to the effusion of much blood He raigned 38. yeares sixe months and foure daies and was buried first at Chertsey and afterwarde remoued to windsore Edward Earle of March tooke on him the gouernment of the Realm being son to Richard Duke of Yorke that was slaine at Wakefield His raigne also was filled with many troubles broyles and Rebellions yet hee gouerned 22. years one month and eight daies and was buried at Windsore Edward the fift son to king Edward the fourth succeeded after his father being neuer crowned but deposed by his Vnckle Richard Duke of Glocester when he had raigned two months eleuen dayes and with his brother was murdered in the Tower of London where both theyr bodies were obscurely buried Richard Duke of Glocester vsurped the kingdome two years two months and one day and was slaine in battell at Bosworth fielde by Henrie Earle of Richmond and buried at Leicester In him ended the line of the Plantagenets Henry Earle of Richmond surnamed Tudor son to Edmund of Hadham Earle of Richmond who was son of Owen ap Meredyth and Queene Katherine the French kings daughter wife to king Henry the fift This king Henrie builded and repayred in his life time many goodly houses beside his Mannor of Richmond and his Chappell at Westminster as Baynards Castle in London the goodly Hospitall of the Sauoy neere Charing-Crosse to which hee gaue lands for releefe of an hundred poore people Sir Religious houses for Franciscan Friers of the Obseruant and Couentall orders viz. at Richmond at Greenwich and at Newarke for Obseruants at Canterbury New-Castle South-hampton for Couentals Hee gaue also manie sums of money to good and godly vses And for that one of the goodliest Chappelles in Europe was by his meanes finished formerly begun by king Henry the sixt called the Kings colledge Chappell in the Vniuersitie of Cambridge I cannot omit the summe he gaue to accomplish the same which was 10000. lt viz. 5000. pounds in his life time and the rest by will at his death vnder his great Seale of England which was truely paide as is yet to be seen in the same Colledge Hee married his eldest daughter Margaret to Iames the fourth King af Scots of which happy marriage we enioy our dread Soueraign now raigning King Iames the sixt King Hentie raigned 23. yeares and somwhat more then 8. months and was buried in his new Chappell at Westminster Henry the eight sonne of king Henry the seauenth succeeded next in the kingdome after hys father He banished the Popes authority out of England and was proclaimed King of Ireland because the former Kinges were onely called Lords of Ireland He wun Terwin Tourney and Bullen in Fraunce and gaue the Church of the Gray Fryers in London to the Cittie to bee a place of releefe for poore people S. Bartholomewes Spittle the Gray Fryers and two parish Churches the one called S. Nicholas in the Shambles the other S. Ewin in Newgate Market were then made all one parish Church and he gaue in Lands for maintenance thereof fiue hundred Markes by the yeare for euer He raigned 37. years 9. months and 5. daies and was buried at Windsore Edward the sixt onely son to king Henry the eight was crowned king at Westminster Hée caused the Masse to be vtterly abolished Images to be defaced in Churches and the Lords supper to be ministred in both kindes There was then good orders deuised for the poores reliefe poore people were distinguished by thrée seuerall degrées in manner following Three degrees of poore 1. The poore by impotency 2. Poore by casualty 3. Thristlesse poore 1. The poore by impotency were also diuided into 3 kinds 1. The fatherles pore mans châ—â—d 2. The aged blinde and lame 3. The diseased person by leprosie dropsie c. 2. The poore by casualty were also of three kinds 1. The wounded Souldior 2. The decayed Housholder 3. The visited with grieuous disease 3. The thriftlesse poore were likewise of 3. kinds 1. The Riotor that consâ—meth all 2. The Vagabond that will abyde in no place 3. The ydle â—erson as Strumpets and others 1 Christs Hospitall was appointed for the innocent and fatherlesse childe to be trained vp in knowledge of God and vertuous exercises 2 Saint Thomas Hospitall in Southwark was appointed for reliefe of the aged blinde and lame 3 Bridewel was also appointed for the Vagabond ydle strumpet and vnthrift Of all which seuerall Hospitals this Vertuous yong k. Edward was the founder and gaue the lands of the Sauoy which then serued as a harbour to Loyterers Vagabonds and strumpets that lay all day in the fieldes and at Night were harboured there to the maintenance of these houses which Lands were of the yearelie value of sixe hundred pounds and he gaue 4000 Markes beside of Lands taken in Mâ—â—tmaine so yearely valewed This worthy young King raigned sixe years fiue months and eight dayes and was buried at Westminster Mary eldest daughter to King Henry the eight and Sister to King Edward succeeded after her Brother She married with the Prince of Spain who was afterward king and raigning 5. years fiue monethes and tenne dayes was buried at Westminster Elizabeth second Daughter to king Henrie the eight and Sister also to king Edward came next to her right in the Crowne of England To write of the Princely life and raigne of that Virgin Empresse and matchlesse Queene woulde require large Volumes yet all too little for her high deseruing merit Hauing liued well neere threescore and ten years and happily raigned 44. yeares 4. months and od dayes she died the 24 of March 1602. was buried at Westm The lines engrauen on her Tombe may serue for her further memory A Sacrifice to Posterity HAuing restored Religion to the Primitiue sincerity established Peace reduced coine to the iust valew reuenged Domestical rebellion succored France greeued by ciuill war supported Belgia ouer-come the Spanish inuincible Nauy pacified Ireland by driuing out the Spaniards and compelling the Rebels to yeeld to her pardon increased very much the Reuennewes of both Vniuersities by a Law for theyr prouision of Victuall enriched all England administring most prudently the Imperial state thereof 45. yeares in true piety in the seauenty yeare of her age in most happy peaceable maner departed this life leauing heere hir mortal parts enterred in this famous and renowned Church by her conserued til by the command of Christ they rise againe immortall Iames king of England Scotland Fraunce and Ireland first Monarch of the whole Islands or Countrey was proclaimed king the 24. of March 1602. being the onely inheritour to k. Henry the seauenth and Elizabeth his Queene issuing from Lady Margaret eldest Daughter to them both In whose happy marriage ended the long ciuill dissentions of the two deuided families of Yorke and Lancaster And by his most rightfull succession in the deuided
withall his Race Now was the contention for the Primacy of the Church betwéene Rome and Constantinople and now was Saint Gregory Heraclius raigned thirty yeares who was the Murderer of Phocas The fiftéenth yeare of his raigne beganne the rule of Mahomet the false Prophet of Arabia where were the Agarenes and Sarrazins to whom the Aegyptian and Arabian Princes called Soldanes next succéeded After them came the Turks about the yeare 1300. Mahomets false Doctrine by the negligence of the Emperors and Christian Princes grewe to such a head that it not onely poysoned Asya and Affrica but also a very great part of Europe Constantine the third raigned foure moneths being a good Prince and very young Hee was poysoned by his Step-mother that her son might raigne Heraclion who hauing his nose and tongue cut out was banished two yeares after Constans the Sonne of Constantine raigned twenty seauen yeares And being very couetous he was slain by his own followers in the Bathes of Syracusa Constantine the fourth reigned 17. years He ouercame in one Battell thirty thousand Sarazins and afterward fel to great wickednes The learned and venerable Beda liued in this time Iustinian the second a wicked man raigned 16. yeares but not without interruption beeing deiected by Leontius and Leontius by Tiberius Absimaris who reigned other thrée yeares therfore these thrée are said to raigne sixtéene yeares Now was the beginning of the Dukes of Vennice which had béene gouerned before for the space of 230. yeares by Tribunes Phillip Bardasanes reigned two yeares Hee was cast out of his Empyre by his Lieutenant after that they pluckt soorth his eies Hee had much talke and little wisdome disposing badly of the goods of the Empyre he became after a schismaticall Monke Anthemius called also Athanasius the second reigned thrée yeares He was deiected from his Empyre by Theodosius chiefe of his Army and turned into a Monastery He hadde taken away the Empyre and then pluckt out the eies of his predecessor Theodosius the third reigned one yeare He left the Empyre seeing himselfe to be assayled by Leo his successor and became a Monke Leo the third a wicked man reigned twenty foure yeares He was called Iconomachus a defacer of Images and would not suffer the Christians to haue any in their Temples Hee was excommunicated by Gregory and by authoritie of a Councell held at Rome against his owne of Constantinople Blondus lib 10. The Sarazins besieged Constantinople three yeares together in which time died three hundred thousand of Pestilence and Famine Constantine fift of that name the son of Leo the Isaurian succeeded his father in the Empyre of Constantinople the yeare of our saluation 742. He was sirnamed Copronymus because he would discharge his belly in the Fonts appointed for Christian Baptisme He was an vtter enemy not only to the Images of Saints but also vnto their reliques causing them to be burned He did put to death many of the best and most respected persons and among others two Patriarches of Constantinople He made warre againste the Bulgarians both by land Sea Fortune sometime smiling vpon him otherwhiles â—owring In his absence one Artabasdus was made Emperor at Constantinople But hee receiuing newes thereof returned and either put out or rent forth the new Emperors eies caused his children to be slaine In his time there was so cold a Winter that the Sea of Constantinople was frozen After many cruelties