Schollers who were bigge men Which when the Emperour sawe hee smiling saide In good faith Maister Iohn you are no indifferent divider Yes if it like your Highnesse verie indifferent saide he for heere poynting to himselfe and the two great fishes be two great ones and a little one and so yonder reaching his hand towardes the Schollers are two great ones and a little one Idem Wenefridus borne at Kirton in Devonshire after furnamed Boniface who converted Freesel and to Christianitie was wont to say In olde time there were golden Prelats and woodden Chalices but in his time woodden Prelates and golden Chalices Beatus Rhenanus libr. 2. rerum Germenâ—arum Ethelwold the Bishop of Winchester in the time of king Edgar in a great famine solde away all the sacred golde and silver vessells of all his church to releeve the hunger-starved poore people saying That there was no reason that the senselesse temples of God should abound in riches and living temples of the holy-ghost starve for hunger Whenas Kinnad King of Scotâ— a vassall to King Eadgar of England had saide at his Table That it stoode not with the honour of the Princes of this Isle to be subiect to that Dandiprat Eadgar who was indeede but of small stature yet full of courage He vnderstanding thereof withdrew Kinnad privately into a wood as though hee had to conferre with him of some important secret where he offered him the choice of two swords prepared for that purpose with these wordes Now we are alone you may try your manhood now may it appeare who should be subiect to the other retire not one foote backe It standeth not with the honour of Princes to brave it at the Table and not to dare it in the field But Kinad heere-at dismaied desired pardon by excuse and obtained it Malmesburiensis pag. 33. The same king Eadgar having brought into his subiection the aforesaid Kinnad king of Scottes Malcolm king of Cumberland Mac cuis the arch pirate lord of the Isles with Dufnall Griffith Howell Iacob Iudethilâ— Princes of Wales was rowed by them in triumphant manner in his barge vpon the river of Dee at Chester at which time it is reported he saide Then may my successours the Kings of England glorie when they shall doe the like Marianus Scotus Anno 973. When Hinguar of Denmarke came so sodainely vppon Edmund the king of the East-Angles that hee was forced to seeke his safetie by flight hee happened vnhappily on a troupe of Danes who fell to examining of him whether hee knew where the king of the East-Angles was whome Edmund thus answered Even now when I was in the palace he was there and when I went from thence he departed thence and whether he shall escape your handes or no onely God knoweth But so soone as they once heard him name God the godlesse infidells pittifully martired him Vita Sancti Edmundi When Brithwold a noble Saxon marching against the Danes encamped neare Maldon was invited by the Abbot of Elie to take his dinner with him he refusing answered Hee would not dine from his companies because hee could not fight without his companies Liber Eliensis King Canutus commonly called Knute walking on the sea sands neare to Southampton was extolled by some of his flattering followers and tolde that hee was a king of kings the mightiest that raigned farre and neare that both sea and land were at his commaund But this speach did put the godly King in mind of the infinite power of God by whome Kings have and enioy their power and therevpon hee made this demonstration to refell their flatterie He tooke off his cloake and wrapping it round together sâ—te downe vpon it neare to the sea that then beganne to slowe saying Sea I commaund thee that thou touch not my feete 〈◊〉 he had not so soone spoken the worde but the surgâ—ng wave dashed him He then rising vp and going backe saide Ye see now my Lorde what good cause you have to call me a King that am not able by my commaundement to stay one wave no mortaâ—l man doubtlesse is woorthy of such an 〈◊〉 name no man hath such commaund but one King which ruleth all Let vs honour him let vs call him King of all kings and Lord of all nations Let vs not onely confesse bvt also prâ—fesse him to be ruler of the heavens sea anâ— land Polydorus and others When Edric the extorteâ— was deprived by King Câ—ute of the government of Mercia hee impatient of the disgrace tolde him he had deserved better for that to pleasure him hee had first revolted from his Soveraigne king Edmund and also dispatched him Whereat Câ—ute all appalled answered And thou shalt die for thy desert whenâ—â— thou arte a traitour to God and me in killing thy king and my confederate brother His bloud be vpon thy head which hast layed handes vpon the Lordes annoynted Some reporte that he saide For his deserts he should be advaunced above all the Nobilitie of England which hâ— câ—mmediately performed advauncing his head vpon the Tower of London Florilegus King Edward the Confessour one afternoone lying in his bedde with the curtaine drawne round about him a poore pilfering Courtier came into his chamber where finding the Kings Casket open which Hugoline his chamberlaine had forgotten to shut going foorth to pay money in haste hee tooke out so much money as hee couldâ— well carry and went away But insatiable desire brought him againe and so the third time when the King who lay still all this while and would not seeme to see beganne to speake to him and bade him speedily be packing For he was well if hee coulde see for if Hugoline came and tooke him there he were not onely like to loose all that he had gotten but also stretch an halter The fellow was no sooner gone but Hugoline came in and finding the Casket open and much money taken away was greatly mooved But the King willed him not to he grieved For saide he he that hath it had more neede of it then wee have This at that time was adiudged Christian lenitie but I thinke in our age it will be accounted simplicitie in the woorst sense Vita Sancti Edwardi This Edward hasted out of Normandie whither his expelled father king Ethelred had fled with him with a great power to recover the kingdome of England from the Danes neere vnto whose forces hee was encamped ready to give them battell But when his Captaines promised him assured victorie and that they would not leave one Dane alive God forbid quoth Edward that the kingdome should be recovered for me one man by the death of so many thousand men It is better that I do leade a private and vnbloody life then be a King by such but chery And therewithall brake vp Campe and retyred into Normandy where he staied vntill God sent oportunitie to obtaine the kingdome without blood Paulus Aemilius Harold as hee waited on the cup of the said king Edward chanced
constantiâ—r Commendatie lamentabilis in transiâ—n Regis Edw priâ—â— Whereas the kings of England before his time vsed to weare their Crowne vpon all solemne feast dayes he first omitted that custome saying merrily That Crownes doe rather â—nerate than honour Princes Idem tractatus When a simple religious man seeing him meanely attired wondering thereat asked him why hee beeing so potent a Prince ware so simple a sute he answered Father Father you know how God regardeth garments What can I doe more in royall robes than in this my gabbardine Idem When the Cleargie pretending a discharge by a 〈◊〉 lately made at the Councell held at Lyons in Fraâ—â—â— would contribute nothing to the temporall necessities of King Edward hee saide vnto them in parliament Seeing you doe refuse to helpe me I will also refuse to help you c. If you deny to pay tribute to me as vnto your Prince I will refuse to protect you as my subiects and therefore if you be spoyled robbed maiâ—â—ed and nurthered seeke for no succourner defence of me or mine The Pope sent an Iniunction vnto the same Edward the which was delivered vnto him in one of his iornies against the fautors of Iohn Balleal king of Scotland the tenour of it was that he should surcease to disquiet the Scottes which were an exempt nation and properly appertaining to the Roman Chappell wherefore the citty of Ierusalem could not but defend her Cittizens and helpe them that did trust in the Lord like mount Siâ—â— Hee hadde no sooner read it but rapping out an othe