slain 3700. 3700 Welshmen slain A. Lhoyd Mat. Paris pag 259. and after this victory the English Lords returned with great honour And forthwith Gruffith son to P. Rees recovered by force and favour of the people all his land except the two Castles Aberteini and Stratmeiric which his brother Maelgon by the aid of Gwenwinwin had wrongfully taken from him This his brother Maelgon fearing his displeasure took a solemn Oath before both noble and religious men which endeavoured to make peace betwixt them that if his brother Gruffith would give him pledges for assurance of his own person he would deliver him by a Day the Castle of Aberteini whereupon Gruffith did so Perjury never prospers but as soon as Maelgon got the pledges he fortified the Castle and manned it to his own use and sent the pledges to Gwenwinvvin who hated Gruffith to death there to be kept in
was Lord at this time the King passing the river of Conwey encamped there by the river side and sent part of his Army with guides of the countrey to burn Bangor who did so taking Rotpert the Bishop prisoner A strange ransome for a Bishop who was afterwards ransomed for 200 Hawks The distressed yet couragious Prince seeing all England and Wales against him and a great part of his land won from him thought it best to capitulate with the King and thereupon he sent Joan his wife the Kings daughter to her father The Inland of NorthWales granted to K. John for ever to make a peace who being a discreet woman found the means that upon pledges given for safe conduct the prince came to the King and made peace with him and did him homage And giving pledges promised towards his charges 20000 heads of Cattel and forty Horses Moreover he granted to the King the Inland for ever whereupon the King returned to England with great triumph after he had brought all Wales under his subjection saving Rees and Owen the sons of Gruffith ap Rees Therefore at his departure he gave strict command to Fulk Visconnt of Caerdâ—ff called Warden of the Marshes a cruel Tyrant Caerdif honoured with a Viscount yet well beloved by the King to take an army with him that he joyning with Maelgon and Rees Vachan might compell the aforesaid sons of Gruffith to obey him This Foulk calling to him Maelgon and Rees came to the Cantref of Penwedic when the young Lords seeing no remedy sent to him for peace and safe conduct to passe to the Court upon their submission to the King with the gift of all their Lands betwixt Aeron and Dynâ— All Wales in homage to K. John they were received by him very gently and courteously entertained and after they had done him homage they returned home again Fulk before his departure out of the Country fortified the Castle of Aberystwith and manned it to the Kings use But within a while after Maelgon as he was very unconstant and Rees Vachan repented them of the peace they had made with the King and thereupon sat down before Aberistwyth and getting the same destroyed it When the Nephews Rees and Owen perceived that their Uncle had broken the Kings peace they made a road into Maelgons country and slew a great number of his men and returned home with great booty The next year prince Lhewelin being not able to endure the displeasures which the garrisons left in his Nephews castles in Northwales did to his people called to him Gwenwinwyn from Powis Maelgon ap Rees from Southwales Madoc ap Gruffith Maylor from Bromfield Meredyth ap Rotpert from Cydewen and opened to them this miserable case how they which were wont to have a prince of their own Nation now by their own willfulness were brought under subjection to a stranger and declared also unto them how that if they would agree among themselves they might defend their antient Estate still which they all promised to do and swore fealty to prince Lhewelyn and forthwith gathered an army and wan all the Castles except Ruthlan and Dyganwy then coming to Powis they laid siege to the Castle which Robert Vepont had made at Mathraval Mathraval Castle razed by K. Johns command The King no sooner had notice of these transactions but he leavied an army and came thither to raise the siege and after caused the Castle to be razed and then returned home having greater matters in hand between him and his Nobles and being at Notingham he caused all the pledges out of Wales to be hanged A tyrannous execution as Howel the son of Cadwalhon Madoc the son of Maelgon and others to the number of 28. striplings also Robert Vepont did hang at Shrewsbury Rees the son of Maelgon not being yet 7 years of age and so cruelly murdred the innocent