Let therefore the case of Brute remain as it did in Mr. Cambdens daies to be decided by the Senate of Antiquaries and great Clerks to the number of which cited by him namely are Boccace Ludovicus Vives Hadrian Junius Polidore Buchanan Vignier Genebrad Molinaeus Bodine who all reject this story I will now add that famous Antiquary Mr. Selden who askes this Question If the right of Primogeniture invested the eldest Son absolutely in the Kingdom according to the Custome of Troy as it is found in the succession of the Trojan Kings How comes it to pass that this Custome was not brought over into Britain a Question not hitherto fully Answered no not by Mr. Taylour Author of the History of Gavelkind who will have Mr. Selden to be in jest and merriment when he demands upon this account How our Britains claim their descent from the Trojans when as this Question was but sober and rational and hath true reference to the Custome of Troy where the Eldest Son alwaies Inherited the entire Dominion of his Father which by many of the British Kings was not observed Nay this usage of Troy was Religiously observed by the Successors of AEnaeas in the Kingdom of the Latins for when Silvius Posthumus and Iulus contended about the Right of Government Iulus was utterly deposed and invested only with the Priesthood and there was no thoughts of sharing the Kingdom By this it is manifest Mr. Selden had relation to the Custome of Troy and not to any Gavel-kind among the Welch And now I will proceed to the second British King LOCRINE the eldest Son of Brute began his Reign Anno Mundi 2874 over this part of the Island since called England which Portion was allotted to him by the division of his Father as being the fairest parcel of his Empire During his Reign his Brother Albanact was Invaded by Humber King of the Hunns or Scythians and finally by him slain Locrine and Camber raised Forces to revenge the death of their Brother and so marched into the North to seek out Humber and finding him upon the borders of Scotland then called Albania they gave him battle and speedily vanquisht him so as himself and Army after a hot Chase were drowned in a River and from that time the River was named HUMBER In this pursuit he took three fair Ladies the most beautiful of which named Estrild a Scythian Princess he most doted on that notwithstanding a former Contract between him and Guendolaena Corinaeus his Daughter resolved to take this Lady to wife but the power and authority of Corinaeus forced him to lay aside that present Resolution so that marrying Guendolaena nevertheless privately enjoyed his beloved Estrild keeping her in secret during the life of his Father in Law Corinaeus which he performed saith the Count Palatine by the help of a Vault to which under pretence of sacrificing to the Infernal Gods he often resorted No sooner Corinaeus was dead but he owned her for his Queen which so incensed Guendolaena that although Locrine was strengthened by the accession of Cambria upon the death of his Brother yet she goes into Cornwal and by powerful Sollicitations in the behalf of her self and young Son Madan the Cornish are brought to assist her With these Forces she marched again Locrine and in a pitcht Battle nigh the River Stour he is overcome and slain upon this according as she would have it the Kingdom fell to her Son MADAN the Son of Locrine by Guendolaena although a Child yet succeeded his Father Anno Mundi 2894. During his Minority his Mother was made Regent of the Kingdom which she administred with all Justice until the full Age of her Son and after the resignment of her Power she retired into Cornwal This Kings severity in putting the Laws in Execution was esteemed a Tyrant and after he had Reigned forty years he was devoured with Wild Beasts He built Madancaster now Dancaster but Dancaster or Doncaster took its Name as Mr. Cambden supposes from the River Dona upon which it standeth This Madan left two Sons behind him Mempricius and Manlius MEMPRICIUS the eldest Son of Madan began his Reign Anno Mundi 2949 over the whole Island but Manlius his younger Brother rebelled against him To suppress this Rebellion Mempricius signified a desire to Treat with his Brother who consenting to it was treacherously at a meeting Murthered The King having put an end to that trouble wallowed in Ease and Luxury and not content with his Wives and Concubines he falls to horrid Rapes and at last to unnatural Sodomy but in the conclusion of all was slain by wild Beasts after his Government had lasted about twenty years EBRANCKE the Son of Mempricius by his lawful Wife began to Rule Anno Mundi 2969 he had two and twenty Wives of whom he had Issue twenty Sons and thirty Daughters the Eldest of which was named Guales or Gualea These Daughters under the Conduct of their Brothers he sent to Silvius Alba the Eleventh King of Italy and the sixth King of the Latins and this he did because he heard the Sabines would not give their Daughters in Marriage to the Latins What a ridiculous Prolepsis is this of an Action that happened many years after in the daies of Romulus and how without any sense or reason is it ascribed to these Times The Sabines denied their Daughters to that scum of People Romulus by his Asylum had pickt up but why should they do it while the Kingdom of the Latins was in splendour under the Kings of Alba. In making of Silvius Alba the sixth King of the Latins Jeoffery of Monmouth is in the right and now we have a Clue to lead us in to the understanding of this Genealogy of AEnaeas namely he makes the Kings of Alba to succeed lineally from Father to Son and therefore because Silvius Posthumus followed Ascanius in the Kingdom he is ignorantly supposed his Son whereas Iulus was the Son of Ascanius who being deposed by the People Silvius the Son of AEnaeas by Lavinia was advanced to the Crown succeeding Ascanius his half Brother not his Father in the Kingdom By the same Mistake we find in the British History One and twenty Kings from Porrex to Minnegen to be made of a Lineal descent and yet but Ninety two years allowed for all their Reigns so that they begat one another at four or five years old whereas if there be any truth in the Lives of those Kings they ought to have been made Contemporary and to have Ruled different parts of the Island as the Government thereof was found divided in the daies of Julius Caesar when Kent alone had four Princes a little before whose time these KINGS are supposed But to return to Ebrancke After that his Sons had conducted their Sisters under the Conduct of their Brother Assaracus to Silvius Alba being provoked by the Germans they entred that Nation and by the assistance of Silvius Conquered it Some write
seen an Eclipse of the Sun on the third of May which was followed by a grievous Dearth and Pestilence beginning in the south parts but spreading to the north and over all Ireland with great Mortality Sighere and his People unsteady in faith attributed this Plague to the displeasure of their old Gods and returned again to their Superstition building up their Altar and erecting their Images which had been cast down Which when Wulfur the Mercian came to understand he sent Jaruman a godly Bishop who by faithful endeavours in that kind soon recovered them of this second Apostasie But Sebba with those under his command held stedfast in the Faith and after the death of Sighere reigned many years until weary of the troubles of this World he resigned his Crown and took upon him the habit of a Monk in the Monastery of St. Pauls in London which habit he received at the hands of Waldhere or Walthere Bishop of London to whom he brought a great sum of mony to be distributed in Charitable uses reserving nothing for himself that he might faith my Author be as well poor in substance as in mind and all to gain the Treasure of the Kingdom of Heaven where he died and was buried and his Tomb to our daies stood in the North-wall of the Chancel of that Church being thither translated in the year 1148. He had two Sons the eldest of which named Sigherd was a Monk with his Father as Bede saies and of the youngest named Seofrid there is nothing recorded though some make him to reign seven years after his Father Sighere married Oswith the Daughter of Edilfrith King of Northumberland who in the daies of her Husband is said to be the Abbess of Barking and was afterwards reputed a Saint By her he had a Son named Offa who succeeded Sebba in the Kingdom OFFA OFFA the Son of Sighere a comely person in his youth and as much admired for the endowments of mind as of body reigned the space of eight years much desired of the People When out of a Religious fondness he forsakes his Wife Kineswith the Daughter of Penda and with Kendred King of Mercia and Edwin Bishop of Worcester goes to Rome where he is shorn a Monk his Queen after his departure vowed her self a Vailed Nun in the Abby of Kineburg where his Sister was Abbess SELRED SELRED the Son of Sigibert the Good came at length to the Crown which he held thirty eight years and then died a violent death but how or from whom received is not reported leaving no Issue behind him SUTHRED SUTHRED the last King of the East-Saxons was driven out of his Kingdom by Egbert the West-Saxon Monarch at which time this Province with others was annexed to the Crown of all the Principality of the Saxons this had been most unstable in the Faith having twice fallen into open Apostasie And this perhaps might be the true Reason that of all the rest it was the most Inglorious being Tributary throughout to one Prince or other and never able to stand upon its own feet by the just judgment of God who visited their sins upon them that they who could stoop to stocks and stones should also be servants to their Neighbours For if we consider the outward advantages it enjoyed in the beginning of its foundation we should sooner judge it would be able to give Laws to its Neighbours than receive from them It was excellently bounded on the East and South by the Ocean and River Thames which at once enriched and secured it It had under its command the City of London which Bede in these daies writes was a Princely Mart for all Comers both by Sea and Land On the other side it had no bordering settlements of Saxons in its first infancy to share in its Conquests or strengthen its ground an inconvenience which many other Provinces were forced to struggle with The lands were seated very pleasant and fruitful and the Countries adjoyning lay open to their farther progress yet notwithstanding all these admirable advantages it was continually in a pining condition scarce able to bear up the name of a Province much less the dignity of a Kingdom And in its final surrender to Egbert hardly afforded a good morsel to that Conquerour For London obeying the Mercians went not along with it but holding out with the Countries near adjacent it cost some more time in the gaining of it THE KINGDOM OF THE South-SAXONS Contained Counties Surry Sussex KINGS Ella Cissa Edilwalch ELLA THE Kingdom of the South-Saxons was precedent to the former in time and the glory of its Actions but not continuance of its Dominion for as it was begun with the first so it was the soonest of all determined the foundations whereof were laid by ELLA the eleventh from Woden not long after the arrival of Hengist for whether sent for by him or coming on his own accord as a New Adventurer with his three Sons Kymen Pletting and Cissa in three ships he lands at a place since that called Kymenshore now Shoreham a well known Harbour in Sussex At his first landing he set upon the Britains and with great slaughter drove them into the Wood Andreds-league which Mr. Cambden calls Andreds-wald so named from Caer-Andred adjoyning which in the Book Notitia Provinciarum is termed Anderida with a Haven hard by of the same name But the Britains thus driven back suffered not Ella to enjoy his ground in quiet for continually sallying out upon him from the neighbouring Woods and Forrests and their chief Garrison at Caer-Andred called by the Saxons afterwards Andreds-cester now Newenden in Kent they often-times repelled him with great dammage and as is thought with the death of his two eldest Sons Kymen and Pletting Ella to supply these losses sends over to old Saxony at this day Holstein in Denmark for more Recruits which come he gives them battel at Mercredeshowrn or Mercreds-Burnamsted wherein he obtained an absolute Victory but Huntington makes doubtful which side carried the day And it appears that after this engagement new Forces were sent for into Germany but whether a second time or that the last supplies are to be placed after this battel is left uncertain But an Argument of Victory on the Saxons side is that now it is generally reported that Ella took upon him Kingly Dignity namely three years after the death of Hengist in the year of our Lord 492 for the difference of computations herein is not great unless we follow them who confound the time of his Entrance with that wherein he assumed Power ELLA grown great with Conquests and Recruits taking his Son Cissa with him besieges Andredchester the chief Rendezvous of the Enemy who nettled with the thoughts to see their principal Garrison invaded and weighing the fatal consequences if it should fall into his hands there being scarce any other place considerable left them in the South gather from all parts and strive if possible to
day of the Sabbath which ye do who will not celebrate it upon the first day of the Sabbath Peter solemnized the Lord's day of Easter from the sisteenth Moon till the twenty first which ye do not who observe the Lords day of Easter from the fourteenth to the twentieth Moon so that on the thirteenth Moon at Evening ye often begin Easter Neither did our Lord the Author and giver of the Gospel eat the old passover on that day but on the fourteenth Moon at Evening or deliver the Sacraments of the New Testament to be celebrated in Commemoration of his Passion also the twenty first Moon which the Law especially commends to our Observation ye utterly reject in the celebration of your Easter so that as I said before ye neither agree with John nor Peter Law or Gospel in the solemnizing the great Festival To these things Colman answered Did Anatholius a holy man and much commended in the sore-mentioned Church History think contrary to either Law or Gospel who writ that Easter was to be kept from the fourteenth to the twentieth Is it to be imagined that our most reverend Father Columba and his Successors men beloved of God either thought or acted any thing contrary to Holy Writ When there were many amongst them of whose heavenly Holiness the wonders and powerful Miracles they wrought have given sufficient Testimony who as I ever thought them to be Holy men so I will never desist from following their times manners and discipline Then Wilfrid 'T is evident said he that Anatholius was a man very holy learned and praise-worthy but what does that concern ye when ve do not observe his Decrees for he in his Easter following the Rule of Truth set forth a Circle of nineteen years which ye are either ignorant of or else utterly contemn if ve acknowledg it to be kept by the whole Church of Christ. He in the Lord's Easter so reckoned the fourteenth Moon that he acknowledged that on the same day after the manner of the Egyptians to be the fifteenth Moon at evening so he observed the twentieth day for the Lord's Easter but so that he believed that the day being done to be the one and twentieth of which rule of distinction he proves thee ignorant because sometimes ye plainly keep your Easter before the full Moon that is on the thirteenth Month. As concerning your Father Columba and his Followers whose sanctity ye say ye will imitate and whose rules and precepts confirmed by heavenly signs ye are resolved to follow I might Answer when many at Judgment shall say to the Lord that they have prophesied in his Name and cast out Devils and wrought many wonders the Lord will answer that he never knew them But far be it from me that I should speak this of your Fathers since 't is more reasonable of uncertain things to entertain good thoughts than bad for which reason therefore I do not deny them to be the Servants of God and beloved by God who out of an innocent simplicity and a pious intention love God Neither do I think such an observation of Easter to be much prejudicial to them as long as no body comes among them that can shew decrees of a better institution which they may follow who nevertheless I believe had some Catholick Calculator better instructed them would have followed those things which they knew and had learned to be the Commands of God You therefore and your Associates if you despise to follow the decrees of the Apostolick See when you have heard them nay of the Universal Church and those confirmed by Holy writ without doubt ye sin What though your Fathers were holy are the paucity of these in a corner of the farthest Island to be preferred before the Universal Church of Christ over the World What if this your Columba and ours too if he be Christ's was holy and powerful in Miracles ought he to be preferred before the blessed Prince of the Apostles to whom the Lord said thou art Peter and upon this Rock will I build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it and to thee will I give the Keys of the kingdom of Heaven After Wilfrid had thus spoken the King said Colman is it true that these words were spoken by the Lord to Peter Who answered True O King Then said he Have you any thing that you can bring to prove so great power was given to Columba but he said No we have not The King again said Do both you agree without any controversie on this that these words were principally spoken to Peter and the Keys of the kingdom of Heaven were given him by the Lord They both answered Yes Then the King thus concluded And I say unto you because he is the Door-keeper I will not contradict him but as far as I know and am able I desire to obey his commands in all things lest perchance I coming to the Gates of the Kingdom of Heaven there be no body to open he being turned aside whom you have proved to hold the Keys After the King had said thus both those that sate down and those that stood great and small assented so that the less perfect Institution being abandoned every one made haste to apply themselves to those things they thought better The Dispute being ended and the Assembly dismist Agilbert returned home Colman seeing his Doctrine slighted and his Party despised taking along with him those that were resolved to be of his sect i. e. they that would not admit of the Catholick Easter and shaving of the Crown for there was no little question about that returned into Scotland to treat with his Party what he should do in the business Chad leaving the tract of the Scotish Doctrine returned to his See as acknowledging the observation of the Catholick Easter This Disputation fell out in the year of the Incarnation of our Lord 664 the twenty second year of King Oswy and the 30th year of the Bishoprick of the Scots which they had born in the Province of the English The wife of Oswy was Eanfled Daughter of Edwin King of Northumberland after the death of her husband she spent her daies in the Monastery of Streanshalch where she deceased and was interred in the Church of St. Peter in the same Monastery The Issue of King Oswy by Eanfled was this Elwin was slain in a battel against Ethelred King of the Mercians Elfled the eldest Daughter at a year old according to the Vow of her Father was committed to Hilda Abbess of Streanshalch to be bred up in Religion where she was afterwards Abbess and was buried in the Church of St. Peters in that Monastery Offrid the younger Daughter was married to Ethelred King of Mercia His natural Issue Alkfrid who succeeded Ethelwald in Deira came at last to the whole Crown of Northumberland Alkfled married to Peada Son of King Penda she is taxed by most Writers for the death of her Husband EGFRID
it as high a piece of Courtship to conform to the present way of worship their old Idolatry and now again revived Superstition In vain did Lawrence Successor to Augustine in the See of Canterbury endeavour by diligent preaching to stop the tide of this Apostasie for preferment at Court and the Countenance of the Prince drew more Proselites to Heathenisin than the good lives and examples of constant Professours could keep true and sincere in the maintenance of the Gospel But he was not long unpunished for whether workt by the strength of Education which suffereth not without violence principles well grounded to be rooted up or whether indeed as is related possessed with an evil Spirit he fell into soul fits of phrenzy and distraction the convulsions of the mind and often torments of an evil Conscience And now whilst in human appearance there seemed no hopes of amendment it so fell out that by extraordinary means he became penitent The story goes that Lawrence finding his labours ineffectual was resolved to retire into France and follow Justus and Melitus the one expelled London the other Rochester for the Apostasie was now spread wide into the Country of the East-Saxons also being at his devotions the night before his intended departure in the Church of St. Peter that Saint appeared to him and to make the Vision more sensible gave him many stripes for offering to desert his Charge the marks of which the next morning being shewn to the King with the cause why and the person from whom they were received so wrought upon his fancy already prepared that immediately forsaking his Incestuous life he embraced again the Christian Religion and became as zealous a Professour as he had been a violent Persecutor Though it should seem by the following Epistle of Pope Boniface that Justus not Laurentius was his Converter The Epistle of Boniface V. To Justus late Bishop of Rochester now Successor of Melitus in the Archbishoprick of Canterbury To our most Beloved Brother Justus Boniface sendeth Greeting WIth what devotion and watchfulness your Brotherhood hath laboured for the Gospel of Christ not only the tenour of your Letter directed to us hath manifested but the granted accomplishment of your undertaking For neither hath Almighty God forsaken the Obligation of his Name or the fruit of your Labour in what he faithfully promised to the preachers of the Gospel Behold I am with you even to the end of the World Which his clemency hath particularly shewn in your ministery opening the hearts of the Gentiles to receive the singular mystery of your preaching for with a great reward and the assistance of his goodness he hath illustrated the delightful course of your proceedings whilst of the Talents committed unto you by a faithful improvement rendring him a plentiful increase he hath prepared for you to lay up by multiplying the kind And this also is conferred on you by that retribution who constantly persisting in the ministry laid upon you with a commendable patience wait for the redemption of that Nation and that they might be profitable to yours their salvation is begun The Lord saying Whosoever shall endure to the end the same shall be saved Ye are saved therefore by a patient hope and the strength of forbearance that the hearts of unbelievers being purged from the natural disease of Superstition might obain the mercy of their Saviour For having received an express from King Eadbald our Son we find with how great knowledge in holy teaching your Brotherhood hath brought his mind to a true conversion and the belief of our undoubted faith Upon which occasion having a certain assurance of the continuance of the divine Clemency we believe that by the ministry of their preaching will follow not only the full conversion of those under his command but of the neighbouring Nations also Since as it is written The recompence of your works accomplished shall be given by the Lord the Rewarder of all good things And it may truly be effected that the sound of them hath gone throughout the whole earth and their words to the ends of the earth by an universal confession of Nations professing the Christian Faith Polydore Virgil relates that hereupon he was Baptized but it seemeth strange that Ethelbert so Religious a Prince had neglected that pious office to his Son and as for re-baptizing in case of Heresie or Apostasie it had been long before condemned in the Church After his conversion he re-called Melitus and Justus from banishment and built a Chappel within the Monastery of Peter and Paul at Canterbury He reigned twenty four years and by Emma daughter of Theodebert a French Prince had two Sons Ermenred and Ercombert Ermenred died before his Father and left a Daughter Dompnena and two infant Sons behind him Ethelred and Ethelbert but the Kingdom required a man to govern it Ercombert the younger Son succeeded his Father ERCOMBERT ERCOMBERT notwithstanding his elder Brother's Sons were living took possession of the Kingdom What he wanted in Right he made out in good Government being reported a most Religious and Christian King The Saxon Idols yet standing he utterly demolisht and commanded the Fast of Lent to be universally observed but he is noted by some for not restoring at his death the Kingdom to his Nephew whose undoubted Right it was But leaving two Sons behind Egbert and Lothair whom he had by Sexburg the daughter of Anna King of the East-Saxons it fell to them successively He reigned twenty four years EGBERT EGBERT the eldest Son of Ercombert after his Father's death obtained the Crown but conscious that the right of Inheritance lay in his Uncle's Sons Ethelred and Ethelbert to secure himself he dispatcht them both casting their bodies into a River that their murther might not be known but they were afterwards by the stream cast up upon the shore and discovered by the next Inhabitants who in great veneration for before they were esteemed Saints and now Martyrs interred their bodies and built over them a little Chappel or Oratory Their bones were afterwards removed and laid in the Abby of Ramsey in Hantshire Their Sister Dompnena married to Merwald a Mercian Prince founded the Abby of Minster in Kent wherein saith Stow she became the first Abbess Mr. Cambden placeth that Abby in Sheppy and saith it was founded by Sexburga Wife of Ercombert To make amends for this Murther he gave to the Mother of these Princes part of Tanet wherein to build and Abby His ill-gotten Power was but short reigning only nine years he left behind him two Sons Edric and Wigtred but his Brother Lothair seized the Kingdom In his days the Province of Kent was divided into Parishes by Theodorus not Honorius Arch-bishop of that See as Mr. Speed falsly accounteth who placeth also this Action in the days of Ercombert LOTHAIR LOTHAIR taking the advantage of the Minority of his Nephews stept into the Throne but he enjoyed it not in Peace
his Reasons measured the truth of all Religions by Worldly success for he was angry that his Gods had not advanced him to the King's favour above others was the first that gave his consent offering himself to the King as the fittest Instrument to destroy those Idols whose worship he himself had so much promoted After this Paulinus had free liberty openly to preach the Gospel and the King with his Sons born to him of his first wife Quenburga with a great part of his Nobility and People renounced their Idolatry and were baptized The King with his Family in St. Peter's Church at York which he had hastily erected of Timber and the People for their number near the Rivers of Glevie in the Province of Bernicia and Swale in the Province of Deira After the Conversion of Northumberland Paulinus dispersed the seeds of Faith amongst them of Lindsey a Province in Lincolnshire First he converted Blecca Governour of the City of Lincoln and his Family where he built a Church curiously wrought of stone which was very much decayed in Bede's time Neither was Edwin any less careful to set forward the Conversion of the English by assisting Paulinus and by his perswading Eorpwald the Son of Redwald to embrace the Faith who soon after was slain by one Richert his own Countryman Pope Honorius after he had heard of the Conversion of the Northumbers sent to Paulinus a Confirmation of his being Archbishop of York withal exhortatory Letters to Edwin to perswade him to continue firmly in the Faith he professed the stile and substance of which Epistle as much as relates to him was this Bishop Honorius servant of the Servants of God To Edwin King of the English Greeting THe integrity of your Christianity is so warmed through the zeal of Faith towards the worship of the Omnipotent Creatour that it casts a lustre every where and is talkt of over all the World so that we with you may abundantly enjoy the reward of your labour for then you may account your selves Kings when having been informed of your King and Creatour by a true and Orthodox preaching you believe in God by worshipping him sincerely and paying to him as much as the weakness of your condition will permit the unseigned devotion of your minds For what else are we to offer up to our God but that per severing in good actions and confessing him to be the Authour of Mankind we make haste to worship him and to pay our vows unto him And therefore Most excellent Son we exhort you as is meet with a Fatherly love that since the Divine pity has vouch safed to call you to his Grace you would endeavour with a careful mind and by continual praying to preserve it that he who in this present World has brought you free from all Errour to the knowledge of his Name would prepare for you the Mansions of the heavenly Country After King Edwin had Reigned seventeen years Cadwallo King of the Britains rose up against him who being assisted by Penda the Merolan who envied Edwin's Greatness after a terrible battel at Heithfield slew this great King and his Son Osfrid This Edwin was renowned for his justice and moderation and the great care he took to help and ease his poor Subjects For in his time any one might travel safely all over his Dominions even from Sea to Sea and for the benefit of the wayfaring Man he commanded Iron-dishes should be fastned to every Fountain for conveniency of Travellers to drink Neither was he unmindful of his own Grandure having a Royal Banner alwaies carried before him He was buried in St. Peter's Church at Streanshal afterwards called Whitby His Queen Ethelburga with her Children and Paulinus fled into Kent to her Brother Eadbald who kindly received his Sister and her Children and made Paulinus Bishop of Rochester in which See he ended his daies and to which at his death he bequeathed the Pall which he had received for York Ethelburga afterwards spent her daies in a Monastery of Nuns built by her self near the Sea-side at a place called Lymming The Issue of King Edwin by Quinburga his first wife Daughter of Creda King of Mercia but Bede faith of Ceorl is this Osfrid the eldest Son of King Edwin was slain with his Father he and his Son Iffy had been both baptized by Paulinus Iffy after the death of his Father for fear of Oswald was conveyed into France where he died in his Childhood Edfrid second Son of Edwin for fear of Oswald fled to Penda King of Mercia and was barbarously murthered by him He left Issue Hererik of whom and his wife Bertswith descended Hilda the famous Abbess of Streanshalch and Hereswith wife of Ethelhere King of the East Angles And the Issue of the said Edwin by Ethelburg his second wife Daughter of Ethelbert King of Kent is Ethelme who died young and not long after he had received Baptism and was buried in St. Peter's Church in York Uskfrea was conveyed into Kent and afterwards into France with Iffy his half Brother with whom also he died and was buried Eanfled the elder Daughter was married to Oswy King of Northumberland Ethelred the younger died an Infant after he had received baptism and was buried with her brother Ethelm OSRIC EANFRITH AFter the death of Edwin the Kingdom of Northumberland became divided as in former times each rightful Heir seizing his part OSRIC the Son of Alfrid Edwin's Uncle by profession a Christian and baptized by Paulinus Reigned in Deira and EANFRITH the Son of Edilfrid the Wild in Bernicia He had been conveyed into Scotland with his two Brothers Oswald and Oswin and there with others of the Nobility had been baptized and instructed in the Christian Faith But now these two Kings having each of them a Crown turned Apostates from the Church and fell again to their old Religion and Idolatry But divine Vengeance soon followed at their heels for in less than the compass of a year they were both destroyed one by the force the other by the fraud and treachery of Cadwallo the manner whereof is thus related in Bede as likewise the succeeding Calamities in Northumberland caused by the tyranny and oppression of the Conquerour Cadwallader the British King the Summer following slew them both and though by force and violence sufficiently wicked yet the vengeance was by them deserved OSRIC was surprized with his whole Army and in a City of his own besieged and there finally with all his Forces destroyed After which the Conquerour entring Northumberland brought all under his power using his victory not with the moderation of a King but the pride and insolence of a merciless Tyrant laying wide desolation wherever he came EANFRITH the other King coming to him to beg his peace was barbarously put to death This year saith he is counted to this day hateful and unfortunate both for the Apostasie of these English Kings as the fury and tyranny of the British wherefore
