same King at the time of his death saide I appoint 〈◊〉 successour in the kingdome of England but I commend it to the eternall God whose I am and in whose handes all thinges are happly remembring that of the Monke before specified pag. 5. This king perceiving his owne defects in some poynts for want of learning did exhort his children oftentimes to learning with this saying An vnlearned Prince is a crowned Asse Which speech tooke so great impression in his sonne Henry that hee obtained by studie and learning the surname of Beauclearke or fine Scholler Annales Ecclesia Cant. Malmesburiensiâ— VVilliam Rufus loved wel to keep vacant Bishopriks and Abbies in his handes saying Christes bread is sweet dainty and most delicate for Kings But although this King made most commonly as it were port-sale of the Spirituall livings yet when twoo Monkes were at drop-vied Bezantines the currant golde of that age before him for an Abbey hee espied a third Monke of their company standing in a corner whom the King asked what hee would give to be Abbot Not one farthing saide he for I renounced the world and riches that I might serve God more sincerely Then said the King thou arte most woorthy to be made Abbot and thou shalt have it Liber Cantuar. When newes were brought him that the French King had besieged the cittie of Constances in Normandy â—e posted with a few to the sea coast to take ship But because the winde blew very strong from South the sailers signified that it was very dangerous for him to take Sea but the King replied Hoise vp sailes in Gods name for I have not heard of a King drowned by tempest You shall see both winde and weather serviceable to vs. Answerable to that of Iulius Caesar which inforced a poore Pilote in the like case to launch foorth and in the rage of the storme comforted him with saying Caesarem Caesaris fortunam vebis And as couragiously as that of Charles the fift who in the battel of Tunis when he was advised by the Marquise of Guâ—sto to retire his person when the great ordonance began to play saide Marquesse thou never heardst that an Emperour was slaine with a great shot I will heere present you with an other speech or call it what you will of the same King William Rufus out of the good and historicall Poet Robert of Glocester that you may compare a Princes pride in that age with our private pride and that our first finest Poets may smile at the verses of that time as succeeding ages after some hundred yeeres will happly smile at theirs As his Chamberlaine him brought as he rose on a day A morrow for to weare a paire of hose of Say He asked what they costned three shillings he seid Fie a dibles quoth the King who sey so vile a deede King to weare so vile a cloth but it costned more Buy a paire for a marke or thou shalt ha cory fâ—re A worse paire enough the other swith him brought And said they costned a marke vnneth he them so boght Aye bel-amy quoth the King these were well bought In this manner serve me other ne serve me not Hitherto also may be referred that of this king William who the morning before hee was slaine with an arrow in hunting tolde his company he dreamed the last night before that an extreame cold winde passed throgh his sides whereupon some disswaded him to hunt that day but hee resolved to the contrary answering They are no good Christians that regard dreames But he found the dreame too true being shot through the side by Walter Tirell Tragmentum antiquae historiae Franc. à P. Pâ—thâ—â— aditum OF Henry the first I have read no memorable speach but what I have read I will report He was by common voice of the people commended for his wisedome eloquence and victories dispraised for covetousnes cruelty and lechery Of which hee left proofe by his sixteene bastards But it seemeth that his iustice was deemed by the common people to be crueltie for the learned of that age surnamed him the Lion of Iustice Huntingd. Polycraticon Gemeticensis It was the custome of the Court in the time of King Henry the first that bookes billes and letters shoulde be drawne and signed for servitors in the Court concerning their owne matters without fee. But at this time Turstane the kings steward or Le Despencer as they then called him from whom the family of the L. Spencers came exhibited to the king a complaint against Adam of Yarmouth clarke of the Signet for that he refused to signe without fee a bill passed for him The king first heard Turstane commending the olde custome at large and charging the Clarke for exacting somewhat contrary thereunto for passing his booke Then the Clarke was heard who briefly saide I received the Booke and sent vnto your steward desiring him only to bestow of me two spice cakes made for your owne mouth who returned answer He would not and thereupon I denied to seale his Booke The King greatly disliked the steward for returning that negative and forthwith made Adam sit downe vppon the bench with the seale and Turstanes Booke before him but compelled the steward to put off his cloake to fetch two of the best spice cakes for the kings owne mouth to bring them in a faire white napkin and wiâ—h lowe curtsie to present them to Adam thâ— Câ—arke which being accordingly performed the Kiâ—g commaâ—ded Adam to seale and delive him his Booke and made them sâ—endes addâ—ng this speech Officers of the Court must gratifie anashew a cast of their office not onely one to another but also to all strangers whensoever neede shall require â—ualterus Mapes De nugis Curialium There was allowed a pottle of wine for livery everie night to be served vp to king Henry the first chamber but because the king did seldome or never vse to drinke in the night Paine Fitz-Iohn his Chamberlaine and the Pages of the Chamber did carowse the wine among them On a time it happened the King at midnight called for wine but none was to be found Paine and the Pages bestured themâ—elves in vaine seeking wine heere â—nd there Paine was called in to the King who asked him if there were not allowance for livery hee humbly answered that there was a pottle allowed everie night but for that hee never called for it to say the trueth in hope of pardon wee drunke it vp amongst vâ— Then quoth the King have you but one pottle every night that is too shorte for mee and you from hencefoorth there shall be a whole gallon allowed whereof the one pottle shall be for mee the other for you and yours This I note not for anie graviâ—e but that the King in that age was commended herein both for bountie and clemencie Cualterus Mapes Queene Mawd wife to King Henry the first of England and daughter to Malcolme Canmore King of Scotland was so devoutly religious
that she would goe to church barefoote and alwayes exercise herselfe in workes of charitie insomuch that when David her brother came out of Scotland to visite her he found her in her privie chamber with a towell about her middle washing wiping and kissing poore peoples feete which he disliking saide Verily if the King your husband knew this you should never kisse his lippes She replied That the feete of the King of heaven are to bee preferred before the lippes of a King in earth Guil Malmes Math. Paris Simon Deane of Lincolne who for his Courtlike carriage was called to Court and became a favourite of this king Henry the first was wont to say I am cast among courtiers as salt among quicke Eeles for that he salted powdred and made them stirre with his salt and sharpe quipping speeches But what saieth the Author who reporteth this of him The salt lost his season by the moysture of the Eeles and was cast out on the dunghill For hee incurring hatred in Court was disgraced committed and at last banished Henr. Huntingdon in Epistola VVHen the Scottes in the time of king Stephen with a great army invaded England the Northerne people brought to the field the Earle of Albemarle the only respective heire of those partes in his cradle and placed him by the Standard hoping thereby to animate the people But Ralph Bishop of Duresme animated them more with this saying Assure your selves that this multitude not trained by discipline wil be combersome to it selfe in good successe and in distresse easily discomforted Which proved accordingly for many Scottishmen left their carcases in the field Historiola de Standardo MAwd the Empresse daughter and heire of this king Henry the first which stiled her sâ—lfe Lady of the Englishmen would often say to her sonne king Henry the second Be hasty in nothing Hawkes are made more serviceable when yee make faire shewes of offering meate often and yet with-hold it the longer Cualterus Mapes Others Maximes of her In arte Reguands proceeding from a niggish olde wife I wittingly omitte as vnbefitting a Prince Robert Earle of Gloucester base sonne to king Henry the first the onely martiall man of England in his age vsed Stephen Beauchampe with all grace and countenaunce as his onely favorite and privado to the great dislike of all his followers Whereupon when he was distressed in a conflict he called to some of his companie for helpe but one bitterly bade him Call nowe to your Stephen Pardon mee pardon me replieth the Earle In matters of Venery I must vse my Stephen but in Martiall affaires I relie who he vppon you Gualter Mapes de Nugis Curialium HEnry the second caused his eldest sonne Henry to bee crowned kâ—ng and that day served him at the Table Whereuppon the Archebishop of Yorke said vnto the yoong king Your Maiestie may reioyce for there is never a Prince in the world that hath this day such a waiter aâ— his Table as you have Wonder you so much aâ— that my Lord saide the yong king and dooth my father thinke it an abasement for him being discended of royall bloud onely by his mother to serve me at the Table that have both a King to my father and a Queene to my mother Which prowde speech when the vnfortunate father heard hee rounded the Archbishop in the care and saide I repent mee I repent me of nothing more than of vntimely advauncements Anonymus Wimund Bishop of the Isle of Man in the time of King Stephen a martiall Prelate as many were in that age after he had with many an inrode annoyed the Scots some English procured by them sodainely apprehended him put out his eies and gelded him as my Author saieth for the peace of the kingdome not for the kingdome of heaven Who after retiring himselfe to the Abbey of Biland in Yorkeshire would often couragiously say Had I but a sparrowe eye my enemies should never carry it away scot-free Newbrigensis When king Plenry the second was at S. Davis in Wales and from the cliffes there in a cleere day discovered the coast of Ireland that most mighty Monark of this realme saide I with my shippes am able to make a bridge thither if it be no further which speach of his beeing related to Murchard king of Lemster in Ireland he demaunded if hee added not to his speech with the grace of God when it was answered that hee made no mention of God Then saide hee more cheerefully I feare him lesse which trusteth more to himselfe than to the helpe of God Giraldus Cambrensis Owen of Kevelsoc Prince of Powis admitted to the table of king Henry the second at Shrewsbury the king the more to grace him reached him one of his owne loaves which he cutting in small peeces and setting them as farre off as he could reach did eate very leasurely When the king demaunded what he meant thereby he aunswered I doe as you my Soveraigne meaning that the king in like manner tooke the fruition of offices and spirituall preferments as long as he might Giraldus The same king Henry returning out of Ireland arrived at saint Davis in Wales where it was signified vnto him that the Conqueror of Ireland returning that way should die vpon a stone called Lech-laver neere the churchyard whereupon in a great presence he pasted over it and then reprooving the Welsh-Britans credulity in Merlins Prophecies said Now who will heereafter credite that liar Merlin Giraldus Gilbert Foliot Bishop of London disliking Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury woulde say oftentimes Ad Zachaeum non divertisset Dominus nisi de sicomoro iam descendisset That Zachaeus had never entertained and lodged Christ vnlesse he had come downe from the figge tree As though Christ could never like the lofty vntill they should humiliate themselves and come downe Anonymus Ms. The same king would often say The whole world is 〈◊〉 enough for a great Prince Girald in Distinct In the time of this Henry the second the See of Lincolne was so long voyde as a certaine Convert of Tame prophecied that there should be no more Bishoppes of Lincolne But he prooved a truthlesse prophet for Geffrey the kings base sonne was preferred after sixteene yeeres vacancie thereunto but so fitte a man as one saide of him That he was skilfull in fleecing but vnskilfull in feeding Vitae Episcoporum Eboracensium This gallant base Bishoppe would in his protestations and othes alwayes protest By my faith and the King my father But Walter Mapes the kings Chaplan told him You might doe aswel to remember sometimes your mothers honesty as to mention so often your fathers royaltie Mapes de Nugis Curialium This Bishop Ceffrey in all his Instruments passing from him vsed the stile of G. Archiepiscopus Eborum but in the circumference of his Seale to notifie his royall parentage Sigillum Galfredi filij Regis Anglorum as I observed in his Seales SAvage a Gentleman which amongst the first English had