to revenge the the offences of others Rees the son of Gruffith ap Rees who was heir to prince Rees seeing he could have no part of his Fathers Lands but that his Uncles did keep all from him by force made his complaint to the King and the King pittying his Estate sent to Foulk Viscount of Caerdyf and to the Steward of Hereford commanding them to take all Stratywy from Rees Vachan whom others call Rees Gryc unlesse he would let his nephews enjoy the castle of Lanymdhfry with the territory belonging thereunto and they sent to Rees to know his resolution who answered them stoutly that they should not have one foot of Land of him Therefore Foulk gathered a great army together and met with young Rees at Talhwynelgain where he looked for him with a number of men that he had gotten in Brecon and thence they marched in three battails towards Dynevowr of which young Rees had the leading of the first Foulk the second and Owen brother to Rees the third Rees Vachan notwithstanding came boldly to give them battail where in the end he was put to flight with great losse of his men whereupon he went immediately and manned the castle of Dynevowr and set fire to the town of Lhandeilo vawr keeping himself in the wild and rough places his enemies seeing this besieged the castle of Dynevour and at the first assault they wan the first ward so that they of the garrison were compelled to take the Koxe for their defence which they manfully defended but the assailiants made engines to cast stones of great bigness and began to undermine the walls in such sort that the Captain fell to that composition that if he were not succoured by the next day at noon he would deliver up the castle upon condition that all his men might depart with their armour and weapons and so they did for they had no relief Afterward they brought the Cantref Maur under subjection which caused Rees Vachan to remove his wife and children to his brothers country and left the castle of Lhanymdhfry well fortified and manned After the departure of Fulke young Rees came with an army of Welshmen and Normans to Lhanymdhfri but before they were encamped the Captain delivered up the castle and the garrison departed their lives granted And shortly after Rees Vachan was taken at Caermarthyn and committed to the Kings prison At this time prince Lhewelyn laid siege to the castle of Dyganwy and Ruthlan won them both so that he left the King neither hold nor castle within his land After this fortunate success and happy attempts Lhewelyn in the head of a gallant Army marched to Shrewsbury which Town and Castle were delivered unto him without any resistance and there he remained a while In the mean time Giles de Bruse the son of William de Bruse a man of great power and nobility was consecrated Bishop of Hereford Godwin in Hereford Sept. the 24 1200. In the Barons Wars he took part with them against the King and at last was fain to flye the land afterwards being
coming Thirdly that for performance of these they should deliver forthwith to the Prince twenty pledges of the best in all the country which things they did Then the Prince returned into Northwales with much honour Caerleon taken by the E. of Pembrock Shortly after William Marshal Earl of Pembrock got the town of Caerlheon and made war against the Welshmen whom contrary to their promise the Barons left out of the conclusion of peace The Barons were very glad of the friendship and aid of the P. of Wales to serve their own turne The Barons pacifying France and England conspire against Wales but now in a general conclusion of peace contrary to their oath and promise they reserve out Wales to keep them play withall hoping to get some more land thereby therefore let us take heed how we trust to self serving friendship Hereupon Rees Vachan razed the Castle of Senghennyth and all the Castles he had in his custody in that Country and banished all the English there inhabiting with their wives and Children for ever Strangers banished out of Wales and divided the Country amongst the Welsh who have kept it ever since The year ensuing Prince Lhewelyn put Garrisons into the Castles of Caermarthyn and Aberteini Then young Rees by the Prince his consent went to the King and did homage for his lands In the year following Rees Gryc married the daughter of the Earle of Clare and John de Bruse married the daughter of P. Lewelin The Flemmings violate the Oath year 1220 The year 1220 Lhewelyn Prince of Wales conducted an army to Pembroke against the Flemmings who contrary to their Oath and League had taken the Castle of