Coelique cupidine tactus Altius egit iter rapidi vicinia Solis Mollit odoratas pennarum vincula ceras Tabuerant cerae nudos quatit ille lacertos Remigioque carens non ullas concipit auras And so destitute of help he falls headlong a just reward of his temerity and breaks his neck upon the Temple of Troynovant as some affirm having Reigned 20 years The Greeks and Latines gave Names to this place according to the nature and condition of the Waters or Baths there being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hot waters Aquae solis waters of the Sun Bath is the chief City in Somersetshire seated in a very low plain and round about environed with Hills very high and steep From whence come many Rivulets and fresh water-springs to the great commodity of the people but that which brings most wealth unto the place are not the Waters from without but those within sending up from them much thin vapours and a strong scent withall which springs are very medicinable for many diseases Three of those Springs there are in all the waters of which being received in large and fitting receptacles for the publick use they call the Kings Bath the Cross Bath and the hot Bath the Cathedral a fair Church but belonging to Moncks found the heavy hand of K. H. 8. but it is now in indifferent repair Earl it had none till the time of Hen. 7. since it hath had divers Earls of BATH 1. Philbert de Chandew of little Brittain 2. John Bourchier Lord Fitzwarren Created E. of Bath Hen. 8. July 10. 3. John Bourchier 4. William Bourchier 5. Edward Bourchier 6. Henry Bourchier Argent a Cross engrailed Gules inter 4 water bougets sable a label of 3 points Azure charged with 9 flower de luces Or. LEIR the Son of BLADUD LEIR the Son of Bladud his Father through his own Arrogancy Ambition and Vanity or rather Foolery saepe feruntur in altum ut lapsu graviore ruant having soared to too high a place and so in a hasty stooping broke his neck began his Reign in the year from the Worlds creation iiii M. CCC XXXiii This King was of a most Noble and Heroick mind as being questionlesse bred under the Discipline of those Philosophers which his Father had brought from Athens besides a natural Propension of his own to moral Vertue insomuch that his Kingdom flourished in great Peace and abundance of Wealth This King to imitate his worthy Predecessors laid the Foundation of a Famous city calling it after his own Name Caerlirion and after Leircester this is one of those 28 cities where Flamens were Mr. Cambden tells us that it was called Ligecestria Leogora Legeocester and Leicester saying it rather savoured of Antiquity then handsomenesse yet acknowledeth that it was formerly a bishoprick but that the See being removed it much decayed in renown till at last Edelfleda optima Foemina the best of Women or a very good woman in the year 913. did repair it and inclose it with new Walls insomuch that Matthew of Paris in his lesser History saith Legecestria Vrbs pulentissima munitissim a muro indissolubili qui si Fundamento roboraretur nulli Vrbium secunda fuisset Leicester a most rich city with a wall unbreakable had it had a sufficient Foundation second to no city whatsoever In the time of King Henry the 2. this Town was in great distresse and much affliction by reason that Robert Bossu i. e. bunch-backt Earl of Leicester attempting innovations and conspiracies against his Prince and Soveraign forced Henry Propter contumaciam comitis Roberti contra Regem recalcibrantit obsessa est per Regem Hen. subversa Nobilis civitas Leicestria murus qui videbatur indissolubilis funditus in circuitu dirutus Vrbs enim muris Fundamento carentibus sub fossis fulciminibus tandem combustis maenium fragmenta ceciderunt quae usque in hodiernum diem propter caementi indissolubilis tenacitatem scopulorum retinent cum integritate magnitudinem King Leir beginning now to be aged and full of years having no Heir-male he called unto him his three Daughters Gonorilla Ragan and Cordeilla intending out of the discovery of their love and filial affection and duty towards Him to settle his Kingdome upon them to the Eldest he said Daughter I shall desire you to expresse unto me how well and dearly you love and esteem me your aged Father the young Lady hearing a question of so high a nature and so much concerning proposed unto Her First that her answer may not seem forged or to have any smack or rellish of dissimulation calls the immortal Gods being then the custome amongst Pagans and all the celestial Powers to witnesse her Assertion and then replies My Princely Lord and Father I love you more then my own soul the feeble old man was much taken with this Answer resting satisfied that his Daughter did cordially and entirely love him He calls for the second propounds the same question she thinking to out-vie her Eldest sister and thereby to endear and engratiate her self into the old Mans favour spares no oaths or invocations and imprecations assuring him that her Tongue was too slender a Messenger to deliver the depth of her affection and duty and that she loved him far beyond all creatures Leir is tickled and exceedingly solaced with these two Answers and thinks no mortal Man more happy in his children then himself Cordeilla is called for the same interrogatory used she wittily perceiving the deep dissimulation and fawning of her Sisters replies My dearest Father I am much joyed to see you so well pleased with the expressive Answers of my two sisters for my own part as a Father I have ever honoured obeyed and loved you and for ever shall and if you desire further expression from me Know honoured Sir That as much as you deserve to be beloved so much I love you and no more King LEIR being nothing pleased with the integrity of his third Daughters answer Obsequium amicos veritas Odium parit bethinks himself how he may best dispose and bestow his two eldest Daughters to their most content honour and advancement the Eldest therefore he espouseth to the Duke of Cornwall the second to the Duke of Albania which is now called Scotland dividing his Kingdom betwixt them in Reversion and a Moiety for their present maintenance and livelyhood nothing being left for the poor Lady Cordeilla whose tongue was the true Embassador of her heart and whose heart hated all dissimulation and hypocrisie Fame who is never slow in reporting the transactions of eminent persons especially Kings sounds this passage of King Leir in France and with a shrill Note ecchoes forth the beauty modesty vertue and all the adorning graces which wait upon Cordeilla Aganippus an eminent personage and by some stiled King of France through a great mistake for as Policronicon Petrus Pictaniensis Robert Gagwine Antonius Episcopus and divers others affirm the name of France was not
a Parish Church bearing the name of Saint Dervian as a Church either by him Founded or to him Dedicated so likewise is there another in Glamorganshire called Saint Fagans where every year is a very great Fair continuing many dayes where also my honoured Patron the Right Noble William Lewes of the Van Esq Son to Sir Edward Lewes and the Right Honourable Lady Beauchamp Daughter of the Earl of Dorset hath a stately Habitation and if I mistake not is Lord of the Mannor Betwixt this Elutherius and King Lucius many Letters passed and the said Bishop granted many priviledges to Universities and places of learning in Brittain as to Cambridge Stanford Cricklade or Greeklade and in Glamorganshire I suppose this place was either Caerwent or Caerleon for all which is now called Monmouthshire was then called Glamorgan where they say learning flourished as well as at Cambridge before the coming of Julius Caesar Mr. Bro. f. 270. and the Schoole of Glamorgan being so near Caerleon upon Vsk in that Countrey where one of the three great Idolatrous Temples of Brittain and seat of the Archflamen of those Western provinces was and thereby a Nursery of Paganisme which those holy men laboured by all means to root out and for that cause where Archflamens were Archbishops were placed and where Flamens Bishops The Brittish Histories Ponticus Virunnius and others say of these Prelates that they delivered the Brittains from Idolatry and converted them to Christ Radulphus de Diceto in his manuscript History proveth as much that they converted all the Cities of Brittain as well as their Flamens and Archflamens by whom they were directed in their Idolatrous worship as others And the principal states and members of this Kingdome King Lucius his Nobles Universities Philosophers Flamens and chiefe Priests and Teachers of the Pagan Subjects and their chief places of commorancy and command being thus converted the conquest over the Vulgar sort was easie and soon effected The Author of the Brittish History testifyeth Mr. Br. f. 271. that so soon as the people of Brittain knew that their King was a Christian they gathered themselves together to be Catechised and received Baptisme and that those holy Legates did blot out Paganisme almost through all the Island and Ponticus Virunnius saith that they baptized all the people of Brittany all this may easily be confirmed by divers Authors but I will conclude with Harding Eluthery the first at supplication Of Lucius sent him two holy Men That called were Fagan and Dungen That Baptized him and all his Realm throughout With hearts glad and labour devout There were then twenty eight Flamens and three Arch-flamens to whose power other Judges were subject and these by the command of the Pope his Legates delivered from Idolatry and where there were Flamens they placed Bishops where Arch-flamens Arch-bishops The Seats of the Arch-flamens were in the three most noble Cities London York and the City of Legions which the old Walls and Buildings do witnesse to have been upon the River of Vsk in Glamorgan King Lucius sent to Elutherius not only for his assistance in spiritual matters but also in his temporal Mr. Br. f. 301. 6. Bridges defence l. 16. p. 1355. Galf. Mon. l. 2. c. 17. Bro. Virunnius Stow Hollinshed as the governing his people and making wholsome Lawes The Lawes which were established here were the old Brittains Lawes ascribed for their greatest part to Mulmutius Dunwallo corrected and made conformable to holy Christian Religion We have all kind of Antiquities Brittish Saxon French Italians Ancient and Modern for Witnesses These Lawes were translated out of Brittish into Latine long before this time by the ancient Gildas that lived about the time of the Birth of CHRIST as many both ancient and late Writers agree and continued here till late time and in divers respects at this present King Lucius being thus informed and secured in conscience by Saint Elutherius his Letters and by his Declaration that the whole Kingdome of Brittain with the Ilands belonged to his temporal charge and government and that so much as he could he was to win his Subjects to the Faith and Law of Christ and his holy Church and provide for the peace and quiet of the same and the Members thereof he did first in receiving and admitting these new corrected Lawes by the advice of the Clergy and Nobles of his Kingdome see them so qualified that they were for the defence and propagation of Christian Religion and further Founded many godly costly and memorable Monuments as Churches Universities or Schools Monasteries and other such comforts helps and furtherances of that holy end So that as he was the first King that publickly with his Kingdome professed Christ so he won the honour to be the first Nursing Father among Kings of his holy Church as the Prophet had foretold Kings shall be thy Nursing Fathers He was also first among Kings called properly the Vicegerent of God being the first King which so religiously performed his will And that Title which the Pope gave to King Henry the 8. when he was better then he proved after Defender of the Faith was among Kings the first due and right of King Lucius for his so heroical and Religious fortitude and magnanimity in defending the Faith and Church of Christ Being now come to celebrate the day of the death of our glorious King Lucius for the joy that he enjoyed thereby Mr. Br. f. 346. 1. and bewail it for the unspeakable losse this Nation received thereby we are to fall into some difficulties both of the time and place thereof William of Malmesbury in his Manuscript-History of Glasten and other old Antiquities do prove that St. Damianus and Faganus after they had converted this Kingdome continued nine years at Glastenbury at the least King Lucius still living and reigning here Polidor Lilly Hollinshed Stow and others cleave to this Opinion A great Controversie ariseth where this King died many Forreign Authors say That he forsook his Crown and Kingdome and became a Clergyman went into Germany to convert that Nation was Bishop of Curre and there was Martyred the day of his death is agreed upon by all to have been on the third day of December but if those Authors who transport this our blessed King into Germany look but upon what hath been said before they shall find that it was not Lucius who was actually King of Brittain and converted by the means of St. Elutherius but another Lucius who was indeed Son of a King of Brittain and might have been King himself had he not been banished for the reason before related and this was that St. Lucius who with his sister St. Emerita were both Crowned with the glorious Crown of Martyrdome in Germany That our first Christian K. Lucius could not be Bishop of Curre is evident for having been so long King here he was so disabled for Age that he was nor capable of such a journey Further they which