midst of the Island though sometimes it found means to toss and almost overturn particular Kingdoms yet staved off by others and constantly kept warm by new Assailants it ever lost behind what it gained forwards and was not at any time able so to keep all employed but that one or other taking breath would return afresh upon it It had on the north the Kingdom of Northumberland and its Limits on that side were the Humber and Mersey from whence it is supposed to have taken name On the East it extended to the Sea through Lincolnshire and South-east had the East-Angles and East-Saxon Kingdoms lying upon it South it reached to the Thames where it was obnoxious to Kent the South and West-Saxons and on the West it was kept in by the Severn and Dee which gave passage to the Britains to break in upon it Thus we see this unwieldy Kingdom which in front would seem to bear down all before it is so coopt up and hem'd in on every side that it rather labours under its own greatness CRIDA WIBBA CEORL THE first beginner of this Kingdom was CRIDA the eleventh from VVoden who having reigned ten years without other memory left it to his Son WIBBA in the year 594 who enlarging the bounds of his Kingdom by continual Conquests upon the Britains reigned twenty years and had Issue three Son Penda Kenwalk and Eoppa and a Daughter Sexburg married to Kenwald King of the VVest-Saxons But he was succeeded by his Nephew CEORL who holding the Scepter twelve years dying left it to the right Heir PENDA PENDA the Son of Wibba at fifty years of Age came to the Crown a war-like Captain but withal bloody and restless His first Wars were with Kingils and Cuichelm joynt Kings of the West-Saxons whom he met at Cirencester and after a battel fought well on both sides made Truce with them in the year 632. He joyned with Kedwalla or Cadwallon King of the Britains against Edwin King of Northumberland slaying him in Battel with his Son Osfrid at a place called Hethfield In the year 642. with his own forces he overcame Oswald the Successour of Edwin who before had victoriously cut off Cadwallon with his whole Host at a place called Maserfield now Oswestre in Shropshire where he slew him He conquered Sigebert Egbert and Anna Kings of the East-Angles and killed them in the field as hath been related in the story of those Princes Next he makes War upon Kenwalch King of the West-Saxons who had taken his Sister in marriage and unjustly put her away him he drives out of his Kingdom When proud with these Successes taking into his Society Ethelherd King of the East-Angles and Ethelwald King of Deira he resolves upon the Conquest of Northumberland but Oswy then King of that Country with a few forces soberly managed cut him off with the greatest part of his Army The news of his death was joyfully received by all the Saxon Princes glad to be well rid of him who during his Life had given them so much trouble He was a Pagan through choice not ignorance and in several Conjunctions with Christian Princes had learnt to despise the Professours of that way as who owning in words a Faith more excellent shewed nothing less in their Actions yet he prohibited not preaching in his Dominions but giving free liberty to all he only hated and despised such who did not obey that God in whom they chose to believe His Male Issue by Kinswith his Queen runs thus Peada his eldest Son Ulfere and Ethelred both Monarchs of the English Merkthel famous for holiness of Life Merwald who had a Principality in Mercia and married Edburga daughter of Egbert King of Kent His Daughters were Kineburg Wife of Alkfrid King of Northumberland Kiniswith Wife of Offa King of the East-Angles both which Daughters afterwards became Nuns PEADA PEADA the eldest Son of Penda succeeded not in the whole Kingdom of Mercia for Oswy King of Northumberland entring the Country took possession in right of a Conqueror but to Peada who had married his Daughter he gave by Donation all on the South-side of Trent and reserved to himself the North. By his Father Penda long before he had been made Prince of the Mid-Angles a particular branch of the Mercian Crown and there with his good liking had planted the Christian Religion to the knowledge of which he came upon this occasion Applying to King Oswy for his Daughter Alckfled he received Answer That unless he turned Christian and admitted that Religion into his Dominions he should surcease his Suit Peada unwilling to be baffled accepts the motion and having heard some Preachers to that purpose professeth himself to be so taken with the Doctrine that whether he receive the Lady or not he resolves to embrace it with all his People which good Intentions of his were furthered by Alckfrid Oswy's Son who besides that he had taken to wife Cymburga his Sister had contracted a near Friendship with him All things therefore agreed he is baptized by Bishop Finan at the King's Pallace on the Wall and then with his Wife and new Religion returns into his own Country most part of which by the assistance of some Priests carried along with him he soon brought to the same profession But now Prenda being dead and his Territory enlarged through the Accession of South Mercia he had not reigned three years when he was cut off by the Treason of his Wife whom he had taken for a special Christian WULFER WULFER the Brother of King Peada succeeded him not only in the Province of South-Mercia but in the entire Kingdom of his Ancestors For Immin Eaba and Eadbert three Potent Earls casting off the Yoke of Oswy restored the whole North into his possession which he maintained during the whole Reign of that Monarch But Oswy dead Egfrid his Son and Successour endeavoured to recover what his Father had lost and invading this Wulfer won from him the Isle of Lindsey and the Countrys adjacent and content with that revenge returns home with his forces But Wulfer was now employed in War with Kenwald King of the West-Saxons against whom he had better success for entering his Country with a powerful Army he laid it waste from one end to the other took away from him the Isle of VVight which with some Countrys of the Meannari adjoyning he gave to Edilwalch the South-Saxon whom he had made a Christian and received at the Font. Afterwards he fought a Battel with Escwin King of the VVest-Saxons at a place called Bedanhafde but which side won the day is not recorded He reigned seventeen years and was buried at Peterborough his Queen Ermenheld after his death vailed her self at Ely He is reported to have had three Sons whereof the eldest named Kenred reigned after his Brother Ethelred his two younger Vulfald and Rufin as the Records of Peterborough report were slain by their Fathers own hands being found in an Assembly of
Bussoon or a Ridiculous Fellow Samodracos as much as one of the Samothracian Gods That these sorts of Ridiculous Spectres were worshipped in Britain I have shewn out of Gildas The Gauls referred their Original to PLUTO Caesar calls him Dispater and Bochartus thinks him to be Diespiter or Jupiter The French to this day when they affirm any thing say Ouy Dea from the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which comes from the Phoenician Dai or God and the Britains at this day call God Diu. There was an Altar found at Gretland in Yorkshire with this Inscription D U J without any particular name of a God joyned to it so that whether this might be Pluto or no I am not able to say although by a general name calling him God not particularizing him they might seem to mean 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or by way of Excellence that God to whom they owed their Original Nor will I strain to my purpose how this Pluto by the Heathens was called the black God from the dark and infernal Regions he lived in and that Dû in the British Tongue signifies Dark which word is derived from the Phoenicians although Mr. Cambden makes use of the Colour Belyn to derive Belinus To this Pluto and Proserpina I suppose the Nocturnal Sacrifices of the Britains were performed but especially upon the encrease of the Moon when she was six daies old In these Night Solemnities the Heathens committed very strange and horrid Villanies The Blood of Sacrifices mixt with Wine and Milk they poured on the ground to these Infernal Deities and made Merriments with the Flesh and remaining Wine provoking one another to horrid Lusts and unnatural Incests This might be the cause that the Britains by the frequent use of these Sacrifices might esteem it at length no crime at all although Fathers with Sons and Brothers with Brothers promiscuously joyned in the use of one Woman a Custome by Caesars reports was very frequent and common among them We find that JANUS was worshipt in Britain out of a Coyn of Cunobelinus wherein he is pictured with two Heads as likewise Dea Syria or CYBILE as appears by an Altar erected to her being in regard these might be brought into Britain by the Romans and so cannot be proved to be Ancient British Gods I will here pass them over in silence There were Altars erected in Britain with this Inscription DEIS MAT. BUS which kind of Inscriptions are not found in any other part the World so that Mr. Cambden confesseth he knows not what to make of them Mr. Selden thinks that by these Deae Matires are meant those Greek Goddesses which they called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so that these Altars were brought by the Greeks into Britain The Mothers of the Gods among the Heathens were Berecynthia Jano Cybile Tullus Ceres And some of these might be worshipt by the Britains by the Titles of the Mothers of their Gods These might be those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Mr. Selden thinks who gave the name to the Semnothei i. e. Britain falsly called Samothei The Britains had besides their great Gods other particular Deities or Genius's and Tutelar Gods of private Places as Viterinus Verbeia c. some being called by the names of Springs others Mountains and Groves and Rivers and to all these the Britains used to sacrifice No doubt but their Idolatry was as various as other Nations but I will not treat of any but what may be derived from the Phoenicians or Graecians and especially such as do most prove the Antiquity of those Nations in Britain When the Romans entred this Land a way was cut open for all the Luxurious Pomp and multitude of the Gods of Rome as shall be shewn in its proper place Considering thus much I will conclude the British Idolatry with the Life of OGMIUS or the Phoenician Hercules who was worshipped in these parts partly because this Hero or Worthy has many remarkable things in his story and partly because herein will be manifest the Artifice and vanity of the Graecians in attributing the Actions of Great Men to some of their own Country but more especially because hereby will clearly and evidently appear the first progress of the Phoenician Colonies which in time grew to be of so large an extent and so exceeding numerous that there were few Countries of the then known World to which by their great skill in Navigation and wonderful propensity to Trade they had not an easie and frequent access unto In writing his Life I have curiously avoided on the one hand least I should confound his History with the fabulous Reports of the Graecians who made forty three Hero's of this name as Varro reports and so make him a sharer only in their Actions On the other side I have studiously heeded least I should depress his Honour with the great load of those Actions the Ancients attributed to the same Name but to different Persons I am perswaded that his Credit was so great in the World in these primitive Ages upon the account of his many Voyages that there were few who desired not to be called by his Name The Graecians esteemed it the greatest Honour they could give to their Hero's if they attributed the Title of HERCULES to them so that in reading his Life if we meet with strange and incredible Monsters destroyed vast Giants and great Nations subdued in a moment by his Prowess we are to bewail the calamity of those Times who never thought they advanced the Dignity of them they undertook to praise sufficiently unless they stretcht their Atchievments beyond a just proportion and advanced them to the levels of Gods and not Men. Primus ego terras lustrari nauta Britannas Littus vbi vena divite proestat opes Ad Thulen migrans descendere dicor in Orcum Sed coelum nobis terra Britanna dedit THE LIFE OF THE Phoenician Hercules AN HERO THIS Hercules was the Son of Demarus King of Tyre as his Name MELICARTUS signifies namely King of the City for so the Phoenicians called Tyre The Amathusians who descended of the Phoenicians named him simply MALIGA The King He was called by the Greeks Mánners from the Phoenician Machario signifying Terrible From his admirable skill in Navigations the Graecians made him the God of the Sea but feigned him to be the Grand-son of Cadmus calling him Palaemon and having modelled him according to their own Fancies they gave him a numerous Off-spring But from Cadmus to the Theban Hercules are numbred Ten Generations all which time is far inferiour to this Hercules who by many is supposed to be contemporary with Moses and to have flourisht in the daies of Josbuah when the Israelites expelled the Canaanites from their Land part of them flying into Boetia part into Africa and Spain This is manifest out of two Pillars found in the Kingdom of Tangeir upon the Streights with a Phoenician
evidence of the Antiquity of that Sect whom I do make appear were Ancient Priests and Governours in Ecclesiastical and Civil matters in this Nation And by Reason Abraham lived under those Oaks of Mamre so piously the Druids in Example thereof although degenerating from the true substance and intent of so good an Example chose Groves of Oaks under which they performed all the invented Rites and Ceremonies belonging to their Religion To speak further we must confidently according to the Rule and Method of the British History believe Sarron to have Reigned as a British King from Anno Mundi MMVII to MMLXVIII when being Ambitious to extend his Empire he ended his life and kingdom and now we hear of Druis his Son DRUIS the Son of Sarron or as Basing stochius writes his Grand-son by his Son Namnes who died before him succeeded in the Kingdom He is made the Author of the Druids a famous Sect of Philosophers he began his Reign Anno Mundi MMLXVIII and held the Government but fourteen years Then BARDUS the Son of Druis next entered upon the Kingdom This is the King of Poets Musicians and Heralds called from him Bardi they were very much given to composing of Genealogies and rehearsing them in publick Assemblies but notwithstanding their great skill in this matter we see they have the misfortune to be put after the Druids in Succession whereas in the fore-going Antiquities it is probably made out they were an Ancienter Order than they in Britain This Bardus began his Reign Anno Mundi MMLXXXII and possest the Scepter seventy five years Now who would not have thought BRITAIN or SAMOTHEA an happy Island having so many Philosophers for their Kings but see the mischief of it Let Samothes Magus Sarron and Druis teach never so Divinely and Bardus Sing or Pipe never so sweetly yet the People will be Adders still there is no reclaiming of the Multitude No wonder therefore that giving themselves to a loose and luxurious life and not keeping up to the strict Rules that had been prescribed to them they were the sooner conquered and subdued by the Giant Albion so that Samothea was wrested from the Celts the Line of Japhet and brought in subjection to the Progeny of Ham. Now it is that stories complain of the miserable Thraldom of this Island by the Sons of Neptune and the delivery of it in part by the death of Albion slain by Hercules though long after it was molested by Giants until the Arrival of Brutus all which Circumstances I will pass over not because they are more Fabulous than the rest but because they seem if they were well timed and cleared of all the Ignorant Rubbish that by age and malice of Writers has over-burthened them to carry some foot-steps of the Phoenicians in this Island who were Men of exceeding proportion and of the Linage of Ham and early Traders into these Parts Likewise the story of Dioclesian or as Mr. Hollinshead corrects it Danaus his Daughter I will omit as too tedious a Fable and so proceed to the succession of the Celtick Kingdom of which Britain is feigned a part This I do not for Truths sake but Convenience It follows therefore out of Basinstoak LONGHO the Son of Bardus succeeded him in the Kindom of the Celtae He made War upon Scandia and gave name to the Longo Bards who afterwards proceeded from that Country I pass over how ridiculously and against all Geography Scandia by Basinstochius is placed about the Coasts of Britain and made an Island These are small faults He begun his Reign Anno Mundi MMCLVII and reigned twenty eight years BARDUS the Second succeeded him He carried Musick into Germany which had been first taught in Celtica by his Grand-father He Reigned seven and thirty years and left a young Son called Celtes who being not ripe enough to Administer the Kingdom LUCUS was elected King who Reigned but Eleven years and then CELTES assumed the Crown From this Prince the Celtae took their Denomination His Mother was called Galathea in honour of whose Memory he gave that name to his Daughter and afterwards married her to Hercules by whom she had a Son named Galathes from whom the Galli are derived He reigned but thirteen years and then HERCULES and GALATHEA succeeded This Hercules built Alexia and passing the Alpes he gave his younger Son Tuscus the Kingdom of Italy and his elder Son Galathes the Celtick Dominion The first Prince reigned nineteen years Galathes held the Kingdom of the Celts forty nine years and then left it to his Son NARBON the Son of Galathes during his Fathers life had the Island of Samothea intrusted to his Government but after the death of his Father he passed into Gallia and there built a City after his own Name he reigned eighteen years LUGDUS his Son succeeded him he built Lugdunum and reigned fifty one years BELIGIUS followed who gave name to the Belgae formerly called Beligici he died without Issue after he had reigned twenty years and the Kingdom of the Celts devolved on JASIUS This Prince was of the Line of Hercules and the year before was created King of Italy so that the two Kingdoms of Celtica and Italy were conjoyned in one Man Anno Mundi MMCCCLXXXIV This raised Envy in his Brother Dardanus who began a Civil-War but not being able to prevail by force of Arms he had recourse unto Policy so that feigning Reconciliation with his Brother he takes all his Goods and Shipping them enters into his Brothers Palace and there Murthers him as he was Bathing this being effected he flies into Samothrace afterwards into Phrygia Jasius had a Son named CORYBANTUS he succeeded his Father in the Kingdom of Italy but not of the Caeltes Jasius reigned fifty years ALLOBROX of the line of Hercules obtained the Kingdom of the Celti he Reigned sixty eight years and ROMUS his Son succeeded him he Governed twenty nine years PARIS the Son of Romus Ruled thirty nine years LEMANES the Son of Paris Reigned sixty seven years OLBIUS the Son of Lemanes Reigned five years From this Olbius Basinstochius derives Albion the Name of this Island GALATHES the Second succeeded him and Reigned eight and forty years NAMNES followed and Governed forty four years and being about to end his daies he bequeathed the Kingdom to his Son Remus REMUS the Son of Namnes Reigned forty years He left only a Daughter which he had married before to Phranicus a Prince of the Blood of Hector PHRANICUS held the Scepter in right of his Wife but leaving Samothea to be Governed by the Druids he betook himself to the Continent called by his Name France so that the Britains readily received King BRUTUS at his Arrival into this Island as is pretended by those who desired to claim an honourable Title from that Race of the Trojans This is the account of the Celtick Kings before BRUTE according to Berosus and Basinstochius Who can but wonder at the exact and
of his Father But it seems the People ill resenting the flight of Lavinia Ascanius was obliged to re-call her and giving to her and her Son the City Lavinium he built Albae Longa where he Reigned At his death he bequeathed his Kingdom to his Son Iulus between whom and Silvius Controversies arose concerning the Right of Government at last it was found that the People inclined rather to Silvius as being descended of Lavinia the Daughter of Latinus and inheriting the blood of the Trojans and Latins the whole Kingdom devolved on him By this Iulus was constrained to take up with the Priest-hood There is great uncertainty in Roman Authors concerning the Line of AEnaeas and Livy doubts whether Iulus was the Son of AEneas by Creusa or Lavinia but this seemeth to be the clearest Genealogy To this Genealogy gathered out of Roman Authors John of Weathamstead Abbot of St. Albaens a right Judicious Man had respect in his Censures long ago upon Brutes History where he saith That Ascanius begat no such Son as had for his proper name SILVIUS but left Issue an only Son Iulus from whom the Family of the IULII afterwards proceeded and that Silvius Posthumus whom perhaps Jeoffery of Monmouth meaneth was the Son of AEneas by his Wife Lavinia who begat AEnaeas Silvius and in the Eight and thirtieth year of his Reign ended his life by a Natural death How therefore could he be slain by his Son Brute or if any such thing had happened how came so memorable an Accident to be omitted This argues the story to be Poetical as he saith rather than Historical and that Jeoffery or whoever compiled it was altogether ignorant of the Genealogy of AEnaeas which will appear more evidently by the sequel Let us see therefore to which Line our supposed Brute can with most reason be referred In this he seems to confound Silvius with Iulus making them the same Persons who indeed were but Competitors in the same Kingdom so that Silvius in the Line of Lavinia is brought into the Line of Creusa Others to mend the matter make Brute descend of AEnaeas and Lavinia but then they bring Ascanius of the Line of Creusa in to the Line of Lavinia and so make him the same with Silvius Posthumus by that to have begotten Iulus the Father of Brute whereas Silvius Posthumus begat Silvius AEnaeas and was the Father of those many Silvii who succeeded in the Kingdom of Alba. Hitherto we see Brute the Grandfather of AEnaeas by a mixt Genealogy but Gyonan Villani cited by Mr. Hollinshead brings his Line absolutely from AEnaeas and Lavinia and seems to make him the Grand-child of AEnaeas by his Son Silvius Posthumus who marrying the Neece of his Mother Lavinia had Issue BRUTE so called because she died in Travail of him I suppose he means Brotus but how ridiculously 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is made to signifie any such thing I leave it to the Judicious to determine But how comes it to pass that he should flie his Country fearing as is said his Grandfather Silvius Posthumus when as there is no mention made in Gyonan Villani of another Silvius in this Line the Son of Silvius Posthumus and the Father of Brute However it comes to pass Brute must be the Off-spring of AEneas and we must not be too busie in asking questions for if one demand how the name of Brute which was afterwards given to the first Consul for his feigned Stupidity to be a name of the Princes Son in the same Kingdom it will be answered he was called Brotus not Brutus because his Mother died in Child-bed of him If it be asked why he sted for the accidental killing his Father the Count Palatine saies it is a mistake for it was only a Rumour spread of him and the truth was rather by other discontents that he was moved to flight If enquiry be made how it comes to pass that the Latin Writers who reckon up the Progeny of AEneas and the Silvii make not the least mention of him and Gildas the Ancient Britain hath Altum silentium in this point The Reply is easie That it is not the business of every Author to mention every particular for the Romans contented themselves with what related to their own Nation and Gildas made no mention of it being a thing beyond dispute For the present we will attend this BRUTE the supposed Son of Silvius with the same care and diligence we have done the Celtick Kings Being of the Age of fifteen he left his Country and arriving at Greece he found a number of the scattered Trojans who lived under the Dommion of Pandrasus Finding them a discontented Party he managed his Interest wisely with them often inculcating the Nobility of their Ancestors and the slavery of their present condition he offered himself to be their Head and Leader and so encouraged them to stand upon honourable Terms They willingly embraced this motion and many of them being in Authority under Pandrasus revolted and so brought over great Parties with them BRUTE being thus strengthened great numbers continually flockt to him with encouragements to execute his designs securing himself in Woods and making sure to him many considerable Forts and strong Holds but first writes a smart Letter to Pandrasus wherein he demands the liberty of his Trojans The King amazed at his sudden Imperiousness but considering with calmer thoughts the Paucity of the Rebels resolved by force of Arms to chastise their Arrogance by reducing them to Obedience In all haste he levies a considerable Power and marching against him with greater heat than conduct and supposing his Enemies to be hid in the Woods near a Town called Sparatinum he is set upon by Brute who had three thousand of his well appointed Trojans in Ambuscado for that Expedition so that Pandrasus his Army marching loosely and without order or discipline as if they had not expected an Enemy so near them were quickly routed and put to flight Brute pursues his Victory to the River Akalon in which many of the Graecians miserably perished Neither could the Courage of Antigonus Brother to Pandrasus prevail although he often from small Parties rallyed and made Head against the Enemy for by the general Consternation of his Men he was defeated and taken Prisoner After this success Brute entred Sparatinum and placing a Garrison in it of six hundred Men he returns with the rest of his Body into the Woods bringing them the joyful News of his eminent Victories Pandrasus being overcome with shame and sorrow for the loss of his Brother and this unexpected Defeat resolves at last with a greater Power and more care and circumspection to renew the War To this end he gathers up his dispersed Souldiers and with fresh supplies from all parts of his Kingdom laies Siege to Sparatinum wherein he thought Brute in Person resided This Opinion made him carry on the Siege with more violence storming it at several
they were Aided by their Father who had Invaded and by this time Conquered all Gallia so that we see a vast part of Europe in the possession of Ebrancke and his Sons The Line of BRUTE never in so fair a way as now towards the Conquest of the whole Earth promised by the Oracle and performed as the Britains say in the Person of Constantine the Great This Prince built Caerbrancke now York and erected a Temple to Diana in which he placed an Archi flamen Mr. Cambden derives Eboracum or Eburacum from Eb-Ure standing upon the River Ure as the Eburovices in France the Eburones in the Netherlands and Eblana in Ireland from the Rivers Fure Oure and Lefny in those Countries This King also built in Albania now called Scotland the Castle of Maydens by King Eden afterwards called Edenborough This Mayden Castle hath since deserved the name of Prostitute being most Treacherously betrayed in the late Scottish War to Cromwell by Dundaste to the then great dis-service of his present MAJESTY and the dishonour of that Nation Ebrancke dying was buried in the Temple of Diana which he had built and the Ceremonies were performed with great pomp and solemnity He Reigned forty years BRUTE GREENSHEILD his eldest Son succeeded him Anno Mundi 3009 he perfected the Conquest of Gallia and revenged some Indignities put upon his Father by Brinchild Prince of Hannonia or Hanault conquering him upon the banks of the Sheld he received his Sirname from a Green-shield he used to wear in Battle He hath the report of a most excellent Prince just and merciful a most exact observer of his Word He reigned twelve years and was Interr'd in his Fathers City Caerbranck LEIL the Son of Brute Greensheild began his Government Anno Mundi 3021 he built the City Carlisle called also by the Romans and Britains Lugurallum or Luguballium or Luguballa from Lugus or Lucus a Tower and Vallum a Trench the Ruines of which is seen nigh the City and he repaired Carleon now called Chester which was supposed to be built by the Giants before Brutes time the vast Stones and Arched Vaults therein gave occasion to this Report He was a good Prince till the latter end of his daies when falling in to several Vices and Enormities created great Dissensions in the Nations which ended not in his life He was buried at Caerlile after he had swayed the Scepter five and twenty years LUD or Lud Hurdibras is also called Rud and Rudibras Sirnamed Cicuber he began his Government Anno Mundi 3046. The first thing he undertook was the ending of the Troubles began in his Fathers daies finding happy success in so great an Undertaking he studied nothing more than to beautifie Britain He built a City which he named Caer Gaut or Kaerkin now Canterbury and there placed a Flamin likewise Caerquent now Winchester and Caer Septon or Caer Palladur supposed to be Shaftsbury and having Reigned thirty nine years he died BALDUD the Son of Hurdibras Anno Mundi 3085 succeeded in the Kingdom He studied many years at Athens and from thence brought four eminent Philosophers to instruct the Britains in all Liberal Sciences assigning them Stamford for the place of their Teaching He built Caerbran now Bath and is said by the Art of Magick to have found out those Hot waters These Springs he dedicated to Minerva erecting there a sumptuous Temple in her Honour This Town Mr. Cambden takes to be Palladur This Famous City is seated in Somersetshire on the River Avon and is called by Ptolomy from the Hot Baths in it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the Hot Waters by Antoninus Aquae Solis that is the Waters of the Sun by the Britains Yr ennaint Twymin and Caer Badon by the Saxons 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and from the great resort thither of maimed People Akmanchester the City of sickly Folk It is seated in a Low Valley and the same not great encompast about with Hills almost of an equal height from which certain Springs and little Rivulets of Water descend to the great commodity of the City Within the City it self there boils up three Springs of Hot-waters which were caused by the wonderful Art of this Blayden named Cloyth i. e. Bleyden the Magician but as the Monks will have it it must be by St. David who coming to Bath cured the Infection of the Waters thereabouts and by his Prayers and Benedictions gave them a perpetual Heat and made them very healthful and soveraign for many Diseases to the wonderful comfort and assistance of all England to this present time These are the two Opinions Heathen and Monkish that are given concerning the production of these Springs The Water that bubbles or boils up is of a blewish or Sea-colour and sends up a thin Steam and Vapour of a strong scent caused by the veins of Brimstone and some Bituminous matter it passeth through These Baths are not wholsome at all hours but do require a time of purgation from that filth which by the exceeding heat and fermentation of them is cast up so that until by their Sluces they cleanse themselves they are shut up and none permitted to enter them The first and greatest is called the Kings Bath in the very heart and bosom of the City and nigh to the Cathedral Church It is enclosed within a Wall and is accommodated with two and thirty Seats of Arched-work for Men and Women to sit upon who when they enter are covered with Linnen Garments and are conducted by Guides who attend for that purpose Where the Cathedral Church now stands in Ancient times as the Report goes was that Temple consecrated to Minerva the Patroness of Hot Springs and this is collected out of Solinus who writes of these Baths in Britain The other two are in a Street on the West side of the City not two hundred foot one from the other One of which is called the Cross-Bath from a Cross that formerly stood in the midst of it It is of a mild and temperate warmth and hath twelve Seats of stones upon the brinks of it and encompast with a Wall The other is much hotter and is called the Hot-Bath Nigh these is a Spittle or Lazarus-House built by Reginald Bishop of Bath for the relief of poor diseased People I will conclude these Baths with the Verses of Necham Barthoniae Thermas vix proefero Vergilianas Thus translated The British-BATHS to Virgins don't give place To Aged Limbs They a warm Youth bestow And he who crazy maim'd and feeble was His Limbs benumm'd from hence does active go Nature on Crutches doth not here repair But springs and dances if once bathed here Some think that dark and subterraneous fire With Vestal heat under these Waters glow And that int h ' Head from whence these Springs retire Natures great brazen Caldrons doth bestow Such Limbicks foolish Chymists do create These Springs from Sulphur only take their Heat