this Emperor died a Leaper Artabasdus albeit he was descended of mean birth yet notwithstanding for the faithfulnesse good vertues and commendable qualities which were in him he was liked of the Senate souldiors and afterward was elected Emperor by the zealous Christians for the hatred that euery one bare to Constantine the fift He became a better louer of the Saints and fortified the Cittye of Constantinople against Constantine who had bin expulsed thence Neuerthelesse both hee and it were besieged and the Citty being surprized his eies were pluckt out his châ—ldren put to death Leo the fourth was Emperor after his Father Constantine the fift He was not onely heyre to the Empire but also to his Fathers vices And his mother who was deuout and one that loued God would giue no consent that he shoulde bee Emperor He made some attempts vpon the Sarazins that dwelt in Syria He tooke the Crowne which Mauritus had dedicated to God and set it on his owne head it being very richly beautified with rich pretious stones But soone after he had an Impostume in his head with a fiery Ague whereof he died Constantine sixt of that name and sonne to Leo the fourth was Emperor after his Father Hee reigned nine yeares very young with his mother who with his consent also was perswaded by Therasius Patriarch of Constantinople to call a generall Councell of thrée hundred and fifty Bishops In short while after Constantine excluded his Mother from the Empyres gouernment He caused the eies and toong of Nicephorus to be puld and cut out hearing of a secret intention to make him Emperor Also he did shut vp in a Monastery his wife Mary who was the daughter of King Charlemaine and then tooke a Concubine by the councell of his Mother whoe pretended that her sonne was hated of the people Herevpon not long after she caused him to be taken and plucking forth his eies shut him vp in prison where he died in the yeare 798. and then she raigned alone about the space of fiue yeares Irene issued from Attica was wife to the emperor Leo the fourth by whom he had Constantine the sixt before mentioned and reigned with him nine yeares and afterward alone by hirselfe fiue yeares or little more as hath already beene said She was thence expelled by Nicophorus sent in exile to the Isle of Lesbos which at this instant is called Mitiline At the time when this Lady gouerned the Empire of Constantinople Charlemaine was sacred and crowned Emperor of Rome or of the West for his vertues A briefe Collection of the History liues of the Emperours of the West from the time of King Charlemain who was the first Emperor in the West CHarlemaine king of France and the greatest Emperor for all perfections that euer was The restorer of Iustice equity and peace among men and re-establisher of Common-weales with honest Lawes and Religious doctrine learned in languages and al disciplines raigned King and Emperor 14. yeares Gal. lib. 4. Emil. lib. 2. The Kingdome of England then began by King Egbert Lewes his sonne sirnamed the Meeke or Debonaire was likewise King and Emperour 26. yeares He caused a Councell to be held wherein all Ecclesiasticall persons were forbidden to weare any superfluous garments iewelles and Ringes In reuenge whereof they prouoked his sonnes to conspire against him two seueral times Lotharius his sonne contended with his Brethren Lewes Germanicus
and Charles the Bald. After a warre no lesse great and sharpe then vnhappy and lamentable he remained Conqueror and reigned fifteene yeares Lewes the second son of Lotharius raigned 21 yeares hee was at continuall discord with his Vncle Charles the Bald for the Kingdom of Austrasia Charles the Bald sonne to Lewes the Meeke was Emperor and king of France two yeares Lewes the Stammerer was made Emperour by the meanes of Pope Iohn the second hee died at Compeigne vpon a good-friday Charles the Grosse Emperor and k. of France who degenerated from the Noble race of Charlemain reigned ten yeares Arnold whose body was full of vermine by the iust iudgement of God he being addicted to so many seuerall rapines He raigned 12. years Lewes the third or rather the fourth sonne of Arnold raigned x. years Som do hold that after Arnold vntill the time of Otho there was no true Emperour of Rome but vacation of the empyre for the space of thréescore yeares Conrade being the last of the race of Charlemain reigned seauen yeares Henry the first called the Faulconer whoe brought peace to all Germany reigned 18. years He was expert in Armes beganne the pence or small money among the Almaynes and subdued the Vandals who then receiued the Christ faith Otho his sonne reigned â—6 yeares It was said of him that he made good proofe that he whoÌ„ God will helpe no man can harme for hee had innumerable enemies and yet very easily he subdued them all Otho the second his sonne too seuere raigned ten yeares He re-seated Nicephorus his Godfather Emperor of Greece after hee had bin driuen out of his Empire Otho the third raigned ninetéene yeares Hee was called for his spirite the wonder of the world In his time began the institution of the Princes Electors of the Empire in the yeare 1002. This is the common opinion which neuerthelesse the learned Onuphrius declareth to be erronious verifying by certaine authorities and testimonies of the Authors of times that the Emperors after this Otho were elected not by seauen Princes but in generall by voyce of all the Arch-bishops Byshops Princes Lords and Gentlemen of Germany and continued so till the time of Rodolphus the first which was in the yeare 1280. And he saith that it cannot bee certainely gathered at what time the seauen Electors were instituted not finding any one of the auncient Authors that speakes thereof And yet notwithstanding hee is of the minde that they were established in the Interim of the interregnum and schisme of the Empire which continued twenty three yeares after the death of Frederick the second which was in the yeare 1250. vntill the election of Rodolph of Haspurge Henry of Bauaria the second raigned twentie two yeares Hee was a prudent and victorious Prince and hee expulsed the Sarrazins out of Italy Conrade the second raigned fiftéene yeares In this time the name of a Cardinall as is saide came first in vse Henry the third surnamed the Black raigned 17. yeares hee laboured earnestly to take away the Schismes of the Church happening by the plurality of the Popes whereof hee deposed three as vnwoorthy and ordayned that there should bee no more created without his permission Henry the fourth raigned fifty yeares He was present in 62. battels and great troubles happened betwéene him and Gregory the seauenth touching the power to elect and confirme the Pope Then was Ierusalem taken by Godfrey of Bullen and the floure of Christendomes Nobility Henry the fift raigned twenty yeares Hée tooke Rome and the Pope who would not crown him except hee would ordaine his election to bée without the Emperor and contrary to the order of Henry the third Now began the Kingdomes of Portugal Naples and Sicily Lotharius the second raigned 11. years being very much respected for his great valour in war his loue to religion reparacion of good laws c. Conrade the third raigned fiftéene years a good Prince and made warre against the Sarrazins with King Lewes the young Frederick the first called Barbarossa a Prince addicted to hardines magnanimity and Iustice raigned 37. yeares This is the man vpon whose ouer-much humility Pope Alexander the third declared the insolency of his Luciferian pride in treading on the Emperors back and then he began to sing Super Aspidem Basiliscum ambulabis Then liued Auicen Auerroes Mesuus Phisitions And Changius was first King of the Tartares Henry the sixt raigned tenne yeares a good Prince he subdued the kingdome of Pouilla or Apulia Phillip brother to Henry a good Prince raigned nine yeares In his time beganne the Frier orders of Mendicants or begging Friers Iacobins and Gray Friers Ab. Vspergens hist Otho the fourth raigned foure yeares He came to the Empyre by the meanes of Innocent the 3. and afterward lost it by his owne occasion being murdred in the end as he had done his predecessour Fredericke the second reigned 37. yeares being both wise and magnanimious He was expulsed the Empire by the meanes of Pope Innocent the fourth This Prince was the restorer of Astronomy by helpe of the Almagist of Ptolomy The factions of the Guelphes and Gibelines now caused great harmes in Italy Conrade the fourth reigned thrée yeares a good Prince He was excommunicated by Pope Innocent the fourth according as by him his Father was depriued of his Empire Willielmus raigned two yeares a good prince Albertus Maguus Lullius and Alphonsus King of Spaine were then great Astrologers There was interregnum 17. yeares Rodulphus reigned 19. yeares He made Austria the Imperiall seat ordaining his sonne Albert first Duke there of whom is the house of Austria desceaded Adolphus raigned six yeares He was expulsed for his vices by the Princes Electors and slain afterward in warre by Albertus his successor Albertus raigned ten yeares Pope Boniface the eight gaue him the Realme of France the Papall chaire was transferred to Auignion 72. yeares New was Othoman the first Emperour of the Turkes Henry the seauenth reigned six yeares a very graue and prudent Prince But a Iacobine frier being suborned by a Florentine poisoned him with the consecrated Host Lewes of Bauaria reigned 33. yeares He vsed very great clemency towards his enemy and prisoner Frederick of Austria restoring him to his Dukedome Now began the Sects of the Flagellanti or Whippers Bartholomeus Petrarch and Boccace then liuing Charles the fourth Author of the golden Bull raigned 32. yeares Dante then liued Wenceslaus reigned 22. yeares very carelesly He was taken by his brother Sigismund and put into prison at Vienna They were both sonnes to Charles the fourth Lithuania then receiued the Christian Faith Robert or Rupert reigned ten yeares then liued Chrysolaras Laurentius Valla Poge the Florentine and Tamberlain the Tyrant of the Tartares led an Army of a