bear sway and Government either over the Syrians or Assyrians nor that he had thirty daughters who all slew their Husbands of which this Albine is supposed one and came into this Island from whole body sprung those Giants which Brute here found at his first arrivall Such peradventure might be but rather conveyed hither by shipping then produced by the copulation of any such murdering Harpies This Isle is encircled by Neptunes curled tresses and watry furrows round The Content of this Island and extends it self in length from the South to the North. The longitude from Totness in Cornwall to Cateness 800. miles and in latitude from St. Davids or Menevia in Wales to Dover Clifts most men account 300. miles and from Menevia to Yarmouth in Norfolk as divers affirm it containeth 300. miles Venerable Bede saith that it is 200. miles over First The three several names of this Isle therefore we see it was called Albion Secondly Brittain from Brute Thirdly Egbert commanded it to be called Auglia from a Nation of which himself descended some forsooth will have it so called from a Queen thereof whose name was Auglia but if you consult with skilfull Astrologers and such as pretend Art in calculating and casting Nativities with which sort of people this Island now aboundeth especial cashierd Troopers they will positively tell you that this Lady was born in Vtopia and much about the Greek Kalends Albeit this Island hath had but three several names yet hath it been four times conquered first by the Romans secondly by the Saxons Brittain four times conquered thirdly by the Danes and fourthly by the Normans Brute descended of that ancient noble warlike off-spring of the so much admired Trojans had to his Fore-father Æneas who had married Creusa a legitimate daughter of Priamus who descended from Dardanus second son of Camboblascon and his wife Electra daughter of Atlas Italus King of Italy the eldest brother of this Dardanus was called Jasius Janigena who married Cibeles and lived in such happy condition that now there wanted not any terrene The Travels of Noe into Europe translated by Rich. Lynch or earth-born delight or felicity which might make this happy-seeming Potentate more fortunate mighty or contentfull but it is a common humour of Fortune that amidst the thickest and most abundance of her graces and favour she in some angry or fantastick imagination suddenly snatcheth away her so liberally bestowed gifts and leaveth the late possessors thereof involved and wrapt in a world of the miserablest unhappiness and foul vexations that may be invented as by the fatal Success and end of this Kings life most plainly appeareth For when Dardanus his younger brother a man indeed of a proud heart great courage and inward ambition saw his brother Jasius thus to float on the calmer Seas of prosperity and to taste of the sweet cup of Nectar he infinitely repined as living privately and without command as an inferior or some base born person or slave whereupon he goes to his brother to demand leave and licence that he might depart out of the Country to seek his better fortunes which request Jasins refused to condescend unto and would by no means allow of his purposes Whereupon Dardanus began secretly to enter into deadly hostility and to gather many Factions and Parties to his side which by reason that he was exceeding well beloved grew to a great number this hapned much about the time saith my Author Rich. Lynch ut supra that Sharan King of Egypt persecuted Moses and the children of Israel The fire of discontent between the two brothers being now wholly set on flame and divers attempts passed between them it hapned that Dardanus received the worst and upon many encounters was still put to his shifts so that in the end he awaited a time when the King his brother went privately to a fountain to bathe himself where Dardanus most unnaturally slew him which done terrified with his own conscience he presently ships himself at the next Haven and with all his Jewels and what else riches portable he could carry with him away with many of his Friends Followers and Servitors he secretly set sayl and departed After long travel Dardanus comes to Altius the younger who was of the same blood and descent and in respect thereof willingly entertains him and in fine desires of him his Country being over peopled and victuals scarce That since he must needs send forth such people for the finding out of new places that he would bestow the Charge Conduct and leading of them upon him and that he would joyn with them for the provisions and necessaries needfull and convenient for the setling of themselves in such their new places of abode This thing King Altius very willingly entertained especially for that Dardanus was of his own kindred and consanguinity This request of Dardanus thus obtained he knew no other means to requite so great a favour and to be occasion to draw on further kindness but to offer unto Altius and utterly to resign all his right title interest and claim in the Kingdom of Italy for one of his sons unto which of them the Father was contented This proffer of Dardanus being well considered was thankfully accepted by Altius in lieu and exchange whereof was alotted unto Dardanus a certain quantity or piece of Land in Phrygia for him to erect and build a City upon Thus Dardanus with his people and associates began to build in Phrygia By whom Troy was first built and at what time Noe his travels ut supra and in short space fully finished a City which he called after his own name Dardania which was before the Incarnation of the Son of God Christ Jesus 1487. and before the building of Rome by Romulus 427. years and before the City of Paris 70. years as Eusebius and most writers do affirm In few years Dardanus began to grow unto great mightiness riches and power who had also a neighbour Prince of mighty puissance wealthy and fortunate whose name was Teucrus whereupon many Authors call this place Teucria Why Troy called Teucria and the Inhabitants Teucri and this Teucrus was the son of Scamander and Idea and had also himself a beautifull and fair daughter which he married shortly after unto Dardanus which was called Batea of whom Dardanus begot a son called Ericthonius who succeeded him in the Kingdom of Phrygia this Ericthonius in process of time arose up unto a wonderfull greatness and large possessions who as many writers do affirm was accounted to be one of the richest Kings in those days in that part of the World who had at the least three thousand horses of his own continually feeding in his Pastures This Ericthonius begat a Son whom he named Tros whom he left to succeed him and from whom the people were after called Trojans This Tros very much enlarged and beautified the City of Dardania now called Troia Dardania from
which Nomen-clation it yet keeps and Camber imitating his Father and Brother named his Moiety from Camber Cambria This partition or Cambers portion was formerly divided from that of Loegria by the River Severne in the East and on the North side by the River Dee and on the South by the River Vaga now called the River Wye at the Castle of Stringlinge Fabian fol. 11. a name which I find not elsewhere or rather Chepstow Castle but of this place what Mr. Cambden speaks take these his own words Chepstow in Monmouthshire Hinc fluctuoso volumine descendit in Austrum Vaga in quo Copiosa est Salmonum piscatura à Septembri ad Aprilem and by the way give me leave to tell you that when Salmons grow out of kind or season in Wye in the River Vsk which runneth through Caerlegion but ten Miles distant in the same County Salmons come in season so that in the County of Monmouth all the whole year Salmons are fit to be presented to an Emperors Table and if a Wye Salmon chance to come into Vsk or e contra the Fishermen are so skilfull as to tell you this is an Vsk Salmon this of Wye limes hodie inter Glocestrenses Monumethenses olim inter Anglos Wallos juxta illud Nichami versiculam Inde Vagos Vaga Cambrenses hinc respicit Anglos Qui cum jam ad ostium ferè devenerit Chepstow praeterfluit id est si e Saxonico interpreteris Forum viz. Negationis locus Brittannis Castle-went and is this day called Cass Gwent Oppidum hoc est celebre clivo a flumine surgenti Impositum manibus circumvallatur magno cambitu quae agros hortos in se includunt Castrum habet ad occiduum latus flumini impeudens in which Castle there is a stately Fabrick called Longius or Longinus Tower supposed to be built by that Centurion who was present at the death of our most sacred and blessed Saviour and out of this opinion it is hard to beat many of the Natives but who so pleaseth to read Surius xv Martii shall find That Longinus the Centurion one of the Jews who thirsted after his blood who most willingly shed it for the Redemption of Mankind signis prodigiis discussis tenebris veritatis splendorem Christi ipsius gratia quem in Crucem sustulerat videre meruit and detesting the impiety of the Jewes freely manifested the most glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus this his so confident and publick affirming of the truth for Crucis ei custodia ut Centurioni mandata postquam autem vivificum Christi Corpus sepulturae mandatum fuit eadem sacrosancti corporis custodia Longino commissa fuit caused the Jews to procure from Caesar a Sentence of death against him Longinus flies from Hierusalem leaving all his military Preferments with some religious and devout Christians he betakes himself into Capadocia where he converted many by his instruction and exemplar Life and Vertues to the faith knowledge and adoration of the true Messias Jesus Christ In Capadocia he is aprehended and there obtains the glorious Crown of Martyrdome his Head as a great Trophee is sent unto Pilate who to ingratiate himself and please the perfidious and stony-hearted Jews caused the holy relique to be placed before one of the Gates of that once holy City Hierusalem so that Longinus could not be the Founder or Erecter of that Edifice before spoken of But to follow Mr. Cambden a little further concerning Chepstow he continueth his Discourse saying Et e rigione stetit Prioratus cujus parte meliore demolita quod reliquum est in Ecclesiam parochialem convertitur Pons vero quo Vaga jungitur sublicius est admodum excelsus quia accedente aestu in magnam altitudinem fli vius exsurgit hujus Domini fuerunt e Clarensium familia nobiles a proximo castro Strigul quod incoluerunt Striguliae Pembrochiae comites dicti quorum ultimus Richardus vir infracto animo projectissimis brachiis StrongBow cognominatus quod arcu intentissimo uteretur nihil levi brachio ageret c. This place after by a Daughter and Heir came to the Bigots and now the Earls of Worcester or at least before the late Wars enjoyed both Town and Castle the eldest Son of that Family being stiled Lord Herbert of Chepstow To Albanact the third Son of Brutus was given the third part of great Britain now called Scotland which as it is now is called the second Kingdom of Great Britain and the North part of this Iland hath on the East the German Ocean on the North the Orkneys and Deucalidon Sea the West affronted by Ireland on the South it hath the River Tweed the Cheviot Hills and the adjacent Tract reaching to the Sulway Sands whereby it is separated from England This Kingdome is spacious and from the South borders spreadeth it self wide into the East and West till again it contracts it self narrower into the Northern Promontories furnished with all things befitting a famous Kingdom both for Air Soil Rivers Wood Mountains Fish Fowl Cattle and Corn so plenteous that it supplieth these with other Countries in their want Their Nobility and Gentry are very studious of learning and all civil knowledge for which end they not only frequent the three Universities of their own Kingdom St. Andrews Glasco and Edenborough the Nurseries of their Muses but also much addict themselves to travel into Forraign Countries especially France whose King hath a Guard of Scots the double Treshure florie in the Arms of the Kingdome makes manifest the French Interest in former time in that Nation If it is desired to know more of Scotland read their own Authors it is enough for me to say that Albanack from his own name called it Albania This Country is divided from Loegria or England as saith Venreable Bede by two arms of the Sea but they meet not The East arm of which beginneth about two Miles from the Minster of Eburcuring in the West side of Penulton The West arm had some time a strong City named Alclino which in the Brittish Tongue was called Clincston and stood upon the River Clint. Thus Brute having divided Britain into three Parts after he had ruled twenty two or four years after most Concordance of Writers he died and was interred in Troynovant commonly called London or Luds Town Locrinus second King of Brittain LOcrinus the first and eldest Son of the late deceased Brutus takes possession of his Kingdom of Loegria now England in the year from the Creation of the World four thousand fourscore and seven This Kingdome as it was the largest so was it the most beautifull rich and commodious both in respect of Navigable Rivers Ports and Havens as also fruitfulness of the Soils and abundance of stately Woods and Groves and according to the relation and assertion of Policronica and Guido de Collumna it stretched forth and extended it self as far as to the River Humber as
Albania and was a part of Brittany for in the conversion of the Scots which hapned in the time of Pope Victor for Sacerdotibus praeceptoribus quos victor pontifex maximus ad Christi dogma propalandum in extremam miserat Albionem which farthest part of Albion is 300. miles distant from that part of Albania which joyned with Loegria England Therefore we see clearly that the Scots only then lived in the furthest and most remote parts of Albion or some Ilands thereof and possessed not our great Albania the Brittains Country and possession and in such sense they may call their small places of abode Scotia or Scotland yet could it be very small when Josephus in the Age before had testified that it had no Land at all Jâ—seph orat ad Judaeos apud Egisip lib. 3 cap. 13. Scotia terris nil debet of which and there place of habitation hear what Mr. Cambden saith That neither Caesar nor Volanus penetrated so far into Brittain as the Caledonians for as Plinie doth testifie in his time three years after Claudius the Roman Arms knew no further of Brittany then to the Caledonian Woods for Julius Agricola under Domitian Mr. Cambden in Scotland Galgacus a stout Brittain was the first who entred Caledonia where Galgacus commanded Galanc ap Liennanc who is reckoned one of the three Heroes of Brittany a man of strong courage and valiant spirit who so stoutly defended his Country the 11. Legion of the Romans being put to the worst that he never gave over till Fortune rather seemed to forsake him then his own valour or courage These Northern Brittains were the last who enjoyed the Liberty and also the furthest part of the Iland according to Catullus Caesaris visens monumenta magni Gallicum Rhenum horribiles ulti mosque Britannos In the time of the Emperour Severus as Xiphilinus reporteth Argeticoxus a petty King reigned in those Northern parts now called Scotland but then Albania or Caledonia whose Lady being upbraided and taunted by Julia Augusta answered We Brittish Ladies if we transgresse it is with Noble men both of valour worth and quality whereas you Roman in hugger-mugger prostitute your selves to every base varlet and inferiour groom Not far from the River Taw stands Perch in Latine St. Joannis Fanum vulgarly St. Johns Johns a place of late erection the ancient Town of the same name long since being swallowed up by the waters of which Nichanus Transis ample Tai per rura per oppida per Perch Regnum sustentant istâ—us Vrbis opes Rous Homes and Stow. But of Cunedagius the builder because a Brittain not a word from Mr. Cambden Cunedagius having founded Perch in Albania casts his eye upon Cambra and there in the remotest part begins a new Erection at Bangor which Mr. Cambden also calls Banchor a choro pulchro from the fair Quire or as other derive it Locus chori the place of the Quire Owen Glendoverduy the most wicked and arch Rebel amongst many other Towns and Cities of Wales set this also on fire and consumed it Bangor built by Cunedagius the Brittish King which was again in the time of Henry the 7. reedified by bishop Henry Denâ— or Denaeus but not to the pristine glory for formerly it was so large and ample that for the greatnesse thereof it was called Banchor vaur and fortified with a Castle whose very Ruines are not now apparent M. B. fol. 602. Age 4. Ca. 28. We may have some