saide I will not holde my peace for Syon nor Ierusalems rest as long as there is breath in my bodie but wil prosecute my iust right knowne vnto all the world and defend is to the death Tho Walsing ham When Iohn Earle of Athâ—ll nobly descended who had with other murthered Iohn Coâ—â—in was apprehended by king Edward the first and some intreated for him The king answered The higher his calling is the greater must his fall be and as he is of higher parentage so he shal be the higher hanged which accordingly was performed for he was hanged on a gallowes fiftie foote high Florilegus Whenas in siege of the Castle of Strivelin in Scotland king Edward the first by his over-forwardnesse was often endaungered some advised him to have more regarde to his person hee aunswered them with that of David in the Psalme A thousand shall fall as my fide and tenne thousand at my right hand but it shall not come neere me Florilegus When the learned Lawyers of the realme were consulted in a cause by him and after long consultation did not satisfie him hee saide as kings impatient of delayes may be bolde with their Lawyers My Lawyers are long advising and never advised Florilegus As for other speeches of his I wittingly and willingly overpasse Eleanor wife to king Edward the first a most vertuous and wise woman when hee tooke his long and dangerous voyage into the holy land would not be disswaded to tarrie at home but woulde needes accompany him saying Nothing must part them whome God hath ioyned and the way to heaven is as neare in the holy land if not nearer as in England or Spaine This worthy Queene maketh mee remember Eubulus a scoffing Comicall Greeke Poet which curseth himselfe if ever hee opened his mouth against women inferring albeit Medea were wicked yet Penelope was peerelesse if Clytemnestra were naught yet Alcestes was passing good if Phâ—dra were damnable yet there was an other laudable But heere saith he I am at a stand of good women I finde not one more but of the wicked I remember thousandes Beshrew this scoffer yee good wives all and let his curse fall vpon him for of your kinde may many a million bee found yea of your owne country and that I may reserve other to a fitter place I will shew vnto you a rare example in this Queene of England a most loving and kinde wife out of Rodericus Sanctius not mentioned by our Historians When king Edward the first was in the holy land hee was stabbed with a poysoned dagger by a Sarazen and through the rancor of the poyson the wound was iudged incurable by his Physitions This good Queene Eleanor his wife who had accompanied him in that iourney endangering her owne life in loving affection saved his life and eternized her owne honour For she daily and nightly sucked out the ranke poyson which love made sweete to her and thereby effected that which no Arte durst attempt to his safety her ioy and the comfort of all England So that well woorthy was shee to be remembred by those Grosses as monuments which in steade of Statues were erected by her husband to hir honour at Lincolne Grâ—â—tham Stanford Goddington Northampton Stâ—â—y Straford Dunstaple Saint Albanes Waltham and Westminster called Charing crosse all adorned with her Armes of Castile Leon and Pontive Robert Winchelsey the Archbishop of Canterbury was banished by king Edward the first but afterward restored againe by him and all the rents that had beene sequestred during his absence repayed him whereby he became the richest Archbishop that had been in that feate before him Wherefore often recording his troubles hee woulde say Adversitie never burteth where no uniquity over-ruleâ—â— Liber Cantuar. William de March Lord Treasourer vnto king Edward the first caused all the treasure throughout all the land that was layed vppe in the Monasteries and Churches to be at one iustant violently taken away by military men saying It is better that money should be mooving and according to the name be currant and goe abroad to the vse of the people than resting in chests without fruits and occupation concurring in this last poynt with a Maxime of the Vsurers hall Of king Edward the second I finde nothing memorable but that which griefe and great indignitie wreasted from him when Corney and his rascall rabblements after his deposition would needes shave him on the way lest he should be knowne and rescewed They enforced him to sit downe vpon a mole hil and the knave Barber insulting told him that cold water taken out of the next ditch should serve for his trimming at that time Hee answered Whether you will or no there shall be warme water and therewithall hee shedding teares plentifully verified his words Thom de la More After the battell of Poitiers 〈◊〉 Lorde Audley was brought to the Blacke Prince in a Litter most grievously wounded for hee had carried himselfe most valiantly that day To whome the Prince with due commendations gave for his good service foure hundred markes of yeerely revenews The which hee returning to his tent gave as franckely to his foure Esquiers that attended him in the battell whereof when the Prince was advertised doubting that his gift was contemned as too little for so great good service the Lord Audley satisfied him with this answer I must doe for them who deserved best of me These my Esquiers saved my life
at his eyes This his devise had no life because it had no Motte but his answer gave it life when he said to one demaunding his meaning That they were his sonnes which did so pecke him and that Iohn the yongest whome he loved best practised his death more busily than the rest Giraldus Cambrensis distinct King Henry the third as liking well of Remuneration commaunded to be written in his Chamber at Woodstocke as it appeareth in the Recordes in the Tower Qui non dat quod amat non accipit iâ—le quod optat Edmund Crâ—uch-backe his second sonne first Earle of Lancaster vsed a red Rose wherewith his Tombe at Westminster is adorned Edward the third bare for his devise the rayes of the Sunne dispersing themselves out of a cloude and in other places a golden truncke of a tree The victorious Blacke Prince his sonne vsed sometimes one feather sometime three in token of his speedy execution in all his services as the Postes in the Roman times were Pterophori and wore feathers to signifie their flying post-haste But the tradition is that hee wonne them at the battell of Poitiers whereunto hee adioyned this olde English word IC DEN that is I serve according to that of the Apostle The heire while he is a childe differeth nothing from a servant These feathers were an anâ—ent ornament of militarie men as is evident by that of Virgil Cuius olorina surgunt de vertice pennae And were vsed by this Prince before the time of Canoy Chan the Tartarian who because his life was saved by an Owle would have his people weare their feathers from whome Haithon fableth that the people of Iurope received first the vse of feathers Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster brother to this Prince tooke a red Rose to his devise as it were by right of his first wise the heire of Lancaster as Edmund of Langley Duke of Yorke tooke the white Rose Before these two brethren tooke these two Roses which the fautors and followers of their heires after bare in that pittifull distraction of England betweene the families of Lancaster and York a white Rose-tree at Longleete bare vpon one branch a faire white rose on the one side and as faire a red rose on the other which might as well have beene a fore-token of that division as the white henne with the bay sprigge lighting in the lap of Livia Augusta betokened the Empire to her posteritie which ended in Nero when both the brood of that hen failed and the baies of that sprigge withered The said Edmund of Langley bare also for an Imprese a Faulcon in a fetter-locke implying that he was locked vp from all hope and possibility of the Kingdome when his brethren beganne to aspire therevnto Wherevpon he asked on a time his sonnes when he saw them beholding this devise set vp in a window what was Latine for a fetter-locke Whereat when the yong gentleman studied the father said well then you cannot tell me I will tell you Hic haec hoc taceaâ—s as advising them