conquered by the Christians vnder the conduct of Godfrey of Bullen and those that then remained of the Turkes retired themselues to Nicea hauing neuer after any one K. of renowne vntill this man who made himselfe a Monarch hath the first place in the History of the Turkes He was but of meane descent yet of great spirit cunning dilligent and ambitious hauing euermore in his hart a desire to raigne and pondered vpon all meanes that thereto might best aduance him In this high disposition hee founde Fortune very fauourable to him for he subdued the greater part of Bithinia tooke many fortes néere to the Pontick Sea But his very greatest honour was the surprising of Sina a Citty anciently called Sebastia He died aged in the first yeare of Phillip de Valois King of France and Edward the third King of England Orchanes Son to the said Othoman was Emperour of the Turkes after his father He would not alter a iote of this newe authority no more then his father did and whom he farre surpassed in Warlike actions By his liberality and good carriage he woon the hearts of his people pursuing on very well what his father had begunne By his industry vigilancie and prouidence he woon the Countries of Mysia Lycaonia Phrygia and Caria and tooke in Warre Prusya which is now called Bursia and which was the aboade of the Kings of Bithynia where he receiued a hurt whereof he died in the first yeare of the raigne of Io. K. of France Edward the third of England stil raigning He raigned 22. yeares leauing Soliman and Amurath his sons and successors Soliman sonne of Orchanes raigned 2. yeares after his Father He made warre vpon the Greekes passed from Asya into Europe where he vanquished the Bulgarians and tooke many places from them especially in Thrace he got the Citties of Adrianople and Philopolis Some say that he died in his Fathers life time with a fall from his horse in hunting and that very soone after his father died with gréefe And this is the reason why some doe not set him in the rank of Turkish Emperors Amurath first of that name and sonne to Orchanes was Emperor of the Turkes in the year 1350. Good Fortune attended on him as shee did on his Graundfather and on his own Father likewise But he was as contrary to his graund father by the mothers side as his father had béen to his predecessor who bereft him of a great part of Cilicia by killing his sonne Amurath incited thereto by Iohn Paleologus sent twelue thousand Turkes for seruice of the said Paleologus which was the source and beginning of the ruyne of Constantinople For being allured with the riches of Europe to make another voyage he passed in the Genowaies gallies six thousand Turks vnder colour of yet giuing fresh succour to the Emperor of Constantinople and to expell his enemies out of the Empire But it was with full intention to vsurpe Greece So he crossed the arme of the Hellespont Sea to Abydos seazing Calypolis and other Citties Afterward with a verie strong power he set vpon the Emperor himselfe who no way doubted him Then tooke he Seruia and Bulgaria whose Princes he foiled comming in good manner against him But one of the followers of Lazarus Despote of Seruia in reuenge of his Maisters death slaine in the fight killed Amurath in the yeare 1378. Baiazeth King or Emperor of the Turks first of that name after the death of Amurath his Father slew his elder brother Solyman by Treason and enioyed the Empyre of the Turkes alone to himselfe To reuenge the death of his Father he made warre against Marke Lord of Bulgaria both vanquishing and killing him and subduing beside a great part of his country In short while after he ran thorow the Countries of Hungaria Albania and Valachia and doing great hurt vnto them tooke many Christians whom he carried Prisoners into Thrace In regard of most bold attempts in his Martiall businesse wherein hee was both hot and sudden hee was called Baiazeth Hildrin that is to say Heauens Lightning He subdued almost all Greece being assisted with the guifts and graces of Nature both in body and mind He besieged Constantinople for the space of eight yeares the Emperor wherof was gon into France to require assistance which was granted him Neuerthelesse Baiazeth had the victory ouer the French Hungarians Germaines Seruians Mysians at once assembled against him And so returning to Constantinople with a fresh besieging and finding no meanes to preserue the Empire of Constantinople suddenly Tamberlain came against Baiazeth and gaue him battel on mount Stella where Pompey fought with Mithridates There did Tamberlain conquer him bound him in chaines of gold placing him in a Cage of yron led him in that manner thorough Asya and Syria In which miserable estate Baiazeth died and after his decease we find that there was interregnum vntil Mahomet one of his sons came Iosuah or Cyriscelebes whom some wrongly name Calapine the eldest sonne of Baiazeth after the foyle of his Father was defeated of Asya by Tamberlain led Captiue to Constantinople for the Emperor as a singular prize But he was vsed as the sonne of a Prince and soon after with great humanity in the Emp. released and sent home into Asya where he recouered his Fathers kingdome After when he had well reestablished his forces he stoutly resisted Sigismond King of Hungary who came to assaile him and had woon diuers Prouinces from him presuming that the Turks could no way reléeue him after so great an ouerthrow giuen by Tamb. But Fortune spake no friendlier to Sigismund then she had formerly don to him when he fought against Baiazeth at Nicopolis his people being al larded with arrows before they could fall into order of battell For the Horsmen turned bridle euen at the first shocke noise of the Enemy and Cyriscelebes remained conqueror who was slaine by his brother Mustapha otherwise called Musulman in the very flower of his age the yeare 1407. Mustapha or Musulman was Emperor of the Turks a very small time for his brother Moyses possessed himselfe of the State and expelled him Som name this Mustapha Orchanes the second whom they tearme to be son and heire to Iosuah or Cyriscelebes and that he was slaine by Moyses his vncle by the fathers side but Moyses quickly did suffer his deserued punnishment For loosing both goods and life together himself was also slain by his owne brother Mahometh There be that write that this Mahometh raigned next after his father Baiazeth making no mention of Iosuah or Cyriscelebes neither of Mustapha or Orchanes nor of Moyses but after Baiazeth do make his sonne Mahometh presently to follow Moyses was expulsed and put to death by his brother Mustapha or as others say his nephue Orchanes and soone after he was likewise slaine by his brother Mahometh And these twoe by some are not set in ranke with
that it hath bin gouerned first by Consuls then by Tribunes and lastly by Dukes Maisters of warlicke power yet notwithstanding al these Dignities being but electiue and not hereditary the election should in right appertain to the most Noble Islanders and Gentlemen of name by whose aduise the Common-weal ought to be managed euen as it hath bin and still continueth to this day Consuls to the number of thrée were chosen for two yeares and albeit that this kinde of Gouernment lasted for about the space of thréescore yeares yet we finde only but thrée consecutiue or succéeding elections of them The first Consuls were Albertus Phalarius Thomas Candianus and Zeno Daulo These men first gouerned the Citty in her Nonage and some are of the minde that they were the first Authors of the Padnaus slight and their retyrement to the Lakish or marshie Isles as also of their first building there The second Consuls were Lucianus Graulus Maximus or Marinus Lucius and Hugo Fuscus The third were Marcus Aurelius Andreas Claudius Albinus Maurus The names of such as were elected after these are not to be found in any Histories After that the Isles about the Rialto were filled with Inhabitants in sted of Consuls Tribunes were created and for their creation the matter was first debated priuately by fewe people afterwarde it was ordained and resolued in open assembly of the Islanders that in each Isle there should be a Tribune and he shoulde bee a yearely Magistrate to render Iustice to the Cittizens and with seuerity to punnish their offences But the remainder which concerned the generality of the Common-weale was referred to the generall assembly of the Islanders to bee by them determined Afterward there was but one Tribune created for gouernement of the Isles which continued for some yeares Finally they concluded to create tenne whereunto were added two more who should dwell in Heraclea And this Tribunary dignity held place for more then two hundred yeares Héere is to be noted that the Tribunes of the Isles abusing their authorities did so trouble the State with ciuill dissentions as it plainly appeared that the maine bodie of the Citty would bee dissolued without some good and immediate remedy Which gaue occasion that to heare the complaints of euery one a generall assembly of the Isles was published and their méeting to be in Heraclea In this assembly Christophero Bish of Grada was President accompanied with a great number of the Clergy after diuine seruice was performed the first proposition which he made was that for good of the commonwealth each man might complain of the future Tribune which being done and the offences no longer to be indured for publick benefit of the state in general resolution was set down to make election of a Duke who should represent all honor and Maiesty in the State or Siegneurie and he should haue power to assemble the generall counsell when questions were to be made of any important matter concerning the Common-wealth He should haue power also to elect yearly Tribunes or Magistrates in euery Isle and their appellations to bee brought before him Moreouer if any should obtaine any dignity Prelacy or benefice by Suffrages of the Cleargie or people that he should not enioy it or be possessed thereof without the good liking and consent of the Duke whose power also ended with his life This being thus concluded in the yeare 697. Paullucio was created the first duke and so hath that Ducal dignity continued euer since Saue only that in the yeare 737. after the death of the third Duke Orso it was