Aberteini which Castle the Prince won and destroyed putting the Garrison to the sword razed the Castle and went thence to Gwys where he razed that Castle and burned the town Also he caused all Hanerford to be burned to the Castle gates and destroyed all Ros and Dongledhan and they who kept the Castle sent to him for truce till the first of May which was concluded upon conditions and so he returned home year 1221 Also this year certain Lords of Wales besieged the Castle of Buelht which belonged to Reynalt de Bruse therefore the King came with an army to the Marches and raised the siege and came as far as Montgomery and built a Castle there Montgomery castle built by K. John The year following there fell a great difference betwixt Prince Lhewelin and Gruffith his son for this Gruffith enjoyed the Cantref of Merioneth without his fathers consent and therefore his father sent for him to come unto him which he denied to do Therefore the Prince sware that he would be revenged upon him and his confederates for that dishonour and then came with a great army to Merioneth but the son not fearing his father got his people into the field ready to abide the battail but as they were in fight there was a peace concluded and Gruffith yielded to his father and cryed him mercy Then Lhewelin although he forgave his son the offence yet he took Merioneth and Ardydwy from him and building a Castle there returned home again At this time young Rees forsook Prince Lhewelyn because Aberteini was not delivered him as the promise was at the division of South Wales and went to William Marshal Earle of Pembroke which caused Prince Lhewelyn to come to Aberystwyth and seize the castle and all the Territories to his own use Young Rees hearing this went to the King to complain upon Prince Lhewelin and the King sent for the prince to Shrewsbury and made him and Rees friends the prince promising to deale with Rees for Aberteini as he had done with Maelgon for Caermarthyn This Winter John Bruse by the consent of prince Lhewelyn fortified the Castle of Senghennyth Young Rees dies and is buried at Stratâ—lur The year after young Rees departed out of this life being a lusty Gentleman and endued with many notable vertues and was buryed at Stratflur whose inheritance Lhewelin divided between his brother Gwen and his Vncle Maelgon year 1223 In the year 1223. William Marshal came from Ireland and landed at St. Davids with a great army and shortly after laid seige to Aberteini and got it and from thence marched to Caermarthyn and likewise got the same Lhewelin prince of Wales at what time William Marshal Earle of Pembrock prosecuted the wars in Ireland took the two castles in VVales belonging to the Earle And now speaking of this Earof Pembrock as formerly I have done I will set down a Catalogue of the Earles of that place with their armes Pembrockshire was inhabited of old by the Dimetae a Country quite surrounded by the sea save where it joyneth unto Caerdegan and Caermarthynshires a country plentiful in corne and cattel and fish not destitute of pitcoale and which is far above the rest as Giraldus tells considering that is so near to Ireland of a wholesome and temperate air it contains in it 140. parish churches and 5. Markets that which is most of note being Milford renowned for its safe and capacious haven but that from which it takes its denomination is the Town of Pembrock seated upon a forked arme of Milford haven and in the best part of the country the Town consisting principally of one long street on a long narrow point of a rock and hath in the walls thereof two churches The Earles hereof in former times were County Palatines and passed all things that concerned that County under the seale of the Earldom and it continued so until the reign of K. H. VIII when as VVales was reduced to England and the authority of the great Lords there dissolved by Parliament since which the Earles of Pembrock have been meerly titulan as of other places and of each sort were these in their several ages the Marquesses and Earles of Pembrock 1 Gilbert de Clare 2 Richard de Clare surnamed Srongbow Or 3 Cheverons G. a Cressant for difference 3 William Marshal married Isabel daughter and heir of Rich. Strongbow 4 William Marshal Lord Chief Justice 5 Richard Marshal 6 Gilbert Marshal 7 Walter Marshal 8 Anselme Marshal Party per pale Or and vert a Lyon Rampant Gules incensed Azure 9 William de Valence half brother to Henry III. whose wife was daughter of a Sister of Anselme Marshal 10 Aymer de Valence Ten Clossets Argent and B as many Martlets in Vrle Gules Mr. Brochcals larnly of 10. pieces 11 Laurence Hastings who married the Lady Isabella Valence 12 John Hastings 13 John Hastings this John bore quarterly Brotherton Hastings Or a Manch Gules Valence and Brotherton 14 Humphrey Duke of Glocester Quarterly France and England a border Arg. 15 VVilliam de la Pole Duke of Suffolk B. a fess between three Leopards heads Or. 16 Jasper of Hatfield brother to King Henry the Sixt after Duke of Bedford Quarterly France and England in a border B. 8 martlets Or Mr. Brock calls them