to be silent and quiet and therewithall said Yet God knoweth what may come to passe heereafter This his great Grandchilde King Edward the fourth reported when he commanded that his yonger sonne Richard Duke of Yorke should vse this devise with the fetter-locke opened as Roger Wall an Herald of that time reporteth King Richard the second whose vntrained youth and yeelding lenitie hastened his fall vsed commonly a white Hart couchant with a crowne and chaine about his â—â—cke For wearing the which soone after his deposition lost their lives He also vsed a pescod branch with the cods open but the pease out as it is vpon his Robe in his Monument at Westminster His wife Anne sister to Wenceslaus the Emperour bare an Ostrich with a naile in his beake King Henry the fourth as it is in Maister Garters booke vsâ—d onely a Fox tayled pendent following lysanders advise if the Lions skin were too short to peece it out with a Foxes case His halfe brethren surnamed Beausort of their natall place who after were dukes of Sâ—mmerset c. bare a port-cullis golde wherevnto not long afterward was added this word ALTERA SLCVRITAS And not long since by the Earles of Worcester issued from them MVTARE AVT TIMERE SPâ—RNO His yonger sonne Humfrey Duke of Glocester a noble fautor of good letters baâ—e in that respect a Laurell branch in a golden cup. That most martiall Prince King Henry the fift carried a burnâ—ng Cresset sometime a Beacon and for his word but not appropriate therevnto VNE SANS PLVS One and no more King Henry the sixt had two feathers in saltire King Edward the fourth bare his white Rose the fetter-locke before specified and the sunne after the battell of Mortimers crosse where three Sunnes were seene immâ—diately conioyning in one King Richard the third bare a white Boare which gave occâ—sion to the ryme that cost the maker his life The Cat the Rat and Lovell the Dog Rule all England vnder an Hog King Henry the seaventh in respect of his descent from the house of Summerset vsed the Portcullis before mentioned and in respect of the vnion of the two houses of Lancaster and Yorke by his marriage the white Rose vnited with the red sometime placed in the Sunne And in respect he was crowned in the field with King Richards crowne found in an hawtherne bush hee bare the hawthorne bush with the crowne in it with this he filled the windowes at Richmond and his Chappell at Westminster His wife Queene Elizabeth had a white and red rose knit together His mother Lady Margaret Countesse of Richmond had three white Dasies growing vpon a turfe When king Henry the eight beganne his raigne the English wits beganne to imitate the French and Italian in these devises adding the Mots First king Henry himselfe at the interview betweene him and king Francis the first whereat also Charles the fift was present vsed for his Impresse an English Archer in a greene coat drawing his arrow to the head with this inscription CVI ADHAEREO PRAEEST whenas at that time those mighty Princes banding one against the other wrought him for their owne particular His wife Queene Anne a happy mother of Englands happines by her most happy daughter bare a white crowned Faulcon holding a Scepter in her right talon standing vpon a golden truncke out of the which sprowted both white and red roses with MIHI ET MEAE To the honour of Queene Iane who died willingly to save her childe King Edwarde was devised after her death a Phaenix in his funerall fire with this Motte NASCATVR VT ALTER King Edward the sixt bare as the Blacke Prince three feathers in a crowne while his father survived as Prince of Wales with IC DEN. Queene Mary when she was Princesse of Wales vsed both a red and white Rose and a Pomegranate knitte together to shew her descent from Laâ—caster Yorke and Spaine When she
backe vnto his flocke Whereuppon the King sent vnto the Pope the armour that he was taken in and willed his Ambassadour to vse the words of Iacobs sonnes vnto their father when they had solde away their brother Ioseph Hanc invenimus vide vtrum tunica filij tui sit an 〈◊〉 This wee found see whether it be the coate of thy sonne or no. Nay quoth the Pope it is not the coate of my sonne nor of my brother but some impe of Mars and let him procure his deliverie of he will for I wil be no meane for him When the French king and king Richard the first beganne to parlee of peace his brother Iohn who had falsely and vnnaturally revolted vnto the French king fearing himselfe came in of his owne accord and suppliantly besought Richard brotherly to pardon his manifolde offences that he had vnbrotherly committed against him hee rehersed the straight league of brotherly piety he recounted the many merits of his brother he bewailed with teares that hitherto he had beene vnmindefull of them as an vnnaturall and vnthankefull person Finally that hee dooth live and shall live hee dooth acknowledge that hee hath received it at his handes The king being mollified with this humble submission saide God graunt that I may as easily forget your offences as you may remember wherein you have offended IN the wofull warres with the Barons when king Iohn was viewing of the Castle of Rochester held against him by the Earle of Arundel he was espied by a very good Arcubalister who tolde the Earle thereof and saide that hee would soone dispatch the cruell tyrant if he would but say the word God forbid vile varlet quoth the Earle that we should procure the death of the holy one of God What saide the souldier he would not spare you if hee had you at the like advantage No matter for that quoth the Earle Gods good wil be done and be wil dispose and not the King Math Paris When one about him shewed him where a noble man that had rebelliously borne armes against him lay verie honourably intoombed and advised the king to deface the monument he said No no but I would al the rest of mine enemies were as honourably buried Idem When diverse Greekes came hither and offered to proove that there were cettaine â—rrours in the Church of England at that time hee reiected them saying I will not suffer our faith established to be called in question with doubtful disputations Fragm antiquum aeditum à P. Pithaeo Yet when the saide king Iohn sawe a fatie Bucke haunched he saide to the standers by See how faire and fatte this Buâ—ke is and yet hee never heard Masse all his life long But this may be forged to his disgrace by the envious Math. Paris IN a solemne conference betweene king Henry the third of England and Saint Lewes king of France the onely devout kings of that age when the French king saide He had rather heare Sermons than heare Masses Our king replied which some will smile at now but according to the learning of that time That he had rather see his loving friend meaning the reall presence in the Sacrament than to heare never so much good of him by others in sermons This I note because it was then thought facetious which I doubt not but some wil now condemne as superstitious Gâ—â—l Rishanger Pecham that Opticall Archbishop of Canterbury who writte Perspectiva Communis when Pope Gregorie the tenth who had created him Archbishop commaunded him to pay foure thousand markes within foure moneths vnder paine of excommunication hee that came vnto the See then deepely indebted saide Beholde you have created me and as a creature doth desire to be perfected by his creator so I doe in my oppressions flie vnto your Holmesse to be recreated Archiep. Cantuar. Sewall Archbishop of Yorke much agrieved with some practises of the Popes collectors in England tooke all patiently and saide I will not with Chaâ— discover the nakednes of my father but cover and conceale it with Sem. As Constantine the Great saide that hee would cover the faults of Bishops and Fathers of the Church with his Imperiall robe Mat. Paris Pope Innocentius the fourth when he offered the kingdome of Sicil and Naples to Richard Earle of Cornewall with many impossible conditions You might as well say de the Earles Agent at Rome say to my Lord and Maister I sell or give you the Moone climbe vp catch is and take it Anonymus qui incipit Rex Pictorum Alexander successor to Innocentius sent vnto the saide Earle Richard to borrow a great masse of money but