Pace had a sonne at his circumcision named Haly hee would be called Aven Pace concealing Haly but his sonne howsoever hee were named would be called Aven-Haly c. So Surnames passing from father to sonne and coÌ„tinuing to their issue was not antiently in vse among any people in the world Yet to these single Names were adioyned oftentimes other names as Cognomina or Sobriquetts as the French call them and By-names or Nicke-names as we terme them if that word be indifferent to good and bad which still did die with the bearer and never descended to posteritie That we may not exemplifie in other nations which would afforde great plenty but in our own King Eadgar was called the Peaceable king Ethelred the Vnreadie king Edmund for his Valour Iron-side king Harold the Hare-foote Eadric the Streona that is the Getter or Streiner Siward the Degera that is the Valiant King William the first Bastard king William the second Rouse that is the Red king Henry the first Beauclarke that is Fine Scholler so in the house of Aniou which obtained the Crowne of England Geffrey the first Earle of Aniou was surnamed Grisogonel that is Grey-cloake Fulco his sonne Nerra his grand-childe Rechiâ— for his extortion Againe his grand-childe Plantagenet for that he ware commonly a broome-stalke in his bonnet His sonne Henry the second king of England Fitz-Empresse because his mother was Empresse his sonne king Richard had for surname Corde-Lion for his lion-like courage as Iohn was called Sans-terre that is Without land So that wheras these names were never taken vp by the sonne I knowe not why any should thinke Plantagenet to be the surname of the royall house of England albeit in late yeeres many have so accounted it Neither is it lesse strange why so many should thinke Theodore or Tydur as they contract it to be the surname of the Princes of this Realme since king Henry the seaventh For albeit Owen ap Merâ—dith Tydur which married Katharine the daughter of Charles the sixth king of France was grandfather to king Henry the seventh yet that Tydur or Theodore was but the Christian name of Owens grandfather For Owens father was Meredith ap Tydur Ap Grone Ap Tydur who all without Surnames iterated Christian names after the olde manner of the Britaines and other nations heeretofore noted and so lineally deduced his pedegree from Cadwallader king of the Britans as was found by Commission directed to Griffin ap Lewellin Gitteu Owen Iohn King and other learned men both English and Welsh in the seaventh yeare of the said king Henry the seventh Likewise in the line Royall of Scotland Milcolme or Malcolme was surnamed Canmore that is Great head and his brother Donald Ban that is White Alexander the first the Prowde Malcolme the fourth the Virgine William his brother the Lion As amongest the Princes of Wales Brochvail Schitrauc that is Gaggtothed Gurind Barmbtruch that is Spade-bearded Elidir Coscorvaur that is Heliodor the Great house-keeper and so in Ireland Murough Duff that is Blacke 〈◊〉 Roo that is Red Nemoliah that is full of wounds Patric Ban that is White Gavelcâ— that is Fetters To seeke therefore the auntient Surnames of the royall and most antient families of Europe is to seeke that which never was And therefore greatly are they deceived which thinke Valoys to have beene the surname of the late French kings or Borbon of this present king or Habsburg or Austriac of the Spanish king or Steward of the late kings of Scotland and now of BRITAINE or Oldenburg of the Danish For as all know that have but sipped of Histories Valoys was but the Apponage and Earledome of Charles yonger sonne to Philip the second from whome the late kings descended so Borbon was the inheritance of Robert a yonger sonne to saint Lewes of whom this king is descended Habsburg and Austria were but the olde possessions of the Emperors and Spanish Kings progenitours Steward was but the name of office to Walter who was high Steward of Scotland the progenitour of Robert first King of Scots of that family and of the King our Soveraigne And Oldenburg was but the Erledome of Christian the first Danish king of this family elected about 1448. But yet Plâ—â—tagenet Steward Valois Borbon Habsburg c. by prescription of time have prevailed so farre as they are now accounted surnames But for surnames of Princes well said the learned Marcus Salon de Pace Reges cognomiue now vtâ—ntur qâ—â—ia vt Regum familiae agnationes memoriae