But to return to King Baldud Presuming too much either to his skill in Magiok or his Philosophical invention of Wings he brake his Neck from off the Temple of Apollo in Troy-novant from a Pinnacle whereof he endeavoured to have flown He Governed Britain twenty years Then LEIR the Son of Baldud succeeded Anno Mundi 3105 He built Caerleir called Legecestria Leogora Legeo-cester and now Leicester and there placed a Flamen He had never a Son but three Daughters Gonorilla Regana and Cordeilla his Darling In his Old Age being jealous of their Affection he called them before him and demands that they would give him some assurance of their Love The two Eldest called Heaven and Earth to witness that they loved him ten thousand times dearer than their own Souls that they were not able to express their infinite Kindnesses and at last concluded their Flattery with horrid Oaths and Asseverations of their Sincerity Cordeilla could not be heard amidst all this noise of Affection so that her Father turning towards her quickly by his Countenance gave her to understand that he had expected something from her also wherefore with a modest look and humble deportment she assured him that as a Father she had ever loved and honoured him and as her bounden duty was as a Father she should reverence and alwaies esteem him This Answer satisfied not the old King but he shewed his Resentments by his neglect of her and the sudden advancement of her Sisters marrying Regana to Henninus Duke of Cornwal and Gonorilla to Maglanus Duke of Albania reserving no Portion for Cordeilla but it so happened that Aganippus King of Gallia hearing of her Vertue desired her in Marriage to whom she was welcome without any Dower but her own Excellence King Leir having thus disposed of his Daughters began to grow Gray yet Youthsome giving hopes to his Subjects of a long life and Government This pleased not Gonorilla nor Regana who began by this time to reflect upon their Father as the only obstacle of their Happiness often wishing him removed and from wishes they passed on to desires and longing expectations after his Death This brought a contempt of his Age and afterwards neglect and hatred of his Person finally being instigated and assisted by their Husbands they offered so many Indignities and Violences to him that in the end he was constrained to leave the Realm and take Refuge with Cordeilla This rejected Daughter of his received him with all signs and testimonies of Affection and what was more significant assisted him with powerful Aids and in Person went to revenge his wrongs so that bringing a great Army into Britain she destroyed his Enemies and restored him to his Crown which he held for the space of two years whose Reign in all is computed to be full sixty years and was buried at Leicester CORDEILLA the youngest Daughter of Leir was admitted for Queen An. Mundi 3165 She governed the Realm discreetly for five years during which time her Husband Aganippus died Margan and Cunedage her Nephews by her Sisters Gonorilla and Regana disdaining to be under the Government of a Woman rebelled against her and so prevailed that they took her Prisoner but being a Woman endowed with a high Spirit she slew her self rather than to live under their Tyranny CUNEDAG and MARGAN possessing the whole Government Anno Mundi 3170 they divided the Land between them To Margan fell Albania to Cunedag all the Country on this side of Humber Margan was not long content with his Portion so he invaded his Brother but driven by him into Wales and there slain giving the name of Glan-Margan to that Country Cunedagius Ruling alone erected a Temple to Mars at Perth in Scotland placing there a Flamens Seat He also built a Temple of Minerva at Bangor and one to Mercury Mr. Hollinshead saith Apollo in Cornwal he died and was buried in Troynovant after he had Ruled 33 years RIVAL the Son of Cunedag came to the Crown Anno Mundi 3203 in his time it rained Blood for three daies together from the putrefaction a noysom and venemous Flie was bred which in swarms infested the whole Land and brought a Contagion both on Man and Beast and great was the Mortality that ensued in this Kings Reign Rome is supposed to be built about the eight and twentieth year of his Reign and in the year after Brutes Arrival 356 some say in the thirty second year of Rival He Reigned 46 years and bidding adieu to the World GURGUST his Son succeeded Anno Mundi 3249. In this Kings Reign the Olympiads were instituted by Iphitus namely in the year of the World 3256 and in the seventh year of his Government Sr. Walter Rawleigh placeth the building of Rome four and twenty years after the Fourth Olympiad namely in the year 3280 and seven years after the next King Silvius or Sisilius with which Prince I will begin the next Period supposing him to proceed from the Line of the Kings of Alba after the expulsion of Amulius from the Kingdom by Romulus and Remus the time so exactly agreeing with Silvius his leaving the Crown of Alba and this Silvius reigning in Britain that from the driving out of Amulius and his Family from the usurped Kingdom of the Latins and to the beginning of this Kings Reign in Britain there seems a just competent time allowable for a Voyage They who have respect to the British Histories let them consider that this Intercourse between Alba and Britain here supposed is no new thing being practiced in the daies of Ebrancke who sent his Daughters to Silvius Alba then King of the Latins likewise let them take notice that this way the British Kings Succeeding are grafted into the Family of AEnaeas by a Line not so questionable as Brutes namely the Kings of Alba called all SILVII and the undoubted Off-spring of that Silvius Posthumus upon whom Brute cannot with reason be Fathered In the next place let them consider that the Line of the British Kings at Silvius begins to be strangely confused the Lineal descent being ended in himself and a Collateral one begun so that although Silvius be made the Brother of Gurgast yet I take it to make much to my purpose that he is not made his Son according to the way the British History is over fond of Let them consider likewise what Wars and Tumults are reported in the daies of Silvius and his Successour Jago the constant Accidents attending new Invaders and seeing that Polidore Virgil could venture to place and displace Kings at his pleasure inverting in many places the long received Order of the British History and yet deserve commendation for it I hope I cannot be much blamed for setting down my Conjecture which although it be new yet it doth not derogate in the least from the Honour of the Britains being derived from the same Head although in a different Channel And I doubt not that any would willingly deny them either
the Off-spring of AEnaeas or the Reliques of Troy if he could make out their Title to that Original by any other means than Brute THE CHRONICLE AND HISTORY OF Ancient Britain CHAP. XII SILVIUS the First King of BRITAIN who descended from the Kings of ALBA and not from BRUTE SILVIUS the first King of Britain is supposed to descend from the Kings of Alba and to have forsaken his Country under one of those two great Revolutions of State the former of which was caused by the Usurpation of Amulius upon his Brother Numitor the latter by the vindication of Numitor's Right by his Nephews Romulus and Remus The truth is Silvius seems rather to proceed from Amulius than Numitor upon the account that Numitor's Issue was destroyed by Amulius and his Daughter Ilia made a Vestal Nun so that none of Numitor's Male-Issue surviving this Silvius appears the Son of Amulius who upon the deprivation of his Father might seek out new Fortunes The Reasons that make this seem probable to me are these 1. The Intercourse of the British Histories mentioned between the Kings of Alba and Britain and that very Intercourse must needs be about this time by the very Circumstances produced by those Histories themselves For by their own confession it was in those daies when the Sabines denied their Daughters in Marriage to the House of AEnaeas which happened not according to the Roman Histories till the daies of Romulus and Remus 2. There hath been such an Intercourse between both Nations that they seem to allow it who have derived Britain from a Country in Italy of the same Name as in Polybius and other Authors is seen 3. The time of Silvius his Reign salleth about the Greeks first coming into Britain namely about the daies of Pythagoras at the beginning of the Historical Age nigh the first Olympiad Then it is that we find Silvius mentioned in the British Histories just upon the dissolution of the Line of the Alba Kings called SILVII 4. It is probable the Family of AEnaeas might by Ancient Tradition be delivered down to Govern this Island in Ancient times which Tradition by BRUTE cannot possibly be made out nor so likely by any King as this SILVIUS 5. We find that the Transmigration of the Soul was taught by the Druids of this Island insomuch that Lipsius saith That he knoweth not whether they learnt it of Pythagoras or he of them Now Pythagoras lived by the consent of most Writers not long after those daies of Silvius if not equal with him for who in things of so vast a distance can calculate Time exactly 6. There are many words in the British Language taken notice of which in great reason seem to be derived from the Kingdom of the Latins and shew from thence their Original which words were out of use before Julius Caesars time and so could not be introduced by him The Old Latins called Deformed persons Meriones the Cambro-Britains at this day do call ugly and Rustick Women Metrtones The Old Latins call Deceit Falla the Cambro-Britains Faell The Old Latins called a Great eater Glutton and Gluvia the Cambro-Britains Glwth The Old Latins called a Dug Ruma the Cambro-Britains Rhumen The Old Latins called the Chief Magistrate of the Osci Meddix and with the Cambro-Britains Meddu signifieth to be in Authority and Power The Old Latins called a Fool Dalivus the Cambro-Britains say Delff a stupid Fellow The Old Latins said Clueo I hear the Cambro-Britains call Hearing Clyn and to hear Clywed to which are added many Ancient Names of the Old Latins which have some signification in the British Clodius Clod Praise Drusus Drws a Door Sylla Syllu to See Celius Celu to Hide Cornelius Cornel a Corner Marcus March a Horse Silanus Silyn an Off-spring Cinna Cynne or Cynnew to Burn. The Names of Women Mammea Man Mother Livia Lliw Colour and many more which are left to the Britains to find out who best understand their own Language The Introduction of all which words into Britain cannot so well be attributed to Brutus had there ever been such a Person as to this Silvius upon the account that Brute was not so long in Italy to learn the Latin Tongue neither can the Latin Tongue be supposed to have been in those daies as most Learned persons do think any other than a Dialect of the Greek which mixing afterwards with the Sabins and Etruscans became to be the Original of that Tongue afterwards most in use in Italy so that Brute being excluded none can be found so likely as Silvius to be the Introducer of it into Britain 7. Seventhly and lastly The Cassiterides we find are called Scilly Islands whether from the first Arrival of this Prince which may be supposed in those parts upon the account of Trade or from the Rock Sylla upon the Coast of Italy is uncertain but the former Opinion seems most likely so that I shall conclude seeing that the time doth very well accord of the Expulsion of Silvius Amulius and the Landing of this Silvius in Britain and seeing an Alliance between the two Kingdoms of Alba and Britain is absurdly imagined before this time and with great Reason may be referred hither for seeing Varro's Historical Age now beginneth and some Records of the Greeks remain relating to these daies I will venture to begin the Historical Age with Silvius not condemning all the Traditions of the Britains about AEnaeas and Troy nor yet justifying every thing in those Histories of the following Kings But this I will say That many things in them contained may be Truth although Fabulously written For about this time as I said before the Grecians began to keep Records and much about the same time began their Voyages into Britain as may be seen in the fore-going Antiquities This King SILVIUS in the British History is also named SILIUS Nothing is Recorded of his fifteen years Reign but Brawls and Tumults and Harding calls him also Sicilius and the Son of Gurgust when as others make him his Brother which difference demonstrates the Line of Brute but loosly fastned about this place SICILIUS his Son then did succeed In whose time each man did other oppress The Law and Peace was exil'd so indeed That Civil wars and slaughter of Men express Was in every part of the Land without redress And Murtherers foul through all his Land daily Without redress or any other remedy Most agree that this King reigned nine and forty years some say but two a vast difference and not econcileable unless the distinction of Entrance and Conquest be allowed But of this I shall say no more but proceed to his Cozin Jago JAGO Cozin to Silvius although in all likelyhood not akin at all this being a Phoenician name began his Reign in the year of the World 3336 and died of a Lethargy without Issue after he had reigned twenty eight years leaving nothing memorable behind him but his Tyranny KINIMAGUS or Kimmacus according to most
the minds of the Britains who yet continued in their Rebellion Polycletus with a mighty Host past through Italy and Gallia a heavy burthen to both Nations and at his arrival at Britain was received with different apprehensions for the Roman Army was awed with his presence but to the Britains he was matter of laughter and scorn for they had not so far lost the sence of Liberty that they were ignorant of the power of a Freed Man and wondered that so great a Captain and Army that had ended such a considerable a War should be at the beck and disposal of a Slave For the present all things were represented to the Emperour in favour of Suetonius who went on still in prosecuting his Affairs but having lost upon the shoar some Gallies with the Slaves that rowed them as if the War continued still he was commanded to deliver up the Army to Petronius Turpilianus who was newly out of his Consulship This Lieutenant was more exorable than Suetonius being a stranger to the faults of the Britains and easier of pardon as never provoked by the Britains or particularly incensed by a Revolt He gave himself wholly to the quieting the Province not attempting any new Conquests imposing the specious name of PEACE from which proceeded Sloth and Idleness TREBELLIUS MAXIMUS succeeded him not inferiour in the laziness of his Temper a Man utterly unexperienced in Martial Affairs and who was fit only to be employed by such a Masters as Nero. Nevertheless he continued the Government to the daies of Vitellius and held the Province in Obedience by a kind of Complaisant behaviour By his remiss Carriage he suffered his Army to grow idle and loose by which means he enslaved Britain more by the Roman Vices than all his Predecessors had done by their Arms but I shall leave some of his character to the daies of Otho and proceed to that of Nero. THE LIFE OF NERO. IN the daies of this Governour died NERO a Prince whose Vertues and Vices might equally be esteemed great had not the former seemed to proceed from Constraint the latter from the Inclination of his Nature for five years he continued an excellent Prince but the remainder of his daies was spent in all Riot and Debaucheries and they who give a particular Catalogue of his Vices seem rather to reckon up the depravities of Human Nature than the Actions of one Man There is little in his Life that relates to Britain but what doth is full of Cruelty and Extortion He slew Aulus Plantus the first Lieutenant under his Father Claudius by whose Valour Britain was subdued to the Romans and ordered his Execution to be performed so suddenly that he had not time to take leave of his Children or to give them his last Blessing and Farewel There was but one hour between his Sentence and his Death when immediately hurried out of the Esquiline Gate into a place set apart for such bloody offices he was slain by the hand of Tacius the Tribune and died so full of Constancy that he upbraided not the Executioner with the ignominy of his Guilt or the Emperour with the remembrance of his Services The Cause of his Death was never known but the after-Actions of this Emperour made it appear that nothing but the exceeding Merit of Plautius was the cause of his destruction and his Victories in Britain His death at Rome Thus died the first Lieutenant of Britain With the same Cruelty Nero proceeded against Marcus Ostorius the Son of Publicus the second Lieutenant The Father had the happiness to end his Victories and his daies at once but his Son who under his Father had performed great things in Britain and had obtained a civical Coronet in the Fight against the Iceni going to Rome was suspected by Nero who by his Tyranny was now grown fearful and exceeding suspicious of all Vertuous men having of late discovered a dangerous Conspiracy He therefore suborns one Antistius Socianus to accuse Ostorius That he consulted with Parmanes an Astrologer and enquired after the life of the Emperour and that he was ill affected to the present Government For these feigned Crimes though absent at his Country-house he is convicted and condemned and a Centurion sent to dispatch him The Centurion found him walking in his Grounds where having shut up all passages of escape he delivered unto him his Message Ostorius moved with Indignation that his Services should receive so ill a reward and disdaining to die by the hands of so mean an Executioner fell upon his own Sword These Cruelties of Nero although inferiour to his many Parricides I have more particularly taken notice of in that they relate to Persons eminently concerned in the enslaving of this Island whose fate though undeservedly given by him who was obliged for such Services yet may seem to be justly called for by the blood and sufferings of Innocent Britains The great destruction of the Romans and their Colonies in Britain under the Conduct of Boadicia is ascribed by Suetonius as the certain consequence of the ill Government of this Prince and his Vices But Nero made better use of it he had been often foretold That the time would come when he should be deserted and forsaken and forced to take up with the Government of the East or the Kingdom of Jerusalem Yet with these hopes That he should be afterwards restored to the Empire when Britain was well near lost together with Armenia he saw himself in a very fair way towards the fulfilling of the Prophesie But these Provinces being again recovered he thought the danger was past and so comforted himself up with the thoughts That the desertion spoken of Wars the foresaid Revolts and that his restoring to the Empire was the regaining of those Countries Confirmed in this opinion was he by one who bade him have a care of the Seventy third year which he falsly interpreted to the daies of his own life and not to Galba who deposed him Pufft up theresore with assurances of Long life and Dominion that little Religion he had he utterly cast off and the Syrian Goddess to whom he had been especially devoted many of whose Altars are found in Britain and who was a peculiar Deity of this Island and Gallia as hath been formerly shewn he so much slighted that in contempt of her he made her a Pissing-Block and took to a little Baby whom he gave out discovered all Conspiracies against him But at last he was deposed by Galba and after he had reigned about thirteen years and a half he slew himself in the prime of his Age and with him ended the Line of the Caesars This NERO sent the twentieth Legion which although called back and again sent by Vitellius after the Civil Wars between him and Otho yet was it recalled again by Vespatian against Vitellius and after the settlement of the Empire under Vespatian in all probability sent into this Island again for Josephus writes that in
think thereto by Quatratus a Disciple of the Apostles and Aristides a Philosopher of Athens who wrote an Apology for them He died in the year of our Lord one hundred thirty nine and of his Age sixty two in his life time he had designed Caesar Lucius AElius a man exceedingly dear to him but he dying Antoninus Pius received the Empire Antoninus Pius ANTONINUS for his Princely Vertues Sirnamed PIUS and by the Senate called the Father of his Country was a Lombard born Son of Aurelius Fulvius and Nephew to Titus Aurelius Fulvius who had been Consul and held other Offices of great Authority and State At his first entrance into the Empire by an Ordinance of his as many as were of the Roman World were made Citizens of Rome by which Edict the Southern Britains within Hadrians Wall as well as other Provinces enjoyed that high Dignity and Priviledge but the Northern Inhabitants not content with their Liberty and the Bounds assigned them brake into the Roman Pale and began to waste wide but by the Conduct of Lollius Urbicus then Lieutenant they were not only driven back but confined to a narrower compass namely the Friths of Edinborough and Dunbritton where Lollius repaired the Ancient Fortification first begun by Agricola That this Wall built by Lollius was in Scotland Mr. Cambden learnedly proves and not where Hadrian built his to wit between Carlile and New-castle He saith Capitolinus cited by Mr. Cambden vanquisht the Britains and having driven out the Barbarians made another Wall of Turffs beyond that of Hadrians which makes me wonder at Speed who proves the same Author to say that it was Hadrian's Wall The same Errours he commits in writing That for these Atchievments Lollius obtained the name of Britannicus when indeed it was Antoninus himself to whom Fronto as the Panegyrical Oratour saith ascribed the Honour of this War and hath testified that He Although sitting still at home in the Palace of Rome had given charge and Commission to another General for the War yet like the Pilot of a Gally sitting at the Stern and guiding the Helm deserved the Honour of the whole Voyage and Expedition In the time of this Emperour the Brigantes also a Nation of all others most impatient of Forreign Servitude brake in upon Genounia which Mr. Cambden guesses to be Ginnethia or North-Wales within the Jurisdiction of the Romans but were soon driven back and fined with the loss of one part of their Territory This is all upon Record touching Britain in the daies of Antoninus Pius saving that Sejus Saturrinus as is collected from the Digests had charge here of the Roman Navy He Reigned twenty three years or as others say twenty two years seven months and twenty six daies and died of a Feavour at Lorium the seventh day of March in the year of his life 75 and of Christ 162. Among many of his Vertues which fill out a worthy Character it is most especially Recorded of him In his Youth he did nothing Rashly nor any thing in his Age Negligently Marcus Aurelius MArcus Aurelius Antoninus Verus Philosophus for by so many names he was called was the Son of Elius Verus who died Praetor and whose Family was derived from Numa Pompilius second King of Rome his Mother was Domitia Gamilla Daughter of Claudius Tullus He was the adopted Son of Antoninus Pius and ingrafted into his Family by the marriage of Faustina his Daughter having taken upon him the Title of Emperour he chose Lucius Verus the Son of Lucius Ceionius Commodus for his associate in the Empire It is observable that this Verus was born the same day as Nero and indeed he imitated him in all the Vices and Cruelties of his nature so that whilest these two Princes sate together upon the Throne then might Mankind be judge and spectatour at the same time of a Just and equal Government and a Proud and insolent Tyranny Aurelius was nothing but Glemency moderation and goodness on the other hand Verus gave himself to Pride carelessness haughtiness and cruelty and as the Vertues of the one secured him from the attempts and mixtures of the others Vices so were the Exorbitances of this Verus nothing allayed by the sweetness of Aurelius his deportment so that what is a rare Example and perhaps not to be equalled in all precedent and future Ages from the same height of Power at the same time streamed forth the most different Extreams of unlimited Greatness But Goodness was the longest survivor for Verus dying of an Apoplexy after nine years Reign Aarelius was left in possession of the whole Empire And now the Britains impatient alwaies of Forreign Subjection raised new Commotions for the appeasing whereof Galphurnius Agricola was sent Lieutenant The Sirname of Agricola no doubt was terrible to the Britains who could not but remember the great Overthrows they had received formerly under a General of that name and indeed the Commotions lasted not long after his Arrival but seemed to be ended with fortunate success for which there was raised an Altar in gratitude to the Syrian Goddess a peculiar Deity of this Island as appeareth by this Inscription found in a Stone taken out of the Picts Walls DEAE SURI AE SUB CALP URNIO AGR ICOLA LEG AUG PR PR A. LICINIUS CLEMENS PRAEF C. O. H. I. HAMMIOR The glory of having dispatched this War so soon Fronto for Roman Eloquence inferiour to none ascribes wholly to the Emperour Aurelius for although the State still as residing in Person in the Court of Rome gave out only the Commission for the War yet he protesteth That like a Pilot at the Helm who steers and directs the Ship he deserved the Honour of the whole course Nothing else is recorded of Britain during Antoninus his Reign saving that Helvius Pertinax afterwards Emperour was employed in these Wars being translated hither from his Service against the Parthians and here for some time afterwards remained Antoninus Reigned nineteen years and eleven daies and died on the seventeenth day of April in the year of our Lord 181 having by his Vertue kept up to the Renown of his Predecessour and so endeared the Name of the 〈◊〉 that it was held by the Romans afterwards in equal veneration with there of the Gods and in nothing was he unhappy saith Capitolinus save that he left behind him a Son Comm. Antoninus COMMODUS ANTONINUS the Son of Aurelius degenerated from the Vertues of his Father and may be said the successour of Verus rather than of Antonine The known Adulteries of his Mother Faustina and himself being a Twin together with the Wickedness of his life gave liberty to some to please themselves in thinking he was not the true Son of so worthy a Father At nineteen years of Age he was invested in the Empire when the violence of his Temper which under the Authority of a Father and the discipline of worthy Tutors could not be kept under meeting
but let all die To th' unborn Child that in the Womb doth lie But Antoninus had his thoughts more taken up with contriving his Fathers death than the destruction of his Enemies having once or twice attempted to kill him with his own hands and to gain the affection of the Souldiers he indulged them in all sorts of liberty and loosness so that Severus perceiving the unreclaimable nature of his Son more overcome with Grief than any other malady died at York His last words were these A troubled Common-wealth I found as my entrance every where but now I leave it in peace and quietness even among the Britains An Old man and infirm in my Feet I leave to mine Antonines an Empire if they prove good strong and stable but if bad weak and unsteady When Severus and his Son Bassianus were at York that famous Law was made Touching the Interest and right that Masters have to the Goods and Possessions of their Servants Signed by Severus and Antoninus His Body was conveyed to Rome in great pomp and attendance of the Governours of Provinces through which it passed although others report it was burnt here in Britain and the Ashes only carried in a Golden Urne and laid up in the Sepulchre of the Antonines He Reigned seventeen years eight months and odd daies and was made a God by the Romans By reason to some The way of Deifying their Emperours may be unknown I have thought it convenient to give a summary account of it here but first by way of Instruction The Romans were in general a sort of rude and ignorant People made up of the conflux of the worst of the Neighbour People of that State who either out of Guilt having committed some notorious Crimes in their own Cities that deserved death by their Laws or Discontent for want of preferment or promotion among their own People fled out of Revenge to that Asylum or place of Resuge which Romulus had set up for the same purpose to draw People to his new-built City so that they had no Gods in common but every one had his peculiar Deity if such People had any as he received and learnt in his own Country insomuch that the Worship of the City was various and uncertain which with those Gods AEnaeas brought from Troy made up a promiscuous sort of Idolatry but of these Romans we shall speak more fully in the Chapter relating to their Antiquities Thus it continued all Romulus his Reign the People being rather given to War than any Civil exercise of Religion all of them enquiring into the success of their Battles by various and different Auguries which every man had properly to himself Numa succeeding Romulus and being a superstitious Prince much addicted to the Ceremonies of Religion perceived it necessary for the supporting of his Kingdom to introduce some sort of Uniformity in Religion Now this he could not do without pretending to some extraordinary Divine Revelations every man judging that Religion and God to be the best in which he was born and to which he was naturally most devoted to accomplish his private ends and desire Numa feigns himself to have an intimate Communication and interest with the Goddess EGERIA and by the wonderful sanctity of his life fully perswades and possesses the People with the truth of his divine Intercourse with her insomuch that he establisht a set Form of Worship which he had learnt from the Etruscans a People infinitely given to Rites and Ceremonies which took their name from Care a City of Etruria After these proceedings he accomplishes the certain number and order of the Gods built Temples offered and instituted particular sacrifices to them taught them the Lines of Heaven and Earth how to exercise their Augury and having establisht all things in a firm and steady method dies who by the prosperity and felicity of his Reign fixes the People in an absolute belief of the Truth of those things he had before through his great pains and industry taught them Upon the division of these Romans they had a respect to the distinct and different dignities of Gods by Title and Place the better to advance the perpetual remembrance of their own promotions and so claimed a right to particular Gods that others might not own From this they successfully preserved the memory thereof by Images like the Parents and Sons as the most Honourable memorial of their descent from such Mighty and Noble Progenitors For those that were the first Authors of Images to themselves without being promoted to it by Merit were esteemed Upstarts and all such as had no Images were accounted Ignobly born Thus we see how by this strait of difficulty they despaired and some quite pin'd away for want of Honour amongst whom it often happens whose pride and ambition will not admit of content to be born from the loyns of Men but of Gods None therefore could obtain the priviledge of being Dignified after this manner but such as were promoted by the Senate to ride publickly in the Curule Chair which was the primary Dignity appertaining to such lofty Promotions By this 't is evident that the Right of Nobility went by favour of the Senate as well as Merit from whence we may gather how early and from what Root the honour of Antiquity took its first Rice and Original which must be occasioned out of the sence of Gratitude for some worthy Exploit done to the credit of the State or particular respect to such Persons and the benefit of Successours whose zeal to Religion and the eminency of whose Spirit had so fortunately raised them above the ordinary level of Mankind For this very cause Janus Saturn and others who by their several Projects Inventions and Labours had contributed to the improving and augmenting the Comforts of this Life in their perpetual Remembrance after they departed hence were translated under the sublime notion and title of GODS having no other way in those daies of gratifying the Deserts of the deceased or supporting of the honour of their otherwise fading Memories than by Heaven and Immortality But many in successive Ages although they had not so good a Title took upon them the same pretences for as their Merits were less so their Pride and Ambition was greater Flattery making doubtless amends in a considerable manner for the former This made Alexander the Great who was rather destructive and injurious than beneficial to Mankind taking the measure of his Worth from the vain applause of his Followers and the esteem of his own Actions from their greatness not goodness write to the Cities of Greece that they would admit him into the Society of their Gods What entertainment his Follies found may be seen from the scoff of Anaxarchus Eudamonicus who did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 deride Alexander for Deifying himself and from the Reply of the Lacedaemonians replied 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If Alexander will be a God let him be a God