the Earle answered I wil not lend to my superior uppon whome I cannot distraine for the debts This Richard is reported by the saide Author to have had so great treasure that hee was able to dispend for tenne yeeres an hundred markes a day which according to the Standard of that time was no small summe Idem In the raigne of king Henry a Bishop of London stoâ—â—ly withstoode the Popes Nunciâ— that would have levied exactions of the Cleargie Whereupon the Nâ—â—ciâ— complained vnto the king who shortly menaced the Bishop and tolde him he would cause the Pope to plucke his peacockes toile but the Bishop boldely answered the King that the Pope and he being too strong for him might bereave him of his bishoprick by might but never by right and that although they tooke away his Mitre yet they would leave him his Helmet Lib. Cantuar. Wicked rather than wittie is that of a Deane high treasurer of England that had demeaned himselfe so well in his office that when he died he made this wicked will I bequeathe all my goodes and possessions vnto my liege Lords the King my body to the earth and my soule to the divell Idem VVHen Edward the first heard of the death of his onely sonne hee tooke it grievously as a father but patiently as a wise man But when hee vnderstoode shortely after of the departure of his father king Henry the third he was wholy deiected and comfortlesses whereat when Charles king of Sicile with whome he then soiourned in his returne from the holy land greatly marvelled He satisfied him with this God may send more sonnes but the death of a father is irrecoverable Waâ—singham This is that king Edward the first who as in lineaments of body he surpassed all his people being like Saul higher than any of them so in prudence conioyned with valour and industry he excelled all our Princes giving ther by sure ankerholde to the governement of this realme waving vp and downe before most vncertainely Which hee effected not so much by establishing good lawes as by giving life vnto his lawes by due execution And as my Author saith Iudices potissimùm iudicans quos constituit indices aliorum Who addeth also this of him Nemâ— in consilijs illo argutior in eloquâ—â— torrentiâ—r in periculis socurior in prosperis â—â—utiâ—r in adversis
Fie fie for shame let me heare no more such vnseemely speeches but rather suppliantly pray vnto my Almightie Maker that in this life and in the life to come I may seeme worthy to be his servant When hee sought by severe edicts to abolish all heathenish superstition and laboured by godly lawes to establish the true religion and service of Christ yea and vncessantly endevoured to draw men vnto the faith perswading reproving praying intreating in time out of time publikely and privately he one day said merrily yet truly vnto the Bishop that he had bidden to a banquet As ye be Bishops within the Church so may I also seeme to be a Bishop out of the Church He disswading one from covetousnes did with his lance draw out the length and bredth of a mans grave saying This is all that thou shalt have when thou art dead if thou canst happily get so much He made a law that no Christian should be bondman to a Iew and if that any Iew did buy any Christian for his slave hee should bee fined therefore and the Christian enfranchised adding this reason That it stoode not with equitie that a Christian should be slave vnto the murderers of Christ Ethelbert King of Kent was hardly induced to imbrace Christian Religion at the perswasion of Augustine sent to convert the English Nation but at length being perswaded and desirous to be baptized said Let vs come also to the King of Kings and giver of Kingdomes it may redound to our shame that we which are first in authoritie should come list to Christianitie But I doe beseech that true King that he would not respect the precedence in time but devotion of my mâ—nde Ioscelinus When Paulinus brought vnto Edwin king of Northumberland the glad tidings of the salvation of mankinde by Christ and preached the Gospel vnto the king and his Nobilitie zealously and eloquently opening vnto them the mysteries of our faith and precepts of Christian Religion one of the Lords thus spake vnto the King but some now happily will smile at this speach We may â—â—ely compare mans state vnto this little Robbin-redbrest that is now in this cold weather heere in the waâ—me chamber chirpeng and singing merrily and as long as she shall remaine heere wee shall see and vnderstand how she doeth but anone when she shall be flowne hence abroad into the wide world and shall be forced to feele the bitter stormes of hard winter we shall not know what shall become of her So likewise we see how men fare as long as they live among vs but after they be dead neither wee nor our Religion have any knowledge what becomes of them Wherefore I do thinke it wisedome to give care vnto this man who seemeth to shew vs not onely what shall become of vs but also how we may obtaine overlasting life heereafter Beda When Rodoald king of the East Angles being wonne with rewards was shamefully minded to have delivered vnto Edelfride the king of Northumberland the innocent Prince Edwin who had fled vnto him to be saved from the bloodie hands of Edelfride who had vnlawfully bereaft him of his kingdome His wife turned his intent by telling him that It stoode not with the high and sacred state of a King to buy and sell the bodies of men as it were a petiâ—chapman or that which is more dishonourable slave-like to sell away his faith a thing which hee ought to hold more precious then all the gold and gemmes of the whole world yea and his owne life Beda Ina King of West-Saxons had three daughters of whom vpon a time he demanded whether they did love him and so would do during their lives above all others the two elder sware deepely they would the yongest but the wisest told her father flatly without flattery That albest she did love honour and reverence him and so would whilst she lived as much as nature and daughterly dutie at the vttermost could expect Yet she did thinke that one day it would come to passe that she should affect another more servently meaning her husband when she were married Who being made one flesh with her as God by commaundement had told and nature had taught hâ—r she was to cleave fast to forsaking father and mother kisse and kinne Anonymus One referreth this to the daughters of king Leir Imperious was that speech of Theodore the Grecian Archbishop of Canterbury in depriving a poore English Bishop Although we can charge you with nothing yet that we wâ—â—l we wiâ—l like to that Sie volo sic â—ubeo stat pro ratione voluntas But humble was the English Bishops reply Paul appealed from the Iewes to Caesar and I from you to Christ Vita S. Wilfredi The reverend Bede whome wee may more easily admire than sufficiently praise for his profound learning in a most barbarous age when he was in the pangs of death saide to the standers by I have so lived among you that I am not ashamed of my life neither feare I to die because I have a most gratious Redeemer Hee yeelded vp his life with this praier for the Church O King of glory Lorde of Hostes which hast triumphantly ascended into heaven leave vs not fatherlesse but send the promised spirit of thy trueth amongest vs. Some write that hee went to Rome and interpreted there S P Q R in derision of the Gothes swarming to Reme Stultus Populus Quaerit Roman and that in his returne hee died at Genoa where they shew his toombe But certaine it is that he was sent for to Rome by Sergius the Pope and more certaine that hee died at Weremouth and from thence was translated to Durham And that I may incidently note that which I have heard Not manie yeeres since a French Bishop returning out of Scotland comming to the Church of Durham and brought to the shrine of Saint Cuâ—hbert kneeled downe and after his devotions offered a Baubie saying Sancte Cuthberte si sanctus siâ— ora pro me But afterward being brought vnto the Toombe of Bedâ— saying likewise his Orisons offered there a French crowne with this alteration Sancte Beda quia sanctus es ora pro me Iohannes Erigena surnamed Scotus a man renowned for learning sitting at the Table in respect of his learning with Charles the bawld Emperour and King of Fraunce behaved himselfe as a slovenly Scholler nothing Courtly whereupon the Emperour asked him merrily Quid interest inter Scotum Sotum What is betweene a Scot and a Sot Hee merrily but yet malapertly aunswered Mensa The Table as though the Emperour were the Sot and hee the Scot. Rog Hovedeâ—us On an other time the Emperour did serte downe vnto him a dish with two faire great fishes and one little one willing him to be carver vnto two other Schollers that fate beneath him Then Maister Iohn who was but a little man layed the two great fishes vppon his owne trencher and set downe the one little fish vnto the other two