〈◊〉 because God is to be feared So Winter from Winde Soâ—â—er from the Sonne Lent from springing because it falleth in the spring for which our Progenitours the Germans vse Glent The feast of Christs Rising Easter from the old world East which we now vse for the place of the rising of the Sunne Sayle as the Sea-haile Windor or Windowe as a doore against the winde King from Conning for so our Great grandfathers called them which one word imployeth two most important matters in a Governour Power and Skill and many other better answering in sound and sence then those of the Latines Frater quasi ferè alter Tempestas quasi Tempus pestis Caput à capiendo Digiti quia decentèr iuncti Cura quia cor vrit Peccare quasi pedam capere Dionysius a Greeke coyner of Etymologyes is commended by Athenaeus in his supper-gulls table-talkers or Deipnosâ—phistae for making mowse-traps of Musteria and verily if that be commendable the Mint-masters of our Etymilogies deserve no lesse commendation for they have merily forged Mony from My-hony Flatter from flie-at-her Shovell from shove-full Mayd as my ayd Mastiefe as Mase-thiefe Staffe as Stay of Beere Be-heere Symony See-mony Stirrup a Sayre-vp c. This merry playing with words too much vsed by some hath occasioned a great and high personage to say that as the Italian tongue is fit for courting the Spanish for treating the French for trafficke so the English is most fit for trifling and toying And so doth Giraldus Cambrensis seem to think whenas in his time he saith the English and Welsh delighted much in licking the letter and clapping together of Agnominations But now will I conclude this trifling discourse with a true tale out of an antient Historian Of the effectuall power of words great disputes have beene of great wits in all ages the Pithagoreans extolled it the impious Iewes ascribed all miracles to a name which was ingravened in the revestiarie of the Temple watched by two brazen dogges which one stale away and enseamed it in his thigh as you may reade in Osorius de Sapientia and the like in Rabi Hamas Speculation and strange it is what Samonicus Serenus ascribed to the word ABRADACABRA against agues But there was one true English word of as great if not greater force than them all now out of all vse and will be thought for sound barbarous but therefore of more efficacie as it pleaseth Porphyrie and in signification it signifieth as it seemeth no more then abiect base minded false harted coward or nidget Yet it hath levied Armies and subdued rebellious enemies and that I may hold you no longer it is Niding For when there was a daungerous rebellion against King William Rufus and Rochester Castle then the most important strongest fort of this Realm was stowtly kept against him after that he had but proclaimed that his subiects should repaire thither to his Campe vpon no other penaltie but that whosoever refused to come should be reputed a Niding they swarmed to him immediatly from all sides in such numbers that he had in few daies an infinite Armie and the rebells therewith weere so terrified that they forthwith yeelded While I runne on in this course of English tongue rather respecting matter then words I forget that I may be charged by the miâ—â—ion refiners of English neither to write State-English Court-English nor Secretarie-English and verily I acknowledge it Sufficient it is for me if I have waded hither-vnto in the fourth kinde which is plaine English leaving to such as are compleat in all to supply whatsoever remaineth Christian Names NAmes called in Latine Nomina quasâ— Notamina were first imposed for the distinction of persons which wee call now Christian names After for difference of families which wee call Surnames and have beene especially respected as whereon the glorie and credite of men is grounded and by which the same is convayed to the knowledge of posteritie Every person had in the beginning one onely proper name as among the Iewes Adam Ioseph Solomon among the Aegiptians Anubis Amasis Busuris among the Chaldaeans Ninus Ninias Semiraâ—â— among the Medians Astiages Bardanes Arbaces among the Grecians Diomedes Vlisses Orestes among the Romans Romulus Remus Faustulus among the old Gaules Litavicus Cavarilus Divitiacus among the Germans Ariovistus Arminius Nassua among the Britans Cassibellin Caratac Calgac among the antient English Hengest Aella Kenrie likewise among all other Nations except the savages of Mount Atlas in Barbary which were reported to be both namelesse and dreamelesse The most antient Nation of the Iewes gave the name at the Circumcision the eight day after the nativitie the Romans to females the same day to males the ninth day which they called Dies lustricus as it were the cleansing day vpon which day they solemnized a feast called Nominalia and as Tertulian noteth Fata scribenda advocabantur that is as I conceive their nativitie was set At what time other Nations in auntient times gave names I have not read but since Christianitie most Nations for the time followed the Iewes celebrating baptisme the eight day after the birth onely our Ancestours in this Realme vntill latter time baptized and gave name the very birth day or next day after following therein the counsell of S. Cyprian in his third Epistle Ad Fidum But the Polonians gave name in the seaventh yeare at which time they did first cut their childrens haire The first imposition of Names was grounded vpon so many occasions as were hard to be specified but the most common in most antient times among all nations as well as the Hebrewes was vpon future good hope conceived by parents of their children in which you might see their first and principall wishes toward them Whereupon Saint Hierome saith Votiva quasi ob virtutis auspicium imponuntur vocabula hominibus appellativa vertuntur inpropria sicut apud Latines Victor Probus Castus c. And such hopefull luckie names called by Cicero Bona nomina by Tacitus Fansta nomina were ever first enrolled and â—anged in the Roman Musters first called out to serve at the first sacrifices in the foundation of Colonies as Statorius Faustus Valerius which implied the persons to be stowt happy and valorous As contrariwise Atrius Vâ—â—ber is accounted in Iâ—vie abominandi ominis nomen an abhominable name for that it participated in signification with dismall darkenes dead ghosts and shadowes And you remember what Plautus saieth of one whose name was Lyco that is a Greedy Woolfe Vosmet nunc facitâ— coniectur 〈◊〉 caeterùm Quid id sit hominis cui Lyco nomen siet Yea such names were thought so happy and so fortunate that in the time of Galienus one Regilianus which commanded in Illyricum got the Empire there only in favour of of his name For when it was demanded at a supper from whence Regilianus was derived one answered à Regno another beganne to decline Rex Regis
Erro that is Wanderer But in a Norman name I rather beleeve the Norman Writer WOLSTAN Sax Comely decent as Decentius Dasipodius WVLPHER Sax Helper the Saxon name of a King of Middle England answering to the Greeke name Alexias or rather Epicurus The most famous of which name was a hurtefull man albeit he had a helpefull name Y YBELL Brit Contracted from Eubulus good Councellor YTHELL Brit Likewise contracted from Euthalius very flourishing Z ZACHARY Hebr The memorie of the Lord. Christian Names of Women Lest Women the most kinde sex should conceive vnkindenes if they were omitted somewhat of necessitie must bee saide of their names ABIGAEL Heb. The fathers ioy AGATHA Gr. Good Guth in old Saxon. AGNES Gr. Chaste the French write Ignatia but I know not why ALETHEIA Gre. Veritie or â—uth ALICE Ger. Abridged from Adesiz Noble See Ethelbert But the French make it defendresse turning it into Alexia ANNA Heb. Gracious or mercifull ARBELA Heb. God hath revenged as some translations have it Index Bibliorum ADELIN Ge. Noble or descending from nobles AVDRY Sax. It seemeth to be the same with Etheldred for the first foundresse of Ely church is so called in Latine histories but by the people in those parts S. Audry See Etheldred AMIE Fr. Beloved in Latine Amata the name of the ancient King Latinus wife It is written in the like sence Amicia in old Records ANCHORET Gr. for Anachoreta Solitarie liveâ— which retyred her selfe from the world to serve God AVICE Some observe that as it is written now Avice so in former times Hawisia and in elder ages Helwisa where-vpon they thinke it detorted from Hildevig that is Lady-defence as Lewis is wrested from Lodovicus and Ludwig AVREOLA Lat. Pretty-little golden dame ANSTASE Gr. Anastasia and that from Anastasis as Anastasius given in remembrance of christs glorious resurrection ours in Christ B BARBARA Gr. Strange of vnknowne language but the name respected in honour of S. Barbara martyred for the true profession of Christian religion vnder the Tyranne Maximian BEATRICE Lat. From Beatrix Blessed BLANCH Fr. White or faire BRIGID Contracted into Bride an Irish name as it seemeth for that the ancient S. Brigid was of that Nation the other of Suetia was lately Canonized about 1400. Quaere BERTHA Ger. Bright and famous See Albert. BONA Lat. Good BENEDICTA Lat Blessed BENIGNA Lat Milde and gentle C CASSANDRA Gr. Inflaming men with love CATHERIN Gr Pure Chaste CHRISTIAN A name from our Christian profession which the Pagans most tyrannically persecuted hating as Tertullian writeth in his Apologetico a harmelesse name in harmelesse people CLARA Lat Bright the same with Berta Claricia in latter times CICELY From the Latine Caecilia Grey-eyed D DENIS See before among the name of men DIANA From the Greeke Diâ—s that is Iove as Iovina or Ioves daughter or Gods daughter DIONYE From Diana DIDO A Phaenician name signifying a manlike woman Servius Honâ—ratus DOROTHYE Gr The gift of God or given of God DORCAS Gr A Roe-bucke Luâ—retius lib. 4. noteth that by this name the Amorous Knights were wont to salute freckled wartie and wodden-faced wenches where he saith Caesâ—a Palladiâ—n naevosa â—ignea Dorcas DOVZE From the Latine Dulcia that is sweetewench DOVSABEL Fr Sweete and faire somewhat like Glycerium DOVGLAS of the Scottish surname taken from the river Douglas