noted that whilst Rivallus governed Brittanny for the space of three dayes it continually rained Blood out of the corruption whereof were ingendred a multitude of those which we call animalia insecta which are Vermine divided as it were between the head and belly having no flesh blood or sinews as flies gnats pismires caterpillars and such like which â—id so swarm and grew infectious that by the contagion many people died and that again caused a great and strange mortality insomuch that the Island seemed in a manner unpeopled Thus after Rivallus had Reigned 46 years he departed this life and was buried at York In the Reign of this King Rome was builded by the two brothers Romulus and Remus 356 years after Brute came into England Et ejus speaking of this King saith Vitus Tempore Romam in Italia per Remum Romulum fratres esse conditam post adventum Bruti Prisci ad Britanniam anno plus trecentis quinquagesimo sexto Sane quidem Alexander ab Alexandris l. 2. c. 22. In Palilibus sacris inquit hoc custoditur ne qua mactetur hostia quia eum diem qui patriae natalis est à caede sanguine deceret esse parum fuit enim is dies 12. Calendas Maii quo fausto faelici omine jacta sunt primum fundamenta urbis Romae quo die mos erat ovilia purgare flammas transilire sapa milio sacrum facere geniales Dies agere caenas apparare à litibus abstinere quae singula prosperos rerum successus decernebant Sed quia Gaufridus per consequentiam literarum scribit undecimo Calendas Maii qui est 21. Aprilis conditam esse Romam fortasse mendosus est Codex Alexandri per literas numerales Scriptas ad 12. Calendas qui esset Dies 20. Aprilis Nam Plutarchus in vita Romuli scribit Romam fuisse conditam 21. die Aprilis Palilia esse celebrata prius quam urbs Roma conderetur circiter annum tertium Olympladis 6. est autem Olympias spatium 4. Annorum sic appellatum quod inter duos ludos Olympiacos haberetur eorum fiebat initium ut in Theatro suo Lycosthenes scribit anno 19. Amulii Silvii Regis Latinorum qui erat ab orbe condito super ter mille ac contum annus â—8 cui si addantur Olympiades quinque cum annis tribus Olympiadis 6. atque sic 23. anni videbitur Roma condita fuisse anno undecimo supra ter mille ducentos atque sic 26. Rivallonis In his time viz. Rivallus Rome in Italy was built by Remus and Romulus after the coming of old Brute into Britany 356. Alexander ab Alexandris lib. 2. c. 22. saith that in the Palilibus or Festival days of the Shepherds in honor of Pales their Goddess order is taken that no Hostia or Sacrifice where in blood was shed should be offered because being the Birth day of the Country as it were it ought to be pure and clean and not polluted with any slaughter or bloodshed this day hapned on the 12. of the Kalends of May in which with happy and auspicious Omens the foundation of Rome was laid in which day the Custom was to purifie and purge their Flocks skip over fires to Sacrifice in boyld or burnt wine millets or hyrse to keep Wakes or Gaudy days and to make bunquetting and delicious Suppers and to abstain from all debates all which they imagined betokened prosperous success in the succeeding affairs but because Gaufridus writes Rome to have been built it may be the book of Alexander may be faulty or mistaken in the numeral Letters concerning the xii of the Calends which is the 20. day of April for Plutarch in the life of Romulus saith that Rome was built the 21. day of April and that the Palilia or Shepherds Festivals was celebrated before the building of Rome about the 3. year of the 6. Olympiade containeth 4. years which was the space between two Olympick Games which Games as Lycosthenes in his Theater writes had their beginning in the 19. year of Amulius Sylvius King of the Latines which was in the three thousand one hundred and 88. year since the worlds Creation to which if you add five Olympiads and three years of the 6. and so 23. years it will appear that Rome was built the 26. of Rivallus others as Fabian say that Rome was built 470. years after London and in the 32. year of Rivallus GVRGVSTIVS GVrgustius the son of Rivallus whom some call Gorbodian and his father Reignald began his Reign over the Kingdom of Great Brittain 4483. the flower of Histories saith that he reigned thirty and eight years otherwise little mention is made of him in History onely Mr. Howe 's in his continuation of Stow saith that he was a common drunkard whereof followed all other vices he died after a Reign of 38. years and was buried at York leaving no issue behinde him to succeed SISILLIVS SIsillius or according to Sylvius the brother of Gurgustius as affirmeth the old Author saith Fabian was elected King of Brittain in the year of the worlds Creation 4521. he is called by the English Chronicle Seizil little is recorded of this King only some Authors say that he reigned only two years but the most common opinion is that he was King 49. years and after died and was buried at Caer Badon or Bath leaving no issue of his own body JAGO or LAGO JAgo or Lago the cozen of Gurgustius and his next heir took upon him the Government of this Iland in the year of the worlds Creation 4540. whether this Kings life as the two precedent was so foul that Learned and modest Writers were ashamed to let them come to light or that they lived in such sloth and ease that nothing was done worth recounting I cannot affirm all that is recorded of him is that he ruled 25. years and through ill and disordinate living he fell into a Lethargy whereof he died and was buried at York without issue Kymmacus or Kynimacus KYmmacus or Kynimacus the Son of Silvius or more likely as saith the old Chronicle the brother of Jago was invested in the royal dignity of this Island in the year of the worlds Creation 4595. as little is said of this King as of his three immediate predecessors only that he ruled 54. years and was buried at York leaving after him a son who as testifieth Flos Historiarum was called Gorbodug GORBODVG GOrbodug the Son of Kynimacus was made King of great Brittain in the year of the worlds Creation 4650. this King crod in the footsteps of those whom he followed leaving nothing to be recorded only that he ruled to compleat the account of Histories 63. years so that these five last Kings Rivallus Gurgustius Jago Kynimacus and Gordobug died ingloriously leaving nothing to perpetuate their memory saving that they were Kings the last whereof was buried at Troynovant and left two sons to succeed Ferrex and Porrex FERREX and
the prophesie is fulfilled which was made good in Constantine the Great who as both King of Great Brittain and son of Hellen the daughter of Coillus a Brittish King born in this Isle and Emperour of Rome which is as much as to say of the whole world Rome being stiled Totius terrarum orbis Regina or Domina Lady and Queen of the whole world Vitus sets down the order and succession of the Kings of Brutus his Lineage with the terms and continuance of their Reigns but differs much from the account of Fabian and other Writers for he saith 1. Rex Brutus Priscus began in the year from the worlds Creation 2855. and Reigned four and twenty years 2. Locrinus 2879. and reigned 10. 3. Madanus 2889. and reigned 40. 4. Membritius 2929. and reigned 20. 5. Ebrancus 2949. and reigned 40. 6 Brutus Junior 2980. and reigned 12. 7. Leilus 3001. and reigned 25. 8. Rudibras 3026. and reigned 39. 9. Fladus 3065. and reigned 20. 10. Leir 3085. and reigned 60. 11. Cordeilla 3145. and reigned 5. 12. Morganus Cunedagius began to reign 3150. 13. Rivallo 3185. and reigned 46. 14. Gurgustius 3231. and reigned 38. 15. Sisillius 3269. and reigned 49. 16. Jago 3318. and reigned 25. 17. Chynemarces 3343. and reigned 54 18. Gorbodio 3397. and reigned 63. 19. Ferrex Porrex 3460. and reigned 5. Which computation as he tells us compleats six hundred and ten years during all which time the Progeny of Brute held the Scepter of Brittany and then followed the Pentarchy Epilogus Libri Primi BY reason that divers and various are the opinions of Authors and Antiquaries concerning the computation of years since the Creation of the world and framing of the first Adam the overthrower of mankinde and his whole posterity unto the birth of the second Adam that sacred Messias that long lookt for Emanuel and most blessed Jesus who repaired that loss by his Incarnation death and passion opening to the sons of Eve the gates of the Celestial Paradice which untill his glorious Ascension were close lockt up against all mankinde It will not be amiss to give a brief Compendium and abridgement of the variety of opinions The Hebrews account from the said Term three thousand nine hundred and fourty three The seventy Interpreters assign five thousand one hundred ninety and nine others there are who number five thousand two hundred and twenty eight In the third or fourth Book of Policronicon there are other conceits and judgements shewed concerning calculation of these years whereof saith Fabian the most certain is five thousand and two hundred years there are not wanting others whereof some reckon some more some less some account from the first building and structure of Rome some from the overthrow and subversion of the most famous City of Troy others from the founding of Troynovant or London and not a few from divers Edifices and Foundations But since that the account of the Septuagint or seventy Interpreters both by venerable Bede and other Learned Writers is esteemed as most authentick I will follow their judgement and accordingly give you to understand in what year of the world Brute first entred this Isle then called Albion now England First therefore from Adam to Noe was two and twenty hundred and fourty two years From Noe to Abraham was nine hundred and fourty two years From David to the captivity of the Jews three hundred and five years And from the Captivity to the Incarnation of our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ five hundred fourscore and ten The which in all make 5199 years After which accompt although divers Authors have their several Computations the ancient and glorious City of Troy was subverted and felt its dismal Catastrophe by the hands of the Conquering Grecians as Learned Eusebius and others testifie in the year of the worlds Creation four thousand and twenty three It was the first year of Achas and before Hezekias xvi years after Eusebius iiii M cccc xliii And according to the same Eusebius the foundations of Rome were laid in the eleventh year of Hezekiah then King of Judah the which year maketh after the computation of the said Authors 4470. who also affirm that the said City was edified after the destruction of Troy four hundred and fourty seven years so that it must by consequence follow that it was built Anno mundi as before Peter Pictaniensis and others testifie that Brute entred first this â—sle of Albion called now England in the eighteenth year of the Priest and Judge of Israel named Hely and Hely as divers Writers avouch began to rule the Israelites the year of the third Age that is from Abraham to David eight hundred and fourty one years which maketh the years of the world four thousand and five Whereunto if there be joyned the abovesaid eighteen years then must it follow that Brute entred this Land Anno mundi four thousand sixty three to this agreeth the Author of Policronicon who saith that Brute entred Albion fourty years after the subversion of Troy which forty years joyned to the former saying of Eusebius iiii M. lxii xlii compleat the number of four thousand and fourty three years Another Historian called Jacobus Philippus saith that Troy was taken by the Grecians in the third year that Abdon or Labdon judged the Israelites who began his Rule over the said Israelites iiii M. xviii after the accord of most Writers Anno mundi four thousand and twenty whereunto if there he added three years for the third year of his rule in which year as before is declared iiii M. xviii Troy was sacked and destroyed and forty years which passed before Brute entered Albion It must follow that Brute came into this Island in the year of the worlds Creation xlii four thousand threescore and three MVLMVTIVS DVNWALLO MVlmutius Dunwallo or as others please Dunwallo Mulmutius the Son of Glotene Duke or King of Cornwall as the English book and also Gaufride affirm after he had fully subdued and conquered the five petty Kings or Princes before mentioned and had brought the Iland into a Pentarchy took upon him the Government of Brittany in the year of the worlds creation 1748. This Prince in some Histories is called Donebant iiii M. vii C. lxix and was of a Noble and Heroick Spirit but much after he came to be fully setled in his Government inclined to peace insomuch that in the City of Troynovant in a place which now as some are of opinion is called Blackwell-Hall he builded a Temple calling it the Temple of Peace or Concord The Laws which he made and established were of such Authority and esteem that holy Gildas translated them out of the Brittish Language into Latine and Aluredus King of England out of Latine into English Vitus tells us that these Laws or at least the heads of them were Vt deorum templa tantam dignitatem consequantur nequis illo confugiens extrabi possit prius quam
Stumpuis partly by petitioning and supplications but without doubt not without emptying his bags obtained that the Church might stand which is now the Parish-Church This Town saith a new Author Anonymus was by Antoninus in his Itinerarium called Cunetio from the River Kennet and Marleburgh as being seated in a Chalkie soyle which in some places still well called by the name of Marle Here Hen. 3. held a Parliament in which were many statutes and as the preamble saith right necessary for the peace and tranquility of the people now a title of honour and hath given stile of EARLE to 1. James L. Ley L. Tr. Created Earle of Marlborough 1. Car. Feb. 7. 2. Henry Ley. 3. James Ley E. of Mal. Argent a cheveron between 3 Bears Heads Couped Sable The next place which Mulmutius Dunwallo built was The-Vies which Florentius Wigorniensis calls Divisio another De vies and Nubrigensis Divisae Here was a Castle built by Roger the rich Bishop of Salisbury for scituation and workmanship giving place to none but Fortune is a Goddesse both blind and fickle for he who even now was the second Head in the Kingdom by the frowns or rather avarice of K. Stephen is not only plunder'd of his vast and almost inexhaustible Treasure but also cast into a loathsome Gaol where the poor old Man with Hunger and what with Afflictions and Miseries betwixt the fear of death and torments of his life would feign have died yet knew not how to die Mulmutius Dunwallo having with great honour rul'd the Brittains by the space of forty years yielded to death what was mortal and was buried in the Temple of Troynovant which he had built leaving his two Sons Bellinus and Brennus joyntly to succeed in the Kingdome BELLINVS and BRENNVS BEllinus and Brennus the two Sons of Mulmutius began to Reign joyntly as Kings of great Brittain in the year of the World four thousand eight hundred and eight To Bellinus according to the agreement of Partition fell Loegria Cambria and Cornwall that is to say England Wales and Cornwall and to Brennus by the same accord all the Land beyond the River of Humber This Partition according to Policron and others pleased and gave full content to both the Brothers for the space of five years The reason why Bellinus had the bigger and better share was Quia erat primogenitus Vitus fol. 209. Trojana consuetudo requirebat ut dignitas Haereditatis perveniret ad eum Hanc vero fuisse consuetudinem Trojanorum scribens Herodotus ad Alexandrum ait non erat perventurum Regnum cum Hector major natu Herodotus virtute praestantior quam ille Regnum defuncto Priamo suscepturus esset Idem scribit Messala Corvinus in libello de Augusti Progenie Troem à quo dicta Troja est Regem Trojanorum habuisse duos filios Ilum Assaracum atque Ilum defuncto patre quod ipse major natu esset obtinuisse Regnum Messala Corvinus Denique is qui dicitur Dares Phrygius in libro de excidio Trojae narrat Priamum commone fecisse filios quos habebat multos ut majores natu minoribus Imperarent ex quo sequitur ut minores majoribus subderentur Adeoque Legem hanc latam in Anglia esse propter ius istud Trojanae consuetudinis atque servatam esse scribit Andreas Taraquellus in praesatione primogenitorum Andreas Taraquellus Bartolus Bartolus ad l. 1. Codicis de summa Trinitate Consuetudinis est in Anglia inquit ut primogenitus succedat in omnibus bonis Because he was eldest and the Trojan custome was that the Inheritance should fall to the Eldest and this to have been the Trojan custome sheweth Herodotus saying that the Kingdom of Troy after the death of Priamus was not to fall to Alexander but to Hector who was both the more Valiant and also the Eldest by birth and Messala Corvinus in his Book of the Progeny of Augustus confirms as much saying that King Tros from whom Troy took its Name had two Sons Ilus and Assaracus and that Ilus his Father being dead for that he was the Eldest enjoyed the Kingdom and he also who is called Dares Phrygius in his Book of the Destruction of Troy tells us That Priamus who had many Sons admonished them that the Elder should have Power over the Younger c. and this Law to have taken root in England as being derived from the old Trojan Custome affirmeth Andreas Tarquellus After five years thus in brotherly love and amity expired Brennus supposing himself injured and intending to enlarge his Territories raised Forces and in hostile manner sets upon his brother Bellinus but as his quarrel was unjust so the sequel proved Fatal for he was totally Routed and to save his life compelled to fly into Armorica now called Little Brittain or as Gaufride will have it into the Country of the Allobroges others affirm that without the knowledge or consent of his Brother he sailed into Norway and there married the Daughter of Elfunge or Elfinge Duke of that place which tydings when they were brought to Bellinus he seized into his hands all the Lands of Brennus and fortified his Cities Castles and other strong Holds with his own Garrisons Fame quickly brought these Rumours to Brennus who neglected no time but gathering a strong Army of Norwegians ships himself for his own Principality where by the way he was met by Guilthdacus or Guiclidacus King of Denmark who being inflamed with the Love of the Lady whom Brennus had espoused awaited his coming and being now met the two Fleets strongly encounter each other and in short time come to grappling a most bitter and bloudy Conflict ensueth But the Danish King having surprized the Vessel in which the Object both of his love and anger was imbarked though he had totally dispersed his Enemies Navy pursued no further thinking himself highly rewarded with the beautiful prize which he had already taken and there withal resolves as a most victorious Conqueror to return to Denmark yet whether Fortune to shew her accustomed fickleness and cross the Designs of such as think themselves most fortunate and her darlings or rather Neptune incensed to see so violent a Rape committed within his watery Kingdom with his revenging trident turned up and undermined the calm waves and ploughed them into hideous ridges such a tempest arose that the Heavens were darkned the winds blustered the billows roared and made such a hideous noise that Guilthdacus each minute expected to be swallowed up in the mercilesse surges of the angry Ocean this death-threatning storm continued for the space of five dayes at the end whereof the skies began to clear the winds and waves to leave their Violence and the Danish King to understand he was driven upon the coasts of his Enemies Country for his tattered Fleet so much as was left of it was now arrived in Northumberland Belâ—inus to make good that he had already begun and
Brittains in the year of the World four thousand eight hundred seventy and nine The English Chronicle calls this King Seizill either he lived in great peace and tranquilâ—ity as well he might his most worthy Parents both the heroick Prince his Father and beautiful and prudent Queen his Mother having quite extinguisht all even the least sparks of Sedition and Rebellion and left the Realm in perfect quietnesse or else the Records of his life perished for Writers relate very little of him only Mr. Howes tells us as the Scotch Writers say that he Reigned seven years and that in the very first year after his coming to the Crown Picts arrive in Brittain the Picts arrived in Brittain and possessed those parts which now be the Marches of both Kingdomes betwixt England and Scotland and confusedly makes no distinction betwixt Scots and Picts whereas Authors affirm that the Highland-men the natural Scots indeed are supposed to descend from the Scythians who with the Getes infesting Ireland The Author of a Book of Maps printed 1646. printed for Wil. Humble Anonymus left both their Issue there and their manners apparent in the wild Irish and Highlanders even to this day And from Scythia as is thought the name of Scots grew for so the Netherlands by Scutten expresse indifferently the Scythian and Scot so Gildas calleth the Irish Brittains Scythians so King Elfred in translating the History of Orosius turneth Scots in Scyttan and so saith Walsingbam from one and the same Original Scythe Scytici Scotae Scotini take their names as from Getae Getici Goti Gotici have done As for the Picts saith the same Author anciently inhabiting part of that Kingdome they were Inborn Brittains and such as thither fled to avoid the Romans servitude whose Names began first to be distinguished under Dioclesian the Emperour when they were termed Picts from painting their bodies like the Brittains as saith Flavius Vigetius which is more strengthned for that the Northern Brittains converted by St. Columb are called Brittan Picts but the Conversion of that Nation may more properly be attributed to Saint Ninian Ninianus Bernicius ex Regio Brittannorum sanguine procreatus Italiam adhuc adolescens literarum studio petit Romae apud divini Verbi ministros mysteria Veritatis edoctus ad plenum celer in-patriam remigrabat ubi Magister Paedonomus non vulgaris concreditum à Deo Talentum per Brittannorum Scotorum Australiumque Pictorum terras latissime profudit Hujus pia industria Picti primum relicto Idololatriae cultu St. Ninian a Brittain veram Christi fidem percepere Ninian born of the Royal Brittish Bloud being yet a youth went into Italy to follow his Studies and at Rome was fully taught the Mysteries of Truth by the Teachers of the divine Word and then returned into his own Country where becoming a Master and Instructor above the ordinary pitch of men he distributed the Talent bestowed upon him by Almighty God amongst the Brittains Jo. Bal. li. de Ser. Brit. cen 1. iu Niniano Bernicio Hector Boetius Scot. Hist li. 7. Fol. 119. Scots and Southern Picts cast off the bondage of Idolatry and embraced the sweet yoak of Christianity And for those holy labours was in former times as our Histories testifie by all throughout all Brittanny called by the title of Doctor and Inctructor of the Scots Picts and Brittains Scotorum Pictorum Britonumque Doctor Paedonomus non vulgaris eo nomine omnibus qui Albionem incolunt vel hac nostra aetate in multa veneratione habitus and in that respect was had in great veneration by all the Inhabitants of the Kingdome of Albion The first King I read of of that Nation that was Christian was Hiergustus King of the Picts who with his Pictish people and subjects were Christians Mr. Br. fo 582. and publickly professed that Religion but in the time of Maximus all the Scots were banished out of this Land which was in the year of Christ Hec. Boe. l. 6. Histo Buchan Rer. Sco. l. 4. in Rege 39. 379. ' Annus à Christi adventu in carnem tricentesimus septuagesimus nonus the Picts were generally and publickly instructed and professed Christians And also in the days of King Fincomark of Scotland who reigned 47 years and died multis virtutibus nobilis and in the year of Christ 358. ' Salutis humanae anno trecentesimo quinquagesimo octavo the Picts had received the Faith of Christ and before that time For whilst King Fincomark reigned Annal. Scot. Hec. Boe. sup l. 6. fol. 104. Hollish Hist of Ireland Fincomarko Rege Scotis adhuc imperante By divers Writers many of the Irish people received the law of Christ by means of a worthy Christian woman of the Picts as the Scottsh and other Histories testifie Per id tempus mulier Christianae pietatis cultrix Pictici eam fuisse sanguinis Scotici asserunt Annales Regina insinuata Christi nomen illi mirifice praedicavit reverendumque effecit This our Brittish St. Ninian deserveth eternal memory for converting the Picts Interea Sanctus Ninianus Australes Pictos quibus adhuc error gentilis inhaerens Idola venerari ac colere compellebat aggrediens Evangelii veritatem sequentibus signis praedicabat caeci vident claudi ambulant leprosi mundantur surdi audiunt mortui resurgunt oppressi à daemonibus liberantur sicque fides suscipitur error abdicatur destructis Templis Ecclesiae eriguntur currunt ad salutis lavacrum divites pauperes gratias Deo agunt in insulis quae procul sunt habitantes Ordinavit Presbyteros Episcopos consecravit totam terram per certas parochias divisit In the mean time St. Ninian going to the Picts which yet were Pagans and worshipped Idols preached the Truth of the Gospell unto them with these signes following The b lind see the lame walk lepers are cleansed the dead are raised and they which were oppressed with Divels are delivered And so the Faith is received Error abandoned Pagan Temples are destroyed Christian Churches erected Rich and poor are baptized those that inhabit in the Isles a far off give thanks to God He ordained Priests consecrated Bishops and divided the whole Land by certain Parishes Bede Hist lib. 3. cap. 4. Capgr in St. Ninio Guli Malm. l. 4. de gest Pont Angl. The first Stone building in Britt And having thus converted and confirmed the people unto and in the Faith of Christ being the chiefest end of his Mission and coming hither he returned to his Church Confirmatis in fide omnibus ad Ecclesiam suam est regressus This House and Episcopal Church which he now returned unto was the same which he had built before of stone called for the rarenesse of such building in Brittain that being the first as our History saith and thereby named Candida Casa the white House or Church at a place called Witerne between Scotland and England as they are now termed upon the Sea coast
quite environed with the Sea excepting the passage on the North side thereof Candida Casa vocatur locus in extremis Angliae juxta Scotiam finibus ubi beatus Confessor Niva requiescit Natione Brito qui primus ibidem Christi praedicationem Evangelizavit Nomen loco ex opere inditum quod Ecclesiam ibi ex lapide polito Britonibus miraculum fecerit The Count Palatine will have this King to have reigned fifteen years alone and speaks some thing favourably in his behalf Regina Martia saith he gubernaculum 7 annorum accepit cum filio unico adhuc puero qui Sisillius eo nomine secundus appellatur feliciter insequutus vestigia patris administrat quindecim annos postea solus mortuus Caerleili sepelitur To this account of fifteen years agreeth the English History saith Fabian but the Flower of Histories alloweth unto his Reign onely seven years howsoever Death demanded his due and summoned this King into another world Sisillius burled at Caerleon whose Body as Mr. Howes saith was buried at Caerleon and not at Caerlile but the nearnesse of the Names questionlesse breeds the mistake He left behind him his Son Kimarus to succeed him KIMARVS KIMARVS Son of Sisilius after the death of his Father was with all solemnity advanced to the Throne and Crown of Brittain in the year of the worlds Creation four thousand eight hundred fourscore and six The English Chronicle calleth him Kymor Fabian saith that there is no mention made of this King either concerning his deeds and course of life or concerning the length of his Reign yet he alledgeth an old Chronicle to aver that he was a wild young man and lived after his pleasure wherefore as he was at his disport of Hunting he was by his Ill-willers slain when he had ruled scarcely three years but the Count Palatine saith he was killed by wild Beasts Illius filius saith he speaking of Sisilius Chimarus in imperando successit moribus adolescens improbus suique in rebus omnibus agendis arbitrii ac voluntatis adeo ut post tres annos quibus rexit à feris bestiis dum venabatur occisus est Kimarus succeeded a young man of most dissolute life and behaviour who swayed all things according to the humour of his own vain and fantastick imagination and not according to the rule of reason and judgement insomuch that after the three years of his Reign he was devoured of wild Beasts It behoves Princes as well as others to have a care how they live For the holy Writ tells us Fire hail famine and death Eccles c. 39. all these things are created for mans punishment the Teeth of Beasts for the utter extermination of the wicked It is great reason that Princes should regulate their lives after the true square of vertue for a Prince cannot with reason expect that the severity of Laws or other Politick means shall represse in his Commonwealth any Vice which shall be Authorised by the Example of his own Practice For as the Poet saith Totus componitur Orbis Regis ad exemplum nec sic inflectere sensus Humanos edicta valent ut vita Regentis That is to say all the World is framed after the modell of the King and no Laws or Edicts can so move the mind of men as doth the life of the Governour which Plutarch confirmeth notably saying That even as a Square or Rule must be streight in it self before it can make other things streight so the Prince who is as it were the Rule of his Subjects ought first to rectifie himself before he go about by Laws or other means to rectifie his Commonwealth for he that is falling saith Plutarch is not fit to uphold others nor he that is ignorant to teach nor he that is incorrigible to correct nor he that is himself disordered to put others in order ELIANVS ELIANVS the Son of Kimarus whom some also call Danius as the Flower of Histories affirmeth but Gaufride saith he was Kimarus Brother was Crowned King of Brittain in the year of the worlds Creation four thousand eight hundred fourscore and nine This Prince by the English Book is called Howan one Chronicle will have Kimarus and Elianus to be one and the same person though others think otherwise and that he reigned two years little or nothing being left to posterity of any memorable Acts of his either good or bad only the Count Palatine tells us Frater eum sequitur Elianus natura stupidior legum spretor quocirca rem administrabat imprudenter bellis seditionibus undecunque vexatus neque pacem habere potuit vel publice vel privatim illis decem annis quibus imperabat Elianus his Brother succeeded him of a most stupid nature and a contemner of all Laws which was the cause that he governed with great indiscretion his Kingdome and Commonwealth being continually vexed and troubled with insurrections and seditions insomuch that during the ten years of his Reign he could never enjoy either privately or otherwise one hour of peace this was one amongst the Brittish Princes for whose sake as Gildas the wise writeth the whole Nation suffered MORINDVS MORINDVS the Bastard-son of Elianus as Gaufride affirmeth with others took upon him the Crown and Government of this Island of Great Brittain in the year of the worlds Creation four thousand eight hundred and ninety Elianus begat this Prince upon Tanguestula his Concubine who proved as Bastards commonly doe being gotten in the heat of Courage a most resolute and couragious Chieftain but so over-swayed by his own passions especially that of anger that in his fury no mans life was secure To the matchlesse strength of his body Nature added all those features which might make him the most handsome and accomplisht Gentleman in all his Kingdome these his admirable endowments he beautified with a most Princely liberality being very open-handed when the least merit required During the Reign of Morindus there arrived out of Mauritania which Country according to Strabo is seated between Hungaria and Fohemia a war-like and most cruel people which with Fire and Sword consumed all before them Morindus having tidings brought to him of those insolences and misdemeanours with all speed Levied an Army and with speedy Marches encounters his Enemy and after a most bloody Conflict compels the greatest part of the unwelcome Intruders back to their Ships the rest he sacrificeth to his own anger causing some to be dismembred others cast into the fire some chopt in pieces not a few strangled death acted several parts in this most horrid execution no manner of torment imaginable to Morindus was left uninflicted so great was the tyranny of his blood-thirsting revenge After this great overthrow and most cruel Massacre this Brittish King progressing a long the Sea coasts for his Recreation chanced to discry a most hideous Monster coming out of the Irish Ocean Morindus is overjoyed at this presented occasion to try the edge of his