King will provide as becometh their Estates and condition and to that the King is well enclined These are to be said to David Brother to Lhewelyn in secret A specious banishment First That if for the honour of God Juxta debitum crucis assumptae he will go to the holy land he shall be provided for according to his degree so that he do not return unless he be called by the King and we trust to intreat the King to provide for his child 2. And these things we tell our selves to the Welshmen that a great deal greater peril do hang over them then we told them by mouth when we were with them These things which we write seem grievous but it is a great deal more grievous to be oppressed with armes and finally to be rooted out because every day more and more their danger doth increase One of Jobs comforters 3. Item It is more hard to be alwayes in war in anguish of mind and danger of body alwayes sought and beseiged and so to dye in deadly sin and continual rancor and malice 4. Item We fear whereof we be sorry unless you do agree to peace we must certainly aggravate the sentence Ecclesiastical against you for your faults of the which you cannot excuse your selves whereas you shall find both grace and mercy if you will come to peace And send us your answer of these in writings To the most Reverend Father in Christ the Lord John by Gods grace Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of all England his Obedient Son Lhewelyn Prince of Wales and Lord of Snowdon sendeth greeting Most heartily with all Reverence and Honour we are content and ready holy Father as you have committed us to submit our selves unto the Kings grace so it be in that form that shall be safe and honest for us But because the form of submission contained in the Articles which were sent unto us is neither safe nor honest as we and our Councel do think at the which Articles all men do marvail tending rather to the destruction of us and our people then any security or honest dealing we may in no wise yield our assent unto it and if we should so do our Nobles and People would not agree to the same knowing the mischiefs and inconvenience that is like to ensue thereof Nevertheless we beseech your holy Father-hood that for the reformation of a decent honest and firm peace for the which you have taken so great pains you do circumspectly provide having respect unto the Articles which we send unto you in writing It is more honourable for the King more agreable to reason that we should hold our Lands in the County where we do dwell then that we should be dis-inherited and our Land given to other Men. Dated at Carth Celyn The Answer of the Welshmen First though the Lord the King will have no treaty of the four Cantreds the Lands that he gave to his Nobles The right of lands derived from Camber nor the Isle of Anglesey yet the Princes Councel will no peace be made unless treaty be had of them For that the four Cantreds be of the mere Tenure of the Prince whereas the Princes of Wales had more right since the time of Camber Son of Brute so that they be of the principality of VVales The confirmation of the which the Prince obtained by Otobanus the Popes Legate in England by the consent of the King and his Father As it doth appear by the Letters Patentes And more just and equal it is that our heirs do hold the said Cantreds of the King for mony The P. of Wales justly taxeth the K. of England and used service then the same to be given to strangers which abuse the people by force and power 2. All the Tenents of all the Cantreds of VVales altogether do say that they dare not submit themselves to the King to do his pleasure first for that the King kept neither covenant nor oath nor grant by charter from the beginning to the Prince or his people Secondly that the Kings men do cruelly exercise Tyranny towards the Church and Churchmen Thirdly that they be not bound to any such matter seeing they be the Princes Tenants who is ready to do used and accustomed service and to obey the King with and by the said service 3. To that which