not long since made a Christian name in England as Iordan from the river of that name in the holy Land was made a Christian name for men E ETHâ—LDRED Noble advise See Audrey ELA See Alice ELEANOR Deduced from Helena Pittifull ELIZA Heb. God saveth ELIZABETH Heb. Peace of the Lord or Quiet rest of the Lord the which England hath found verified in the most honoured name of our late Soveraigne Mantuan playing with it maketh it Eliza-bella EADE Sax. Drawne from Eadith in which there is signification of happines In latter time it was writen Auda Ada Ida and by some Idâ—nea in Latine EMME Some wil have to be the same with Amie in Latine Amata Paulus Merula saith it signifieth a good nurse and so is the same with Eutrophime among the Greekes Rog Hoveden pag. 246. noteth that Emma daughter to Richard the first Duke of Normandie was called in Saxon Elfgiva that is as it seemeth Helpe-giver EMMET A diminitive from Emme EVA Heb. Giving life F FAITH FORTVNE The signification well knowne FREDISVVID Sax. Very free truely free FRANCIS See Francis before FAELICE Lat. Happy FORTITVD Lat. FLORENCE Lat. Flourishing G GERTRVD gr All true and amiable if German signifieth All-man as most learned consent and so Gerard may signifie All-hardy Althamerus GRACE the signification is well knowne GRISHILD Grey Lady as Caesia see Maud. GLADVSE Brit from Claudia GOODITH Sax Contracted from Goodwife as we now vse Goody by which name king Henry the first was nicked in contempt as William of Maâ—nesbury noteth H HELENA gre Pittifull A name much vsed in the honour of Helena mother to Constantine the Great and native of this Isleâ— although one on â—he Authour maâ—eth hâ—r a Bithiniâ—n but Baronius and our Historianâ— will have her a Britaine HAVVIS See Avice J IANE See Ioane for 32. Eliz Regâ—â—a â—t was agreed by the court of the Kings Bench to be all one with Ioane IVDITH Hebr. Praising Confessing our auncestors turned it into Iuet IOYCE in Latine Iocoâ—a Mâ—rry pleasant IAQVET Fr from Iacoba See Iames. IENET a diminitive from Ioan as litle and prettie Ihoan IOANE See Iohn In latter yeeres some of the better and nicer sorte misliking Ioane have mollified the name of Ioane into Iane as it may seeme for that Iane is never found in olde Recordes and as some will never before the time of king Henry the eight Lately in like sort some learned Iohns and Hanses beyond the sea have new christned themselves by the name of Ianus ISABELL The same with Elizabeth if the Spaniardes doe not mistake which alwayes translate Elizabeth into Isabel and the French into Isabeau IVLIAN from Iulius Gilian commonly yet our Lawyers libr. Assis 26. pa. 7. make them distinct names I doubt not but vppon some good ground K KATHARIN See Catharin KINBVRG Sax Strength and defence of her kinred as Kinulf help of her kinred L LETICE Lat Ioyfulnesse mirth LYDIA gre Borne in that region of Asia LORA Sax Discipline or Learning but I suppose rather it is corrupted from Laura that is Bay and is agreeable to the Greeke name Daphne LVCIA Lat Lightsome Bright A name given first to them that were borne when daie-light first appeared LVCRETIA Lat An honourable name in respect of the chaste Lady Lucretia if it as Lucretius doe not come from Lucrum gaine as a good huswife I leave it to Grammarians Lucris a wench in Plautus seemed to have hir name from thence when-as hee saieth it was Nomen omen quantivis pretij M MAEEI Some will have it to be a contraction of the Italians from Mabella that is my faire
observed the very primary beginnings as it were of many surnames which are thought very antient when as it may be proved that their very lineall Progenitors bare other names within these sixe hundred yeers Mortimer and Warren are accounted names of great antiquitie yet the father of them for they were brethren who first bare those names was Walterus de sancto Martino He that first tooke the name of Clifford from his habitation was the sonne of Richard sonne of Puntz a noble Norman who had no other name The first Lumley was sonne of an antient English man called Liwulph The first Gifford from whome they of Buckingham the Lords of Brimesfeld and others descended was the sonne of a Norman called Osbert de Belebeâ— The first Windsor descended from Walter the sonne of Other Castellan of Windsor The first who tooke the name of Shirley was the sonne of Sewall descended from Fulcher without any other name The first Nevill of them which are now from Robert the sonne of Maldred a braunch of an olde English familie who married Isabel the daughter and heire of the Nevills which came out of Normandy The first Level came from 〈◊〉 de Perceâ—â—â—ll The first Montacute was the sonne of Drogo â—â—venis as it is in Record The first Stanley of them now Earles of Derby was likewise sonne to Adâ—vn de Aldeleigh or Audley as it is in the olde Pedegree in the Eagle tower of Latham And to omit others the first that tooke the name of de Burgo or Burks in Ireland was the sonne of an English man called William Fitz Aldelniâ— as the first of the Giraldâ—â—es also in that Countrey was the sonne of an Englishman called Girald of Windsor In many more could I exemplifie which shortly after the conquest tooke these surnames when either their fathers had none at all or else most different whatsoever some of their posteritie doe overweene of the antiquitie of their names as though in the continuall mutabilitie of the worlde conversions of States and fatall periods of families five hundred yeeres were not sufficient antiquitie for a family or name whenas but very few have reached thereunto In the autentical Record of the Exchequer called Domesday Surnames are first found brought in then by the Normans who not long before first tooke them but most noted with de such a place as Godefridus de Mannevilla A. de Grey Walterus de Vernon Robert de Oily now Doyley Albericus de Vere Radulphus de Pomerey Goscelinus de Dive Robertus de Buslâ—â— Guilielmus de Moiun R. de Braiâ—se Rogerus de Lacy Gislebertus de Venables or with Filius as Ranulphus Asculphi Guilielmis filius Osbernie Richardus filius Gisleberti or else with the name of their office as Eudo Depifer Guil Camerarius Hervaeus Legatus Gislebertus Cocus Radulphus Venator but very many with their Christian names onlie as Olaff Nigellus Eustachius Baldricus with single names are noted last in every shire as men of least account and as all or most vnderholders specified in that Booke But shortly after as the Romans of better sorte had three names according to that of Iuvenal Tanquam habeas trianomina that of Ausonius Tria nomina nobiliorum So it seemed a disgrace for a Gentleman to have but one single name aâ— the meaner sorte and bastards had For the daughter and 〈◊〉 of Fitz 〈◊〉 a great Lord as Robert of Gloucester in the Librarie of the industrious Antiquary maister Iohn Stowe writeth when king Henry the first would have married hir to his base sonne Robert she first refusing answered It were to me a great shame To have a Lord without'n his twa name whereupon the king his father gave him the name of Fitz-Roy who after was earle of Gloucester and the onely Worthy of his age To reduce surnames to a Methode is matter for a Ramist who should happly finde it to be a Typocosmie I will plainely set downe from whence the most have beene deduced as farre as I can conceive hoping to incurre no offence heerein with any person when I protest in all sinceritie that I purpose nothing lesse than to wrong any man in any respect or to make the least aspersion vpon any whosoever The end of this scribling labour tending onely to maintaine the honor of our names against some Italianated who admiring strange names doe disdainefully contemne their owne countrey names which I doubt not but I shall effect with the learned and iudicious to whom I submit all that I shall write The most surnames in number the most antient and of best accompt have been locall deduced from places in Normandy and the countries confining being either the patrimonaill possessions or native places of such as served the Conquerour or came in after out of Normandy as Aulbeny or Mortimer Warren Albigny Percy Gournay Devreux Tankervil Saint-Lo Argenton Marmion Saint Maure Bracy Maigny Nevill Ferrers Harecourt Baskervile Mortaigne Tracy Beufoe Valoyns Cayly Lucy Montfort Bonvile Bovil Auranch c. Neither is there any village in Normandy that gave not denomination to some family in England in which number are all names having the French De Du Des De-la prefixt beginning or ending with Font Fant Beau Sainct Mont Bois Aux Eux Vall Vaux Cort Court Fort Champ Vil which is corruptly turned in some into â—eld as in Baâ—kerfeld Somerfeld Dangerfeld Trublâ—feld Grâ—â—feld 〈◊〉 for Bâ—â—kervil Somervil Dangervil Turbervil Greeâ—â—vil 〈◊〉 vil and in others into Well as Boswell for Bâ—ssevil 〈◊〉 for Freschevil As that I may note in passage the 〈◊〉 Nobilitie take their names from places adding Ski or Ki thereunto Out of places in Britaine came the families of Saint Aubin Morâ—ey Dâ—nant lately called Denham Dâ—le Balâ—â— Conquest Valtort Lascells Bluet c. Out of other partes of Fraunce from places of the same names came Courtney Corby Bâ—llâ—in Crevecuer Saiâ—t-Leger Bohun Saint George Saint Andrew Chaworth Sainct Quâ—â—tiâ— Gorges Villiers Cromar Paris Reims Cressy Fines 〈◊〉 Coignac Lyons Chalons Chaloner Estampes or Stampes and many more Out of the Netherlands came the names of Levayne Gaunt Ipres Bruges Malines Odingsells Tournay Doway Buers Beke and in latter ages Dabridgecourt Robsert Mâ—â—y Grandâ—son c. From places in England and Scotland infinite likewise For every towne village or hamlet hath made names to families as Darbyshire Lancaster do not looke that I should as the Nomenclators in olde time marshall every name according to his place Essex Murray Clifford Stafford Barkley Leigh Lea Hasting Hamleton Gordon Lumley Douglas Booths Clinton Heydon Cleydon Hicham Henningham Popham Ratcliffe Markham Seaton Framingham Pagrave Cotton Cariâ— Hume Poinings Goring Prideaux Windsor Hardes Stanhope Sydenham Needehaus Dimoc Wiâ—nington Allington Dâ—cre Thaxton Whitney Willoughby Apseley Crew Kniveton Wentworth Faâ—shaw Woderington Manwood Fetherston Penrudock Tremaine Trevoire Killigrew Roscarroc Carminow and most families in Cornewall of whome I have heard this Rythme By Tre Ros Pol Lan Caer and Pen You may