Lancastrian Family placed upon a Hill and fortified with an ancient Castle unto which many neighbouring and adjacent Villages belong being called the Leith Liberty and Forrest of Pickering which Hen. the Third gave unto his Son Edmund Earl of Lancaster Guido contrary to all other Writers saith that Peredurus was cruel and tyrannous to the Brittains and slew and murthered many of the Lords he caused him to become so odious that they rebelled and slew him ELIDVRVS ELIDVRVS now the third time is made King 4941 and ruled four years in the same equity and Princely demeanor as formerly and then died and was buried at Caerleil or Karlile The Count Palatine gives this Character of him Vir omni genere virtutum praestantissimus animi magnitudine superans ipsam fortunam adeo neque prosperis rebus elatus neque adversis dejectus esse voluit diceres fortunam cum eo certasse ut Rex esset neque tamen animum ejus infractum constantemque vincere potuisse quo magis abnuebat eo frequentius ad regendum vocabatur sic honor gloria persequentes fugit fugientes persequitur ut umbrae Corpus after his death he left a son named Gorgonianus or Gorbomannus to succeed him Fabian in the beginning of his Chronicle hath a Caveat for the Computation of years from Elidure to Lud which I thought convenient here to insert To make Histories agree and to keep the order of years begun we must observe as Ranulph of Chester tells us with divers others that Julius Caesar made Brittain Tributary to Rome anno 48 ante Christum natum or in the year of the World 4150. which was in the ninth year of Cassabilane From whence taking from the time of Cassabilane before the Tribute paid nine years and for the time of the Reign of Lud eleven years it followed evidently that King Lud did begin his Reign in the year of the World 5131. and so from the last year of Elidure unto the beginning of the Reign of Lud or in the time of the 33 Kings there passed 186 years GORBOMANNVS GORBONIANUS or Gorbomannus the Son of Regni and Grandchild to Elidure was Crowned King of Brittain in the year of the World 4945. The Count Palatine speaking of Elidurus saith Ei Gorbonias filius Gorboniani succedit Patri similis in rebus prudenter agendis mira fuit in omnes benevolentia ejus atque modus ipse quo in administratione rerum utebatur fecit illum universis esse gratissimum Itaque cum post annos decom quibus optime regit moreretur publico luctu plangebatur honoréque funeris publico majore quam caeteri Sepulchro condebatur Gorbonias the Son of Gorbonian succeeded his Uncle in the Kingdome treading in the same paths of good Government his Benevolence was admirable and his Decorum in managing his Affairs so plausible that he was generally beloved of all men Thus when he had ruled with universal good liking of every one he departed this life whose death was lamented with a general and most doleful mourning and his Funerals celebrated with greater pomp and solemnity then any of his Predecessors MARGAN R. Vitus f. 204. MORGAN or Margan succeeded in the Kingdome he was a younger Son of Archigallo and governed this Land for the space of fourteen years in great Peace and Tranquillity following the Example of his Forefathers EMERIANVS EMERIANVS Brother to Margan succeeded sed longe diversis moribus but of quite an other temper and disposition for he swayed all things after his own Will and Pleasure and not according to Reasons law and dictamen practising Tyranny towards both Nobles and Commons which rendered him so odious unto all that after the space of seven years he was deposed and quite thrust out of all Government and Princely Authority YDWALLO YDWALLO or Ivall the Son of Vigenius was promoted unto the Regal Throne who being admonished by the evil Example of Emerianus had learn'd a better Lesson he was very indulgent to his Subjects avoiding Tyranny as the very bain of Princes and administred justice and equity to all men bonos in officio continebat upholding honest men in their places malos qua debuit indignatione persequebatur correcting the wicked with condigne punishment and like a good Steward relieved as well the one as the other in their wants and necessities After thus he had Reigned twenty years he forsook this World and left to succeed him RIMO RIMO the Son of Peredurus a Prince adorned with true and perfect Nobility and ambitious of Honour who after he had most happily Reigned sixteen years highly renowned for his heroick Spirit and activity and glory in martial Affairs he gave way to Geruntius to ascend the Regal Throne GERVNTIVS GERVNTIVS the Son of Elidure with the general good liking of all is Crowned King of Great Brittain a great lover of goodnesse Peace and justice he commanded a strict observation of the Laws by which means he preserved Unity and Concord among his people and became highly honoured of them yet for all this after he had reigned twenty years death seized upon him to the great grief and sorrow of all the Kingdome leaving to succeed him his Son CATELL or CATELLVS CATELL or Catellus the Son of Geruntius is solemnly invested with the Royal Ensigns of the Brittish Monarchy a great Benefactor to the poor and distressed insomuch that he caused all Oppressors to be taken and hanged Were such justice put in Execution in these our dayes such heavy Oppressions would not break the hearts of honest-meaning men This King Reigned in great peace ten years and then died COILVS COILVS Reigned ten years in great peace and quiet PORREX PORREX the second a vertuous and gentle Prince Reigned five years CHIRIMVS CHIRIMVS or Chirinus through his drunkennesse Reigned but one year drunkennesse is a vice so far unbeseeming a Prince that we commonly say As drunken as beggers yet in our potting times it is now come to that passe that we say as drunk as a Lord drunkennesse hath been the overthrow of Chieftaines Armies and Kingdomes as we may read in sacred writ of Holofernes that great General Borro Holofernes jacebat in lecto nimiae ebrietate sopitus when Judith percussit bis in cervicem ejus abscidit caput ejus and the Army of the Gaules under the command of Breunus was full of wine when Camillus totally routed it neither had our Brittains so foolishly been Massacred and lost their Kingdome to the Saxons had they not been drunken at the entrapping banquet on Salisbury Downes or Plaines for as there are three things which do maintain and uphold a Common-wealth and for the which God doth blesse and prosper it the first Religion and Piety towards God the second Justice and Equity amongst men the third good Discipline in Life and Manners so there are three other things contrary to those which do subvert Common-wealths and provoke the wrath of God against them The first is
unknown or of little credit he only preserved the books of the Sybills making also the best choice of them and those he layed up in two guilded chests under the Base of Apollo Palatinus And was so convinced in his understanding by these means of the truth of Christ that as our moderne Writers with others write when the Romans came to him said Te volumus adorare quia deus est in te si hic non esset non tibi omnia tam prospere succederent we will adore thee because God is in thee if he were not here all things could not succeed so prosperously with thee yet he being the greatest Conquerour that ever was in the world and was never Conquered and overthrown in battel Quum ipsum pro Deo colere vellent Romani prohibuit nec se Dominum appellari permisit when the Romans would haue worshipped him for God he forbad it and would not suffer himself to be called Lord. And if we may follow our Brittish Histories Mathew of Westminster a Man as all tell us excellent for History and supputation of years Quantum ad Historiam in recta annorum supputatione singularis and our late Writers By computation of time our King Kymbeline was then in Rome Ja. Bal. l de script cent 3. fol. 143. in Math. Flor. Calf Mon. Hist l. 4. c. 11. Ponticus aerun Hist Brit. l. 4. Heath West Anno Dom. 5. for we are told Post Tenantium ad culmen regale Kimbelinus filius suus miles strenuus quem Caesar Augustus nutriverat promotus est After Tenantius Kimbeline his Sonne a Valiant Knight whom Augustus Caesar had brought up and promoted to the Kingdome of Brittain Kimbeline was but young when Augustus Caesar first brought him up and he stayed in Rome so long that as divers and also Verunnius affirmeth Augustus made him Knight quem Aug. Caesar nutrierat armis decoraverat and if we follow this exact supputator of times Mathew of Westminster he was come from Rome to be King here but five years before the birth of Christ Anno Dominicae Inacrnationis quinto Kimbelonus Rex Brittaniam decem annos tenuisset And most certain it is by all Histories of our Noble and Renowned Brittish Hostages resident in Rome all the time of Augustus Caesar and after that we had many worthy Brittains there both ear and eye witnesses to know these passages by themselves and to testifie them to their Countrymen and Friends at home This Kimbeline Sonne of Tenantius was made King of the Brittains in the year of the world 5180 of his Reign Authors write diversly some shewing no years others very few Fabian fol. 39. part 3. which agreeth not well with the Computation of other Writers The Author of the Flower of Histories affirmeth that he Reigned thirty five years after which time gloriously spent he died and was buried at Caer Lud leaving two Sons Guiderius and Arviragus The Brittish History written by a namelesse Author yet some suppose him Noble and for private reason to have conceal'd his Name maketh little mention of Tiberius concerning our Brittish Affairs but because certain passages with happened during the time of his Empire will redound to the glory of the Brittish Nation it is expedient and I hope will not offend the Reader to write some things hapning in his life time Kimbeline continued King of England till the 15 or 16 year after Christs Nativity which must needs he in this Tiberius his time Mr. Bro. fol. 12. when the true knowledge of Christ was more clearly manifested unto the world and among others to some Brittains of this Nation especially such 〈◊〉 then lived in Rome For as in the time of this Emperour our Saviour began and ended his preaching and suffered his Passion for our Redemption so those things in such order as they were accomplished in the Land of Jury they were presently and truly declared and sent to the Emperor at Rome and others there Matthew of Westminster and Ranulphus Higeden consent in this with others that Tiberius was truly informed at Rome of Christs miraculous life and preaching long before his Passion Mr. Bro. ibid. and being afflicted with a Leprosy was so confident in the heavenly power of Christ esteeming him then at the least for a great Prophet Saint and worker of Miracles that he sent with great solemnity Volusianus to Hierusalem to entreat Christ Jesus to come with him to Rome to cure him of his incurable Malady but the Jewes had caused Pilate to put him to death before The Magdeburgians with others have published to the World an Epistle of Lentulus out of the Annals of the Roman Senators to this Emperour Tiberius before the death of Christ thus beginning Apparuit his temp ribus adhuc est homo magnae virtutis nominatus Iesus Christus qui dicitur à Gentibus Propheta quem ejus Discipuli vocant filium Dei suscitans mortuos sanans omnes languores There appeared in these time and still is a man of great vertue named Christ Jesus who is called of the Gentils a Prophet whom his Disciples call the Son of God raising the dead and curing all diseases And presently upon the death of Christ as it is proved both by our own and Forraign Antiquaries ancient and later Greek and Latine Pontius Pilate wrote unto Tiberius the Emperor of Rome of the Passion of Christ in this manner De passione Dominica Pilatus Tiberio Caesari scripsit in hunc modum Episcopus Anacet de morte Christi Matth. Westm an 33. Flor. Wigorn. an 38. Tertull. Apolon c. 5 21. Eust Hist l. 1. c. 24. Oros l. 7. c. 4. Nuper accedit quod ipse probavi Judaeos per invidiam se suosque posteros crudeli damnatione peremisse nam cum promissum haberent Patres eorum quod Deus illis mitteret de coelo Sanctum suum qui eorum qui eorum merito Rex diceretur ut hunc se promiserit per Virginem missurum ad terram iste me praside Haebraeorum Deus cum venerit ut vidissent eum caecos illuminasse leprosos mundasse paralyticos curasse Daemones ab hominibus fugasse mortuos sucistasse ventis imperasse super mare siccis pedibus ambulasse multa alia mirabilia fecisse cum omnis populus Judaeorum hunc Dei Filium dicerent invidiam contra eum passi sunt Principes Sacerdotum mihique tradiderunt alia pro aliis mentientes dixerunt illum magum esse contra eorum legem agere ego autem credidi ita esse flagellatum tradidi arbitrio eorum At iâ—i crucifixerunt eum sepulto ei custodes adhibuerunt ille vero militibus meis custodientibus eum tertia die resurrexit Sed in tantum exarsit nequitia eorum ut darent eis pecuniam dicentes Dicite quia Discipuli ejus corpus ipsius rapuerunt veruntamen milites cum accepissent pecuniam quod factum fuerat tacere non
and mis-believing Pagans many Ages past but now ruinous had erected a sumptuous Temple to Dina Diana This when Brute understood his zeal moving and his particular devotion to that Goddess seconding it thither attended with his whole Train as an humble Supplicant and Votary he bends his course and Religiously according to the manner of those profane Rights and Ceremonies if that may be religious which is profane in the highest superlative and there prostrates his Princely knees and from a soul as he imagines full fraught with pleasing vows and gratefull Orasons to his adored Goddess he thus declares himself Dina potens Nemorum Terror silvestribus Apris Cui licet Amfractus ne per aethereos Inferuasque Domos terrestria jura resolve Et dic quas terras nos habitare velis Dic certam sedem qua te venerabor in aevum Qua tibi virgineis Templa dicabo choris These verses are translated in Fabian and because they smell of Antiquity I judge it better to leave them as they are then to dress them in the garb mode and stile now in use in England and therefore courteous Reader be pleased to accept of them as also the others which follow in answer in the Language in which they were writ Celestial Goddess the weldest Frith and Wood The wilde Bore and Beasts thou fearest by thy might Guider of Shipmen passing the Rageous flood The Infernal Houses for and the Earth of right Behold and search and shew where I shall light Tell the certain place where everlastingly A Temple of Virgins I shall to thee edifie These Ceremonies Rights and Occasions ended the Goddesse pleased with the Sacrifice of his Devotions sends Morpheus in a thick and drowsie Mist who with his somniferous Rod lulls this humble Votary locking up all his sences within the sable curtains of a most profound sleep whilst the courteous Diety in a Vision or rather imaginary Fancy distills and infuseth into his sollicitous Soul this Oracle Brute sub occasum solis trans Gallica regna The Gyants lay destroyed before Brutes coming The Language which he brought must needs be that which we now call Welsh Insula in Oceano est undique clausa mari Insule in Oceano est habitata Gyantibus olim Nunc deserti quidem Gentibus apta tuis Hic de sobole tua Reges nascentur ipsis Totius terrae subditus Orbis erit Hanc pete namque tibi sedes erit illec perennis Hîc fiet natis altera Troja tuis In ENGLISH thus Brute for the West over the Land of France An I le in Ocean there is all closed with the Sea This I le with Gyants whilone inhabit by chance Now being desert as apt for the people and thee In this of thy body Kings born shall be And of this Isle thou shalt be Lord and King Search this for here a perpetuall Sea to thee And here to thy Children a new Troy shall be When our Pilgrime awaked the Vision had so fully possest him that deliberating with himself what was best to be done he pitcht upon this Resolution to call together and Assemble the Noblest and best able for Judgement Wit and Experience of all his Colonie which done he imparted the secret unto them which begat a general rejoycing in them all and all Unanimously decree a Thanksgiving to be due unto the Goddesse and therefore out of hand the Flamen takes Milk calls for divers Aromatick spices and several Liquors of which he composeth an offering of most sweet and precious Perfumes to offer to the Diety great Fires are made and Wine cast into them according to the Pagan rights and when things were performed in thankfulnesse to the Numen in a joyful procession they hast towards the Ships not willing to admit of any delay In an instant as it were so desirous was every one to see the event of this specious Oracle and enjoy quiet the object and end of all travel and labour the Sayls are hoist and the Canvas filled with such prosperous gales that in a trice the Navy is without ken of Land bending their full endeavours for the West Thus they sayled for the space of thirty dayes passing by many adventures and dangers as of Philenes The Lake called Lacus-Salinarium the place where Salt is made as also the River Maeloa and Hercules Pillars at length they enter the Turon or Tyrrhen Sea where they met with a small Fleet and those also Trojans whereof Corineus Nephew to Brute was Admirall great were the acclamations and expressions of joy for this so fortunate though accidental meeting an happy omen of future successe and being thus joyned together to sayl to a Province of Gallia called Guyan whose Prince was Groffarius to whom was brought â—iding of the approach of this unexpected Fleet He wisely to prevent ensuing danger musters his Souldiers and in a full body marcheth towards the Sea coast there intending to fight his as yet unknown Enemy before he should get any firm footing within his Territories but the Trojans whose resolution was either to win or die so behaved themselves that Groffarius with all his Knights had the worst and were put to flight whilst the Trojan bravely maintain'd kept the Field No joy on earth so absolute and compleat but it is intermingled with some sorrow or disaster great questionlesse was the solace and mirth of the Trojan for this so fortunate a Victory but when the dead bodies were viewed amongst those who had ended their lives in the bed of honour was found Turonus a Nephew to Valiant Brute which caused a petty Ecclipse to their Victory but to eternize the Name and perpetuate the never dying honour of his deceased Nephew and couragious fellow-souldiers Brute built that well known City in France which to this very day is called Turon After the atchievment of this Victory and of the City Brute which Corineus and the rest of the Trojans betook themselves again to the Seas as yet not having attained to the Iland appointed by the propitious Goddesse 2828. III c. lxxxii DCCCI which hapned about iiii M. lxx before the building of Rome saith Mr. Fabian following the foresaid account iiii C lxx before the Incarnation of Christ xi C. xxxvi and before Alexander the Great conquered the world viii C. xi also before any King reigned over the Frenchmen Monarchally or that they were free from Tribute to Rome xv C. lvi The Arrivall of Brute in Albion Brute having now past the pikes of many hazardous passages and exanclated dangers arrives at last at the long hop'd for Haven of his fore-promised happinesse the first thing he did was to progresse the whole Iland to view and consider the comodiousnesse thereof which he found no way to frustrate his hopes and longing expectation he finds it fertile and well stored with Woods garnished with pleasant and enamel'd Meadows and embroidered with many goodly Rivers and purling Brooks and Rivulets replenished with abundance of Fish like
which Nomen-clation it yet keeps and Camber imitating his Father and Brother named his Moiety from Camber Cambria This partition or Cambers portion was formerly divided from that of Loegria by the River Severne in the East and on the North side by the River Dee and on the South by the River Vaga now called the River Wye at the Castle of Stringlinge Fabian fol. 11. a name which I find not elsewhere or rather Chepstow Castle but of this place what Mr. Cambden speaks take these his own words Chepstow in Monmouthshire Hinc fluctuoso volumine descendit in Austrum Vaga in quo Copiosa est Salmonum piscatura à Septembri ad Aprilem and by the way give me leave to tell you that when Salmons grow out of kind or season in Wye in the River Vsk which runneth through Caerlegion but ten Miles distant in the same County Salmons come in season so that in the County of Monmouth all the whole year Salmons are fit to be presented to an Emperors Table and if a Wye Salmon chance to come into Vsk or e contra the Fishermen are so skilfull as to tell you this is an Vsk Salmon this of Wye limes hodie inter Glocestrenses Monumethenses olim inter Anglos Wallos juxta illud Nichami versiculam Inde Vagos Vaga Cambrenses hinc respicit Anglos Qui cum jam ad ostium ferè devenerit Chepstow praeterfluit id est si e Saxonico interpreteris Forum viz. Negationis locus Brittannis Castle-went and is this day called Cass Gwent Oppidum hoc est celebre clivo a flumine surgenti Impositum manibus circumvallatur magno cambitu quae agros hortos in se includunt Castrum habet ad occiduum latus flumini impeudens in which Castle there is a stately Fabrick called Longius or Longinus Tower supposed to be built by that Centurion who was present at the death of our most sacred and blessed Saviour and out of this opinion it is hard to beat many of the Natives but who so pleaseth to read Surius xv Martii shall find That Longinus the Centurion one of the Jews who thirsted after his blood who most willingly shed it for the Redemption of Mankind signis prodigiis discussis tenebris veritatis splendorem Christi ipsius gratia quem in Crucem sustulerat videre meruit and detesting the impiety of the Jewes freely manifested the most glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus this his so confident and publick affirming of the truth for Crucis ei custodia ut Centurioni mandata postquam autem vivificum Christi Corpus sepulturae mandatum fuit eadem sacrosancti corporis custodia Longino commissa fuit caused the Jews to procure from Caesar a Sentence of death against him Longinus flies from Hierusalem leaving all his military Preferments with some religious and devout Christians he betakes himself into Capadocia where he converted many by his instruction and exemplar Life and Vertues to the faith knowledge and adoration of the true Messias Jesus Christ In Capadocia he is aprehended and there obtains the glorious Crown of Martyrdome his Head as a great Trophee is sent unto Pilate who to ingratiate himself and please the perfidious and stony-hearted Jews caused the holy relique to be placed before one of the Gates of that once holy City Hierusalem so that Longinus could not be the Founder or Erecter of that Edifice before spoken of But to follow Mr. Cambden a little further concerning Chepstow he continueth his Discourse saying Et e rigione stetit Prioratus cujus parte meliore demolita quod reliquum est in Ecclesiam parochialem convertitur Pons vero quo Vaga jungitur sublicius est admodum excelsus quia accedente aestu in magnam altitudinem fli vius exsurgit hujus Domini fuerunt e Clarensium familia nobiles a proximo castro Strigul quod incoluerunt Striguliae Pembrochiae comites dicti quorum ultimus Richardus vir infracto animo projectissimis brachiis StrongBow cognominatus quod arcu intentissimo uteretur nihil levi brachio ageret c. This place after by a Daughter and Heir came to the Bigots and now the Earls of Worcester or at least before the late Wars enjoyed both Town and Castle the eldest Son of that Family being stiled Lord Herbert of Chepstow To Albanact the third Son of Brutus was given the third part of great Britain now called Scotland which as it is now is called the second Kingdom of Great Britain and the North part of this Iland hath on the East the German Ocean on the North the Orkneys and Deucalidon Sea the West affronted by Ireland on the South it hath the River Tweed the Cheviot Hills and the adjacent Tract reaching to the Sulway Sands whereby it is separated from England This Kingdome is spacious and from the South borders spreadeth it self wide into the East and West till again it contracts it self narrower into the Northern Promontories furnished with all things befitting a famous Kingdom both for Air Soil Rivers Wood Mountains Fish Fowl Cattle and Corn so plenteous that it supplieth these with other Countries in their want Their Nobility and Gentry are very studious of learning and all civil knowledge for which end they not only frequent the three Universities of their own Kingdom St. Andrews Glasco and Edenborough the Nurseries of their Muses but also much addict themselves to travel into Forraign Countries especially France whose King hath a Guard of Scots the double Treshure florie in the Arms of the Kingdome makes manifest the French Interest in former time in that Nation If it is desired to know more of Scotland read their own Authors it is enough for me to say that Albanack from his own name called it Albania This Country is divided from Loegria or England as saith Venreable Bede by two arms of the Sea but they meet not The East arm of which beginneth about two Miles from the Minster of Eburcuring in the West side of Penulton The West arm had some time a strong City named Alclino which in the Brittish Tongue was called Clincston and stood upon the River Clint. Thus Brute having divided Britain into three Parts after he had ruled twenty two or four years after most Concordance of Writers he died and was interred in Troynovant commonly called London or Luds Town Locrinus second King of Brittain LOcrinus the first and eldest Son of the late deceased Brutus takes possession of his Kingdom of Loegria now England in the year from the Creation of the World four thousand fourscore and seven This Kingdome as it was the largest so was it the most beautifull rich and commodious both in respect of Navigable Rivers Ports and Havens as also fruitfulness of the Soils and abundance of stately Woods and Groves and according to the relation and assertion of Policronica and Guido de Collumna it stretched forth and extended it self as far as to the River Humber as
Horsemen 132. and was named Cohors Miliaria that is to say a company of One thousand and more souldiers This Band hath the preheminence above all the Legions when they go to Fight for they are placed in the Forefront and begin the battel The second Band containeth 555 Footmen and 66 Horsemen of heavy Armour and is called Cohors Quinquegintaria The third band hath also 555 Footmen and 66 Horsemen The Fifth had as many These Five bands are set in array in the first battel The other Five bands have equally each band the like number so that these ten bands make a compleat Legion containing 6100 Footmen and 726. Horsemen King Leill in the end of his Reign fell to sloth and lust whereby civil dissentions arose which ended not in his life He reigned 25 years and was buried at Caleile alias Chester which hath given the honour of Earle to these honourable Families 1. Hugh sirnamed Lupus Azure a Wolfs head erased Argent 2. Richard Son of Hugh Gules crutely Or a Wolfs head erased Arg. 3. Randolph de Meschines Or a Lyon rampant with his tail erected Gules 4. Randolph de Gernoniis Gules a Lyon rampant with his tail erected Arg. 5. Hugh Kivilioc son of Randolph Azure 6 garbs 3. 2. 1. 6. Randolph Blondevil Son of Hugh Azure 3 garbs Or. 7. John le Scot Son to the Lady Maud eldest sister of Randolph Or 3 piles Gules Edward eldest Son to K. Ed. 3. England a label of 3 points Symon de Montfort E. of Leicester after whose death Chester was laid unto the Crown and hath been since united to the Principality of Wales Lud or Lud Hurdribras alias Cicuber KIng Lud his Father being Dead with general applause and consent ascends the Royall Throne of great Brittaine in the Year of the Worlds Creation 4279. as Mr. Fabian accounteth the First businesse which he took in hand was to settle his Kingdom for his Father towards the latter end of his Age addicting himself to sloath and giving way to the youthful sin of lust a vice most hateful in an old Man gave occasion to his Subjects who lived in Ease Wealth and Delights to stir up commotions and dissentions these broyls Lud though young yet wisely endeavours by all means and diligence to suppresse knowing that peace and quiet is the Object and chief effect which all distempers and Wars how just soever aim'd at by his studious endeavours and assistance of faithful Friends and careful Councellours he obtains his desire and having settled all distempers and reduced them to their due order and motion he set his mind wholly upon the beautifying of Britanny and therefore in imitation of his Royal Progenitors he begins a City which he calls Caer gant or Kaer kin which afterwards the Saxons call Canterbury which is to say the Court of Kentishmen True it is that Canterbury is now a Metropolitan Church and Archbishops See but it never had an Archflamen St. Augustine out of an affection of his own though some Authors affirm London according to the general rule of placing Archbishops where Archflamens were and bishops where Flamens was appointed by Pope Gregory to be the place there settled his Archiepiscopal chair For Canterbury it was first a Flamens Seat And the old Manuscript History called Abbreviatios Chronicorum saith in this time and setling of Bishops in King Lucius his Reign That the old Church of St. Martins was builded tunc constructa est extra Cantuariam Ecclesia sancti Martini and to notifie that he meant thereby a Cathedral and Episcopal Church he addeth this when he speaketh of changing Flamens into Bishops and all Histories testifie that the holy Bishop Lethardus which came hither with Queen Bertha before St. Augustin's time used it as his Episcopal See And Canterbury besides the Arch-bishop had another Bishop in that Church of Saint Martin divers hundreds of years and Mr. Lambert the Antiquary of Kent saith from Antiquities St. Martins Church built by the Romans in Canterbury was a bishops See untill the Normans came in and so two in one City thus substitute to the Archbishop Giâ—â—â—us And that Canterbury was a Primates See Mr. Broughton fol. 178. out of other Authors Ex Anacleto hujus Insulae divisionem Canterburie London Caerlegion York and Alba in Scotland by some taken to be St. Andrews Vrbs Legionum Cantuaria Londonia Eboraca Alba unde Albania Provincia were designed Primate Sees for such as Giraldus Cambrensis in his second book to Innocentius the 3. Sir John Price Matthew Parker the first Arch-bishop of Canterbury with others testifie Mr. Cambden calls this City Dorovernum saying that the River Stoure runs most swiftly by it which seems partly to give name unto it for that Durwherne signifies in the Brittish tongue a swift or fierce running river he saith it is Vrbs pervetusta Romanoque seculo proculdubio illustris And Malmesbury tels us Nec adeo magna nec euiliter parva quae terrae positione soli assinis maxima ubertate integro murorum ambitu fluviis irriguae nemorum opportunitate inclyta praeterea maris vicinitate piscium faecunda if any desire to satisfie himself further concerning this famous and glorious Brittish City let him read Mr. Cambden in his description of Kent The next City which King Lud founded was Caerguent Ptolomeus and Antoninus call this City Venta Belgarum the Saxons þinvancesvor the Latines Vintonia at this day Winchester some seem to derive the Etymologie from Vento others from Vine and not a few from Wina the Bishop But Lelands conjecture pleaseth better who from the Brittish word Guin or Guen i. e. white doth derive it and so maketh Caer Guin the White City so ab albedine prisci latini Albam Longam Albam Regiam nominarunt for this venta as the other two Venta Icenorum and Venta silurum in the midst between Chepstow and Caerleon in Monmouthshire in times past a Flamens Seat a City and an University or School of Philosophers Nunc seges est ubi venta fuit the high way â—or road is through the midst of it This City was remarkable in the Romans days In qua textrina sua sacra Imperatores Romani habuisse viderentur their weaving houses for according to Guidus Pancirolus illa Gynecia constituta sunt texendis principis ut militum vestibus navium velis stragulis aliis ad Instruendas mansiones necessariis to weave vestures and garments for Princes and Souldiers sails for ships linnen coverings or coverlids and other necessaries to furnish habitations the Cathedral Church of Winchester saith Godwin according to a respect that I finde in an old Manuscript was first built and erected by King Lucius and to speak further in his words This Church was hallowed and dedicated October the 29. 189. by Faganus and Damianus Bishops and he proveth from the same Antiquity that in the year 309. one Constance was Bishop there and in Saint Dubritius time Godwin Catal.