determined that no Duke should be elected for six yeares but that a Master of the armed troopes or soldiors should bee established and his authority to be annual which lasted no longer then fiue yeares For in the yeare 742 they procéeded againe to a Dukes election since that time the Commonwealth of Venice hath euermore had Dukes and Princes of the Seigneury by whose wisedome and his Counsell assisting it hath bin preserued in an euer flourishing estate euen to this instant yeare 1611. ¶ A short Summary of the liues of the Dukes and Princes of Venice and a breuiate also of the most remarkable actions in the times of their gouernment PAuluccio Annapesto was firste Duke of the people chosen in Heraclea Hee tooke his Oath before Christophero patriarch of Grada to gouerne according to the Lawes and to regard nothing more then the weale publicke He pacified the difference which Luitprand k. of the Lombards had with king Aribert and made friendship with them both As well by his authority as by armes He brought the rebellious Aequilius vnder obedience encreased the Citties customes and reuennewes and dyed hauing bin Duke xx yeares vi months and viij daies 2 Marcello Tegaliano of the same place of Heraclea was elected his successour by common voyce of the people Hee was deuoute modest and affable but much lesse diligent in gouerning then his predecessor The Patriarchat of Grada was trans-ferred into Aquileia in hys time by Luitprand and there he had great wars about the dissentions of the Byshops whereinto he would not interpose himselfe but died hauing bin Duke nine yeares and xxi dayes 3 Orso Hipato a Noble-man of Heraclea woon himselfe great Reputation by his famous déedes Paulo the Exarcho had recourse to him the Grecian Army being broken and siedge laid to Rauenna by Luitprand He regained Rauenna made the Kings Nephew his prisoner slewe the Duke of Vicenza and reseated the Exarcho in his due rights Hee brideled the Aquileians who troubled the publicke peace and put courage into the soules of the younger sort He was slain by reason of the dissentions of Iesolo the xi yeare and fift month of his Principality 4 Theodato Hipato sonne of Orso was proclaimed Duke fiue yeares after the death of his Father during which time the people were gouerned by a Marshall or Maister of the soldiors and forsaking Heraclea he brought the State to Malamocco There he was the first created and limitted his confines with Astolpho king of the Lombards He was also slaine by Galla a citizen of Malamocco in the 13. year of his principality 5 Galla de Malamocco a wicked and seditious man yet shewing himselfe as Protector of publick peace he was established in the place of Theodato But his wickednesse being knowne and that being but a subiect he would néedes make himselfe absolute Lord hauing before slaine his chiefe Maister Theodato the people pluckt out his eies and tooke from him the dignity which he had a yeare vsurped 6 Dominico Monegario of Malamocco was seated in the sted of Galla. Somewhat to bridle his Dukes authority the people ioined two yearly Tribunes with him But he being a man audacious and arrogant sought to tiranize ouer the people whereat they growing into fury pluckt out his eies the 8. yeare of his Principality 7 Mauritio Galbaio a Noble Heraclean for his Iustice wisedome
and wealth was chosen to this dignity Hee made his sonne Duke with him and they gouerned together In his time the church of Grada being mollested he sent an Ambassador to pope Stephen to accord the difference The Bishopprick of S. Peter de Castello Oliuolo was then erected And he died hauing gouerned 23. yeares 8 Giouanni Galbaio hauing bin Duke 9. years with his father gouerned the commonwealth yet 9. yeares more and after the said time hee made Mauritio his Sonne companion with him in the Principality But they being both of wicked and vnsufferable life hauing murdered Iohn Patriarchat of Grada throwing him downe headlong from an high tower Fortunatus successor in the Patriarchate made a conspiracy against them another was elected Duke Wherat being not a little confounded the Father fled into France the son to Mantua the xvi yeare of their rule 9 Obelerio being elected Prince by them that had intelligence with Fortunatus tooke his Brother Beato as his associate and Valentine beside being their thirde brother was admitted with them in the same dignity And it is worth note that of these thrée brethren Beato is onely placed in the rank of Dukes in the Counsell chamber of Venice where as Obelerio incited Pepin king of Italy to make war on the Venetians and Beato maintained the cōmonwealth raigning 5. years 10 Angelo Participatio after he had well born himselfe in the warre against Pepin was elected Duke the people being summoned to the Rialto He founded the Dukes Palace in the same place where that now built standeth The deuision of the Empire was made in his time the Venetians left in their own liberty The City was diuided into wards stréets and precinctes The Pregadi the Ouaranta who for criminal offences was then instituted among them He gouerned eightéen yeares 11 Giustiniano Participatio hauing bin an associate in the dignity with his father was after his death confirmed by the people He repealed home his brother Iohn who was then at Constantinople accepted him as his fellow ruler he made the peoples authority greater than before gaue aid to Michael the Emp. against the Sarazins The body of S. Mark was in his time broght from Alexandria accepting into his protection the church remaining at this day was cōsecrated in his memory He died the 2. year of his dignity 13 Giouanni Participatio remained in the royaltie inlarged the Church of S. Marke placing therein a great number of priests Canons and appointing a Primicerio to gouern them He caused the head of Obelerio to be cut off whom hee had besiedged in the Isle of Curtia He made war vpon the Nauratines and ouercame them In the end a conspiracy was deuised against him and being confined to Grada in the eight yeare of his Principality he shaued his head and bearde and made himselfe a Monke in which estate he died 13 Pietro Tradonico of Pola hauing carryed himselfe to the peoples contentment in the wars against Pepin was elected duke He ioyned Iohn his son in rule with him gaue succor to the Emp. of Constantinople who made request thereof by Theodosius Patricius He was made Protospatary of the empire in help whereof he sent 60. gallies Lewes 2. granted him many priuiledges in the end he was slain by a sedition in his 27. year 14 Orso Participatio hauing appeased the sedition was made Duke The Turkes hauing spoiled Dalmatia euen so far as Grada wer vanquished by him Giouanni Participatio his son whom he had made associate with him in his gouernment Basilius the Emperor highly honored him for that good Seruice and made him Protospatarie of the Empire He gouerned 17. yeares 15 Giouanni Participatio beeing confirmed in his dignity tooke and burned Comachio wasted the County of Rauenna to reuenge himselfe on the Count of Comachio who had imprisoned and wounded to death his Brother Badoario He growing much ouercome with sicknesse caused the Church of Saint Cornelius and S. Cyprian to be built at Malamocco and hauing gouerned fiue yeares and sixe monthes renounced the Dignitie 16 Pietro Candiano was elected after the voluntarie dismission of his Predecessour Hée was a valiaunt Man and expert in Armes and yet notwithstanding greatlie addicted to deuotion He went in person with tenne Gallies against the Narantines who as Théeus robbed and purloined from the Venitians Fighting valiantlie against them hee died at the second time with the weapons in his hands He gouerned no longer then fiue months Dominico Tribuno is set by some in rank with the Dukes but others lesse curious in search of the History haue omitted him because hee was Duke but thrée months and thirtéen daies and nothing is remarkeable in his time but a certaine priuiledge granted by him to Chioggia 17 Pietro Tribuno Sonne of Dominico was elected Duke He obtained of Guydo Emperour and King of Italy a confirmation of all auncient Priuiledges The Barbarian Hunnes came againe into Italy and burned Heraclea Capo de Arger and Chioggia This Prince ouercame them with very much honour and this was the third time that those Strangers sought to vsurpe on that State Hee gouerned twentie foure yeares 18 Orso Badoaro called himselfe Participatio and was the first that changed his name He sent for his Son Pietro to Constantinople and he was made Protospatarie In the yeare 920. he obtained of Rodolphus Emperour and King of Italy the confirmation of the Venitians auncient authority to stamp Monies He addicted himselfe wholy to piety and in his 20. yeare hee renounced the Dignity to make him-selfe a Monke and liue priuately 19 Pietro Candiano the second was a worthy man and made war on Lauterio Marquesse of Istria who hindred the Traffique of the Venitians he ouer-came him and reconquered the people of Capo d'Istria He vanquished Albertus Son to the Emperour Berengarius who impatronizing himself of Rauenna impeached the passage of the Venitians Ships In his time Maydens were stolne by the Testaines to ioyne in marriage with them but they were soone recouered He gouerned seauen yeares 20 Pietro Badoaro the Sonne of Orso was redéemed by him from the Sclauonians Hée gouerned but two yeares and seauen moneths alwaies in peace which he much affected Berengarius the Emperour did him many fauours for his great deserts 21 Pietro Candiano the third Sonne to the second Candiano associated himselfe in his dignity with his son Pietro at two seuerall times armed 33. Shippes against the Narentines but at the second time he made peace with them His son being reproued by him for his bad behauior reuolted from him and against the Common-wealth The people would haue slaine him but he was sent into exile where ioyning with Guydo Sonne of Berengarius hee endangered the Common-wealth Whereat his father grieuing died in his fiftéenth yeare of his gouernment 22 Pietro Candiano the fourth being repealed from exile albeit the people had sworne neuer to receiue him was made prince with very great