exhibited to the People one especially was a Wood wherein were painted two hundred Deer covered with Palms and Britains mixed among them which sheweth that the Britains were still matter of novelty and delight to the Romans The Gordians Father and Son thus happily removed Maximine who had been all this while in Germany hastned to Rome breathing nothing but Revenge to the Senate and People but endeavouring first to reduce the City of Aquilea who shut its Gates upon him in his passage he was slain at the Siege thereof by his own Souldiers It is reported by Capitolinus that the City was yielding to admit him had not one Menophilus a Senatour perswaded them that BELINUS a God peculiar to the Britains and Gauls and who had a Temple at Aquilea declared by his Oracle that Maximine should be overcome This the Priests gave out and therefore after his death the Souldiers bragg'd about That APOLLO fought against them and that they were not overcome by the Senate and Maximus who succeeded Maximinus but by the power of the Gods From the circumstances of this story is collected that the British God BELENUS was the same with APOLLO or the SUN and was the Bel or Baal of the Phanicians from whence the latter part of Eligabal the Emperours name is derived With Maximine died his Son and Caesar Maximine in the year of our Lord 238 after they had sate in the Empire three years The British Histories allow him King of this Island after whom follows an Interregnum but I shall proceed with the Roman Emperours Pupienus Maximus And Clodius Balbinus EMPEROURS PUPIENUS MAXIMUS and CLODIUS BALBINUS chosen by the Senate Emperours against Maximine were not so linked together in Affection as they were nearly joyned in Authority Balbinus was of greater Birth and Nobility but Pupienus exceeded him in Wisdom and Conduct insomuch that both of them over-valuing themselves the one upon the gifts of Fortune the other the endowments of his Mind were both slain by the Praetorian Souldiers having joyntly Reigned little more than a year during whose short continuance in Power we find not the least remembrance of them in our Island M. Anton. Gordianus AT the Age of fourteen Gordianus was elected Emperour by the Praetorian Bands he was the Son of a Daughter of Old Gordianus being so young he Ruled by the Advice of Misitheus a prudent Counsellour whose Daughter he took in Marriage And now some glimmering light appeareth concerning the Government of this Island out of an Altar-stone found in Cumberland at a place then called Castra Exploratorum with an Inscription for the health of this Emperour his Wife and the whole Family set up by AEmilius Crispinus who was Captain of Horse under Nonnius Philippus Lieutenant General of Britain as appeareth by the Stone it self IOM. PRO SALUTE IMPERATORIS M. ANTONI GOR DIANI P. F. INVICTI AUG ET SABI NIAE TURIAE TRANQUILE CONJUGIRIUS TOTAQUE DOMU DIVIN EORUM ALA AUG GORDIA OB VIRTUTEM APPELLATA POSUIT CUI PRAEEST AEMILIUS CRISPINUS PRAEF EQ Q. NATUS IN PRO AFRICA DE TUIDRO SUB CUR NONNII PH LIPPI LEG AUG PROPRETO ATTICO ET PRAETEXTATO COSS. After Gordianus had governed the State for the space of six years he was deposed by Julius Philippus who to make way for himself first poysoned Misitheus and then insinuating himself into favour was the destruction of his Master for Gordianus by the Power of Philip being cast out of the Throne was soon afterwards by the jealousie of the Usurper slain in the year of Grace 245 and of his Age 22. Gordian is accounted in the British History King of this Island upon the account of his being Father to Claudius whose Title we shall examine hereafter M. Julius Philippus PHILIP by treachery and disloyalty to his Soveraign having ascended the Throne proved a better Prince than Subject By embracing the Christian Religion he strived to wipe away the stains of his former life much to be approved of if Sincerity were joyned with his Profession but nothing worth if to daub over a guilty Conscience he applied himself to Pardon and Pennance only Eusebius to prove his Sincerity writes That he submitted to be placed in the room of Common Penitents because in many things he had been faulty This was a piece of humility not to be slighted if with that self denial he had resigned his ill-gotten Power or employed that Authority in the open owning and propagating the truth But such was the earnest desire even in those Primitive times of gaining mighty Prelates to the Church that the comfortable part of the Gospel Forgiveness of Sins was used as a Bait only to draw them in being drest up in fashion and formality light and trivial Ceremonies which had a shew of submission whilest the weightier parts of the Law without which the other availeth nothing were either neglected or dissembled Against this Philip first Marinus set himself up Emperour but he failing Decius was advanced by the Souldiers whom whilest Philip sought to reduce was himself slain by his own Army and his Head cut off by the Teeth The memory of him is preserved in Britain upon a Pyramid or long Stone dug out of the ground not far from Old Carlile with this Inscription IMP. CAES. M. JUL. PHILIPPO PIO FELI CI AUG ETM. JUL. PHI LIPPO NOBILIS SIMO CAES. TR. P. COS Eusebius saith he Reigned seven years but Eutropius and Victor whom I follow give him but five Upon the news of his death the Praetorian Souldiers kill'd his Son PHILIP whom he had created his Caesar so that we see his disloyalty to his natural Soveraign Gordianus was returned double fold upon him and the Christian Religion which might save him in the World to come did not exempt him from the Punishments of this life attending Treason and Usurpation Gn. Messius Quinctus Trajan Decius DECIUS elected Emperour by the Persinn Legions proclaimed in Verona by the Roman Souldiers and confirmed at Rome by the voice of the Senate was a wise and valiant Prince but Reigned but two years being in his Wars against the Goths betrayed by his own Captain Trebonianus Gallus where having the misfortune to see his two Sons Decius and Hostilianus whom he had made his Associates in the Empire slain before his face he threw himself into a Whirl-pool which soon swallowed up both him and his Sorrows He was a great enemy of the Christians and raised the seventh Persecution Trebonianus Gallus TREBONIANUS GALLUS having betrayed Decius was upon his death admitted Emperour He created his Son Volusianus a Child his Caesar but he enjoyed not long the Imperial Crown for giving himself up to Pleasures at Rome he neglected the preservation of the Empire insomuch that the Goths breaking in on the Frontiers made great havock till AEmilian his General put a stop to them and giving them Battle overthrew them with a wonderful slaughter for which great Action
the Souldiers proclaimed him Emperour and Trebonianus with his Son to revenge themselves were both slain in fight against him after they had sate in the Empire not quite two years but AEmilian was in four months afterwards deposed and slain by the same Souldiers that advanced him P. Licinius Valerianus VALERIANUS was advanced to the Empire by the Praetorian Souldiers a Man of so great Repute and so infinitely beloved that he soon eclipsed the glory of AEmilian He began the Eighth Persecution but after he had Reigned seven years in a Battle against Sapor King of Persia he was taken Prisoner and for seven years more lived in a miserable Captivity being made the Footstool of that Tyrant suffering all manner of Indignities that an Insolent and Barbarous Conquerour could invent for him Publius Licinius Galienus GALIENUS the Son of Valerian succeeded his Father in the Empire He is described a proud and unfortunate Prince and yet not ill beloved by the People because his Vices were agreeing with the times He was prodigal and luxurious wasting the Publick Treasury in vain and fruitless Experiments all tending to Lust Gluttony and Riot careless of the Common danger and through a haughty Ignorance unapprehensive of his own In his daies the Empire was on all sides strongly Invaded the Germans infested Italy the Goths Greece Pontus and Asia the Sarmatians seized Austrick and Hungary the Persians spoiled Syria the Saxons brake into Gallia the Francks into Spain so that the Empire had been utterly ruined through the careless neglect of Galienus had not several Commanders in several places undertaken the defence of it They were Thirty together and all assumed the Imperial Robe and are called by Historians the Thirty Tyrants Six of them namely Lollianus Victorinus Posthumus the two Tetrici Father and Son and Marius are conjectured to have risen or born sway in this Island as appeareth by many of their Coyns found in England but especially at Colchester The memory of Marius as Mr. Cambden conjectureth is preserved in that Inscription MARII VICTORIAE of which I have spoken before and some think that a Stone found in Hampshire bearing this Inscription MEMORIAE FL. VICTORI NAE T. TAM VICTOR CONJUX POSUIT It was erected to the honour of Victorina or Victoria the Mother of Victorinus the second Tyrant afterwards slain by his Souldiers This Victorina was called Master Castrorum or the Mother of the Camp and did not only set up her Son and Grand-son both of them Victorini against Galienus but after their deaths Marius also and both the Tetrici Hence it is that Porphyrius a Philosopher then living saith That BRITAIN was a soyl fruitful of Tyrants Marius enjoyed his new Soveraignty but three daies as for Tetricus and his Son they held it out till the time of Aurelianus when we shall hear more of them Galienus Reigned eight years after the Captivity of his Father and was then slain at the Siege of Milan by three of his own Captains Martian Heraclian and Ceronius who agreed among themselves to divide the Empire but their Treason was so ill resented that they never durst put in their Pretentions M. Aurelius Flavius Claudius HE was a most worthy Prince wise of Counsel and experienced in Wars The Publick Invaders of the Empire the Goths he drove back with the slaughter of three hundred thousand fighting Men and two thousand Ships the Germans he utterly subdued and established again their Subjection to the Roman Power Having performed these great Actions and minding now to reduce the Empire to its Unity in Government he died of a Feavour as he was preparing against Tetricus who held the Western Provinces He Ruled two years and then his Brother QUINTILIUS was chosen by the Italian Souldiers but he enjoyed his Election but seventeen daies for the Victorious Army of Claudius thinking they had better right to create an Emperour set up AURELIUS in somuch that Quintilius finding it in vain to contend ended his life by opening his own Veins or as other say was slain by his Army for his too great severity in Discipline THE British Writers CONCERNING CLAUDIUS CLAUDIUS by our Writers is allowed a lawful King of this Island for from the daies of Gordian which are twenty four years our home-spun Histories make an Inter-regnum GORDIAN was allowed King as being the Father of this Claudius for as I said before by the Law of the British Histories the Right of Inheritance ascends and even Grandfathers hold their Kingdoms by the title of their Grand-children Let us see therefore by what Right Claudius is accounted King We have heard before that one of his Titles to the Crown was that from his Line descended Constantius who held it in right of his Wife Helena a British Woman and so sent the Title up to his Ancestour the present Claudius The Genealogy runs thus Claudius had two Brothers Quinctilius and Crispus Claudius and Quinctilius dying without Issue Crispus had a Daughter named Claudia who marrying Eutropius was the Mother of Constantius But now I shall shew his other Title by which he claims gathered out of the Roman Histories Pollio a Roman Writer in the Life of Claudius hath these words He seemeth to draw his Original from Dalmatia although others say he was a Dardanian by Birth descended of the Trojans in Ilium and of the Blood of Dardanus himself thus far Pollio And can we think that the British Writers will slip so fair an occasion of making another Trojan Prince in this Island No certainly hear therefore I pray Basingstoke There is a wonderful and secret power of Nature saith he whereby the Trojan Original of the Britains despised by so many and slighted by Julius Caesar is still brought to the Empire as is manifest in Severus his marriage with Martia and Constantius taking Helena to Wife which Constantius descended of Claudius who was of Trojan Race Thus we see the Kingdom of Brute by the wonderful working of Nature restored again to the Trojans and that it may not be done without an Oracle take this story out of Pollio which for the worthiness of it I set down among the British Histories Claudius being well setled in the Empire required of the Gods how long he 〈◊〉 enjoy it The Answer was given Tu qui nunc Patrias gubernas or as Et mundum Regis arbiter Deorum in veteres tuis novelliis Regnabunt etenim ter minores Et Reges facient suos minores Thou who thy Fathers Kingdom now dost Rule And dost the World and Gods Command The next is imperfect but then follows Thy Off-spring after thee shall bear the sway And Kings shall their Inferiours stand By his Off-spring is meant Constantius and his Son Constantine but it seems Claudius not yet satisfied enquires further of his own life The Oracle answered Tertia dum Latio regnantem viderit aestas Three Summers thou in Italy shalt reign When finding the Gods more favourable to his
For having reigned two years he died at York in his last Expedition against the Caledonians and Picts CONSTANTINE his Son hearing of his Fathers sickness escaped from Galerius with whom he was left Hostage and riding Post from Rome on the way lamed and maim'd all the Post-Horses to the end he might not be overtaken or pursued and so arriving at York was with great joy received by his Father who sitting up-right in his Bed in the presence of his Counsellors spake as followeth I have here a large Epitaph and Monument to wit mine own Son whom I leave on Earth to succeed me in the Empire who by Gods assistance shall wipe away the Tears of the Christians and revenge the Tyranny used against them and in this above all things I have placed my felicity which said Constantine received his Fathers last breath whereupon an Ancient Oratour spake thus unto him Thou entredst this Sacred place not as a Competitour of the Empire but as Heir apparent and ordained already and forthwith that Fathers house of thine saw Thee the lawful Successour For there was no doubt but the Inheritance in right belonged unto him whom the Destinies had ordained the first begotten Son to the Emperour Helena was the Wife of Constantius and Mother of Constantine by birth a Britain the Daughter of Coilus a British Prince as Eutropius mentions but Nicephorus is of Opinion that she was of Bithynia and others of her Parentage declare themselves doubtful This HELENA in an Ancient Inscription for purging Jerusalem from Idols building a Temple upon the same ground CHRIST suffered finding his Cross and so holily preserving it building on the same place after diligent search for Christs Cribb or Manger wherein he was born a stately Church dedicated to Christian Devotion and lastly as she was the only cause of her Husbands Conversion to the Christian Faith so likewise many distressed Christians for her sake that had been hid in Caves and dark holes of the Earth to escape the bloody persecution of their Enemies were now freed from that danger and dismal slavery They enjoyed publick liberty in their Devotion and for the better propagating the Christian Faith they had free leave not only to reedifie and repair decayed and demolisht Temples but to build new is called VENERABILIS ET PIISSIMA AUGUSTA a Title no whit unbecoming such eminent Vertues as a venerable and most pious Princess Maximianus perhaps not so much envying her Vertues as desirous to advance his Daughter compelled Constantius without just cause to desert and put her away and to marry his Daughter Theodora The Jews who are Enemies to all such as own any thing Sacred in memory of our Saviour called this pious Helena the deserted Queen of Constantius Stabularia as much as to say an Hostess because she sought out the Manger where Christ was born Bede calls her a Concubine from thence inferring That an Inholdress is usually kind to her Guest all which in matter of truth were reproachful Titles given her by way of derision for her Zeal and Sanctity in the due worship and honour of her Heavenly Father our Saviour for she was a truly Vertuous Queen and worthy of great renown in that Age and this rude and impious way of scoffing her the Gentiles also as unworthily imitated The Funeral Oration made by Ambrosius upon Theodosius rightly Comments upon the desert of her in which he takes occasion to speak as followeth They say that this Lady was at first an Inholder or Hostess c. Well saith Ambrose did not this good Hostess Helena hasten to Jerusalem and find out the place of our Lords Passion and made diligent search for the Lords Crib This good Hostess was not ignorant of that good Guest which cured the Wayfaring-mans heart that was wounded by Thieves This good Hostess chose to be reputed a Stable-sweeper that she might thereby gain Christ. It appeareth out of the Panegyrick spoken to Constantine the Son of Constantius that this Constantius obtained some notable Victory at a Town of the Segontiaci called Vindo now Silcester in Hampshire where in Person he received a wound but against what Enemy is not recorded but it seemeth to have been done about his first Arrival into the Island Basingstoak out of Adolphus Mekurchus writes that the City Brett in Germany took its name from some Britains who attended Constantius and his Queen Helena out of Britain as likewise the City Speizs from a Garrison or Seed-plot of Britains there left by the same Emperour but with what truth I leave to others to judge aslikewise he reporteth that Prince Coilus the Father of Helen was Master of the Horse to the Emperour and upon that very account the Enemies of Queen Helen took occasion to call her Stabularia She is reported to have been born at Colchester and to have built the Walls thereof and it is said that the Arms which that City gives is a Cross enragled between four Crowns in memory of our Saviours Cross which was found by her CONSTANTINE the Great CONSTANTIUS dying at York his Son CONSTANTINE by the last Will and Testament of his Father was designed Emperour but he at first out of modesty refusing so great and weighty an Employment or out of design to sift out the Inclinations of the People for forbearing a while to undertake it was at last constrained by the Souldiers whose affections to him overswayed the fears and jealousies which he had conceived of those powerful Competitors who had already possession of the Empire and of Maximian who although the Empire resigned yet carried on private practices in the State and could not choose but have great Interest therein being not long before Master of the whole Power which by the occasion of Dioclesian and much against his own inclinations he had laid down But the greatest encouragement he received was from Erocus King of the Almanes a powerful Nation which Erocus had attended his Father in Britain as some write as others say was Constantines Companion in his flight from Rome However it seems he was a great lover of that Family and a close and constant adherer to their Interest yet the Panegyrick Oration to our Constantine wholly attributes his unwillingness to accept of the Empire to his Modesty and the deep apprehensions of the weight and care of Government which prove most commonly if not here also the certain signs of more than ordinary desire of Rule and are oftentimes but appearances only attended with most exorbitant Passions and the fore-runner of an arbitrary and bloody Reign But however they write that the Souldiers respecting rather the Publick good than yielding to his private affections forcibly invested him in the Purple Robe he weeping set spurs to his Horse because he would avoid the endeavour and importunity of the Army that called so instantly upon him The felicity of the Common-wealth over-ruled his Modesty and therefore the Panegyrick crieth out
him some publick Attempts When the time drew near these projects should take effect the General being forewarned thereof committed Valentinus with some of his pickt Confederates into the hands of Captain Dulcitius to see them executed but took care withal not to make any farther enquiry after other Conspiratours because he was a Man excelling in Military knowledge all others in that Age and moreover fore-casting the future events might prove noxious in too much disturbing the minds of the factious Provinces whereby it might raise new Commotions Waving that and applying himself to reform many Enormities most necessary as fortune prospered him in his undertakings peace and quiet was restored those Garrison-Forts and ruined Cities he rebuilt Fronteirs with standing-Watches he fortified the Province which had so much subjected themselves to the Enemies he recovered and so strengthned it in its former estate and according to his own will it was Ruled by a lawful Governour and was called VALENTIA from the Princes will and pleasure The Areans a sort of People instituted by those of Ancient times falling by slow degrees into corrupt Vlces were driven from the places where they most resorted as convicted publickly how they received Bribes and promises of large Rewards to discover to the Barbarians whatever we designed to be acted for us It being their charge to hasten sometimes to one place sometimes to another to acquaint our Captains of all disturbances the People near adjoyning being at any time in a readiness to rise Having compleated all these his Noble Acts was ordered to attend at the Princes Court and leaving the Provinces safely rejoycing was had in as great esteem as either Furius Camillus or Papirius Cursor and receiving the honourable and affectionate Complements of all men towards him even as far as the Narrow Seas he safely arrived with a prosperous Wind to the Princes Camp where hew as embraced with all the joy and applaud imaginable Simmachus writes of the Rewards of this Noble General thus The Author of Your stock Captain General in Africk and Britain was amongst other ancient Titles consecrated by the most Honourable Order with Images of Knighthood which Statue resembled a Man on Horse-back in Armour Besides Claudian in his Poetical-fancy streins thus in his Commendations Ille Caledoniis posuit qui Castra pruinis Quimedio Libyae sub oasside pertulit astus Terribilis Mauro debellatorque Britanni Littoris ac pariter Boreae vastator Austri Quid rigor aternus Coeli quid Sydera prosunt Ignotumque fretum maduerunt Saxone fuso Orcades incaluit Pictorum Sanguine Thule Scotorum cumulos flevit glacialis Hiberne In Caledonian Frosts his Tents he pight And Lybia's scorching heat endur'd in field The Cole-black Moors and Britains fair in flight He quell'd and forced both South and North to yield What then avail'd cold Clime strange Seas and Stars When Orkney Isles he dy'd with Saxon gore The branded Picts now suffered mortal scars And Ireland did huge heaps of Scots deplore 〈◊〉 Lybiz 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thule Ille leves Mauros 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pictos 〈◊〉 Scotumque vago 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fregit Hyperboreas remis audacibus undas Etgeminis fulgens utróque sab axe trophais Tethyos alternas refluas calcavit arenas Lybia whose scorching heat secures her shoars And Thale senced in with walls of Ice Both dread his Name the light and nimble Moors And Picts who Painting above Garments prize The wandring Scot through Northern Isles he chas'd And on their gloomy Seas Triumphant rode His Trophies thus under both Poles he plac'd Where e're the Ocean either ebb'd or flow'd These are the Actions happening in Britain in the daies of Valentinian he was an excellent Prince and highly commended for the endowments both of mind and body as being a great Souldier yet Chast and Merciful qualities rarely found in Sword-men Yet among his many Vertues he is taxed by Ammianus for his over severity in punishing the Common Souldiers for small and trivial offences and his strange remisness towards the crimes and oppressions of their Officers which saith he was a main cause of the Troubles ensuing in Britain He Reigned eleven years eight months and two daies and died of an Apoplexy or as others write of the Plague He is not admitted a King of this Island by our Histories as being not allied to Constantine or any of the British Blood But in these daies OCTAVIUS was King if he were still living for the British account is very lame and imperfect in this point or if dead MAXIMIAN whom the Roman Records call Maximus who married the Daughter of Octavius and was himself descended of Constantine the Great of which Maximus we shall have a farther account in the following Emperour in whose daies it appeareth he assumed the Purple Robe although some of the British Writers make him King in the year 348 which is 28 years before the daies of Gratian and I am afraid mistake him for Magnentius Flavius Gratianus EMPEROURS AND Flavius Valentinianus GRATIAN with his half-Brother VALENTINIAN both the Sons of Valentinian the Elder succeeded their Father in the Empire The East vacant by the death of Valens he bestowed on Theodosius the Son of that Theodosius who was so famous for his British Wars and reserved the Government of the Western Provinces to himself Maximus a Spaniard born and one who had equally served in the British Wars with the younger Theodosius for he also either with his Father or not long after him seems to have done something in this Island and now General of the Roman Armies either discontented that Theodosius was preferr'd before him to the Empire or as Orosius reports constrained by the Souldiers who despised Gratian or hated him assumed the Purple Robe a valiant Man vertuous and worthy of the Title of AUGUSTUS had he not against his Allegiance and by way of Tyranny and Usurpation attained it And indeed the first assaies of his Power were well employed to the good and preservation of his Country The Scots and Picts who with their Inroads continually wasted the Province he utterly subdued and drove back when pussed up with his success and not content with his Dominion in Britain with the flower and strength well near of the British Youth he passed the Seas and arriving at the mouth of the Rhine drew to him the whole puissance of the German Army His Royal Seat he made at Triers whence he is called by Gregorius Turonensis Trevericus Imperator and spreading his wings saith Gildas the one as far as to Spain the other into Italy with the terrour only of his Name he brought in Contribution from the most fell and savage Germans Against him Gratianus made his Power but after five daies skirmishing was forsaken by his own Soudiers put to flight and forced to beg his peace St. Ambrose was sent Embassadour who in outward shew obtained it but the event proved that Treachery only and Treason iwere intended For Maximus wholly intent how
force of the Souldiers in advancing him to that Authority in hostile manner he passed the Alpes and intended to march directly against Rome But having information that Alaricus King of the Goths whom lately he had made his Ally was dead he returned to Arles where he planted his Imperial Seat and commanded the City to be called CONSTANTINA in imitation perhaps of Constantine the Great who had done the like in the East and whose Name he had found so lucky to him in all his concerns Here he ordained that the Assemblies of Assizes for seven Provinces should be held And now well seated in the Empire he sent into Spain for his Son Constans to the end that meeting together they might consult further concerning the establishment of the Empire Constans receiving his Fathers Message without any delay sets forward on his Journey to him leaving his Wife and the furniture of his Court at Caesar Augusta or Caragosa and trusting the management of all Affairs during his absence to the care and conduct of Gerontius a Britain whom a little while after upon slight occasion he again displaced Constans being now come to his Father seemed rather to be sent for to partake with him in his Vices than Counsels for by this time grown heedless of any danger from Italy he gave himself up to all Riot and Luxury so that advising his Son to return into Spain he was mindful of nothing more than the pleasing his Appetite alone and providing of delicate Meats to satisfie his Gluttony Constans taking his leave of his Father having sent his Forces and Retinue before receives unwelcome News that Gerontius having revolted from his Obedience had set up Maximus one of his Vassals and Followers for Emperour and having gathered together great Forces of Barbarians was upon his march against him and his Father Constans allarum'd with these Tidings dispatcht immediately Edo-beccus unto the German Nations himself attended with Decimius Rusticus who of the Master of the Offices was advanced to be Praefect and accompanied with his Army of Franks and Almanes and other Military Forces passeth into France intending with all speed to return again to his Father Constantine but intercepted by Gerontius in his way at Vienna in France in a Combat lost his life Gerontius marching to meet Constantine found him at Arles against which City he laid close siege calling the Vandals to his assistance who encouraged by him as before by him they had been represt breaking into France overrun most part of the Province By this time Honorius had sent an Army out of Italy under the Command of Constantius Comes his General at the arrival whereof in those parts Gerontius deserted by his own Forces retired into Spain where also growing into contempt and hatred with his Souldiers his House in the night was beset by them with a few of his Servants he manfully defended himself slew above three hundred of them and when his Darts and Weapons were spent though he might have escaped at a back Door as all his Servants had done yet out of kindness to Alanus and his Wife he refused to do it And first having cut off the head of his Friend Alanus as was agreed in the next place he dispatches though with great reluctancy his Wife also being much intreated and importuned by her refusing to out-live her Husband and desiring to be freed from the Violence of an inraged Crew for which her resolution Sozomenus an Ecclesiastical Writer gives her high praise and commendation This done he turns his Sword against himself but that missing to perform the work with his Ponyard he finisheth his resolution and dies Constantius now streightned on all hands and discouraged with some ill success of Edobeccus after he had been besteged with his other Son Julian four Months and Reigned four years flings off his Purple Robe and turns Priest and hoping under that shelter to secure himself not long after surrenders the Town but his habit proving no sanctuary to him he was carried into Italy and there beheaded together with his Son to whom he had given the Title of NO BILISSIMUS and a Brother named Sebastian Whilest these things were doing the Barbarians taking advantage of the negligent Government of Constantine who at Arles minded nothing but his Pleasures brake into the Provinces the Scots and Picts into Britain and the Vandals into Gaul The Britains now destitute of aid yet held under by them who had not power to protect them forthwith took Arms and resolving to stand on their own defence freed their Cities and States In like manner their Neighbours the Britains of Armorica and the rest of the Gaulish Provinces by their example did the same casting out the Roman Presidents and setting up for Liberty ordained Common-wealths of their own But the Roman Power which had been called into Italy when once the fear of Alarick was over and Constantine dead made return into the several Provinces And it seemeth that Victorinus of Tholosa might be sent Praefect of this Island if it were not he whom Stilico sent hither Buchanan and Cambden whom I follow assign the time of his being here after Gratianus Municeps and Constantine the Tyrant though others say it was before however certain it is that during his residence here he was very active against the Scots and Picts and Buchanan writes that endeavouring to reduce the Picts into a Province he gave occasion of their calling back Furgutius and the Scots whom Maximus by their help had quite driven out of the Island He is highly commended by Rutilius Clandius the Poet out of whose Verses his History is gathered they are these Conscius Oceanus virtutum conscia Thule Et quaecunque ferox arva Britannus erat Quae Praefectorum vicibus fraenata potestas Perpetuum magni foenus amoris habet Extremum pars illa quidem discessit in orbem Sed tanquam medio rector in orbe fuit Plus palmae est illos inter voluisse placere Inter quos minor est displicuisse pudor The Seas and Thule with his Praise resound And wheresoe're fierce Britains tyll their ground That Power which others in their turns possest Him with increase of love intirely blest Though from the World his Province too did stand Yet as by all o're seen he did command 'T is more renown good Actions to express There where to govern ill the shame is less Seeing that this Victorinus by most Authors is placed after Constantine the Tyrant I suppose he might be sent with that Legion whom Honorius upon the second request of the Britains granted to their assistance or if it were before that he governed here and was recalled against Alaricus then besieging Rome certain it is that the Britains exhausted of their Youth by Maximus first who transplanted them into Gallia on the Coast of Armorica and afterwards by Constantine not having Power sufficient of their own to defend themselves from the Northern Incursions and wanting the