Yorkshire this Title he enjoyed and left to his Posterity who enjoyed it also and when his Issue failed the Kings of England honoured others with it though they had long since lost their Estate in Normandy The Dukes and Earls whereof take thus in order Dukes and Earles of Aumerle Stephen Son of Odo Earl of Bloys William le Gros. William de magna Villa E. of Essex who married Hawys D. to William le Gros. VVilliam de Fortibus VVilliam de Fortibus VVilliam de Fortibus Thomas de Fortibus Thomas of Woodstock D. of Glocester Edw. Plantagenet D. Thomas D. of Clarence E. Richard Beauchampe E. of VVarwick created E. of Aumerle by K. Hen. the 6. George Monck created Duke of Albemarle by King Charles the Second in the Twelfth year of his Reign 1660. THE ANCIENT AND MODERN BRITTISH and WELSH HISTORY Beginning with BRVTE and continued untill KING CHARLES the First The Second Book GVRGVINTVS GVRGVINTVS or Gurguint Brabtruc or according to others Barbarous which is as much as to say with the red Beard or red-bearded the Son and Successor of the Renowned Bellinus began to sway the Scepter of Great Brittain in the year of the worlds Creation 4834. This King in the English Chronicle you shall find named often Corinbratus or Corinbatus Vitus Comel Palatinus calls him Gurguntius Ahenobarbus and saith Lib. 3. fol. 198. He was Vir admomodum prudens qui gesta patris imitanda sibi proposuit maximus amator pacis aequitatis A most prudent man and one who set before his eyes the glorious Acts of his Father as a patern for himself to follow and imitate a great lover of equity peace and justice Being now fully setled in his Regal Throne and having purchased the Loyal affection of his Nobles and Commons he begins to cast his eye upon Denmark which as you have heard before by the taking of Guilthdacus the Prince thereof was made Tributary unto the Brittain by imposing a yearly Tribute of one thousand pounds to the Successive Kings of this Isle which by what reason induced or upon what hopes encouraged utterly refused to be any longer subject to a Forreign Power Gurguint not willing to be baffled by those whom his Father had subdued nor desirous to pocket up the losse of a thousand pounds per annum musters up his Forces and in short time appears in the head of a gallant Army which being in all points equipide he ships his men in a Navy furnish'd and with prosperous successe in short time arrives in Denmark where not delaying any opportunity he falls to destroy waste and ransack the Country supposing that to be the speediest and most ready way to bring his businesse to a wish'd Catastrophe The Danes startle at the sudden and unexpected approach of so dangerous and unlook'd for a Guest the Danish King at his wits end not knowing which way to turn himself seeing all things go to rack and no way to give redresse or remedy thinks it better to enjoy his Kingdome paying a small Tribute rather then to be unking'd and thrust out of all and compell'd to beg Assistance from neighbouring Princes be reinvested Upon these cogitations he consults with his Nobles and Barrons who all accord to avoid the extremity of peril to pay the Tribute and to give what security the conquering Enemy shall think fit Gurguintus is not mispleased with their submission but after so victorious an enterprize with great glory and triumph endeavoureth a speedy return into his own Kingdome but being now with his whole Fleet on the main Ocean a Navy of about thirty sayl is discovered upon the Coast of the Isle of Orcades which seemeth to make towards them yet upon a nearer approach they appear to be Men Women and Children who being expulsed from their native soyl wander up and down to seek some place of rest and habitation Gurguint commands the Commander in Chief whom our Histories call Bartholomew to be brought aboard his ship who after some few interrogatories in a lamentable Oration setting forth both his own and his Companions disasterous calamities he gave the King to understand that they were of Spain and of that Province whose Inhabitants were called Balenses and that they had long travelled and wandered up and down to find some propitious Prince who would compassionate their most sad and lamentable condition and grant them some small Angle or Canton to settle themselves and Posterity for the obtaining of which laudable favour they would become his most faithful Liege-people and Subjects otherwise their Victuals and Provision being now almost quite spent they were in all probability like to starve and be utterly ruined These sad accidents were spoken with such a doleful Expression by Bartholomew that Gurguint being a King endued with the vertues of Justice and Mercy gave compassion free accesse into his bosome and consulting with his Councel it was generally decreed that they should have allotted unto them the then void and wast Country which was and is the furthest of all the Isles towards the West called Ireland which was in the time of Aristotle or the ancient Author of the Book 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the world called Ierna so doth Theodoret name it Claudius Ptolomaeus calls it Ivernia or Hibernia and Claudianus Hyberne Scotorum Tumulos flevit glacialis Hyberne And if Ireland hath been at any time named Scotia or Scotland Mr. Br. f. 28. it was only among the Scottish and Irish Writers and such as followed them therein these Irish Historians willing to give that denomination unto it because many of the Scots with other people dwelt there when the true name and among strangers was not so but as I have declared before from ancient Histories Author of the Book of Estates in Ireland the state of the Q. of Great Brittain p. 22. and to speak out of a late Writers mouth whose words are these Ireland which some of the Ancients called Hibernia others Ivernia Innernia and Irene and Ogygia and by the Irish themselves Erim called by Ptolomy little Brittaine lies between Brittaine and Spain where we see the Name of Scotland is never attributed simply unto it by these Authors judgements either by the Irish themselves or other Writers Late or Ancient Concerning the Nomenclation Ogygia the Count Palatine citing Cambden tells us Si sit verum quod Hiberni Historici narrant eorum insula merito dicta fuit Ogygia id est perantiqua Cesaram enim ante Diluvium incoluisse scribunt post secula plurima Hiberum Hermionem Hispanos Gurguntis Regis Brittannorum permissu Colonias deduxisse in hane Regionem pestilentia exhaustam Historia Brittanica demonstrat Haec neque affirmare neque denegare mihi in animo est inquit Cambdemus certe ut Hiberniam antiquitus habitatam crediderim cum genus humanum seminaretur per universam terrarum orbem ita perspicuum est ex Brittania primos Incolas illic migrasse nam in Hibernico
where the Flamens were seated in our times it is a Garrison where in King James his time Sir Cornewallis was Captain The third and last place which this Fortunate Prince built was Warwick Cambden saith Warwick built by Gurgaint That the Saxons called this place Warryng-wyc Mennius and the Brittains Cair Guarvie and Caer leon all which Names seem to take their derivation from the Brittish word Guarth which signifieth a Garrison Sconce or place of Defence Hoc illud oppidum est quod praesidium Romanis in Brittannia dicebatur ubi ut est in provinciarum Notitia praefectus equitum Dalmatarum sub dispositione Ducis Brittanniorum egit The situation of this place is most pleasant upon a Hill rising from the River over which is a strong and fair stone Bridge and her sharp stream upon the Town side checked with a most fair and sumptuous Castle It seemeth this Town hath been walled about as appeareth by the Trench in some places seen and two very fair Gates whose passages are hewed out of the Rock as all other into the Town are over which two beautiful Chappels are built that towards the East called St. Peters and on the South-west St. James two fair Churches are therein seated called St. Maries and St. Nicholas beside these in and about the Town suppressed St. Laurence St. Michaels St. John Baptist and St. John of Jerusalem and the Nunnery in the North of the Town the Castle which we named was ruinous but was of late Repaired at the great cost and charges of Sir Fulk Grenil the late Lord Brook who therein dwelt so was it anciently the Seat and abiding Place of the Dukes and Earles of Warwick 1 Henry de Newburgh E. 2 Roger de Newburgh 3 William de Newburgh 4 Walleran de Newburgh 5 Henry de Newburgh Lâ—sengè Or and Azure on a border Gules 8 plates 6 Thomas de Newburgh Chechy Or Azure and a Cheveron ermin 7 John Marshall first Husband of Margery Sister and Heir of Thomas de Newburgh Gules a bend fusile Or. 8 John de Placetis second Husband of the said Margery Ar 6 annulets Gules 321. 9 Walleran de Newburgh Uncle and Heir of Thomas de Newb. Losengè Or and Azure on a border gules 8 plates 10 William Manduit Son of Alice Sister and Heir of Walleran Ar 2 bars Gules 11 William Beauchamp Son of the Lady Isabella Sister and Heir of William Manduit 12 Guido Beauchamp 13 Thomas â—eauchamp E. Marst 14 Thomas Beauchamp 15 Rich Beauchamp Reg. of France 16 Henry Beauchamp D. of Warwick Gules a fess between 6 cross croslets Or. 17 Richard Nevill who married Anne sister of Henry Beuchamp D. of Warwick Gules a saltoir arg a label of three gob A B. 18 George D. of Clarence who married Anne D. of Ri. Nevill England and France quartered on a label of 3 points arg as many cantons G. 19 Edw. Plant. Son of George arma paterna 20 John Dudley descended from the Lady Margaret Daughter of Rich. Beauchamp E. of War 21 Ambrose Dudley Or a Lyon rampant his tail double-sorked veet 22 Robert Lord Rich created E. of VVarwick 16 Jac. Aug. 2. 23 Robert Rich. Gules a cheveron between 3 cross croslets Or. Gurguntius buried at Caerleon After Gurguint had ruled this Kingdom by the space of twenty nine years in great peace and tranquillity he departed out of this transitory life and was buried at Caerleon leaving to succeed him his Son Guinthelinus or Guintellius GVINTHELINVS GVINTHELINVS or Guintellius the Son of Gurguint his Father being dead took upon him the Government of this Island and was crowned King of Great Brittain in the year of the World four thousand eight hundred fifty and three The English Chronicle calleth this Prince Gwentoline a man of singular Parts and Education understanding exactly both the Greek and Latine Language he governed his Subjects with such moderation and judgement that his Memory deserveth to live for ever and to make him the more glorious the heavenly Providence bestowed upon him a Lady for his wife who equalized him in all the Excellencies that can be exprest in her Sex she was so transcendent being but a woman that she had beautified her intellectual parts with the knowledge and perfection of many Sciences insomuch that she might justly be stiled learned but above all these rich Treasures of her mind she imployed not to ostentation or vain-glory that thereby she might be praised but made use of them for the common good and utility of the Kingdome Martiae who was the Paragon of her time and nature also she composed a Law so conducing to the good of all that in memory of her it was called the Martian Law and continued in full force and power many years and so well approved of by Aluredus the Saxon Prince that he thought it an honour to him to translate it himself out of the Brittish Language for the good of his Subjects into the Saxon Tongue and called it Mathehelage that is the Law of Martia great was her assistance to her Kingly Consort in the Administration of the Republick insomuch that after his decease their Son being in his minority and very young all Orders of the Kingdome as well Nobles as Commons for her great Wisdom and Discretion made choice of her to be Queen Regent till her Son came to full Age and in this condition she ruled for the space of some years though they be not numbred by reason that her Son had the Title of King yet the Count Palatine tells us That Deinceps Martia uxor ejus Vitus à qua conditae sunt Martiae Leges regnat annis septem cum Filio suo and then viz. after the death of her Husband Martia his wife who made the Martian Law reigned jointly with her Son seven years De quo Polidorus Polidorus Nutu Dei factum inquit est ut Guintolinus ad Regnum civilibus dissensionibus quassatum perveniret quod reduceret illud in pristinum statum id quod graviter fecit Eo enim potitus Rempublicam Brittanicam ejus Legibus ac moribus velut de integro condere ac ornare maxime studuit sed ante omnia civiles discordias quae adhuc tanquam reliquiae factionum durabant penitus sedavit Huic uxor erat nomine Martia mulier praeter caeteras pulchra sapiens quae peperit unicum filium Sicilium iste mortuo patre cum nondum esset maturus imperio Martia multarum rerum perita Regni curam interim suscepit quod Reipublicae erat id imprimis sibi faciendum rata leges tulit quas posteri Martianas appellarunt This King was called by some Guttelinus and by others after the Roman Dialect Guintelinus who after he had ruled six and twenty year left this world and was buried at Troynovant or London leaving his onely Son Sisillius to succeed him in his Kingdome SISILLIVS SISILLIVS or Cecilius Son to Guinthelinus began his Reign over the
matchlesse Valour and therefore putting spurs to his Horse stays not but prevents the coming of this hellish Fury and with most Knightly Courage and Gallantry as Guido de Columna and others aver gives a most fierce Encounter to the Fiend but after a long and cruel Conflict having quite spent his spirits he is swallowed up and devoured by that Fish Fiend or Monster after he had Reigned according to most Writers eight years leaving after him five Sons Gorbomannus or Gorbonian Archigallus Elidurus Vigenius or Nigenius and Peredurus Morindus saith the Count Palatine quem Elianus ex Tangustula Concubina suscepit Rex creatur Is magnà quidem probitate morum futurus erat vir clarus ad omnem temporum aeternitatem nisi nimium indulsisset asperitati crudelitatique incitatus ad iram se tam insolenter superbè cum hominibus gessisset ut omnino parceret nemini furoreque percitus nec etiam amicos suos vellet ab hostibus internoscere nam quod ad caetera pertinet homo fuit aspectu pulcher muneribusque dandis largiter assuefactus tantae vero fortitudinis ut cum eo luctari vel armis congredi nemo auderet Maurorum rex quidem ingressus magna vi militum dicebatur Northumbriam divastare cui Morindus collecta manu juventutis fit obvius ac prae'ium instituens fertur plus efficisse solus quam reliqua pars totius exercitus nam ubi Victor evasit ne quidem unum ex hostibus reliquit superstitem jubebat homo immanis ordine singulos captivos ad se produci ut quemlibet ita seorsim perimendo suam feritatem exsatiaret cumque fatigatus quodammodo nec dum cessaret ardor ille sanguinis humani profundendi hoc amplius jubebat eos qui adhuc superessent pelle detracta de toto corpore protenus comburi qua ex re famam gloriam consequi sperabat ideo cum ex Hibernico mari bellua quaedam inauditae feritatis magnitudinis quasi monstrum naturae aliquod certum emersisset appulissetque in Brittaniam Maritimos populos vehementer divexasset ipsemet Rex clam suis satellitibus ad littora pergit solus cum immani bellua marina congreditur eamque sicut ipse interemit sic ab ea vicissim interfectus est postquam novem imperasset GORBOMANNVS GORBOMANNVS or as the English Book calls him Granbodian his Father being dead is Crowned King of Great Brittain in the year of the worlds Creation four thousand eight hundred ninety eight A Prince as saith Gaufride just in all his actions insomuch that we may call him our Brittish Numa for his first care was the honour of his Gods unto whom he erected Temples for divine Honour add repaired such as were ruinous and decayed to his Subjects he did Justice and to all men Right exactly observing that excellent rule of morality Quod tibi fieri non vis alteri ne feceris in his time Brittaine flourished in abundance of Wealth and Riches for Peace begot Plenty and that plenty caused the Subjects to Honour their Prince as the very Author thereof R. Vitus f. 200. Gorbomannus primo natus ascendit regni solium quo viro justior vel amantior aequi nemo repertus est aut qui majore cum cura populum gubernaret Assiduus illi mos erat primum Deis debitum honorem impendere populis deinde jus reddere in ferè omnibus civitatibus Deorum Templa collapsa instaurat ex integro nova condit Arte tanta divitiarum honeste parandarum utebatur quanta nullus in insula princeps unquam quippe colonos ad agriculturam excitabat eos ab injuria virorum potentium defendebat adolescentes potissimum idoneos ad bellum gerendum benigne accepit eosque crebris pecuniarum largitionibus à rapinis faciendis abstinebat denique talem inter cives operam suaviter amice vivendo praestabat ut eo regnante damnum dare aut vim inferre nemo auderet ne quidem ille qui caeterorum pessimus vulgo existimaretur cum hac innata sibi bonitate morum postquam Brittanos opibus affluentes rexisset undecim annos vita functus est Vrbe Trinovanta sepelitur Gorbomannus the eldest Son is inaugurated King surpassing all in his time for justice mercy and careful governing of his Subjects His first thoughts called upon him to offer up unto the Gods all due reverence and honour and after that to doe right unto every man in each place he repaired the ruinous and decayed Temples and in many Towns founded new He exceeded all the Princes his Predecessors in gathering Riches and that in so upright a way that he was rather highly to be extolled then any way to be grudged at for he animated the harmlesse Husband to agriculture and closely to follow his Plough keeping them under his protection and defending them from the oppression of griping Land-lords and over-topping great-ones Youth which he esteemed fit to be trained up for Martial Discipline he furnished with large Donatives Salaries and advance-Monies whereby to keep them from plundering and such peccadillio's as are incident to men of that profession To conclude he gave such Example by his temperate and just living to his Subjects that even he who was branded with the infamy of the basest Varlet durst not presume to offer an injury or out-rage unto his Neighbour This good King after he had Ruled Brittain in the height of wealth and prosperity gave way to Fate and was buried at London This King in his devotion towards his false gods having repaired and new built so many Temples questionlesse allotted Flamens or Druids to offer the wonted sacrifices the Druids were of high esteem amongst the Brittains and of large Antiquitie for Pontalion saith their beginning was in the year of the worlds Creation 2900. But the profession of the Druids which the Brittains the Inhabitants of Gallia and a great part of Germany had many hundreds of years followed and practised was impious false and idolatrous damnable and diabolical They worshipped for gods Jupiter Apollo Mars Mercury Audate Berecynthia and some others Mr. Br. f. 241. Hen. Pan. l. de vir illust Ger. part 1. p. 40. 41. Selden Anal. Alab l. 1. c. 1. c. 4 Berosus Nichol. Vignier Biblio Hist an Mundi 2200. Hist Aggregat de Annal. f. 3. Bernar. Giunti Chro. in Dryus Joan. Frisius Bibliot Philos an Mund. 2070 ante Christum 1892. Jo. Bal. lib. de Scrip. Cent. 1. in Semothe Cambd. Britt p. 11. Pliny l. 12. c. 1. Lud. Caelius li. 7. c. 1. Tac. l. de morib pop Germa Andu Altham in Schol. n. Cor. Tacit. Jul. Caesar l. 6. bel Gall. Hector Boetius Scot. Hist li. 2. f. 22. 23. Their religion and themselves had continued by that Name and flourished in the world from the time of Druius the great King and high Priest Druius Germanorum Pontifex who reduced the Gentils Religion into this Order Founded them a Colledge and gave
be indeed truly vertuous religious For two Causes The first thereby to obtain the assistance of God's grace which how necessary it is for the illumination of mans understanding in all matters of Counsel is most evident to all good Men. The second Cause why it behoveth a Counsellor to be truly religious and vertuous is for that such is the force of vertue that it giveth credit to the Possessors thereof and maketh them the more easily believed and their Counsel better accepted And therefore we see that all men of discretion and judgement do demand Counsel rather of those who are reputed wise and vertuous then of wicked men who have onely the reputation of wisdom For as St. Ambrose saith Amb. li. de offi 2. c. 10. Where wisdom and vertue are conjoyned Magna erit Consiliorum salubritas there is all good and wholsome counsel to be had and all men are willing to hear the wise and vertuous man as well for the admiration of his wisdome as for the love of his vertue In which respect he also saith that men addresse themselves commonly for Counsel to those who are more vertuous then themselves for no man hath reason to think him who is inferior to himself in manners to be his superior in Wisdom and Counsel Furthermore such is the dignity and authority of vertue that evil men bear a reverend respect thereto and stand as it were in awe of good men whereof we have an Example in Herod who although he held St. John Baptist in prison and would not follow his counsel in the matter of his divorce yet for the reverence he bore to his vertue he consulted many other things with him and followed his advice therein and as the Scripture also saith metuebat eum be feared him and no doubt but wise and vertuous Princes much more esteem and respect the Counsel of wise men that are vertuous then of others of equal wit and judgement that are vicious and wicked knowing that as Solomon saith Consilia impiorum fraudulenta the counsels of wicked men are fraudulent Pro. c. 12. and that he who hath no care of his Conscience will have no care of his Duty towards Men. Basilius the Emperor advised his Son to choose those for his Counsellors who had given Proof and Experience of their Wisdome in the good Conduct and Direction of their own private Affairs and it is very necessary that Counsellors in Conference with their Prince use all sincerity truth and plainnesse without flattery for although the common Proverb say Obsequium amicos Veritas odium parit Flattery gaineth Friends and Truth hatred Yet as there is nothing more pernicious to Princes then flattery so by consequence there is nothing more unfit to be used of Counsellors whose Office is and special care should be to undeceive their Prince in all things wherein they are any way deceived and to labour therein so much the more by how much less other men do it seeing one of the greatest infelicities of Princes is that all or most men flatter and sooth them in all things in which respect Seneca saith Quid omnia possidentibus deest ille qui verum dicat What wants he who hath all marry one to tell the truth And Quintus Curtius saith Regum opes The States of Princes are oftener overthrown by Flattery then by Force But this must be done with great moderation and discretion for commonly those do offend in this kind I mean of being forward and rigorous in admonishing who presume over much either of their own wits and power or of their Princes weaknesse or of his over great favour and familiarity or of the need he hath of them or else perhaps are of nature severe insolent or passionate for such sometimes do forget themselves yea and take a pride in contradicting or admonishing their Princes with less duty respect then were convenient and such an one was Callisthenes of whom Arrianus writeth that he made himself odious to Alexander the Great Tum ob intempestivam libertatem tum ob superbam stultitiam both for his unseasonable liberty of speech and also for his proud folly But Haephestion Counsellor to the same Alexander avoided that error for he alwayes admonished him discreetly and freely as occasion served yet he ever did it in such sort that it seemed rather to be Alexander's Will and Pleasure that he should so doe then that he challenged any right to himself yea a Councellor though he should fear to incur displeasure for his plainness Plutarch in Themist yet he ought to discharge his Conscience and to say as Themistocles said to Euribiades who took up a staffe to strike him for his free speech strike me so you hear me after Seneca most excellently saith Sunt duo contraria Consilio festinatio ira Two things are contrary to Counsell haste and anger And again saith he Deliberandum est diu quod statuendum est femel The thing that is once to be determined is to be deliberated by leisure And Aristotle tells us That a wise Man ought to counsel slowily and execute speedily Had Archigallo followed with his Councellors these Rules and Principles he had not been thrust out of his Throne ELIDVRVS ELIDVRVS third Son to Morindus and Brother to Archigallo was by common consent and applause of all the States of the Brittains chosen and crowned King in the year of the World four thousand nine hundred and fifteen This Prince in the English Chronicle is called Hesider or Esodir he was of such a temperate and mild disposition that his Subjects called him Elidure the Meek but I suppose this Appellation of Meek in Latine Pius came upon another occasion for the Count Palatine thus delivers unto us the Kings life Elidurum tertio natum Morindi statuunt Regem qui totidem annos Rempublicam sed diversa ratione humanitatis benevolentiae fratri sc per omnia dissimilem tenebat Archigallo jam privatus imperio à provincialibus Regnis ad quae proficiscitur auxiliares copias petit Nusquam auditus pro animi disiderio redit donium militibusque decem tantum modo comitatus visit eos quos nuper habebat amicos transit nemus Calaterium in quo Rex venebatur qui forte temerè casit Fratrem non speratum intuens pietate motus amplectitur eum secum ad Arcluidam perducit Ibi concilium cum proceribus capit de fratre restituendo in Regnum quam ejus cogitationem graviter iniquo animo omnes tulerunt quod nihil pro sano ab Archigallione sperarent usus igitur arte quad am fingendi morbum vocat ad se singulos secreto ingredientibus persuadet ac minatur etiam nisi Archigallioni ut tanquam Regi suo fidem spondeant deinde per alia Cubicula educi singillatim custodiri quibus ita concitatis fratri per terrorem suaque oratione confirmatis de morum ejus commutatione ducit Elidrus