Geffrey the sonne of Robert Fitz-Maldred and Isabel his wife heire of the Norman house of the Nevilles tooke the name of Nevill and left it to his posteritie which was spread into very manie honourable families of England In like manner the sonne of Ioscelin of Lovan a yoonger sonne to the Duke of Brabant when he had married Agnes the onely daughter of William Lord Percy so named of Percy forrest in the county of Maen from whome they came and not of piercing the king of Sâ—â—ts through the 〈◊〉 as Hâ—ctâ—r Bâ—â—tius fableth his sonne and posteritie vppon a composition with the same Lady tooke her name of Percy but retained theyr olde coate armour to shew from whome they descended So Adam de Montgomery marrying the daughter and heire of Carew of Molesford her sonne relinquishing his owne left to his posteritie his mothers name Carew from whom the Barons Carew the Carews of Haccomb of Berry of Authony Beddington c. have had their names and originall Likewise Ralph Gernon marrying the daughter of Cavendish or Candish left that name to his issue as Th Talbot a learned Genealogist hath prooved So Robert Meg the great favourite of king Iohn took the name of Braybrooke whereof his mother was one of the heires So sir Iohn de Haudlow marrying the daughter and heire of the Lorde Burnell his posteritie tooke the name of Burnell So sir Tibauld Russell tooke the name of De Gorges to him and his issue for that his mother was sister and one of the heirs of Ralfe de Gorges as it appeareth in the controversie betweene Warbleton and the saide Tibauld de Corges for the coate of Armes Lozengy Or and Azure 21. of Edward the third before Henry Earle of Lancaster and others at the siege of Saint Margaret Not many years since when Iames Hâ—rsey had married the daughter of De-Le-vale of Northumberland his issue tooke the name of De-la-vale Heerevnto may they also bee referred who changed their names in remembrance of their Progenitours being more honourable as the sonnes of Geffrey Fitz-Petre tooke the name of Magnavilla or Mandevile when they came to be Earles of Essex because their grandmother Beatrix was of the house of Mandevile as appeareth by the Abby booke of Walden So Thomas de Molton tooke the name of Lucy and many other which I omit Others also have taken the name of them whose lands they had As when King Henry the first gave the lands of the attainted Robert Moubray Earle of Northumberland being 120. Knights fees in Normandy and 140. in England to Nigall or Nâ—â—le de 〈…〉 who in the battell at 〈◊〉 tooke Robert Duke of 〈◊〉 prisoner he commanded withall that his posteritie should take the Surname of Moâ—bray which they accordingly did and retained the same as long as the issue male continued which determined in Iohn Moâ—bray Duke of Norfolke in the time of King Edward the fourth whose heires were married into the families of Howard and Barkeley Remembrance of benefits made others to change their names as William Mortimer descended from those of Richards Castle tooke the name of La-Zouch and named his sonne Alan de la-Zouch for some favour received from the Lord Zouch of Ashby de la-Zouch as appeareth by Inquisition 11. 21. Ed. 3. In respect of adoption also very many in all ages have changed their names I neede not particulate it for all know it Some of their owne dislike of their names have altered them for as I have read in the booke of Fornesse William Fitz-Gilbert Baron of Kendall obtained licence of King Henry the second to change his name and call himselfe and his posteritie Lancaster from whom the Lancasters in Westmâ—rlaud c. are descended Heerevpon some thinke that without the Kings licence new names cannot be taken or old names given away to others Yet Tiraquell the great Civilian of France in Leg. quin. Conub Tit. 92. seemeth to incline that both name and Armes may be transferred by will and testament and produceth Augustus who by his Testament commanded Tiberius and Livia to beare his name How in former times Herevile Dunvile Clauwowe gave and granted away their Armes which are as silent names distinctions of families and the same was thought vnlawfull afterward when the Lord 〈◊〉 would have done the same shall be declared in more convenient place But the inconvenience of change of names hath beene discovered to be such in France that it hath beene prâ—pounded in 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 that it should not be permitted but in these two respects eyther when one should bee made heire to any with especiall words to assume the name of the testatour or when any one should have a donation surmounting a thousand crownes vpon the same condition But to retyre to our purpose Not a few have assumed the names of their fathers Baronies as in former times the issue of Richard Fitz-Gilbert tooke the name of Clare which was their Barony and in late time since the Suttons came to the Barony of Dudley all their issue tooke the name of Dudleyes that I may omit others The dislike of others hath caused also a change of names for King Edward the first disliking the iteration of Fitz commanded the Lord Iohn Fitz-Robert a most ancient Baron whose Ancestours had continued their Surnames by their fathers Christian names to leave that manner and to be called Iohn Clavering which was the capitall seate of his Barony And in this time many that had followed that course of naming by Fitz tooke them one setled name and retained it as Fitz Walter and others Also at that time the names of Thomson Richardson Willson and other of that forme began to be setled which before had varied according to the name of the father Edward the fourth likewise as I have heard loving some whose name was Picard would often tell them that hee loved them well but not their names wherevpon some of them changed their names and I have heard that one of them which tooke the name of Ruddle being the place of his birth in that respect And in late yeares in the time of King Henry the eight an ancient worshipfull gentleman of Wales being called at the panniell of Iury by the name of Thomas Ap William Ap Thomas Ap Richard Ap Hoel Ap Evan Vaghan c. was advised by the Iudge to leave that old manner Wherevpon he after called himselfe Moston according to the name of his principall house and left that Surname to his posterity Offices have brought new names to divers families as when Edward Fitz-Thâ—â—bald of Ireland the Earles of Ormond and others descended from them tooke the name of Butler So the distinct families of the Constables in the County of Yorke are saide to have taken that name from some of their Ancestours which bare the office of Constables of some Castles In Like manner the Stewards Marshalls Spencers That I may say nothing of such as for well acting on the stage have carried
Fie fie for shame let me heare no more such vnseemely speeches but rather suppliantly pray vnto my Almightie Maker that in this life and in the life to come I may seeme worthy to be his servant When hee sought by severe edicts to abolish all heathenish superstition and laboured by godly lawes to establish the true religion and service of Christ yea and vncessantly endevoured to draw men vnto the faith perswading reproving praying intreating in time out of time publikely and privately he one day said merrily yet truly vnto the Bishop that he had bidden to a banquet As ye be Bishops within the Church so may I also seeme to be a Bishop out of the Church He disswading one from covetousnes did with his lance draw out the length and bredth of a mans grave saying This is all that thou shalt have when thou art dead if thou canst happily get so much He made a law that no Christian should be bondman to a Iew and if that any Iew did buy any Christian for his slave hee should bee fined therefore and the Christian enfranchised adding this reason That it stoode not with equitie that a Christian should be slave vnto the murderers of Christ Ethelbert King of Kent was hardly induced to imbrace Christian Religion at the perswasion of Augustine sent to convert the English Nation but at length being perswaded and desirous to be baptized said Let vs come also to the King of Kings and giver of Kingdomes it may redound to our shame that we which are first in authoritie should come list to Christianitie But I doe beseech that true King that he would not respect the precedence in time but devotion of my mâ—nde Ioscelinus When Paulinus brought vnto Edwin king of Northumberland the glad tidings of the salvation of mankinde by Christ and preached the Gospel vnto the king and his Nobilitie zealously and eloquently opening vnto them the mysteries of our faith and precepts of Christian Religion one of the Lords thus spake vnto the King but some now happily will smile at this speach We may â—â—ely compare mans state vnto this little Robbin-redbrest that is now in this cold weather heere in the waâ—me chamber chirpeng and singing merrily and as long as she shall remaine heere wee shall see and vnderstand how she doeth but anone when she shall be flowne hence abroad into the wide world and shall be forced to feele the bitter stormes of hard winter we shall not know what shall become of her So likewise we see how men fare as long as they live among vs but after they be dead neither wee nor our Religion have any knowledge what becomes of them Wherefore I do thinke it wisedome to give care vnto this man who seemeth to shew vs not onely what shall become of vs but also how we may obtaine overlasting life heereafter Beda When Rodoald king of the East Angles being wonne with rewards was shamefully minded to have delivered vnto Edelfride the king of Northumberland the innocent Prince Edwin who had fled vnto him to be saved from the bloodie hands of Edelfride who had vnlawfully bereaft him of his kingdome His wife turned his intent by telling him that It stoode not with the high and sacred state of a King to buy and sell the bodies of men as it were a petiâ—chapman or that which is more dishonourable slave-like to sell away his faith a thing which hee ought to hold more precious then all the gold and gemmes of the whole world yea and his owne life Beda Ina King of West-Saxons had three daughters of whom vpon a time he demanded whether they did love him and so would do during their lives above all others the two elder sware deepely they would the yongest but the wisest told her father flatly without flattery That albest she did love honour and reverence him and so would whilst she lived as much as nature and daughterly dutie at the vttermost could expect Yet she did thinke that one day it would come to passe that she should affect another more servently meaning her husband when she were married Who being made one flesh with her as God by commaundement had told and nature had taught hâ—r she was to cleave fast to forsaking father and mother kisse and kinne Anonymus One referreth this to the daughters of king Leir Imperious was that speech of Theodore the Grecian Archbishop of Canterbury in depriving a poore English Bishop Although we can charge you with nothing yet that we wâ—â—l we wiâ—l like to that Sie volo sic â—ubeo stat pro ratione voluntas But humble was the English Bishops reply Paul appealed from the Iewes to Caesar and I from you to Christ Vita S. Wilfredi The reverend Bede whome wee may more easily admire than sufficiently praise for his profound learning in a most barbarous age when he was in the pangs of death saide to the standers by I have so lived among you that I am not ashamed of my life neither feare I to die because I have a most gratious Redeemer Hee yeelded vp his life with this praier for the Church O King of glory Lorde of Hostes which hast triumphantly ascended into heaven leave vs not fatherlesse but send the promised spirit of thy trueth amongest vs. Some write that hee went to Rome and interpreted there S P Q R in derision of the Gothes swarming to Reme Stultus Populus Quaerit Roman and that in his returne hee died at Genoa where they shew his toombe But certaine it is that he was sent for to Rome by Sergius the Pope and more certaine that hee died at Weremouth and from thence was translated to Durham And that I may incidently note that which I have heard Not manie yeeres since a French Bishop returning out of Scotland comming to the Church of Durham and brought to the shrine of Saint Cuâ—hbert kneeled downe and after his devotions offered a Baubie saying Sancte Cuthberte si sanctus siâ— ora pro me But afterward being brought vnto the Toombe of Bedâ— saying likewise his Orisons offered there a French crowne with this alteration Sancte Beda quia sanctus es ora pro me Iohannes Erigena surnamed Scotus a man renowned for learning sitting at the Table in respect of his learning with Charles the bawld Emperour and King of Fraunce behaved himselfe as a slovenly Scholler nothing Courtly whereupon the Emperour asked him merrily Quid interest inter Scotum Sotum What is betweene a Scot and a Sot Hee merrily but yet malapertly aunswered Mensa The Table as though the Emperour were the Sot and hee the Scot. Rog Hovedeâ—us On an other time the Emperour did serte downe vnto him a dish with two faire great fishes and one little one willing him to be carver vnto two other Schollers that fate beneath him Then Maister Iohn who was but a little man layed the two great fishes vppon his owne trencher and set downe the one little fish vnto the other two