conserventur 〈◊〉 cognomina non sunt necessaria prout in alijs inferioribus quorum ipsa cognomina agnationum ac familiarum memoriâ—â— tutantur About the yeare of our Lord 1000. that we may not minute out the time surnames beganne to be taken vp in France and in England about the time of the Conquest or else a very little before vnder King Edward the Confessor who was all Frenchified And to this time doe the Scottishmen referre the antiquitie of their surnames although Buchanan supposeth that they were not in vse in Scotland many yeares after But in England certaine it is that as the better sort even from the Conquest by little and little tooke surnames so they were not setled among the common people fully vntill about the time of King Edward the second but still varied according to the fathers name as Richardson if his father were Richard Hodgeson if his father were Roger or in some other respect and from thenceforth beganne to be established some say by statute in their posteritie This will seeme strange to some Englishmen and Scotishmen which like the Arcadians thinke their surnames as ancient as the Moone or at the least to reach many an age beyond the Conquest But they which thinke it most strange I speake vnder correction I doubt they will hardly finde any surname which descended to posteritie before that time Neyther have they seene I feare any deede or donation before the Conquest but subsigned with crosses and single names without surnames in this manner in England Ego Eadredus confirmavi ✚ Ego Edmundus corroboravi ✚ Ego Sigarius conclusi ✚ Ego Olfstanus consolidavi c. Likewise for Scotland in an old booke of Duresme in the Charter whereby Edgare sonne of King Malcolme gave lands neere Coldingham to that Church in the yeare 1097. the Scottish Noblemen witnesses therevnto had no other surnames than the Christian names of their fathers For thus they signed S. ✚ Gulfi filij Mâ—niani S ✚ Culverti filij Donecani S ✚ Olavi filij Oghe c. As for my selfe I never hitherto found any hereditarie Surname before the Conquest neither any that I know and yet both I my selfe and divers whom I know have pored and pusled vpon many an old Record and Evidence to satisfie our selves heerein and for my part I will acknowledge my selfe greatly indebted to them that wil cleare me this doubt But about the time of the Conquest I
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
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
of Bergeuenny and of many other great Lordships whose body resteth here vnder this tombe in a full faire vaulte of stone set in the bare roche The which visited with long sicknesse in the castle of Rohan therein deceased full Christianly the last day of Aprill in the yeare of our Lord God 1439. he being at that time Lieutenant generall of France and of the Duchie of Normandie by sufficient authoritie of our Soueraigne Lord King Henry the sixt The which body by great deliberation and worshipfull conduct by sea and by land was brought to Warwicke the fourth of October the yeare abouâ—said and was laid with full solemne exequies in a faire Chest made of Stone in the West dore of this Chappell according to his last Will and Testament therein to rest till this Chappell by him deuised in his life were made the which Chappell founded on the Roche and all the members therof his executors did fully make apparail by the auctority of his said last Will Testament And therafter by the said auctoritie they did translate worshipfully the said body into the vaulte aforesaid Honoured be God therefore His sister the Countesse of Shrewsbury was buried in Saint Faithes vnder S. Paules at London with this Here before the image of Ihesu lyeth the Worshipfull and right noble Lady Margaret Countesse of Shrouseburie late wife of the true victorious Knight redoubted Warriour Iohn Talbot Earle of Shrousebury which worshipfully died in Gien for the right of this lond the first daughter and one of the heires of the right famous and renowned Knight Richard Beauchampe late Erle of Warwicke which died in Roane and of dame Elizabeth his wife the which Elizabeth was daughter and heire to Thomas late Lord Berkely on his syd and of 〈◊〉 moders side Lady Lisle and Ties which Countesse passed from this world the xiiii day of Iune the yeare of our Lord 1468. On whose soule the Lord haue mercy For that valerous Earle her husband the terror of France I found no Epitaph but