apprehension of the great Devotion of our Brittains both men and women in this age viz. 4. Age to chast and monastical life by the Example of St. Vrsula and so many thousands of holy Virgins with her devoted to that Profession which we may further confirm unto us by the Examples of the Brittains Jo. Bal. cent 1. in Pela Calph. Agric. Congello Bed hist Eccles l. 2. c. 2. Galf. Mon. Hist Britt l. 2. cap. 12. Mat. West super Galf. Mon. Hist Brit. l. 9. c. 12. l. 11. c. 1. Matth. West an 541. Galf. Mon. Hist Brit. l. 11. c. 3. Manusc antiq cap. in vita St. David Mene Pits aetat 6. in ead which were then in that part of Brittany now called Wales more free from the Saxons persecution whose Antiquities although not well preserved not naming many Archbishops of Caer legion and very few bishops in that Province having many from the first receiving of their faith yet they do propose and record unto us many Monasteries and of great name and honour as that of Bangor stiling it Fumatum Collegium where Pelagius before his Heresies lived and by some was Abbot Praepositus there having 2100 Monks in it and divided as it were into seven Monasteries every one of them having 300 Monks which Monastery as St. Bernard our late Authors and others write was the head or chief of principal Monasteries and brought forth many thousands of Monks In vita Malachiae Hibernensis Episcopi Bernardus Clarovallensis hunc locum tradit primorum extitisse Monasteriorum Caput multa generavisse Monachorum mille This was the most noble Monastery of this Country nobilissimum Monasterium as St. Bede and others term it and so justly did having so many Monks that being divided into 7 Companies under 7 Pryors under their chief Abbot every one had 300. or more Monks and amongst them most Learned men Viri doctissimi plures de Nobilissimo Monasterio Bancornabury lingua Anglorum Inter caeteras erat in civitate Bangor quaedam Nobilissima Ecclesia in qua tantus fertur fuisse numerus Monachorum ut cum in 7 portiones esset cum praepositis sibi Prioribus Monasterium divisum nulla harum portio minus quam trecentos Monachos haberet Cunedagius builded a third place in Cornwall where he was born but yet I cannot come to a certain knowledge of the place where he erected a Temple and a Flamen to Mercury He Reigned thirty three years and was buried at Troynovant or new Troy now London An Author calleth Perth before spoken of Berth and saith no lesse strange but more lamentable is the remembrance of the great innundation hapning by the sudden rising of Tai which bare away the Walls and Town of Berth or Perth and with it the Cradle and young Son of King William into the Sea wherein the Royal Infant with many others perished the King and his Courtiers scarcely escaping the Danger The ruine of this Town raised another called St. John's Town RIVALLVS RIvallus the Son of Cunedagius took upon him the Government of this Kingdome in the year of the Worlds creation four thousand four hundred and thirty eight this King was stiled the Fortunate and Peacefull for that during the time of his Reign he governed his Subjects with all lenity meeknesse and prosperity yet Authors leave little recorded of this Prince for indeed Tragical Acts and Warlike Scenes better please most Writers in smooth and calm times yet it is
Stumpuis partly by petitioning and supplications but without doubt not without emptying his bags obtained that the Church might stand which is now the Parish-Church This Town saith a new Author Anonymus was by Antoninus in his Itinerarium called Cunetio from the River Kennet and Marleburgh as being seated in a Chalkie soyle which in some places still well called by the name of Marle Here Hen. 3. held a Parliament in which were many statutes and as the preamble saith right necessary for the peace and tranquility of the people now a title of honour and hath given stile of EARLE to 1. James L. Ley L. Tr. Created Earle of Marlborough 1. Car. Feb. 7. 2. Henry Ley. 3. James Ley E. of Mal. Argent a cheveron between 3 Bears Heads Couped Sable The next place which Mulmutius Dunwallo built was The-Vies which Florentius Wigorniensis calls Divisio another De vies and Nubrigensis Divisae Here was a Castle built by Roger the rich Bishop of Salisbury for scituation and workmanship giving place to none but Fortune is a Goddesse both blind and fickle for he who even now was the second Head in the Kingdom by the frowns or rather avarice of K. Stephen is not only plunder'd of his vast and almost inexhaustible Treasure but also cast into a loathsome Gaol where the poor old Man with Hunger and what with Afflictions and Miseries betwixt the fear of death and torments of his life would feign have died yet knew not how to die Mulmutius Dunwallo having with great honour rul'd the Brittains by the space of forty years yielded to death what was mortal and was buried in the Temple of Troynovant which he had built leaving his two Sons Bellinus and Brennus joyntly to succeed in the Kingdome BELLINVS and BRENNVS BEllinus and Brennus the two Sons of Mulmutius began to Reign joyntly as Kings of great Brittain in the year of the World four thousand eight hundred and eight To Bellinus according to the agreement of Partition fell Loegria Cambria and Cornwall that is to say England Wales and Cornwall and to Brennus by the same accord all the Land beyond the River of Humber This Partition according to Policron and others pleased and gave full content to both the Brothers for the space of five years The reason why Bellinus had the bigger and better share was Quia erat primogenitus Vitus fol. 209. Trojana consuetudo requirebat ut dignitas Haereditatis perveniret ad eum Hanc vero fuisse consuetudinem Trojanorum scribens Herodotus ad Alexandrum ait non erat perventurum Regnum cum Hector major natu Herodotus virtute praestantior quam ille Regnum defuncto Priamo suscepturus esset Idem scribit Messala Corvinus in libello de Augusti Progenie Troem à quo dicta Troja est Regem Trojanorum habuisse duos filios Ilum Assaracum atque Ilum defuncto patre quod ipse major natu esset obtinuisse Regnum Messala Corvinus Denique is qui dicitur Dares Phrygius in libro de excidio Trojae narrat Priamum commone fecisse filios quos habebat multos ut majores natu minoribus Imperarent ex quo sequitur ut minores majoribus subderentur Adeoque Legem hanc latam in Anglia esse propter ius istud Trojanae consuetudinis atque servatam esse scribit Andreas Taraquellus in praesatione primogenitorum Andreas Taraquellus Bartolus Bartolus ad l. 1. Codicis de summa Trinitate Consuetudinis est in Anglia inquit ut primogenitus succedat in omnibus bonis Because he was eldest and the Trojan custome was that the Inheritance should fall to the Eldest and this to have been the Trojan custome sheweth Herodotus saying that the Kingdom of Troy after the death of Priamus was not to fall to Alexander but to Hector who was both the more Valiant and also the Eldest by birth and Messala Corvinus in his Book of the Progeny of Augustus confirms as much saying that King Tros from whom Troy took its Name had two Sons Ilus and Assaracus and that Ilus his Father being dead for that he was the Eldest enjoyed the Kingdom and he also who is called Dares Phrygius in his Book of the Destruction of Troy tells us That Priamus who had many Sons admonished them that the Elder should have Power over the Younger c. and this Law to have taken root in England as being derived from the old Trojan Custome affirmeth Andreas Tarquellus After five years thus in brotherly love and amity expired Brennus supposing himself injured and intending to enlarge his Territories raised Forces and in hostile manner sets upon his brother Bellinus but as his quarrel was unjust so the sequel proved Fatal for he was totally Routed and to save his life compelled to fly into Armorica now called Little Brittain or as Gaufride will have it into the Country of the Allobroges others affirm that without the knowledge or consent of his Brother he sailed into Norway and there married the Daughter of Elfunge or Elfinge Duke of that place which tydings when they were brought to Bellinus he seized into his hands all the Lands of Brennus and fortified his Cities Castles and other strong Holds with his own Garrisons Fame quickly brought these Rumours to Brennus who neglected no time but gathering a strong Army of Norwegians ships himself for his own Principality where by the way he was met by Guilthdacus or Guiclidacus King of Denmark who being inflamed with the Love of the Lady whom Brennus had espoused awaited his coming and being now met the two Fleets strongly encounter each other and in short time come to grappling a most bitter and bloudy Conflict ensueth But the Danish King having surprized the Vessel in which the Object both of his love and anger was imbarked though he had totally dispersed his Enemies Navy pursued no further thinking himself highly rewarded with the beautiful prize which he had already taken and there withal resolves as a most victorious Conqueror to return to Denmark yet whether Fortune to shew her accustomed fickleness and cross the Designs of such as think themselves most fortunate and her darlings or rather Neptune incensed to see so violent a Rape committed within his watery Kingdom with his revenging trident turned up and undermined the calm waves and ploughed them into hideous ridges such a tempest arose that the Heavens were darkned the winds blustered the billows roared and made such a hideous noise that Guilthdacus each minute expected to be swallowed up in the mercilesse surges of the angry Ocean this death-threatning storm continued for the space of five dayes at the end whereof the skies began to clear the winds and waves to leave their Violence and the Danish King to understand he was driven upon the coasts of his Enemies Country for his tattered Fleet so much as was left of it was now arrived in Northumberland Belâ—inus to make good that he had already begun and
all sorts of false Religion Superstition Idolatry Heresy and Schisme and such sins as do belong thereto The second is all sort of Injustice as Rapine Immoderate exactions Oppression of the poor effusion of innocent blood and calumniation or slander and such like for the which God punisheth Kingdoms and States at the Holy Ghost signifyeth in Ecclesiasticus saying Regnum de gente in gentem transferetur c. A kingdome is transferred from Nation to Nation for injustice injuries calumniations or slanders and divers deceits The third kind consisteth of Licentiousness Drunkenness and dissolutness of life and manners This Drunken King left after him three Sons Fulgenius Eldad and Androgeos who successively Reigned in this Kingdome FVLGENIVS FVLGENIVS the Eldest Son of Chirimus was Crowned King of Great Brittain but enjoyed his Kingdome only two years ELDRED or ELDREDVS ELDRED the second Son of Chirimus and brother to Fulgenius was Crowned King but enjoyed that honour but one year ANDROGEOS ANDROGEOS the third Son of Chirimus and brother to the two precedent Kings was Crowned but lived only one year after VRIANVS URIANVS the Son of Androgeos wholly gave himself to lust and the sin of the flesh homo saith Comes P. voluptati deditus more pecudum he was King only three years lust hath been the overthrow of many Countries and cause of much blood shed had not Paris seen Helena in the Isle of Cythera in the Temple of Venus whether this Lady out of curiosity to behold the Trojans under pretence of performing some vowes was come and Paris hearing of her presence and beauty entered into the Temple in all Princely bravery as they mutually beheld each other they became so enamoured with the scorching flames of unlawful love or rather lust that presently being now linked together in equal desires and haud caret effectu quod voluere duo they embark together which lustful act caused not onely a ten years siege but also the utter destruction and subvesion of Troy Hereunto I may add another notable example of the overthrow of the Lacedemonians and the losse of the Empire of Greece by the just judgement of God as both Diodorus Siculus and others affirm the story is this Two Lacedemonians passing over the plain of Leuctra were lodged and courteously entertained in the house of one Scadasus who had two handsome Women to his daughters and returning that way shortly after and finding the two young Women at home and their Father absent first ravisht one after kill'd them both their father at his return finding his daughters slain and understanding who had been the doers of it went to Lacedemon to crave justice against the Malefactors but so potent were they and their friends there that he could by no means obtain it whereupon after infinite maledictions poured forth in the sorrow of his heart against them and their state he went home and desperately kil'd himself upon the grave of his Daughters Not long after Wars growing between the Thebans and the Lacedemonians the soul of Scadasus appeared to Pelopidas one of the chief Captaines of the Thebans and encouraged him to give battel to the Lacedemonians in the plain of Leuctra where he and his daughters were buried telling him that their death should be there revenged and so afterwards it fell out for the Lacedemonians lost not only the battel but also the Empire of Greece we will omit the burning of Sodome and Gomorah for the sin of lust and also the rape which those of the town of Gabaa committed upon the wife of a Levit for which percussit eos Dominus in conspectu filiorum Israel who killed of them 25100 men that bore Armes But come a little nearer to our times concerning the punishment of the sins of the flesh we have a notable and fearful example thereof in the Kingdom of Spain conquered by the Moors and possessed by them 700 years for that offence For when the Kingdome had flourished as well in religion as power from the time of K. Recared the first Catholick King thereof the space of 120 years the wicked King Vitiza being a man like this our Vrianus given over to lust and carnality infected and corrupted all Spain not only with the bad example of his own dissolute life having divers Wives at once besides many Concubines but also with abominable Laws whereby he gave leave to all sorts of men to have as many Wives Concubines as they listed yea and forced Priests and such as would have lived chast to marry by which means all Spain became within a while to be no better then a common Stew or Brothel And although Almighty God according to his accustomed mercy expected their conversion and amendment all the time of that Kings Reign and laid onely the penalty thereof upon him whom he deprived both of his Crown and his eye-sight by the means of Roderick who succeedeed him in the Kingdome yet when the said Roderick followed his steps as well in his vicious life as in the maintenance of his abominable Laws it pleased God of his justice to permit him to give the occasion both of his own ruine and also of the overthrow of all Spain by the sin of the flesh wherewith the whole Kingdome was as it were overflowed For whereas King Roderick had sent a Kinsman of his own Count Julian Embassador into Affrick and in the mean time ravished his Daughter or as some write his wife the Count understanding it at his return was so incensed therewith against the King that in revenge thereof he practised with the Moores to bring them into Spain who with his assistance conquered it speedily and with such destruction of the people that the punishment of God was evidently seen therein For having first overthrown King Roderick whose body could never after the Battail be found they subdued almost all Spain in eight Months or in fourteen as some say and slew 700000 of all sorts of people besides great numbers of Captives which they sent Prisoners into Barbary and from that time forward remained in the possession of that Kingdome or of some part thereof for the space of 700 years ELIVD ELIVD Reigned five years he was a great Astronomer Astrologiae peritissimus Rex This vain study especially of judicial Astrology in these our dayes is much in request even amongst Troopers disbanded some of whom I know so ignorant that they cannot write true English nay scarce read The Professors of this Science especially such as would seem to be learned would make it very ancient fetching the Original from the Egyptians and Babylonians the most ancient of all Mortals Jactabant olim Astrologi Chaldaeos quadringinta septuaginta annorum millia in periclitandis experiendisque pueris quicunque nascerentur posuisse To have spent forty and seventy thousand years and yet the Chaldeans had their beginning at the destruction of the Tower of Babel And Picus Mirandulanus in his second Chapter of his 12. Book to