Schollers who were bigge men Which when the Emperour sawe hee smiling saide In good faith Maister Iohn you are no indifferent divider Yes if it like your Highnesse verie indifferent saide he for heere poynting to himselfe and the two great fishes be two great ones and a little one and so yonder reaching his hand towardes the Schollers are two great ones and a little one Idem Wenefridus borne at Kirton in Devonshire after furnamed Boniface who converted Freesel and to Christianitie was wont to say In olde time there were golden Prelats and woodden Chalices but in his time woodden Prelates and golden Chalices Beatus Rhenanus libr. 2. rerum Germenâ—arum Ethelwold the Bishop of Winchester in the time of king Edgar in a great famine solde away all the sacred golde and silver vessells of all his church to releeve the hunger-starved poore people saying That there was no reason that the senselesse temples of God should abound in riches and living temples of the holy-ghost starve for hunger Whenas Kinnad King of Scotâ— a vassall to King Eadgar of England had saide at his Table That it stoode not with the honour of the Princes of this Isle to be subiect to that Dandiprat Eadgar who was indeede but of small stature yet full of courage He vnderstanding thereof withdrew Kinnad privately into a wood as though hee had to conferre with him of some important secret where he offered him the choice of two swords prepared for that purpose with these wordes Now we are alone you may try your manhood now may it appeare who should be subiect to the other retire not one foote backe It standeth not with the honour of Princes to brave it at the Table and not to dare it in the field But Kinad heere-at dismaied desired pardon by excuse and obtained it Malmesburiensis pag. 33. The same king Eadgar having brought into his subiection the aforesaid Kinnad king of Scottes Malcolm king of Cumberland Mac cuis the arch pirate lord of the Isles with Dufnall Griffith Howell Iacob Iudethilâ— Princes of Wales was rowed by them in triumphant manner in his barge vpon the river of Dee at Chester at which time it is reported he saide Then may my successours the Kings of England glorie when they shall doe the like Marianus Scotus Anno 973. When Hinguar of Denmarke came so sodainely vppon Edmund the king of the East-Angles that hee was forced to seeke his safetie by flight hee happened vnhappily on a troupe of Danes who fell to examining of him whether hee knew where the king of the East-Angles was whome Edmund thus answered Even now when I was in the palace he was there and when I went from thence he departed thence and whether he shall escape your handes or no onely God knoweth But so soone as they once heard him name God the godlesse infidells pittifully martired him Vita Sancti Edmundi When Brithwold a noble Saxon marching against the Danes encamped neare Maldon was invited by the Abbot of Elie to take his dinner with him he refusing answered Hee would not dine from his companies because hee could not fight without his companies Liber Eliensis King Canutus commonly called Knute walking on the sea sands neare to Southampton was extolled by some of his flattering followers and tolde that hee was a king of kings the mightiest that raigned farre and neare that both sea and land were at his commaund But this speach did put the godly King in mind of the infinite power of God by whome Kings have and enioy their power and therevpon hee made this demonstration to refell their flatterie He tooke off his cloake and wrapping it round together sâ—te downe vpon it neare to the sea that then beganne to slowe saying Sea I commaund thee that thou touch not my feete 〈◊〉 he had not so soone spoken the worde but the surgâ—ng wave dashed him He then rising vp and going backe saide Ye see now my Lorde what good cause you have to call me a King that am not able by my commaundement to stay one wave no mortaâ—l man doubtlesse is woorthy of such an 〈◊〉 name no man hath such commaund but one King which ruleth all Let vs honour him let vs call him King of all kings and Lord of all nations Let vs not onely confesse bvt also prâ—fesse him to be ruler of the heavens sea anâ— land Polydorus and others When Edric the extorteâ— was deprived by King Câ—ute of the government of Mercia hee impatient of the disgrace tolde him he had deserved better for that to pleasure him hee had first revolted from his Soveraigne king Edmund and also dispatched him Whereat Câ—ute all appalled answered And thou shalt die for thy desert whenâ—â— thou arte a traitour to God and me in killing thy king and my confederate brother His bloud be vpon thy head which hast layed handes vpon the Lordes annoynted Some reporte that he saide For his deserts he should be advaunced above all the Nobilitie of England which hâ— câ—mmediately performed advauncing his head vpon the Tower of London Florilegus King Edward the Confessour one afternoone lying in his bedde with the curtaine drawne round about him a poore pilfering Courtier came into his chamber where finding the Kings Casket open which Hugoline his chamberlaine had forgotten to shut going foorth to pay money in haste hee tooke out so much money as hee couldâ— well carry and went away But insatiable desire brought him againe and so the third time when the King who lay still all this while and would not seeme to see beganne to speake to him and bade him speedily be packing For he was well if hee coulde see for if Hugoline came and tooke him there he were not onely like to loose all that he had gotten but also stretch an halter The fellow was no sooner gone but Hugoline came in and finding the Casket open and much money taken away was greatly mooved But the King willed him not to he grieved For saide he he that hath it had more neede of it then wee have This at that time was adiudged Christian lenitie but I thinke in our age it will be accounted simplicitie in the woorst sense Vita Sancti Edwardi This Edward hasted out of Normandie whither his expelled father king Ethelred had fled with him with a great power to recover the kingdome of England from the Danes neere vnto whose forces hee was encamped ready to give them battell But when his Captaines promised him assured victorie and that they would not leave one Dane alive God forbid quoth Edward that the kingdome should be recovered for me one man by the death of so many thousand men It is better that I do leade a private and vnbloody life then be a King by such but chery And therewithall brake vp Campe and retyred into Normandy where he staied vntill God sent oportunitie to obtaine the kingdome without blood Paulus Aemilius Harold as hee waited on the cup of the said king Edward chanced
to stumble with one foot that he almost kissed the ground but with the other legge he recovered himselfe and saved the wine whereat his father Godwyn Earle of Kent who then dined with the King smiling saâ—d Now one brother did helpe another At this word although spoken proverbially the Kings blood beganne to rise thinking how shamefully they had murdered his brother Alfrede and angerly answered And so might my brother have beene a helpe to me if it had pleased you VitaS Edwards The same king Edward passing out of this life commended his wise to the Nobilitie and said That she had carried her selfe as his wife abroad but as his sister or daughter at home Afterward seeing such as were present weeping and lamenting for him he said If you loved me you would for beare weeping and reioyce because I go to my father with whom I shall receive the ioyes promised to the faithfull not through my merits but by the free mercy of my Saviour which sheweth mercy on whom he pleaseth Eilredus Rivallensis Sywarde the martiall Earle of Northumberland feeling in his sicknes that he drew towards his end arose out of his bed and put on hiâ— Armour saying That it became not a valiant man to die lying like a beast and so he gave vp the Ghost standing As valiantly both spoken and performed as it was by Vespasian When the said Siward vnderstood that his sonne whom he had sent in service against the Scottishmen was staine he demaunded whether his wound were in fore part or hinder paâ—t of his body when it was answered in the fore part he replied I am right glad neither wish any other death to me or mine Hen. Huntâ—ngdon In this age when a Bishop living loosely was charged that his conversation was not according to the Apostles lives he made a mocke at it and excusâ—d himselfe with this verse which was after taken vp for a common excuse in that behalfe Nunc aliud tempus aâ—â—j pro tempere mâ—res Anonymus When the fatall period of the Saxon Empire was now complete and battells were marshalled betweene William Duke of Normandy and Harold King of England Girthe Haroldes yonger brother not holding it best to hazard the kingdome of England at one cast signified to the King that the succâ—sse of warre was doubtfull that victory was swayed rather by fortune than by valour that advised delay was most important in Martiall affaires and if so bee brother said he You have plighted your faith to the Duke retyre your selfe for no force can serve against a mans owne conscience God will revenge the violation of an â—the You may reserve your selfe to give them a new encounter which will be more to their terrour As for me if you will commit the charge to me I will performe both the part of a kinde brother and a couragious Leader For being cleare in conscience I shall sell my life or discomfit your enemy with more felicitie But the King not liking his speech answered I will never turne my backe with dishonour to the Norman neither can I in any sort disgest the reproach of a base minde Wel then be it so said some discontented of the company let him beare the brunt that hath given the occasion Anonymus VVIlliam Conquerour when he invaded this Iland chanced at his arrivall to be graveled and one of his feete stacke so fast in the sand that he fell to the ground Wherewithall one of his attendants caught him by the arme and helped him vp saying Stand vp my â—iege Lord and be of good cheare for now you have taken fast footing in England and then espying that he brought vp sand and earth in his hand added Yea and you have taken livery and seisin of the Country For you know that in delivering of livery and seisin a peece of the earth is taken Hist Normanica A Wizard or a Wise-man as they then called them had fore-told William that he should safely arrive an England with his whole Armie without any impeachment of Harold the which after it came it passe the King sent for the Wizard to conferre further with him But when it was told him that he was drowned in that ship which onely of all the whole fleete miscarried The Conquerour said He would never make account of that science that profited more the ignorant then the skilfull therein for he could fore-see my good fortune but not his owne mishap Idem That morning that he was to ioyne battell with Harold his atmorer put on his backe-peece before and his breast-plate behinde the which being espied by some that stood by was taken on them for an ill token and therefore advised him not to fight that day to whom the Duke answered I force not of such fooleries but if I have any skill 〈◊〉 South-saying as in sooth I have none it doth prognosticate that I shall change copie from a Duke to a King Idem Magike in the time of Nerâ— was discovered to be but a vanitie in the declining state of the Roman Empire accounted by the Gentiles a verity in the time of Hildebrand if we beleeve Authors so approoved that it was commonly practised For as in the time of Valeâ—s divers