insteed thereof I will giue you â—o vnderstand that not long since his sworde was found in the riuer of Dordon and solde by a pesant to an Armorour of Burdeaux with this inscription but pardon the Latin for it was not his but his Camping priests SVM TALBOTI M. IIII.C.XLIII PRO VINCERE INIMICO MEO This inscription following is in the Cathedrall Church at Roan in Normandie for Iohn Duke of Bedford and Gouernour of Normandie Sonne to King Henry the fourth buried in a faire plaine monument which when a French Gentleman aduised Charles the eight French King to deface as being a monument of the English victories he said Let him rest in peace now he is dead whom we feared while he liued Cy gist feu de noble memoire haut puissant prince Iean en son viuant regent du Royaume de France Duc de Bethfort pour lequel est fondè vne Messe estre par chacun iour perpetuellement celebrâ—e en cest autel par le college des Clementins incontineâ—â— apres prime trespassa le 13. Septembre 1435. Au quel 13. iour semblablement est fondè poâ—r luy vn obït en ceste eglise Dieu face pardon à soname Vpon an auncient Knight Sir Iernegan buried Crosse-legd in Somerly in Suffolke some hundred yeares since is written Iesus Christ both God and man Saue thy seruant Iernegan Happy prudent K. Henry the 7. who stopped the streames of ciuill bloud which so long ouer-flowed England left a most peaceable state to his posteritie hath his magnificall monument at Westminster inscribed thus Septimus hic situs est Henricus gloria regum Cunctorum illius qui tempestate fuerunt Ingenio atque opibus gestarum nomine rerum Accessere quibus naturae dona benignae Frontis honos facies augusta heroica forma Iunctaque ei suauis coniunx perpulchra pudica Et faecunda fuit foelices prole parentes Henricum quibus octauum terra Anglia debes Hic iacet Henricus huius nominis VII Angliae quondam rex Edmundi Richmundiae Comitis filius qui die 22. Aug. Rex creatus statim post apud Westmonasterium 30. Octob. coronatur anno Domini 1485. moritur deinde xxi April anno aetatis Liii Regnauit annos xxii mens viii minùs vno die This following I will note out of Hackney Church that you may see that the Clergie were not alwaies anticipating and griping many liuings by this worthy man which relinquished great dignities and refused greater Christopherus Vrswicus Regis Henrici Septimi Elemozinaerius vir sua aetate clarus summatibus atque infimatibus iuxtà charus Ad exteros reges vndecies pro patria legatus DecanatuÌ„ Eboracensem Archidiaconatum Richmundiae DecanatuÌ„ Windsoriae habitos viuens reliquit EpiscopatuÌ„ Norwicensem oblatum recusauit Magnos honores totâ vita spreuâ—t frugali vita contentus hic viuere hic mori voluit Plenus annoruÌ„ obiâ—â— ab omnibus desideratus Funeris pompam etiam testamento vetuit Hic sepultus carnis resurrectionem in aduentum Christi expectat Obijt anno Christi incarnati 1521. Die 23. Martij Anno aetatis suae 74. This testamentarie Epitaph I haue read in an ould Manuscript Terram terra tegit Daemon peccata resumat Res habeat Mundus spiritus alta petat The name of the defunct is as it were enigmatically expressed in this ould epitaph Bis fuit hic natus puer bis bis iuuenisque Bis vir bisque senex bis doctor bisque sacerdos In the Cathedrall church of S. Pauls in London a stone is inscribed thus without name Non hominem aspiciam vltra OBLIVIO This man yet would not willingly haue bene forgotten when he adioyned his Armes to continue his memorye not vnlike to Philosophers which prefixde their names before their Treatises of contemning glorie Another likewise suppressing his name for his Epitaph did set downe this goodly admonition Looke man before thee how thy death hasteth Looke man behind thee how thy life wasteth Looke on thy right side how death thee desireth Looke on thy left side how sinne thee beguileth Looke man aboue thee ioyes that euer shall last Looke man beneth thee the paines without rest The Abott of S. Albanes which lieth buried there in the high Quire suppressed his name as modestly as any other in this Hic quidam terra tegitur Peccato soluens debitum Cuius nomen non impositum In libro vitae sit inscriptum In the Cloister on the north side of S. Pauls now ruinated one had this inscription vpon his Graue without name VIXI PECCAVI PAENITVI NATVRAE CESSI Which is as Christian as that was prophane of the Romane AMICI DVM VIVIMVS Vâ—VAMVS Queene Iane who died in Child birth of King Edward the sixt and vsed for her deuice a Phaenix has this therevnto alluding for her Epitaph Phenix Iana iacet nato Phaenice doendum Secula Phaenices nulla tulisse duos The noble