same King at the time of his death saide I appoint 〈◊〉 successour in the kingdome of England but I commend it to the eternall God whose I am and in whose handes all thinges are happly remembring that of the Monke before specified pag. 5. This king perceiving his owne defects in some poynts for want of learning did exhort his children oftentimes to learning with this saying An vnlearned Prince is a crowned Asse Which speech tooke so great impression in his sonne Henry that hee obtained by studie and learning the surname of Beauclearke or fine Scholler Annales Ecclesia Cant. Malmesburiensiâ— VVilliam Rufus loved wel to keep vacant Bishopriks and Abbies in his handes saying Christes bread is sweet dainty and most delicate for Kings But although this King made most commonly as it were port-sale of the Spirituall livings yet when twoo Monkes were at drop-vied Bezantines the currant golde of that age before him for an Abbey hee espied a third Monke of their company standing in a corner whom the King asked what hee would give to be Abbot Not one farthing saide he for I renounced the world and riches that I might serve God more sincerely Then said the King thou arte most woorthy to be made Abbot and thou shalt have it Liber Cantuar. When newes were brought him that the French King had besieged the cittie of Constances in Normandy â—e posted with a few to the sea coast to take ship But because the winde blew very strong from South the sailers signified that it was very dangerous for him to take Sea but the King replied Hoise vp sailes in Gods name for I have not heard of a King drowned by tempest You shall see both winde and weather serviceable to vs. Answerable to that of Iulius Caesar which inforced a poore Pilote in the like case to launch foorth and in the rage of the storme comforted him with saying Caesarem Caesaris fortunam vebis And as couragiously as that of Charles the fift who in the battel of Tunis when he was advised by the Marquise of Guâ—sto to retire his person when the great ordonance began to play saide Marquesse thou never heardst that an Emperour was slaine with a great shot I will heere present you with an other speech or call it what you will of the same King William Rufus out of the good and historicall Poet Robert of Glocester that you may compare a Princes pride in that age with our private pride and that our first finest Poets may smile at the verses of that time as succeeding ages after some hundred yeeres will happly smile at theirs As his Chamberlaine him brought as he rose on a day A morrow for to weare a paire of hose of Say He asked what they costned three shillings he seid Fie a dibles quoth the King who sey so vile a deede King to weare so vile a cloth but it costned more Buy a paire for a marke or thou shalt ha cory fâ—re A worse paire enough the other swith him brought And said they costned a marke vnneth he them so boght Aye bel-amy quoth the King these were well bought In this manner serve me other ne serve me not Hitherto also may be referred that of this king William who the morning before hee was slaine with an arrow in hunting tolde his company he dreamed the last night before that an extreame cold winde passed throgh his sides whereupon some disswaded him to hunt that day but hee resolved to the contrary answering They are no good Christians that regard dreames But he found the dreame too true being shot through the side by Walter Tirell Tragmentum antiquae historiae Franc. à P. Pâ—thâ—â— aditum OF Henry the first I have read no memorable speach but what I have read I will report He was by common voice of the people commended for his wisedome eloquence and victories dispraised for covetousnes cruelty and lechery Of which hee left proofe by his sixteene bastards But it seemeth that his iustice was deemed by the common people to be crueltie for the learned of that age surnamed him the Lion of Iustice Huntingd. Polycraticon Gemeticensis It was the custome of the Court in the time of King Henry the first that bookes billes and letters shoulde be drawne and signed for servitors in the Court concerning their owne matters without fee. But at this time Turstane the kings steward or Le Despencer as they then called him from whom the family of the L. Spencers came exhibited to the king a complaint against Adam of Yarmouth clarke of the Signet for that he refused to signe without fee a bill passed for him The king first heard Turstane commending the olde custome at large and charging the Clarke for exacting somewhat contrary thereunto for passing his booke Then the Clarke was heard who briefly saide I received the Booke and sent vnto your steward desiring him only to bestow of me two spice cakes made for your owne mouth who returned answer He would not and thereupon I denied to seale his Booke The King greatly disliked the steward for returning that negative and forthwith made Adam sit downe vppon the bench with the seale and Turstanes Booke before him but compelled the steward to put off his cloake to fetch two of the best spice cakes for the kings owne mouth to bring them in a faire white napkin and wiâ—h lowe curtsie to present them to Adam thâ— Câ—arke which being accordingly performed the Kiâ—g commaâ—ded Adam to seale and delive him his Booke and made them sâ—endes addâ—ng this speech Officers of the Court must gratifie anashew a cast of their office not onely one to another but also to all strangers whensoever neede shall require â—ualterus Mapes De nugis Curialium There was allowed a pottle of wine for livery everie night to be served vp to king Henry the first chamber but because the king did seldome or never vse to drinke in the night Paine Fitz-Iohn his Chamberlaine and the Pages of the Chamber did carowse the wine among them On a time it happened the King at midnight called for wine but none was to be found Paine and the Pages bestured themâ—elves in vaine seeking wine heere â—nd there Paine was called in to the King who asked him if there were not allowance for livery hee humbly answered that there was a pottle allowed everie night but for that hee never called for it to say the trueth in hope of pardon wee drunke it vp amongst vâ— Then quoth the King have you but one pottle every night that is too shorte for mee and you from hencefoorth there shall be a whole gallon allowed whereof the one pottle shall be for mee the other for you and yours This I note not for anie graviâ—e but that the King in that age was commended herein both for bountie and clemencie Cualterus Mapes Queene Mawd wife to King Henry the first of England and daughter to Malcolme Canmore King of Scotland was so devoutly religious