Piety he builded many goodly Temples in the honour of his gods It is in my judgement worthy observation how zealous Pagan Princes have been to build places of adoration to their false gods and in the infancy of Christianity and primitive Church with what devotion and piety not onely Christian Emperours Kings and Princes but even Noble Men and private Citizens bestowed their Wealth and Patrimonies in erecting Churches to the honour of our most Blessed Saviour and his holy and glorious Martyrs and how those who in our present times call themselves Saints sunt autem intus Lupi rapaces pollute contaminate deface and destroy Churches and Chappels pull down the Fonts wherein they received the badg of Christianity the sacred Lavacre of Baptisme draw down the monuments and shrines of Martyrs Sepulchres of those whose Memories are held in Veneration unclapper the Bells sacrilegiously take away the Ropes sed dabit Deus his quoque funem if these be acts of Religion or a Reformation as forsooth they term it then will I say That Gardiner rectifieth and reformeth a good Orchard planted with the choicest Fruit-bearing Trees when he pulleth up by the roots all those goodly stocks and leaves the ground digged and turned up by the profane snouts of Hogs and wild Boars and taketh no care to replant young Saplings and Graffts in their places King Lud began his Reign in the year of the World five thousand one hundred and thirty one who after he had governed the Brittains with great justice and moderation eleven years ended the period of his days and was buried in the Temple which he had built nere Ludgate in Caer Lud or London for so hereafter we must usually call it leaving two Sons Androgeus and Tenancius or Temancius CASSABILAN CASSABILAN brother to King Lud began to govern the Brittains in the year of the world five thousand one hundred and forty two The Nobles and Commons made election of this Prince in regard that the two Sons of his deceased brother were so young that the eldest of them was held unfit to govern Cassebilan as witnesseth the old Chronicle and also Flos Historiarum was not Crowned long but only elected Protector during the Nonage of his Nephews but Ambition and the dazling aspect of a princely Diadem are able with out the grace of the Almighty if it were possible to overthrow even honesty and justice it self yet Cassabilan a Pagan shews far more civility and natural tenderness then Richard the third a Christian who murdered his Nephewes being their Protector Cassabilan lets them enjoy that breath which God nature had bestowed upon them but so cunningly by his wily practises by doing justice shewing himself liberal and bountiful to the subjects he insinuates himself into their hearts and bosomes that as a man immediately sent from the Gods with general Votes and suffrages he is Crowned King of Brittain yet had he an after-game to play full of hazard and difficulty his two Nephewes are living had Machiavel been his Tutor he had sent them long ere this to their Graves and whilst the lawful Heirs are in being the unjust possessor upon what title soever can never be secure Cassibalan to stop the mouths of all such as should find themselves aggrieved with the disinheriting of the Orphans gives unto Androgias the City of London with the Dukedome or Earldome of Kent And unto Tenantius the Earldome of Cornwall but men deprived of their Birth-right will make hard shift rather then not obtain their Right or at least be revenged This was the present condition of Brittany about the four and fiftieth year before the Birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ Caesar being the Governour of Gallia for the Senate and people of Rome and having brought some part of that Countrey under obedience intended a Voyage into Brittany partly upon pretence of revenge for that the Brittaines had divers times aided those of Gallia in their Wars against the Romans and partly to satisfie himself with the sight of the Island and knowing the Inhabitants and their custome whereby he might be perhaps the more readily induced by reason of his own natural Inclination to undertake great and difficult attempts and with the encrease of his own glory to enlarge the limits of the Roman Empire unto which at that time the Soveraignity of the whole world was by divine providence Allotted And to this end he thought good to be first informed of the nature of the people and of such havens in the Isle as were most commodious to receive any shipping that should come thither which things where in a manner unkown to the Gaules by reason the Flanders suffered none to have accesse to them but Merchants onely neither knew they any other places then the Sea Coasts and those parts of the Isle that confronted the continent of Gallia wherupon Caesar supposing it necessary to make some discovery before he adventured himself in the action sent Caius Volusemus in a long boat with instructions to enquire of the quantity of the Island of the conditions of the Inhabitants of their manner of making War of their Government in Peace and what places were fittest for Landing After which dispatch made he himself with all his Forces which were newly returned from making War beyond the Rhene Marched into the Country of the * The ancient Inhabitants of the Guines and Bolonois in Picardie Morini from whence was the shortest cut into Brittany for there he had appointed his shipping to meet him In the mean time his purpose being known to the Brittains by report of the Merchants that traded with them divers states of the Isle either fearing the greatness of the Roman power or affecting Innovation for some private respects sent over Ambassadours who promised in their names to deliver Hostages for assurance of their obedience to the people of Rome but Caesar though he was fully resolved to enter the Island curteously entertained their offer exhorting them to continue in that good mind as a means to draw on the rest in following the example of their submission for the better effecting whereof he appointed Comius the chief Governour of the Attrebates as a man whose wisdome and faith he had tryed and whom he knew to be respected of the Brittains to accompany the Ambassadours in their return giving him in charge to go to as many Cities as would permit him acoesse and to perswade the Rulers to submit themselves as some of their Nation had already done and further to let them know that himself with all convenient speed would come thither The Princes of the Isle being yet altogether unacquainted with any civil kind of Government maintained quarrels factions among themselves whereby one sought to offend another and to enlarge his own part by encroaching upon his Neighbors not observing that what they gained in particular one of another they lost altogether in a general reckoning they made an open passage in the end for the Roman
Mar. Scel an 163. Bar. Tom. 2. Annal. an eod That King Lucius of Brittain was the Disciple of St. Timothy for which he citeth the Magdeburgians Stumphius and the Annals of Curre in Germany And Naeuclerus with others writeth clearly That one St. Timothy came into Brittain and Lucius King of Brittain and his Kingdome did receive the Faith of Christ from him Mr. Broughton affirmeth That this our glorious Countryman St. Timothy was Son unto the Lady Claudia and Brother to St. Novatus St. Pudentiana and Praxedes Great honour it was for the first Christian King of this Nation the first Christian King in the World to be instructed in the Faith by so Noble a renowned Apostle of his own Nation What were the Impediments in temporal respects which hindred King Lucius from publick profession of Christian Religion wherein he was thus instructed until or near the Papacy of St. Elutherius shall be shewed hereafter This St. Timothy was assisted by St. Marcellus a Britain also and preached here and the Annals of the Archbishops of Trevers say of this Man That Lucius King of Brittain now England was baptized by his preaching The Historie of Tungers speaketh more plainly That this St Marcellus did by his preaching convert Lucius Prince of Brittain with all his Nation to Christ And the same Catalogue of Trevers saith That King Lucius was made a Christian and Baptized by this our Renowned Countryman St. Marcellus When the estate of Ecclesiasticall affairs had taken in Brittain so happy proceeding and effect that both our King and many principall men were thus converted to the Faith of Christ from their former errors and superstitions and so great hope and forwardnesse there was to have that faith publickly professed which they privately embraced and acknowledged for the only Truth many worldly temptations and oppositions did presently arise to hinder these new and untrained Souldiers of Christ to make so bold and open profession of their holy Religion as many holy Martyrs at that time and they themselves not long after did and the glory of that required Divers humane fears and impediments now chancing and hindring of K. Lucius from open profession of Christian Religion in Brittain for as we may probably with many Antiquities affirme that the favourable edicts of divers Emperours and among them Antoninus sirnamed Pius yet Reigning had somewhat encouraged them in temporal respects actually to be baptized in that Religion which their internal understanding and judgement was by many invincible motives and arguments convinced before to be only true so now by like contrary worldly events and letts they were for some time more slow and dull to professe it openly They did perfectly understand that not withstanding the pretended and expected favour from the present Emperour either by his command or permission two holy Popes to omit many other places St. Telesphorus and St. Higinus procurers of their conversion cruelly were put to Death for that Religion even in Rome it self under the Emperours sight within the space of four years or little more by all accounts and because present and home dangers do most terrifie they did see and taste that the present Emperour Antoninus was at this time incensed against the Brittains and had already sent Lollius Vrbicus with forces hither and he had Fought some battles against the Brittains as both our own and the Roman Historians testifie And to maintain and foster these conceived and ingendred humane fears and impressions to live and continue longer then Antoninus was like to live now being old and long time Emperour when he came first to the Empire by the Adoption of Adrian he was commanded or directed by him that Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Act. St. Praxed per St. Pastor Vsuard Ado. Peter Catal. l. 5. c. 58. Baron Tom. 2. An. 164. whom from his Infancy he had trayned up in the Gentiles Superstitions should succeed him in the Empire when he was but eight years of Age he was put by Adrian into the Colledge of the Salii most superstitious Priest of Mars and was made Priest and chief Ruler of the Southsayers So that there could be little hope but this man so superstitiously brought up and such a maker and unmaker of their sacrifices and an enchanter would still continue the same and professe himself an enemy to all Impugners of such proceedings such as all Christians were which he performed when he came to be Emperor raising a general persecution against Christians which to omit but as it concerned this Kingdome and the Christians thereof the holy house of our glorious Countreywoman St. Praxedes in Rome which until then both in the time of St. Novatus her brother her holy parents St. Pudens and St. Claudia Baron Tom. 2. an 166. Sabinella or Priscilla and likely before as under her parents also Christian Brittains had been a safe refuge and as a sanctuary for persecuted Christians was now cruelly ransacked and tweny two holy Martyrs together with the sacred Priest St. Simitrius most barbarously without tryal question judgement presently put to death of which blessed company we may not but think divers of this Country to have been and St. Timothy himself returning from hence to Rome Julius Capil Marc. Aurel. was there Martyred if we may believe Matthew of Westminster his computation Ibid. Virgil. in Hist Angl. l 2. p. 42. These and such were the worldly temptations which allured King Lucius and many Noble Brittains to be more timerous and lingering to professe the Christian faith with such constancy openly as inwardly they firmly believed and honoured until the Emperour himself convicted by the written Apologies and Miracles wrought by Christians was enforced to yield the honour to Christ and abstain from persecution and many of his noble Pagans embraced the Christian Religion Tertul. Apol. c. 6. Euseb Eccle. Hist l. 5. c. 5. Math. West an 174. and this I take to be the chiefest occasion of mistaking in some Historian or their Scribes setting down so many and several times when King Lucius received the Faith of Christ or professed it many saying it was in the year of Christ 156. others in the year 164. others 165. as William of Malmesbury with others Henry of Hartford in the year 169. and others in other and later times All which be true if we speak of the Religion of Christ which he held and believed from the very first of these assigned times but for his and his Nobles publick profession thereof and the Kingdome generally receiving it with building of Churches placing of Christian Bishops and Priests in them abandoning the superstitious rites of pagan Gentils we must expect a later date in the time of Pope Elutherius And this holy Pope had long before he was Pope the often occasion of K. Lucius others here writing sending to Rome about this publick work might occasion some error in the Titles of Letters to Elutherius when he was not yet Pope but
Auxiliarie forces out of Gallia By this means the fury of those warlike Nations was somewhat restrained until the coming of Theodosius who first appeased the mutiny among the Souldiers in Brittain and afterwards prosecuted the service there with such good successe as he restored the decayed Townes strengthning the borders appointing night-watches to be kept there and in the end recovered the Province which was then contented to admit of Governors as in former times as a new conquered State have a new name given it For in the honor of the Emperor Valentinian the Province was for a time called Valentia not long after one Valentinian a Pannonian entred into a new conspiracy there which being discovered before it was ripe the peril like to have ensued thereby was easily avoided Gratian. Gratian the brother of Valentinian was then created Emperor He Howe 's fo 46. to the intent he might the better repair the decayed state of the Empire made Theodosius a Copartner with him in it The year 369 being the second year of Valentinian the Emperor A universal earth-quake strange rain and Hail was St. Jerome made Cardinal and the next year after was St. Ambrose made Archbishop of Millain and in the year aforesaid the vnerable Beda in his little book recordeth that there was a great universal Earthquake throughout the whole World And the next year as other historians write it reigned Wool and there withall it hailed which hail-stones were of wonderous greatnesse and flew great numbers of the men and beasts at Constantinople Nice destroyed by an Earth-quake and the next year after the City of Nice was utterly thrown down and ruinated by an Earth-quake and this year died S. Hillary Bishop of Poytiers so oft-spoken of before This Gratian succeeding Valentinian elected Valentinian the second his brother and Theodosius the Son of another Theodosius to be his associates in Government Maximus Maximus then ruling the Army in Brittain Baron Annal. Tom. 4. an 383. Sigebert Chr. an 383. Virun Brit. Hist l. 5. Galf. Hist Brit. l. 5. c. 11. Virun l. 5. Theat of G. Brit. l. 6. p. 272. Socrat. Hi. l. 5. c. 11. Ruffi l. 2. c. 15 16. Beda l. 1. c. 9. Malms l. 1. Stow Howe 's in Maxi. upon emulation and envy of Theodosius his glory usurped the Empire there This Maximus was a Brittain by birth as Socrates and other forrain Authors as well as our own Writers testifie and although he seemeth to think that he did untruly derive his descent from St. Hellen yet he giveth some way to that opinion when he confesseth he claimed descent from great Constantine her Son And Sigeberius Gemblacensis plainly confesseth that he both was of the Emperial Race and was kinsman of Constantine the Great claiming part of the Empire by that title The like hath Ponticus Virunnius in his Brittish history he being an Italian and addeth that he was the Son of Leoninus uncle to St. Hellen and great uncle to Const the Great in which as in many other things he differeth from the printed Brittish history translated by Galfridus by common opinion which calling Maximianus and not Maximus maketh him both true heir of Brittain Grand-child descended from King Coel Father to St. Hellen born both of the Regal Race of the Brittains and Romans bringing in Caradocus Duke of Cornewall for perswading Octavius to marry his daughter and heir unto him making his title to Brittain better than that Octavius had Our Writers of the Theatre of great Brittain alledging Camden also for their opinion affirm of this Maximus Clemens Maximus descended linealy from Constantine the Great And Ponticus himselfe doth after confesse as much howsoever he can be accorded to himselfe before saying that Leotinâ— was his Father And Socrates with others doth free him from the name of Usurper of the Empire when he confesseth that Valentinian did admit him in for Emperor And St. Beda writeth of him that he was a valiant and worthy man and so far from intruding himselfe into the Empire that he was by the Army created Emperor almost against his will which Will. of Malm. also with others confirmeth which is sufficiently confirmed not only by the triumphant enemy of our Catholick Brittains and other such Nations assisting him But our Brittish history Virunnius and others prove that he was first incited invited and sent for into Brittain both to be King here and afterwards to take upon him the Empire as his Right yet as some say plainly Maximus a valiant man and worthy was forced in Brittain to take the Empire upon him Mr. Broug f. 572. Hect. Boe. George Buch. Hist Scot. Holishn Hist Scot. And if any man saith he was infamed by Writers for persecuting Christians I dare not assent unto him for ever from his first power and greatness he honored and favoured Religion here in Brittain making it all subject unto him when he expelled the Scots he gave or allowed by their own historians the Isle of Jonas to their Bishops Priests and other Clergy and religious men and it is evident that the Brittish Christians Catholicks and as sincere as any in the World were they whom he most loved and favoured and by whom with other Chatholick Countries as France Spain and others he was assisted in his wars and by their aid and assistance became so potent Sozom. ut sup and he was far from being a Persecutor of Christians especially of Catholicks that even by the ancient Writers of Roman histories themselves that excepting his title to the Empire he made it a chief motive of taking armes against Valentinian the younger seduced by his Arrian Mother Justina because they went about to set up heresie and persecute Catholicks And Theodore relateth the heretical proceedings of this Valentinian and his mother especially against St. Ambrose that holy Doctor and Catholick Bishop of Millain and testifieth that Maximus understanding thereof wrote unto Valentinian Theodoret. Hi. Eccle. l. 5. c. 13. Paul Oros l. 5. c. 34. Paulus Diaco l. 1. c. 3. perswading him to desist from such persecuting and heretical proceedings otherwise he would warr against him in dafence of the Catholick religion which he performed and Valentinian forced to fly dearly tasted what his Mothers heretical Counsels had brought him unto Paulus Orosius also and Paulus Diaconus call this our Maximus a valiant and good man and worthy to be Emperor A worthy Emperor St. Senerus Sulpitius is a sufficient witness also how renowned a man this our Brittish Emperor was in many respects for concerning that great blemish which some cast upon him for usurping the Empire and for deposing one Emperor and killing another which were the great exceptions which that great and Apostolick Bishop St. Martine took unto him and therefore though often envited to his Table refused to come unto it He thus declareth himselfe that the Empire was not sought by him but rather against his will imposed upon him by the
contracted and intermingled by the daily commerce of the English some out of Caesar will infer a consequence that the Gallic and Brittish language were the same when he saith Gallis in more positum ut qui Druidum disciplinam diligentius cognoscere vellent in adversam Britanniam ad Druides proficiscerentur quod eis nihil profuisset nisi idem his cum illis fuisset sermo cum Druides libris non uterentur sed omnia viva voce explicarent but this signifies little to perswade that the language of these two Nations was the same for the language in which the Druides taught their mysteries was that of Greece Carmina multa millia interdum viginti annorum studio cogebantur ediscere qui eorum disciplinae se tradidissent quae Graeca fuisse non temere quis conjecerit so that the inference is that those of Gallia learned from the Brittish Druides the use and speech of the Greek tongue only It is no sufficient proofe to alledge that the continent was first inhabited and that from thence the Islands took their language for it is very probable that some Islands as being the most safe and securest places were even with the first inhabited VVhich Theophilus seems to intimate concerning Brittain and sacred writ tells us that the Islands towards the North were allotted to the off-spring of Japhet amongst which some learned Authors place Brittain Those who endeavour to make good that the Brittains borrowed their language from the Latines let them stop their mouths with this Prisca Italiae lingua sub priscis Italiae regibus quicunque fuerint usurpata Doricae similis fuisse dicitur ejusque initio magna fuit stirilitas quae a poetis Eunio Plauto Pacuvio aliis ab Histiorographis maxime ab Oratoribus detersa est facta a vicinis mutuatione vel novis excogitatis vocibus And again sed veteres Latini summa linguae inopia laborantes tum ob aliorum populorum in jus civitatis admissorum linguis infinita sumpsisse dicuntur tum maxime a Graecis Etruscis quos Aramaea vel Syriaca olim usos credunt voces Latinas quae hodie habentur non errarit si quis censeat esse Tuscae originis So that we see the Latines more fit to borrow then to lend some may say that many Brittish words sound Latin like t is true Est natura hominum novitatis avida The Brittains call that Rhoud which the Latines call Rota in English a wheel not that they wanted a significant word in their own language for they have two Troel and Olwyn they call that Porth which the Romans call Portam yet can they if they please call it as properly Moreb As for their borrowing words from the Greeks the like reason may be given Moreover Bladud when he went to Athens to apply himself to the study of Philosophy at his return brought with him many learned Graecian Philosophers who being conversant with the Druides communicating with them in points of doctrinalls many greek words might become familiar with the Brittains The most constant opinion is that before the confusion of Babel the Hebrew was the sole and only language and in that grand confusion the Brittish questionless was one probably used in Phrigia where Troy stood and from thence conveyed unto this our Island There was a People in Italy in those places which we now call Calabria and Naples called Brutii from the name of Brutus whose nomenclation and language differed very little from that of the Ancient Brittains this people after the destruction of Troy was brought into Italy by Nestor where the Pylians built a City called Metapontus the Brutii built another naming it Nova Troja after by the Tarentines call'd Heraclea So our Brittains in this our Island built Troy Novant now London both taking their name from Brutus and both having the like affection to the memory of old Troy As concerning Brutus his coming hither having more at large spoken of it in the ensuing History I will only here insert this out of our own records In the time of King Edward I. at Lincolne where held a Parliament after much diligent search of Antiquities and due examination as the greatest matter of right of a Kingdom required Apologitical letters were sent to the Pope of Rome sealed with an hundred seals and witnesses thus Rex Angliae ex deliberato concilio apud Lincolniam convocato pro jure suo declarando literam hujus tenoris rescripsit centum sigillis signatam wherein is declared and justified that in the time of Hely and Samuel the Prophet Brutus a Trojan landed here and by his own name called the Country Britannia before named Albion De nomine suo Britanniam sociosque suos Britones appellavit and having three Sons Locrinus Albanactus and Camber at his death devided the Island into three parts or provinces Loegria now England though VVelsh keep the old name was given to Locrinus the eldest Son Albania Scotland to Albanact the second Son Cambria now miscalled Wales to Camber his third Son Locrino primogenito dedit illam partem quae quondam Loegria nunc vero Anglia nominatur Albanacto filio Secundo dedit Albaniam quae nunc Scotia Vocitatur Cambrio vero tertio filio dedit Cambriam quae wallia appellatur reservata Locrino regia dignitate this conjecture may suffice for this business it being testified by so many Domesticall and forrain private and publick witnesses that this his tripartite division was here from the begining and the first name of Brittain given by Brutus Other remarkable things might have been added to this History as that of St. Winefreds well and many more note worthy which I leave to other pens who happily may write the descriptions of each County in particular as God willing I do speedily intend to publish that of Monmothshire had I been near the press to have perused every sheet as it past I would have affixed an Alphabetical index at the end of this work of all memorable passages but I intreat the courteous Reader to accept in good part my weak endeavours and what Errata's he shall find not mended by the Printer to dash them lightly with his quill and not impute them to me who desire to be esteemed by all From my Chamber at Lantarnam in Monmothshire 16. of May 1661. Their faithful friend and Servant PERCY ENDERBIE THE ANCIENT AND MODERN BRITTISH and WELSH HISTORY Beginning with BRVTE and continued untill KING CHARLES the First The First Part. THe state of every Kingdom well managed by prudent government seems to represent a humane body guided by the soveraignty of a reasonable soul the Country and the Land representing the one the Actions and State-affairs the other The Island of Great Brittaine containeth the Kingdoms of England and Scotland and is of many counted the greatest Island in the world though Justus Lipsius gives that praise to Cuba in America as the Oriental Navigators unto Sumatra taken from Ptolomey's
Taprobana or to Madagascar the Island of St. Laurence both which are neer or under the Equinoctiall line in which we will not contend as pleasing our selves with her other praises far exceeding her Greatnesse yet with this Honour also that it was without Question the greatest Island of the Roman world and for any thing yet certainly known of all the rest concerning whose positure in respect of Heaven Lucretius the first of the Latine Writers that names Brittain seemeth to place it in the same parallel with Pontus where he saith Nam quid Brittannum coelum differre putamus c. What differs Prittains Heaven from that of Nile Or Pontus welking from Gades warmer Isle It is by experience found to lie included from the Degree Fifty and thirty scruples of latitude and for longitude extended from the 13 degree and 20 minutes unto the 22 and 50 minutes according to the observation of Mercator It hath little Brittain Normandy and other parts of France upon the South Germany Denmarke and Norway upon the East the Iles of Orkney and the Deucalidonian sea upon the North Hebrides upon the West and from it all other Ilands and Ilets which doe scatteredly environ it and shelter themselves as it were under the shaddow of great Albion another name of this famous Iland are also accounted Brittish Brittaine thus seated in the Ocean hath her prayses not onely in this present sense and use of her commodities but also in those honourable Eulogies which the learnedest of Antiquaries have collected out of the noblest Authors that he scarce doth seem to have left any gleanings neither will we transplant them out of his flourishing gardens but as necessity compels since nothing can be further or otherwise better said Robert of Amesbury Caesar in his Comentaries Cornelius Tacitus Some praises of great Brittaine That Brittaine therefore is the Seas High-admiral is most Famously known and the fortunate Island supposed by some as Robert of Amesbury doth shew whose Aire is more temperate saith Caesar then France whose foyle bringeth forth all graine in abundance saith Tacitus whose Seas produce Orient Pearle saith Suetonius whose fields are the Seat of a Summer Queen saith Orpheus her wildest parts free from Wild Beasts saith the ancient Panegyrick and her chiefe City worthily called Augusta saith Amianus So as we may truly say with the Royall Psalmist Our lives are fallen in pleasant places yea we have a pleasant Inheritance which whatsoever by the goodness of God and industry of man it is now yet our English Poet hath truly described unto us the first face thereof thus The Land which warlike Brittaines now possesse And therein have their mighty Empires rais'd Brittain and France formerly one continent by some In ancient time was savage VVilderness Vnpeopl'd unmanur'd unprov'd unprais'd And albeit the Ocean doth at this present thrust it selfe between Dover and Calice dividing them with a deep and vast entrenchment so that Brittaine is thereby of a supposed Penisle made an Island yet divers have stifly held that once it was joyned by an arm of Land to the Continent of Gallia to which opinion Mr. Spencer further alluding thus closeth his Stanza Spencer in his Fairy Queen Ne was it Iland then ne was it prais'd Amid the Ocean waves ne was it sought Of Merchants farr for profits therein prais'd But was all desolate and of some thought By Sea t' have been from the Celtick mainland-brought Which was a matter meerly conjecturall because it is not plain that there were no Ilands nor hills before Noahs stood I leave at large Virgil sure of all the Poets the most learned when describing the Shield which Vulcan forged in Virgils brain for Æneas he calls the Morini people about Calice the outmost men doth onely mean that they were Westward the furthest inhabitants upon the Continent signifying withal that Britaine as being an Iland lay out of the world but yet not out of the knowledge of men for the commodities thereof invited the Famous Greek Colonies of Merchants which dwelt at Marsilia in France to venture hither as hath been well observed out of Strabo And as Julius Caesar was the first Roman which ever gave an attempt to Conquer it so will we close its prayses with a late Epigram concerning the outward Face of the Isle and the motive of Caesars coming thither Albions high Tops her woody locks fore-shew With quires of chaunting birds those woods resounding Her downes and meadowes clad in verdant hue Meadowes and Downs with flocks and heards abounding Brutus his three sonnes Latium had greater wealth yet Caesar thought To Brittish glory Latiums wealth was naught Wales preferred before Scotland Our most ancient Historians begin with Brute and so continue the succession of Kings till CHARLES the First which Brutus divided the Kingdome into three parts To Locrinus he gave Loegria now England to Camber his second sonne he gave Cambria now VVales and to Albanist or Albanact Albania now Scotland Ireland called Brittaine the less Ptolomy naming Britaine the great and the less hath been by some mistaken as so dividing the Island into two parts but his proportion and distance from the Equator compared with his Geographical description will evince that he calleth this our Island Great Britaine and Ireland Brittaine the lesse Howbeit some later writers indeed do make the South and more Champion to be called Great Britaine and the North and more Mountanous Britaine the lesse whose Inhabitants were Anciently distinguished into Majatae Why the Romans were not greedy to conquer Scotland and Caledonii and now by the Scots are into High-land-men and Low-land-men but the Northern Clime being more piercing for the Romans constitutions and lesse profitable and fruitful they set their bounds not farre from Edenburgh and altogether neglected the other parts of Scotland more North-wards The division of Brittaine by the Romans The nearer part of Brittaine they sub-divided into two parts for the more Southern tract together with VVales Dio termeth the higher and that more North-ward the lower as by the seats of their Legions may appeare For the second Legion call'd Augusta which kept at Caerleon in South-wales and the twentieth called Victrix which remained as some say at Chester he placeth in the higher Brittaine Caerleon in Monmouthshire but the sixth Legion named also Victrix resident at York served as he writeth in lower Brittaine which division as seemeth was made by Severus the Emperor who having vanquished Albinus General of the Brittaines and reduced their state under his Obedience divided the Government thereof into two Provinces and placed two Prefects over them Another division of Brittaine After this again the Romans did proportion Brittaine into three parts whose limits our great Antiquary assigneth by the Archiopiscopal seats grounding his conjecture on the saying of Pope Lucius who affirmeth that the Ecclesiasticall Jurisdictions of the Christians accorded with the precincts of the Roman Magistrates and that