Mar. Scel an 163. Bar. Tom. 2. Annal. an eod That King Lucius of Brittain was the Disciple of St. Timothy for which he citeth the Magdeburgians Stumphius and the Annals of Curre in Germany And Naeuclerus with others writeth clearly That one St. Timothy came into Brittain and Lucius King of Brittain and his Kingdome did receive the Faith of Christ from him Mr. Broughton affirmeth That this our glorious Countryman St. Timothy was Son unto the Lady Claudia and Brother to St. Novatus St. Pudentiana and Praxedes Great honour it was for the first Christian King of this Nation the first Christian King in the World to be instructed in the Faith by so Noble a renowned Apostle of his own Nation What were the Impediments in temporal respects which hindred King Lucius from publick profession of Christian Religion wherein he was thus instructed until or near the Papacy of St. Elutherius shall be shewed hereafter This St. Timothy was assisted by St. Marcellus a Britain also and preached here and the Annals of the Archbishops of Trevers say of this Man That Lucius King of Brittain now England was baptized by his preaching The Historie of Tungers speaketh more plainly That this St Marcellus did by his preaching convert Lucius Prince of Brittain with all his Nation to Christ And the same Catalogue of Trevers saith That King Lucius was made a Christian and Baptized by this our Renowned Countryman St. Marcellus When the estate of Ecclesiasticall affairs had taken in Brittain so happy proceeding and effect that both our King and many principall men were thus converted to the Faith of Christ from their former errors and superstitions and so great hope and forwardnesse there was to have that faith publickly professed which they privately embraced and acknowledged for the only Truth many worldly temptations and oppositions did presently arise to hinder these new and untrained Souldiers of Christ to make so bold and open profession of their holy Religion as many holy Martyrs at that time and they themselves not long after did and the glory of that required Divers humane fears and impediments now chancing and hindring of K. Lucius from open profession of Christian Religion in Brittain for as we may probably with many Antiquities affirme that the favourable edicts of divers Emperours and among them Antoninus sirnamed Pius yet Reigning had somewhat encouraged them in temporal respects actually to be baptized in that Religion which their internal understanding and judgement was by many invincible motives and arguments convinced before to be only true so now by like contrary worldly events and letts they were for some time more slow and dull to professe it openly They did perfectly understand that not withstanding the pretended and expected favour from the present Emperour either by his command or permission two holy Popes to omit many other places St. Telesphorus and St. Higinus procurers of their conversion cruelly were put to Death for that Religion even in Rome it self under the Emperours sight within the space of four years or little more by all accounts and because present and home dangers do most terrifie they did see and taste that the present Emperour Antoninus was at this time incensed against the Brittains and had already sent Lollius Vrbicus with forces hither and he had Fought some battles against the Brittains as both our own and the Roman Historians testifie And to maintain and foster these conceived and ingendred humane fears and impressions to live and continue longer then Antoninus was like to live now being old and long time Emperour when he came first to the Empire by the Adoption of Adrian he was commanded or directed by him that Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Act. St. Praxed per St. Pastor Vsuard Ado. Peter Catal. l. 5. c. 58. Baron Tom. 2. An. 164. whom from his Infancy he had trayned up in the Gentiles Superstitions should succeed him in the Empire when he was but eight years of Age he was put by Adrian into the Colledge of the Salii most superstitious Priest of Mars and was made Priest and chief Ruler of the Southsayers So that there could be little hope but this man so superstitiously brought up and such a maker and unmaker of their sacrifices and an enchanter would still continue the same and professe himself an enemy to all Impugners of such proceedings such as all Christians were which he performed when he came to be Emperor raising a general persecution against Christians which to omit but as it concerned this Kingdome and the Christians thereof the holy house of our glorious Countreywoman St. Praxedes in Rome which until then both in the time of St. Novatus her brother her holy parents St. Pudens and St. Claudia Baron Tom. 2. an 166. Sabinella or Priscilla and likely before as under her parents also Christian Brittains had been a safe refuge and as a sanctuary for persecuted Christians was now cruelly ransacked and tweny two holy Martyrs together with the sacred Priest St. Simitrius most barbarously without tryal question judgement presently put to death of which blessed company we may not but think divers of this Country to have been and St. Timothy himself returning from hence to Rome Julius Capil Marc. Aurel. was there Martyred if we may believe Matthew of Westminster his computation Ibid. Virgil. in Hist Angl. l 2. p. 42. These and such were the worldly temptations which allured King Lucius and many Noble Brittains to be more timerous and lingering to professe the Christian faith with such constancy openly as inwardly they firmly believed and honoured until the Emperour himself convicted by the written Apologies and Miracles wrought by Christians was enforced to yield the honour to Christ and abstain from persecution and many of his noble Pagans embraced the Christian Religion Tertul. Apol. c. 6. Euseb Eccle. Hist l. 5. c. 5. Math. West an 174. and this I take to be the chiefest occasion of mistaking in some Historian or their Scribes setting down so many and several times when King Lucius received the Faith of Christ or professed it many saying it was in the year of Christ 156. others in the year 164. others 165. as William of Malmesbury with others Henry of Hartford in the year 169. and others in other and later times All which be true if we speak of the Religion of Christ which he held and believed from the very first of these assigned times but for his and his Nobles publick profession thereof and the Kingdome generally receiving it with building of Churches placing of Christian Bishops and Priests in them abandoning the superstitious rites of pagan Gentils we must expect a later date in the time of Pope Elutherius And this holy Pope had long before he was Pope the often occasion of K. Lucius others here writing sending to Rome about this publick work might occasion some error in the Titles of Letters to Elutherius when he was not yet Pope but
punishment towards their adversaries was justly interpreted to be a revenger of their wrongs and former calamities The common opinion is that he reigned between six and seven years although I find in an old Manuscript French History entreating much of the affairs of this Kingdom written above 400 years since that he was King of Brittain 29. years Bassian tenoit le Roilme d Brittanie 29. ans Jacob. Senuon Epis in Caral Sanctor in S. Amphibalo Author of the English martyrologie Joan Lydgate Monac Buriensis in ejus vita Gerard Leigh in his Accidence of Armory Verumne apud Hect. Boerius Scot. Hist l. 6. f. 102. Hollins of Scotland in Cyathlint Jacob. Genuen in vita St. Amph. Harris Manusc Hist Brit. l 3. c 35 Girald Camb. Item Camb. l. 1. c. 5. David Powell Annot. 16. in c. 4. disc Cambriae Dio in Macrino Dio in Caracalla Spartian in Caracalla Manusc Gall. Antiq. c. 14. Compilatio M. S. de gest in Carausio Fab. in Bass fol. 47. b. In this Emperours time St. Zepherine was Pope who converted our renowned countriman St. Amphibalus who won by his preaching life and death after so many thousands of this Nation to Christ of whom a late Authour citing divers antiquities thus writeth St. Amphibalus being a noble young man of Brittain and going to Rome with Bassianus son to Severus was there by Pope Zepherinus instructed secretly in the Christian faith baptised made Priest and sent back into Brittain there to preach unto others Neither may we with prudence judge that so great a concourse of our Brittish Nation and Nobility being then at Rome and St. Amphibalus thus converted a great Noble Man and termed in antiquities the son of a Prince and so not without attendance that he alone was thus converted and employed by that holy Pope at this time and not unprobable but some of those holy Apostolick men which are yet remembred in Histories to have assisted St. Amphibalus afterward in preaching Christ in these parts or received their Ordination and instruction from the same at Rome now about this time such as were Modicus Priscus Calanus Ferranus Ambianus and Carnocus there is no repugnancy in the time for these were old men when the persecution of Dioclesian raged here and St. Alban was martyred Jacobus Bishop of Genua and so to be termed of that City in Italy a Roman writer writing fourscore years or thereabouts before Matthew West who calls this Saint Clericus only not expressing his name testifies that his name was Amphibalus a Brittain of this Kingdom and son to a Prince thereof relating his History and life at large But our Monck might without blame be ignorant of that Author And this forreign bishop addeth that he went from hence to Rome with Bassianus in the time of Severus and was there Knighted amongst that noble company most part of this Nation recounted in number 1540. of which St. Alban was also one and that St. Amphibalus was there made priest by the Pope of Rome and sent home into his Country Giraldus Cambrensis saith he was borne as Caerlegeon the renowned City and School in Wales So have divers others the old manuscript History of the Church of Winchester saith he was an holy Monck and Doctour in the Church of Caermardyn in Wales And this is the last certain place of his Residency which that Antiquity giveth him before his persecution and going to the Scots and so it seemeth not unprobable but he was also Bishop of that city Caermardin or without question of some other City there for otherwise how could he be consecrated Bishop among the Scots by whose Annals he is accounted the first Bishop they had resident among them but more of him hereafter About the year of our Lord 220. or a little before Bassianus Emperour and King of Brittain was murdered between Edissa and Carras by Mardianus a Centurion he marrying with the sister of the holy christian Lady Mammea left their son Heliogabalus behind him who soon after was Emperour An old French Manuscript History saith that Bassianus was slain by Carausius who after reigned 38 years The same hath the manuscript compilation in these words Et tandem faventibus Britonnibus Carausius demicavit cum Bassiano interfecit eum sic gubernaculum regni in sese suscepit of this opinion also is Fabian Howes saith Bassianus was cruelly given to sensuality and lust insomuch that he espoused his mother-in-law Juba others call her Julia as Hollenshed Fabian Juliana who saith that Bassianus on a certain time breaking in to his brother Geta's chamber slew him even in his mothers lap and that himself was after slain at Edissa by one of his souldiers but names him not as he was about to untruss his points Now the affairs of Brittain for the space of almost fifty years together were passed over in silence as being either omitted through negligence of Writers in that age or perishing through the calamity of the times that ensued under the Emperours following namely Popilius Macrinus the successor of Bassianus Varus Heliogobalus Alexander Severus Maximinus Gordianus the first second and third Philippus Arats Decius Valerianus These are the words of the Authour of the Brittish History but we will leave him a while to try what other Authours say Fabian tells that Carausius c. Finis Libri Tertii To the Right Honourable HENRY Earle of Oxford Lord Bulbeck Samford Badlesmere Scales Knight of the Garter c. ALGERNON Earle of Northumberland and Lord Percy Lucy Poynings Fitz Pain Bryan and Latimer Knight of the Garter c. JOHN Earle of Shrewsbury Lord Talbot Furnival Verdon and Lord Strange of Blackmore The Earle of OXFORD Henry Very the Eighteenth Earl of Oxford of that name Lord Bulbeck Samford c. Descended as Mr. Brooke York Herald fol. 162. and others say from Aubrey de Vere who married Mabel Daughter of Robert Consull Earl of Glocester and natural Son to Henry the first by Nest daughter to Rees Prince of Southwales which Rees married Gladis D. and sole heir of Rees ap Kenvin Prince of Powis whose successor Robert de Vere third of that name and sixth Earl of Oxford of that family married Margaret daughter of Roger Lord Mortimer son of Edmund Lord Mortimer descended from Roger Lord Mortimer who married Gladis sister and heir of the whole blood to David son to Llewellyn Prince of Northwales and Joane daughter to K. John which Llewellyn was son to Jorworth the son of Owen Gwineth the son of Gruffith the son of Conan the son of Jago the son of Edwal the son of Meiric the son of Edwal Voel the son of Anarawd the son of Rodery Maur the son of Esylht daughter and sole heir of Conan Tyndaythwy the son of Roderike Molwynoc the son of Edwal Ywrch the son of Cadwallader last King of the Britains Mr. Powel fol. 224 NORTHUMBERLAND Llewellin ap Jorworth Prince of Northwales married Joane natural daughter to K. John Mr.