King and his Nobility which seemeth to me very improbable having before shewn that the occasion of that invitation was solely grounded upon the Politick intentions of causing the King to fall in love with his Daughter meerly to gain the Crown This Vortigern was Duke of the Guises a Prince of a Noble extract Vortimer and Pascentius were his Issue by his first Wife By Rowena the Daughter of Hengist he had a Daughter whom afterwards he incestuously married of whom he begat a Son named Faustus who after mature judgment knowing himself to be the Off-spring of such impious Parents hoping thereby to divert those heavy Judgments which by reason thereof might otherwise fall upon him spent his time in continual Prayers and solitary Meditations The Nobility and Clergy being much disturbed at the sordid and inhumane Actions of this Prince endeavoured what in them lay to reclaim and reprehend his Insolencies and more especially to shew their dislike to his incestuous Marriage with his own Daughter and the spreading of the poysoning Doctrine of Pelagianisme which was again about to revive by the promotion of his Saxon kindred as appears by their second meeting in Councel which was as followeth Concilium aliud Britannicum à Sancto Germano Altisiodorensi Episc. magnoque Clericorum Laicorum numero contra renascentia ut videtur Pelagianae Haeresis virgulta contra incestuosas Regis Vortigerni cum filiâ suâ nuptias celebratum EOdem anno viz. 449 nunciatum est in Britannia Pelagianam perversitatem iterato paucis Authoribus de novo pullulasse rursusque ad Beatissimum Virum Germanum preces Saccrdotum omnium deseruntur ut causam DEI quam prius obtinucrat tuerctur Quornm petitioni festinus obtemperat Nam adjuncto sibi Severo totius Sanctitatis viro qui erat Discipulus Beatissimi Patris Lupi Trecassenorum Episcopi tunc Treveris ordinatus Episcopus gentibus primae Germaniae verbum Dci praedicabat mare conscendit consentientibus elementis tranquillo navigio Britannias petiit Praedicationis igitur antidoto vulnera sanat incredulitatis apostema Blasphemiae doctrinae curat medicina omniumque sententia pravitatum perversitas cum suis authoribus condemnatur factumque est ut in illis locis multò ex eo tempore sides intemerata perduraret It a compositis omnibus beati Sacerdotes ea qua venerant prosperitate redierunt Et super haec omnia mala adjiciens Guorthigirnus accepit filiam suam proximam in uxorem sibi quae peperit ei filium hoc autem cum compertum est à Sancto Germano venit corripere Regem cum omni Clero Britonum dum conventa esset Magna Synodus Clericorum Laicorum in uno Concilio ipse Rex praemonuit filiam suamut exiret ad Conventum ut daret filium suum in sinum Germani diceretque quod ipse erat pater cjus ipsa secit sicut edocta erat Sanctus Germanus eum benignè accepit dicere coepit Tibi Pater ero necte permittam nisi mihi novacula cum forcipe pectineque ad Patrem tuum carnalem tibi dare liceat Mox ut audivit puer obedivit verbo Senioris Sancti ad Avum suum carnalem patremque carnalem Guorthigirnum pertexit dixit illi Pater meus Tu caput meum tonde comam capitis mei pecte Ille autem siluit puero respondere noluit sed surrexit iratusque est vehementer ut à facie Sancti Germani sugeret quaerebat maledictus est damnatur â Beato Germanno omni Concilio Britonum Thus translated A second British Councel held by St. German Bishop of Auxerre and a great number of the Clergy and Laity against the arriving of the Pelagian Heresie and against the Incestuous marriage of King Vortigern with his Daughter THe same year viz. 449. 't was reported that the Pelagian Heresie in BRITAIN by the means of some few Abettours and Authors began to revive and bud out again afresh whereupon the prayers and earnest desires of the Clergy were forthwith sent to that Holy Man St. German beseeching him once more to take upon him the Cause of GOD in which but a little before he had been so victorious The Good Man very readily condescended to a compliance with their desires For joyning with himself in this Affair Severus a Man of eminent Sanctity who had been the Disciple of St. Loup Bishop of Troy's and then ordained Bishop of Triers and who had preached the Word of God to the People of the I'rov nce of Germania prima took Shipping and happily the Elements consenting arrived in Britain where by the antidote of Preaching he perfectly healed the wounds of Incredulity and by the medicine of his Doctrine cured the Imposthume of Blasphemy This Perversity or Heresie with its Authors in the Judgment of all men being condemned for a long time after the Faith remained pure and undefilable in these places All things being thus composed these Blessed Priests returned with the same happiness they arrived Besides all these Evils Vortigern took his own Daughter to Wife which bore him a Son but when this was fully known to St. German he came to reprehend the King with all the British Clergy but whilest a great Senate of Clergy and Laity were consulting the King praeinstructed his Daughter that she should go to the Assembly and deliver up her Son into St. German's Arms and say that he was the Father of it and so she did as she had been taught St. German received the Child with a great deal of Courtesie and began to say I will be to thee a Father but I will not suffer thee unless I have a Razor with a pair of Scissors and Comb which shall be lawful for thee to present to thy Carnal Father The Child as soon as he heard it very readily obeyed the good Old Man and going towards his carnal Grandfather and carnal Father Vortigern said My Father clip and comb the Hair of my head at which the King was silent and would return no Answer again to the Child but rose up exceeding angry seeking how he might conveniently flie from the face of St. German so that he was censured and condemned not only by St. German but all the British Clergy For some time many of Vortigern's Subjects as we have shewn at first applauded his Vertues but by the proofs of his succeeding Actions were sound to be vailed over only with the appearance of a dissembling Sanctity How long did he commit that Incestuous Marriage with his own Daughter yea the Off-spring of a Pelagian before it was discovered to the Councel How unworthily did he discard his first Wife who was a Christian to obtain through the dictates of his untamable Lusts and Concupiscence the Pagan Daughter of Hengist How politick was he in endeavouring to acquit himself of the blame and reproof of a whole Senate for begetting a Son of his own
yet to look upon all things as fabulous and ridiculous concerning him were perhaps too inconsiderately to wrong the Vertues of so eminent a Person For I cannot choose but look upon him as a Man of excellent parts far beyond any of his Age however rendered by Fables suspected for considering how the British Chronicles and Fame unanimously conspire in setting forth his Actions we may safely believe that his admirable skill especially in Mathematicks was the occasion and ground of those fictitious and impertinent things they make him perform in the behalf of Vortigern and other Princes So that although we allow him not to be so great or rather monstrous as some out of their love would have him yet we may reasonably suppose him wiser and far above those sort of men that lived in his time there being alwaies something of Truth to be found at the bottom of a Fable The greatest disadvantage and unhappiness that can befal a great and generous Spirit is to be born in a dark base and ignorant Age who looking on the Actions of the Brave through the Magnifying-glass of their own fears and simplicities make them swell through a too forward but injurious Zeal to that monstrosity and bulk that their very greatness makes them suspected by Posterity so that the infinite disadvantages that Fame suffers by the suspicion of after Ages can never be recompenced by the overplus allowed in the Age they lived in or in the next succeeding Mr. Milton conjectures that this Merlyn and Ambrosius Aurclianus who is by some supposed to have erected Stone-Henge to be one and the same person his words comparing both together are these Common opinion but grounded chiefly on the British Fables makes this Ambrosius to be a younger Son of that Constantine whose eldest as we heard was Constans the Monk who both lost their Lives abroad usurping the Empire as some will have it But the express words of both Gildas and Bede assure us that the Parents of this Ambrosius having here born equal dignity were slain in these Pictish Wars and Commotions in the Island and that the fear of Ambrosius induced Vortigerne to call in the Saxons it seems Vortigerne usurped his Right I perceive not that Ninnius makes any difference between him and Merlyn for that Child without a Father that Prophecyed to Vortigerne he names not Merlyn but Ambrose makes him the Son of a Roman Consul but concealed by his Mother as fearing that the King therefore sought his Life If so then without question he is likely enough to have raised Stone-henge for being not only of the Roman Race but also living among them 't is undisputable but he soon became acquainted with most of their Customs and Sciences of which they were Masters For although in his time through the Invasion of the Goths Barbarism had so over-run Italy that not only the liberal Sciences and Architecture but the Art Military was so far lost among the Romans that they were ignorant of the very rudiments of War yet this must not be understood universally but of the generality of the People at that time and that there were no publick Professours of those Arts among them and not that all the Gentry or every individual were so ignorant that Ambrosius could learn nothing from their Conversation For if that were true we might by the same Argument prove him no Souldier For in those times Barbarism had so bereaft them of their skill says Procopius even in what manner to sound a Retreat But his frequent Successes in his Wars against the Saxons contradict the one and his often repairing Forts Cittadels and Temples evidently shew not only his willingness but his skill and ability also to have done greater things had his Wars allowed him sufficient leisure and opportunity Besides if there were no skilful Architect in Britain at this time who was it that built Vortigerne's Castle which was made so strange that he thought it was sufficient to entertain the assaults of his enemies if any should dare to oppose him Now though we have supposed him to have skill and ability enough for the accomplishing such a piece of Work yet it will scarce be proved notwithstanding that he was the Author of it for Stone-henge being two miles distant from Ambresbury where the massacred Britains are said to be interred it would be against Reason and Custom to imagine That he should set up a Monument so far from the Graves of those he intended to honour unless we should say that these British Historians taking some things upon report might a little mistake the place as well as good Geographers have done formerly or that more out of Love and Zeal than any relation to truth they delivered to Posterity they were buried in the Church-yard in the Monastery of Ambresbury hard by rather than any vast and wide Plain preferring decent and religious Burying before the magnificentest Interment and consecrated ground more than all the Monuments and Marks of Honour in the World Besides Geff of Monmouth in his Fifth Book says Jussit Vortigernus Cives Saxones Maiis Kalendis quae jam instare incipiebant juxta Ambrii Caenobium convenire Vortigerne commanded both his own People and the Saxons on the Kalends of May then approaching to appear near to to the Monastery of Ambresbury which expression may very well agree with the Place where Stone-henge stands Ambresbury being the nearest place unto it and although the same Author says in his Sixth Book Convenerunt omnes intra nominatam urbem de pace habenda colloquium inceperunt and Matthew of Westminster to confirm it says that they did in pago Ambri convenire yet since they have been suspected in many things I hope it will not be taken ill if with some Reason we here dissent from them also For with what Reason can we suppose Hengist who to our fatal experience we found politick enough in laying the design on a sudden to prove so ill a Statesman as to allow of a Conference at Ambresbury a Town wholly at Vortigern's devotion and of indifferent Concourse as being the usual place of Interrment for the British KINGS rather than two Miles from it on Salisbury-Plain which afforded him greater security for his own Person and the rest of his Company and was more suitable to his own Son he had then in being unless he trusted so much to their Seaxes as to dispatch the business before those of Ambresbury could come up to the relief of their Country-men which cannot reasonably be imagined And though the same Author Geoffery of Monmouth saies that these Massacred Britains were buried in Coemiterio quod est juxta Coenobium yet I question whether he did not speak more after the phrase of those times he wrote in than those that he wrote of For I very much doubt whether Monasteries so early and so near had Church-yards laid out to them Churches I am sure had not for a long time after
but the only Argument to prove this a British Monument is Catigern's Tomb who fell in a Battle against Horsa where the Tomb only differs from this in bigness and as being fixed without Mortises and Tenons as we have it expressed by Mr. Cambden in his description of Kent wherein he sets down several other things worthy of observation relating to that Country THE CONTINUATION OF THE British KINGS In the Daies of the SAXONS TO Aurelius Ambrosius succeeded his Brother UTER PENDRAGON a Prince nothing inferiour to him either in Valour or Fortune he is reported a Roman but the greatest demonstration we have of his being so was that whilest he lived he not only buoyed up the sinking genius of Britain by his own Vertues but had also freed this ISLE from a troublesome Intruder as the Saxon in all probability was like to prove had not Divine providence preordained to the contrary si Pergama dextra Defendi potuisse etiam hac defensa fuisset Before he came to the Crown he was sent by Aurelius who then lay sick to oppose Pascentius Vortigern's second Son a Man likely to prove a dangerous Enemy as pretending to the Crown and at that time in conjunction with another malevolent Planet GILLAMARE King of Ireland Against these Uter prudently made all the haste he could with resolution upon the first opportunity to give them Battle lest this new Pretender through length of time might steal away the Affections of the unstable Britains and he himself bring his own Credit in question by delaying the Engagement insomuch that the one being actuated by his own natural fierceness from whence termed UTER the other spurr'd on by Ambition the Fight for a long time stood doubtful but in the end Pascentius and his Irish Associates were slain ill defending their claim to that which their Fathers before them held by as bad a Title Aurelius being dead and himself freed from all Competitors in the Kingdom he began to have an eye upon the proceedings of the Saxons For understanding how Esk and Occa Hengist's Sons had harrassed and spoiled the Country as far as the City of York with all the speed therefore imaginable he wade after these Free-Booters and as suddenly defeated them taking the two Brethren prisoners A good natured Prince without doubt that spared the Lives of those that were by piece-meal stealing his Kingdom and whose Father but a little before had sacrificed 300 of his Nobility In this Prince his time landed Kerdic the Saxon a new Enemy sierce and hardy who notwithstanding all opposition Pendragon could make daily discomsited the Britains and gained Territories large enough for himself and his Followers Now whether this happened whilst he was doting on the fair Dutchess of Cornwall and so could not spare time to attend their Motions sure it is we read that the Britains to recover what they had lost set upon the Saxons under the Conduct of Natanleod or Nazeleod a certain King of Britain but were sufficiently routed by Kerdic and his Saxons from whence the place in Hantshire as far as Kerdicsford now Chardford was called of old Nazaleod Now some and not improbably suppose this Nazeleod to be the right name of Uter Pendragon who for the terrour of his eagerness in fight became more known by the Sir name of Uter signifying in the Welch Tongue dreadful as Edward was termed the Black Prince for the same Reason We shall speak nothing here of his lying with Igren Dutchess of Cornwall nor how by the art of Merlyn he was made so like the Duke of Cornwall that neither the Dutchess nor Servants could perceive the cheat contenting our selves since it cannot be helped that from that adulterous Bed the vertuous Prince Arthur sprang ARTHUR after the death of Pendragon his Son Arthur by the Dutchess of Cornwall was advanced to the Throne being then not above fifteen years old early he came by his honour and as early troubles the usual Concomitants of it overtook him but on purpose as it seems to make him more glorious For Lotho King of the Picts and Gouran King of the Scots having married Anna and Alda the Sisters of Uter laid claim to the Crown in right of their Wives These had Justice on their side and Arthur eleven points of the Law Possession and a good Sword to make it good they often backt their Pretences with a good Army and were as often defeated by this young Prince yet not so throughly but that they held him in Plea all his life-time upon occasions assisting the Saxon against him and at Cambula in Cornwall saith Leland this British Hector encountering Mordred Lotho's Son slew him outright and received of him his own deaths wound Ninnius reports that he over-threw the Saxons in twelve great Battels but with what credit I know not Kerdic the Saxon during all the time of Arthurs Reign continually gained ground of him and possest himself of Somerset and Hantshire in defyance of all the opposition he could make against him but after the fight at Mount Badon the Saxons are said to have sate down quietly for a good while after which those restless Spirits would scarce have done had they not stood in fear of an Army more powerful than their own Therefore we may with some Reason believe he gave the Saxons some considerable defeat and might with all probability have eased the Kingdom of that troublesom Enemy had not his generous Spirit been almost consumed and over-wearied by their continual Supplys Fame has done no Prince more Injury than this for by representing him so far beyond all proportion she has made him Monstrous and by her over-fond talking hath made Posterity suspect with some reason whether there ever was any such Person The Bards styled him IMPERATOR BRITANNIAE GALLIAE GERMANIAE DACIAE now who can believe that he should ramble so far to purchase new Countreys especially with the blood of his own People that could not defend his own against the Enemy at home Caradoc relates that Melvas King of that Country which is now called Somerset detained from him his wife Guenever in the Town of Glaston for the space of a whole year and afterwards restored her at the desire of Gildas not by any compulsion or force that Arthur could make against him If this be true then Arthur seems to be a very unlikely Man to run-over Germany that could not chastise the affront of a little Prince of Somerset that had so much defiled his Bed Now the greatest Argument we have to prove there was ever such a Man as ARTHUR is this King HENRY the Second whilest he was at Pembroke diligently hearkning to a Welch Bard that was singing the notable Exploits of King ARTHUR and taking particular notice of the place of his Burial the Song designing it to be in the Churchyard of Glastonbury and that betwixt two Pyramids commanded for his further satisfaction that they should dig thereabouts When they came some
see that their punishment is much proportionable to the way of their idle living hunger lazy Servants and lingring sickness We read in the Danish History of one Harald Hildetand who took great pains to avoid coming to this place for being blind lame and Bed-rid and fearing that he might die either through his sickness or Age he commanded himself to be carried into Battle in his Charriot where he died with these hopes that lifting but a finger might be construed fighting and might bring him to Wodens Hall The Edda hath these words Odinn heitur all Fader thui hanner fader alira guda hann heiter og Walfader thui hanns oska Syner eru aller their er I vall falla Cheim Skipar hann wallholl og wingolff og heita their tha Einheriar Odin is called All fader because he is Father of all the Gods and Walfader that is the Father of Slaughter because they are his beloved Sons who fall in Battle whom he takes to himself into his Palace called Walholl and Wingolf where they are called Einheriar that is the only Hero's Thus we see what we read of the Scythians in Roman and Greek Authors is found true of the Saxons who descended from them who bred up in the same Religion could not but equal them in Valour and let History speak never so much in the praise of the Scythians as to their contempt of Death the same or greater Honour is due to our Ancestours who so much despised all other deaths besides dying in the Field that they gave them the Nick-name of Kerlina dond and established the honour of Fighting well with the rewards of another World Besides this place of Punishment that I have spoken of they had another for perjured Persons Robbers Murtherers and such like Malefactors who deserved more active and pungent Tortures These were sent to a place where one Nidhogg Commanded a most ingenious contriver of all sorts of Torments who drest them up according to the qualities of their Offences boyling some roasting others c. with great exactness proportioning their punishments to the demerit of their Offences But to return to WODEN He is said as to his form and visage to have been of a chearful and pleasant Countenance to his Friends merry jocund and facetious of such admirable Eloquence and sweetness of discourse that he charmed the Hearers and forced belief To his Enemies he was fierce and by a certain kind of Magick would take away their senses and strike Panick-fears into them In his Conflicts with them by certain charms he could blunt the edges of their Swords that his own Souldiers without either Shield or Armour like ravening Wolves or Mad-dogs wou'd overrun slay and make havock of them without danger to themselves And this sort of furious Onset was called Berserker besides he had such an admirable way of deceiving the sight that he could transform himself into various shapes Sometimes as though he held his breath he would fling his Body on the ground which there lying as dead would turn into various figures sometimes of a Bird sometimes of a Fish sometimes a Serpent When he awaked he would constantly aver he had been in forraign Countries and had exact knowledge of what passed in them He could squench Fires raise Tempests stop Inundations and with one word call up Winds at his pleasure He had two Ravens whom he taught the use of Language who flying into far distant places would bring back true intelligence of new Affairs This Fable the Edda thus interprets Hraffnat their sitia a Urlum hans og seigia t eitu honum oll tydende thang et their heyra og sia their heita suo hugin og Munni Cha sender hann umm daga ad fiuga umm heim a lann og koma their astur ad dagver dat ma ale that aff verdut hann margra Cydenda viis thuit kalla menn hann hraffnagud Two Ravens sitting on his shoulders whisper in his ears all new Occurrences they either hear or see One is called Hugtnn that is the Mind the other Munni that is Memory Odin sends forth these every day betimes that they should flie the World over and at Dinner-time return By these he receives information and therefore he is called Rafnagud that is the God of Ravens From hence the old Danish Kings bore in their Escutcheons two Ravens and Hungar the first Dane that entred England in his Royal Standard carried this Bird which Standard upon that account called Reafan was thought impossible to be taken and drew much People after it no doubt as consecrated to this Rafnagud or God of the Ravens WODEN saith the same Author introduced the way of composing Verses in numbers and such Rythms as are now used in the Teutonick Dialect differing in this point from all other Languages in the World whatsoever for that the last words of the Verses answer to one another exactly in sound And this he did with such pleasing cadences that mixing them in his common discourse he wonderfully allured the Hearers and is reputed the Inventer of Poetry among the Saxons and the Founder of that Tribe called Scalders which like the Bardi among the Britains made it their business to set forth in Verses and sing to the People the noble Actions of their Progenitors Tacitus of the Germans saies They celebrate in old Verses which among them is the only way of Annals and Records their God Tuisto and his Son Mannus the beginners and Founders of their Nation The same custome the Saxons and Getes first used in Scandia as Mr. Sheringham learnedly proves who when any Person had done some notable service for his Country they composed his History briefly in Verses and ingraved them upon Rocks and massie Stones in great and legible Characters such as the Gothick are This Custome of ingraving upon Stone they brought with them into Germany as appears from many Inscriptions few whereof are now legible in Denmark Swedeland and Saxony I shall only instance in one which time hath not quite defaced About the City Visby saith Wormius there is a stony Rock which preserves the Memory of the Entrance of the Goths in these Characters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In the Year two thousand five hundred entred HELGO with his Goths Saxo Grammaticus writeth thus of the Getes in Denmark The Atchievments of their Ancestours they composed in Verse in their Mother Tongue and took care to engrave them in Rocks and Stones And the Arch-Bishop of Upsal giving an account from what Authors he composed the History of his Country hath these words From the beginning of the Gothick Kingdom there was alwaies found in the People a great ambition after Honour and Glory wherefore they composed Verses and Rithms in their own Tongue of the worthy Deeds of their Ancestours and frequently sung them upon great Festivals that they might invite their Youth to the emulation of their Actions and that these Verses by length of time might not perish they took care
sometimes as a Goddess as she wore a Female Vesture This is perfectly the Armata Venus of the Romans who took this Notion of her from the Greeks who promiscuously write her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as well as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 making her an Hermophrodite Venus So that we must not wonder that the Saxons coming acquainted with the Roman Theology like other Nations in great measure conformed to it For the analogy between the Gods of both People as it now stands appears nothing but a modern compliance of the Saxon Priests with the Romans and of no higher date than the mutual knowledge both Nations had of each other Neither ought it to confound the History of each others Theology as to the genuine original Offices and Names of their distinct Deities And if there appear any essential likeness between both Nations as to the order number and coincidence of some of their Idols in some circumstances with one another we must not think the Saxon custome sprang from the Roman more than the Roman from the Saxon But it arose from some Third and ancienter People from whom both taking pattern in many things drew the same lines and figures The Northern Writers mention many of Wodens Companions called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Diat that is Gods some whereof were Deified by Woden himself before his death others afterwards the names of which because they are summarily delivered by Arn-Jonas as he found them in ancient Writings and Monuments and may possibly serve to interpret several Names yet remaining among us I shall not think tedious to set down They are in number fifteen Odin otherwise Uggur Thor Uugue or Uuguar Freger Bedar Balldur Tyr Niordur Bragie Hoddur Forsete Loke Uale Uullur Haettir As also Asian Women that came along with him called Asiniur who attained Divine Honour Frygg one of Wodens Wives Freya the other Fulla Snotra Gerdur Gesson Gua Loffu Skade Iorde Idun Ilmur Bill Niorun vel Iorun Hlin Hnoss Nanna Rindur Scofn Sol Saga Sygin or Sygity Uer Uar Thrudur Ran Hildur Gendul Hlock Mist or Niss Skegul Hrind or Rund Hrist or Rik Shuld Nipt Dis or Disa The memory of these Women our Age still retaineth in their proper Names As Gerdut likewise Thorgirdur compounded of Thor and Gerdut so Iduii Ioruii Sygny Thrudur Hildur Besides these many of Wodens Sons or Nephews as Balldur Meile Uiidar Nephur Uale Ale Thor Hilldulfur Hermodur Sigge Skiodur in the Edda Skioldur Assabragur Dlldner Itrekur Hemdallur Semingur or Hemingar Hauddar Brage Cunilanghen Cnidrid Bierii Hlodid Hardveor Sonnungur Uingthor Rymur To which I may add out of the Edda according to Rossenius his Translation his Sons Uegdeg and Begdeg some of these Princes were renowned for particular qualifications Woden excell'd in wisdom and the Art Magick Thor is commended for Spirit Baldur for Beauty from whose name a common Flower but of beautiful Colours is called Balden-braa that is Balders-brow Suenonius in his Notes to Saxo Grammaticus supposeth that there were three different Wodens The first and ancientest was called the Asian and in distinction Odin hin Gamble that is Woden the Elder He was the Son of Saturn The second was Upsalensis and among the Swedes had a splendid Temple shining with Gold built to his Honour He is also called an Asian but was a Scythian born these two Saenonius thinks are confounded in History The third was called Mithoden that is the middle Odin of whom Saxo Grammaticus makes mention he whilst the other Woden was abroad in the World took occasion to feign himself a God but at the others return trusting more to his Heels than his Cheating tricks he fled into Phaeonia where hoping to hide himself he was slain by the Rabble Whether there be any truth in this Conjecture we cannot determine certainly the History of Hengist and Horsa would require some such salvo who according to Bede and Malmsbury derived themselves in the third degree from Woden which if true necessarily implies there was one WODEN at least if not two later in time than him we have hitherto spoken of to which opinion Verstegan inclineth But when we consider that it was the usual way of Heathen Poets not to make their Hero's above three descents from Jupiter himself Sic à Jove tertius Ajax saith Ovid why may not the same liberty be allowed to the Saxon Scaldi to flatter their Princes in placing their Names nigher their fountain of Honour the much admired Woden who was the same to the Saxons as Jupiter to the Greeks and Romans and they gave him the like Titles For as he was saluted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hominum pater atque Deorum so Woden was stiled by the Saxons Fader allra Gudanna og Mannguna Father of Gods and Men. I have given a larger Treatise of him because he was by far the most renowned of all their Idols the words of the Edda are these Odinns er eedstur og ellstur Acanna hann radur ollumm hlutumm og so sem onnur Godinn eru Mattug tha thiona honum ell so sem born fodur WODEN is the highest and chief of the Asae and governs all things and although the other Gods are powerful yet they wait upon him as Children do on their Fathers THOR according to the Danish History was the Son of Woden and came with him from Asia hence he is called Asathor that is Thor the Asian and from him Thursday taketh name He was esteemed next in Honour to Woden and to him they sacrificed Men as the highest testimony of their devotion he is written sometimes Thaar and hath been thought by many to be the same with Taramis of the Gauls or Jupiter Tonans Certain it is whether from the similitude of Name or some other account after the knowledge the Saxons had of the Romans he was generally taken in after Ages for Jupiter A memorable instance of this may be given out of an old Book of Saxon Homilies in the publick Library of Cambridge treating of the false Gods of the Gentiles An man þaes eardigende on þam iglande Creta Saturnus gehaten sÆ¿ydlic Æ¿aelraeoþ sua ê§ he abat his sunus þa ða hi geborena þaeron unfaederlice macode heora flaesc him to mete he laefde sua ðeah aenne tolipe þeade he abit his broðre on aer ðe þaer Jovis gehaten hetol ðrymlic he afligde his faeder of þam fore raede igland Æ¿olde hine acþelle gif he him come to se Jovis þaes sua sþiðe gal ê§ he on his sÆ¿uster ge Æ¿ifode seo Æ¿aes gehaten Juno suiðe healic gyden heora dotra þaeron Minerva Venus þaforlag se faeder fullice buta manega his magan manlice geþemde þas manfullan men Æ¿aeron ê§a maerostan godas ðe ða haeðenan Æ¿orðoðon ac se sunu Æ¿aes sua ðeah suiðor ge Æ¿ordod ðon ðe faeder þaere on heora fulan bigenge se Jovis is ar þorðost ealra ðaera goda þe ða haeðenan haefdon on heora geddylde
he hatte ðor bet þux summum ðeodum ê§on ê§a deniscan leoda lufiaþ fÆ¿iê§ost There was a Man in the Isle of Crete named Saturn of such a Cruel nature that he devoured his own Sons as soon as they were born and contrary to the custome of other Fathers made their flesh his diet But he suffered one to live although he had devoured his Brothers namely Jupiter a Man of agreat and high spirit He drove his Father from the aforesaid Island threatning to kill him if he returned He was so incontinent as to marry his own Sister Juno who was afterwards esteemed a great Goddess To these were born Minerva and Venus both of which with many other Relations their wicked Father incestuously polluted These wicked Men were the chiefest Gods to whom the Heathens gave Honour but the Son according to their filthy worship was had in greater veneration than the Father In their erronious Religion he was especially the most honourable and by some Nations he is called Thor and the Danes highly love him FRIGGA was the Wife of Woden the Goddess of Love among the Saxons her name comes from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Frigon signifying to love Hence afterwards she was worshipt as Venus among the Romans From her Friday taketh name what else concerneth her I have spoken before in Woden THISA or DISA the Wise of Thor and Goddess of Justice from her it is probably thought that our Tuesday took name as much as to say Thisday the Swedes and Danes call it Tiiszdag and Diiszgag the Dutch Diissen-dach and Dinghesdach the Germans Dinstag and Zinsztag and according to these various pronunciations many Originals are produced of the God or Goddess to which this day was consecrated The English Saxon way of calling it Tuesday as Pontanus saith seems to refer to Teutates the Germans name him Thaut Dieth and Duth and think him to be Mercury but then how comes his day to be before Wodens and Thors Verstegan will have him Tuisco but without any authority or reason as I have shewn in treating of Tuisco it is gratis dictum and can never be proved for allowing that Tuisto according to Caesar and Tacitus was worshipped in especial manner by the Germans as the Founder of their Nation yet doth it not follow he was Verstegans Tuisco or that he had a day set apart to him the English Saxon name of Tuesday as it is easily resolvable into Disdag so where it agrees not with the other Idioms it ought not to give rule to them For this were fondness to think that our way of pronunciation were only right when we find all other Saxon Nations differ from us and agree in the main among themselves The Islanders name it Chiiszdag and give this account of it TYR the Son of Woden the Genitive case of whose name is Tyrs or T ys by contraction for his Martial vertues and wisdom attained Divine Honours to him Sacrifices were offered for Victory in battle or single combat from him the Islanders call the third day in the week Chiiszdag and Arngrimus saith he hath found it written Cyrzdag They who derive it from Disa or Thisa the Goddess of Justice write thus Among other Goddesses Disa or Thisa the Wife of Thor was thought as fit to be numbred as Frigga the Wife of Woden From her some will have the third day of the Week called Thiiszdag At Upsall there were anniversary Rites called Tiiszating held in her Honour with great pomp and solemnity from her a Town in Denmark called Thiseivelde took name having adjoyning to it a Spring and Fountain dedicated to her The name Dinstag in High Dutch and Dinghesdach in Low Dutch Pontanus derives from Dingen signifying to determine Controversies and adds that This-day among the Danes comes by contraction from Ting in their Tongue as much as a Bench of Judicature happily because the determination of Causes was referred to this Goddess In like manner some derive Sunday not from the Sun but the old German word Sonen to Judge as it is found in an ancient Creed Thana chuinstie ist sonen nuekhe entitote From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead And Morner Versic the fourth Cs nahet gegender Suonotage das gott will Suonen aile klage The Lords day draweth nigh wherein God will judge all things But to return to Tuesday what was the Original name and derivation of it or whether it be rightly spelt Dinsdag Tysdag or Tyrsdag from Disa Tyr or Ting is uncertain but it seemeth to me that our way of writing it Tuesday is not so ancient as any of the former and appeareth of no longer date than the coming of the Saxons into our parts where the name of Teutates or Theut was much celebrated They had also a Goddess named Eoster whom I also suppose was of no higher Antiquity being the same as Astarte of the Gauls and Britains Hence the Saxons called April Oester monat and the Feast of the Resurrection Eoster though some bring it from the word Ost or East Verstegan because the East-winds blow in that Month Mr. Cambden because the Saxons called the Rising of CHRIST by the name os East Hertha was another Goddess of the Saxons she was worshipped as Mater Deûm among the Romans or the Mother of the Gods because from her all things were supposed to take being Hertha or Herthus was thought to preside in human Affairs saith Tacitus speaking of the Germans and to relieve the People saith the English Translation of Mr. Cambden The words of Tacitus are invehi populis which relates to a Custome the Romans used of bearing about her Image in publick Processions the People following with loud Acclamations together with Fifes Cymbals and little gingling Bells She was represented with Cities and Towrs upon her head because she was the supporter of them and therefore the Poet writing of her Procession saith incedit Turrita per Urbes And perhaps out of the words of Tacitus some such Custome might have been taken up by the Saxons Rheda another Goddess of the Saxons from whom the Month of March was called Rhedmonath because then they especially sacrificed to her This Month was also called Lenctmonat as much as to say Length-Month saith Verstegan because then the Daies began to grow longer than the Nights Nocca was their Sea-God Wormius Monument Dan. lib. 1. cap. 4. I have found in a Manuscript that our Country-men held a certain distinction of Terressrial and Water-Gods for the increase of Corn and Fruit they addressed themselves to one whose name is not expressed but was the same as the Roman CERES They held that one Nocca like Neptune had the Government of the Sea and they give out when any was drowned that he was snatched away by Nocca Nocken tog hannembort In some places of Denmark they call him Nicken and report that not in the Sea only he hath been seen but in Rivers also and deep Brooks in the