4122. Authors write very sparingly of the Acts of this King only all agree that during the time of his Reign which continued for the space of Forty years a time too long for any Tyrant he ruled insolently with Oppression and Tyranny Vindex nocentes sequitur a tergo Deus for being at his sports of Hunting he was slain and torn to pieces by Wolves and other savage Beasts leaving two Sons Mempricius and Manlius Jac bus Gordonus Scotus Fol 9. This King being Grandchild to Brute the Trojan I think it not amiss to give my Reader some satisfaction concerning Old Troy Si 300 annis stetit Regnum Trojanum caepisse oportet ante 4 annos in Dardano 1. Rege 2520. sed Dardani regnum rectius sub finem Ducatus Moysis ab hoc anno 2524. exortum putatur Nam a Dardano ad Ilii excidium sunt anni 296. Contigit igitur Ilii casus anno nostro 2820. sic enim peritiores numerant hos reges Dardanus regnavit annis 65. Erichtanus 46. Tros 40. Ilus 49. Laomedon 44. Priamus 52. Ex quibus colliguntur anni illi 296. hunc Regum Catologum ad suas neomenias reducit Scaliger lib. 2. Can. sub finem nostris annis probe consentit As for the Destruction of Troy what Homer the Greek and Virgil the Prince of Latine Poets have written I pass by as being Poetical fictions each striving to advance the glory of his own Nation But Gordon in the same Folio tells us Circae haec tempora praesertini sub Ducatu Judicis Aod ponitur Tros Dardaniae Rex tertius quem sequuti sunt alii Hic Tros à quo Trojani belium intulit Tantalo regi Phrygiae ob raptum Ganymedem and for this Gordon cites Eusebius 99. cap. 8. and so proceeds Juxta regum Catologum anno 2524. notatum sequitur hunc annum 5. quo regnavit Tros quod recte consentet tum cum Ilii excidio tum cum chronologia inter hunc Troem Tantalum ac denique cum anno quo Pelopidae Mycenis soli regnaverunt pulsis Heraclidis à Trois autem morte usque ad Atreum Tantali ex Penelope nepotem vix sunt anni 71. juxta regum annos notatos Dardania quidem anno Orbis 2524. Mycaenarum 99. c. 8. Consurgunt quoque anni tantum 20. ab obitu Trois usque ad mortem Acrisii caesi à Perseo nepote quando caepit Mycenarum regnum nec ab his alienus est Tatianus qui Pelopei è Phrygia exitum refert ad Acrisii tempora De Trojano Excidio Si quod supra indicavi condita Troja est anno Orbis 2524. Gordon fol. 11. inquem incidit initium Ducatus Josue Cum steterit Ilium annis 296. ut probatissimi Autores magno fere consensu testantur necesse est excidium hoc incidisle in annum 2820 ab orbe condito recte sunt enim sic ab eversa Troit ad primam Olympiadem anni 407. quod intervallum doctissimi quique probarunt Scaliger lib. 5. de Emen pro hac suae ac vera sententia veteres citat Ephorum Calisthenem Damascen Sane tabula Eratosthenis quam habet cap. 18. an Appen idem perspicue refert Hanc tabulam laudat sequitur Dionysius Halic Idemque intervallum ex Diodoro colligit citatus Scaliger ab hoc autem excidio ad Palilia anni consurgunt 432. hunc numerum saepe repetit Dionysius Halicar quem Glareanus alii libenter sequuntur c. MEMPRICIVS MEmpricius the Eldest Son of Madan his Father being dead by right of Inheritance was Crowned with the Royal Diadem of Brittaine about the Year of the worlds Creation 4142. but long he enjoyed not his Soveraignty without Troubles and Opposition for Manlius his younger brother a man of an Ambitious spirit Haughty and aspiring to Royal dignity would not content himself with any Titles of Honour under the degree of a King and therefore to bring this his Designe to his wisht for Period he resolves either to subdue or to expell his brother and to this purpose he insinuates himself into the bosomes of the Nobles casts Aspersions upon his brother Detracts and Malignes all his Actions and so farre prevailes that Rebellion is rais'd and an unnatural Warre taken in hand which was eagerly prosecuted on each part and continued a long time at length both Nobles and Commons finding Bellum minime bellum and perceiving these intestine broyles to wast their Country and threaten an utter Ruine incline to peace no fitter way can be thought upon then an attonement and reconciliation between the brothers and therefore a day of meeting is appointed and great hopes conceived of a final peace and Concord but Mempricius having now got his brother under the fair pretence of becoming friends into his power to avoid all Jealousies and Fears of future deceit and Treachery becomes a Traytor himselfe and by Treason caused his own brother to be slain making that saying of the Poet good Rara est concordia fratrunt This perfidious and tragical scene performed Mempricius his brother Manlius being taken away enjoyes as he conceives a happy peace this peace makes him forgetful both of his person and Honour and now fearing nothing he contemns even the Deity and precipitates not only himself but his subjects also into Sloth Idlenesse and Treachery and when the Gate is set open and free scope given to sin though nemo repente fit pessimus yet those who forsake Grace and Abandon themselves over to unlawful lusts and pleasures fall from one sin to another till they arrive at last at the very Jawes of Hell so fares it with Mempricius his Wife or Wives give him not content the fairest and choicest beauties must be his Concubines and these as many as his own wandering fancy shall think fit in these horrid sins he wallowes with all sensuality I know some of Epicurus his Scholars or rather Atheists will excuse Mempricius for this his Platonick as it is now commonly stiled love and tell you that whatsoever is natural is no sin and out of this deduce a most damnable consequence or conclusion which chast ears abhor to hear but this natural act as it is called â—â—â—fied not Mempricius he falls to that which is most unnatural the sin of Sodomy with wild and brutish Creatures and by this means becomes hateful both to God and Man but not without just punishment from Heaven for intending to disport hemself in hunting becomes a prey to wild beasts and by them is torn to pieces after he had enjoyed the Kingdome twenty years leaving to succeed him in his Throne a son by his lawful wife called Ebrank Mempricius his Reign is observed by those who write of him to have been Tyrannical Plutarch though a Panim saith De sera numinis vindicta that God doth serve himself of wicked Tyrants as of Hangmen to execute his justice upon others no lesse or more wicked then they and that as poysons are sometimes
Brittania as we may partly see in what is already declared of York which work finished he proceeded to a second Erection and laid the foundation of Alcuid or Alcluid in Albania now Scotland which Hector Boetius M. B. f. 336. 6. the Scotch Historian in honour of his Country imagines to be Dunbritta n but another Author to whom I give more credit saith And the old Flamens City Alcluid or Alclucht was also founded by the same King viz. Ebranck of Brittain There is a question where this City for certain was but all agree near the wall of division and so the priviledges and power thereof must probably extend on both sides of that division The City Caerlile or Lugugablia was a place of this prerogative builded by Leil the seventh in number of the Brittish Kings and out of doubt had power and prerogative in both sides of the wall both in Leogria and Albania having as our Antiquaries say and experience yet proveth in it part of that famous Wall of Separation habet haec urbs aliquam partem illius muri famosi qui transcindit Northumbriam Ranulphus Higedon and others placeth an old City Vrbs Beble Vrbs Regia a Regal City upon the River of Twyde super ripam Twydi which divideth England and Scotland and if it was a Flamen or Bishops See as the ancient glory of it perswadeth to think the jurisdiction of it must needs extend into Albania The third notable place which this Ebranck founded was the Castle of Maidens which standeth at the one end of the City of Edenbrough a Castle by the Scots thought so impregnable that the grand Seignior himself with all his numerous Armies could not be able to surprize it but the valour and courage of the English in these late wars maugre all their Scotch juglings and sanctity made them know the contrary who now have it in their possession as a curb to check that Nation This Castle of Maidens or rather Edenborough it self was also an ancient Flamins City and Residence and after Converted into an Episcopall See Ebrancus not yet content with such Edifices as he had already erected layeth a fourth Foundation and called it Bamburgh but whether this was the place which we now call Bambury Burgh and Bury in their several Languages signifying the same thing I will not decide if it were Mr. Cambden saith Hic Banburie quondam Bananbyniz primum perfundit ad quod Kinricus visisaxo Britannos pro aris focis fortiter Dimicantes memorabili praelio olim fudit superiori saeculo Ricardus Nevill comes Warwicensis dum à Lancastrensibus partibus staret Eboracenses profligavit ut statim etiam ipsum Edwardum 4. consilii innopem caeperit abduxerit Nunc autem conficiendo Caseum notissimum Here Kinricus the Visisaxon in a most memorable battle overthrew the Brittains most valiantly fighting for their lives liberties and Religion and in later times Richard Nevill Earl of Warwick being for the Lancastrian party so vanquished King Edward the Fourth that ignorant which way to turn himself he took him and carried him away the place is now famous for excellent Cheese c. To end his dayes with famous glory this heroick King laid the Foundation of that long continued and learned University now called Oxford which was first known by the name of Caer Mennix and after Bellesitum a name most fit for so pleasant a place and after Caer Bossa Rhydohen in conclusion Oxenford of a certain Ford called Isis in English Ouse Howe 's fol. 9. and so instead of Ouseford Oxenford or Oxford upon which word a Student there to prefer his own University before Cambridge for Antiquity Quibles thus the Ox went over the Ford and then Camebridge Others call it Caer Mennip Galfridus calls it Caer pen huelgoit Leland from the Antiquities of Dover writeth that it was a City before the time of K. Arviragus that builded the Castle adjoyning and nameth it a most renowned city and that King Lucius builded a Church in the said Castle Referunt idem Annales Lucium regem Britannorum c. Whosoever desireth a further and more large satisfaction concerning the erecting of the several Colledges Churches Monasteries Halls and Schools let him peruse Mr. Cambden in Oxfordshire Ebranck after he had reigned Forty years and builded so many goodly Cities departed out of this life whose Corps were buried or burned at York his Obsequies being celebrated with great solemnity and left to succeed him in his Kingdome his Son Brutus the second sirnamed Green shileld BRVTE GREEN-SHIELD BRute the Second eldest Son of Evranck succeeded in the Kingdome and for that his Father had received a repulse as some write at the hand of Brunchildis Lord of Henalt Hanolt or Hannonia which lyeth on the East of Flanders 60 miles long and 48 broad containing 950 Villages and 24 Towns besides Castles The chief are Banais supposed to stand in the same place where the ancient Belgium was built Mons Condè Valencennes c. he in revenge thereof Invaded Henalt with a great Army in the Fens and Marsh land at the mouth of the River Scaldis in old time called Stadus and encamped himself upon the River Hania where between Brutus and Brunchildis was fought a fierce and bloody battel in that place which to this day is called Estambruges of the station and Camp of Brutus as Jacobus Lessabeus writeth in his description of Henalt This Brute of his lusty courage was sirnamed Greenshield he reign'd twelve years and was buried at Caer Ebranck or York LEIL LEillus or Leill Son of Brute the second commonly called Green-shield began his Reign over the Kingdome of Great Brittaine in the year of the worlds Creation Four thousand two Hundred fifty four he was a just man and one who highly esteemed Justice and Dignity and imitating the worthiest of his Predecessors in erecting ornaments for his Kingdome he laid the foundation and in time fully built the City of Carliele The Romans and Brittains had several appellations for this place sometimes calling it Lugu-vallum and Lugu-ballium and sometimes Lugu-baliam and Caerliel The Saxons after they had possest themselves of this Island called it Luell as St. Bede affirmeth Ptolomeus as some seem to affirm called it Leucopibiam and Nennius caer Lualid the old Prophesies of the Brittains which Mr. Cambden calls ridicula Britannorum vaticinia indeed he never was Friend to the Brittains and Welsh Vrbem Duballi at this day well known it is by the name of Caerlile and by the Latines Caeliolum Lugum or Lucum priscis Celtis who spake the same language with the Brittains as Mr. Cambden imagineth and but imagineth Pomponius Mela tells us it signified a Tower or Fortification and Caerlile or Lugu vallum is as much as to say Turris or munimentum ad vallum certain it is that this City flourished and was in high esteem with the Romans as may appear by several Monuments of great Antiquity which have
and ten poor people with a Collegiat Church a Dean twelve Canons Prebendaries as many Vicars sufficiently provided for with Revenues wherein himself lyeth buried and it was the greatest ornament of that City untill the hand of King Henry the eight lay over heavy upon all the like foundations and laid their lofty tops at his own feet In this City also was buried another Crouch-back viz. Richard the third in the Church of the Gray-Friers but now nothing remains of his Monument but only the stone chest wherein he was laid a drinking Trough now for horses in a common Inne This place hath given the Titles of honour to many Honourable Families year 1057 1057. 1. Algar the Saxon. year 1103 1103. 2. Edwin died 1071. 3. Robert de Bellamonte Gules a cinquefoyle Ermine 4. Robert de Bellamont 5. Robert de Bellamont L. Steward 6. Robert de Bellamont L. high Steward 7. Simon de Montfort married Amicia sister and coheir to the last Earl Robert L. high Steward 8. Simon de Montfort L. high Steward Gules a Lion rampant his tail double forked salteir wise Argent 9. Edmond Earl of Lancaster L. high Steward 10. Tho. Earl of Lancaster L. high Steward 11. Hen. D. of Lancaster L. high Steward 12. Henry D. of Lancaster L. high Steward England a Label of 5. points Ermine 13. William of Bavaria Earl of Heinalt married the Lady Maud of Lancaster Bendis losengè Argent and Azure 14. John of Gaunt D. of Lancaster L. high steward Henry D. of Lancaster Lord high steward Quarterly France and England a Label of 3. points Ermine Robert Dudleigh Lord Denbigh c. Or a Lyon rampant his tail double forked Vert. Robert Sidney Viscount Lisle descended of a sister of the said Robert Robert Sidney Earl of Leicester Or a Phaon Azure CORDEILLA THis Heroine Lady after just revenge taken upon her two sisters husbands and her fathers and husbands death by the consent of most Writers by the joynt suffrages and votes of the Brittains was admitted to the Royal Scepter in the year from the worlds creation four thousand three hundred and ninety eight years she governed her people and subjects for the space of five years with great applause and general liking but the two sons of her sisters Morgan of Albania and Cunedagius of Cambria and Cornwal envying her prosperity and thinking themselves injured in their birth-right their grandfather Leir having divided the kingdom equally betwixt their Mothers upon their Marriages conspire together and mustering their forces invade Cordeilla and reduce her to that necessity that she is taken prisoner and by her merciless Nephews cast into Gaol which she patiently a while endured but perceiving no hopes to regain her freedom or repossess her kingdom scorning to be any longer a slave to her insulting enemies seeing she could not free her body from bondage with true Trojan and masculine Heroick Spirit she makes a divorce between her purer soul and encaged carcass giving it free power to pass into another world leaving those parts which participated of drossie mold to be interred again in the earth from whence at first it came at Leicester in the Temple of Janus by the Sepulchre of her father Cunedagius and Morgan THe obstacle which hindered the designs of these two aspiring Princes Cordeilla the gallant Brittish Amazon and Virago being by violent death perpetrated by her own hand taken out of the way divide the kingdom betwixt them and became both kings in the year of the world four thousand four hundred and three but this gallantry lasted not long for the Court-Gnats whose life is a perpetual buzzing of news and flatteries fall upon the ear of Morgan and so fill his head with projects that he highly conceives he is injured by the equal dividing of the kingdom and thus discourses with himself And am not I the son of Gonorilla and she the eldest daughter of my Grand-father to me then as lawfull Heir Brittains Crown belongs Why then do I admit a corrival competitor and co-equal one firmament admits not two Suns nor one kingdom two kings no reason I should lose my birth-right no I am resolved I will not Cunedagius shall know that Morgan can rule the Brittains without his help this fire once kindled his flattering parasites bring fewel enough to augment it Cunedagius must bear rule no longer a private life or none at all must content him it is no small policy for Princes to have Spies in neighbouring Courts Cunedagius is quickly enformed of all the passages of his Cozen Morgan and thinks there is no security in delays and therefore puts himself into a posture as well to offend as defend yet to make his case the better and to ingratiate himself with the subjects he sends Messengers to Morgan who is already firing and destroying his Territories to Treat of a reconciliation and atonement but Morgan puft up with his imagined good success and thinking the offer of his kinsman to proceed either from fear or want of ability to resist him lends a deaf ear to the Treaty of peace and will have no other Arbitrator but the sword Cunedagius now resolved comes into the field and offers battell to his enemy his cause being just the Celestial powers seem to second his attempts and he who would have all or nothing is put to flight where the Conqueror makes use of his advantage and taking occasion by the foretop to prevent all hopes of recruiting and rallying again so hotly pursues his victory that Morgan is chased from place to place from Province to Province till being beaten into Cambria now Wales a Territory belonging to his Mortal Foe and there being most sharply put to it lost his life yet with this honour that that Country ever since from him hath had the appellation of Glanmorgan which is as much as to say in the vulgar tongue Morgans Land and thus after two years joyntlie reigning with his kinsman Morgan departed this life leaving Cunedagius to rule alone Cunedagius to shew an humble thankfulness to his Gods for so great a Victory having fully setled his Kingdom erects a stately Temple to Mars at Perth which is now St. Johns town in Albania now abusively called Scotland then a part of Brittannia and inhabited by the Brittish Nation We finde saith my Author in several Authors and Antiquaries to speak in their words that 800. years before the coming of Christ Cunedagius King of all Brittain Mr. Broughton fol. 336. 6. builded a Temple of Mars at Perth that is now St. Johns town in Scotland and placed there a Flamen Therefore we may not singularly deny unto this old city a Flamens Seat which Antiquaries generally grant unto all such in this time to have been changed into a Bishops See If any one ask what I have to do with Scotland my Scene being only the Brittish History I answer that to the great glory of the Brittains that which is now called Scotland was formerly
Sermone vis infinita est Brittanicarum aictionum atque vetus cultus Hibernorum ut ait Cornelius Tacitus non multum differt à Brittanico Denique à Scriptoribus antiquis omnibus Insula ea Brittanica nominatur praefertius cum Romani suum imperium undique propagassent multi proculdubio ex Hispanis Gallia Brittannia se receperunt in Hiberniam ne potentiae Romanae subjicerentur quae res fecit Julium Agricolam persuadere Romanis capere Hiberniam si Britannos in officio continere vellent Attamen Hibernia licet ipso situ fuerit Imperio Romano summè necessaria ejusque aditus Portus per commercia cognita Romanis Julius Agricola quendam Hibernum Regulum seditionis expulsum retinuerit ad occasionem capiendae Insulae nunquam tamen à Romanis in ditionem accepta fuit If it be true which the Irish Writers affirm their Island may justly be called Ogygia that is very ancient for they aver Cesara to have there inhabited before the Deluge and the History of Brittany avoucheth that Hiberus and Hermio two Spaniards many ages after by the appointment of Gurguint King of Great Brittaine inhabited it with their Colonies and Planters I will neither say it nor gain-say it quoth Cambden but certainly it is very probable that Ireland was very anciently Inhabited when mankind was dispersed and spread abroad over the face of the whole earth and manifest it is the first Inhabitants to have come thither out of Brittannia for in the Irish Speech there are a multitude of Brittish words and accents and as Cornelius Tacitus tells us the mode of the Irish differs not much from the Brittains And for a Conclusion of this Discourse by the most ancient Writers that Island is called Brittanica or Brittish and evident it is that when the Roman valour and glory had conquered and spread it self almost throughout the whole known world divers as well out of Spain as France and Britttain fled thither for shelter not willing to submit their necks and shoulders under the Roman yoke which was indeed the very cause that moved Julius Agicola to perswade the Romans to get Possession of Ireland if they ever meant to keep the Brittains in s bjection And although that Iland was of great consequence and necessary to the Romans neither were their Ports and Haven by reason of the constant and dayly Commerce and Trafick to them unknown And Julius Agricola having got a certain Irish petty King into his clutches driven by sedition from his native soyl intended to make him his decoy to seize and fasten upon the Irish jurisdictions yet for all these stratagems Ireland never came under the Roman slavery or obedience Gurguint being hitherto victorious and fortunate returns home having his head enriched with Laurels of choicest honour and renown being a Prince of singular prudence and justice and having laid the Sword aside he applies himself to build Cities and Towns for the great beauty of his Kingdome The first place which he erected was as saith Howes citing J. Rouse Caierwerith that is Lancaster of which place the Learned Cambden speaking Lancaster built by Gurguim hath these words ' Vbi sub Britanniarum duce ut est in Notitia Provinciarum numerus Longovicariorum qui è loco suum nomen sunt mutuati stationem habuit Whereas we find in the notice of Provinces a company of the Longovicarians under the Lieutenant General of Brittain lay which took their name from the place that is from the River Lon which gave name also to Loncaster and Longovicum this is onely a Market town at this day the ancient Town stood where after was a Cloyster at the foot of the hill are fragments of old walls and oft-times Roman Coyns are found but above all there are the ruins of a very antique structure which is called Werywall Recentiori ut videtur hujus oppidi nomine Hoc enim oppidum saith Mr. Cambden ilii Caerwerid i. e. Vrbem viridem dixerunt à viridanti forsitan illo colle This Town the Brittains called Caerwerid that is to say the Green town perchance taking its Name from the Green hill which is there The first time this place became an Earldome was when K. Hen. 3. conferred that Title on his second Son Edm. and it was destinate to greatnesse in the first Foundation there being laid unto it at the very first besides this County the whole confiscated Estates of the Earls of Leicester and Derby and the Barony of Monmouth And into this by Marriages accrued in time the great Estates of William de Fortibus Earl of Aumerl and Lord of Holderness Beauford and other goodly Lands in France the Earldom of Lincoln and good part of that of Salisbury the Lordships of Ogncare and Kidwelly in Wales which were once the Chaworths John of Gaunt added thereunto the Castles and Honors of Hertford and Tickhill and his Son Bullingbroke a moiety of the Lands of Bohun being Earl of Hertford Essex and Northampton so that it was the greatest Patrimony as I verily think of any Subject Prince in Christendome Lancaster finally was made a County Palatine by King Ed. the 3. and hath been honoured with these Dukes and Earles of Lancaster Edmund Plantagenet 2. Son to K. Hen. 3. E. of Lan. Thomas Plantagenet Henry Plantagenet Henry Plantagenet first D. of Lan. John of Gaunt Son to K. Ed. 3. married the Lady Blanch Daughter of Henry D. of Lan. Henry of Bullinbroke Son of John of Gaunt after King of England by whom this County Palatine and all the Lands and Honors belonging and incorporate into the Dutchy of Lancaster were brought unto the Crown of England though governed as an Estate apart then by its proper Officers as it continued till the time of K. Ed. 4. who did appropriate it to the Crown and dissolved the former Government thereof to which it was restored again by K. Hen. 7. and so still remaineth under the guidance of Chancellor and other Officers of the same The next Town which Gurgunstus as Howes calls him built was Porchester in Hampshire of which place Cambden speaking of those parts saith In cujus interiori recessu olim floruit Port Peris ad quem Vespasianum appulisse nostri produnt Saxones novo Nomine Portchester dixerunt non à Porta Saxone sed à portu Ptolomaeo enim 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. portus magnus vocatur castrumque sanc amplum superest quod in subjectum portum longe lateque prospectat where in times past Port Peris flourished where in succeeding Ages our Writers affirm Porchester built by Garguint Vespasian when he came into Brittain first landed the Saxons changed the Name into Portchester but not deriving it from Porta the Saxon Chieftain but from Port i. e. Haven or Harbour in which sense Ptolomy useth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the great Harbour or Port this by the ancient Brittains was called Caer Peris and was one of the eight and twenty Sees