his being so friendly alwayes to Christians as Baronius often confesseth must needs much more procure ease and freedom to our Christians where there was no man of power to contradict or resist it Constantius being both King and Emperor here and the Kingdom of Brittain a Christian Kingdom Bede l. Hist c. 8. Galf. Mon. Hist Reg. Brit. l. 5. c. 5. Manusc Gali. Antiq. c. 28. 29. Virun l. 5. Hist 1. Harding Chron. c. 57 58 59 60. Hen. Hunt Hist l. 1. Socrates Eccl. Hist 1. c. 1. Eusebius l. 1. vit Const c. 9. Theodoret Hist Eccle. l. 1. c. 24. Therefore howsoever his reasons make doubt of some other places whose Estate and condition was not like unto ours of Brittain they do not move any question of the quiet thereof in case of Religion but establish and confirme it And therefore our best allowed and ancient Authors St. Bede Galfrid Hen. Hunting and old French Manuscript Virunnius Harding and others settle Constantius here in Brittain after all our persecution ended and nothing but all favour here to Christians in his time and not only a tolleration granted but publick profession of Christianity generally allowed and by Regal and Imperial warrant of Constantius used and exercised as shall appear And if we had rather hearken to forraign Writers in or neer that time we have sufficient warrant not only that he recalled himself from the worship of the Pagan Gods as divers are witnesses but as Eusebius and others testifie of him he gave free power and licence to all under him to exercise Christian Religion without any molestation And this as he writes when the greatest persecution was in other places and had care to instruct his son Constantine the great whom he left his heir in the same Faith as we may easily conclude from the words of Constantine himself Registered by Theodoret that even from the ends of the Ocean meaning Brittain he was assisted by God and Sozomen saith it is evidently known unto all men Sozom. Eccles Hist l. 1. c. 5. Chron. Mon. Abington apud Ncieph Harsp Hist Eccle. saecul p. 203. c. 9. that great Constantine was first instructed in the Christian faith among the Brittains And the Chronicle of Abington neer Oxford testifieth he was brought up in that old Abbey which we must needs ascribe to his Parents Constantius and Helen and we find not any other but Constantius except we will apply it to King Coel and then it was received and approved by him who here in Brittain caused the persecutors to be put to death and the persecution thereupon ceased as Gildas writeth For this must needs be applyed to persecution in Brittain and not to the Tyrants Dioclesian and Maximian Gild. l. de con Brit. c. 8. the persecution here ended long before their death and neither of them nor any other Emperor but Constantius having power and command here at this time and hereupon our late authors themselves thus testify of him Stow Howe 's Hist tit Rom. in Constant Constantin Constantius abolished the Superstition of the Gentiles in his Dominions so that afterward Brittain felt no persecutions Constantius renounced the Idolatry of the Gentiles I have shewed formerly that Dioclesians persecution continued in this Kingdome not ten Years for Gildas in one place saith The nine years persecution of Dioclesian the Tyrant and in the next Chapter not wholly ten years long as also that it wholly ended in the time of King Coel. Those persecutors then having no power or authority here and so together with their other over-ruling and commanding Decrees the bloody Edicts of persecuting Christians here were utterly extinct and made void and never renewed but altogether omitted by Constantius this great friend of Christians such of this Nation were fully and undoubtedly restored to their antient Liberties Priviledges and immunities in matter of Religion it Constantius and Helen our Emperour and Empresse King and Queen had then given no further and expresse approbation unto them which we may not reasonably call in question when we remember their absolute and independing Regal right and possession without contradiction they had in this Kingdom the natural love and affection they bore unto it and that to them with their religious care and desire they had to defend and advance Christian Religion even in times and places when and where they were not so enabled nor drawn thereto with so many and strong bands of duty and affection we have heard that the other Churches under his Empire were endowed by his benefits and munificence whereby they lived in great joy and encreased The choycest Christians were his dearest friends and made his Councellours Mr. Bro. fol. 463. 1. And divers even of this Nation have delivered that this our new King and Emperour particularly place St. Taurinus Archbishop in York wherein although they be mistaken if they understand Taurinus Bishop of Eureux neither the time or place allowing yet we cannot safely say but he might or did place some other of that name there and if both these should fail yet so many more authorities concur that Constantius gave consent and assistance to the publick restitution of Religion here in his time For this we have the warrant of the most and approved Antiquaries St. Gildas and St. Bede after them Matthew of Westminster and others St. Gildas writeth That before the persecution had been here ten years the wicked decrees against Christians were annulled and frustrate and all the Servants of Christ after a long winter night with joyful eyes receive the clear light of the heavenly air Bede Hist Ec. l 1. c. 8. they renew their Churches which were thrown down to the ground they found Matth West an 313. S. Albans Church built Manusc Antiq Eccl. Winton Marian Sco. an 306. Martin Polo 307. Antiq. Gal. an 306. St. Julians Lantarnam Church built in Constantius time about 309. after Christ Matth. West an 305. 307. Baron Spond an 306 Gordon an 306 Jacob Grinaeus an in c. 15. l. 1 Euseb de vita Constantini an 308. Hen. Hunt l. 1. Hist Diocl. Constantin Regit o Chro. l. 1. in Const an 253. build and perfect others in honour of their holy Martyrs and as it were set forth every where their victorious Ensignes celebrate festival dayes offer sacrifice with a pure heart and mouth all of them rejoyce as children cherished in the lap of their mother the Church St. Bede saith that so soon as the persecution ceased the Christians which had hid themselves in Woods and Desarts and secret Dens presently came forth and shewed themselves in publick doing those publick works of Christian Religion which St. Gildas before remembred And writeth plainly that this was done in the time of Constantius and that he dyed here whilst these things were thus in acting The Monck of Westminster hath the same words with St. Bede of this publick profession of Christian Religion here presently upon the ending
was the Son of Traherne the Uncle of St. Helen Maximian King Trahern his Son next Heir to Constantine others say he was Son of Leolinus another Uncle of St. Helen Great Uncle to Constantine and one of them Gal. Mon. l. 5. c. 12.15 Pont. Virun lib. 5. Math. West an 390 392. Manus Anti. in vit S. Nin. Capg in eod Bal. li. de Scrip. Cent. 1. in Nin. saith Octavius was King but 14 yeares ending with the beginning of Maximian his Reigne And so we may well allow such an Octavius to have the name of a King in Brittain in those troublesome daies of the Romans ruling here divers petty Kings being probably at that time in this Nation as well by the Testimony of these Authors which then make Octavian King as others So they terme Conanus a King and that Maximian took his kingdom from him So was Dionotus King in Cornwall So was his brother Carodocus before him and yet under one chief King and Emperor Maximian at that time And St. Nimen who lived Bishop here in the end of this age had Kings for his Ancestors and yet the great distance of the place of his birth from King Coel argueth he was not of their line And all these Kings or Regents here were most certainly by our Antiquaries Chatholick Christians Constantinus After the death of Constantine the great Constantinus his eldest Son injoyed Brittain as a portion of his Dominion till making some attempts upon his brother Constans for the enlarging of it Brittish Hist fol. 239. he was by him slain Then was the Empire divided between Constans and Constantius the two younger brethren Constans seised upon the Provinces which Constantinus his brother had held and made a voyage into Brittain where Gratianus a Hungarian by birth had then charge of the Army This Gratianus was surnamed Funarius for that he being a young man was able as it is written of him to hold a Rope in his hand against the force of five Souldiers assaying to pull it from him But Constans afterwards following ill counsel the ready way to Princes ruines and giving himself over to all kind of vice was slain by Magnentius Taporus the Son of a Brittain who then invaded the Empire usurping the Government of Gallià and Brittain till after three years warr with Constantius the successor of Constans his brother finding himselfe unable any longer to uphold his greatnesse Mr. Br. fol. 548. 1. he murdered himself This Constantius in processe of time was infected with the Arian heresy but neither so as to endanger Brittain or any other Nation under his command He consented to the recalling of St. Athanasius out of exile and sometime to his continuing his dignity at Alexandrea And whether it was for the love of St. Athanasius or fear of his brother Constans writing expresly unto him in favour of St. Athanasius is uncertain he also consented to the calling of the great general Councel of Sardyce 10 or 11 years after the death of his Father as Socrates and Sozomen affirm wherein St. Athanasius was proved innocent and as he then present with many others proveth the Nicon faith was confirmed and utterly forbidden to be questioned Mr. Bro. fol. 548. Socr. l. 2. c. 16. Soz. l. 3. c. 11 12. Athan. Apol. 2 cont Arianos Divers Bishops of Brittain 5 at the least present at the Councel of Sardyce Baro. Spon an 347. Sex Ruff. Brem Rev. gest po Ro. ad Valent. And at the calling of this Councel the same renowned Doctor called this said Constantins as also his brother a known Cacholick Emperour and a Religious Prince and we are sure that at this time our Kingdome of Baittain detained the former glorious estate and glory of Religion it had before in the daies of Constantine and was still free from Arianisme For the same glorious Athanasius present in that Councel faith that amongst more than 300 Bishops assembled there which freed him and professed the Nicen faith the Bishops from the Provinces of Baittain were there And as the Roman writers testifie there were from the division of the Empire by Constantine and as many suppose before five provinces here in Brittain Maxima Caesariensis Valentia Baittannia prima Brittania secunda Flavia Caesariensis So that if we should allow but one Bishop out of every of those provinces to have been at the Sardyce Councel and there to have subscribed for the rest of Brittain their Provinces or Dioceses we must grant five Brittish Bishops to have been there and supplyed this duty and Office for the rest of Brittain That this our Country of Brittain flourished after this with great numbers of worthy Bishops no City then vacant here of such a Pastor and Rider we may gather from divers Antiquities Epist Concilii Arimini ad Const apud Socr. l. 2. Hist c. 29. Soz Hist Eccl. l. 4. c. 16. Sever sulp sacra Hist l. 2. c. 21. Lib. Notitia Epis orb Chr. sive Cod. Provin Rom. as from the Epistle of the great Councel of Ariminum in Italy not long after this time written to Constantius the Emperour where our Bishops were present testifying unto him that they were assembled there forth of all Cities towards the West most properly and significantly to be applyed to this Kingdom most West from thence And the words All Bishops out of the Western Cities cannot carry any other true construction but our Episcopal Cities in Baittain were then so furnished and many or most of them present at that Councel This is confirmed by the number of Western Bishops above 400 as Sozomen and others write assembled at Ariminum besides 160 from the East at the same time gathered together at Seleucia in Isauria when it is manifest in the old Manuscript Catalogue of Bishops that Brittain and all the Western Nations present in the Councel of Ariminum had not at that time many more than 400 Bishops Therefore we must needs grant that the Bishops of all Cities as well of Brittain as other Countries of the West which had not excuseable lets and impediments were there present in such sence as the Epistle of that Councel is cited and Severus Sulpitius is sufficient witnesse that this our Brittain in particular that it had many Bishops there for relating the number to have been above 400 out of the West And the Emperour the better to incline them to the Arian heresie as it seemeth commandeth that provision should be made for them at his cost But the Bishops of France Aquitaine and Brittain refused it and rather made choice to live at their own charges than to be maintained by the Emperour and this refusal was general to all the Bishops of Brittain Aquitaine and France except three only of Brittain which received allowance from the Emperour and refused maintenance by the other Bishops themselves being poor And the same Authors prove that our Bishops were drawn or forced to come to that Councel by the Officers of Constantius
it to be recorded to the end the same of that fact might ever live to his eternal honour and renown of the noble order 9. That if any complaint were made at the Court of this mighty King of perjury or oppression then some Knight of the order whom the King should appoint ought to revenge the same 10. That if any Knight of forrain Nation did come unto the Court with desire to challenge or make shew of his prowess were he single or accompanied those Knights ought to be ready in armes to make answer 11. That if any Lady Gentlewoman or VVidow or Maid or other oppressed person did present a petition declaring that they were or had been in this or that Nation injured or offered dishonour they should be graciously heard and without delay one or more Knights should be sent to take revenge 12. That every Knight should be willing to inform young Princes Lords and Gentlemen in the orders and exercises of armes thereby not only to avoid Idleness but also to encrease the honour of Knighthood and Chevalrie Divers other Articles inciting to magnanimous actions of honour in armes those Knights were sworn to observe Sir William Segar ib. which for brevity I omit nevertheless being used to lose my labour I will adventure to say this little and the rather because this order of Knighthood is ancient I do not read of any Robe or habit prescribed unto these Knights nor with what ceremonie they were made The place of meeting and Convocation was the City of Winchester where King Arthur caused a great round table to be made and at the same the Knights at Pentecost or VVhitsunday did sit and eat the proportion thereof was such as no room could be thought of more dignity then the rest yet as some writers say one seat thereof was called the Sea Perilous reserved for that Knight that did excel the rest in vertue That place by thet consent of all the rest of the Knights was allotted to King Arthur who for his valour surpassed all other Knights and professors of armes Of Officers and Ministers belonging unto this order I do not read but of a Register whose duty was to enter and keep records of all and every action enterprised attempted or performed by any of all those Knights which records were read and sung publickly to the eternizing of their honour and fame Whether the number of these Knights was many or few I do not find but it seemeth imparted to a great many all persons of high dignitie and much prowess for unto King Arthur at Caerleon in Monmoth-Shire resorted at one time ten Kings Caerleon more honoured then any City of Brittain and thirteen Earls besides many Barons and other Knights of meaner qualitie As the conquests of the King were many so was his bounty notable for it is written that unto his chief Scheneshal or Steward called Kay he gave the province of Avion on