curious men as hath beene said by the falling of a ring Magically prepared vpon the letters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 iudged that one Theodorus should succeede in the Empire when indeede Theodosius did So when Hildebrand was Pope by like curiosities it was found that Odo should succcede Wherevppon Odo Earle of Kent and Bishop of Bayeux brother to king William the Conquerour devoured the Papacy in hope sent mony his perswading messengers to Rome perchased a pallace there and prepared thitherward when king William for his presumption and other his misdemenours staied him and committed him saying Offensive foole-hardines must be timely restrained Liber Cadomensis When the same Odâ— who was both Bishop of Baiâ—ux in Normandy and Earle of Kent in former time had so disloyally carried himselfe against king William the Conquerour that he complained of him to his Lords Lanfranc Archbishop of Canterbury advised the King to commit him But what say youâ— quoth the King whenas he is a Clergyman You may not saide he commit the Bishop of Baieux but you may well 〈◊〉 the Earle of Kent W Malmsbur Like vnto this was that distinction of Piramus Secretary to Charles the fift in late yeares when Pope Iulius the second did combine with the French king against the Emperour of the Popes honesty and Iulius dishonesty This King William by reason of sickenes kept his chamber a long time whereat the French King scoffing saide The King of England heth long in childe-bed Which when it was reported vnto King William hee aunswered When I am churched there shal be a thousand lights in France alluding to the lights that women vsed to beare when they were churched and that hee performed within few dayes after wasting the French frontires with fire and sword The
backe vnto his flocke Whereuppon the King sent vnto the Pope the armour that he was taken in and willed his Ambassadour to vse the words of Iacobs sonnes vnto their father when they had solde away their brother Ioseph Hanc invenimus vide vtrum tunica filij tui sit an 〈◊〉 This wee found see whether it be the coate of thy sonne or no. Nay quoth the Pope it is not the coate of my sonne nor of my brother but some impe of Mars and let him procure his deliverie of he will for I wil be no meane for him When the French king and king Richard the first beganne to parlee of peace his brother Iohn who had falsely and vnnaturally revolted vnto the French king fearing himselfe came in of his owne accord and suppliantly besought Richard brotherly to pardon his manifolde offences that he had vnbrotherly committed against him hee rehersed the straight league of brotherly piety he recounted the many merits of his brother he bewailed with teares that hitherto he had beene vnmindefull of them as an vnnaturall and vnthankefull person Finally that hee dooth live and shall live hee dooth acknowledge that hee hath received it at his handes The king being mollified with this humble submission saide God graunt that I may as easily forget your offences as you may remember wherein you have offended IN the wofull warres with the Barons when king Iohn was viewing of the Castle of Rochester held against him by the Earle of Arundel he was espied by a very good Arcubalister who tolde the Earle thereof and saide that hee would soone dispatch the cruell tyrant if he would but say the word God forbid vile varlet quoth the Earle that we should procure the death of the holy one of God What saide the souldier he would not spare you if hee had you at the like advantage No matter for that quoth the Earle Gods good wil be done and be wil dispose and not the King Math Paris When one about him shewed him where a noble man that had rebelliously borne armes against him lay verie honourably intoombed and advised the king to deface the monument he said No no but I would al the rest of mine enemies were as honourably buried Idem When diverse Greekes came hither and offered to proove that there were cettaine â—rrours in the Church of England at that time hee reiected them saying I will not suffer our faith established to be called in question with doubtful disputations Fragm antiquum aeditum à P. Pithaeo Yet when the saide king Iohn sawe a fatie Bucke haunched he saide to the standers by See how faire and fatte this Buâ—ke is and yet hee never heard Masse all his life long But this may be forged to his disgrace by the envious Math. Paris IN a solemne conference betweene king Henry the third of England and Saint Lewes king of France the onely devout kings of that age when the French king saide He had rather heare Sermons than heare Masses Our king replied which some will smile at now but according to the learning of that time That he had rather see his loving friend meaning the reall presence in the Sacrament than to heare never so much good of him by others in sermons This I note because it was then thought facetious which I doubt not but some wil now condemne as superstitious Gâ—â—l Rishanger Pecham that Opticall Archbishop of Canterbury who writte Perspectiva Communis when Pope Gregorie the tenth who had created him Archbishop commaunded him to pay foure thousand markes within foure moneths vnder paine of excommunication hee that came vnto the See then deepely indebted saide Beholde you have created me and as a creature doth desire to be perfected by his creator so I doe in my oppressions flie vnto your Holmesse to be recreated Archiep. Cantuar. Sewall Archbishop of Yorke much agrieved with some practises of the Popes collectors in England tooke all patiently and saide I will not with Chaâ— discover the nakednes of my father but cover and conceale it with Sem. As Constantine the Great saide that hee would cover the faults of Bishops and Fathers of the Church with his Imperiall robe Mat. Paris Pope Innocentius the fourth when he offered the kingdome of Sicil and Naples to Richard Earle of Cornewall with many impossible conditions You might as well say de the Earles Agent at Rome say to my Lord and Maister I sell or give you the Moone climbe vp catch is and take it Anonymus qui incipit Rex Pictorum Alexander successor to Innocentius sent vnto the saide Earle Richard to borrow a great masse of money but the Earle answered I wil not lend to my superior uppon whome I cannot distraine for the debts This Richard is reported by the saide Author to have had so great treasure that hee was able to dispend for tenne yeeres an hundred markes a day which according to the Standard of that time was no small summe Idem In the raigne of king Henry a Bishop of London stoâ—â—ly withstoode the Popes Nunciâ— that would have levied exactions of the Cleargie Whereupon the Nâ—â—ciâ— complained vnto the king who shortly menaced the Bishop and tolde him he would cause the Pope to plucke his peacockes toile but the Bishop boldely answered the King that the Pope and he being too strong for him might bereave him of his bishoprick by might but never by right and that although they tooke away his Mitre yet they would leave him his Helmet Lib. Cantuar. Wicked rather than wittie is that of a Deane high treasurer of England that had demeaned himselfe so well in his office that when he died he made this wicked will I bequeathe all my goodes and possessions vnto my liege Lords the King my body to the earth and my soule to the divell Idem VVHen Edward the first heard of the death of his onely sonne hee tooke it grievously as a father but patiently as a wise man But when hee vnderstoode shortely after of the departure of his father king Henry the third he was wholy deiected and comfortlesses whereat when Charles king of Sicile with whome he then soiourned in his returne from the holy land greatly marvelled He satisfied him with this God may send more sonnes but the death of a father is irrecoverable Waâ—singham This is that king Edward the first who as in lineaments of body he surpassed all his people being like Saul higher than any of them so in prudence conioyned with valour and industry he excelled all our Princes giving ther by sure ankerholde to the governement of this realme waving vp and downe before most vncertainely Which hee effected not so much by establishing good lawes as by giving life vnto his lawes by due execution And as my Author saith Iudices potissimùm iudicans quos constituit indices aliorum Who addeth also this of him Nemâ— in consilijs illo argutior in eloquâ—â— torrentiâ—r in periculis socurior in prosperis â—â—utiâ—r in adversis
constantiâ—r Commendatie lamentabilis in transiâ—n Regis Edw priâ—â— Whereas the kings of England before his time vsed to weare their Crowne vpon all solemne feast dayes he first omitted that custome saying merrily That Crownes doe rather â—nerate than honour Princes Idem tractatus When a simple religious man seeing him meanely attired wondering thereat asked him why hee beeing so potent a Prince ware so simple a sute he answered Father Father you know how God regardeth garments What can I doe more in royall robes than in this my gabbardine Idem When the Cleargie pretending a discharge by a 〈◊〉 lately made at the Councell held at Lyons in Fraâ—â—â— would contribute nothing to the temporall necessities of King Edward hee saide vnto them in parliament Seeing you doe refuse to helpe me I will also refuse to help you c. If you deny to pay tribute to me as vnto your Prince I will refuse to protect you as my subiects and therefore if you be spoyled robbed maiâ—â—ed and nurthered seeke for no succourner defence of me or mine The Pope sent an Iniunction vnto the same Edward the which was delivered vnto him in one of his iornies against the fautors of Iohn Balleal king of Scotland the tenour of it was that he should surcease to disquiet the Scottes which were an exempt nation and properly appertaining to the Roman Chappell wherefore the citty of Ierusalem could not but defend her Cittizens and helpe them that did trust in the Lord like mount Siâ—â— Hee hadde no sooner read it but rapping out an othe saide I will not holde my peace for Syon nor Ierusalems rest as long as there is breath in my bodie but wil prosecute my iust right knowne vnto all the world and defend is to the death Tho Walsing ham When Iohn Earle of Athâ—ll nobly descended who had with other murthered Iohn Coâ—â—in was apprehended by king Edward the first and some intreated for him The king answered The higher his calling is the greater must his fall be and as he is of higher parentage so he shal be the higher hanged which accordingly was performed for he was hanged on a gallowes fiftie foote high Florilegus Whenas in siege of the Castle of Strivelin in Scotland king Edward the first by his over-forwardnesse was often endaungered some advised him to have more regarde to his person hee aunswered them with that of David in the Psalme A thousand shall fall as my fide and tenne thousand at my right hand but it shall not come neere me Florilegus When the learned Lawyers of the realme were consulted in a cause by him and after long consultation did not satisfie him hee saide as kings impatient of delayes may be bolde with their Lawyers My Lawyers are long advising and never advised Florilegus As for other speeches of his I wittingly and willingly overpasse Eleanor wife to king Edward the first a most vertuous and wise woman when hee tooke his long and dangerous voyage into the holy land would not be disswaded to tarrie at home but woulde needes accompany him saying Nothing must part them whome God hath ioyned and the way to heaven is as neare in the holy land if not nearer as in England or Spaine This worthy Queene maketh mee remember Eubulus a scoffing Comicall Greeke Poet which curseth himselfe if ever hee opened his mouth against women inferring albeit Medea were wicked yet Penelope was peerelesse if Clytemnestra were