This is one of the chiefest things that they labour most to beat into mens minds that their Souls die not but do after death pass from one to another and hereby they think men should be most stirred unto vertue when fear of death is nothing regarded Also they dispute many other things as of the stars of their movings of the bignesse of the world and the earth of the nature of things of the strength and power of the immortal Gods and do therein instruct their youth Thus we have heard what those Druids and their Followers were Now let us a little examine their cause by their own Writers and their own proceedings for to write at large of their most grosse and inhumane absurdities would require a Volume from me as the like had done of other Writers against such Pagan Gentils their superstitions whereas all Creatures cry out unto us especially the more noble as the Celestial bodies in searching whose natures and effects these men were most conversant that there is an eternal and omnipotent Maker and Causer which created all things who being without beginning or ending was made or caused by no other Coeli enarrant gloriam Dei opera manuum ejus anunciat firmamentum Mr. Br. f. 244. And divine worship is onely due unto him for his Almighty Excellency and the benefit which man a reasonable Creature received and further expecteth and needeth to receive from him which we commonly call Religion a Releiging Religation or dutiful binding of man informed with a reasonable intellectual and immortal Soul ordained as it were the Lieutenant and Viceroy of God to govern this inferior world and by his better eternal part assured that better and eternal things are ordained for him if he doth not deprive himself of them but find out and perform the Will and Commandment of so infinite good and bountiful a Creator Preserver and Maintainer of all things especially for the use and end of Man so dignified and exalted among his Creatures which these Druids and their Disciples were so far from effecting that they gave him no honour at all never remembring him among those that they worshipped but doing the greatest dishonour they could unto him in giving that glory and majesty which is only proper and due to him to his rebellious Creatures and professed Enemies damned and infernal souls hundreds of thousands before them and divers of these by probable Historical accounts of later Time and Creation then the Author of their own Sect Druius was And if we will follow Julius Cesar who of all writeth most of their pretended Religion living in the time of their chiefest Sway and best knew what they professed he writeth of the Germans that they differed much from the French and their Druids in their Religion having no sacrifices and only accounting for their gods whom they see and by whom they are manifestly helped as the Sun the Moon and such visible things and heard not of any God Germani multum à Gallorum consuetudine differunt Neque sacrificiis student deorum numero eos solos ducunt quos ceruunt quorum aperte opibus juvantur Solem Vulcanum Lunam yet the German Writers are so confident that the Druids ruled there in Religion that they shew unto this day in Germany as far as Bavaria two especiall places where they were wont to assemble under great Oaks to exercise their superstitions and in detestation thereof two Monasteries called Oberaltaich and Nederaltaich were founded to blot out their Memory Pont. de viris Illust Ger. part 1. p. 40 41. In Bavaria quoque inferiore sub quercu magna superiore inferiore suam superstitionem exercebant quae loca postea in Monasteria conversa etiamnum Oberaltaich Neberaltaich appellantur Therefore these could not be Professors and Teachers of the true God his Worship and Religion which for divers People and Countries and for themselves also had such variety and change of gods and Religion in divers times and places and yet all of them professing most grosse and stupid ignorance or woeful Idolatry the greatest irreligion that can be And as they thus proved themselves to be Atheists leaving no possible true God to be worshipped so by their error of transmigration of souls from one body to another they fell into one of these absurdities that one soul should in the end inform many even hundreds of bodies or else cease at the last to inform cease to be and made mortal And as Chimerical a fiction it was of them to say as Lucan expoundeth them that when a soul left a body in this world it went into another world and there informed another body Vobis Autoribus umbrae Non tacitas Erebi sedes Ditisque profundi Pallida Regna petunt Regit idem spiritus artus Orbe alio longe For so they must needs make more worlds where generation and corruption is besides this terrestrial and sublunary where we inhabit and therefore justly doth the same Author call their profession barbarous Rites a false manner of worship and singular against all the world besides Et vos barbaricos ritus moremque sinistrum Sacrorum Druidae positis repetistis ab armis Solis nosse Deos Coeli sydera vobis Aut solis nescire datum St. Gildas tells us that the monstrous Idols in Brittain were not inferior in number to those of Egypt commonly esteemed the most idolatrous Nation of the world and some of them with deformed lineaments remained to be seen in his time and the people of Brittain gave divine honour even to Mountains Hills and Rivers And yet besides these had Errors and Idolatries common with other Nations Non omittentes priscos communesque cum omnibus gentibus errores quibus ante adventum Christi in carne omne genus humanum obligabatur obstrictum nec enumerans patria portenta ipsa Diabolica pene numero Egyptiaca vincentia Gildas li. de Exid. Britt quorum nonnulla lineamentis adhuc deformibus intra vel extra deserta maenia solito more rigantia torvis vultibus intuemur neque nominatim inclamitant montes ipsos aut colles aut fluvios olim exitiales nunc vero humanis usibus utiles quibus divinus honor à coeco tunc populo cumulabatur The same have other later Writers and the sacrifices which they offered to those abominable idols were the most detestable and for such not unworthily ranked by the Pagan and Christian Writers amongst the most cruel and barbarous savages of the world Pro victimis homines immolant administrisque ad ea sacrificia Druidibus utuntur Publicéque ejusdem generis habent instituta sacrificia They offer men for Sacrifices Caesar lib. 6. belli Gallic and the Druids be the Ministers of such sacrifices and such sacrifices be instituted by publick Authority among them thus hath Caesar and others Cicero speaking of these Druids saith His quicquam Sanctum ac Religiosum videri potest qui etiamsi quando
aliquo metu adducti Deos placandos esse arbitrâ—â—tur humanis hostiis eorum aras ac Templa funestant ut ne Religionem quidem colere possint nisi eam ipsam scelere violarint Quis enim ignorat eos usq ad hunc diem retinere illam immanem barbaram consuetudinem hominum immolandorum Quamobrem quali fide Cicero in Orai pro Marc. Fonteio quali pietate existimatis eos esse qui etiam Deos immortales arbitrentur hominum scelere sanguine facilè posse placari Can any thing be accounted holy and religious with those men who when they are afraid of any thing and would have their Gods pacified do prophane their Altars and Temples with sacrificed men so that they cannot exercise their Religion except they first violate it with wickednesse For who is ignorant that even to this day they retain that savage and barbarous custome of sacrificing Men Therefore can you think those men to have any Religion or Piety who think the immortal Gods may be easily appeased with the wickedness and blood of Men The like hath Dio Cassius Amianus Marcellinus and others among the Gentils all crying out against those most barbarous proceedings and yet termed with them Religion and to fill up the measure of this their most inhumane irreligion as Julius Caesar with others testifieth These men had Idols of huge greatnesse whose members being made of wands they filled full of men alive and so setting them on fire burned them Immani magnitudine simulachra habent quorum contexta viminibus membra vivis hominibus complent quibus succensis circumventi flamma exanimantur homines And Pliny with others is witnesse that they were so far from doing any homage or duty unto God that they bestowed all such upon the Divels his enemies and were so far and so long time in his dayes practised in Magick and Invocation and worshipping Divels that he supposeth the Persians so far distant and given over then to that most horrible dishonouring of God had learned it and received it from hence where the chief Masters and Practisers thereof remained These Druids permitted many wives to one man for Caesar saith Caesar bell Gall. li. 6. Vxores habent deni duodeni inter se communes maxime fratres cum fratribus parentes cum liberis the like hath Zonoras and in this Country the people went naked nudi degunt mulieribus promiscuè utuntur and this was accounted a vertue and an honour amongst them as Queen Bunduice did publickty professe in her prayer to her Goddesse Audraste or Audaste qui cum caeter ae omnia tum liberes uxores communes inter se putant they think wives and children and all things Common Thus much of the Druids their Antiquity and Institution with their abominable sacrifices and superstitions of whom as occasion shall serve we shall speak more hereafter Grantham built by Gorbomannus Gorbomanuus is reported to have Founded Grantham in Lincolnshire of which place Mr. Cambden maketh onely this mention post Paunton visitur Grantham oppidum non infrequens Schola à Richardo Foxo Wintoniensi Episcopo Templo specioso exornatum cujus sacrae Pyramis admirandam in altitudinem surgit fabulis est famigerata Grantham a Town well peopled and adorned with a free School built by Bishop Fox and a very fair Church whose Broach or Steeple is of such height that it is spoken of far and near The same Gorbomannus builded as the English Chronicle seems to affirm Cambridge anciently called Granta Cambridge supposed by some to have been built by Gorbomannus Caer Grant and Grantchester yet Mr. Broughton out of other Authors saith that Cambridge was Founded by Cantaber a Spaniard many hundred years before Christ and walled about by Grantinus Sintque Doctores Scholares illius celeberrimae matris Philosophiae civitatis Cantabrigiae â Cantabro aedificatae nec non à Grantino Comite honorabiliter muratae ab omni calumnia inquietatione scandalo liberi Let the Masters and Scholars of that famous Mother of Philosophy the City of Cambridge built by Cantaber and walled about by Count Grantinus be free from all Calumny molestation and disturbance whatsoever which divers Oxford Men and Antiquaries though no Friends to the glory of Cambridge yield unto But of this place more hereafter in the Lives of Lucius Morpen-dragon Arthur and Cadwalader ARCHIGALLO ARCHIGALLO the Son of Morindus after his Brother had Reigned by consent of most Writers the space of eleven years ascended the Throne of Brittain in the year of the worlds Creation four thousand nine hundred and ten This Prince in the English Chronicle is called Artogail who utterly forsaking the model of exact Government which his Brother had left behind him for him to follow he lent too facile an ear to flatterers and sycophants and where no just cause could be found faults were contrived and invented whereby to entrap the Nobles and new Plots discovered which never were thought upon but by the Contrivers whose Machiavillian brains hatch'd them for the destruction of the valiant and wealthy were they never so innocent a point of policy so palpably manifest in these latter dayes that the weakest judgement may see it but the greatest dare not gain-say it These state tricks pleased Archigallo the ancient Nobility are thrust out of all command and power in the Commonwealth Delinquency laid to their charge or at least a disaffection to the present Government and upon these pretences many are secured and more utterly ruined either being put to such an intolerable Composition for their Estates that they never after recâ—er the losse or else are utterly thrust out of them and new Upstarts put in whose Predecessor never knew how to write himself Gentleman nor ever bore Coat unlesse a thred-bare one in which peradventure he held an other mans Plough or used some poor and sordid mechanick Trade but by these sinister means Archigallo cram'd his Coffers and raised to dignities such as best suted with his disposition so that Beggars ride on horse back and Nobles go on foot And set a Beggar on horse-back and ride to the divel but too much of one thing is good for nothing and the poorest Worm trod upon will turn again The Nobles and Commons begin to grow sensible of their just sad Condition and heavy Taxes and Impositions after which followeth a general grudging and murmuring when presently dispair sends fury amongst them and furor arma ministrat the intolerable yoak will be no longer endured all joyn in an association to take revenge upon the common Enemy Archigallo whom they suddenly set upon and before he could provide means to defend himself he is unking'd and quite difrobed of all princely Command after he had worn the purple by consent of most Writers five years It concerns Princes and great Commanders to make choice of Counsellors who not only have the reputation of vertue and Religion but also that
neque magis à quo quamquae ad rem praesentem utiliter dicerentur attendebat etenim consilia sciebat non ex persona suggerentium sed sua vi esse ponderanda Idcirco viri conditione humilis opinionem sapenumero praeserebat sententiae viri nobilis ac illustris domi poenas male facientibus infligebat foris annonam omnia militibus necessaria procurabat aegros ac debiles corpore visebat nec eo contentus res quibus indigebant liberaliter suppeditabat extinctus morte cum annos regnasset septem Dinellus the son of Caporius a Prince excellently well seen in managing his Affairs for his love and affable carriage towards all men had in high esteem In his consultations his judgement reflected not upon the persons of men whether mean and born of low degree or sprung from noble and illustrious Families but alwaies in all debates he gave ear to such as spoak most to the purpose not regarding who the speaker was but what he spake for he rightly knew that matters were not to be ballanced after the quality condition of the Relator but according to the essence and truth of the thing which caused him often to prefer a mean mans opinion before a Courtiers or Nobles at home he caused condigne punishments to be inflicted upon malefactors and abroad he was very sedulous and careful to provide all things convenient and necessary for his Souldiers The infirm weak and sick he often visited not that alone but whatsoever they wanted he took order that it should be brought unto them after all which good deeds he left this world having Reigned seven years Howes and Fabian say but four HELY HELY Son of Dinellus governed the Brittains one or not fully one year Mr. Howes of this Prince the Isle of Ely took it Name saith Geffrey Hoc vero nomen saith Mr. Cambden Beda ab anguillis deduxit unde nonnulli Insulam anguillarum dixerunt Polidorus Virgilius à Greco 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod paludem denotat alii ab Helig Britannico quod salices significat quarum cum aliarum arborum sit impatiens est feracissima tum soli natura tum quod contra irrumpentium omnium impetus satae saepiusque caesa innumera haerede ut Pliniano verbo utar profuerunt ex quibus hic alibi corbes texuntur quas nunc Brittanni Baskes vocant The Name of Ely saith Mr. Cambden Beda deriveth from Eeles insomuch that some call it the Isle of Eeles Polidor Virgil will have it named from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth a Marrish or Fennish place others bring it from the Brittish word Helig which signifieth an Osier or Sallow which kind of twigs grow there in great abundance though otherwise the Isle is bare of Trees and Timber but these grow partly from the nature of the soil and partly are planted to stop and hinder the irruptions of the water and bring such a numerous encrease that they supply Tradesmen for the making of Baskets not only there but in the Countries round about This Isle hath in it a City of the same Name had in account for the repute and holinesse of Votary Nuns residing there built first by Audrey wife of Tombreta Prince in this Province who had in this place a part of her Dowry Anomus Maps in Camb. sh she having departed from her second Husband Egbert King of Northumberland by his leave and consent devoted her self to the service of God and built there a Monastery whereof she became the first Abbesse This in the Danish desolations was destroyed but soon after reedified by Ethelwold Bishop of Winchester who stored it with Monks unto whom King Edgar granted the jurisdiction over four hundred and a half within these Fens and the East Angle-limits which to this day are called the Liberties of St. Audrey After whose Examples the Nobles so enriched it with large Revenues that as Malmesbury saith The Abbot thereof laid up yearly into his own Coffers a thousand and four hundred pounds And of latter times the Monks thereof became so wealthy that their old decayed Church they renewed with new and stately Buildings which is now the Cathedral of the Diocesse and for beauty giveth place to no other in England Comes Pal. speaking of this Hely saith A quo splendor Imperii Brittannici coepit in orbe Romano per filios maximos belli duces apparere From whom the splendor and glory of the Brittish Empire through the Valour of its Martial Children began first to display its beam in the Roman Orb or Hemisphere Com. Palat. though others allow as Howes and Fabian but one year to his Reign saith Helius Regnum annis quadraginta gubernat tres filios generat Luddum Cassuellanum Nennium whose very names manifest a certain excellancy And he further saith that Giraldus affirms Pirrhi mansionem fuisse Castrum Manubri quod aetate sua fuerat adhuc turribus propugnaculis eximium ab occidente portum habebat extensum à Circio Borea sub ipsis maenibuss vivarium egregium tam sui venustate quam profunditate aquarum valde conspicuum LVD LVD the Son of K. Hely by right of Inheritance and general applause of all the Brittains is Crowned King of this Island The first Act worthy of Observation which he took in hand was to immure the City of Troynovant which he inclosed with strong Walls garnishing the same with many lofty and stately Towers which done he gives command to the Citizens to Erect their Structures and Edifices within the Compasse of the same the motion proceeding as it were out of an innate love and respect which he bore to that place in which he spent most of the time which he had spar'd from war-like Affairs and the publique Administation of justice In this City he built saith Com. Pal. Palatium egregtum a stately and sumptuous Pallace and on the West side thereof a strong defensible Gate of large bignesse and solid work which to this day is called Lud's Gate Trinovant being now beautified with most delicate and pleasing Buildings peopled and inhabited by rich wealthy Citizens began to shake hands with its old Name and bid it adieu resuming a new Nomenclation from its present Benefactor and Restaurator and begins to be better known by the Name of Luds Town then Trinobant now corruptly London then Troynovant This King Lud sirnamed Imanuentius was a Prince of a most heroick and warlike Spirit and remarkable for the Courtship which he used in inviting his Nobles and Chieftains to costly Feasts and Banquets but amongst all these Interludes and Princely Pastimes the provident King forgot not to root out such overgrown and inveterate Customes as he observed to be obnoxious to the Commonwealth and what by experience he found irregular he quite abrogated instituting new and commodious Laws and Edicts in their places and knowing that no Republick can be well governed without a due Observation of Religion and
the divine mystery of humane Redemption was accomplished by the birth of our Saviour Christ Jesus Augustus Caesar then possessing the Roman Empire which he afterwards left to Tiberius his Adopted Son a Wary and Politick Prince who following the advice and example of Augustus did never attempt any thing in Brittain nor maintain any Garrison there Howbeit the Brittains at that time were well affected to the Romans as appeared by the entertainment which their petty Princes gave to some Souldiers of the Roman Army in Germany who crossing the Seas were by force of weather cast upon the coast of Brittain and from thence in courteous manner sent back to Germanicus their General This Conobelin or Kimbelin was in Rome when the blessed Tidings of the Incarnation of the Son of God were declared through the world for Augustus after the death of Julius Caesar successor in the Empire as say our Antiquaries both ancient and late by the will of God had established most sure peace through the world our Redeemer Jesus Christ true God and Man was born in the 42 year of his Empire in the fifth year of the Reign of Cunobelin or Kimbelin in this Kingdome of the Brittains A little before which time by the great providence of God to make this our Brittain more timely and particularly partaker of such heavenly tidings before other Nations Augustus intending an expedition against this Kingdome Embassadours came from Brittain to Rome entreating for peace swearing fealty in the Temple of Mars offering gifts in the Capitol to the Gods of the Romans and submitting part of the Isle to Augustus Mr. Br. f. 1. â— they gave him for security so many great Nobles of this Land for Pledges and Hostages that all here were so quiet that one band of Souldiers and a few Horsemen were sufficient to keep the Isle in the Roman possession Now by such means the Romans did ever here secure themselves of the Brittains from their first invasion by Julius Caesar carrying away from hence and keeping at Rome for their glory honour and quiet not only many of our chief Nobility Men Women and Children but of the Regal race and blood and Kings themselves Among which we find that Androgius Son and Heir to King Lud lived and dyed there Cassibeline his Uncle who was subdued by Caesar gave Hostages and made this Kingdome Tributary to the Roman Empire Theomantius his Nephew and Successor in the Kingdome payed Tribute to the Romans which Cassibeline had granted and Reigned quietly And his Son Cunobeline King after him his Father was one of his Fathers Hostages in Rome and was Knighted there Adaminus Sonne of King Cunobeline was kept at Rome by Cajus thus much and much more Mr. Broughton that eminent Antiquary in his first and second Folio out of divers Authors by him there cited which I here for brevity omit Augustus Caesar the Emperour being urged by the Romans to be made a God after the Heathenish manner then or about the very time when Christ was born before he would consent unto it consulted with Sybilla Tiburtina then renowned for her Prophesies Sybillam Tiburtinam super hoc consuluit quae post trium dierum jejunium respondit in hunc modum Judicii in signum Tellus sudore madescet De coelo rex adveniet per secla futurus Quorum versuum capitales literae hunc reddebant sensum Jesus Christus Dei filius salvator Eo illico apertum est coelum nimius splendor irruit super eum vidit in coelo pulcherrimam virginem stantem super altare puerum tenentem in brachiis miratus est nimis vocem dicentem audivi Haec ara filii Dei est Qui statim projiciens in terram adoravit quam visionem Senatoribus retulit ipsi mirati sunt nimis After she had fasted three dayes Sybilla answered in these Achrostical known verses whose first letters make this sence Jesus Christ the Son of God our Saviour and presently the Heaven opened and an exceeding brightnesse fell down upon the Emperour and he saw in Heaven a most beautiful Virgin standing upon an Altar holding a Child in her Armes and he marvelled exceedingly and heard this voice saying This is the Altar of the Sonne of God whereupon presently prostrating himself upon the ground he adored which Vision he related to the Senators who marvelously wondered at it And this miraculous preaching of Christs birth so far off then at Rome was so much more publick and general that at or a little before this time the same Emperour as Suidas witnesseth Suidas in Augusto in their than greatest sacrifice was told by their Oracle that an Hebrew Child commanded the Gods as they termed them to silence whereupon Augustus ab oraculo reversus in Capitolio aram erexit Romanisque literis inscripsit Haec Ara est Primogeniti Dei Augustus returning from the Oracle erected an Altar in the Capitol and made this inscription upon it in Roman Letters This it the Altar of the first and only begotten Sonne of God our English Historians with others proceed to more such publick testimonies concerning Christ at Rome Jo. Herc. in Martin Polon Dedic to Q. Eliz. Martin Polon in Aug. alii Mr. B. Fol. 4. and at that very time hoc ipso die quo natus est Christus trans Tyberim fons olei emanavit ac per totum diem largissimo rivo fluxit tunc etiam circulus ad speciem caelestis arcus circa solem apparuit etiam statim ut virgo peperit illa statua aurea corruit in Romuliano Palatio quam Romulus posuerat dicens Non cadet donec virgo pariat The very day on which Christ was born beyond Tiber at Rome a fountaine of oyl flowed and ran with a most large stream all the day The circle like to a heavenly bow appeared about the Sun also presently so soon as the Virgin brought forth her Son the Golden Statue in the Palace of Romulus fell down which Romulus placed there above 700 years before saying it shall not fall untill a Virgin be brought to bed of a Child Upon these and other such motives this Emperour was so fully perswaded of the Messias then born that he highly reverenced all testimonies thereof the Prophesies of the Sybills which are so clear for almost all Mysteries of Christ as his Nativity Life Passion Resurrection Ascention with the rest as if they had been present witnesses rather then Prophets or Evangelists of those things Suetonius in Augusto he so respected that as Suetonius a Pagan writeth Quidquid fatidicorum librorum Graeci Latinique generis nullis vel parum idoneis autoribus vulgo ferebatur supra duo millia contracta undique concremavit solos retinuit Sybellinos hos quoque dilectu habito condiditque duobus forulis auratis sub Palatini Apollinis basi he gathered together all books of South-sayers Greek and Latine and he burnt about two thousand whose Authors were either
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