is said that the Prince should simply commit himself to the Kings will it is answered that none of us will dare come to the King for the cause aforesaid we altogether will not suffer our Prince to come in that manner 4. Item where the great Men of England would procure a provision of a 1000l per annum in England let it be answered that such provision is not to be accepted for it that is procured by them who go about to disinherit the Prince to have his Lands in VVales 5. Item The Prince ought not to dismiss his inheritance which his predecessours held in VVales since the time of Brutus and confirmed by the See Apostolick and to take lands in England where he knoweth neither tongue manners lawes nor customes wherein he shall be soon entrapped by his neighbours the Englishmen his old malicious enemies whereby he should lose land also 6. Item Seeing the King goeth about to deprive him of his ancient inheritance it is not like that he would suffer him to possesse Lands in England where he claimeth no right seeing that the Princes Lands in VVales of his own inheritance is but barren and untilled it is lesse like the King would suffer him to enjoy good fertile land in England 7. Item The Prince should give the King possession of Snowdon for ever Let it be answered that seeing that Snowdon is of the appurtenances of the principality of VVales which the Prince and his predecessours hold since the time of Brute His Councell will not suffer him to renounce that place and to take a place in England lesse due unto him 8. Item The people of Snowdon do say that although the prince would give the King possession of it yet they would never do homage to strangers of whose tongue Manners Lawes they should be ignorant for so they should be for ever Captives and as cruelly handled as the Cantreds have been by the Kings Bayliffs and other the Kings men handled more cruelly then Saracens as it doth well appear by the notes of their griefs which the men of the Cantreds sent to you holy Father These are to be Answered For David the Kings Brother When he is disposed to see the Holy Land will do it for Gods sake voluntarily not by such inforcement against his will for he intendeth not to go on pilgrimage in that sort because he knoweth enforced service not to please God and if he hereafter shall for devotion see the holy land that it is no cause for ever to disinherit his Ofspring but rather to reward them And for that neither the Prince nor his
and Englishmen made war against such as succoured and defended his Uncle Jago and spoyled the Countries of Lhyyn and Kelynnoc Vawr whereby shortly after Jago was taken by Howels men who enjoyed his part of the land peaceably year 979 About the year 979. Edwal Vachan the son of Edwal Voel was slain by his Nephew Howel At this time Custenym Dhu that is Constantine the black son to Jago which then was prisoner hired Godfryd the son of Haroald with his Danes against his Cosin and they both together destroyed Anglesey and Lhyyn whereupon Howel gathered his army together and setting upon them at a place called Gwath Hirbarth overthrew them where Constantine was slain year 981 The year 981. Godfryd the son of Haroald gathered a great army and entred West Wales where spoyling all the Land of Dynet with the Church of St. Davids he fought the battail of Lhanwanoc Likewise in the year next ensuing Duke Alfred with an army of Englishmen spoyled and destroyed Brechnock and great part of the lands of Owen Prince of Southwales against whom Eneon the son of the said Owen and Howel King of Northwales did raise all their power and overthrow them in battail where the greatest part of Alfreds army was slain and the rest put to flight The year following the Gentlemen of Gwentland rebelled against their Prince and cruelly slew Eneon the soâ— of Owen which came thither to appease them This Eneon was a worthy and noble Gentleman who did many notable acts in his fathers time and left behind two sons Edwin and Theodor or Tewdor Mawr of whom came afterwards the Kings and Princes of Southwales In the year 984. Howel the son of Janaf King of Wales entered England with an army where he was fought and slain valiantly fighting This Howel had no son but his brethren reigned in his place Cadwallon the Son of Janaf After the death of Howel his Brother Cadwallon the second Son of Janaf took in hand the government of Northwales and first made War with Jonaval his Cofin the Son of Meyric and right heir to the Land and slew him but Edwal the youngest Brother escaped away secretly The year following Meredyth the