amiddest the ennemies And God bee thanked I have sufficient revenews left by my Aâ—ncestours to maintaine me in your service Whereupon the Prince praising his prudence and liberalitie confirmed his gift made to his Esquiers and assigned him moreover sixe hundred markes of like land in England â—rossard William Wickham after Bishoppe of Winchester came into the service and also into the great favour of King Edward the third by beeing overseer of his great woorke at Windesor wheras before he served as a poore parish priest Wherfore he caused to be written in one of his windows This worke made Wickham Which being tolde vnto the King hee was offended with Wickham as though hee had gone about to robbe him of the glorie of that magnificent worke But when Wickham tolde him that his meaning was that that worke had beene his making and advauncement the King rested content and satisfied Vita Wiccami When the saide William Wickham as it is commonlie saide sued vnto Edward the third for the Bishoppricke of Winchester the King tolde him that hee was vnmeete for it because he was vnlearned but hee saide In recompence thereof I will make many learned men The which hee performed indeed For he founded New Colledge in Oxford and another in Winchester which houses have affoorded verie many learned men both to the Church and to the Common-wealth When Henry of Lancaster surnamed the Good Earle of Darby had taken 1341. Bigerac in Gascoigne hee gave and graunted to every souldier the house which every one should first seaze vpon with all therein A certaine souldier of his brâ—ke into a Mint-maisters house where hee found so great a masse of money that hee amazed therewith as a prey greater than his desert or desire signified the same vnto the Earle who with a liberall minde aunswered It is not for my state to play boyes play to give and take Take thou the money if it were thrice as much Walsingham When newes was bâ—ought vnto king Richard the second that his vnkles of Yorke and Gloucester the Earles of Arundell Warwicke Darby and Nottingham with other of that faction who sought to reforme the misorders of the King or rather of his wicked Counsellors were assembled in a woodde neere vnto the Court after hee had asked other mens opinions what was to be done in so weightie and doubtfull a case At length hee mernly demaunded of one sir Hugh a Linne who had beene a good militarie man in his dayes but was then somewhat distraught of his wittes what he would advise him to doe Issue out quoth sir Hugh and let vs set vppon them and stay them every mothers sonne and by Gods eyes when thou hast so done thou hast killed all the faithfull friendes that thou hast in England Anonymus KIng Henry the fourth a wise Prince who full well knew the humour of the English in his admonition to his sonne at his death saide Of Englishmen so long as they have wealth and riches so long sâ—alt thou have obeysance but when they be poore then they be alwayes ready to make insurrections at every motion Hall King Henry the fourth during his sickenes caused his Crowne to be set on his pillow at his beds head and sodainâ—ly his pangue so sore troubled him that hee lay as though his vitall spirites had beene from him departed Such chamberlaines as had the care and charge of his bodie thinking him to be dead covered his face with a linnen cloth The Prince his sonne being thereof advertised entred into the chamber and tooke away the Crowne and departed The father being sodainely revived out of his traunce quickely perceived that his Crowne was taken away and vnderstanding that the Prince his sonne had it caused him to repaire to his presence requiring of him for what cause he had so mis-used himselfe The Prince with a good audacitie answered Sir to mine and all men iudgements you seemed dead in this world wherefore I as your next and apparant heire tooke that as mine owne not as yours Well faire sonne saide the King with a great sigh what right I had to it and how I enioyed it God knoweth Well quoth the Prince if you die King I will have the garland and trust to keepe it with the Sworde against all mine enemies as you have done Hall KIng Henry the fift when he prepared warres against Fraunce the Dolphin of Fraunce sent him a present of Paris Balles in derision but hee returned for answere That he would shortly resend him London Balles which should shake Paris Walles Anonymus Angticè When King Henry the fift had given that famous overthrowe vnto the French at Agincourt hee fell downe vppon his knees and commaunded his whole armie to doe the same saying that verse in the Psalme Non nobis Domine non nobis sed nomini tuo da gloriam Not vnto vs O Lord not vs but vnto thy name give the glorie HEnry the sixt did take all iniuries whereof he received plenty so patiently that he not only did not seek to revenge them but Gave God thankes that hee did send them to punish his sinnes in this life that hee might escape punishment in the life to come Vita Henrici Sexti As the Emperor Fredericke the third when he heard of the death of a great noble man of Austria who lived ninety three yeeres most wickedly in fleshly pleasures and yet never once afflicted with griefe or sickenes saide This proâ—veth that which Divines teach that after death there is some place where wee receive rewarde or punishment when wee see often in this worlde neyther the iust rewarded nor the wicked punished The same King Henry having in Christmasse a shew of yoong women with their bare breasts layde out presented before him hee immediately departed with these wordes Fie fie for shame forsooth you be too blame Idem He receiving on a time a great blowe by a wicked man which compassed his death hee onely sayde Forsooth forsooth yee doe fowly to smite a King annoynted Not long before his death being demaunded why hee had so long held the Crowne of England vniustly hee replied My father was King of England quietly enioying the Crowne all his raigne and his father my grandfire was also king of England and I even a childe in cradle was proclaimed and crowned King without any interruption and so held it fortie yeeres wel-neere all the states doing homage vnto mee as to my Auncestors Therefore wiâ—â— I say with King David My lot is fallen in a faire ground I have a goodly heritage my helpe is from the Lord which saveth the vpright in heart Idem Thomas Montacute â—arle of Sarisbury when hee besieged Orleans and had so enforced it that the Inhabitants were willing to articulate and to yeelde themselves to the Duke of Burgundie then being in his company he highly disdaining it saide in the English proverbe I wil not beate the bush and another shal have the birdes Which proverbiall speech so offended the
buried at Westminster to which Church she would come dayly barefoote while the Court laye there had an excellent Epigramme made to her commendation whereof these foure verses onely remaine Prospera non laetam fecere nec aspera tristem Aspera risus erant prospera terror erant Non decor effecit fragilem non sceptra superbam Sola potens humilis sola pudica decens No bad Poet was he which wrote to the honor of Adeliza second wife to King Henry the first who was daughter to the Duke of Brabant sister to Lord Ioscelin from whom the Percies Earles of Northumberland descended Anglorum Regina tuos Adeliza decores Ipsa referre parans Musa stupore riget Quid Diadema tibi pulcherrima quid tibi gemma Pallet gemma tibi nec Diadema nitet Deme tibi cultus cultum natura ministrat Non exornari forma beata potest Ornamenta caue nec quicquam luminis inde Accipis illa micant lumine clara tuo Non puduit modicas de magnis dicere laudes Nec pudeat dominam te precor esse meam But among all our olde Epigrammatists all commendation is carried away by olde Godffery Prior of Winchester who liued Anno 1100. which Citie hath brought forth so many excelling in Poeticall facultie not onely in former ages but also in latter out of the worthy Colledge there that the very Genius loci doth seeme Poeticall Out of his Epigrammes first imparted to me by the right learned Maister Th. Allen of Oxford I will here impart a few vnto you To one that would know how long he should learne he wrighteth thus Discendi Damiane modum te quaerere dicunt Discas dum nescis sit modus iste tibi That the contempt of fooles is not to be respected Contemptum stulti contemnere Dindime laus est Contemni a stulto dedecus esse nego Against pride in prosperitie Extolli noli quùm te fortuna beauit Pompone haec eadem quae leuat ipsa premit Against such as teach well and liue not accordingly Multa Solon sed plura Cato me verba docetis At nemo vestrum quanta docetis agit To one which had eaten stinking meate Druse comedisti quem misit Siluius hircum Vel tibi non nasus vel tibi nasus olet He teacheth vs to relye vpon firme and sure supports lest we fall to the ground with them in this Non est securus super titubantia fultus Iungere labenti labitur ille ruis That we must looke for like measure if we doe not as we would be done vnto he admonisheth all vnder the name of Albius Iurgia clamores tibi gloria gloria lites Et facis