9. Sect. 5. As concerning St. Peters preaching himself in Brittain the Theatre of Great Brittain saith If Peter were here at all it was before he went to Rome and that the Gospell was preached here before it was in Rome if Peter were the first as some hold who preached there both which may be more probable if we consider the huge multitudes of Christians 1500 saith Baronius which dispersed themselves into all parts of the world upon the Martyring of St. Stephen at Hierusalem Baron Annal. Tom. 1. an Chr. 58. p. 597. Metaphr die 29 Jul. And Baronius himself speaketh in this manner When we knew that the rest of the Apoples were not sent into the West as into the Eastern parts of the world except only Barnabas who a short time taught the Ligurians or James if we shall consent to them who deliver that quickly to return from thence he went into Spain it manifestly appeareth that none of the others were sent into the West part of the world Therefore it was the Office of Peter who having travelled very many provinces of the East in preaching the Gospel now which was left to doe he should compasse the Western world and as Metaphrastes and others witnesse penetrate to the Brittains preaching the Faith of Christ Where he maketh it a certain known truth and manifestly apparent in Histories That none of the twelve Apostles but only St. Peter preached the Word of God in Brittain And among others he citeth Metaphrastes for that manifest Truth and when he had alledged divers and approved Authors for Christs appearing unto St. Peter and sending him into the West part of the World he addeth Metaphrastes consenting unto these writeth thus Our Lord appeared unto St. Peter in a Vision Baron Anueal Tom. 1. in Indice v. Petrus Theater of great Brit. l. 6. saying O Peter arise and go to the West for it hath need to be lighted by thy links and I will be with thee And he saith plainly for his own opinion Peter admonished by our Lord so to do came into the West and setteth down the time of his coming hither into Brittain in the time of Claudius the Emperor But to come to things certain and undoubted in this History of St. Peters living and teaching in this I le it is an Historical Verity out of Question that he was here both in the time of Claudius and Nero also his being here in the time of Claudius what time soever it was of his Empire must needs be long before St. Paul St. Joseph of Arimathea or any other that is thought to have preached here or came into these parts to which I add the Testimony of Gildas our most ancient and renowned Historian who in his Book De excidio Brittanniae of the Destruction of Brittain Gildas Epist de excid Brit. thus writeth So that this Iland might rather be deemed Romania then Brittania and whatsoever coyn it had either brass silver or gold it was stamped with the Image of the Roman Emperor in the mean time while these things were doing Christ who is the true Sun not onely from the temporal Firmament but from the high Tower of Heaven exceeding all times shewing his exceeding brightnesse to the whole world doth first afford his beams to wit his precepts to this Iland stiffe with frozen cold by a long distance of Land removed from the visible Sun Therefore seeing this Nation did first receive the Faith of Christ it must needs be in the time of Claudius when first and never before this Iland was in that state Mr. Bron. fol 86. 3. And this is that very time which so many Antiquaries Sameon Metaph. Surius Luppomannus Cambden Audrie Chesne and others agree upon that St. Peter preached in this Kingdom To which St. Paul himself by his Epistle written to the Romans at that time and amongst so many Christians in Rome then which he remembreth and never once saluting either St. Paul St. Aristobulus who some Authors say died here and by Martyrdome at Glastenbury Arnoldus Mermannus saith in the time of Domitian St. Clement Soph. Hier. li. de laboribus St. Petri Pauli Metap die 29. Junii Mr. Brough fol. 88. 4. or any one that is supposed to have been in these parts with St. Peter giveth no small allowance And St. Paul saluting the Family of Aristobulus in Rome and omitting him doth sufficiently insinuate that St. Peter had acquainted him with this his Western Voyage and taking St. Aristobulus with him or sending him hither before him for except Identity of Name both Sophronius and Metaphrastes deceive us St. Aristobulus brother to St. Barnabas was Father in law to St. Peter and so following him did likely at the coming of St. Peter to Rome remove his Family thither and left it there and he himself employed by St. Peter Probable that St. Peter was in Brittain or sent Disciples about the coming of Claudius hither Baron Tom. 1. ann in S. Petro. Auth. of the 3 conversions Math. West ann 49. Mich. Singel in Martyrio Dion Ariopac Clem. Rom. ep 1. Hist antiq Mos Eccles Cant. ad ciâ—c ann 49. Guliel Eiseng cent 1 dist 3. Math. West an 46. Eiseng sup in St. Mansuet Epist Gall. Arnold Mir. Therat Conc. gent. Cent. 1. Francis Bell. Cosmagr Tem. 1. in Touâ— Mr. Brou f. 89. Anton. Doniocharuz l. 2. de miss Cont. Cal. c. 30. Eiseng cent 1. fol. 56. Bed Mart. prid Cal. Jan. Pet. de Natale l. 2. c. 25. Anton. part 1. tit 6. c. 25. Sect. 3. Mart. in Chr. Vicol in Hagiol Vnâ—r Carth. in fascul temp Eiseng Cent. 1. Fran. Bell. Tom. 1. p. 202. l. 2. Godwyn Con. of Brittain c. 1. p. 6. and p. 5. and by him ordained Bishop of this our Brittain must needs be here or in his journey hither at that time Whether St. Peter was here in or about the beginning of the Empire of Claudius and his Invasion of this Nation in the Fourth year of his Reign as the common opinion of Antiquaries is I dere not absolutely determine though divers together with Baronius incline to that opinion and reasons be not wanting to give probability to it For if Pomponia Graecina the wife of Aulus Plautius the Emperors Lieut. in Brittain was converted here to the Faith of Christ this being before the persecution which they say Claudius raised against the Christians the 49. year of Christ Aulus Plantius then being returned to Rome together with his Wife and Company to triumph there therefore she could not be converted here by any which they say fled hither from Rome in the beginning of that persecution and they can find no other Christians here except St. Peter or some other sent by him which they do not expresse our late Writers to perform that holy Office Secondly whereas it is manifest that St. Peter after his coming to Rome changed the darknesse of the West into most bright splendour and was commanded to
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
was already gone before Then he planted Garisons upon the borders between Blota and Bodotria and disposed of his Footmen and Horsemen in the wintering places within the Province Thus after many Conflicts about the space of one hundred thirty six years from Julius Caesar's first entrance the utmost limits of Brittany and the Isles of the Orcades lying on the North side of it were by the Valour and Industry of Julius Agricola first discovered and made known to the Romans and the South part of the Isle in the fourth year of the Reign of Domitian being in the year of our Redemption 86 reduced into a full Province the Government whereof was particular to the Roman Emperours themselves and not at the disposition of the Senate This state of affairs here Agricola signified by letters without any amplifying terms to Domitian the Successour of Titus his brother in the Empire who after his manner with a chearful countenance and grieved heart received the news being inwardly pricked with anger and disdain to think that his late counterfeit triumph of Germany wherein a shew was made of slaves bought for mony attired like Captives of that Country was had in derision and justly scorned whereas now a true great victory so many thousand of Enemies being slain was currant in every mans mouth besides he esteemed it a most perilous point in a state that a private mans name should be exalted above the name of a Prince and he supposed that he had in vain suppressed the study of Oratory and all other publick Arts if he should in military Glory be excelled by another for matters of other kinds as he supposed might more easily be passed over but to be a good Commander of an Army was to be above a private estate that being a private estate peculiar to a Prince Domitian being tormented with these and the like conceits and musing much in his closet above which was commonly noted as a sign of some mischief in working thought it best for the present to cloak and dissemble his malice till the heat of Agricola's glory and the love of his Souldiers were somewhat abated for as yet Agricola remained in office wherefore he commanded that all the houours of Triumphal Ornaments the image Triumphal and what else was usually bestowed in lieu of triumph should in most ample and honourable terms be awarded him in the Senate and then sending a Successour he caused a brute to spread that the Province of Syria which was then void and specially reserved for men of great quality should be assigned to Agricola the common opinion was that Domitian sending one of his most secret trusty servants unto him sent with all the Commission for the Lieutenancie of Syria with private instructions that if Agoicola at the time of his coming should be still in Brittain then it should be delivered if otherwise it should be kept back and that the same man meeting Agricola as he crossed the Seas without speaking to him or delivering the message returned again unto Domitian whether this were true or fained upon a probable surmise as agreeable to the Princes disposition it could not be directly affirmed But in the mean season Agricola had yielded up the Province in good and peaceable estate unto Neus Trebellius or rather as some Authors report to Salustius Lucullus Agricola least his coming to Rome should have bin noted by reason of the multitude of people which would have gone out to see and meet him did warily cut off the occasion of that curtesie entring the City by night and by night as he was commanded came to the Palace where being admitted to the Princes presence and received with a short salutation and no further speech he sorted himself with other Gentlemen of his rank carrying himself ever after very temperately warily in all his actions as knowing the present state of those times the dangerous inclination of the Emperor himself who being as all other Princes are commonly more fearful and jealous of the good then the bad envyed in him those vertues that honourable reputation whereof himself was not capable yet as good deserts cannot be hide true worthinesse shining even in darknesse it self so the retired life which Agricola led did nothing diminish his glory but rather like water sprinkled on a burning fire encreased and continued the heat thereof Divers times was he accused in his absence which ministred to his ill-willers opportunity of working his disgrace and as often in absence was he acquitted the opinion only of his good deserts and no matter of crime giving occasion while such as highly commended him to the Emperor seeming his friends but indeed being the most pestilent kind of Enemies procured underhand his peril and ruine in the end Howbeit the ill successe of the Roman Armies in divers Provinces at that time serving as a foil to set out his Honourable Actions drew him perforce into glory and Domitian made pretences of his purpose to employ him thinking thereby to satisfie the people who then complained of the want of good Leaders But vertue that never continueth long time in prosperous Estate as being the common object of envy hastned the death of Agricola who as the constant fame went was made away by poison and that not without the Emperors knowledge and consent These things concerning Agricola's Government in Brittain I have set down particularly as they are reported by Cornelius Tacitus who writ the Story of his life which remaineth to the World as a perpetual Monument of the Doings of the one and the Writings of the other Salustius Lucullus succeeding Agricola left little Memory of himself by doing any thing here either for that no occasion was then offered to shew himself in action or else for that the Fame of so worthy a Predecessor blemished his Reputation for having held the Office but a short time he was by commandment of Domitian put to death for suffering certain Spears of a new fashion to be called by his own name About this time Arviragus a Brittain by birth and education did Govern as King part of the Isle of Brittain the Romans accounting it a point of policy to permit the Brittains sometimes to be ruled by Princes of their own Nation whose Aid and Counsel they might use upon occasions to the pacifying of Rebellion and the establishing of their own greatnesse For the common people whose affection doth oftentimes sway the Fortunes of Princes are much more easily brought under the Obedience of their own Countrymen then of Strangers The Succession of the Roman Emperors from Nerva Cocceius unto Honorius in whose time the Romans gave over the Government of the Isle of Brittain 13 NErva Cocceius reigned one year and four Months 14 Vlpius Trajanus a Spaniard 19 years and 6 months 15 Ælius Adrianus 20 years 16 Antoninus Pius 23 years 17 M. Aurel. Antoninus Philosophus 19 years L. Verus his Colleague in the Empire 18 Aurel Comodus the son of
into the province leaving his son Bassianus to take charge of the army which after the Emperors departure grew carelesse and dissolute wherewith the General seemed nothing displeased either for that he was by his own nature inclined to the worst or else for that he hoped thereby to win the Souldiers favour as a mean for his advancement to the Empire after his fathers death which he had oftentimes attempted by indirect practises most unnaturally to procure In the mean while the Calidonians notwithstanding the late contract understanding what disorders were in that Roman camp suddainly invaded it killing and taking booty which they shared with their Neighbours borderers of the province that had assisted them in in the enterprise Severus being greatly incensed therewith sent part of his army to pursue the Calidonians expresly commanding that they should be all put to the sword without respect of age or fex This sharp manner of proceeding did somewhat quaile the hope of the Northren Brittains who fled into remote parts of Calidonia and Severus having rather stayed then ended the troubles as intending to prosecute the war with more advantage spent some time in repairing and enlarging Adrians wall which he carried thwart the Island from sea to sea entrenching and fortifiing it with Bulwarks and square Towers in places most convenient to give warning one to another upon any suddain assault for defence of the borders Then being wearied with age sickness and travail York having his mind also much grieved with the disloyal and unnatural practises of his son Bassianus he withdrew himself to Eboracum a Colonie of the Romans being then the station of the sixt Legion called Victrix and afterwards growing to be one of the chief places of account among the Brigantes for these stations of the Roman Legions were commonly the seed plots of towns and cities both in this Isle and divers other parts of the Empire It was reported that in his passage thither a Moor with a Cypress Garland on his head did meat and salute him by the name of a God and at his entrance into the City he was by error of the Southsayer that guided him brought into the Temple of Bellona and that black beasts being appointed for Sacrifice did of themselves follow him to his pallace These things howsoever thew fell out accidentally yet they were interpreted as ominous in respect of the event and now Severus perceiving his death to approach called before him some of his Councellors and chief Captains unto whom he is said to have spoaken in this manner It is now above eighteen years since I was first declared Emperor by the army in Pannonia during which time with what care pain and travail I have weilded this vast body of the Empire my continual employment in wars both at home and abroad may witness sufficiently For at my first entrance I found the State encumbered every where and now I shall leave it peaceable even to the Brittains The future prosperity whereof must depend upon the mutuall agreement of my two Sons For neither multitude of men nor abundance of treasure are so available to defend and maintain Commonwealths as amity and unity between Governors For by concord we see that small things grow to greatness whereas by discord the greatest fall to ruine I must now leave to them my Successors the imperial Diadem that which Bassianus hath so long thirsted after though he know not yet whether it be a thing to be wished or feared as having not proved the difference betwixt a Prince and a private person But ambition mindes are carried blindfold they know not whether in desiring that which having once obtained they can neither keep without great care nor leave without extream peril such a thing is Soveraignty whose greatness is not contained in it self but consisteth for the most part in the opinion and dependeth on the dispositions of other men it is vertue only not glorious titles which makes men truly great My self at this present may serve for an example to shew upon what a weak foundation humane greatness is built I have seen all things though now it avail me nothing seeing I must pay my debt to nature and after all my exploytes in the East and West parts of the World I must dye as I may say out of the World in a strange Country if any Country may be termed strange to the Romans who have now by conquest made all Countries their own I exhort you therefore as you tender the welfare of the Roman Empire of your own selves of your posterity be true and faithfull to my sons as you have been to me assisting them with your Councel and perswading them to mutual concord as the main pillar to support both their Estates and your own When he had uttered these or the like speeches he turned a side and shortly after yielded up the Ghost Baron Tom. 2. Annal. an D. 105 Manusc Gal. lic c. 100. Ma. West an 206. Galf. Mon. Hist 4 Reg. Bâ—it l 5. c 2. R. vit Hist l. 4. Selden Analeâ— c. 7. Gal. Mont sup l. c. 3. Pro. Cata Reg. Brit. in Severa Magdebur Cent. 3 c. 16. Flo Wigorn. 198 220. Mat West an 205 206. Baronius with others confess that Severus was descended of most noble Parents Constat Severum fuisse majorum Claritudine nobilissimum and yet not able to describe his Auncestry doth sufficiently prove him a stranger to those Countries and their Historians and to make further manifestation herein although he was born in Africk about Tropolis so far from Brittain yet he married a Brittish Lady as divers of the same Authors and others testifie and had by her Basianus his Son after King of Brittain and Emperor also some say her name was Martia and the first wife of Severus and sister of Fulgentius the Brittain that warred against and slew Severus at York Fulgentius Matris Basiani Frater And this Brittish Lady could not be married to Severus after his coming into Brittain but long before where he then lived in the East parts of the World For in Brittain he lived but a short time by our Modern calculation in their Catalogue of the Kings of Brittain four years The Magdeburgians have the like account following Eusebius Florentius Wigorniensis maketh his aboad here but three years The Monck of Westminster scarcely alloweth him two years continuance here The like have others all agreeing he was old and feeble at his coming hither yet Bassianus his Son by our Brittish Lady was so old at his death that he succeeded him both in this Kingdom and the Empire who being Emperor but six or seven years was as Dio and others witnesse at his death going on his 29 â—h year of age Almost twenty years old when his Father first landed in Brittain Divin Caracalla The Brittains continuing in variance and contention about a Successor to Lucius King of this Kingdom Severus the Emperor came hither some say to quiet the
in their own proceedings and her children in like case of reproach with her Math. West alii supra Manusc Hist Eccles Winton Caius Hist Cantabr Acâ—ademiae p. 19. Therefore Constantius being against his will by power of Maximian separated from St. Helen his true wife and a Christian from that time ever in affection could not but be ever most ready and joyfull to be so quietly and honourably reconciled unto her again which is sufficiently insinuated by our Authors testifying that Constantius in all things granted to King Coel his commands requiring nothing of him for the Romans but their old Tribute which as our Antiquaries say was 1006. pounds only in money one of our Historians saith of this matter in this manner Harding c. 60. Of which Constance was glad of his entent And here aboad at prayer of the King Whereby he did sufficiently declare the great content and joy he had of this reconciliation to his wife St. Helen and her Father his Father in Law King Coel rather chusing and preferring during his life to make his aboad here as a Subject then now being chosen and designed Emperor to continue in any other Nation with that greatest temporal glory and command He retook Helen Daughter of the King to conjugal society Thus he signified this so long and much desired attonement Helenam Coeli Regis filiam in societatem Thori recepit which word RECEPIT that Constantius did at that time receive Helen again if we had no other argument or authority used by divers our ancient Antiquaries proveth that this was the reconciliation and not the first marriage of those noble persons And impossible it is that any of these Authors which speak of this union should take it for the first union in marriage for all of them acknowledge that Constantius died soon after this Reconciliation the Monck of Westminster sayeth within three years by Merianus within two years Math. West an 302. 305. Mari. Sc. anno 305. 306. by Martinus Polonus the same year The like have others by which account and confession Constantine should be either unborn or not above two years old at the most when he was King of Brittain and Emperor also after his Fathers death Shortly after this coming of Constantius and this attonement between him and King Coel thus made King Coel dyed within five weeks saith Harding a moneth and eight dayes saith Galfridus Viruunius saith within one moneth Hard. Chron. c. 6. Galf. Mon. Hist Reg. Brit. l. 5. c. 6. Pont. Virun Hist l. 5. Harding c. 61. Howe 's fol. 44. so likewise doth the Monck of Westminster Harding writeth that Constantius was Emperor before he was King of Brittain But King Constance of Rome was high Christain By the Senate first made the Emperor After King of Brittain and Governour Howe 's in his Chronicle bringeth in Peter de Jeham to was tell us that Coel Duke of Caric Glow of Glocester Holinshed saith he was Earl of Golchester but where he died or where buried no mention is made Fabian sayeth he ruled after the accord of most writers 27. years Constantius Constantius began his Empire with Galerius the Empire was devided between them so that Constantius should possess Affrica Italy France and Brittain Galerius should have Ilyrica Asia and the East parts which done they substituted under them two Caesars Constantius holding himself content with the dignity of Augustus refused to sustain the trouble which he should have endured through the administration of the affairs of Italy and Africk He sought by all means how he might enrich the people of the Empire He abolished the superstition of the Gentiles in his Dominions so that afterwards Brittain felt no persecutions The year following he prepared war against the Picts at which time his Son Constantine who then served under Galerius perceiving his destruction to be contrived posted to his Father in all hast houghing and killing all the Post horses which way so ever he passed Holinshed Hist of Eng. 45. Fab. Sozom. Hist Eccle l. 1. c. 6. Euseb l. 2. de vita Const Mr Bro. fol. 460. and came safely to his Father in Brittain Holinshed saith Constantius was the Daughters Son of one Crispus that was brother to the Emperor Claudius and that he began his reign over the Brittains 289. and so also saith Fabian Constantius was not against the law for Christians in Brittain to profess the Christian Religion in his time but preferred the most constant Christians to highest preferments and greatest trust And so consecrated his whole family to God that his Court was as a Church wherein were both Clergy men and Godly Christians truly serving God This blessing and benefit he brought to our Christians here in Brittain and publickly maintained it even in those times when the name of Christian in other places was so odious that without danger it could not be spoken of which he further Viz. Eusebius confirmeth in another place Euseb Hist Eccle. l. 8. c. 14. where speaking in the name of Christians he saith that among the Emperors of that time only Constantius did neither in any sort persecute Christians nor in any sort participate with them that did but kept all them that were under him without hurt and secure from all trouble neither pulled down Churches Idem apud Baron Spon an 304. or did any thing against them and elsewhere he teacheth again that the parts of the West Empire did generally receive quietness from persecution when Constantius reigned which although Baronius and Spondanus do not so well allow upon Eusebius his words in all places of the West because as they alledge Constantius neither presently could nor would he be against the Edicts of the Emperors still living when he himself remained in Brittain in the end of the World and Italy was then full of wars But Eusebius writteth not this singularly but Sozomen and others testifie as much that when the Churches of God were persecuted in all other parts of the World Sozomen l. 1. c. 6. only Constantius granted liberty of conscience to the Christians under him and again generally of all Christian Churches in the part of his Empire and were not only quiet under him but thus lived in great joy and did encrease being honoured and rewarded by him And relating his experiment to prove constant Christians before remembred and how he admitted such for his nearest friends and Counsellors he gathereth from hence that the Gauls Brittains and others under him were by him exempted from all penall lawes of the persecutors he taking away and making them frustrate in his Dominions And the objections which Baronius maketh do rather prove then disprove the quietness of Christians in this Nation when Constantius was here For first the inquietness of Italy rather helped then hindered our peace our persecution proceeding from thence now not able to persecute us nor take revenge of Constantius for protecting us And his being in Brittain
at his funeral going before his corps with an infinite number of people and Souldiers attending with all honour and pompe some going before others following with most sweet harmony of singing This was the End which God shewed of this Emperours Godly and Religious manners and life evidently to all people then living as Eusebius witnesseth who also then lived and called him most holy Euseb l. 1. de vita Constan c. 16. which he a learned christian Bishop could not give to any but an holy professed Christian in his knowledge or judgement and therefore attributeth so much to Constantius in this kind that he calleth Constantine the great himself whom he so much extolleth for his Christian Religion and advancement thereof a follower of his fathers piety in such affairs Constantine the Great Constantius having thus honourably ended his dayes and declared Constantine his eldest son successor in his Empire his whole Army doth presently with mutual consent and joy proclaim him King and Emperour and all Nations subject to his fathers Empire were filled with incredible joy and unspeakable gladness that they had without intermission so worthy and renowned an Emperour Of the coming of this most noble Brittain to the Empire escaping and preserved from so many dangers and difficulties before Euseb c. 18. so generally and joyfully chosen and accepted and proving after so happy a Ruler Eusebius saith that he was chosen by God himself and that no mortal man could glory of this onely Emperour his advancement for although he was generally and ordinarily chosen and accepted by men yet as the same Authour writeth he was miraculously preserved by God and by his extraordinary protection brought safely from all danger to his father here in Brittain old and ready to die to be invested in the Empire after him And so soon as he was Emperour as the same Authour then living and well known unto and knowing Constantine Euseb l. 1. vit Const c. 12. testifieth and so declared by the Armies as the custom was being chosen of God long before to that end insisted in his fathers steps in favouring and advancing Christian Religion Euseb Hist l. 8. c. 14. So that in this part of the world as Brittain and France where Constantine succeeded his father and now reigned there was no persecution used against Christians but all favour and indulgence towards them and that assertion of divers Historians both of this and other Nations which affirmeth that the persecution begun by Dioclesian and Maximian did continue after their forsaking the Empire Euseb in Chron. Flo. Wigorn. in Chron. Mar. Sco. Aetat 6. l. 2. in Const and until the seventh year of the reign of Constantine is to be understood of those parts which until about that time were not under the Rule of Constantine but of Galerius Severus and Maxentius persecutors and so Florentius Marianus and others expounded it and it can have no other construction to be true for evident it is in Histories that not onely from the beginning of the reign of Constantine but in his fathers time all Christians under their Government were free from persecution And so soon as Constantine had conquered Maxentius and was sole and absolute Emperour all Christians in the world under him were delivered from persecution and set at liberty even publickly to profess their Religion And from his first entrance into the Empire and to be King of Brittain the Christians here in this Nation did not onely enjoy Religion but as in the time of his father made and freely had publick exercise and profession thereof as our old Churches re-edified new builded and erected Bishops Priests and all Clergy and religious men restored to their former Quiet Revenues Honours and Dignities witness Of this we have divers Testimonies and Examples in particular yet left unto us as out of the old Annals of Winchester where we find of that old Church builded in the time of King Lucius and destroyed in the late persecution The Church of Winchester builded in the time of King Lucius and hallowed and dedicated October the twenty and ninth Annals Eccle. Winton one hundred eighty nine by Faganus and Damianus Bishops amongst the rest at this time of Dioclesian went to wrack the building thereof being ruined Godwin Catal. of Bish Winch. In initio and made even with the ground and the Moncks and all the Officers belonging unto it either slain or enforced to flye for the present time In the year three hundred and nine the Church aforesaid was again re-edified and that with such wonderful forwardnesse and zeal as within one year and thirty dayes both it and all the edifices belonging unto it as chambers and other buildings for Moncks and Officers were quite finished in very seemly and convenient manner The fifteenth day of March following it was again hallowed and Dedicated unto the honour and memory of St. Amphibalus that had suffered death for Christ in the late persecution by Constans Bishop of Winchester at the request of Diodatus Abbot of this New erected Monastery It is evident by this relation that this holy work so publick with freedom and zeal was quite finished in the time of Constantine his being here before he went hence against Maxentius And yet we see both Bishop Priest and Abbot and religious men publickly and honourably restored to their former condition The Church with unspeakable devotion builded and dedicated to the holy Saint and Martyr who in the late persecution was most hated by the enemies of Christ So I say of the Church of St. Alban a Church of wonderfull workmanship Bede Eccl. Hist l. 1. c. 7. Math. West Anno. 313. and worthy of his Martyrdoni was builded so soon as the Christians were here at quiet Matthew of Westminster hath the same words and explaineth this time of the quiet of Christians here when this Church was so sumptuously builded to have been ten years after his Martyrdome the perfect finishing whereof he setteth down to have been the same year in which Constantine went from hence towards Rome against Maxentius which was by him in the sixt year of Constantine and before the general occasion of persecution in other places Constantine not being absolute and sole Emperor untill his victory against Maxentius nor the general quiet then ensuing Both St. Bede and the Monck of Westminster write that in their several times often curing of Infirmities and other miracles were wrought there The old Churches of St. Julius and Aaron The foundation of Lhanturnanus and St. Julians Church in Caerleon Martyred in the late persecution in the City of Caerlegion derive their ancient foundation from this time so do many others founded in honour of several Martyrs then cruelly put to death for the name of Christ so I affirm of all the Cathedral Churches Archiepiscopal and Episcopal with their particular Sees and Cities founded in the time of King Lucius and destroyed in the time of the