naught yet Alcestes was passing good if Phâ—dra were damnable yet there was an other laudable But heere saith he I am at a stand of good women I finde not one more but of the wicked I remember thousandes Beshrew this scoffer yee good wives all and let his curse fall vpon him for of your kinde may many a million bee found yea of your owne country and that I may reserve other to a fitter place I will shew vnto you a rare example in this Queene of England a most loving and kinde wife out of Rodericus Sanctius not mentioned by our Historians When king Edward the first was in the holy land hee was stabbed with a poysoned dagger by a Sarazen and through the rancor of the poyson the wound was iudged incurable by his Physitions This good Queene Eleanor his wife who had accompanied him in that iourney endangering her owne life in loving affection saved his life and eternized her owne honour For she daily and nightly sucked out the ranke poyson which love made sweete to her and thereby effected that which no Arte durst attempt to his safety her ioy and the comfort of all England So that well woorthy was shee to be remembred by those Grosses as monuments which in steade of Statues were erected by her husband to hir honour at Lincolne Grâ—â—tham Stanford Goddington Northampton Stâ—â—y Straford Dunstaple Saint Albanes Waltham and Westminster called Charing crosse all adorned with her Armes of Castile Leon and Pontive Robert Winchelsey the Archbishop of Canterbury was banished by king Edward the first but afterward restored againe by him and all the rents that had beene sequestred during his absence repayed him whereby he became the richest Archbishop that had been in that feate before him Wherefore often recording his troubles hee woulde say Adversitie never burteth where no uniquity over-ruleâ—â— Liber Cantuar. William de March Lord Treasourer vnto king Edward the first caused all the treasure throughout all the land that was layed vppe in the Monasteries and Churches to be at one iustant violently taken away by military men saying It is better that money should be mooving and according to the name be currant and goe abroad to the vse of the people than resting in chests without fruits and occupation concurring in this last poynt with a Maxime of the Vsurers hall Of king Edward the second I finde nothing memorable but that which griefe and great indignitie wreasted from him when Corney and his rascall rabblements after his deposition would needes shave him on the way lest he should be knowne and rescewed They enforced him to sit downe vpon a mole hil and the knave Barber insulting told him that cold water taken out of the next ditch should serve for his trimming at that time Hee answered Whether you will or no there shall be warme water and therewithall hee shedding teares plentifully verified his words Thom de la More After the battell of Poitiers 〈◊〉 Lorde Audley was brought to the Blacke Prince in a Litter most grievously wounded for hee had carried himselfe most valiantly that day To whome the Prince with due commendations gave for his good service foure hundred markes of yeerely revenews The which hee returning to his tent gave as franckely to his foure Esquiers that attended him in the battell whereof when the Prince was advertised doubting that his gift was contemned as too little for so great good service the Lord Audley satisfied him with this answer I must doe for them who deserved best of me These my Esquiers saved my life
amiddest the ennemies And God bee thanked I have sufficient revenews left by my Aâ—ncestours to maintaine me in your service Whereupon the Prince praising his prudence and liberalitie confirmed his gift made to his Esquiers and assigned him moreover sixe hundred markes of like land in England â—rossard William Wickham after Bishoppe of Winchester came into the service and also into the great favour of King Edward the third by beeing overseer of his great woorke at Windesor wheras before he served as a poore parish priest Wherfore he caused to be written in one of his windows This worke made Wickham Which being tolde vnto the King hee was offended with Wickham as though hee had gone about to robbe him of the glorie of that magnificent worke But when Wickham tolde him that his meaning was that that worke had beene his making and advauncement the King rested content and satisfied Vita Wiccami When the saide William Wickham as it is commonlie saide sued vnto Edward the third for the Bishoppricke of Winchester the King tolde him that hee was vnmeete for it because he was vnlearned but hee saide In recompence thereof I will make many learned men The which hee performed indeed For he founded New Colledge in Oxford and another in Winchester which houses have affoorded verie many learned men both to the Church and to the Common-wealth When Henry of Lancaster surnamed the Good Earle of Darby had taken 1341. Bigerac in Gascoigne hee gave and graunted to every souldier the house which every one should first seaze vpon with all therein A certaine souldier of his brâ—ke into a Mint-maisters house where hee found so great a masse of money that hee amazed therewith as a prey greater than his desert or desire signified the same vnto the Earle who with a liberall minde aunswered It is not for my state to play boyes play to give and take Take thou the money if it were thrice as much Walsingham When newes was bâ—ought vnto king Richard the second that his vnkles of Yorke and Gloucester the Earles of Arundell Warwicke Darby and Nottingham with other of that faction who sought to reforme the misorders of the King or rather of his wicked Counsellors were assembled in a woodde neere vnto the Court after hee had asked other mens opinions what was to be done in so weightie and doubtfull a case At length hee mernly demaunded of one sir Hugh a Linne who had beene a good militarie man in his dayes but was then somewhat distraught of his wittes what he would advise him to doe Issue out quoth sir Hugh and let vs set vppon them and stay them every mothers sonne and by Gods eyes when thou hast so done thou hast killed all the faithfull friendes that thou hast in England Anonymus KIng Henry the fourth a wise Prince who full well knew the humour of the English in his admonition to his sonne at his death saide Of Englishmen so long as they have wealth and riches so long sâ—alt thou have obeysance but when they be poore then they be alwayes ready to make insurrections at every motion Hall King Henry the fourth during his sickenes caused his Crowne to be set on his pillow at his beds head and sodainâ—ly his pangue so sore troubled him that hee lay as though his vitall spirites had beene from him departed Such chamberlaines as had the care and charge of his bodie thinking him to be dead covered his face with a linnen cloth The Prince his sonne being thereof advertised entred into the chamber and tooke away the Crowne and departed The father being sodainely revived out of his traunce quickely perceived that his Crowne was taken away and vnderstanding that the Prince his sonne had it caused him to repaire to his presence requiring of him for what cause he had so mis-used himselfe The Prince with a good audacitie answered Sir to mine and all men iudgements you seemed dead in this world wherefore I as your next and apparant heire tooke that as mine owne not as yours Well faire sonne saide the King with a great sigh what right I had to it and how I enioyed it God knoweth Well quoth the Prince if you die King I will have the garland and trust to keepe it with the Sworde against all mine enemies as you have done Hall KIng Henry the fift when he prepared warres against Fraunce the Dolphin of Fraunce sent him a present of Paris Balles in derision but hee returned for answere That he would shortly resend him London Balles which should shake Paris Walles Anonymus Angticè When King Henry the fift had given that famous overthrowe vnto the French at Agincourt hee fell downe vppon his knees and commaunded his whole armie to doe the same saying that verse in the Psalme Non nobis Domine non nobis sed nomini tuo da gloriam Not vnto vs O Lord not vs but vnto thy name give the glorie HEnry the sixt did take all iniuries whereof he received plenty so patiently that he not only did not seek to revenge them but Gave God thankes that hee did send them to punish his sinnes in this life that hee might escape punishment in the life to come Vita Henrici Sexti As the Emperor Fredericke the third when he heard of the death of a great noble man of Austria who lived ninety three yeeres most wickedly in fleshly pleasures and yet never once afflicted with griefe or sickenes saide This proâ—veth that which Divines teach that after death there is some place where wee receive rewarde or punishment when wee see often in this worlde neyther the iust rewarded nor the wicked punished The same King Henry having in Christmasse a shew of yoong women with their bare breasts layde out presented before him hee immediately departed with these wordes Fie fie for shame forsooth you be too blame Idem He receiving on a time a great blowe by a wicked man which compassed his death hee onely sayde Forsooth forsooth yee doe fowly to smite a King annoynted Not long before his death being demaunded why hee had so long held the Crowne of England vniustly hee replied My father was King of England quietly enioying the Crowne all his raigne and his father my grandfire was also king of England and I even a childe in cradle was proclaimed and crowned King without any interruption and so held it fortie yeeres wel-neere all the states doing homage vnto mee as to my Auncestors Therefore wiâ—â— I say with King David My lot is fallen in a faire ground I have a goodly heritage my helpe is from the Lord which saveth the vpright in heart Idem Thomas Montacute â—arle of Sarisbury when hee besieged Orleans and had so enforced it that the Inhabitants were willing to articulate and to yeelde themselves to the Duke of Burgundie then being in his company he highly disdaining it saide in the English proverbe I wil not beate the bush and another shal have the birdes Which proverbiall speech so offended the