so weakned and diminished that many other Kingdoms were established in Spaine as that of Nauarre by Enocho Counte of Bigorre in the yeare 960. which he tooke away from the Moores and Sarrazins by a very valiant conquest of them The Son of this Enocho being named Garzias second king of Nauarre woon and conquered Arragon from the same enemies And afterward in the year 116. was Arragon reduced to be a kingdome by the Will and Testament of Sanchio the Great fourth King of Nauarre for loue to Ramyrus his Natural Sonne who was the first King thereof This was the same Sanchio who being Earle of Castille in the kingdome of Leon tooke on him first the name of King Castille which he left vnto his Sonne Ferdinand The Kingdome of Portugal was also conquered from the same Moores by Earle Henry Sonne vnto the Duke of Lorraine who held it first of all vnder Title of Earle in the year 1110. but quickly after brought he it to be a Kingdome Spaine did continue so in this kinde of State for a long time deuided into many Kingdomes And the Moores had also theyr abiding there possessing still a great part thereof till such time as Ferdinand the fifte King of Arragon who was married to Isabell the onely heire of Castille And he wholly expulsed the Moores out of Spaine in the yeare 1492. In no great distance of time after he possessed himselfe of Sicilie Naples inuading also the East Indiaes But fraudulentlie he vsurped the Kingdom of Nauar against Iohn d'Albret who was indéede the lawfull King And it is this Ferdinand and Isabell his Wife that wee may say truely the Kingdome of Spaine onely had beginning in They left one onelie Daughter named Ioane who was married to Phillip the first of Austria Sonne vnto the Emperor Maximillian and Mary of Bourgundie hee succéeded in this Kingdome of Spaine and other Countreyes beside He was likewise Earle of Bourgondie of Flaunders and Lorde of the Lowe-Countreyes in the right of his Mother In this his Marriage was borne Charles the fift who was afterward Emperor Hee raigned nine and thirtie yeares preseruing his Prouinces verie happilie And he left for successour both in Spaine and the more part of his other Countries his sonne Phillip the second who raigned thrée and fortie yeares hauing adioyned to his other Estates the Kingdome of Portugall in the yeare of our Lorde 1580. and so consequentlie all that which the Portugalles helde in the East Indiaes and else-where as in Affrica and Brasile which came vnto him by the death of King Henrie the Cardinall Hee died aged seauentie yeares the thirtéenth day of September 1598. No long time before his death he hadde made peace with the mighty and most Christian King of Fraunce and Nauarre Henry the fourth Phillip the thirde his Sonne succéeded him and raigneth as yet to this day He married Margaret Daughter to the Arch-Duke of Austria by whom he had a Sonne in the month of April 1606. Of Germany and the Princes Electors LIttle can we héere speake of Germany in regard it requireth a large ample discourse Onely concerning the Princes Electors I finde it recorded that Pope Gregorie the fifte of that name being a Natiue of Saxonie in Germanie and Kinsman to the Emperour Otho to the end that the Empyre might long remaine in the hands of them of his Nation procured a Law to be made with the consent of Otho about the election of the Emperor in the yeare of our Lord 1002. which Law was afterward duely kepte and hath béene to our time that it shoulde be alwayes lawful and permitted to the Allemaignes or Germaines only to elect and chuse the Prince that was to be called Caesar and King of the Romaines with the Title likewise of Soueraigne Emperour and Augustus so soone as his election was approoued It was therefore ordered that that thrée Ecclesiasticall persons and foure of the Laytie shoulde haue the full authority heerein with the voyce of all the State in generall The Ecclesiasticall men were the Arch-Byshoppes of Magonoe Treues and Colongne The Layickes were the Marquesse of Bradenbourg the Count Palatine of Rhine the Duke of Saxony and the King of Bohemia to all whose Successors this Dignitie appertained And the King of Bohemia was added for the seauenth Electour to the end of auoyding all differences which might happen in the election and to iudge especially ouer the other ¶ A short Chronologicall Discourse of Fraunce the Originall of that Nation and a briefe History of their kings from Pharamond their first Gouernour to Lewes 13. now raigning ¶ To the Worshipful Mayster Richard Langley Esquire Towne-Clarke of the Honourable Cittie of London THe greater part of such as haue Written concerning the Originall and Etymologie of the Name Francs or Francions who afterwarde came to bee called Frenchmen haue scarse faithfully or respectiuelie handled that Subiect Many ancient moderate Writers as Sigisbert Gregory of Tours Aimonius the Monk Hunibant and the more part of our Chroniclers and Annalistes made theyr whole recourse to Dreames and Fables because they liued in those barbarous times when learning was trodden vnder-foot and good Bookes were burned by the Gothes Vandales and Hunnes with other vnciuil Nations who quenched and smothered the light of good Letters which being hidden vnder-ground to auoid such barbarous and abortiue fury our fore-named Writers were robd of knowing those sound Authors without whom they could not iudiciouslie censure or write the History of the French Nation Others that long time after and much néerer to our instant Age haue likewise written on the same Argument by following the track of those former blinde-guides haue fallen into their errour and folly reading no other Authours but those misse-leaders neyther taking any paines to peruse those graue auncients which more polished seasons haue discouered vnto vs. So that those best embraced Authours of the French are euen the loudest lyers leauing a rooted opinion in their ydle fancies that they are issued of the Troyans and that they were named French of Francus or Francion the Sonne of Hector who after sacke and spoile of the saide Citty saued himselfe with so many as could escape the Graecians Sword and fire in the Palus Maeotides and that of his name whom they thus followed they were first called Francks or Francions Next that néere to this Palus Maeotides they builded a Citty which they named Sicambria after the name of an Aunt to Francus the Daughter of King Priam and that there they dwelt vntill the Emperor Valentinians time being then constrained to passe into Allemaigne and thence into Gaule See héere the conceite of some fond French-men concerning the Etimologie of their name which if any one should offer to take from them he should in their iudgment commit no mean crime And albeit there are many and contrary opinions in this case yet I will plainely tell ye no more
then what I haue read and séene written Some say that in times past there was a nation in Europe scattered dispierced héere and there who were called Cimmerians one part of them had the Name of Cimbrians another Sicambrians and a third Francs or Francions These people passing thorough the Countrey of Pannonia now deuided into two parts the one called Hungaria and the other Austria were driuen from their precedent dwelling which was at the Cimmerian Bosphorus by the Goths in the yeare of the Worldes Creation 3520. Others say that these Cimmerians tearmed theÌ„selues to bée deriued of those Fraci that appeared on the Earth after Noahs Floud viz that of those diuisions made in the whole vniuerse by partage of the Mediterranean Sea those which were in Europe distinctly on the right hand gaue to the Haebrews these Fraci euen as them on the left hand did the Affricanes There are some others who doe fetch the Originall of those Cimmerians from Gomer the Sonne of Iaphet and youngest Sonne of Noah of whom they should take their Name by change of some Letters calling them Cimmerians instead of Gomorians But howsoeuer it was that Nation of Cimmerians abandoning the vtmost Confines of Thrace and the fore-named Bosphorus deuided themselues into dyuers bands oâ—e whereof made their way to the Pannonians another to that side of Germanie where the Cimbrian Chersonnesus is described by our Geographers And the rest leauing Europe passed into Phrygia and making vppe higher into Asia set downe their rest on the Banckes of Danubie and the maine Ocean There once more they separated them-selues into two Troopes One whereof entred into Europe vnder conduct of their King named Francion And being no other then méere Vacabond persons enquiring still for noueltie of Countries after they had runne through a great part of Europe at length they rested on the banckes of Rhine where they would néeds build a Citty in semblaunce and Name of Troy the Capitall Commaunder of Phrigia They began the foundation but the worke remained imperfect The other sort that made their aboad on the banckes of Danubie elected for their K. one named Torchor by whose name they were called Torches or Torques euen as on the contrary side the other after the name of Francion their King were tearmed Francs Françions or Françons They waxing weary of their kings Empire which grew to an insupportable tyranny expulsed them liued a long time without any King vnder authoritie of their Captaines But in the end corruption ouer-swaying those Captaines and threatning a tyranicall vsurpation they did likewise cast them off and grew to their former election of Kings againe euen from the selfe-same stirp and race whereof their first Kings had bin elected They made choise then of a Man named Theudomer son to Richomer a man of strong great and goodly stature wearing his Haire long and hée was descended of the race of Priam King of Phrygia and of Francion So that if this opinion be true it should enstruct vs that the Originall of the Françons or Françions procéeded of the Cimmerians and that those Cimmerians came from Phrygia and the Troyans The Cimbrians who were descended of the Cimmerians went to the banckes of Rhine and dwelt there in those straits where in these daies are the Countries of Holland and Gueldres But they were forced thence by frequent ouerflowings and strange invndations of the waters of Rhine