little when I first read it But nothing can bee gathered thereby but that the Saxons our progenitours which planted themselves heere in the West did also to their glorie place Colonies likewise there in the east As in the Latine tongue the learned make in respect of time foure Idioms the Antient the Latine the Roman the Mixt so we in ours may make the Antient English-Saxon and the Mixt. But that you may seeme how powerable time is in altering tongues as all things else I will set downe the Lords prayer as it was translated in sundrie ages that you may see by what degrees our tongue is risen and thereby coniecture how in time it may alter and fall againe If we could set it downe in the antient Saxon I meane in the tongue which the English vsed at their first arrivall heere about 420. yeares after Christs birth it would seeme most strange and harsh Dutch or Gebrish as women call it or when they first embraced Christianitie about the yeare of Christ 600. But the antientst that I can finde was about 900. yeare since about the yeare of Christ 700. found in an antient Saxon glossed Evangelists in the hands of my good friend M. Robert Bowyer written by Eadfride the eight Bishop of Lindiffarâ—â— which after was translated to Durrham and divided according to the antient Canon of Eusebius not into chapters for Stephen Langton Archbishop of Canturburie first divided the holy Scriptures into chapters as Robert Stephan did lately into verse and thus it is Vren Our Fader Father thic which arth art in in heofnas heaven Sie be gehalgud hallowed thin thin noma name to cymeth come thin thy ric kingdom Sie Be thin thy willa will sue so is as in in heofnas heaven and and in in eortho earth Vren Oure hlaf lofe ofer Super wirtlic substantiall sel give vs vs to to daeg day and and forgâ—f forgive vs vs scylda debts urna euâ—es sue so we we for for gefan give scyldgum debts vrum oures and and no do inlead not led vsith vs in into custnung temptation Ah But gefrig deliver vrich every one from from ifle evill Amen Some two hundred yeeres after I finde this somewhat varied in two translations Thu vre fader the eart on heofenum Si thin nama gehalgod Cum thin ric Si thin willa on eorthan swa swa on heofo num Syle vs to daeg vrn daegthanlican dayly hlaf And forgif vs vre gyltas trespasses swa swa we for gifath tham the with against vs vs agyltath have trespassed And ne led the vs on costnung Ac alys vs from yfle Si Be it it swa so About an hundred and three score yeeres after in the time of king Henry the second I find this in time sent from Rome by Pope Adrian an Englishman to be taught to the people Vre fadyr in heaven rich Thy name be halyed everlich Thou bring vs thy michell blisse Al 's hit in heaveny-doe Evar in yearth beene it also That holy bread that lasteth ay Thou send it ouâ— this ilke day Forgive ous all that we havith don As wee forgivet vch other mon Ne let ous fall into no founding Ac sheild ous fro the fowle thing Amen Neither was there any great variation in the time of king Henry the third as appeereth in this of that age as I coniecture by the Character Fader that art in heavin blisse Thin helge nam it wurth the blisse Cumen mot thi kingdom Thin holy will it be all don In heaven and in erdh also So it shall bin full well Ic trâ— Gif vs all bread on this day And forgif vs vre sinnes Ai we do vre wider winnes Let vs not in fonding fall O ac fro evill thu syld vs all Amen In the time of king Richard the second about a hundred and odde yeeres after it was so mollified that it came to be thus as it is in the Translation of Wickliffe with some Latine wordes now inserted whereas there was not one before Our fadyr that art in heaven halloed be thy name thy kingdom com to be thy will done so in heaven and in erth gif to vs this day our bread over other substance and forgif to vs our dettis as we forgeven to our detterâ— and leed vs nott into temptation but deliver vs fro evill Amen Hitherto will our sparkefull Youth laugh at their great grandfathers English who had more care to do well than to speake minion-like and lâ—ft mâ—re glory to vs by thâ—ir exploiting of great actes than we shall do by our sonnetting Great verily was the glory of our tongue before the Norman Conquest in this that the olde