Son of Owen King or Prince of Southwales with all his People entred into Northwales and in fight slew Cadwallon the son of Janaf and Meyric his Brother and conquered the land to himself wherein a man may see how God punished the wrong which Jago and Janaf the Sons of Edwal Voel did to their eldest brother Meyrick who was first disinherited and afterwards his eys put out and one of his Sons slain for first Janaf was imprisoned by Jago then Jago with his Son Constantine by Howel the Son of Ianaf and afterward the said Howel with his brethren Cadwallon and Meyric were slain and spoiled of their Lands Meredyth the Son of ap Howel Dha year 986 This Meredyth ap Owen havingslain Cadwallon obtained the Rule and government of Northwales in the year 986. Godfrid the Son of Haroald the third time entring the isle of Anglesey where having taken Lywarck the Son of Owen with two thousand prisoners besides he cruelly put out his eys whereupon Meredyth the Prince with the rest escaped and fled to Cardigan and the same year there was a great murrain of cattel throughout all Wales year 987 In the year 987. dyed Ianaf the Son of Edwal who had lived many years a private life The same year also dyed Owen the son of Howel Dha prince of Southwales This Owen had three Sons Eneon which dyed in his Fathers life time Lhywarck which lost both his eyes and Meredyth which as â—â—fore is declared had won Northwales and after his Fathers death took also into his possession all Southwales having no respect to his Brother Eneon his Sons Edwin and Theodor or Tewdor About the same time the Danes sailed from Hampton alongst the Sea coast The Tribute of the black Army spoiled Devonshire and Cornwall and so at last landed in Southwales and destroyed Saint Davids Lanbadarn Lhanrystid and Lhandydock which were all places of Religion and did so much hurt in the country besides that to be rid of them Meredyth was fain to agree with them and to give them a penny for every man within his land which was called the Tribute of the black Army year 989 The year 989. Owen the son of Dyfnwal was slain within a year after Meredith King of Wales destroyed the Town of Radnor at which time his Nephew Edwin the son of Encon having to his aid Duke Adelf and a great army of Englishmen and Danes spoiled all the land of Meredith in Southwales as Caerdigan Dynet Gwyr Kydwch and Saint Davids where Edwin took pledges of the chief men of those Countries In the mean time this Meredith with his people did spoil Glamorgan so that no place was free from Sword and fire but at the last Meredith and Edwin fell to an agreement and were made Friends Soon after Cadwalhon the son of Meredith dyed Meredith being thus imployed had so much to do in Southwales that Northwales lay open for the enemy which thing when the Danes perceived they arrived in Anglisey and destroyed the whole Isle Matth. West pag. 383. Jâ—a Castor 992. whereupon the Inhabitants of that country received Edwal the son of Meyric the right heir of Northwales for their Prince in the year 992. After these great troubles there followed within a year after such famine and scarcity in Southwales that many perished for want of food Edwal ap Meyric the son of Meredith This Edwal being in possession of the principality of Northwales studied to keep and defend his people from injuries and wrongs But Meredith gathered together all his power intending to recover again Northwales with whom Edwal met at Lhagwm and overthrew him in plain battel where Theodor or Tewdor Manor Meredith his Nephew was slain who left behinde him two Sons Rees and Rytherck and a Daughter called Elen. A little after this Swain the son of Haroald destroyed the Isle of Man and entring into Northwales slew Edwal the prince thereof who left behinde him a son called Jago In the year of Christ 998. the Danes came again to Saint Davids destroying all before them and there they slew Morgency or rather Vrgency Bishop of that See the same year also dyed Meredith the son of Owen King or Prince of Wales leaving behinde him one only Daughter called Angharad which was married to Lewellin ap Sitsylht and after his death to Convyn Hirdref or as other do think to Convyn ap Gwerystan who had children by either of them which was the cause of much war and mischief in Wales as shall appear hereafter Aedan the Son of Blegored The death of both these Princes forsomuch as Meredith had no Issue male and Edwal left behinde him a childe within years not able to take the charge of a Common-wealth did cause much trouble to ensue for in Northwales divers did aspire