his Butler Bedwere he bestowed Normandy and to his Cozen Berel he granted the Dutchy of Buriundy and unto many other Lords and valiant Knights he allotted other magnificent gifts according to their vertue Sir John Hayward fol. 4. in Will Conq. Some are of opinion the truth whereof I will not dispute that this most victorious King was not born in lawfull wedlock some make the like quere of Alexander others of Julius Caesar many such have been brought into the World to the great admiration and astonishment of Posterity and that bastards should inherit Kingdomes Principalities and other Seigniories it was no unusual thing Sir John Hayward writing the life of William the Conquerour who is commonly called William the bastard tells us it was a generall custome at that time in France that bastards did succeed even in dignities of highest degree and condition no otherwise then children lawfull begotten Thierry bastard of Clovis had for his partage with the dutifull Children of the said Clovis the Kingdom of Austrasie now called Lowain Sigisbert bastard to King Dagobert the first had his part in the Kingdom of France with Clovis the twelfth lawfull Son to Dagobert Loys and Carloman bastards to King Loyis le Begue succeeded after the death of their Father so likewise in England Alfride bastard Son to Oswine succeeded his Brother Egfride So Adelstane the bastard Son of Edward the Elder succeeded his Father before Edmund and Eldred his younger Brothers notwithstanding they were lawfully begotten So St. Edmund the Martyr bastard Son to King Edgar succeeded him in the state before Ethelbred his lawfull issue Afterward Harold surnamed Harefoot bastard to Canutus succeeded him in the Kingdom before Hardi Canutus his lawfull son The like custome hath been observed in Spain in Portugall and in divers other Countries And it is probable that this use was grounded upon often experience that bastards begotten in the highest heat and strength of affection have many times been men of excellent proof both in courage and understanding this was verified in Hercules Alexander the great Romulus Timotheus Brutus Themistocles Arthur in Homer Demosthenes Bion Bartholus Gracian Peter Lumbard Peter Comestor John Andreas and divers of most florishing name but this custome now concerning succession of bastards in Kingdomes Royalties and other inheritances is obsolete and quite abolished Concerning the Coronation of King Arthur some Authours have written thus the appointed time of the solemnity approaching The Coronation of King Arthur and all being ready assembled in the City of Caerleon the Archbishops of London and York and in the City of Caerleon the Archbishop Dubrick were conveyed to the place with royal solemnity to Crown King Arthur Dubritius therefore because the Court lay within his Diocesse He was crowned at Lanturnam an ancient Abbey but now the house of St. Edward Morgan Baronet furnished him accordingly to perform and solemnize this charge in his own person The King being crowned was with all pompe brought to the Cathedral Church of that Metropolitan See on either hand of him both right and left did the Archbishops support him and four Kings to wit Angusell King of Albania Cadvall King of Venedotia Cador Kings of Cornewall and Sater King of Demetia went before him carrying four golden swords The Companies also and concourse of sundry sorts of Officers played before him most melodious and heavenly harmony On the other part the Queen was brought to the Church of professed * St. Julians now the house of the Lord of Cherbery Nuns being conducted and accompanied by Archbishops and Bishops with her armes and titles royally garnished and the Queens consorts to the four Kings aforesaid carryed before her as the order and custome was four white Doves or Pigeons At a solemnity held by this renowned King upon the feast of Pentecost which was the usual day for the Knights of the Round-table to convene a challenge was brought to King Arthur from a King of Northwales the Copy whereof was given me by the right honorable Richard
satisfaction for his former lewd living but casting that aside he seemed with his coule or hood and habit to cast away also all shame and feeling of piety and religion and humanity it self much more Gildas setteth down which drew upon the Brittish Nation the just vengeance which almighty God poured down upon them Cadwane Cadwane Duke of Northwales was made Soveraign of the Brittains Howe 's fol. 56. who gave strong battail to Ethelfred King of Northumberland and forced him to entreat for peace After which concord being made they continued all their life time loving friends he reigned twenty two years The Kingdom of the East Saxons began under Ercheminus about the year of Christ 614. The Kingdome of Mercia or middle England began under Penda 626. Hollenshed also saith that he reigned 22 years though saith he some allow but 13 and was slain by the Northumbers Cadwallin Cadwallin the son of Cadwane ruled over the Brittains How fol. 56. b. St. Martins in London by the Brittains he warred strongly upon the Saxons and made Penda King of Mercia tributary to him He reigned 48 years and was buryed in London in the Church of St. Martine neer unto Ludgate which Church was then new-founded and builded by the Brittains in anno 677. An other Authour maketh a longer relation of this Kings reign Holl. fol. 166. Edwin was not son to Ethelfred but to Alla or Ella and tells us that Cadwallo for so he calls him and Edwin the son of Ethelfred were brought up in France being sent thether unto Solomon King of Brittain by Cadwane when they were very young for this he cites Gaufred and that after their return into this land when they were made Kings Cadwall of the Brittains and Edwin of the Northumbers there continued for the space of two years great friendship betwixt them till at lenghth Edwin required of Cadwall that he might wear a Crown and celebrate appointed solemnities within his dominion of Northumberland as well as Cadwall did in his Country Cadwall taking advice in this matter at length by the perswasion of his Nephew Brian he denyed to grant unto Edwin his request wherewith Edwin took such displeasure that he sent word unto Cadwall that he would be crowned without his license since he would not willingly give it whereunto Cadwall answered that if he did so he would cut off his head under his Diadem if he presumed to wear any within the confines of Britany Hereupon discord arising betwixt these two princes they began to make fierce and cruel war each of them against the other and at length joyning in battail with their main armies Cadwall lost the field with many thousands of his men and being chased fled into Scotland and from thence got over into Ireland and finally passed over the seas into Brittain the lesse called Armorica where of his cofin King Solomon he was courteously received and at length obtained of him ten thousand men to go with him back into his Country to assist him in recovering his lands and dominions the which in the mean time were cruelly spoyled wasted and plundered by K. Edwin The same time Brian the Nephew of Cadwall whom he had sent into Brittanie a little before to kill a certain Wisard or Southsayer whom K. Edwin had gotten out of Spain named Pelitus who by disclosing the purpose of Cadwall unto Edwin greatly impeached Cadwals designes he fortified the City of Exceter meaning to defend it till the coming of Cadwall whereupon Penda King of Mercia besieged that City with a mighty army purposing to take it and Brian within it Cadwall advertised hereof immediately after his arrival hasted towards Exceter and dividing his people into four parts set upon his enemies and took Penda and overthrew his whole army Penda having no other shifs to escape submitted himself wholly unto Cadwall promising to become his liegeman and to fight against the Saxons in his quarrel And this Penda being subdued Cadwall called his Nobles together which had been dispersed abroad a long time and with all speed went against Edwin King of Northumberland and slew him in battail at Hatfield with his son Osfride and Godbold King of the Isles of Ockney who was come thither to his aid By this it should appear that Fabian hath gathered amiss in the account of the reigns of the Brittish Kings for it appeareth by Beda and others that Edwin was slain in the year of our Lord 634. And whereas Fabian attributeth that act and divers others unto Cadwan father of Cadwall yet both Galmon and Beda with the most part of all other writers say that it was done by Cadwall Hollenshed ut sup Harding assigneth but 13 years to the reign of Cadwall and declareth that he died in the year of our Lord 606. in the which year as he saith Cadwall began his reign which opinion seemeth best to agree with that which is set down by others But to return to Cadwall and his acts as we find them recorded by the Brittish writers After he had got this victory against the Northumbers he cruelly pursued the Saxons as though he meant so far as in him lay to destroy the whole race of them out of the land of Brittain and sending Penda against King Oswald who succeeded Edwin though at the first Penda received the overthrow at Havenfield yet afterwards Cadwall himself highly displeased with that chance King Oswald slain pursued Oswald and fought with him at a place called Bourne where Penda slew the said Oswald After that Oswald was slain his brother Osunus succeeded him in the government of the Northumbers and sought the favour of Cadwall now ruling as King over all Brittanie and at length by great gifts of gold and silver and upon his humble submission he obtained peace till at length upon disgust Penda obtained leave of Cadwall to make wars against the said Osunus in with Penda himself was slain Then Cadwal granted after the space of two years Vlfridus the son of Penda should succeed in the Kingdom of Mertia Cadwall absolute Prince of all Brittain and thus Cadwall ruled things after his own will and pleasure and finally when he had reigned as before is said as years he departed this life the 22d. of November His body being embalmed and dressed with sweet confections was put in a brazen Image by mervalous art melted and cast the which being set on a brazen horse of excellent beauty the Brittains erected aloft upon the West gate of London called Ludgate in sign of his victorious conquests and for a terror to the Saxons Cadwallader Cadwallader the last King of the Brittains descending from the Noble race of the Trojans by extreme plagues of death and famine was driven to forsake this his native Country and Kingdom and to sojourne with a great number of his Nobles and Subjects with his Cosin Alan King of Little Brittaine which is called in the Brittish tongue Lhydaw Of the first inhabiting of
this place by the Brittains we have already spoken Conon of Meriadoc now Denbighland in the year of Grace 384. was the first Prince of the Brittish blood in Armorica or Little Brittain the second was 2. Graldonus 3. Solomon I. The names of the Kings of little Brittain 4. Auldranus 5. Budicus I. 6. Howellus Magnus This Howel was with King Arthur in his wars 7. Howellus II. 8. Alanus I. 9. Howellus III. 10. Gilquellus 11. Solomon II. 12. Alanus II. Of whom mentions is made in this place who descended of a daughter of Rune the son of Mailgon Gwyneth King of Great Brittain who was married to the forenamed Howel II King of Little Brittain 13. Conobertus 14. Budicus II. 15. Theodoricus 16. Rualhonus 17. Daniel Dremrost i. e. with the red face 18. Aregstanus 19. Maconus 20. Neomenius 21. Haruspagius 22. Solomon III Who was slain by his own men and then was that Kingdom turned into an Earldom whereof Alen was the first Earl who valiantly resisted the Normans and vanquished them oft at last it was a Dukedom Cadwallader bein in Brittain was certified that a great number of strangers as Saxons Angles and Juthes had arrived in great Brittain and finding it desolate and without inhabitants saving a few Saxons who had called them in and certain poor Brittains who lived by roots in Rocks and Woods had overrun a great part thereof and dividing it into Territories and Kingdomes inhabited that part which was then and yet at this day by the Welsh who are the ancient Brittains called Lhoyger and in English England with all the Cities Townes Castles and Villages which the Brittains had builded ruled and inhabited by the space of 1827. years under divers Kings and Princes of great renown whereupon he purposed to return and by strength of Brittish Knights to recover his own Land again After he had prepared and made ready his Navy for the transporting of his own men with such succours as he had found at Alan's hand an Angel appeared to him in a Vision and declared that it was the will of God that he should not take his voyage towards Brittain but to Rome to Pope Sergius where he should end his life and be afterwards numbred among the blessed Which vision after that Cadwallader had declared to his friend Alan he sent for all his books of prophesies as the works of both Merdhines or Merlins to wit Ambrose and Sylvester surnamed Merdhin Wylht and the words which the Eagle spoke at the building of Caer Septon to be now come whereof they had prophesied To this very day the Welsh the very real ofspring of the Brittains are much addicted unto prophesies and so confident that out of their old books I know some my self and those of good quality they doubt not to tell you things to come but those prophesies are never discerned to have come to pass till it be too late as in Ragland Castle in Monmothshire and others which it concerns me not to speak of Alan upon the relation of Cadwallader his vision or dream counselled him to fullfil the will of God who did so and taking his journey to Rome lived there eight years in the service of God and dyed in the year of Christ 688. So that the Brittains ruled this Isle with the out-Isles of Wight Mon in English called Anglesey Manaw in English Man Orkney and Ewyst 1137. years before Christ until the year of his Incarnation 688. and thus ended the rule of the Brittains over the whole Isle This glorious King bore for his armes Azure a crosse firmie fitched Or. He slew Lothayre King of Kent and Aethelwald King of the South Saxons Ivor the son of Alan After Cadwallader had taken his journey towards Rome Gerard Leigh in his accidence of armory fol. 33. leaving his son named Edwal the Roo and his people with his Cousin Alan which Alan taking courage to him and not despairing of the conquest of Brittain manned his ships as well with a great number of his own people as with those which Cadwallader had brought with him and appointed Ivor his son and Inyr his Nephew to be leaders and chieftains of the same who sailing over the narrow seas landed in the West parts of Brittain of whose arrival when the Saxons were certified they gathered a great Army and gave Ivor battail where they were put to flight and lost a great number of their people and Ivor wan the Countries of Cornwall Devonshire and Somersetshire and peopled them with Brittains Whereupon Kentwinus King of West-Sex gathered a great number of Saxons and Angles together and came against the Brittains which were ready to abide the battail and as the armies were both in sight they were not very desirous to fight but fell to a composition and agreement that Ivor should take Ethelburga to wife who was Cofin to Kentwin and quietly enjoy all that he had during the reign of Ivor This Ivor is he whom our English Chronicles call Ive or Jew King of West Saxons H. Lhoyd that reigned after Cedwel and they say that he was a Saxon for Kentwin reigned full five years after Ivors coming into England and after him his Nephew Cedwel who after he had reigned over the west Saxons two years went to Rome and left his Kingdom to Ive his Cousin This Ive or Ivor whom the Brittains call the son of Alan and the Saxons the son of Kenred being King of the Saxons and Brittains which inhabited the West parts of Brittain after many victories atchived against the Kings of Kent Southsex and Mercia left his Kingdome to Adelred or as some call him Adelerdus his Cousin and took his journey to Rome where he made a godly end about the year of our Lord seven hundred and twenty Roderike or Rodri the Son of Edwal Yworch Roderike over the Brittains began his reign Anno. 720. against whom Adelred King of the West Saxons raised a great Army and destroying the Country of Devonshire The Brittains victorious against the Saxons in three battails entered Cornwall where Roderike with the Brittains gave him battail in with the Brittains had the victory over the Saxons the year after the Brittains obtained two other victories over the Saxons one in Northwales at a place called Garth Maelawc and an other in Southwales at Pencoed At this time Belin the Son of Elphin a noble Man among the Brittains died Ethelbaldus King of Mercia desirous to annex the fertile soil of the Country lying between Severn and Wye to his own Kingdom gathered an Army and entered into Wales A battail near Abergevenny and destroying all before him he came to the Mountain Carno not far from Abergevenny where a sore battail was fought between him and the Brittains Anno seven hundred twenty eight This Mercian King called to his aid Adelard King of the West Saxons and gave battail to the Brittains where after a long and terrible conflict he obtained a bloody victory