English could expresse most aptly all the conceiptes of the minde in their owne tongue without borrowing from any As for example The holy service of God which the Latines called Religion because it knitted the mindes of men together and most people of Europe have borrowed the same from them they called most significantly Fan-fastnes as the one and onely assurance and fast anker-holde of our soules health The gladsome tidings of our salvation which the Greekes called Evangelion and other Nations in the same word they called Godspel that is God speech For our Saviour which wee borrowed from the French and they from the Latin Salvator they called in their owne word Haelend from Hael that is Salus safetie which we â—â—tame still in Al-hael and Was-hael that is Ave Salve Sis salvus They could call the disciples of Christ Leorning Cnibtas that is Learning Servitours For 〈◊〉 which is now a name of worship signified with them an Attendant or servitour They could name the Pharises according to the Hebrew Sunder-halgens as holy religious men which had sundred and severed themselves from other The Scribes they could call in their proper signification as Booke-men Bocer So they called parchment which wee have catcht from the Latine Pergamenum Boc-fell in respect of the vse So they could call the sacrament Haligdome as holy iudgement For so it is according as we receive it They could call Fortilitie and fruitfulnesse of land significatively Eordes-wela as wealth of the earth They could call a Comet a Faxed starre which is all one with Stella Crinita or Cometa So they did call the iudgement seate Domesettle That which we call the Parlament of the French Parier to speake they called a Witten mot as the meeting and assembly of wise men The certaine and inward knowledge of that which is in our minde be it good or bad which in the Latine word we call Conscience they called Inwit as that which they did inwardly wit and wote that is know certainely That in a river which the Latines call Alveus and Canaâ—is and from thence most nations of Europe name the Chanel Kanel Canale c. they properly called the Streame-race Neither in the degrees of kinred they were destitute of significative woordes for he whom we of a French
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
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
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
Vale Vale Salue anima nos eo ordine quo natura iusserit sequemur With H. M. H. N. S for Hoc monumentum haeredes non sequitur When they would not haue their heires entombed therein with Rogo per Deos superos inferosque ossa nostra ne violes And most commonly with Sit tibi terra leuis in these notes S. T. T. L. And somtime with Quietem posteri non inuideant But omitting this discourse I will offer vnto your view a Century of choise Epitaphes of our nation for matter and conceit some good some bad that you may see how learning ebbed and flowed most of them recouered from the iniury of time by writers And will beginne with that at Rome as most auncient erected to the memory of a Britanne who after the maner of the time tooke a Romane name M. VLPIO IVSTO Q. SIG. AVG. MILITAVIT AN. XXV VIXIT XLV NATIONE BRITTO â—EC M. VLSIVS RESPECTVS VEH. AVG. AMICO OPTIMO DE SE BENE MERENTI Arthur the valerous vpholder of the ruinous state of Britaine against the Saxons about the yeare 500. was buried secretly at Glastenburie least the enimie should offer indignity to the dead body and about 700. yeares after when a graue was to be made in the Churchyard there a stone was found betweene two Pyramides deepe in the ground with a crosse of lead infixed into the lower part thereof and inscribed in the inner side of the crosse in rude Characters which the Italians now call Gotish letters HIC IACET SEPVLTVS INCLYTVS REX ARTVRIVS IN INSVLA AVALONIA Vnder which in a trough of Oke were found his bones which the Monkes translated into the church and honoured them with a tombe but dishonored him with these horne pipe verses Hic iacet â—rturus flos regum gloria regni Quem morum probitas commendat laude perenni Augustine the first Archbishop of Canterbury who first preached Christ to the English nation conuerted the Kentishmen reuiued Christianity in this Isle which flourished among the Britaines many years before his coÌ„ming was buried at Canterbury in S. Peters Porch with this Epitaph Hic requiescit dominus Augustinus Dorobernensis