of his Father for although Hengist at first had made a sudden inroad and entred the Country as far as the western Coasts yet we find that not long after even in Vortigern's time he was fought with in Kent and Tanet his old Possessions and forced to dispute his ground upon the edge of the Sea The Ancient Annals of the Saxons write thus Hengist and Horsa in the year 455 fought against Vortigern at Eglesthrip now Aylsford in Kent where Horsa was slain leaving his name to Horsted the place of his Burial But it seems in this Battel the Saxons had a clear Victory though much allayed by the death of that Prince For now Hengist saith the same Annals assumed the Title of King and Peopled Kent with Jutes who about that time held the Isle of Wight and part of Hampshire adjoyning to it here the Jutes are mistaken for Vites Two years after Hengist and his Son at a place called Creganford or Craford slew four thousand of the Britains and four of their chief Commanders forcing the rest to quit Kent and flie in great disorder to London And although this blow seemed the total loss of that Country yet eight years afterwards we find the Britains again pressing hard upon them giving them Battel as far as the Isle of Tanet at a place called Wippeds fleet but success was not answerable to their Spirit for though they fought it to the death of twelve of their Princes yet the Saxons carried the day losing Wepped only an Earl of theirs who left his Name to the field he fell in Another Battel was fought but the place not mentioned wherein the Britains are said to be so totally routed that flying in great confusion they left their whole Baggage to the spoil of their Enemies These and many other Skirmishes happened in the space of twenty years saith Malmesbury in which may be observed that the Britains though worsted according to these Saxon Relations yet seem to have been alwaies the Aggressors seeking out their Enemy rather than sought for as appears from the places wherein they fought being either in the heart of Kent or further in the Isle of Tanet These vigorous Attempts to redeem the liberty of a sinking Nation though performed before the Resignation of Vortigern yet seem to derive nothing from him saving the ill success alone The life and spirit by which they were acted seemed to flow from Vortimer the miscarrlages from that secret but resistless influence which inseparably attends an Impotent Government And the event proved accordingly for instead of Vortigern a lustful and giddy Prince whom neither years or the neglect of Subjects could make apprehensive Vortimer being advanced to the Crown a new scene of things immediately appeared Thrice he drove the Saxons and besieged them in the Isle of Tanet and though they were continually relieved with fresh supplies from the Continent yet as often as they broke in he repulsed them with loss In four Battels whereof three are named he utterly defeated them the first on the River Darwent the second at Episford where Ninnius saith Horsa was slain and on Vortimer's side his Brothern Catigern The third in a field by Stonar then called Lapis Tituli in Tanet where he beat them into their Ships glad to have so escaped and not venturing to return for five years after thus Ninnius And indeed Gildas writes of the departure of the Saxons much about this time during which space Vortimer dying poysoned as some write by the contrivance of Rowena commanded they should lay his Body in the Port of Stonar perswaded that his Bones lying there would be a sufficient terrour to his Enemies for ever landing in that place imitating herein if not the Author for him the like conceit of Scipio Africanus who would have his Tomb set against Africa to fright the Carthaginians from so much as looking towards the Italian shores The Britains saith Ninnius who makes a serious business of it neglecting his Orders buried him at Lincoln The Son being dead the Father is again restored to the Crown whether by the interest and prevalency of his Party is uncertain or upon promises of amendment by Publick Election there being none remaining of that Family since the death of his two Sons Vortimer and Catigern on whom to confirm the Royal dignity It should seem that the British Nobility were too deeply engaged in the guilt of Vortigern's usurpation for to think of restoring their lawful Prince it usually happening in publick Rebellions generally countenanced that they who are involved in the Treason choose rather to hazard the lust and tyranny of an Usurper than by confession of Error to rely on the mercy and clemency of the Injured Hengist advised of this sudden change of affairs in Britain not to slip so favourable an occasion of recovering his lost fortunes with all speed raises new Forces and returns But it seems the Britains during his absence as may be gathered had revenged themselves on those he left behind him and we read of many Skirmishes and one set Battel fought between them wherein the Saxons alwaies came by the worst Hengist therefore at his landing finding his affairs upon the Island in a lower concondition than he expected and not so able to make open War hath recourse to his old tricks of Treaty and Friendship rid of his grand Opposer he knew well enough how to manage his Interest with Vortigern whom he had obnoxious to him by ancient Leagues and long Affinity Proposing therefore nothing but terms of Kindness and Amity and pretending that former Breaches sprung from the Ambition of Vortimer and a Court-faction he easily works with the King especially instigated by his Wife and not discouraged by his Peers to give him a Personal treaty not doubting but by such an Interview all jealousies might be removed differences composed and a better understanding for the future settled between them The place of meeting was appointed upon Salisbury-Plain whither both Parties were to repair unarmed But Hengist who meant nothing less than Peace and yet had plotted a general Massacre commanded his Followers to carry privately under their Vestures a Ihort Dagger or Seax acquainting them before hand with his designs When the Britains were in the midst of their Cups the Saxons cavilling at words and picking small occasions of quarrel provoking or provoked at last at the watch-word given Nienet cour Seares at once drew their Daggers and dispatched three hundred of the Assembly The King they kept in custody for whose ransom Hengist received a confirmation of the Kingdom of Kent and a new addition of three Provinces afterwards called Essex Sussex and Middlesex Vortigern set at liberty upon these terms retires to his solitary abode in the County of Guorthigirniaun so called by his name thence to a Castle of his own building in North-Wales upon the River Tirby where he perished at last by fire from heaven as some write others by Ambrostus
Aurelian whose right he had usurped After this Massacre few or none being left in Britain whose wisdom in Councel or policy in War was able to do much for their Country Hengist had the leasure to establish his new Dominions And although we read of some few bickerings between him and the Britains afterwards yet by the consequences we shall find that these last were alwaies the loosers and the Saxons the only gainers And now about the year 477 Ella another Saxon Prince with his three Sons Cymen Pletig and Cissa entered the Island at a place in Sussex called Cymenshore and made great slaughter of the Britains but of his actions as being the founder of the Kingdom of the South Saxons there will be occasion to speak in that History It is sufficient here to be hinted that so fair a gap being laid open by Hengist not long after as if Britain was the field of Fortune many other Princes out of Saxony and those parts came flocking into the Island and soon after one another settled Seven distinct Kingdoms leaving to the Poor Britains no more than what nature seemed to provide for them namely inaccessible Mountains and Rocks scarcely passable where defending themselves and enjoying the use of their Religion they sometimes to little purpose as in the main appears made sallies upon the Saxons who not withstanding all resistance still more and more increased Some of them fled over to their Brethren in Armorica others into Holland where yet remains the Ruines of Brittenburg not far from Leyden to be seen at Low-water either built as the Dutch Writers affirm or seized by the Britains in their flight from Hengist Hengist reigned thirty four years and then as Marianus Scotus reports died honourably but Peter de Ikam Polydore and others say he was slain in Battel or taken by Edol Earl of Gloucester and beheaded at Conesborow He was a Prince of the chief Blood of the Saxons by birth of Angria in Westphalia and supposed Lord of that Territory called at this day Hengster-holt He is thus derived from the deified Woden Hengist the Son of Wetgisse the Son of Wecta the Son of Woden When Hengist came first into Britain he is said to have built Thong-Castle near Sydingborn in Kent so called because he had begged as much ground of the King to build it on as he could compass about with an Ox-hide Here he feasted Vortigern and here the fair Rowena in broken language drunk to him that fatal Wassal that for ever after like a strong yet lingring poyson stuck close to his side Thus Hengist obtained the Kingdom by Craft as much as Courage and established it in blood by Treachery yet there are who excuse that Massacre of the British Nobility and lay it upon chance not design alledging that in Saxony not long before there had been a meeting of Thuringers and Saxons where if the Saxons suspecting fraud had not come privily armed the Thuringers had dispatched them all fearing the like Treachery from the Britains they prepared for the worst in this Treaty and in the midst of their Cups as drink is quarrelsom they were provoked beyond the measure Wine is able to bear Thus Verstegan OERIC OERIC Sirnamed Oisc the Son of Hengiss succeeded in the Kingdom At the Battel of Creganford or Craford he gave signal proof of his Valour in assisting his Father in gaining that most remarkable Victory not long before he had been taken prisoner by the Britains and was held in custody at York but by secret workings he made his escape and came up to his Father before the fight began Being seated in the Throne like a wise Prince he set himself to the establishing his Kingdom by good Laws contracting his Dominions within the Province of Kent as most tenable and neglecting those Out-skirts of Essex Sussex and Middlesex left him by Hengist as not well bounded nor throughly subdued Sussex and Surry which touched him on the West he gave up to the Conquest of Ella the Saxon and Essex and Middlesex on the North he left free for Enchinwine another Saxon Adventurer to exercise his Valourin Thus whilst on all sides of his Kingdom the Britains were kept off by other hands he had leasure to follow the Arts and Methods of Peace like Numa to settle the Kingdom left him by his warlike-Predecessor And this is the reason that we hear little of his Son and Grand-son saving their Names and Issues till the time of Ethelbert For the Britains taken up with higher Wars had not opportunity or means to reach Kent and till Ethelbert's daies the other Saxons were so well imployed by the Britains that they had no leasure to fall out among themselves In memory of this Prince the founder of their Laws and Priviledges the Kentish Men afterwards called themselves Oiscings He reigned 24 years but hath not the honour by our Historians to be accounted the second Monarch of the English Men they giving that place to Ella founder of the South Saxons a more active and bustling Prince OCTA OCTA the Son of Eske or Oisc began his Reign about the year 513 What his Father peacably left he quietly enjoyed for twenty two years in which he had the pleasure to see many other Principalities of the Saxons begun in the Island He left the Kingdom to Ermiric ERMIRIC ERMIRIC the Son of Octa Reigned twenty nine years more honourable in his Posterity than any actions of his own He gave his Daughter Rikel in marriage to Sledda Son of Erchinwine first founder of the Kingdom of the East-Saxons by which alliance he endeared to himself the neighbouring Provinces of Essex and Middlesex his Kingdom he left to his Son Ethelbert ETHELBERT ETHELBERT the Son of Ermiric succeeded in the Kingdom of Kent He equalled in length of Reign both his Predecessors and as Bede rockoneth exceeded them three years At his first coming to the Crown he was very young and unexperienced by which means hastily aiming above his reach he fell almost beneath the contempt of his Neighbours The causes of his Ambition seem to be these We read that Hengist by leave of Vortigern had placed Octa and Ebissa in the North to keep off the Scots and Picts from molesting the Southern borders they and their Successors settling there a kind of Principality had held it for one hundred and eighty years yet as in subjection to Kent the elder Family and owning its Protection though far distant But Ida coming to govern in those parts about the year five hundred forty seven in the daies of Ermiric cast off all manner of obedience to that Crown and assumed an Absolute Royalty to himself which Indignity Ermeric as may probably be guessed resenting by making strong Alliances intended to revenge but being snatched away by untimely death the quarrel was left intire to young Ethelbert his Son who partly instigated by this affront whereby the honour of his Kingdom seemed to be
Convension Destroy the worship of Idols raze their Temples establish the Manners of your Subjects in the great Purity of good living by exhorting terrifying encouraging correcting and by showing the Examples of Good works that you may find him your Rewarder in Heaven whose name and knowledg you shall extend upon Earth for he shall make your Name more glorious to Posterity whose Honour you endeavour to advance and preserve in your Nation So formerly Constantine a most Pious Emperour freeing the Roman Commonwealth from the preverse worship of Idols submitted himself and It to our Almighty LORD Jesus Christ and applied himself and his Subjects with his whole mind unto GOD from whence it came to pass that he transcended his Predecessours as much in Fame as he exceeded them in good works And now therefore let your Majesty make all possible haste to disperse the knowledg of one GOD the Father Son and Holy Ghost to Kings and their Subjects that you may in commendation and merit pass the Ancient Kings of that Nation And by how much you endeavour to wipe away the sins of others by so much you may rest more secure of your own offences before the dreadful examination of Almighty God Our most Reverend Brother Augustine Bishop well taught in the rules of Monastick life filled with the knowledg of the Holy Scripture and endued through God's grace with good works whatsoever he shall advise you willingly hear devoutly perform and carefully lay up in your memory because if you shall hear him in that which he speaks for God Almighty the same Almighty God will the sooner hear him intreating for you But if which God forbid you should neglect his words when do you think Almighty God will hear him for you whom you neglected to hear for God With all your mind therefore joyn your self with him in the fervency of Faith and assist him relying on that power which God has given you that he may make you partakers of his Kingdom whose Faith you have received and endeavoured to preserve in your Kingdom Furthermore we would that your Majesty should understand that as we know in Sacred Writ out of the words of our Almighty Lord that the end of this present World is at hand and that the Kingdom of the Saints shall come of which there shall be no end But the end of the World drawing near many things shall happen which before were not viz. alterations of the Air terrours from Heaven and contrary to the course of Seasons Tempest Wars Famine Pestilences Earth-quakes in divers places all which shall not come to pass in our daies but all of them shall certainly follow our daies If therefore you shall find any of these things happen in your Land let your mind in no sort be disturbed because these signs concerning the end of the World are therefore sent before that we should be careful of our Souls mistrustful of the hour of death that we may be found in good works prepared for the Judg at his coming These things I have spoken to you in short Most Excellent Son that when the Christian Faith shall be increased in your Kingdom my discourse also may be inlarged towards you then 't will be more proper to speak more when the joyes for the perfect conversion of the whole Nation shall be multiplied in your breast We have sent you also some small Presents which will not be small unto you when you shall receive them from us with the benediction of the blessed Apostle Peter Almighty God preserve and perfect in you that Grace he hath begun and extend your life to the course of many years and after long time receive you into the Congregation of his Heavenly Country Let the Grace of Heaven my Royal Son keep your Highness safe Given the tenth of the Kalends of July in the nineteenth year of our Lord Mauritius Tiberlus Augustue Emperour after the Consulship of the same eighteenth year Indiction the fourth i. e. in the year of Christ 161. Gregory To Virgilius Bishop of Arles He commends to him Bishop Augustine HOW great kindness ought to be shewn to Brethren coming of their own accord may be gathered from hence that to shew our charity they are most commonly invited by us and therefore if it should so fall out that our common Brother Bishop Augustine should come unto you let your charity as it ought receive him with all tenderness and affection and cherish him with the benefits of your consolation and teach others how fraternal charity ought to be respected And because it falls out that those that are furthest off commonly are informed first of what ought to be corrected if he shall make mention to your Brotherhood of any enormities committed either by Priests or others sitting with him by diligent search and scrutining examine all things and behave your selves so strict and careful in those things that offend God and provoke him to anger that for the example and amendment of others punishment only may strike the guilty and that false judgment afflict not the innocent Given the tenth day of the Kalends of July Indiction the fourth Bede after this saich Afflict not the Innocent here in the end and so goes on God keep you safe Most Reverend Brother Given the tenth day of the Kalends of July our Lord Mauritius Tiberius Augustus being Emperour in the nineteenth year after the Consulship of the said Lord the eighteenth year Indiction the fourth i. e. in the year of Christ 601. Gregory To Melltus Abbot in France He gives Command to be sent to Augustine about the conversion of that Nation AFter the departure of our Congregation which is with you we were in great suspence because we could hear nothing of the happiness of your Journey but when it shall please Almighty God to bring you to our most Reverend Brother Bishop Augustine tell him I have a long time carefully considered of the condition of the English and am of opinion that the Temples of the Idols in that Nation ought by no means to be destroyed but only the Idols themselves that are in them Let holy water be provided and sprinkled about those Temples let Altars be built and Reliques kept in them For if those Churches are Elegantly built it is necessary they should be taken from the worship of Devils and appropriated to the service of the true God that whilst the people see their Churches are not destroyed they may put away their Errors from their hearts and knowing and worshipping the True God may more familiarly resort to those places they were wont to frequent And because many Oxen were wont to be slain in the sacrifice of Devils some other solemnity ought to be introduced instead of it that on the day of Dedication or Birth-day of the Holy Martyrs whose Reliques are there laid up let them make Arbors to themselves of the Branches of Trees about those Churches that were formerly Temples and let them celebrate the
pure from all unlawful things What necessity is there of making a long discourse of dividing Portions of shewing Hospitality and of doing Mercy to those that live a Common life when all that is overplus is to be bestowed upon Pious and Religious uses the Lord our Master teaching us all what remains bestow in Alms and hold all things are clean unto you Luke the 11th The third Question of Augustine Since there is but one Faith why are there divers customes of Churches One custome of Mass in the holy Roman Church and another in those of Gaul The Answer of Gregory Your Brotherhood knows the Custome of the Roman Church in which you may remember you were bred but it is my pleasure that if you can find either in the Roman Church or those of Gaul or in any other Church any thing more pleasing to God carefully choose it and what things soever you can gather from many Churches of honest Institution introduce them into the English Church which as yet is young in the Faith for things are not to be beloved for the places but places for the good things in them Out of every Church therefore choose what is Pious Religious and Right and gather them together as it were in a bundle and by practice infuse them into the minds of the English The fourth Question of Augustine I beseech you what punishment ought to be inflicted on him that commits Sacriledge The Answer of Gregory This your Brotherhood may understand from the person of the Thief how he ought to be corrected for there are some that have found ways to commit thest and there are others that offend in this nature out of necessity From whence it follows that some are to be punished with fines others with stripes some more severely others more gentily and when you proceed against any with more rigour than ordinary you must do it out of charity not fury because 't is done to him that is punished with this intent that he might not be committed to Holl fire For we ought to instruct the Faithful so as good Fathers are wont their carnal Children whom for their faults they whip and yet they desire that those whom they thus afflict should be their heirs and carefully keep for them whatsoever they possess whom angrily they thus seem to torment Alwales therefore keep in your mind this charity which suggests a mean in chastizing so that the mind can do nothing without the rule of Reason Perhaps you way ask How these things that are taken by stealth from the Church may be restored but God forbid that the Church should receive with increase for the loss of Earthly things or go about to make advantage of vain trifles The fifth Question of Augustine Whether two own Brothers may marry two own Sisters which are removed from them by many degrees The Answer of Gregory This is certainly lawful for we find nothing in inholy Writ that seems to contradict this point in the least The sixth Question of Augustine To what degree the Faithful may marry with their kindred and whether it be lawful for Stepmothers and their kindred in Law to be joyned in wedlock Gregory's Answer A certain Secular law in the Roman Common wealth permits that whether Brother and Sister or the son and daughter of two own Brothers or two own Sisters may marry but we haue learnt by experience that from such kind of Marriages no issue can be produced and holy Writ forbids the uncovering of the Nakedness of our near kindred from whence it follows that the third and fourth generation of the Faithful may lawfully marry To be joyned in marriage with ones Mother-in-law is a great sin for 't is written in the Law Thou shalt not uncover thy Father's nakedness neither indeed may a Son discover the nakedness of his Father but because 't is written they shall be two in one flesh he that shall presume to uncover the nakedness of his Stepmother which was one flesh with his Father hath certainly uncovered his Father's nakedness 'T is forbidden also to marry a near Relation-in-law because by the former it was made as the flesh of the Brother for which thing John the Baptist was beheaded and ended his life in holy Martyrdom on whom it was not imposed to deny Christ and yet he was slain for confessing Christ but because our Lord Jesus Christ had said I am the Truth and because John was killed for the truth he poured out his blood for Christ. The seventh Interrogation of Augustine I desire to know whether a Divorce may be issued out against those that are married unlawfully and whether they may be denied the benefit of the Communion The Answer of Gregory Because there are many in England which still remain in Infidelity that are reported to be joyned in wicked and unlawful Matrimony when they shall come to the Faith they are to be admonished that they abstain and made to understand that it is a grievous sin Let them stand in fear of the terrible Judgment of God lest for a little carnal pleasure they incur eternal torments nevertheless they are not for this thing to be deprived of the Communion of the body and blood of our Lord lest we should seem to punish those things in them in which they had bound themselves through ignorance before the Laver of Baptism For in these times the holy Church corrects some things with rigour some things out of mildness it tolerates and other things it wisely dissembles and so bears with some faults and winks at them as at last what it disliketh by forbearances and seeming connivance it overcometh and all that are brought to the Faith are to be admonished that they commit no such thing and if any shall they are to be deprived of the Communion of the body and blood of our Lord because as in those things which they did through ignorance the fault in some measure is to be born withal so it ought resolutely to be prosecuted in those that are most afraid knowingly to offend The eight Interrogation of Augustine If for the great distance of places Bishops cannot easily meet whether a Bishop may be ordained without the presence of other Bishops The Answer of Gregory Certain it is in the Church of the English in which as yet there is no other Bishop but your self you can ordain a Bishop no other way than without Bishops for when can Bishops come from Gaul that may assist as witnesses at the ordination of a Bishop But we would that your Brotherhood should so ordain Bishops that they be not too far disjoyned from one another that there may be no hindrance but that at the ordination of a Bishop others may be present other Pastors also whose presence is very requisit ought to have easie means of access When therefore Bishops shall be so ordained in places near one another the ordination of a Bishop ought never to be without three or four Bishops assisting
scyldig se man se ê§ana sie he age healf ê§ Æ¿iae daet Æ¿eorc If a Free man shall do it on that forbidden time he shall suffer the Mulct of Pillory and the Informer shall have half as well of the Mulct as the Wirgild Wirgild signifies a Composition made by the Party or his Friends for a fault committed This is all that we find upon Record either in Church or State that particularly relateth to King Wigtred He left Issue Edbert Ethelbert and Alric who all reigned in their turns EDBERT EDBERT the first Son of Wigtred reigned peaceably twenty three years nothing is left memorable upon Record during his Reign save that two blazing Comets appeared one before the Sun in the morning the other after him at night both darting their beams to the North. It was thought to portend the Desolations afterwards made by the Saracens who brake into France but were soon after expelled ETHELBERT the Second ETHELBERT the Second and second Son of Withred succeeded his Brother in the Kingdom He reigned for the space of eleven years and hath left nothing behind of Name or Issue He was buried among his Ancestors at Canterbury ALRIC ALRIC the third Son of Withred and last of the Royal Family of Hengist held the Scepter thirty four years He was slain in the battel of Otteford by the hands of OFFA the Mercian King whose overthrow saith Malmsbury was less dishonourable as vanquisht by so great a Monarch The Saxon Annals of 784 mention one EALMUND now reigning in Kent but he is no where else mentioned The following Kings either by wealth or faction obtained the Kingdom ETHELBERT the Third ETHELBERT the Third Sirnamed Pren the Annals call him Eadbright by what means is unknown usurped the Regal Power After two years reign contending with Kenulph the Mercian King who invaded his Territories he was taken Prisoner and led captive into Mercia and there for a while detained During his Imprisonment Cuthred was appointed by Kenulph to govern Kent and Simeon writes that Kenulph commanded to put out his eyes and cut of his hands but upon what occasion or whether the sentence was executed he hath left us in the dark Certain it is that Kenulph having finisht his Church at Winchcomb in Glocestershire either out of commiseration of Human chance or relenting so severe a punishment or else to render the dedication of his Temple more illustrious taking this Princely Captive by the hand he led him to the High-Altar and there in the presence of Cuthred his Vice-Roy in Kent and ten Earls thirteen Bishops and many other Nobles he gave him his Liberty without Ransom and free leave to return to his Dominions But coming to Kent he was not received but retired to a private life and this is he and not the former Ethelbert whom the Annals of Canterbury affirm to be buried at Reculvers in the Isle of Tanct where he may be supposed to have lived after his expulsion a place most convenient and oftentimes used for such inglorious retreats He reigned only three years CUTHRED CUTHRED was created by Kenulph Vice-Roy of Kent but our Historians make him King and Usurper however he sate in the Throne but three years and we hear nothing of him but that he was present at the release of his Predecessor which should seem to argue that he was not the cause of his being kept out from the Crown BALDRED BALDRED last King of Kent was vanquished by Egbert the West-Saxon who seized his Dominion after he had reigned eighteen years and forced him to flie beyond the River Thames at which time this Kingdom and not long after the rest of the Heptarchy were reduced under the intire obedience of that Monarch THE KINGDOM OF THE East-SAXONS Contained Counties Essex Middlesex Part of Hartfordshire KINGS Sledda Sebert Sered Seward Sigibert the First Sigibert the Second Sigibert the Third Swithelm Sighere Sebba Offa. Selred Suthred SLEDDA SLEDDA the tenth from Woden is generally esteemed the first founder of the East-Saxon Kingdom though some following Huntington give the honour to Erchenwine his Father of whom nevertheless they tell us nothing saving his Name and Pedigree relating neither the number of his Forces the place of his landing or so much as the least encounter with the Britains In the same obscurity we might have passed over Sledda his Son had he not ennobled himself by the marriagt of Ricula Daughter of Emerick King of Kent and Sister to Ethelbert the first Christian Prince and Great Monarch of the English-men And indeed the whole transactions of this Province seem all along to have been redeemed from oblivion not by the glory or worth of its Princes or the greatness of its own proper atchievments but by the conjunction is had with other Kingdoms more powerful and the lustre it borrowed from neighbouring Princes with whom it was often linked in action In its beginning it was tributary to Kent and received its Protection from thence and this is the reason I have placed it next in order and though afterwards it came to be in a manner absolute yet it never rose to that height as to have one Monarch that could pretend to give Laws to other Kingdoms of the Saxons as all the rest at one time or another did It was bounded on the East with the Sea on the South with the Thames on the West with the Colne on the North with the River Stour But these two latter limits often varied according to the encroachments of the Mercians made upon them in the West and the East-Angles and those of Northumberland on the North. Neither is the time of the beginning of this Kingdom more certain some place it as high as the year 516 under Erchinwin others eleven years after in the year 527 and the fifteenth of Oisc second King of Kent Some begin it at the first year of this Sledda's Reign which they will have to be in the year 587 but leaving them in their Disagreement I shall begin the computation of this Kingdom from the death of Sledda who having reigned without any actions recorded the space of many years departed this life Anno 596 leaving issue Sebert and Segebald SEBERT SEBERT the eldest Son of Sledda succeeded his Father nothing more famous than he saving that he was the first introducer of the Christian Faith into this Province He was converted at the perswasions of his Uncle Ethelbert and the preaching of Melitus afterwards Bishop of London and received Baptism at his hands in his chief City of London where by the assistance of King Ethelbert then chief Monarch of the English-men he founded a stately Church or rather repaired and enlarged the old Structure dedicating it to the honour of St. Paul constituting it the Cuthedral of the See of London This Church Ethelbert then present endowed with good possessions as in his Grant to Melitus is evident by this following Record AETHELBERT Rex