The Sicambrians being issued of these Cimbrians and who neuer boudged from the shoares of Rhine as these others did of whom we haue formerly spoken they passed into Italy and from thence into other Regions heretofore mentioned And it is to be noted that when the Cimbrians went first to Rhine bee it that they came from the Pannonians by Land or from Phrygia and Thrace by the Germaine Sea being in number about 489360. they were by the Teutones and Thuringians Neighbors to Rhine named Neumagi as much to say as new Kins-men or Cousins Afterward when their King Antenor a man of great power had espoused Cambra a beautifull wise and chast Lady borne in the Country of Brittaine now called England in fauour of her he tearmed his people Sicambrians This happened in the yeare of the Worlds Creation 1550. At which time Artaxerxes raigned ouer the Persians and Hanniball passed first into Italie Antenor King of the Sicambrians lest to those his people inhabiting on the Rhine his Sonne Priam for their King After whom succéeded Marcomedes who extended his Dominion from the banckes of Rhine so farre as Thuringe The other Sicambrian Kinges succéeding after these fore-named did almost all of them tearme themselues Troyans which holdeth with good iudgement to shew that the Sicambrians were issued of the Cimmerians and Phrygians There were also many Kinges of these Nations and after that the Sicambrians grew to encrease néere the Rhine both in multitude of men and riches diuers other Kinges raigned ouer them who extended the limites of their possessions on eyther side the Rhine In the raignes of Clodion Clodomire the second Meradac and Bolon vnder conduct of whom the Cimbrians forsooke the shoares of Rhine by reason of the invndations of the saide Riuer and likewise of the Sea they leagued them-selues with the Teutones or Allemaignes and departed in great troopes from their habitations leauing very few there behinde them who being afterward vanquished by the Romaines with other people of the Gaules neighbouring néere the Rhine continued peaceably in their dwellings vntill the declining of the Romaine Empire but yet they were wadged as Souldiers in the Romaine Legions and serued the Romains faithfully in all their wars Some certaine yeares after they rebelled against the Emperour Honorius who conquâ—red them in a battaile But recouering theyr losse they grew in to good fauour with the Emperour Valentinian Héereupon some haue written that in regard they gaue him good ayde against the Alaâ—nes expelled them from the Palus Maeotides they were by him called Francks and dispensed withall for tenne yeares tribute which formerly as a Due they payed to the Romaines But at the ten yeares end the Emperor sent his Collectours to them to leuy againe the saide tribute whereto they would in no wise listen but despising his commaundement they murdered his Officers The Emperor being offended at their rebellion assembled a potent Army that vanquished them in battaile wherein also Priam their King was slaine and they driuen to flight from theyr Cittie Sicambria Beeing thus expulsed thence they came into Germany which then was enimy to the Romains possessing themselues of Thuringe they liued there for some time vnder the raigne of Marcomedes son to Priam of Sueno sonne to Antenor one of their Kings thus you may sée what some haue said But as concerning the Citty of Sicambria builded néer to the Palus Maeotides not by the Françones or Françions but onely so auouched by the writings of Hunibant
returned to him againe by suruiuing his saide Brother Dagobert was in great peril of death in the life time of his father because he had cut off his schoolmaisters beard and caused him to bee grieuously beaten but miraculously he auoyded the anger of his father whereupon he builded the Church of S. Denis in France which he inriched with treasures taken from other churches especially that of Poictiers and graunted them also the Fayre of Lendit Hee was the first that gaue any patrimony of the Crown to Churches He conquered the Sclauonians who were then Idolaters and quieted the Gascoignes that had rebeld against him compelling also the King of Bretaigne to do him homage It is said that being much addicted to pleasure he would train after him a troupe of gallant maidens apparrelled like to Quéenes By a perpetuall Edict hee banished all Iewes out of France that would not bée baptised During his raigne Mahomet the false Prophet a natiue of Arabia began to shew himselfe He raigned sixtéene yeares died of a Flux in his belly at Espinay and lieth buried at Saint Denis which hee instituted as a Sepulchre for Kings 12 Clouis second of that name succéeded his Father Dagobert in the yeare of mans saluation 645. He had but one bastard Brother named Sigibert who in the life time of his father Dagobert was prouided of the Kingdome of Austrasia and raigned there but eleauen yeares leauing a Sonne whom hee dearely re-commended vnto Grimoald Maire of his Pallace But he insted of aduancing him in his right caused him to bee shauen and sent vnto a Monastery in Scotland making his owne sonne Hildebert King of Austrasia Clouis hearing this wicked act within two yeares after caused Grimoald to bee put to death and expulsed Hildebert out of the Kingdome by which meanes Clouis remained sole Monarch of the Gaules He had by his wife Baudone a Lady of Saxonie thrée Sons who were all Kings each aftâ—r other In his time there hapned in Fraunce such scarsity of victuals and consequently such an extreame famine that Clouis to redresse it took from the Church of S. Denis the siluer couertures about the Relicks and roofe and other treasures wherewith his father Dagobert had enriched it to féede the poore in so great a misery exempting thereto in recompence the iurisdiction of the Bishop of Paris He went to Ierusalem and there warred against the Infidels He raigned sixtéene yeares and dying was buried at S. Denis 13 In the yeare 663. Clothaire thirde of that name succéeded after his father Clouis Kinges in those times were so carelesse of maintaining their Maiestie Royall that they suffered themselues to be gouerned by the Maires of their Pallace who had charge of all their publicke affaires while they in meane space gaue themselues wholly to voluptuousnesse These Maires héereby tooke such authority vpon them that the king was but as their vassaile and him woulde they kéepe in some Castle or other place of pleasure neuer shewing him to the people but onely once in a yeare the first day of May and then it was done with great pompe and Royall magnificence mounted in a triumphall Chariot and the people that tooke pleasure in such sights wold salute him onely with loud acclamations This course continued till Pepin le Bref which was almost an hundred yeares During the raygne of such Kings Paris and Normandie was all their largest demaines the rest of Oâ—ule being diuorced as it were from the Kings Soueraigne prerogatiue was in the possession of many Princes making themselues Dukes and Earles in theyr seuerall iurisdiction He lieth buried at Chelles néere Paris dying in the yeare 666. and fourth of his raigne Hee did not any thing deseruing to be written but onely kept his subiects in peace For Ebroin was so terrible he being then Maire and Gouernor as neither the princes of France or any other Straungers durst attempt to rayse Warre against him The honor both of kings and Kingdome died with Clothaire for the Maires of the Pallace pretending to guard the rightes of the Crowne beganne each one thorowe his owne auarice to debate the Gouernement of publicke affaires as formerly hath béene declared 14 Childerick second of that name and sonne of Dagobert succéeded his Brother Clothaire in the yeare 666. being receiued by the French in hatred of Theodorick who by the perswasion of Ebroine was crowned King but afterward shauen and put into S. Denis Monastery as Ebroine himselfe was at Lucon in Burgundie His insolencies and cruelties hastened his tragicall ending being slaine as he was hunting with his wife Blitilda great with childe by one named Bodille a Gentleman of Franconia whoÌ„ he had caused to be cruelly beaten He raigned 12 yeares and is buryed at S. Germain des Pres. 15 Theodorick first of that name Sonne also to Dagobert and Brother to Childerick was againe made king in the year 680. He after the death of Cothaire the third raigned a yeare and more before Childerick albeit he was the younger Brother onely by the meanes of Ebroine Maire of the Pallace But in regard of his badde gouernment he was shut vp in a Monastery and so was Ebroin Maire of the Pallace whose cruelties the French could not endure But Childerick and his Quéen being murdered in hunting he was fetcht forth of the Monastery and aduanced againe to the dignity Royall in the yeare before expressed And then was Landresill the son of Archambauld made Maire of his Pallace But Ebroin forsaking his Cloister got a great Army together won the victory against them killing Landresill by Treason and taking the King and kingdome into his owne gouernment reuenging himselfe without sparing any Hee ouercame Pepin and Martine Brothers to the Duke of Austrasia and contrary to his faithfull promise killed the saide Martine himselfe also being after slaine in the night time by Hermanfroy Count of the same country Pepin Heristell was then made Maire of the Pallace who carried himselfe valiantly in his Office and greatlie augmented the kingdome This King Theodorick whom some doo call Thierry hauing raigned xix yeares died in Anno 693. leauing two sons by his wife Clotilda Clouis who was king after him and Childebert During the raigns of these two precedent kings the greatnesse of Royal Maiesty which ought to be in Kings did ouer-much obscure it selfe the Church of Rauenna dissenting from the Romain Church was yet by meanes of Pope Donus drawne to voluntary conformity which greatlie encreased the Cleargies honour and their dignities so that the Romain Church much augmented it selfe 16 Clouis third of that name and eldest sonne to Theodorick entred into possession of the Royaltie being verie yong in years An. 694. In his time Pepin Heristell Maire of the Pallace passed the Rhine with a puissant Army subduing the Saxons and Sueuians who had reuolted from obedience by reason of some troubles happening in France Hee also