dicis omnibus vnde noces Expectes eadâ—m quae nobis seceris Albi Nam quem tu laedis te ferit ille libens Youth which in their haughty heat reiect the aduise of ould men he aduiseth thus Pannorum veterum facile contemnitur vsus Non sic consilium posthumiane senum The vanity of them which vaunt of their auncient nobility and haue no nobility in themselues he thus taxeth Stemmata continuas recitas ex ordine patres Queis nisi tu similis Rufule quid recitas That there was no contending with him who with missiue bribes can preuaile against Iustice Missilibus Daciane tuis Astraea recessit Vincis mâ—ssilibus Ius Dacâ—â—nc tuis The common prouerbe Loue me loue mine he thus aduised vs to obserue Me tanquam socium te dicis amare Trebati Et quos totus amo dente furente teris Sed nisi sis socius socijs amicâ—s Non potero nostrum dicere te socium Against hooked gifts which draw others Multa mihi donas vereor ne multa requiras Nolo mihi doncs Aulice si repetas Against one that sought a benefice and would teach before he could teach Quâ doceat sedem quaerit Plâ—timus aedem Quarit quâ doceat non ea quae doceat Against a couetous wretch Nasidiane diu vixisti semper anarus Oro tibi â—â—uas Nasidiane dus Against one that would exact of others and do nothing himselfe Exâ—gis a nobis quem 〈◊〉 soluis amorem Quam nulli praestes exigis Aule sidem Exigâ—â— Ã nobis quem non mâ—rearis honorem Mirum est quod non das id tibi velle 〈◊〉 Against an Abbot that would defend his monks from others but worrye them himselfe Tollit onem de fauce lupi persaepe molossus Ereptamque lupo ventre recondit ouem Tu quoque Sceuae tuos praedone tueris ab omni Vnus praedo tamen perdis vbique tuos One amidst the warres betweene King Stephen and Henrie the second commended the same Henry in these verses Praelia quanta mouet Stephanus moucat volo namque Gloria nulla foret si pralia null moueret Tu contra Stephanum cui copia multa virorum Duxisti pautos our paucos gloria maior Est multos paucis quà m paucos vincere multis At the same troublesome time and as it were desolation of England were written to the same Henry as it were in a Prosopopcia of England Dux Henrice nepos Henrici maxime magni Anglia tota ruo nec iam ruo tota ruina c. Vpon two other fearfull flights of the French one at Vernoil the other at Vandosme in the time of King Henry the second one made this Gallia fugisti bis hoc sub rege Philippo Nec sunt sub modio facta pudenda duo Vernolium sumit testem fuga prima secunda Vindocîum noctem prima secunda diem Nocte fugam primam celerasti mane secundam Prima pauore fuit vique secunda fuit When one had flattered William Longchampe Bishop of Elye the only powerable man of England in his time with this blandation Tam benè tam facile tu magna negotia tractas Vt dubium reddas sis homo siue deus Giraldus Cambrensis a man well borne and better lettered of that house from whence the Giraldines of Ireland are descended and secretary to King Iohn played vpon these verses and that Bishop after he was apprehended in womans attire flying out of the realme Tam male tam temerè tam turpiter omnia tractas Vt dubium reddas bellua sis vel homo Sic cum sis minimus tentas maioribus vti Ve dubium reddas simia sis vel homo He that made the verse following some ascribe it to that Giraldus could adore both the sonne rising and the sonne setting when he could so cleanly honour King Henry the second then departed and King Richard succeeding Miracano sol occubuit nox nulla sequuta Great was the commendation of Maecenas who when he could do all with Augustus yet neuer harmed any wherevpon in an Elegie vpon his death Pedo Albinouanus writeth Omnia cum posses tanto tam carus amico Te sensit nemo posse nocere tamen Which commendation king Henry the eight gaue to that worthy Duke of Suffolke Charles Brandon
his body was enterred with a gilt image were these sixe excellent verses written in golden letters contayning his greatest and most glorions atchieuementes as his victory against the Sicilians his conquering of Cyprus the sinkinge of the great Galiasse of the Saracens the taking of their Conuoie which in the East partes is called a Caruana and the defending of Ieppe in the holye land against them Scribitur hoc tumulo Rex auree laus tua tota Aurea materiae conueniente notâ Laus tua prima fuit Siculi Cyprus altera Dromo Tertia Caruena quarta suprema Iope Suppressi Siculi Ciprus pessundata Dromo Mersus Caruana capta retenta Iope But sharpe and satyrical was that one verse which by alluding noted his taking the Chalices from Churches for his ransome and place of his death which was called Chaluz Christe tui calicis praedo sit praeda Caluzis Sauaricus Bishop of Bath and Wells a stirring prelate which laboured most for the redeeming King Richard when he was captiue in Austria and is famous in the decretalls lib. 3. tit 9. 0 Nouit ille had this Epitaph for that he was alwayes gadding vp and downe the world and had little rest Hospes erat mundo per mundum semper eundo Sic suprema diès fit sibi prima quies And the like in late yeares was engrauen vpon the monument of Iacobus Triulcio a military man of the same metall as Lodonic Guicciardin reporteth HIC MOR TVVS REQVIESSCIT SEMEL QVI VIVVS REQVIEVIT NVNQVAM But â—imilis Captaine of the guard to Adrian the Emperor when he had passed a most toylesome life after he had retired himselfe from seruice and liued priuatly 7. yeares in the countrie acknowledged that he had liued only them 7. yeares as he caused to be inscribed vpon his monument thus Hic iacet Similis cuius aetas multorum annorum fuit ipse septem duntaxat annos vixit It may be doubted whether Wulgrine the Organist was so good a Musician as Hugh Archdeacon of Yorke was a Poet which made this Epitaph for him Te Wulgrine cadente cadunt vox organa cantus Et quicquid gratum gratia vocis habet Voce lira modulis Syrenes Orphea Phoebum Vnus tres poteras aequiperare tribus Si tamen illorum non fallet fama locorum Quod fueras nobis hoc eris Eliijs Cantor eris qui cantor eras hic charus et illî Orpheus alter eras Orpheus alter eris Vpon one Peter a religious man of this age I found this Petra capit Petri cineres animam Petra Christus Sic sibi diuisit vtraque petra Petrum Vpon the death of Morgan base sonne of king Henry the 2. was made this Epitaph alluding to his name in that alluding age Larga benigna decens iacet his stirps regia morum Organa Morgano fracta iacente silent In the time of king Henry the third they began to make Epitaphs as they call it now out of Propria quae maribus as some do in our age but among them this was short and good for William Erle of Pembroke and Marshall of England buried in the Temple church Sum quem Saeturnum sibi sensit Hibernia Solem Anglia Mercurium Normannia Gallia Martem And this was not bad for Richard de Clare Erle of Glocestor and Hertford which died Anno 1262. Hic pudor Hippoliti Paridis gena sensus Vlissis Aeneae pietas Hectoris ira iacet I doubt not but this time of Simon Montfort Earle of Leicester slaine at Euesham found fauour in that age as the Earle himselfe who was so followed by the people that he durst confront his soueraigne king Henry the 3. and as the Epitaph doth implie was the peerelesse man of that time for valour personage and wisdome Nunc dantur fato casuque cadunt iterato Simone sublato Mars Paris atque Cato Vpon a gentleman as some thinke named None buried at Wimondham who gaue nothing to the religiÌ„ous there was made this Hîc situs est Nullus quia nullo nullior iste Et quia nullus erat de nullo nil tibi Christe Excellent is this which I found in the booke of Wimondham for Pope Lucius borne at Luca Bishop of Ostia Pope of Rome and dying at Verona Luca dedit lucem tibi Luci Pontificatum Ostia Papatum Roma Verona mori Imo Verona dedit tibi verè viuere Roma Exilium curas Ostia Luca mori If you will see an ould Deane named Hamâ— Sol resembled to the twelue sonnes of olde father Annus which had euery one as Cleobulus was wont to call them thirty daughters some faire some foule all dying and neuer dying read this epitaph Participat mensis dotes cuiuslibet Hamo Circumspectus erat vt Ianus crimina purgans Vt Februus veterana nouans vs Martius ipse Semina producens vt Apâ—ilis flore coruscans Vt