Burgundian that it wholy alienated his minde from the English to their great losse in all the French warres following Paulus Aemilius Lib. 10. Iohn Lorde Talbot first Earle of Shrewsbury of that familie supprised vppon the sodaine by the French army at Chastilion farre from cowardly fâ—are of death and fatherly affected to his sonne the Lorde â—isle who woulde not forsake him in that danger advised him to fâ—le saying My death in respect of my former exploites can not be but honourable and in respect of thy youth neither can it be honourable for thee to die nor dishonourable to fâ—ie But this yong Lord in height of courage nothing degenerating from so worthy a father lost his life with his father in the field and with them a base sonne and a sonne in lawe of the sayde Earles Paulus Aemilius Lib. 10. Commentarij Pij PP 2. Lib. 6. After this battell when the flames of inward warre beganne to flash out in England the martiall men of England were called home out of Fraunce to maintaine the factions heere at which time a French Captaine scoffingly asked an English-man when they woulde returne againe into Fraunce He answered feelingly and vpon a true ground When your sinnes shal be greater and more grievous in the sight of God than ours are now ¶ Vntill this time from the beginning of King Edward the first which was about an hundred and sixtie yeeres whosoever will with a marking eie consider the comportment of the English Nation the concurrent of martiall men their Councells military discipline designs actions and exploites not onely out of our owne Writers but also forraine Historians cannot but acknowledge that they were men of especiall worth and their prowesse both great and glorious Why afterward it should decay as all other professions which even like plants have their times of beginning or in-rooting their growing vp their flourishing their maturitie and than these fading were a disquisition for the learned Whether it proceedeth from celestiall influence or those Angelles which Plato makes or the Secundei which Trithâ—â—â—ius imagined to have the regiment of the world successively or from the degenerating of numbers into summes which I confesse I vnderstand not being an ignorant in abstruse learning Onely I have read in Paterculus that when either envie or admiration hath given mâ—n an edge to ascend to the highest and when they can ascend no higher after a while they must naturally descend Yet I relie vpon that of Eccclesiastes as I vnderstand it Cuncta fecit bona in tempore suâ— Deus mundum tradidit disputationi eorum vt non inveniat home quod operatus est Deus ab initio vsque ad finem But pardon mee I cannot tell how I have beene by admiration of our Progenitours diverted from my purpose In the yeere of our Lord 1416. when a fifteene hundred English vnder the coÌ„duct of I Beaufort erle of Derset were encompassed betweene the sea and fifteen thousand French The Erle of Arminac generall of the French sent to the Earle advising him to yeelde himselfe but hee answered It is not the manner of the English to yeelde without blowes neither am I so heartlesse that I will deliver my selfe into their handes whom God â—ay deliver into mine And accordingly God gave him the honour of the day to the great confusion of the enemy Walsingham in Ypodigmate VVHen Elizabeth the widow of sir Iohn Gray was a suter vnto King Edward the fourth against whome her husband lost his life for her ioynture the kinde King became also a suter to her vnto her for a nights lodging But she wisely answered him when hee became importunate That as she did account her selfe too base to be his wife so shee did thinke her selfe too good to be his 〈◊〉 When love grew so hote in this K. Edward the fourth that hee would needes marry the saide Elizabeth widow of sir Iohn Grey to the great discontent of his Counsell but especially of his mother who alleaging many reasons to the contrary saide That onely widowhood might be sufficient to restraine him for that it was high disparagement to a King to be dishonoured with bigamy in his first marriage The King merrily aunswered In that shee is a widdow and hath already children by Gods blessed Lady I am a batcheller and have some too and so each of vs hath a proofe that neither of vs are like to be barren And therefore Madam I pray you be content I trust in God she shal bring you forth a yong Prince that shall please you And as for the bigamy let the Bishop hardly lay it in my way when I come to take Orders for I vnderstand it is forbidden to a Priest but I never wist it yet that it was forbidden to a Prince His note love neverthelesse was partable among three other of his Mistresses of whome hee was woont to say The one was the fairest the other the merriest and the third the holiest for she had wholy devoted her selfe to his bedde and her beades When Lewes the eleaventh French King entertained diverse Councellors of king Edward the fourth with large pensions to steede him in England hee sent Peter Cleret one of the maisters of his housholde vnto the Lorde Hastings the Kings Chamberlaine to present him with twoo thousand crownes Which when he had received Petre Cleret did pray him that for his discharge he would make him an acquittance The Lorde Chamberlaine made a great difficultie thereat Then Cleret dooth request him againe that hee would give vnto him onely a letter of three lines for his discharge to the King signifying that hee had received them The Lord Chamberlaine answered Sir that which you say is very reasonable but the gift comes from the goodwill of the King your Maister and not at my request at all If it please you that I shall have it you shall put it within the pocket of my sleeve and you shall have no other acquittance of me For I will never it shal be saide for mee that the Lorde Chamberlaine of the King of England had beene Pentioner to the King of Fraunce Nor that my acquittances shal be found in the Chamber of accompts in Fraunce The aforesâ—id Cleret went away male-content but left his money with him and came to tell his message to his King who was very angry with him But thenceforth the Lord Chamberlaine of England was more esteemed with the French and alwayes payde without acquittance Philippe de Commines KIng Richard the third whose monstrous birth foreshewed his monstrous proceedings for he was born with all his teeth and haire to his shoulders albeit hee lived wickedly yet made good Lawes and when diverse shires of England offered him a benevolence hee refused it saying I know not in what sence I haa rather have your hearts than your money Ioannes Rossus Warwiceusis Iohn Morton then Bishoppe of Elie but afterward of Canterbury being solicited by the Duke of Buckingham then
alienated from Richard the third to speake his minde frankely vnto him in matters of State the Bishoppe aunswered him In good faith my Lord I love not much to talke with Princes as a thing not all out of perill although the words be without fault Forasmuch as it shall not be taken as the partie meant it but as it pleaseth the Prince to construe it And ever I thinke on Aesopes tale that when the Lien had proclaimed that on paine of death there should no horned beast abide in that wood one that had in his forehead a bounch of flesh fledde away a great pase The Foxe that sawe him ruune so fast asked him whither he made all that haste hee answered In faith I neither wote nor recke so I were once hence because of this proclamation made of horned beasts What foâ—le quoth the Foxe thou mayest well enough abide the Lion meant not by thee for it is no horne that is vppon thy head No Mary quoth hee that wote I well enough but what and hee call it an horne where am I then Tho Moore Sir Thomas Rokesby being controlde for suffering himselfe to be served in treene Cuppes answered These homelie cuppes and dishes pay truly for that they containe I had rather drinke out of treene and pay golde and silver than drinke out of golde and silver and make woodden payment VVHen Richard the third was slain at Bosworth and with him Iohn Howard Duke of Norffolke King Henry the seaventh demaunded of Thomas Howard Earle of Surrey the Dukes sonne and heire then taken prisoner how he dâ—rst beare Armes in the behalfe of that tyranne Richard He answered He was my crowned King and if the Parliamentary authority of England sette the Crowne vppon a stocke I will fight for that stocke And as I fought then for him I wiâ— fight for you when you are established by the said authoritie And so hee did for his sonne King Henry the eight at Flodden field Anonymus When Margaret the widdow of Charles the Hardie Duke of Bargundie and sister to king Edward the fourth envying much the happy estate and raigne of Henry the seaventh descended of the adverse family of Lancaster had at sundry times suborned two rascalles to counterfeit the persons of her two brothers sonnes thereby to withdrawe the hearts of his subiects and raise vproares in his realme the king sent over vnto Philippe the Duke of Burgundie doctour Warrham afterward Archbishop of Canterbury to informe him of her treachery This Doctour in the latter â—â—d of his Oration thus nipped the seditious Dutchesse That within few yeeres after shee was past threescore yeeres of age she had brought foorth two monsters Lambert and Peter and not in the nine and tenth moneths as women naturally doe but in the hundred and fourescore moneth for they were both about fifteene yeeres of age when shee brought them abroade as it were out of her belly neither were they Crisomers but such childe-choppers that as soone as ever they were borne they were able to wage warre with a mighty King Th More The earle of Kildare being charged before king Henry the seaventh for burning the Metropolitane Church of Cassilles in Ireland and many witnesses procured to avouch the trueth of the Article against him hee sodainely confessed it to the great wondring and detestation of the Counsell Then it was looked how he should iustifie that fact By Iesus quoth hee I would never have done it if it had not beene tolde me that the Archbishop had beene within it And because the Bishop was one of the busiest accusers present merrily laughed the king at the plainnesse of the man to see him alledge that intent for excuse which most of all did aggravate his fault When among many articles the last article exhibited by the Irish against that Earle of Kildare the last was Finally All Ireland cannot rule this Earle Then quoth the King shall this Earle rule all Ireland and shortly after hee made him Deputie thereof When one reprooved King Henry the seaventh for his slownesse in making warres on those that wronged him he answered If we Princes should take every occasion that is offered vs the worlde should never be quiet but wearied with continuall warres When a Gentleman none of the wisest tolde King Henry the seaventh that hee found sir Richard Grâ—ftes who was made Banneret at the battell of Stoke to be a very wise man The King answered Hee doubted not that but marvelled much how a foole could knowe a wiseman It hâ—ppened that there was fallen in communication the story of Ioseph how his maister Putiphars wife a great mâ—n with the King of Aegipt would have pulled him to â—eâ—bâ—d â—nâ— he fled away Now Maister Mâ—â—o hee was the King Almoner quoth king Henry the seaventh You be a tall strong man on the one side and a cunning Doctor on the other side what would you have done if you had not beene Ioseph but in Iosephs steade By my troth fir quoth he and it like your Grace I cannot tell what I would have done but I can tell you what I should have done Tho Moore The Lady Margaret Countesse of Richmond mother to king Henry the seaventh a most worthy Patronesse of good Letters would often say On the condition that Princes of Christendome would combine themselves and march against the common enemy the Turke shee would most wilâ—ingly attend them and be their Laundresse in the campe There was a poore blind man in Warwick-shire that was accounted verie cunning in prognosticating of weather vpon a day Empson a great lawier as hee road that way sayd in scorne of his cunning I pray you tell me father when doth the Sunne change The chafed old man that knew his corrupt conscience answered when such a wicked Lawier as you goeth to heauen Doctor Collet the Deane of Paules said that if the Clergie were naught the Laitie were worse for it could not otherwise be but the laye men must ever be one degree vnder the Clergie for surely it can be no 〈◊〉 that our Sauiour sayth himselfe who sayth of the Cleargie that they be the salt of the earth and if the salt once appall the world must needes waxe vnsauerie and he sayeth that the Clergie bee the light of the world and then sayeth he if the light bee darkened how darke will then the darkenesse be that is to wit all the world beside whereof he calleth the Clergie onely the light Cardinall Wolsey his teeth watering at the rich Bishopricke of Winchester sent one vnto Bishop Foxe who had advaunced him vnto the kings service for to move him to resigne the Bishopricke because extreame age had made him blind the which message and motion Foxe did take in so ill part that he willed the messenger to tell the Cardinall thus from him that although olde age bereaving me of sight I know not white from blacke yet I can discerne truth from falshoode and right from wrong yea and that now I