Archiepiscopus primus qui â—lim huc a beato Gregorio Remanae vrbis pontifice directus a Deo operatione miraculorum suffultus Aethelbertum regem ac gentem illius ab idolorum cultu ad Christi fidem perduxit completis in pace diebus officij sui defunctus est septimo Kalendas Iunias eodem rege regnante In the same place were interred the sixe succeeding Archbishops for whom and Augustin making the seauenth were these verses as coÌ„mon to them all written on the wall with this title as I finde them in Geruasius Dorobernensis Septem primae ecclesiae Anglorum columnae Augustinus Laurentius Mellitus Iustus Honorius Deus-dedit Theodorus Septem sunt Anglis primates protopatres Septem rectores caelo septemque triones Septem cisternae vitae septemque lucernae Et septem palmae regni septemque coronae Septem sunt stellae quas haec tenet area cellae But Theodore the last of the 7. which first taught Greeke in England and died in the yeare 713. had this seuerally inscribed vpon his tombe Scandens alma nouae foelix consortia vitae Ciuibus Angelicis iunctus in arce poli Cedwall King of the West Saxons went to Rome in the yeare 689. there being Baptized renounced the world ended his life and lieth buried with this Epitaph Culmen opes sobolem pollentia regna triumphos Exuuias proceres mania castra lares Quaeque patrum virtus quae congesserat ipse Caedwal armipotens liquit amore Dei With some more which you may see in Paulus Diaconus and Beda King Eadgar surnamed the Peaceable the great patron and fauourer of Monkes deserued well for his foundation of so many Abbayes this Epitaph Autor opum vindex scelerum largitor honorum Sceptriger Eadgarus regna superna petit Hic alter Salomon legum pater orbita pacis Quòd caruit bellis claruit inde magis Templa Deo templis monachos monachis dedit agros Nequitiae lapsum iustitiaeque locum Nouit enim regno verum perquirere falso Immensum modico perpetuumque breui To the honor of King Alfred a godly wise and warlike prince and an especiall aduancer of learning was made this better then that time commonly afforded Nobilitas innata tibi probitatis honorem Armipotens Alfrede dedit probitasque laborem Perpetuumque labor nomen cui mixta dolori Gaudia semper erant spes semper mixta timori Si modò victor eras ad crastina bella pauebas Si modó victus eras in crastina bella parabas Cui vestes sudore iugi cui sica cruore Tincta iugi quantum sit onus regnare probarunt Non fuit immensi quisquam per climata mundi Cui tot in aduersis vel respirare liceret Nec tamen aut ferro contritus ponere ferrum Aut gladio potuit vitae finisse labores Iam post transactos vitae regnique labores Christus ei sit vera quies et vita perennis It is meruailous how immediately after this time learning decayed in this Kingdome for Iohn Erigena alias Scotus fauoured of Charles the Bald King of France and the forsaid King Alfred for his learning when he was stabbed by his schollers at Malmesbury was buried with this rude rough and vnlearned verse Clauditur in tumulo Sanctus Sophista Iohannes Qui ditatus erat iam viuens dogmate miro Martyrio tandem Christi conscendere regnum Quo meritis regnant sancti per secula cuncti And from this time learning so lowe ebbed in England that betweene Thames Trent there was scant one found which could vnderstand Latin and that you may perceiue when as Hugolin Treasurer to King Edward the Confessor had these most sillie verses in grauen vpon his monument in the olde Chapter house of Westminster Qui ruis iniustè capit hic Hugoline locus te Laude pia clares qnia martyribus nece clares But shortly after the Conquest learning reuiued as appeareth by these that follow which were cast in a more learned mould than the former King William surnamed the Conqueror for his conquest of England was buried at Caen in Normandie with this Epitaph discouered in the late ciuill warres of France but mentioned in Gemeticensis Qui rexit rigidos Normannos atque Britannos Audacter vicit fortiter obtinuit Et Caenomanenses virtute contudit enses Imperijque sui legibus applicuit Rex magnus parua iacet his Gulielmus in vrna Sufficit magno paruae domus domino Ter septem gradibus se voluerat atque duobus Virginis in gremio Phoebus et hic obijt Vpon Stigand Archbishop of Canterbury degraded for his corruptioÌ„ I finde this most viperous Epitaph in an olde Manuscript Hic iacet Herodes Herode ferocior huius Inquinat infernum spiritus ossa solum William the Valiant Earle