in the Abbey of Rhynsbourg his widdow Lady Elizabeth being carried back into England where she was afterward maried to the Earle of Oxford So that by the death of Earl Iohn in this maner those countries were deuolued to the earls of Henault issuing by the mothers side froÌ„ the Earls of Holland 21 Iohn second of that name called Iohn of Henault claiming his right from Alix sister to William king of the Romans succéeded after Iohn as Earle of Holland Zeland and Frizeland c. He had a long and tedious trouble with Iohn de Reuesse who perswaded the Emperor that Iohn Earle of Holland dying without issue his Earledomes ought in right to returne to the Empire according as Charles the Bald Emperor of the Romans had at first giuen them in sée homage to Thierrie of Aquitaine This suggestion raised the Emperor Albert in Armes against Iohn of Henault but the Bishop of Cullen compounded the matter betwéen them and Iohn de Reuesse was afteeward drowned by which means Iohn of Henault was rid of a turbulent enemy Iohn of Henault hauing gouerned Henault thirty years and his Countries of Holland Zeland Frizeland 5. years died was buried at Valenciennes 22 VVilliam the thirde son and heire to Count Iohn of Henault succéeded his fathers earldoms he was commonly called The good Earle william for his Vertues Iustice good life and honorable actions In his time happened so great a dearth and famine tn Holland that poore people died with hunger euen in the streetes as they went seeking also for hearbes and rootes in the fields and woods there they were likewise found dead and in the common high wayes litle children died sucking at their Mothers breasts and some were enforced to feede on their deade Children In this time of Famine a poore waman in the Towne of Leyden being extreamly ouercharged with hunger entreated her owne sister being a woman of better ability to lend hir som Bread which she would thankfully repay again when God should inable hir She very vnkindly without any pitty of hir extremity denied her oftentimes notwithstanding the others often vrgings that she was assured shee could not bee without bread Heereupon the vnmercifull Sister lying both to God and to her owne poore sister saide If I haue any bread I wish that it may instantly be turned into a stone wherewith the heauy displeasure of God laid hold vppon her words going afterward to her Cupboord to relieue hir self she found al her loaues of bread conuerted into apparant stones died her selfe with extreamity of hunger It is crediblie saide that one or two of those stones are yet to be séene in S. Peters Church at Leyden as a memorie of this iust iudgement of God There is also recorded another memorable Historie of vpright Iustice doone by this good Earle VVilliam to a poore Countrey-Man against a Bayliffe of South Holland who hadde taken a goodly faire Cowe from him that was the releefe of himselfe his poore Wife and Children as there are some Kine in that Countrey which doe giue twenty pottles of Milke and more in a day The Bayliffe at the poore mans complaint to this good Earle William who lay then sick in his Bed at Valenciennes yet neuer debarred any suters from audience were he sick or well was adiudged to giue the poore man an hundred Crownes of good Gold for the wrong he had done to him which was accordingly performed But for his iniury to publique Iustice being himselfe an Officer and abusing the authoritie committed in trust to him the Earle sent for an Executioner and caused his head to be smitten off by his Beddes side This good Count William beeing a vertuous Prince victorious in warre a Man learned wise well spoken and iudicious a great friend to peace gracious to all men beloued in all Princes courts hauing gouerned his Prouences 32. yeares died the 9. of Iune 1337. and was buried with great pomp at Valenciennes 23 William the fourth Sonne to the good Earle William came to his Fathers Earledoms by lawfull succession He was a man of high merit and a most famous Souldier whereof hée made good proofe first against the Sarrazins and Moores in the Kingdome of Granada Next with the Emperour Lewes and many Noble Earles ayding his brother in law Edward the 3. King of England against the King of Fraunce Thâ—â—ly in ouer-running all Lithuania Liuonia and warring against the Russian Infidels lading home his men with victory and wealthy spoiles And lastly in preuailing against the Frizons and Robert of Arckell Gouernour of Vtrecht Yet it was his hard hap to bee slaine vnknowne among the Frizons before any coulde haue power to help him so that he left no lawful Childe to succéede him and therefore his Sister being Empresse remained his onely Heire 24 Margaret Wise to Lewes of Bauaria then Emperour and eldest Sister to Earl William slaine as you haue heard by the Frizons by the Emperours interposition of his authority and her owne Natiue right went downe by the Rhine into Holland accompanied with a most princely and well beséeming traine and was acknowledged to be Lady and Princesse of Holland Zeland and Frizeland But before her returne backe to the Emperour againe shee constituted both his and her eldest sonne named William of Bauaria to be her Regent there in those Countries for a summe of Money yearely paied to her but remaining vnpaid she might resume all her rights to her selfe againe The Emperour deceasing the Empresse Margaret came thither againe and had resignation from her son William of all the fore-said Countries retyring himselfe into Henault as being well contented there to liue till by intestine discord dangerous practises of two intruded factions called Cabillaux and Hoecks wherein both Nobles and Gentlemen did too far enter the Mothers gouernment did grow vnsufferable and Duke William was recouered from Henault to vnder-goe the sole-Sole-authority Two very bloudy battailes were fought betwéen the Empresse and her Son and in the first Earl William escaped with great difficultie and fledde into Holland for this battaile was fought at La Vere in Zeland But in the second there was so much bloud spilt that for thrée daies after the old Riuer of Mense at full Sea was all ouer red in that place The Empresse by helpe of a small Barke escaped into England and vppon an agreement afterward made betwéene them Duke VVilliam had the quiet possession of Holland Zeland and Frizeland assigned him and the Empresse Margaret had the County of Henault where fiue yeares after she ended her daies and lieth buried at Valenciennes 25 Duke William being peaceably possessed of his Seigneuries according to the former composition béeing also Duke of Bauaria Palatine of Rhine and Earle of Henault by his Mothers death tooke to Wife the Lady Mathilda daughter to Henry Duke of Lancaster in England by
the Worshipfull Maister William Dios Esquire Remembrauncer of the Honourable Citty of London WHether this Lande were peopled before the flood or no it is no part of my purpose to argue heer thereon albeit Dominicus Marius Niger and Berosus do affirme that well as this Islande was inhabited with people long before the dayes of Noah as any other Countrey or part of the world beside But after the floud according to Annius de Viterbo Berosus and others when Noah deuided the earth among his thrée Sonnes that part which is now knowne by the name of Asia fell to the lot of his eldest Sonne Sem Affrica to his second Sonne Cham and Europe withall the Isles thereto appertaining to his third Son Iaphet among which this Island now called Brittaine with other Isles thereto belonging was certainely numbred Iaphet Noahs third Sonne by some called Iapetus by others Atlas Maurus because hee died in Mauritania in the iudgement of Bodinus auouching the consent and authority of the Hebrew Greeke and Latine Writers was the first that peopled the Countries of Europe deuiding it also by the Grand-fathers example among his Sonnes of whom Tuball according to Tarapha had the rule of Spaine Gomer the Italians and Samothes was the founder of Celtica which contained in it as Bale testifieth a great part of Europe but especially those Countries now called Gallia and Britannia which peopling of this Island by Iaphets Children is affirmed to be 200 yeares after the floud Samothes being the sixt Sonne of Iaphet and called by Moses Mesech by others Dis had for his portion as Wolfangus Lazius auoucheth the Countrey betweene the Riuer of Rhine the Pyrenean Mountaines where hee founded the kingdom of Celtica tearming his people Celtae which name was as indifferent to them of Gallia as to the Inhabitantes of the Isle of Britaine This King Samothes is reported to bee a Man excelling all other in that age in learning and knowledâ—e that of him theÌ„ arose a sect of Philosophers both in Britaine Gallia which were cald Samothei as Aristotle and Secion do say were surpassing both in the Law of God man and therefore greatly addicted to religion especially them of Britaine which not onely made the whole nation to take name of them but as Bale and Doctor Caius affirme the Island it selfe was named Samothea which was the first peculiar name it had before the arriuall of Albion Magus the Sonne of Samothes was second King of Celtica after his Father This Magus was likewise so famous for his learning that the Persians Magi or Diuines are said to come of him Sarron succéeded his Father Magus in the Countrey of Gallia and the Isle Samothea of whom Diodorus Siculus reporteth that a sect of Philosophers descended among the Celtes who were called Sarronides Druis or after Seneca Dryus raigned after his Father Sarron indifferently ouer the Celtes and Samotheans Of him came the Philosphers called Druides whom Caesar anoucheth to haue the charge of common and priuate sacrifices the discussing of pointes of Religion the education of youth the determining of matters in variance and full power to interdict so many from the Sacrifices to their Gods and societie of men as disobeyed their award If any doubt arose in the Countries about matters of Discipline they alwayes resorted to these Druides who as Humphtey