their Arch-Bishops had their Sees in those Cities wherein their Presidents aboad so that the Ancient seats of the three Arch-bishops here being London in the East Caerleon in the West and York in the North Londons diocesse as seemeth made Brittannia prima Caerleon Brittannia secunda and York Maxima Caesariensis But in the next age when the power of the presidents began to grow over great A third division of Brittain they again devided Brittaine into five parts adding to the three former Valentia and Flavia Caesariensis the first of which two seemeth to have bin the Northerly part of Maxima Caesariensis recovered from the Picts and Scots by Theodosius the Generall under Valens the Emperour and in honour of him named Valentia and Flavia may be conjectured to receive the name from Flavius the Emperour sonne of Theodosius for that we read not of the name Brittannia Flavia before his time So as these five partitions had their limits assigned after this manner What places every division contained Brittannia prima contained those coasts that lay betwixt Thamesis and Severne and the Brittish sea Brittannia secunda extended from Severne to the Irish sea containing the Countrey which we now call Wales Flavia Caesariensis was that which lay betwixt the Rivers Humber and Tyne and Valentia from the said Tyne and Picts wall reached to the Rampire neer Edenburgh in Scotland the furthest part that the Romans possessed when this division was in use For the severall people inhabiting all those parts with their ancient names and borders whether designed by the Romans or old Britains together with our modern names and Shires answerable to each of them you may read in Mr. Speed Ortelius and others The whole Province of Brittain as in our Histories doth appear was highly esteemed by the Emperors themselves assuming as a glorious sirname Brittannicus coming thither in person over those dangerous and scarce known Seas here marrying living and dying enacting here Laws for the whole Empire and giving to those Captains who served here many Ensigns of great honours yea Claudius gave Plautius the first Prefect of that Province What great esteem the Romans had of Brittany the right hand as he accompanied him in his Triumphs and his own Triumph of Brittain was set out with such magnificence that the Provinces brought in golden Crowns of great weight the Governours commanded to attend and the very Captains permitted to he present at the same A naval Coronet was fixed upon a pinacle of his Palace Arches and Trophees were raised in Rome and his self upon his aged knees mounted the stairs into the Capitol supported by his two sons in Law so great a joy conceived he in himself for the Conquest of so small a portion of Brittain How the Romans found it held it and left it God willing I will endeavour in this ensuing Treatise to lay open to the Readers view Many and those as different have been the opinions of men both learned and skilfull in History concerning the Nomenclation or name of this Island Sir Thomas Eliot The several names of great Britain a sound and able Antiquary takes it from a Greek Fountain or Spring to wit from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but what his conceit was for this derivation I mean not to beat my brains about it being too far off to look after Mr. Floyd or Lloyd a Cambro-Brittaine and one who for his knowledge may justly challenge an eminent place amongst our Antiquaries will give the honour to his own Language and tels us that it is derived from PRID-CAIN a fair and beautifull form or prospect and thinks he hath hit the nail on the head Pomponius Laetus will fetch it out of Armorica or little Brittain but let him be merry with his conceit whilst Becanus his brain being full of conception brings forth another issue called Mrs. Bridania for that the Danes wandering to finde new habitations named this Isle so putting Brye for Free as it were Free-Denmark and yet our Histories speak not of any Danes inhabiting this Kingdom till long after Christianity flourished which those cruel Pagans most cruelly persecuted by reason of which villanies and outrages by them committed it might rather be called the Captived and enthralled Denmark then Denmark the free Others will have it denominated from Prutenia a Province or Region of Germany Another good fellow as it seems will have it called Brittania from Brithin which as Atheneus tels us was a certain kinde of drink which the Grecians much used yet I am confident neither the Brittains nor the Welch though their Cwow exceeded even Greece it self if we speak of Liquor were never so addicted to bibbing as to new name their Country in an Alehouse nor after any sort of Tipple whatsoever Another to dash out the brains of this monstrous birth will have it to be called Brittannia from a sort of people in Italy called Brutii Concerning the Inhabitants Mr. Cambden saith Mr. Cambden in his Britannia they are of a most excellent composure of body singular wits modest and civil manners and most haughty stomacks and courage whose admirable vertue and prowess both in Civil and Martial affairs is most manifest to the whole world As for their manners and customs of this Isle before the Inhabitants were Civilized Authors write diversly Dio Nicaeus saith they Till or Plow not their Fields Dio. Nicaeus in Mr. Cambden cited but live by prey and hunting and such fruits as the Trees naturally produce Fish although nature hath furnished them with great plenty they make no use of They live for the most part in Pavillions or Flutes naked and without shoes their wives are in common The customs of the ancient Brittains and so they breed up their children The Commons for the most part bear the sway thieving is a pastime they war in Chariots and though their horses be but small yet very fleet The foot men are very agile and nimble their Arms a Buckler or small Shield with a Javelin at whose lower end or butt is a pomel hollow which whilest they offend maketh a noise and terrifieth the enemy they have also daggers or poniards but above all with singular patience they endure hunger cold and labour insomuch that plunged in deep Marishes or Pools even to the very neck for divers days together they endure hunger with great resolution In the Woods the rinds of Trees and Roots suffice for food They make a certain kinde of meat of which whosoever shall take a quantity of a Bean for a long time shall neither thirst nor be hungry Heridianus apud Com. New fashioned apparel nay even the ordinary use of Garments is altogether unknown to them only they deck their necks and shoulders as also their wastes with Iron taking as much pride and content in that adornment as did the Barbarians in their gold Their bodies depicted with the forms of all kinde of Animals so that to put on
King Tros is called Troia which name long time after it retained This King had three Sons Ilus Assaricus and Ganimedes all which he brought up in the knowledge of Arms and Martial Discipline unto which kinde of study he himself was much addicted and had many years together maintained Wars with the King of Grete named Jupiter the fourth of that name there In which Wars his Son Ganimedes was taken prisoner even by the hands of Jupiter himself who for that in his Ensign and Colours The Antiquity of bearing of Arms and badges of honour he gave an Eagle being his arms it should seem that Poets for that cause have feigned that Ganimede as he was hunting was snatcht up to heaven by Jupiter then transformed unto an Eagle and that he is now taken for one of the 12. Signs of the Zodiack called Aquarius Some other Authors also write that one Tantalus King of High Phrygia and Paphlagonia a most miserable covetous and avaricious Prince had laid certain snares and private means to entrap Ganimede and to take him prisoner as he used to sport himself in Hunting thinking by that devise to get a mighty ransom from Tros for redeeming of him and that this Tantalus sent him to Jupiter for to secure him and to have half the ransom that should be payed for his delivery and hence it may be that the Poets feign that Tantalus is plagued and tormented in Hell standing up to the chin in water and apples hanging down to his lips and yet can neither touch the one nor taste the other Tros thus having lost his son studied upon revenge and in the mean time comforted himself with his two other sons Ilus and Assaracus and this Ilus called Troy afterward Ilion who begot a son named Laomedon the father of the renowned Priamus and of Assaracus issued and came Anchises who was father to Æneas who as we said before married Creusa a legitimate daughter of King Priamus so that we see both by the Male and Female line in this marriage our Warlike Brute derives his lineal descent from Dardanus and so from Noe. Æneas after the fatal destruction of Troy gathered together the remnant and parcel of the War-shaken and distressed Trojans with whom he embarked and hoysing sail committed himself with the lives and fortunes of all his followers and fellow Adventurers to Fate and the protection of the Supream and highest Providence three years was he tossed not only with the merciless billows of the ever-unconstant Ocean but also by such Destinies as seemed no ways to favour his designs at last smiling fortune wasted his weather beaten Navy unto the Italian Continent where no sooner arrived having scarce refreshed his over-toyled Troops but Mars puts him upon present action Latinus king of the Country endeavours to impeach his setling and denies him admittance from words they come to blows Bellona seems to take no small pleasure to hear the groans of souls departing from their bodies ready to forsake their long enjoyed habitations many are the assaults approaches conflicts and combats which daily pass betwixt the two enraged parties the one labouring to encroach the other to keep his own Venus not willing to have Mars too long kept from her charming and soft embraces contrives to set a period to those bloody broyls a match must be concluded between the unparalleld Trojan Heroe and the fair Lavinia Latinu's daughter and sole inheritrix of that vast Kingdom Lucina favours the design and from this new married Couple of Matchless Progenitors in due time is born a son from whose loyns the worlds greatest Emperours and Brittains Warlike Kings deduce their Progenies From this branch budded forth our Brutus Some Writers will have him to descend from Silvius Posthumus Policronica Guido de Columna with others affirm that Ascanius the first son of Aenaeas by his first wife had a son named Sylvius Aenaeas who was Father to Brutus It is commonly held that the mother of Brutus died in Child-bed of this son and that at his coming to the age of fifteen years casually many and secret are the designs of the Celestial Star-chamber shooting at a wild and savage beast unfortunately though not ungraciously as being an act contrary to his will or intention slew his own Father for which Act divine Providence having designed him for this our Iland by the common consent and decree of the Magistrates of Latium he was adjudged to exile and for ever to be banished from his Country Necessity compels him to shift for himself neither yet so distressed or ill beloved but that he is followed by Troops of the noblest and most Heroick Spirits of his time who partly attracted by that worth which they finde innate in him and partly pusht forward with an ardent desire to purchase honour to their never dying fames engage both lives and fortunes â—ith him being now sufficiently stored with all manner of Provisions they put to Sea shaking hands for ever with their beloved Country Friends and Parents as having Spirits not confin'd to any one place Their propitious stars bring them to a province of Greece where they find encouragement as finding there many scattered Trojans so that of this unexpected aid I may say with the Prince of Poets Quid minime veris Graia pandetur ab urbe The Prince or King of this place according to some was called Vandrasus other Writers call him Vandarus Geffery of Monmouth proceedeth further and tells us that he was lineally descended from Achilles that mortal enemy of the Trojan glory and Hectors valour but Brute gathering these dispersed or it may be captived and enthralled Trojans which he found there and old Innicie received from Vlisses Agamemnon and other Chieftains of Greece sticking in their stomacks of the firing of old Ilium and the Dardanian Towers galls the almost closed sore whets his memory to call to mind things past and those once raked out of the embers of oblivion gather new flames and set all on fire with an unquenchable desire of Revenge which is so sweet and tickles the souls of those male-contents that nothing but fire and sword will serve their turn Pandrasus is assaulted in his own Court and so hardly put to â— that he is enforced to purchase his own peace by bestowing his daughter Ignogen upon Brutus and such other conditions as the almost conquering strangers please to demand the Solemnitie of these constrained Nuptials orderly finished the Trojans mutually consent to leave that place and put themselves upon new Adventures Ships are provided and questionless Vandrasus is not backward in the business willing to be rid of such unruly Guests who will take all things upon score at their own price and rates once more to Sea goes this gallant Chieftain with his new espoused Consort and Post varios casus tot discrimina rerum the whole Fleet safely arrives at an Isle in Africa as saith Guido and others called Lergesia or Leogetia in which the Superstitious