Maiuâ— facie plaudens vt Iunius intùs Feruens vt Iulius frugis maturiâ—â— adultae Messor vt Augustus faecundans horrea more Septembris replens vino cellaria more Octobris pâ—stor pecundum sed spiritualis More Nouembris epulator dapsilis instar Omne Decembris habet hiemalis peste quiescens Another playing vpon the name Hamon made this for him Olim piscator hominum quasi pisces ab hamo Mortis captus hamo celebrat conuiuia vitae But witty was this whereas he died in a Leape yeare vpon the leape day accounted so vnhappy a day of the Romans that Valentinian the Emperour durst not peepe out in that day one made this Hamo Decane iaces toto fugit exul ab anno Interitum Solis ausa videre dies Verely he was a man of some good note in that time for I finde another of him alluding also to this leape day Nulla dies anni nisi bisextilis et anni Iudicio damnata sui nec subdita mensi Sed noctis lux instar erat lux nescia lucis Et lux existens inter luces quasi bubo Inter aues huius poterat concludere vitam Solis et humanum genus hac priuare lucerna AlexaÌ„der NechaÌ„ a great learned man of this age as appeareth by his books de diuinae sapientiae laudibus was buried in the cloister at Worcester with this but deserued a better Eclipsim patitur sapientia sol sepelitur Qui dum vinebat studij genus omne vigebat Soluitur in cineres Neccham cui si foret haeres In terris vnus minus esset flebile funus A mery mad maker as they call poets now was he which in the time of K. Henry the 3. made this for Iohn Calf O Deus omnipotens vituli miserere Iohannis Quem mors praeucaiens noluit esse bouem Robert de Courtnâ—y was buried at Ford as appeareth by the register of that place 12 â—2 vnder a stately Piramis who whether he was descenâ—ed from the Earles of Eodessa or from Petre the soÌ„ne of 〈◊〉 the Grosse K. of FraÌ„ce had but this bad inscriptioÌ„ which I insert more for the
honor of the name then the worth of the verse Hic iacet ingenui de Courtney gleba Roberti Militis egregij virtutum laude referti Quem genuit strenuus Reginal dus Courteniensis Qui procer eximius fuerat tunc deuoniensis A MoÌ„ke of Duresme busied his braine in nicking out these nice verses vpon the death of W. de La-march Chauncellor of England vnder king Iohn Culmina qui cupitis Laudes pompasque sititis Est sedata sitis Si me pensare velitis Qui populos regitis memores super omnia sitis Quod mors immitis non parcit honore potitis Vobis prapositis similis fucram benè scitis Quod sum vos eritis ad me currendo venitis William de valentia coÌ„monly called Valens Earle of Pembroke halfe brother to K. Henry the 3. from whom the Earles of Shrewsbury Kent and others are descended is intombed at Westminster with these ranke rimes Anglia tota doles moritur quia regia proles Qua slorere soles quam continet infima moles Guilelmus nomen insigne valentia praebet Celsum cognomen nam tale dari sibi debet Qui valuit validus vincens virtute valore Et placuit placido sensu morumque vigore Robert Grostest coÌ„monly called Robin Groshead bishop of Lincolne a most learned prelate reported by Mathew Paris to be a seuere reproouer of the Pope a fauourer of learning a searcher of scriptures a preacher of the word generally a man of great worth coÌ„manded this only to be engrauen ouer his Tombe Quis sim nosse cupis caro putrida nil nisi vermis Quisquis es hoc de me sit tibi scire satis But vpon his death this was written Rex dolet ac regnum gemit et flet Anglia tota Plebs plangit gemitus ingeminare iuuat Quippe Grosredus speculum virtutis asylum Iustâ—â—ciae Regis inchora morte iacet Non poterit tamen ille mori cui fama perorat Laus loquitur redolet fructus abundat honor Vnde 〈◊〉 tristatur homo canit Angelus inde Vnde serenantur sidera pallet humus Vpon the tombe of doctor Iohn Bekingale somtime bishop of Chichester this is engrauen which I set here for rare correspondency of the rime Tu modo qualis eris quid mundi quaeris honores Crimina deplores in me nunc te speculeris En mors ante fores quae clamitat omnibus adsum In paenis passum pro me te deprecor ores Which is the same in sence with that at Geneua VIXI VT VIVIS MORIERIS VT SVM MORTVVS SIC VITA TRVDITVR Lewes de Beaumont that learned bishop of Duresme who was preferred therunto for his affinity vnto the Queene although he could not with all his learning read this word Metropoliâ—ice at his coÌ„secration but passed it ouer with Soit pour dict and would sweare by S. Lewes that they were discourteous which set downe so many hard words in the ordering of priests had this vpon his tombe in Duresme Church where he was buried 1333. De Bello Monte iacet hic Lodouicus humatus Nobilis ex fonte regum Comitumque creatus c. King Edward the first a most worthy and mighty prince the first establisher of the kingdome of England had affixed at the Aulter of S. Edward neare his tombe at Westminster a large Epitaph in prose whereof I haue found onely this fragment Abauus autem triâ—vus eius dilatantes imperia subieâ—erunt sibi Ducatus Comitatus Edwardus vero paternarum magnificentiarum amplius aemulator existens Regaleque solium perornans in clypeo in hastà Principatum Walliae truncatis eius principibus Leclino Dauid potentissimè adquisiuit Quinimò dominium regni Scotiae primò magni industria consilij de inde virtute bellorum victoriosissimè est adeptus Nihilominus Comitatibus Cornubiae Northfolke disponente â—o cuius est orbis terrae plenitudo eius ad manus Edwardi mirabilitèr deuolutis suis successoribus amplissimam reliquit materiam gloriandi Vbicunque igitur Christus habet nomen inter praecellentissimos reges fidelium habeat Edwardus honorem The famous K. Edward the 3. which had so great victories ouer the French to the greater glory than good of England as some say is entombed at Westminster with this Hic decus Anglorum slos regum praeteritorum Fama futurorum rex clemens pax populorum Tertius Eduardus regni complens Iubilaum Robert Hawley a valiant Esquire was murthered in Westminster Church in seruice time where he had taken sanctuary and is there buried in the place where he was first assaulted with these verses Me dolus ira furor multorum militis atque in hoc gladiis celebri pietatis asylo Dum leuita Dei sermones legit ad aram Proh dolor ipse meo Monachorum sanguine vultus Aspersi moriens chorus est mihi testis in â—uum Et me nunc retinet sacer hic locus Hawle Robertum Hic quia pestiferos malè sensi primitùs hostes Famous is L. Siccinius Dentatus who serued in an hundred and twentie battailes And glorious is Henry the third Emperour who fought 62. battailes and likewise honourable should the memory be of Sir Mathew Gâ—urnay out Countriman of whose house Sir H. Newton is descended which commaunded in 6. battailes was buried at Stoke Hamden in Somersetshire with this French memoriall now defaced Icy gist le noble valient Cheualer Maheâ— de Gurnay iadis seneschall de Landes Capitayn du Chastell d'Aques pro nostre Signior le Roy en la Duche de Guien que in sa viâ— fu a la battaile de Benamazin a la pres a la siege de Algezir sur le Sarazines auxi a les battayles de Scluse de Cressy de Ingenesse de Poyters de Nazara c. Obijt 96. aetatis 26. Septemb. 146. Henry Chichely although he was founder of All Soules Colledge in Oxford and an especiall furtherer of learning was but little honoured by this vnlearned Epitaph 1443. Pauper eram natus post Primas his releuatus Iam sum prostratus vermibus esca paratus Ecce meum tumulum His next successour one Iohn Kempe happened vpon a better Poet who in one verse comprehended all his dignities which were great Thomas Kempe Bis Primas ter praesul erat bis cardine functus For he was Bishop of Rochester Chichester and London Archbishop of Yorke then of Canterbury and Cardinall first Deacon than Priest This that followeth is engrauen about a faire tombe in a goodly Chappell adioyning to the Quire of Saint Maries Church in Warwick being a worthy monument of so noble a person since whose time although but late you may obserue a great change both of the heyres of his house and the vse of words in this Epitaph Pray deuoutly for the soule whome God assoâ—le of one of the most worshipfull Knights in his dayes of manhood and cunning Richard Bâ—auchampe late Earle of Warwicke Lord dispenser