Deo Inspirante pro animae suae remedio dedit Episcopo Melito terram quae appellatur Tillingham ad Monasterium sive solatium scilicet Sancti Pauli Et ego Rex AETHELBERT ita firmiter concedo tibi Praesuli Melito potestatem ejus habendi possidendi ut in perpetuum in Monasterii utilitate permaneat c. Afterwards these two Princes founded the Church of St. Peters on the west of London at a place called Thorney where there stood a Ruinous structure built as the report goes by King Lucius upon the foundations of a Temple of Diana Here Sebert after thirteen years Reign was interred as likewise his Wife Anthelgoda more to be commended if he had laid the foundation of Christian Religion in the hearts of his Children as he had done in sticks and stones but dying his three Sons SERED SEWARD and SIGIBERT jumpt all at once into the Throne three heady and ungracious Princes for their Father was no sooner laid in the earth but they cast off publickly the Christian Religion and did open spight to its Professors Take the Relation from Bede Sebert departing this life to a better left his Kingdom to his three Sons who immediately returned to the open profession of Idolatry which during their Father's life they had partly dissembled and by publick allowance encouraged their Subjects in the worship of Idols when they saw the Bishop celebrating of Mass in the Church and delivering the Host to the people they haughtily demanded as report goes and with as much folly as impiety Why reach you not out the glittering Bread to us as well as you used to do to our Father Suaba for so in derision they called him and still continue to give unto the people To whom the Bishop made this Answer If you will be washed in the same fountain of life as your Father was you may also be partaker of the same Holy Bread But they persisting in their demands and the Bishop resolutely refusing they in great passion and fury banisht him their Kingdom who there-upon returned into Kent which at that time under Eadbald was in the same plight and afterwards passed into France with Justus then Bishop of Rochester But divine Vengeance suffered not long their impiety to go unpunished For going out to War against the West Saxons they were all cut off by the sword But nevertheless though the Authors of this Apostacy were taken away yet the people could not for some time be brought to embrace the Christian Religion Seward left Issue Sigibert SIGIBERT the First SIGIBERT Sirnamed the Little the Son of Seward the second Son of Sebert succeeded his Father in the Kingdom he hath left nothing behind him of his Reign so that he might be stiled the Little as well for his Actions as his Person He left a Son named Sighere and a Brother called Sebba but neither of them immediately succeeded him SIGIBERT the Second SIGIBERT the second of that name the Son of Segebald the Brother of Sebert reigned next in the Kingdom of the East-Saxons At his first coming to the Crown he was a Pagan with all his People but was at length converted by the ardent perswasions of OSWY King of Northumberland with whom he had contracted a near intimacy resorting often to the Court of that Prince to visit him Oswy who wisely knew how to improve the kindness of his Friend for the advantage of his Soul at last by friendly endearments at his own Palace upon the Wall brought him to Baptism which he received at the hands of Finnan a Bishop Being to return into his own Country he desired that some Preacher might be sent with him to instruct his People in the Religion which he himself had received Oswy to satisfie his just Requests chooseth one Gedda a laborious Pastor then residing in the Country of the Mercians to go along with him who coming into the Country of the East-Saxons by the help of others joyned with him in the Ministry so wrought upon the People committed to his charge that the Gospel of Christ daily increased more and more throughout the whole Province Gedda as a reward of his labours and to gain more Authority to his preaching was afterwards by Finnan at Lindesfern created Bishop of the East-Saxons which office he executed with great commendation for the space of many years ordaining Priests and Deacons for his assistance and Baptizing in all parts but especially at Ithancester and Tilbury Whilst these things were doing Sigibert who still continued stedfast in Religion was almost barbarously slain by the conspiracy of two of his Kinsmen who were attending of his person Being demanded after the Murther what it was that moved them to an act so foul and treasonable it is reported they returned this savage Answer That they had killed him for his easiness of Temper in forgiving Injuries and pardoning his enemies whenever they askt it Some have attributed his death to the judgment of God upon him for his disregarding the Censures of the Church and they give us this Relation One of these Earls that flew him had unlawfully married a Wife and being admonisht thereof refused notwithstanding to put her away for which sin being excommunicated but still continuing obstinate it was strictly forbidden under pain of the same Censure for any one to come under his Roof much less to eat or drink with him Notwithstanding this Sentence the King invited to a Banquet goes to his House but in his return meeting the Bishop he was struck with remorse and lighting from his Horse fell at his feet begging pardon for his offence It is said that the Bishop also alighting came up to the King and touching his head with his rod spake these words in the Authority of a Bishop Because thou wouldst not refrain from entring the House of the accursed in the same House shalt thou die And so indeed it came to pass This Gedda going afterwards to visit his Native Country of Northumberland upon the motion of King Ediswald there Reigning founded the Monastery of Lustinghem which he consecrated with Fasting and Prayer Sigibert is said to have Reigned fourteen years he left behind him a Son named Selred but the Crown fell not to him immediately after his Father's death but he followed many others who wore it before him SWITHELM SWITHELM the Brother of Segibert succeeded him in the Province of the East-Saxons we hear nothing of him but the course of his Christianity being baptized by Gedda in the Province of the East-Angles at a place of the Kings called Rendelsham Ediswald the Brother of King Anna and King of the East-Angles receiving him at the Font SIGHERE SIGHERE and SEBBA after the death of Swithelm took joyntly on them the government of the State the former was the Son of Sigibert the Little the latter his Brother They divided the Province into two Governments each of which they ruled distinctly In the beginning of their Reign there was
Authors give no account contented to satisfie us in the Nobility of his extraction But however he came to wear the Dignity he is certainly reported worthy of it being invincible in War and in Peace tempering the awe of Majesty with a natural sweetness and humanity with which Princely qualities he Reigned fourteen years some say but twelve during which time he built the Castle or Town of Bebanburg or Bamburg which he first fenced with Pales aad afterwards encompast with a Stone-wall He had twelve Sons half by Wives half by Concubines His Legitimate were as Huntington reporteth Adda Bealric Thedric Ethelric Osmer and Thedred Illegitimate Oga Ecca Oswald Ailric Soge and Sogother who saith Matthew of Westminster arrived at Flemuburg in fourty ships and assisted their Father in many of his Wars The bounds of this Kingdom began in the South at the River Tine and extended to the North as far as the Frith of Edenborough and Dunbritton ELLA ABOUT this time namely in the year 561. 〈◊〉 Prince the twelfth from Woden but by another Line follow 〈◊〉 example of lda erected another Kingdom in 〈◊〉 the bounds whereof reached from the Humber to the River Tine He reigned thirty years and left a Son called Edwin and a Daughter named Acca but after his death the Kingdom was seized by the race of lda who taking advantage of the Childhood of Edwin kept him from the Crown and annext the whole Territory to their own Dominion ETHELRIC ETHELRIC the only Son of lda surviving after his Brothers and Kinsmen had reigned without other Memory in Bernicia came to the Crown in his old age Nothing of him memorable is recorded and 〈◊〉 writeth that had it not been for the lustre of his Son succeeding him he might utterly have been forgotten however we must not pass over that during his Reign Edwin the lawful King of Deira enjoyed not that Crown but whether Ethelric usurped his right or only managed the state during his Minority is left uncertain but sure it is that he held both the Provinces and so left them to his Son and Successour Edelfrid who resolved to keep what his Father left him though never so unjustly EDELFRID EDELFRID sir named the wild succeeded in his Father's Kingdom of Northumberland a Prince valiant and thirsty of Renown and some describe him a Lover of War for War's sake only None of the Saxons ever wasted the Britains so much as he whose Countries he either peopled with his own Nation or made Tributary to him Edan King of the bordering Scots jealous of his success raiseth a mighty Army and invades his Kingdom whom Edelfrid meeting at a place called Degsastone in a set Battel totally discomfits and with such slaughter that Bede writes none of the Scotish Kings to his days durst ever after in hostile manner pass into Britain But the Victory was not obtained without great loss on the Saxons side also for Theobald the Kings Brother and that wing which he commanded was unfortunately cut off After this he turned his Arms against the Britains moved thereunto as some report by the instigation of Ethelbert King of Kent at the request of St. Augustine because the Britains refused obedience to his Authority but the whole course of this action I have before related in the life of Ethelbert King of Kent But Edelfrid growth so famous abroad began to be disquleted with Jealousies at home he knew the Title Edwin had to half his Dominions and though he had made some amends for his Injustice to that Prince in marrying of his Sister Acca yet for all that he could not be sure of his affection and never rested till he drove him out of his Government who wandring from place to place was at last enrertained in the Court of Redwald then King of the East-Angles Edelfrid informed of his kind reception with that Prince grows incensed thereat and sends his Embassadours to have him delivered into his hands or else declares open War Redwald at his Message at first somewhat startled but at length yielding is disswaded from it by his Wife who laid before him the inviolable Laws of Hospitality and how pitiful and mean a thing it was for the menaces of an Enemy to betray his friend to whom he had sworn protection upbraided with his weakness Redwald to make amends not only refuses to deliver him but resolves to maintain his Cause and to be before-hand with Edelfrid with an Army suddenly raised he comes upon him little dreaming of an Invasion and in a fight near the River Idle easily dissipates those forces he had collected together and in the same Battel slays Edelfrid himself who yet dyed not unrevenged For to shew that it was the Errour of his fortune not valour that he lost the day with his own hands he slew Reiner the Kings Son Thus died Edilfrid after he had reigned victoriously for the space of twenty two years to whom Bede applies the saying of Jacob to Benjamin That like a ravening Wolf he devoured his prey in the morning and divided the spoil in the evening His three Sons were conveyed into Scotland by their Mother Acca not daring to trust the good nature and generosity of Edwin whom their Father had so injuriously offended EDWIN EDWIN the Son of Ella established in his Kingdom by the assistance of Redwald the East-Angle as hath been related extended his Dominions further than any King of Northumberland had done before him for Eanfrid Oswald and Oswy the Sons of the late Edilfrid flying into Scotland left the Province of Bernicia absolute to his disposal But besides this addition to his Paternal right partly by Conquest and partly by Resignation he annexed to his Territory the Counties of Durham Chester and Lancashire subduing all both British and English ar far as the Mevanian Islands Anglesey and Man all which he either new planted or made Tributary to him He had not regined above six years when Redwald the chief Monarch then of the English-men departed this life leaving his Son Earpwald to succeed him in the Kingdom of the East-Angles Him Edwin though intreated himself to accept of the Government seated in the Throne of his Fathers contented with the same acknowledgments from him as he received from the rest of the Saxon Provinces Kent only excepted namely some small confessions of Power and the owning of his supreme governance Having thus well established all things round about him he sends to Eadbold Son of Ethelbert then reigning in Kent to desire his Sister in marriage But by his Embassadours he receives this Answer That the Christian Law did not permit them to give their Daughters unto Pagans Edwin whose business was Love not Religion replies that that ought not to be any hinderance for the free exercise of her own waies in her own Family with all the Rites and Ceremonies belonging thereunto should be left entire to her disposal and if upon due examination he found the Christian Law
twelve daies this murther dying as some report for grief having not long before foretold the death of that Prince upon this account because he was a man the World was not worthy of being an Humble King Aidan was buried in the Isle of Lindesfarn and Finan succeeded him in that See This fact of King Oswy was odious to all and therefore to explate the guilt a Monastery was erected upon the place where the murther was committed and prayers daily offered for the Souls of both Kings the slayer and the slain But notwithstanding Oswyn was thus removed the Kingdom of Deira or part of it was seized by Ethelwald the Son of King Oswald But Oswy was still infested with the incursions of King Penda and had long endured many sore devastations Once he had almost lost his strongest City Bebanburge now Bamborow Castle which Penda with fire and sword had assaulted And now weary of continual standing on his defence he resolves if possible by any means to buy his Peace and to that end sends large gifts and presents to Penda with humble suit desiring League and Amity But these being with scorn refused he prepares for War and first imploring divine assistance if God would grant him Victory he vows his Daughter a Nun and twelve Lordships for the building of Monasteries which done he raises an Army and meets Penda at a place called Loyden now Leeds in Yorkshire The Army of Penda as is reported exceeded Oswy's thirty times over and was commanded by expert Captains nevertheless they were utterly routed and put to flight and many of them swallowed up in the River Winwed which at that time was unusually swelled with Rains Penda himself was slain in the battel and Ethelhere King of the East-Angles the contriver of the War Ethelwald the Son of Oswald was in the field upon the Mercian side and is said to have been the cause of their desear for withdrawing his Forces at the first Onset and meaning to expect the event he discouraged the Mercians who misdoubted there was treachery in it The death of Penda was received with great joy through all the neighbouring Provinces as the Song witnesseth At the River Winwed Anna was Avenged Oswy after this Victory enters Mercia with an Army which he presently reduced to his obedience but unto Peada the Son of Penda as his near Kinsman he gave the Principality of the South Mercians containing five thousand Families and separate from the 〈◊〉 Mercians by the River Trent 〈◊〉 But him slain by the treachery of his wife 〈◊〉 and Eadbert three Mercian Earls set up Vulfer and fling off the Government of Oswy who was now employed in a Pictish War and had subdued the greatest part of that Nation This Oswy had in him a strange mixture of Vertues and Vices in his beginning bloody and tyrannous towards his latter end just and moderate Highly addicted he was to Roman Superstitions and resolved a Pilgrimage thither had not he been taken off by death for in the twenty eighth year of his Reign and fifty eighth of his Age he departed this life having vowed that Journey as some write to expiate the murther of King Oswyn Under this Oswy was held a Councel about the observation of Easter which because it is much celebrated by all our Writers I shall put it down as it is originally related The Synod of Streanshalch now Whitby at the request of Hilda Abbess of that place under Oswy the Father and Alchfrid the Son Kings of Northumberland in the year of Christ 664. In which is controverted the Celebration of Easter and other Ecclesiastical Rites There being present on the side of the Romans and English King Alchfrid the Son Agilbert Bishop of the West-Saxons Abbot Wilfrid Agatho Presbyter James a Deacon and Romanus On the side of the Scots and Britains King Oswy the Father Colmanne Bishop of Lindisfarne with other Scottish Bishops Cedda Bishop of the East Saxons Hilda Abbess of Streanshalch with a great many others of the Clergy on both sides Bede's Preface to this Synod IN these times was startled a common and great question concerning the observation of Easter Those that came from Kent or Gaul affirming that the Scots keep the Lord's day of Easter contrary to the custom of the Catholick Church Among these was one Romanus by name a stiff defender of the true Easter by Nation a Scot but had learned the true rules Ecclesiastick in Gaul or the Confines of Italy who disputing with one Finan made many sensible of their errour or at least perswaded them to a deeper search into the truth but he could not in the least stir Finan who being of a fiery nature was rather made worse by his instructions and an open enemy to truth But James formerly Deacon under the worshipful Archbishop Paulinus observed the true and Catholick Easter with those whom he had taught the true and correct way Queen Eanfeld also observed it with her houshold according to what she had seen performed in Kent having with her a Priest from Kent named Romanus of the Catholick opinion from whence they report in those daies it sometimes happened that Easter should be kept twice in one year For when the King 's Lent being done was keeping Easter then the Queen with hers Lent with them not being yet ended was celebrating Palm-Sunday But this different observancy of Easter Aidan living was patiently born with by all men who understood thus much That though he could not celebrate Easter contrary to the custom of those that had sent him yet he took care that the works of faith charity and love in which all Saints agree should be diligently performed so that he was deservedly beloved by all men nay even of those that thought otherwise of Easter and was not only respected by the meaner sort but by Bishops themselves Honorius of Canterbury and Foelix of the East-Angles But Finan being dead who succeeded Aidan when Colman came into the Bishoprick for he also was sent from Scotland there arose a more solemn controversie concerning the observing of Easter and other Precepts relating to an Ecclesiastical life so that this question justly moved the hearts of many lest peradventure the name of Christianity being only retained they should run or had run in vain It came at last to the ears of the Court to wit of King Oswy and his Son Alchfrid for Oswy was taught and baptized by the Scots and was well skilled in their Language and esteemed nothing truer than what they had taught him But Alchfrid had for his Instructour in Christianity Wilfrid a right learned man who had made a Journy to Rome on purpose to learn of the Law Ecclesiastick and had lived many years with Dalphin Archbishop of Lions in Gaul from whom he had received the right custom of Church-shaving He therefore thought this Man's Doctrine to be preferred before all the Traditions of the Scots for which reason he had lately given him a Monastery of
fourty Families in the place which is called Humpum which place he had given a little before for a Monastery to those of the Scottish perswasion But because they afterward of their own accord chose rather to relinquish the place than alter their Customs he gave it to him whose Doctrine and Life was worthy of it About this time came Agilbert Bishop of the West-Saxons a great friend of King Alchfrid's and of Abbot Wilfrid to a Province of the Northnmbers and continued sometime among them who made Wilfrid at the request of Alchfrid Presbyter in his said Monastery but he had with himself a Presbyter named Agatho The question therefore of Easter Shaving or other Ecclestastical Rites being there moved it was ordered that in the Monastery which is called Strensalth which is interpreted Sinus fari over which at that time Hilda the Abbess a Woman devoted to God was Governess a Synod should be called and this question determined Both Kings came thither viz. Father and Son Bishops Colman with his Clergy of Scotland Agilbert with the Presbyters Agatho and Wilfrid James and Romanus were on this side Abbess Hilda with hers on the Scotish Party on which side also was the worshipful Bishop Chad not long before ordained Bishop of the Scots who also was a diligent Interpeter on both sides in that Councel First King Oswy by a short Speech opened the Assembly saying that they which served one God ought to observe but one Rule of Living neither to differ in the celebration of the heavenly Sacraments who all expected but one Kingdom in the Heavens they ought more especially to enquire which was the truest Tradition and all with one consent to follow that He commanded his Bishop Colman to speak first what had been the Custom and from whence that had its Original which he followed Then Colman The Easter said he which I am wont to keep I received from my Ancestors who sent me Bishop hither which all our Fathers men beloved of God are well known to have celebrated the same way which that it may not be contemned and rejected by any 't is the very same which the blessed Evangelist John a Disciple particularly beloved by our Lord is said to have celebrated in all Churches which he governed After he had said this and more to the same purpose the King commanded Agilbert to relate and set forth from whence the Custom he observed had its beginning and by what Authority he followed it Agilbert made Answer I desire that my Disciple Wilfrid the Presbyter may speak in my stead because we both have the same Sentiments with the other followers of Ecclesiastical Tradition that are here present for he can explain it more clearly and better in the English Tongue than I by an Interpreter Then Wilfrid the King commanding him to speak began thus The Easter which we follow said he we have seen celebrated by every body at Rome where the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul lived taught suffered and were buried This we have seen observed in Gaul most of which we have travelled through either teaching or praying This we know is performed in Africa Asia Egypt Greece and in all the World wheresoever the Church of Christ is spread through divers Nations and Languages at one and the same and not distinct order of time except these only and their Accomplices in their obstinacy I mean the Picts and Britains lying in the utmost Islands of the Ocean nor all those neither who by foolish endeavours strive against all the World As he spake this Coleman answered I wonder why you should style our endeavours vain and foolish in which we follow the Example of so great an Apostle who was found worthy to lye in the bosom of our Saviour and since it is well known that the whole World is satisfied in his Wisdom Then Wilfrid God forbid that we should accuse St. John of folly when he observed the precepts of Moses his Law according to the Letter the Church as yet Judaizing in many things Neither were the Apostles on a sudden able to abolish all Observances of the Law which was instituted by God as it was necessary that all which come to the Faith should reject Images which was an invention of Divels viz. lest they might offend those Jews which were dispersed among the Gentiles On this account it is that Paul circumcised Timothy that he offered Sacrifices in the Temple that with Aquila and Priscilla he shore the head of Chorinthus profitable to no other end but avoiding the offending the Jews You see Brother how many thousands there were among the Jews which believed all which were followers of the Law neither to this very day the Gospel beginning to shine all over the World is it necessary or lawful for the faithful to be circumcised or to offer up fleshly sacrifices to God Therefore John according to the manner of the Law began the celebration of the Paschal Feast about Evening on the fourteenth day of the first Month not valuing whether it fell out on the Sabbath or any other Festival But Peter when he preached at Rome mindsul that the Lord rose from the dead on the first day of the Sabbath and gave to the World hopes of a Resurrection understood it so to be celebrated that according to the Custom and Precept of the Law he should always expect the fourteenth Moon of the first Month even as St. John rising at Evening and that being risen if the Lord's day which then was called the first of the Sabbath should happen in the Morning he began to celebrate the Lord's Easter that very Evening as we all do at this day But if the Lord's day happen not on the next Morning after the fourteenth Moon but the sixteenth seventeenth or any other Moon take the twenty first He waited for it and the preceding Sabbath in the Evening he began the Holy Solemnities of Easter so it came to pass that the Lord's day of Easter was not kept unless from the fifteenth day to the twenty first Neither does this Evangelical and Apostolical Tradition diminish from the Law but rather fulfils it in which 't is observable that Easter was commanded from the fourteenth of the first Month at Evening to the twenty first Moon of the same Month at Evening which observation all St. John's Successors in Asia after his death and the whole Church throughout the World were inclined to follow And that this is the true Easter and that this ought only to be celebrated by the faithful is confirmed by the Nicene Councel not lately established as Ecclesiastical History informs us whence it plainly appears O Colman that ye do not follow the Example of John as ye think neither in the Observation of your Easter do you agree with the Tradition of St. Peter which wittingly you contradict nor with the Law nor with the Gospel for John keeping Easter time according to the Decrees of the Mosaick Law observed not the first
EGFRID eldest Son of King Oswy by his wife Eanfled succeeded his Father in the Kingdom A Prince as he is reported of an unquiet disposition His first wars were with Ethelred King of Mercia who had married his Sister with whom encountring by the River Trent he lost great part of his Army and his Brother Elswin a youth generally beloved who amongst the thickset was there unfortunately cut off Greater bloodshed had like to have ensued had not Theodorus Archbishop of York interposed and took up the quarrel so that a sum of mony being paid to Egfrid for the loss of his Brother the business was happily concluded His next wars were with the Irish a Nation saith Bede harmless and great friends to the English These he unprovoked furiously invades making no distinction between things holy or profane but with fire and sword laid waste the Country and buried it in the Ruines of its Cities Temples and Monasteries The Irish on the other side used no other weapons but Prayers and as my Author has it bitter Imprecations which may be supposed at last to have reached Heaven it self for the next year against the counsel and earnest perswasion of his sagest Friends and especially Cudbert the Bishop going to wars against the Picts he was trained into narrow straits by the Enemy and there cut off with most part of his Army This was so great a blow to the English that not only the Scots and Picts who before durst not look beyond their own Country but the Britains also began to bear up for Liberty and yearly to gain upon their old enemies This King took to wife Ethildrith Daughter of Anna King of the East-Angles she had been wife to Eunbert Prince of the Gervii a Nation lying in the Fens but notwithstanding marriage had kept her Virginity Nor did her second Nuptials with a King make her in the least alter her resolution and though invited to his Bed sometimes by passionate entreaties otherwhiles by perswasions of her friends who were made privy to it yet she continued obstinate contrary to the Apostle's Rule the dictates of Nature it self which at one time abhors communion and separation and against the Laws of common prudence and civility And all this to pursue an extravagant chastity and a purity of living against all other obligations whatsoever however she be cannonized St. Andrey of Ely where it seems leaving her Husband she ended her daies ALKFRYD ALKFRYD the natural Son of King Oswy during the Reign of his half Brother had retired into Ireland where he was well instructed in the Liberal Sciences and as Bede saith exceedingly well read in the Scriptures Advanced to the Crown he wore it with much prudence and moderation but the bounds of his Kingdom were much straitned by the inroads of the Picts and encroachments of the Britains But what he wanted in extent of Dominion he made up in the prudent management of what he had He married Kenburg Daughter of Penda the Mercian by whom he had an only Son that succeeded him he ruled twenty years OSRED OSRED the Son of Alkfrid was eight years of age when he came to the Crown but he was no sooner grown up to any ripeness but he gave himself to all viciousness of life committing Incest with veiled Nuns for which his wife Cuthburga weary of her own dishonour sued a divorce and built a Monastery at Winburn in Dorsetshire where she ended her daies But Osred lived not long after her departure for he was slain by his own Relations Kenred and Osric in the eleventh year of his Reign KENRED KENRED descended from Ida by a Bastard-line and succeeded Osred in the Kingdom of Northumberland his Reign is short being only of two years continuance during which time he left nothing memorable behind him OSRIC OSRIC Reigned ten years without memory of Acts Parentage Wife or Issue CEOLNULF CEOLNULF the Brother of Kenred Ruled the space of eight years when changing his Crown for a Cowl he turned Monk in Lindisfarn or Holy Island yet he proved none of the severest for he brought his Brethren from Milk and Water to drink good Wine and Ale bringing along with him good store of provisions and great Treasures by Simeon and all as the same Author writes to follow poor Christ. To him Bede dedicates his History but writes no more of him but that the beginning and process of his Reign met with many troubles and that the conclusion of them was doubtfully expected And this is the time of Peace so much commended by the foresaid Author when Princes Queens and Nobility forsaking their charges and other duties incumbent run themselves into Monasteries striving who should be foremost as if no salvation was to be obtained but in Cells and Cloysters His Brother was Archbishop of York and there founded a stately Library EGBERT EGBERT Nephew to King Ceolnulf succeeded in the Kingdom Whilst he was in wars against the Picts Ethelbald the Mercian taking advantage of his absence invaded part of Northumberland but upon what account or how revenged is not related In these Pictish Wars Egbert subdued Kyle and brought the Countries adjacent to it under his obedience Afterwards in the year 756 he joyns battel with Unust King of the Picts besieged and took by surrender the City Alcluith now Dunbritton in Lennox from the Britains of Cumberland and ten daies after lost his whole Army about Niwanbirig when resolving to lay down his Government though intreated to the contrary by his Subjects and Neighbouring Princes who profered to make good to him his losses by surrendring great Territories to him after the example of his Uncle turned Monk when he had Reigned twenty years About these times happened two extraordinary Eclipses one of the Sun in September Anno 733 the other of the Moon Anno 756. OSWULF OSWULF Son of Egbert succeeded his Father but in the same year was slain of his Servants at a place called Mikelwoughten ETHELWALD ETHELWALD sirnamed Mollo after the death of Oswulf was advanced to the Crown In his third year he fought a great battel at Eldune by Melros slew Oswyn a great Lord who rebelled against him and gained an absolute Victory but three years after he was slain by Alcred who succeeded him ALCRED ALCRED descended in the fifth degree from Ida King of Bernicia after the murther of his Soveraign seized the Kingdom of Northumberland In the fourth year of this King's Reign Cataracton now Catarik in Yorkshire a famous City in the time of the Romans was burnt to the ground by one Arnred a Tyrant who the same year came to the like end I should think that this Arnred might be Alcred did not others report that he Reigned five years Afterwards when driven out by his Subjects with a few Attendants he fled first to Bebba a strong Castle in those parts thence to Kinot King of the Picts He left Issue Osred who afterwards came to be