Llhoyd witnesseth made theyr chéefest aboade in the Isle now called Anglesey and there at all times receiued their resolution Bardus the Sonne of Druis was the fifth King ouer the Celtes and Samotheans a man much renowmed for inuention of Musique and Ditties and he made an order of Philosophicall Poets or Herauldes calling them Bardi after his owne Name Of these Bardi Nonnius Strabo Diodorus Stephanus Bale and Sir Iohn Price doe thus record That they vsed to Register the Noble exploits of auncient Captaines and to draw the pedegrées and Genealogies of such as were liuing They did so excell in singing swéete Songes and Ditties to theyr Harpes that if two Armies had béene ready to ioyne battaile and any one of these Bards by fortune entred among them they had not the power to strike vntill he left singing and went from the Armies When Bardus was deceased the Celts began to affect liberty and addicting themselues to pleasure and ydlenesse would liue no longer vnder the strict orders of their auncient Kinges which brought them the sooner vnder subiection to the Gyant Albion who straited Celtica and the Celtes within the boundes of Gallia tearming this Island formerly called Samothea Albion according to his owne name and subdued the people albeit the Title of Samotheans according to the iudgement of diuers Writers had continued from Samothes to Albion the space of 310. yeares This Albion was the fourth Sonne of Neptune whom Moyses calleth Nepthuim and who did put his said Son in possession of this Island by conquering the Samotheans as he did the like to his other Sonne named Bergion in Ireland and the Orkenies which were brought vnder his obeysance Concerning the Historie of Hercules Lybicus whom Moyses nameth Laabin his Conquests in Spaine his passage into Italy against Lestrigo and lastly his killing Albion and his Brother Bergion it being nothing incident to my present purpose I leaue it Also the Story of Danaus Daughters being fifty in number that they should arriue in this Island after the slaughter of their Husbandes the fifty Sonnes of King Aegyptus and that one of those Ladies should bee named Albina of whom this Land should bée called Albion I passe it ouer likewise and will now procéede to the knowne History of Brute Yet not daring to enter into so rich a Mine of hidden treasure till being guided by the Light of Brittaine the learned labour of a worthy Gentleman and Antiquarie Maister Henry Lyte of Lytescarie Esquire and which with his owne hand hée presented to our late Soueraigne Quéene and matchlesse Mistresse on the day when shee came in royall manner to Paules Church I be guided therein for my better direction vsing his owne words The Light of Britaine BRitannia Maior the Countrey of the bright Britona called Britomartis the president of Britaine that is to say the chast Diana of Calydonia sylua Astrorum decus Syluarum dea casta et innupta custos et cultrix nemorum metuenda Virago terror syluestribus apris This Britannia maior was first found by Brute of Albania the Conqueror of the Greeks the mightie deliuerer of the Troyans and first founder of the Noble Britaines Who by the Oracle of the bright Britona called Diana of Calydonia sylua Astrorum decus brought the remaines of the Albanian Troyans of Asia from Albania Calydonia sylua Aetolia in Greece to Albania Calydonia sylua and Aetolia in Briraine Before whose most happy and fortunate arriuall there was neither Towne Citty Countrey Riuer Region or place of name in Britannia for Britannia
dignity of Senators in Aldermen It hath vnder Officers and according to the qualitie of Lawes so hath it seueral Courts and generall assemblies vpon appointed daies At parting with the name of Portgraues and Prouosts in the first yeare of K. Richard 1. the cittizens obtained to be gouerned by 2. Baliffes who in auncient déedes were called Sheriffes as the Lawe tearmeth the Shire Balliua vsing the same office of Shriuewick as the Portgraues before did The names of the first Bayliffes or Officers entring into their dignity at the Feast of Saint Michaell the Arch-angell Anno 1189 were Henry Cornehill and Richard Reynere King Richard also at that very time appointed a supreame Officer aboue the rest by the name of Maior which worde was borrowed from the Haebrew word Mar and signifieth Dominus Lord a word vsed by the Franconians and old Saxons their Neighbours of whom English-men haue their Originall but called Maire as the French did their Maires of the Pallace Thus was the chiefe Gouernor called Lord Maire or Maior because they vnderstood not that the epethite Maire or Maior implyed no lesse then lord without any other additions yet thus was it thē giuen for a larger augmentation of Honor. Now as the Goldsmiths yéelded London a Prouost before named Leofstanus euen so the same Company albeit not as yet rancked into a List of Brother-hood gaue London likewise the first Lord Maire or Maior in Dignity whose name was Henry Fitz-Alwin Fitz-Liefstane and being so appointed by the King he continued in that supreame Office from the first yeare of King Richard the first vntill the fiftéenth of K. Iohn which was more then twenty foure years Henry Cornehill and Richard Reynere béeing first chosen Bayliffes serued then as Sheriffes by all likelihood to the said Henry Fitz-Alwin Fitz-Leifstane Maire whereby very well may bee obserued the progresse and continuaunce of those seuerall elections and choyces euen to this day the Sheriffes beeing first appointed and then the Lorde Maire after chosen at the Feast of Saint Michaell the Arch-aungell at the first by King Richard it was ordained King Iohn in like manner after this high Dignity begun by his Brother graunted them frée liberty by Charter to chuse by voyces and handes yearely out of the twelue chiefest and principall Companies their Praetor or Maire Also two Sheriffes whereof the one should be called the Kings Sheriffe and the other the Citties Sheriffe which in that forme hath continued euen to this instant Nay more he graunted them full power and authority not onely to chuse theyr Sheriffes at their owne pleasure but also vppon iust occasion either of contempt mutiny disobedience or other offences to degrade and depriue them The Forrest of Middlesex and the Warren of Stanes being laid open in An. 1218. the King afterward in the yeare 1226. confirmed to the Citizens of London frée warrant and liberty to hunt a limited circuite about the Citty and in the Warren of Stanes Also that the Cittizens of London shoulde passe Toule-frée thorough al England and the Kedeles or weres in the Riuer of Thames or Midway to be pluckt vp and destroyed for euer When the Franchises and liberties were thus confirmed by King Iohn he granted moreouer that either Sheriffe should haue two Clarks and two Sergeants also that the Citty should haue a common Seale and that the Maior should bee presented to the Barons of the Exchequer and they then to admit him as lawful Lieutenant and Deputy vnder the king to gouerne the Citty Hauing thus briefly discoursed how the dignity of honor began in this famous Citty both in the stile of Lord Maior and Sheriffes as briefly wil we also part their progresse and succession from that first woorthy man Henry Fitz-Alwin Fitz-Liefstane Gold-Smith to the as worthy Man Sir William Crauon now gouerning this present yeare 1611. Henry Fitz-Alwin Fitz-Liefstane Goldesmith beginning to take that high office on him in the first yeare of King Richard the first who was also for his valour and courage Surnamed Cueur de Lion continued still in the same Dignity for more then twenty foure years and then deceassing in the 15. yeare of King Iohn he was buried in the Priory of the holy Trinity néer vnto Aldgate In the said 15. yeare of King Iohn either to serue out the remainder of that yeare or to go on in a new election Roger Fitz-Alwain was chosen Lord Maire but I neyther find his freedom or his death albeit he continued as it séemeth in Office but one yeare the like did Serle Mercer and William Hardell in the yeares 1214. and 1215. And then began the raigne of King Henry the third Son to King Iohn the 19. of October 1216. Iames Alderman and Salomon Blasing Lord Maiors serued out this yeare by seuerall parts each after other Serle Mercer was againe chosen Lord Maior and continued in the Dignity sixe yeares together Richard Renger beeing chosen Lord Maior continued so the space of foure yeares Roger Duke or Duck was Lord Maior of London foure yeares Andrew Bokerell Pepperer was Lord Maior of London seauen yeares together Richard Renger Lorde Maior againe one yeare William Ioyner Lord Maior one yeare who builded the Quier of the Gray-Fryers Church in London and afterward became a lay brother of that house Gerard Bat Lord Maior one yeare and béeing elected againe for the ensuing yeare the King would not suffer it because he had béene charged in the former yeare with taking Money of the Victuallers and could shew no reason for it Reginald Bongey was Lorde Maior two yeares Raphe Ashwy Lord Maior one yeare Michaell Tony Lord Maior one yeare Iohn Gisors Pepperer Lorde Mayor two yeares Peter Fitz-Alwin Lord Maior one yeare Michaell Tonny Lord Maior againe one yeare Roger Fitz-Roger Lord Maior one yeare Iohn Norman Lord Maior one yeare Adam Basing Lord Maior one yeare Iohn Tolason Draper Lord Maior one yeare Richard Hardell Draper was Lorde Maior sixe yeares together Iohn Gisors Pepperer againe Lord Maior one yeare William Fitz-Richard was Lorde Maior two yeares Thomas Fitz-Richard was Lorde Maior foure yeares together Will Richards againe Lord Maior one yeare Allen le Zouch Lorde Maior one yeare and beeing a Baron of the Land and chiefe Iustice also he was slaine in Westminster Hall by Iohn Warren Earle of Surry in An. 1270. Sir Stephen Edwards Lord Maior one year Sir Hugh Fitz-Othon was made Custos of London and Constable of the Tower by reason of a great quarrell happening betwéene the Gold-smiths and the Taylors so that the King gaue the kéeping of the Cittie to his Son Prince Edward who made the saide Sir Hugh Fitz-Othon Custos of the Citty and Constable of the Tower as his Deputie But Prince Edward quickly obtained of the King his Father to haue the