words either of Marianus or any Learned Antiquaty such as he was confessing S. Helen to have been at this time in Brittain as he doth for neither at this time nor divers of hundreds of years after St. Helen her death there is mention in Histories of any Jewes at all to have been in this Kingdome then much more it must needs be Historically a thing impossible and altogether untrue that there should be one hundred forty and one of the most Learned of the Jewes here and St. Helen should bring them with her to Rome from hence as seemeth by some to be set down in the Relation of the Dispute between St. Sylvester and the Jewes before Constantine and St. Helen But quite otherwise it is proved that St. Helen was wholly Christian when she was in this Nation before her going to Rome and at the time of her writing to her Son Constantine there after his baptism when in the other sence that St. Helen wrote to her Son to Congratulate his Baptism encouraged him constantly and religiously to profess Christian Religion to be a Friend to the Servants and Friends of Christ and a Suppressor of Jewes and whosoever their Enemies we have her own Religious Education and all the Christian Clergy and Nobility of Btitrain a Christian Kingdom and her native Countrey so calling upon her and neither Jew nor Pagan of note learning or power for any thing we read continuing here either to hinder her in this or advise her to the contrary to the favour either of Jews or Gentiles in their proceedings The like I may answer to then which although they with the truth acknowledge S. Helen to have been the Daughter of King Coel of Brittain and born in this Nation yet they say she went hence with Constantine towards Rome at what time he went against Maxentius the Tyrant and with the Children of Constantine travelled to Byzantium and dwelling there was perverted by the Jewes and so leaving off the Baptism of Constantine in that City of Bithynia did write to him from thence commending him for renouncing Idolatry but reproving him for reproving the Jewish Religion and being a Christian but this is evidently confuted before when by so worthy Authorities and many Arguments it was proved that St. Helen was in Brittain Mr. Brought fol. 481. so far distant from Bizantium at this time Math. West an 321. Baro. Spon Annal. an 314 Severin Binnius Annot. in Conc. Arlesat Tom. 1. Com. Epist Const ad Chrest supr Conc. Roman Can. 1. Hist Tripart l. 3. c. 2. l. 2. c. 3. Mr. Br. f. 855. And what man of judgement can think this Empress having been so fully instructed in the Mysteries of Christian Faith to have fallen into Judaism nothing but envy it self could invent such a Fiction In the time of this our great Constantine was held the first great Councel of Arles in France consisting of as Nicephorus Ado and others say 600 Bishops as Baronius Spondanus and others from Antiquity do gather in the year of Christ 314 and the 9. of this Emperor Constantine in this Councel was present and subscribed Restitutus Arch-Bishop of London and in probable judgement divers others of this our Brittain and in this time of the meeting of the Bishops at the two Councels of Arles especial care being taken by our renowned Emperor that they should at his charge and cost be safely conveyed with their due attendance to that place where these Councels were to be assembled and there also to be provided for during the time of the Councels at his cost Nor did this Heroick Emperor confine his love and favours towards Christian Religion unto the Christians of his own the West Empire but unto all as God by an holy Angel before revealed both ancient and modern Authors so acknowledging the Christians in the whole world should be at peace and Idolatry was to be generally overthrown by this noble Emperor Bap. Mont. l 2. de vita S. Blasii Joan. Bel. l. 2. de actis Pont. Roman in Sylvest 1. Nunc bonus expulsis Romana in Regna Tyrannis Adveniet Princeps sub quo placabitur Orbis Et finem accipiet veterum cultura Deorum A Prince shall rule whose power shall quite expell Those Tyrants who against Rome did rebell The World by him shall quiet peace enjoy And he the Pagan gods shall all destroy As concerning Christian Churches they which were large enough and had been ruinated in the time of persecution were repaired others were builded higher and with honour made greater where there were none before new were erected even from the Foundation and the Emperor out of his Treasury afforded money thereto and wrote both to the Bishops and Presidents of every Province to the Bishops that whatsoever they would they should command and to the Presidents that they should diligently do what they commanded And so with the prosperous estate of his Empire Religion greatly encreased Out of the Lands of his own Tribute in every City he took a certain pension that was accustomed to be paid into the Treasurie and distributed it to the Churches and Clergy and by Law decreed that his Gift to be perpetual He caused the sign of the Cross to be made upon the Armour of his Soldiers to accustom them thereby to serve God He builded a Church in his Palace Mr. Br. f. 488 and used to have carried with him when he went to war a Pavilion after the manner of a Church that both he and his Army being in the field might have a Church wherein to pray unto God and receive the sacred mysteries Priests and Deacons which according to the Institution of the Church should execute those Duties continually followed that Tent. He took away by Law the old Punishment of the Crosse used by the Romans he caused that sign to be made on his own Image whether impressed on money or painted on a Table The Brittish History saith that Constantine residing at York Brittish Hist fol. 138. although he seemed at first unwilling to accept the Imperial Title and protested openly against it yet when the Senate had confirmed the Election he took upon him the Government of those Provinces which his Father had held in the West parts and with an Army of Brittains and other Nations he first setled France and Germany being then in Arms against him and afterwards subdued Maxentius Maximianus Son that usurped the Empire in Italy Then with like success he made war upon Licinius his Associate who persecuted the Professors of Christianity in the East parts of the World by which means Constantine alone enjoyed the Empire and for his many and glorious Conquests was worthily surnamed The Great In this time the form of the Government in Brittain both for Civil and Martial Causes was altered and new Lawes established The Civil Government of the Province he committed to Pacatianus who ordered the same as Deputy to the Praefectus Praetorio of Gallia
so testifie So did the great number of Councels gathered to condemn him so did also the particular best learned men in those daies St. Aug. Jerom Innocentius Orosius Genadius and others which wrote against him all the Errors wherewith he was charged he at length renounced though dissembled for fear as appears by him after I think it not convenient to set down his errors the world being so apt to broach new doctrines lest any giddy brain-sick new molded Saint make use of them both to the destruction of his own Soul and of many other the ordinary sort of people being so prone to follow after new Preachers Yet to free our Kingdom of Brittain Wales also of giving life to such a man St. Hier. saith he was by nation a Scot as Isidore Pelusiota noteth and also a voluptuous Monk both which may be reconciled if we say he was born among the Scots and bred in our great Monastery of Bangor and there long time a holy Monk but after falling both into heresie and lewdnesse of life he was often condemned in divers Councels in Asia Africa and Europe whether he had spread his heresies but not perfectly untill the time of Pope Zosimus about the year of Christ 418 being by him finally condemned both he and his followers were driven into exile by Honorius the Emperor and that heresie condemned in all the World This Pelagius though he had many followers yet were they all strangers for the great honour to this Nation that it had such learned men that even one of them falling into error did so much prevail and dilate it both in Europe Africa and Asia and yet in his own Country could nothing prevail but was at the first convinced rejected and exiled and did only indeavour to infect Brittain his native Country but could not effect his desire therein Now the Romans about four hundred and seventy yeares after their first enterance into this Isle waxed weary of the Government of Brittain and Brittains that had been many times assailed by their uncivil neighbours consorted with strangers of divers Nations perceived themselves unable to make resistance as in the former times whereupon they sent Embassadors to Rome requiring aid and promising fealty if the Romans would rescue them from the oppression of their enemies Then was there a Legion sent over into the Island to expulse the barbarous people out of the province which being with good successe effected the Romans counselled the Brittaines for their better defence to make a stone wall betwixt * The firth of Dunbretton in Scotland Glota and ‖ Edenbur Firth Bedatria the two armes of the Sea that ran into the Island and so departed thence but this Wall was only afterwards made of Turves and not of stone as they were directed the Baittains then not having any skill in such kind of buildings by which means it served to little purpose for the Scotshmen and Picts understanding that the Romans were gone passed over the water in boats at both ends of the Wall invaded the borders of the province and with main force bare down all before them whereupon the Embassadors were sent again out of Brittain to declare the miserable state of the Province which without speedy succour was likely to be lost Upon the complaint and earnest sollicitation of the Brittains there was another Legion sent over by Aetius the President of Gallia under the Conduct of Gallio of Ravenna to aid the distressed Brittains and the Romans having reduced the Povince into her former state did tell the Brittains that it was not for their ease to take any more such long Journies being costly and paineful considering that the Empire it self was assailed and in a manner overrunne by Strangers and therefore that from thenceforth they should provide for their own safety that they should learn to use Armour and Weapons and trust to their own valour Howbeit the Romans in regard of the good service done by the Brittish Nation in former times began to build a Wall of Stone from East to West in the self same place where Severiâ—s the Emperor had cast his Trench the labour and charges of the work being born partly by the Romans and partly by the Brittains themselves This Wall contained eight foot in bredth and twelve in hight some Reliques thereof saith the Brittish History remaine to this day upon the Sea-coast towards the South they raised Bulwarks one somewhat distant from another to empeach the Enemies landing in those parts and this done they took their last farewell transporting their Legions into Gallia as men resolved to return hither no more As soon as they were gone the barbarous people having intelligence thereof presumed confidently that without any great assistance they might now enter the Province and thereupon accounting as their own whatsoever was without the Wall they gave an assault to the Wall it self and with Graples and such like Engines pulled down to the ground a great part thereof while the Brittains inhabiting the borders being awaked with the suddenness of the Enterprise gave warning to the rest of their Countreymen within the Land to arm themselves with speed and to make resistance About this time also which was about the year of our Redemption 430 the state of the Church in Brittain was much incumbred by the Heresie of Pelagius of which a little before yet I here again repeat it in another Authors Language for fuller satisfaction of my Reader which being by birth a Brittain by profession a Monk and as some think trained up in the Monastery of Bangor travelled first into Italy Brittish Hist fol. 152. l. 3. then into Sicilia Egypt and other East parts of the World to learn and study as he professed whereby he wound himself into the good opinion of many men of great fame in those daies for learning and piety as namely of Paulinus Bishop of Nola and by his means of S. Augustine till the Heretical assertions which himself and his Disciple Celestinus a Scotch-man secretly taught being by St. Hierom discovered were afterwards condemned by the Bishop of Rome Innocentius the first whereupon they returned again into Brittain being obstinately bent to maintain their former Heresie which Agricola the Son of Severianus a Bishop of that Sect had not long before brought thither whereby the same in short time was received and approved among the Christians in divers parts of the Isle so that betwixt Heresie among the Brittains themselves and Paganism professed by their Enemies the light of Christian Religion seemed for a time to be eclipsed Howbeit some of the Brittains disliking those heretical Opinions which as yet they were unable by knowledge in the Scriptures to confute and perceiving withal what dangerous inconveniences to the State arose oft times by reason of their disagreement one from another in matters of Religion earnestly required the Bishops of France to send over some godly wise and learned men that might defend the
truth of Christianity which seemed to be born down by the subtil allegations of humane Reason Hereupon the Bishops called a Synod wherein Germanus the Bishop of Auxerre and Lupus Bishop of Troyes in Champaigne were appointed to go into Brittain and to undertake the Cause which they afterwards prosecuted with so good success as many Hereticks among the Brittains were openly convinced and Christians confirmed in faith About the same time Ninianus Bernitius of the Race of the Brittish Princes was sent into Pictland to convert the Inhabitants there to Christianity Brittish Hist l. 3. f. 153. Palladius a Grecian was likewise appointed by Celestine Bishop of Rome to Preach the Gospel in Scotland unto such there as yet remained in Infidelity and to suppress the Pelagian Heresie new sprung up in that Kingdom to be the first and chief Bishop of the Church there for which purpose also Patricius surnamed Magonius born in Brittain was sent to the Irish and Scotch men that then dwelt in the Isles of the Orcades and Hebrides these three Religious Fathers were much honoured in those dayes for the reverend opinion which most men had of their Learning and Integrity of life and they are accounted the Apostles and Patrons of the Scotish Irish and Pictish Nations as being the several Instruments of the general Conversion of each of them Within few years after the Brittains were again hotly pursued by the Scotchmen and Picts who swarmed over a great part of the Land taking from the Brittains for a time all opportunities of convening and assembling themselves together as in former dangers they had been accustomed whereby no small number of the Inhabitants of the Province dispairing of better success retired themselves giving way unto the present necessity while each man as in common calamities oft times it falleth out laying aside the care of the publick made provision for his own safety leaving the Enemy in the mean time to take and kill such as resisted Some of the Brittains being driven out of their own houses and possessions fell to robbing one another encreasing their outward troubles with inward tumult and civil dissention by which means a great number of them had nothing left to sustain them but what they got by hunting and killing of wild beasts Others burying their Treasures under ground whereof great store hath been found in this Age Brit. Hist l. 3. fol. 158. did flee themselves either into the Countrey of the a Southwales Silures and b Northwales Ordâ—nices and into the West part of the Isle where the c Cornwall Devonshire Damonians then inhabited or else into Amorica in France the rest being hemmed in with the Sea on the one side and their Enemies on the other sent to the Emperor for aid which they could not obtain for that the Goths and Hunns invading Gallia and Italy the greatest part of the Forces of the Empire was drawn thither for defence of those places by reason whereof the State of Brittain now declining with the Empire and shrinking under the burthen of barbarous Oppression the Brittains sent Embassadors again to Aetius the President in Gallia desiring him to relieve their necessities declaring withall that themselves were the small remnant which survived after the slaughter of so many thousands whom either the Sword or the Sea had consumed for the barbarous Enemy drave them upon the Sea the Sea again upon the Enemies between both which they suffered two kindes of death as being either killed or drowned that it imported the Majesty of the Roman Empire to protect them who had so many hundred years lived under their obedience and were now plunged into the depth of intollerable miseries for besides the calamities of War both civil and foreign at one instant they were afflicted with dearth and famine which forced them sometimes to yield themselves to the merciless Enemy But their complaints availed nothing for the Romans plainly denied to send them any more succour whereof the Scotishmen and Picts being certainly advertised and knowing how small a number of able men remained in the Province to withstand their attempts assailed first such places of strength as guarded the borders and afterwards entred the Province it self where by continual course of Conquests they found a passage into the heart of the Isle spoyled the People of their wealth burnt their Cities and brought the Inhabitants thereof under a miserable Servitude Thus about five hundred years after the Romans first Entrance and four hundred forty six after our Saviours birth the Isle of Brittain which had been not only the principal Member of the Empire but also the seat of the Empire it self and the Seminary of Soldiers sent out into most parts of the World was now in the time of Honorius bereaved of the greatest part of her ancient Inhabitants and left a prey to barbarous Nations SHREWSBURY SHREWSBURY is the principal Town in Shâ—opshire and stands neatly upon a Hill and iâ— almost encompassed round by the River Severus that part thereof which is not fenced by the River being fortified by a very strong Castle built by Roger de Montgomery the first Earl thereof A fair and goodly Town it is well traded and frequented by all sorts of people both Welsh and English by reason of the Trade of Gloath and other Merchandise this being the commont Mart and Empory between England and Wales it standeth in the very midst or centre as it were of the whole Countrey which generally is inferiour to none about it for delight and plenty for the number of Towns and Castles standing exceeding thick on every side as having formerly been a frontier Countrey very far above them It belonged anciently to the Cornavii and at the Norman Conquest was bestowed on Roger de Montgomery who first made it â—eminent and with his Successors and sinâ—e them the honorable Family of the Talbots enjoyed the Stile and Title of Earls of Shrewsbury 1. Roger de Montgomery 2. Hugh de Montgomery 3. Robert de Montgomery 4. John Talbot Marshal of France created Earl of Shrewsbury by K. H. 6. 5. John Talbot L. Tre. 6. John Talbot 7. Geo. Talbot 8. Francis Talbot 9. Geo. Talbot 10. Gilbert Talbot 11. Edward Talbot 12. Geo. Talbot 13. John Talbot now living and Earl of Shrewsbury 1661. The Earl of DERBY Thomas Stanley Earl of Derby Knight of the Garter c. Elinor Daughter to Richard Nevil Earl of Salisbury Tho. Earl of Derby c. Anne Daughter to Ed. L. Hastings which Family descends from the Brittish line as shall appear in its proper place Edward Earl of Derby c. Dorothea Daughter to Thomas Howward Duke of Norfolk by which March this honorable Family descends from the Brittish line as in the Pedegree of the Duke of Norfolk Henry Earl of Derby c. Margaret Daughter to Henry Clifford Earl of Cumberland and Elinor his Wife Daughter and Coheir to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk and Mary Queen of France
Mr. Brou fol. 124. Jo. Pitseus l. de viris Illust aetat 8. an 720 in cremit Brit. Ananimus in li. de St. Graal Jo. Capg in Catal. in S. Joseph of Ar. As concerning his descent to leave the Trojon line it is no hard matter to derive him from St. Joseph of Aramathea for a learned Antiquary speaking of that blessed Saint and his associates saith Although our universal histories of St. Joseph of Aramathea chiefly speak of the coming of him and his religious companions not above fourteen by any account yet we have Antiquities testifying that great number of other Christians came with him hither or to our Islands adjoyning at that time Among these a Brittish Eremite living when Glastenbury Abby was builded by King Inas where the Antiquities thereof were diligently sought and examined and he so conversant in them that he wrote a book of that subject doth plainly testify in his history here of named The holy Graal that there came hither in the company of St. Joseph and his religious associates which continued with him at Glastenbury in Eremitical conversation above 600 Men and Women that were Christians Fits supra and had vowed chastity or continency untill they should arrive in this Land miraculously assigned as it seemeth unto them to continue in Ant. Glast in Tab. Antiq. and because some take exception to this Author the most warranted and allowed Manuscript Antiquities of Glastenbury written in old letters in parchment upon broad tables anciently belonging to the Monastery affirm the same and how divers of them were noble personages and such as in those times in small Islands were stiled Kings and some of our Brittish Kings descended from them among these was first Helaius Nephew of St. Joseph K. Arthurs pedigree from the family of St. Jo. of Arem by his mother of whom this old Manuscript-Antiquity thus relateth Helaius Nephew to St. Joseph begat Josue Josue begat Aminadab Aminadab begat Castellors Castellors begat Manaclaniel Manaclaniel begat Lambrord Lambrord begat a Son which begat Igerna of whom Uter Pendracon begat the noble and renowned Arthur by which it appeareth that King Arthur did descend of the race of Joseph And these antiquities do thus further relate unto us Peter Kinsman of Joseph of Aramathea King of Orcany begat Erlan Erlan begat Melianus Melianus begat Arguth Antiq. Glasten Cap. in St. Joseph Arguth begat Edor Edor begat Loth who took to wife the Sister of King Arthur of whom he begat four Sons to wit Walwan Agranayans Gwerches and Gaheries Again the same Antiquities speak of St. Josephs Imprisonment presently after his coming into this Island which was in Venedocia now Northwales neer the Isle of Mona Harris M. S. Hist l. 1. c. 25. Hist Boet. Hist Sco. in Crathlinit Bald. de Script cent lib. in Amp. Theater of great Brittain l. 6. c. 9. §. 4. St. Josephs Sister married to a Brittain â—i h. Vignier Biblior Hist an 63. Theater of great Brittain l. 6. c. 9. S. 9. who was set at liberty by a noble Man whom he had converted to the faith named Mordraius whom the antiquity calleth a King A late writer thinketh this Mordraius to be the then King or Ruler of the Island Mona and that the place where he was converted named the City Saract was Soder in the Isle of Man which was the first Bishops See we read of in those parts in the time and persecution of Dioclesian And the writers of the Theater of Great Brittain tell us of some others of this company of St. Joseph that lived in the World and were not of the Religious number that setled at Glastenbury and among them they name a Sister of St. Josephs called Eurgaine who to speak in their words afterwards married to a Brittain named Siarklos and they cite George Owen Harry for the same opinion And Nicholas Vignier a French Writer in his Bibliotheke Historial in the year of Christ 63 plainly affirmeth Joseph of Aramathea arrived this year in great Brittain with a troop or great number of his companions To these I may add the testimony of Tertullian of the timely receiving of the faith of Christ by our Northern Brittains commonly confounded in Histories with the Scottish Nation by reason of their dwelling long together and how Petrus Cluniacensis writing to St. Bernard cited by the Theater which followeth him therein supposeth the Scottishmen the more ancient Christians as not being in the like subjection to the Romans as the other then were which cannot more probably be affirmed of any then those that came by those Antiquities with St. Joseph into those outward Islands where the Scots then inhabited and with whom they united themselves as also with our Northern Brittains neither can we think but among so many even hundreds which came hither at that time some of them left a posterity of Children as is exemplified in two before one the Nephew the other the Kinsman of St. Joseph and we may take notice from the names themselves of some of those that be recited as Josue Aminadab and Loth that they were Christians no others in those parts in that time taking names from Scripture but they only and for Loth one of them that is named certain it is by our Brittish and other Histories that he was a Christian so of Igerna and King Arthur which likewise by these antiquities did descend from those of the company of Joseph of Aramathea and although these three last were late in respect of that first age of Christ and lived when Brittain generally professed Christian Religion yet Helaius Nephew or Grandsonne of Joseph placed in the first of that Genealogy in this Land at the time of St. Josephs coming hether and his Son Josue being by his name a Christian did probably live until the dayes of King Lucius and Donaldus to be of those which continued a succession of Christianity here Mr. Broughton proving that nine Schollers of Cambridge were converted to the faith Cambridge the School of the Brittish Kingdomes K. Arthur a Benefactor to Schollers learning and Religion Apud Caium li. 1. de Antiq. Cant. in arce London Howes fol. 53. and became fervent labourers in the Vineyard of our blessed Saviour saith which is further confirmed by the publick Charter of priviledges and immunities of King Arthur to that renowned ancient Town School and University of Cambridge where among other memorable things he declareth that his christian predecessours Kings of Brittain had been instructed there in learning and Religion and in particular speaking there of King Lucius what immunities he granted to that University testifieth further that this our first Christian King did receive the faith of Christ by the preaching of the learned Christian Schollers of Cambridge This Charter was dated at London in the year of Christ 531 rhe 7th day of April Arthur therefore the Son of Vter born in Cornwal at the age of fifteen years was crowned