obtained that the Primacy of England was translated from Canterbury to Litchfield in his own Dominions He obtained of Charles the Great that the English going to Rome should be free from Customes and other duties With Charles the Great during his whole Reign he had great intercourse sometimes enmity otherwhiles friendship as appears by the kind Letters of that Emperour written to him yet extant wherein he stiles him the MOST POTENT KING OF THE WEST CHRISTIANS And now about this time were Images first brought into the English Church to be worshipped for Charles the Great sent the decrees of the Synod of Nice into Britain of which hear what Hoveden writes wherein saith he Alas for pity by the unanimous consent of three hundred Bishops or more met together in that Councel were decreed many things inconvenient may quite contrary to the true Faith as is most especially the worshipping of Images which the Church of God doth absolutely hate Against which Book Albinus wrote an Epistle excellently well strengthned with the Authority of the Holy Scriptures which together with the aforesaid Book himself presented in the name of the Princes and Bishops of this Land unto the aforesaid Charles King of France Which Book is reported to have so worked with that Emperour that in the Synod of Frankford he caused those Constitutions to be repealed This Offa to keep the Britains from making inrode into his Country caused a Ditch or Trench to be made almost an hundred miles in length from Sea to Sea that is from the mouth of the River Wy unto Dee concerning which in after daies John of Salisbury in his Policration writeth thus Herald ordained a Law that what Welch-man soever should be found with a weapon on this side the limit which he had set them that is to say Offa's Dike he should have his Right hand cut off by the King's Officers The Issue of King Offa was Fgfrid his Son and Successour Ethelburga married to Birthric King of the West-Saxons of whose life and death you will read in the next Kingdom Elsled supposed second wife of Ethelred King of Northumberland Elsrid the youngest Daughter promised in marriage to Egilbert King of the East-Angles EGFRID EGFRID the Son of Offa had in his life time been made Partner with his Father in the Kingdom and as if his life had been woven up with his he survived him but four Months having given his Subjects the hopes of a longer Reign he restored to the Church whatever his Father and Predecessours had taken from them He had neither Wife nor Issue and was buried in the Church of St. Albans of his Father's foundation KENWOLF KENWOLF of the Royal blood succeeded Egfrid in the Kingdom he had Wars with Ethelbert sirnamed Pren King of Kent whom taking prisoner he brought into Mercia and soon after at the High Altar dismissed having as Simeon reports put out his eyes and lopt off his hands He Reigned twenty one years and was buried in the Monastery of Winchcomb which himself had founded KENELM KENELM the Son of Kenwolf a Child of seven years was left under the Tuition of his elder Sister Quendrid but she ambitious to Rule her self caused him to be made away by one Askbert who alluring him to the Woods on pretence to hunt there slew him and secretly buried his body the murther is said to be miraculously discovered by a Dove dropping a written Note on the Altar at Rome it was this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mr. Milton thus renders it Low in a Mead of Kine under a Thorn Of head bereast ly'th poor Kenelm King-born Soon after the death of this Prince the Kingdom of Mercia became Tributary to Egbert the West-Saxon Monarch though not without some strugling on both sides but the Actions of suceeding Princes in this Kingdom as they were but few and happened all in the life of that Monarch so I shall reserve them to be told there in their due place for in this Heptarchy I design not to write any further than to his daies who by degrees united the divided States and moulded them into one entire Dominion THE KINGDOM OF THE West-SAXONS Contained Counties Cornwall Devonshire Dorcetshire Somersetshire Wiltshire Hantshire Barkshire KINGS Cerdic Kenric Ceaulin Cearlick Ceowlf Kingils Kenwalch Eskwyn Ketwyn Ceadwalla Ina. Ethelard Cuthred Sigibert Kinwulf Birthric CERDIC CERDIC the Tenth in descent from Woden and the Beginner of the West-Saxon Kingdom with five ships and Kenric his Son setting forth from Germany arrived at Britain in the year 495 and landed at a place afterwards called from his name Cerdic-Shore He was an old experienced Souldier and long exercised in the Wars of Saxony At his first setting foot on land he gave signal proofs of his Valour by often repelling the Britains who endeavoured to hinder this New settlement and for six years together without any fresh supplies maintained his ground with advantage about which time Porta another Saxon with his two Sons Bida and Megla in two ships arrive at Portsmouth thence called and at their first landing slay a British Noble man with many of the Common sort who disorderly gathered against them The Britains to redeem these losses with strong Musters though slowly assemble together under Natanleod or Nazaleod a British King and one of their greatest saith Huntington however he came by so unusual a name but are miserably defeated with the death of their Prince and five thousand of his men In this battel it is said that Cerdic was assisted by Ella the South-Saxon and Oisc King of Kent together with Porta who had now been seven years in the Island From this British King the Saxon Annals write that a small Region adjoyning to Cerdicsford was called Nazaleod Six years after Stuf and Withgar Cerdic's Nephews with three ships land at Cerdics-ford or as others say Certic shore and in a set battel overthrow the Britains and five years following if the former battel be not to be referred to this time Cerdic again with his Son obtained another signal Victory upon the gaining of which and the strength of the new supplies he at last assumed Regal Dignity After he had continued conquering in the Isle twenty four years the Saxon Annals report a third Battel fought at the same place but with doubcful success as if this only had been the field of fortune Mr. Cambden in his Chronographical Description of these two places Cerdic shoar and Cerdics-ford hath much confounded the natural course of this History by placing them at so vast a distance which if true can never be reconciled with the truth of these Relations Cerdic shoar be placeth as far as Yarmouth Cerdic a warlike Saxon saith he landed here i. e. at Yarmouth whereupon the Inhabitants at this day call the place Cerdic-sand and the writers of Histories Cerdic shoar and after he had made sore War upon the Icent took Sea and sayled from hence into the West parts
But our Historians make no mention of his ever changing his design or sayling into any other parts after his first landing and I am afraid the Coincidence of like Names honourably to derive a place was the cause of this neat invention for otherwise what reason could there be that he should forsake a Country wherein he had good success and from whence he might easier expect supplies from Saxony to go seek out new Territories further off and where for ought we know he had no reason to expect better quarters or kinder entertainment Let us see therefore where he placeth Cerdics-ford for by the course of the story Cerdic-shoar is not to be sought far from it and we shall find them both on the Coasts of Hantshire Hard by the Western bounds saith Mr. Cambden the River Aven carrieth a still stream and no sooner runneth into this shoar but it meeteth with the Ford of Cerdicus in old time Cerdics-ford afterward Cerdeford and now by Contraction of the word Chardford so named of Cerdic that Warlike English Saxon For here the said Cerdic in a set Battel so daunted the Britains that not only he enlarged the bounds of his Empire but also delivered an easie War unto his Posterity having before time in the year of our Salvation 508 after great Conflicts in his Tract vanquish't the most mighty King of the Britains Natanleod called also Nazaleod by others with many of his people Of whose name likewise a small Region reaching unto this Place was termed Natanleod as we read in the Annals of the English Saxons which I sought very curiously for but hitherto could not find so much as any small sign or sample of that Name neither can I guess who that Natanleod should be This seemeth naturally to be the place where the foresaid Actions were performed for besides the Testimony of the Name the place it self lying at a moderate distance from the South-Saxons new acquests it is reasonable to think that Cerdic would not go much further but rather sit down at such a convenient distance where he might give or receive Assistance as occasion should serve from his Country-men already settled It being therefore granted that this Charford was the ancient Cerdics-ford let us see if we cannot find Cerdic-shoar also upon this Coast. For since his Nephews are said to land at Cerdics-shoar and bring him thither new Supplies after his Battel at Cerdics-ford either Cerdics-shoar must be nigh this Cerdics-ford or else they must land at Cerdics shoar at Yarmouth and so through the Enemies Country march to Cerdics-ford in Hantshire which is fondness to suppose Or lastly the whole action must be laid at Yarmouth which will not suit with the foundation of the Western Kingdom I have sought many places on this Coast of Hantshire but can find none that answer exactly to the name of Cerdic but allowing that Cerdicford as Mr. Cambden says makes Charford we find another place of the same name not far off upon the Sea-side in the Isle of Purbek in Dorsetshire and Norwest of Pool a Town called Charborough as much as Cherdic-borough but herein I desire not to be too fanciful but certain it is by the consent of all our Historians where ever Cerdics-ford lay Cerdics-shoar was not far distant though the name be now worn out and perhaps the places aforementioned as likewise Charmouth by Lime may give some satisfaction that this was the Coast. Mr. Speed with whom nothing would go down of the British History whilst he followed the Light of Mr. Cambden now he is left to himself in the Saxon swallows whatever any fabulous Monk Trivial Legend or his Brother Stow imposeth upon him from them I suppose it is that he reporteth that the Isle of VVight after the Conquest of it by Cerdic was given to his Nephews Stuff and VVithgar the later of which slew the Iahabitants thereof and named the place of his Victory VVithgarbirg and afterwards reigning King there was after his death buried in his Royal City VVithgar This is a reach I suppose whoever was Inventor to derive the name of the Island for in Authentick story we find no such Relation Cerdic had Issue two Sons Kenric and Chelwolf the former succeeded him in the Kingdom Chelwolf died before his Father but left a Son of whose race afterwards sate upon the Throne Cerdic Reigned nineteen years after he had assumed Royal Title and left his Kingdom to his Son Kenric KENRIC KENRIC the eldest Son of Cerdic succeeded his Father in the Kingdom Twice he fought the Britains and foiled them once at Searesbirig now Salisbury in the eighteenth year of his Reign and four years after at Beranvirig now Banbury accompanied with his Son Ceaulin In this field the Britains saith Huntington were divided into three Battalions but the Saxon charged in one main body the success saith he was doubtful on both sides and the night parted them Kenric Reigned twenty seven years and had three Sons Ceaulin Cuthwolf and Cuth the last of which was notable in his Issue for his eldest Son came to be King the second was Father the third Grandfather of a King as in the following History will appear CEAULIN CEAULIN the eldest Son of Kenric his Father dead entered upon the Kingdom In the beginning of his Reign he employed his Arms against young Ethelbert of Kent who as hath been related aspired to an universal Monarchy and forced him to sit down quiet with the harassing of his Country and the death of two of his chief Earls In his tenth year he managed his Wars by his Brother Cuthwolf who encountering the Britains at Bedanford now Bedford gave them a great defeat and took four Towns from them Liganborough Egelsborough or Allsbury Besington now Benson in Oxfordshire and Ignesham or Evesham but he out-lived not long his good success but left a Son behind him who succeeded his Uncle in the Kingdom Cuthwolf dead Ceaulin in person with his Son Cuthwin undertakes the War and about the year 581 at a place called Diorth Deorrham in Glocestershire he obtains a great Victory slaying in one battel three British Kings Coinmagil Condidan and Farimnagil which good success was attended with the surrender of as many Cities Badencester Glocester and Cireneester About five years after at a place called Fedanly or Fechanly possibly about Fekenham Forest in Worcestershire he again met the Britains but not with like success for Matthew of Westminster giveth a clear Victory to the Britains and Huntington alloweth the beginning of the day to be theirs for with the death of Cuthwin the Saxons were wholly put to rout but Ceaulin rallying his scattered Forces not only put stop to the pursuit but as that Author writeth recovered an intire Victory with the purchase over and above of many Towns and large Territories But the sequel declareth nothing less for the same year or not long after we find the Britains again giving him battel and that in Wiltshire at
a place called Wodens-Beorth or Wodens-Dic that is to say Woden's Mount the conclusion of which was that the Saxons lost the day with the ruine of their whole Army and Ceaulin for this or other miscarriages was driven out of his Kingdom and the year after died in Exile after he had Reigned thirty two years CEARLIK CEARLIK the Son of Guthwolf Brother of the late King followed his Uncle Ceaulin advanced as may be guessed from his Father's vertues and the dislike the people had to the Line of Ceaulin who by his Son Cuthwin left two Grandchildren Kenbald and Cuth whose Right it was to inherit but the latter of these Reigned afterwards in his Posterity being the Grandfather of the famous Ine the eleventh King of this Province whose Brother Ingils was Progenitor in the fourth degree to Egbert that reduced the whole Heptarchy into an entire Monarchy This Cearlik as he had obtained the Kingdom by fraud and usurpation so he held it but a short while Reigning five years and odd months and them without any action worthy of remembrance CEOWOLF CEOWOLF the Son of Cuth the third and youngest Son of Kenric after the death of his Cousin-German Cearlic obtained the Kingdom During the whole time of his Reign which lasted twelve years he had continual wars sometimes with the Britains then with Redwald King of the East-Angles and afterwards with the South-Saxons with interchangeable success but saith Huntington with the greatest loss to them of the South In these Wars he died leaving his Kingdom to Kingils KINGILS KINGILS the Son of Ceola younger Brother to the late Ceowolf second Son of Cuth who was the third Son of Kearic succeeded his Uncle in the Kingdom He assumed for his Associate Cuichelm his Brother or as Florent of Worcester and Matthew of Westminster write his Son In their third year with joynt Forces they engaged the Britains at Beandune now Bindon in Dorcetshire and at the first encounter put them to flight with the slaughter of above two thousand Cuichelm proud with this success and envying the glory of Edwin who now Reigned in great honour King of the Northumberlands and had lately molested the West-Saxons drew a greater War upon himself and Associate by sending an Assassin to murther that Prince The name of this Villain was Eumcrus who under pretence of a Message from his Master was admitted to the presence of Edwin then at his Court on Easter-monday on the River Derwent in Yorkshire being advanced up to the King as if he would deliver his Embassie he suddenly drew forth a poysoned weapon which he had privately hid under his Coat and made a blow at him but by the interposition of Lilla one of the Kings Attendants who stepping between received the Ponyard through his own body the thrust was put off yet not so fully but that part of the weapon reached the King's Person By this time the whole company came in and incompassed the Murtherer who now grown desperate died not tamely but revenged his fate with the death of Forder a Courtier who next pressed upon him Edwin thus delivered though lying under cure resolves upon Revenge and promiseth Paulinus who had been long working him to the Christian Faith that if God would bestow Victory on him over his Enemies he would embrace the Faith and receive Baptism With these assurances given he raises an Army and invades the West-Saxons and with that success that overcoming them in several battels he gets into his hands many of those who had conspired his death some of which he executes others pardons and at last returns with great Honour into his own Country This expedition happened about the year 625. Four years after Kingils and Cuichelm had a battel with Penda the Mercian at Cirencester the result of which was a League of peace and amity betwixt them About this time the Kingdom of the West-Saxons received the Faith by the example of Kingils who was converted thereto by the preaching of Berinus and encouragement of Oswald who was then Suiter to his Daughter and received him at the Font the circumstances of which as likewise the progress of Religion under his success take altogether out of Bede who hath exactly related it The Conversion of the West-SAXONS THE Nation of the West-Saxons anciently called Gevisses in the Reign of Kingils received the Faith of Christ by the preaching of Berinus Bishop who by the advice of Pope Honorius came into Britain having promised by his assistance to go into the innermost Countries of the English where never yet Doctour had been and there sow the seed of holy Faith Whereupon by the command of the same Pope he received Episcopal Orders at the hands of Asterius Bishop of Genua But being arrived at Britain and first setting foot on the Country of the Guisses finding them all Pagans in the highest degree he thought it more profitable to preach the Word there than by going further to hunt out those whom he first intended Wherefore preaching in the aforesaid Province when the King himself first catechized and instructed together with his People were washing in the fountain of Baptism it happened that the most holy and victorious King of the Northumberlands Oswald was then present and received him at the Font. By a blessed conjunction taking him for his Son in the second Birth whose Son himself was to be by the marriage of his Daughter Both the Kings thereupon gave to the same Bishop the City of Dorchester for an Episcopal Seat where having built up and dedicated Churches and by labouring converted many people He departed this life and was buried in the same City This King dying Cenwalch his Son and Successour refused to receive the Faith and Sacraments of the Heavenly kingdom and not long after lost his Earthly one For putting away his wife the sister of Penda King of Mercia he took another wherefore being invaded by him he was driven out of his Kingdom and forced to flie to Anna King of the East-Angles with whom living in exile three years he acknowledged the Faith and embraced the truth For the King with whom he lived in exile was a good man and happy in a good and holy off-spring When Genwalch was restored to his Kingdom there came into his Province out of Ireland a certain Bishop by name Agilbert by Nation a Gaul but yet who had been in Ireland for the reading of the Scriptures not a little while He joyned himself with the King on his own accord taking upon him the Ministry of preaching whose learning and industry when the King perceived he made motion that he would accept there an Episcopal Seat and remain Bishop of his Nation who at his requests for many years ruled that Province with Sacerdotal Jurisdiction At last the King who understood the Saxon tongue only growing weary of a forraign Dialect underhand brought another Bishop of his own language into the Province by name Wini who
had been ordained in France also dividing the Province into two Diocesses To him he gave Winchester for his Episcopal Seat at which Agilbert being highly offended that the King had done this without his advice he returned into France and receiving the Bishoprick of Paris he died there an old man and full of daies But not many years after his departure from Britain Wini was driven out of his Bishoprick by the same King who repairing to Wulfur King of the Mercians bought of him with a good sum the Seat of London and remained Bishop of it during his life So the Province of the West-Saxons for no small time was without a Bishop at which time the forementioned King of that Province being often afflicted with great losses in his Kingdom received of the enemy began to call to mind him whom by fraud he had formerly made forsake the Kingdom and resolved to call him back considering that the Province destitute of a Governour was bereft likewise of Divine protection He sent therefore Embassadours into France to Agilbert promising satisfaction and submissively desiring he would return to the Bishoprick of his Nation But he excusing himself by solemn protestation that he could not possibly come because he was bound to his own City and Diocess yet nevertheless not altogether to be wanting in his assistance to so ardent desires he sent thither a Priest by name Eleutherius his own Nephew whom if he please might be ordained Bishop for him giving him this Testimonial that he himself thought him worthy of the Bishoprick who being honourably entertained by the King and People they sent unto Theodoruc then Archbishop of Canterbury desiring that he might be consecrated their Bishop who being consecrated in that City for many years held alone the Bishoprick of the West-Saxons as it had been ordered by Synodical Decree KENWALCH KENWALCH the Son of Kingils followed his Father in the Kingdom of whom what relates to his Ecclesiastical Affairs hath been before related Having divorced his second wife whom he had unlawfully wedded and retaken Sexburg the Sister of Penda whom he had unjustly put away He enjoyed the Crown in peace for some years even until Anno 652 falling into wars but with whom is not related Ethelwald calls them Civil He fought a battel at Bradanford by the River Alene Mr. Cambden makes the place to be Bradford in Wiltshire upon the River Avon and saith that it was with Cuthred his near Kinsman he was engaged in Civil Wars but I wish he had told us from whence he gathered it for we find no such thing in History Certain it is that not long before Kenwalch had given large possessions to Cuthred but whether it could oblige him to sit down quiet with the loss of a Kingdom is uncertain for no doubt his Title was precedent to Kenwalch's if Cuchelm his Father was eldest Son of Kingils and Stow writeth but upon what grounds I know not that he did really succeed his Father and possibly there may be some Record extant concerning these Troubles not commonly appearing But things being settled at home and Kenwalch desirous to enlarge his Dominions invades the Britains and had a fight with them at a place called Witgornsborough mentioned by Malmsbury but without any other circumstances afterwards at Pennum or Pen in Somersetshire the success of which is not left so doubtful for the Victory was great on the Saxon side who followed the pursuit to a place called Pedridan now Pederton afterwards the Royal Seat of King Ina and the Britains for a long time after would scarce look the Saxons in the face But Kenwalch falling at variance with his old enemy Vulfur had not the like success for fighting with him at Possentesburg though Ethelwerd relates he took Vulfur prisoner yet the Saxon Annals record clear contrary and the sequel shews that Vulfur won the day for not long after he wasted the Country of the West-Saxons as far as Eskesdun and took the Isle of Wight till then in their possession with other Provinces of the Meannuari and gave them to Edilwalch his Godson King of the South-Saxons These are all the memorable Actions of Kenwalch for his good deeds he is reported to have founded the Cathedral of Winchester and the Abby of Malmsbury and as appeareth in a Grant of King Ina afterwards made to the Church he bestowed several priviledges on these places Ferlingmere Beokerey Godein Martinesey Edredesey He reigned 31 years and left no Issue to inherit Sexburg his wife for a while after his death assumed the Government but she was driven out saith Matthew of Westminster by the Nobles who could not endure the government of a Woman Some say she died the same year others that she built a Nunnery in the Isle of Shepy wherein her self was a otress and afterwards became an Abbess of Ely ESKWIN ESKWIN derived in the fifth degree from Kerdic the first founder of this Kingdom of a younger house succeeded Kenwalch He Reigned but two years in which time he fought a battel with Wulfur wherein many of the Saxons on both sides were slain the place was Bidanheaford soon after which he died KETWIN KETWIN younger Son of Kingils whose Right preceded Eskwins and who as Bede and Malmsbury write was Partner with him in the Crown after the death of Eskwin proved the scourge of the Britains pursuing them even to the Sea-shore but no other circumstances are related of him or this action He is allowed nine years Reign In a grant of King Ina to Glastenbury it is reported that this Prince highly favoured that Monastery by freeing it from the secular Services and often calling it the Mother of Saints CEADWALLA CEADWALLA of the blood Royal derived in the third degree from Guth the third Son of Kenric succeeded Ketwin He had been banisht his Country by the prevalency of some faction but returning obtained the Crown He made war upon the South-Saxons whom he overcame and annexed to his own Dominions took the Isle of Wight and twice wasted Kent the circumstances of all which Actions have been formerly related under the Kingdom of Kent and the South-Saxons Afterwards he went to Rome for as yet he was a Pagan to receive Baptism which was given him by the hands of Pope Sergius on Easter eaven in the year of our Redemption saith Bede 689 and was called Peter but on the twentieth day of April following he died and was buried at St. Peter's Church at Rome under a fair Monument with this Epitaph Here CEADWALL otherwise named PETER King of the West-Saxons lieth buried who departed this life the twentieth of April in the second Indiction At the age of thirty years or thereabouts in the fourth year of the Reign of JUSTINIAN the most Noble and Mighty Emperour and the second of Sergius who then sate in Peter's Chair being a true Pattern of the Apostles The British Writers from the similitude of name will needs have
him Bishop Augustine 495 Gregory to Melitus Abbot in France wherein he gives command to be sent to Augustine about the Conversion of that Nation 495 Gregory to Augustine Bishop of the English of the use of the Pall and of the Church of London 496 The Life of S. Augustine first Archbishop of Canterbury 498 Augustine is courteously received at his Arrival into England by Ethelbert King of Kent 500 The Answers of Gregory the Great to the Questions sent by Augustine for the better Government of the new erected Church of English-Saxons 502 A Synod called by Augustine the first Arch-Bishop by the Assistance of Ethelbert King of Kent to Augustine's Ac c. There being present the Roman Clergy seven Bishops many British Doctors First he demands Obedience to the Roman Church and that the Britains be conformable to the Romans in three things first in the Celebration of Easter Secondly in the Administration of Baptism Thirdly in preaching with him to the English-Saxons 509 The Answer of the Abbot of Bangor to Augustine the Monk requiring subjection to the Church of Rome p. 511 Of the famous Monastery of Bangor and the Conference held between Augustine and Dinoth Abbot of that place 513 Eadbald 515 The Epistle of Boniface V. to Justus late Bishop of Rochester now Successour of Melitus in the Archbishoprick of Canterbury 515 Ercombert 516 Egbert ibid. Lothair 517 Edric ib. Wigtred ib. Edbert 519 Ethelbert the Second ibid. Alric ib. Ethelbert the Third ib. Cuthred ib. Baldred ib. The Kingdom of the East-Saxons 521 Sledda ibid. Sebert 522 Sered Seward Sigibert ib. Segibert the First 523 Segibert the Second ib. Swythelme 524 Sighere ib. Offa ib. Selred 525 Suthred ib. The Kingdom of the South-Saxons 527 Ella ib. Cissa 528 Edilwalch 529 The Conversion of the South-Saxons by Wilfrid Archbishop of York ib. The Conversion of the Inhabitants of Wight 530 The Kingdom of Northumberland 533 Ida ibid. Ella 534 Ethelric ib. Edelfrid ib. Edwin 535 Bishop Honorius to Edwin King of the English 537 Osric 538 Eanfrith ib. Oswy 540 The Synod of Streanshalch now Whitby at the request of Hilda Abbess of that place under Oswy the Father and Alchfrid the Son Kings of Northumberland in the year of Christ 664 In which is Controverted the Celebration of Easter and other Ecclesiastical Rites 541 〈◊〉 Osred p. 545 〈◊〉 Ceolnulf Egbert Oswulf 〈◊〉 546 〈◊〉 Ethelred Elfwald Osred Ethelred 547 The Kingdom of the East-Angles 548 Usfa Titulus 549 Redwald Earpenwald Sigebert 550 Egric Anna Ethelherd Edelwald Aldulf Elfwold 551 Beorn Ethelred Egilbert 552 The Kingdom of Mercia 553 Crida Wibba Georl Penda Peada 555 Wulfer Ethelred Kenred 556 Kelred Ethelbald Beornred 557 Offa 558 Egfrid Kenwolf Kenelm 559 The Kingdom of the West-Saxons 560 Cerdic 561 Kenric Ceaulin 563 Cearlic Ceowolf Kingils 564 The Conversion of the West-Saxons 565 Kenwalch 566 Eskwin Ketwin Ceadwalla 567 Ina 568 The Laws of King INA 569 Ethelard Cuthred 580 Sigibert Kinwulf 581 Birthric 582 FINIS Cambden Cambden 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Timagenes Polybius Festus Avicnus Onomacritus Cambden 〈◊〉 Isacius Tzetzes Camb. Brit. Ptolemy Geog. The truest Calculation Cluverius Geogr. Caesar. Com. Minutius Foe lix Tacitus Brietius Brietius Answered Tacitus Eusebius Herodotus Justin. Bishop Usher Learned Sir W. Rawleigh Note A German mile is four English Tibullus Scaliger 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Learned Selden R. 1. R. 2. R. 3. Tacitus 1. Bocaitus Ezckiel 2. Josephus Herodotus lib. 4. Hesychius Pliny Didimus Crates Scholiastes Aristoph ad Ran. * In Dictione 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Diod. Sicul. Plutarch Caesar. Suidas Florus Justin. Paus. AElian Athenaeus Suidas Livy Plutarch Festus Caesar. Tully Caesar. lib. 1. Virgil. Quintilian Cambden Festus Plutarch Caesar. Com. Festus Plutarch Lazius Pontanus Strabo Caesar. Manlius Sherringham de Anglorum Origins Antonius Volscus Dominicus Marius Niger Servius Honoratus John Twyne Du Bartas c. Pliny's Nat. Hist. Lambard Hist. Richardi Viti lib. 1. Verslegan Speaking of the Kings of Palestine Utrecht the Utmost bound of Land Hugo Grotius De veritate Relig. Christ. lib. 1. Sanchoniathon a Phoenician Author Strab. lib. 3. * Medacritus viz. Melicartus Hercules Herodotus de Cassiteritibus Diodorus Sic. lib. 5. Plin. Nat. hist. lib. 8. Sancho Cambden Solinus Eustathius Ortelius Strabo Olivarius Solinus Eustathius Cambden Prolomy Cambden Bochartus This Island took not us Name from Brit Brith or Canta BRITAIN truly derived from Bratanac Bochartus Strabo Pliny Isidore Manethon Josephus Strabo Humphry Lloyd Bish Cooper Tacitus Herudotus lib. 4. Vulcanus Bochartus Strabo lib. I. Milton Herodotus in Melpomene Bochartus Blondus Buchanan Milton's Nist of England The Phoenician HANNO's Navigations Gerardus Vossius Isaac Vossius AElianus Strabo Bochartus Onomacritus Strabo Pomp Mela. Ptolomy Orpheus Aristotle Claudian Eustathius Martian Juvenal Pomp. Mela. Diod. Siculus Bochartus Procopius Pytheas Mass. Marinus Ptolomy Cadmus his Alphabet AEthicus Homer Odyss 1. vers 25. Statius lib. 4. ad Marcell lib. 5. in Proterp ad Crispinum Suidas Polybiur lit 3. Strabo lib. 2 Festus Avienus Tacitus Clem. A ex Plin. Nat. hist. Strabo lib. 4. Sanchoniathon Cambden 〈◊〉 Solinus Martial Tacitus Bochartus Ptolomy Franciscus Philelphus Lileus Geraldus Varro Pliny's Nat. Hist. Bochartus Marcellianus ex Timagi Stephanus Josephus Pausanias Enidius Geropius Sheringham Plutarch Solinus Prolomy Clitophon Pliny's Nat. Hist. Ptolomy Jornandus ex Cornello Tacitus * Note Godolanac is a place of Tynn from which Godolcan is derived Anton. Goll lib. 1. cap. 29. Jamblicus Julian the Apostate Tacitus Caesar. Lactant. Lucan Livy Philo Bibl. Sanchoniathon Plato's Phil. Tully Lactantius Pomp. Mela. Bochartus Polybius Cambden Plutarch Orosius Servius 8th AEneid Hesychius 2 Sam. 18. 14 Pausanias Quintilian Pliny Salassians viz. Gauls Eusebius Orosius Eutropius Salvianus Prosper Eumenius Salvianus Allobroges Isidorus and Diodorus Geraldus Camb. Rhenanus Ortelius Cambden Pliny Antoninus Dio Cassius Pliny Tacitus Gul. Malmsb. Antoninus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Itinery 〈◊〉 Girald lib. 2. cap. 1 5. Plutarch Silius Itals Tacitus Bochartus Old Seol on Juvenal Caesar Com. Quoere nominae BRITANNICA * Note Ducts I think should be ducitis as it is spoken of the Derivation of Paterius and Delphidius St. Hierom ad Hedeb Posidonius Strabo Festus Caesar. A 〈◊〉 account of this Chapter * Rahab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The interpretation of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Latins from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 made Puniceus and from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Poenus # 〈◊〉 Marther * Syrian ie Syrim then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Syri and by prefixing the Article Hassurim was brought in ‑ Assyrian Grorius in Epist ad Gall. 114 p. 242. Hesychius Herodotus Plin. Nat. hist. Strabo lib. 3. Geogr. Cambden Liv7 St. Hieroms Quest. on Gen. Varro's Antiq. Caesars Comment Caesar. Tacitus Caesar. Tacitus Sheringham de Orig. Angl. Pythias Polybius lib. 3. Thucidides Herodotus Stephanus in voce 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isacius Tzer in Lycoph Mirae