so many veins and arteries running through the whole body of the Iland these things could not but please but yet they are not solely to be enjoyed without some danger for as the Trojans passe from place to place to view the scituation and opportune places to inhabit they are oft encountered with grisly creatures exceeding humane proportion who give them but rude and savage welcome and these were they whom the Goddesse meant when she said habitata Gygantibus olim amongst these prodigious Caitiffs one exceeded all the rest in bulk and robustiousnesse who was called Gogmagog with whom Corineus Nephew to Brute wrestled who although he had a rib broken by this Monster yet so foiled him that he cast him down from the Cliffs for which cause the place afterwards was called The Fall of Gogmagog I have heard some say that in Glamorganshire there is a place which the Inhabitants in their own Mother tongue call Cwymp y Cawr which is as much as to say The Gyants fall or overthrow but that Name being changed it was afterwards called The Fall of Dover For this most valiant Act and speciall good Services Brute gave and allotted unto Corineus the Province or Country now called Cornwall Brute having destroyed that race of Gyants formerly mentioned after a perfect discovery of the whole Island passing by the River of Thames for his Recreation and finding a place in all respects fit to build a City to make the Capital and prime habitation of his new atchieved Kingdome set Workmen of all Arts and Callings to accomplish and finish this his Design which being brought to perfection to renew like a Phenix out of Ashes Old Troy he caused it to be called Troynovant i. new Troy which name continued till K. Lud enjoyed the Scepter and rule in Great Brittaine upon that time saith my Author of M. lxviii Fabian fol. 10. who then caused it to be called Luds Town and now London This now Glorious City Rome it self was not built in one day and formerly as glorious a stile being called Augusta for we read in divers Grave and Learned Authors that St. Augulus was Bishop of Augusta viz. London in England as both Catholicks and Protestants expound it and among them one in a Sermon before K. James saith Your City hath been anciently stiled Augusta for we read both in the ancient Roman Martyrologe St. Bede Vsuardus Ado Vandalbertus Petrus de Natalibus and others that this Augulus was Bishop of Augusta in Brittannia Augusta or London in Brittanny and was a Martyr Augusta in Brittannia natalis beati Auguli Episcopi qui aetatis cursum per Martyrium explens aeterna proemia suscipere meruit Baronius saith he cannot tell when he suffered Quo tempore passius sit hactenus mihi obscurum But if we compare the name of London at that time it was called Augusta with other circumstances and with the Catalogue of the Bishops of London after the time of K. Lucius we shall very probably find that this our worthy Saint Bishop of London is to be reckoned one of the first Bishops that were consecrated in this Kingdom and long before our common Conversion in the dayes of K. Lucius and so consequently of St. Peter or his Disciple St. Aristobulus no other then being here with eminent Authority to consecrate him Bishop and settle him Bishop of Augusta London or first this City was not called Augusta in the Reign of K. Lucius when this Nation was generally converted but onely Londinum London nor never since that time or by any before but by the Romans at their first setling here in the time of Claudius and that the general opinion was that London was called Augusta Dio. And Xiphelinus writ That Legio Augustalis non nata hibernabat in superiore Britannia The Roman Legion so termed wintered in the upper Brittany near London as is thought it was long before Dioclesian's time when it was thus called in the dayes of Caesar Augustus or soon after A late French Author of this our Brittain in his History seemeth to say or think that Caerlegeon was in the time of Julius Agricola and by him named Augusta which if it were so it only varyeth the particular place of his Martyrdome viz. St. Augulus nothing detracting from him or the glory of this Nation and that this Saint was Bishop of Augusta i. London and not Augusta Caerlegion this reason may conclude for that Tremonius and St. Dubritius be the first that be named Bishops of Augusta Caerlegion Certainly Mr. Cambden observeth very well That London was called Augusta quia ea dignitate floruit Londinum ut Augusta dici caeperit and many forraign Cities very famous were called Augusta in that Respect as Augusta Taurinorum Aug. Trieastinorum Aug. Veromanduor m Aug. Valeria Aug. Emerita Aug. Bracchara Aug. Acilia Aug. Tiberii Aug. Vindeliciorum Aug. Caesarea Aug. Vestorum Aug. Trevirorum Now as concerning Bishops not onely Augusta London St. Anacletus it being ordered by the Church to constitute Primates where Pagans had their Arch-flamens but also other places ordered by his Tome or the Catalogues of St. Peter St. Clement Caerlegion ex Anacleto hujus insulae divisionem Canterbury London Caerlegeon York and Alba in Scotland by some taken to be the now St. Andrews urbs legionum observe in the Latin Caerlegion i. urbs Legionum put in the first place Cantuaria Londonia Eboraca and Alba unde Albania Provincia were designed Sees of such Primates as Giraldus Cam. Sir John Price Matthew Parker 1 Arch. B. Pro. do testifie Thus much concerning this famous and renowned City of London not without cause called Augusta Brute having finished this structure and given name to it to perpetuate the memory of that City of which the Poet saith Nunc seges est ubi Troja fuit gave also a name to the whole Iland calling it Britania à Bruto so did Romulus by Rome Alexander by Alexandria and Caesar by Casarea and so divers other great and eminent Commanders and Potentates named both whole Kingdoms Ilands and great Cities after their own names that in them their Memories might live for ever Brute having accomplished the thred of life allotted by the fatal Sisters and having left Rules for his Britons to live in civil Amity and orderly Government after a prosperous Reigne and happy in a hopeful posterity he bethinks himself of setling his Estate whereby to avoid all Contention and Discord betwixt his Sons which were three Locrine Camber and Albanact betwixt these three he divides his new acquired Kingdom to the eldest he gives Troynovant with all the Countries adjacent which are now called England containing East West and South but as his Father had called the whole Iland Britannia and his Subjects Britannos or Britones so Locrinus after his name called his Share Loegria and at this very day the Welsh call England Lloegre to his second Son Camber he bequeathed that part which after the Saxons call Wales
now it is called a name when Locrinus entered into Soveraignty unknown Locrinus thus invested in his Principality as much as could be in a Land not formerly or at least by savage People or Gyants inhabited made ready to his hand His Brother with such Regiments as were allotted to him to Colonize and people his Part being retired into his own Quarters or Patrimony whilst by his own Industry and Advice of such as he made use of in a matter of so great importance was endeavouring to frame a modell how to Govern and Uphold this his new Plantation an unexpected Enemy appears Humber with a Navy arrives and having with him a sufficient Army of war-like Huns sets upon Albanact whose thoughts were more busied how to settle his People and frame his Commonwealth then to oppose an Enemy distressed Albanact is put to his shifts whilst the Scythian King for so most ancient Writers onely call him takes occasion by the Foretop and making use of his opportunity fiercely assaults the Albanian Prince and with bloody slaughter and the death of Albanact makes way for himself and Followers to intrude into his Possessions who as yet had scarce time to call them his own Fame whose vigilant eyes never sleep with an exasperating Trumpet quickly blowes this unfortunate Newes into the Eares of Locrinus he to revenge the Dishonour done and the Death of his Brother and also to enjoy that which now by right was fallen unto him but above all to remove so dangerous and powerful a Neighbour or rather Enemy summons all his Nobles and gathers together all the force he possibly could make and with a mind full of Revenge Resolution and Courage Advanceth and with speedy Marches setteth forwards to Fight the Scythian before he take to Deep root in Albania Camber is not slow to second this action as a thing which he conceives deeply to concern himself and therefore unites his Forces with his Brothers that thereby the Victory may be more certaine and the losse lesse considerable Desire quickens actions and resolute souls seem rather to flye then walk The Armies meet the Brittains inflamed with revenge for the Death of Albanact who was their fellow Souldier and Traveller Son of their Deceased King brother to the present breath nothing but Death and Confusion The Scythian with like Valour and Courage thinks no danger too great to make good by the sword what he already purchast and gotten by the same Terrible is the conflict on both sides but fortune after long debate with victory Crowns the Brittaines the Scythians are put to Flight and flying are so hotly pursued that many are drowned and the King himself and as the Poet saith of Icarus Icarus Icarias nomine fecit aquas put to such a straite that he was Drowned in that Famous River which from his name hath ever since been called Humber of which Mr. Cambden saith Est certe totius Britanniae aestuarium amplissimum piscosissimum the largest and most full of Fish throughout Britannie Ex aestuantis oceani accessibus adauctum iisdem retro remeantibus suas illiusque aquas vehementissime vasto cum murmure non sine magno navigantium periculo agit unde Nichanus Fluctibus aequoreis nautis suspectior Humber Submersis nomen contulit Humbris aquae And another Poet much to the same purpose saith Dum fugit obstat ei flumen submergitur illic Deque suo tribuit nomine nomen aquae Mr. Cambden in his Britannia setteth down these two Distichons but speaks not a word of the cause or the battel and the reason is easie to be imagined for should he expresse the death of Albanack and the just revenge of Locrine and Camber in behalf of their brother he must needs grant Brute to be Progenitor of the Britains and consequently of the Welsh a Nation which are very little beholding unto him Locrinus is now a Conqueror no fear of further supplies to affront him the day is absolutely his own but unfortunate Prince what a proud Foe clad in steel and with a courage equalizing that of Mars could not effect is done by an Amorous Glance of a Female Creature Estrild Humbers Daughter casts forth such piercing darts from her Charming Eyes that maugre both steel and coat of Male Locrine is wounded to the Heart he sighs complains beggs compassion from her who is his Captive and in conclusion becoms her slave she his Mistress in these bewitching Fetters he reposeth his happiness her enriching Arms he deemes the Trophees of his Victories but fond-man Gwendolena thy abused Lady disgests not a Corrival shee will make thee know quidfoemina possit irata she complains to her Father he acquaints his deerest Friends and all enter into an Association to be revenged Locrinus awakes out of his effeminate dalliances Armes himself to oppose the storme at hand and beat back the threatned danger but too late his Enemies are too powerful the abused Gwendolena too well befriended and leaves justice not to be controuled and thus Locrinus a Conqueror after he Reigned by account of most Authors Twenty Years through his intemperate lust and wanton affection was deprived at one time both of Life and Kingdom leaving his body to be interred in Treynovant Gwendolena Queen Regent of Brittain LOcrinus for his unjust and unlawful Love being thus justly punished the States and Counsellors of the Kingdom elect and chuse Gwendolena the abused and injured Queen during the Nonage and Minority of her Son to fit at the Helm and manage the Affairs of the Kingdome this Lady was daughter to Corinaeus who joyned his navy and came along with Brute and he who Encountered with Gogwagog on the Hills by Dover as some write others say neer Plimmouth in Devon-shire which place this day is called the HAW a hill betwixt the Town and the Sea on whose brow is a spacious and pleasant down yeilding a delightful prospect in which is a Sea mark called the Compasse to direct and guide Navigators passing that way of this conflict betwixt Corineus and Gogmagog Thus writeth a certain Poet Hos avidum belli robur Corinaeus Averno Precipites misit cubitis ter quatuor altum Gogmagog Herculeo suspendit in aere luctu Antaeumque suum scopulo detrusit in aequor Potavitque dato Thetis ebria sanguine fluctus Divisumque tulit mare corpus Cerberus umbram Gwendolena to the eternal memory and glory of her Name and Sex governed this Iland for the space of Fourteen years and then her Son coming to maturity and fit age to undertake so great a burden with the general applause and acclamations of all resigned her Trust and Authority to Madan Madan Son to Locrine and Gwendolena Succeeds in the KINGDOME MAdan Son to Locrine and Gwendolena and Grandchild to Brute being now past his minority his Mother joyfully resignes her Regency and is with generall applause and acclamations seated in his Throne and with all solemnity acknowledged King about the year from the worlds Creation
medicinable and necessary to purge sad humors and cure diseases even so Tyrants are necessary to purge the sins and cure the vices of wicked Subjects To which end saith he Phalaris the Tyrant was ordained by Almighty God to govern the Agrigentins and Marius the Romans As for the brutish sin of Mempricius holy Gildas brings it in as one amongst the rest for which God so severely punished the Britains De excidio Britanniae and touching briefly the lives of some of the Kings and Princes that were in his time as of Constantius Aurelius Conanus Vortiporius Cuneglasus and Maglocus taxing them with Tyranny perjury sacrilegious murders and parricides committed even before the holy Altars c. yea and two of them of Sodomy for which and other general corruptions and wickedness Gildas threatneth or rather prophesyeth the utter ruine and destruction which was to follow which also Geffrey of Monmouth acknowledgeth saying that King Cadwallader the last of the Race of the Britains used these words as he fled by the Sea into France with the reliques of the Brittish Nation Vae nobis peccatoribus ob immania scaelera nostra c. And truly so great is the sin of Lust especially in Kings and great Dukes and other Commanders in the sight of God how little soever in these our sinful times we make of it that whole Kingdomes for it have been destroyed The Kingdom of Spain when it had flourished as well in Religion as Power from the time of King Richard the first Catholick King thereof for the space of 120 years the wicked King Vitiza being a man given over to all lust and carnality infected and corrupted all Spain not onely with the bad example of his one dissolute life having many Wives at once besides Concubines but also with abominable lawes whereby he gave leave to all sorts of men to have as many Wives and Concubines as they listed yea and forced Priests and such as lived Chast to Marry by which means all Spain became within a while to be no better then a common stew or brodel and although Almighty God according to his accustomed manner expected their conversion and amendment all the time of his Reign and layed only the penalty thereof upon him whom he deprived both of his Crown and of his Eye-sight by the means of Roderick who succeeded him in the Kingdome yet when the said Roderick followed his steeps as well in his vicious life as in the maintenance of his abominable Laws it pleased God of his justice to permit him to give the occasion both of his own ruine as also of the overthrow of all Spain by the sin of the flesh wherewith the whole Kingdome was as it were overflowed For as whereas King Roderick had sent a Kinsman of his own called Count Julian Ambassador into Africk and in the mean time Ravished his Daughter or as some write his Wife the Count understanding it at his return was so incensed therewith against the King that for revenge thereof he practised with the Moores to bring them into Spain who with his assistance Conquered it so speedily and with such destruction of the people that the punishment of God was most evident therein for having first overthrown King Roderick whose body could never after the battel be found they subdued almost all Spain in Eight months or in Fourteen as some say and slew 700000. of all sorts of people besides great numbers of Captives which they sent prisoners into Barbary and from that time forwards they remained in the possession of that Kingdome or in some great part thereof for the space of 700 years This example of the Conquest and subversion of Spain for the sins of the flesh was so famous and so much observed by Godly and Wise men at the same time when it hapned that St. Bonifacius a Countryman of ours and Bishop of Mentz in Cermany who lived in the same age and converted the Saxons and Frisons from Paganisme to the Christian Faith proposed it to one called Etholbud King of the Mercians to withdraw him from his dissolute life and tells him that in old Saxony where there was no Christianity there if either Maid or Wife did commit Adultery or Fornication she was first strangled and after burnt and he that corrupted her Hanged over her or else she was stripped naked to the middle and whipped by chast Matrons from Town to Town and prickt with sharp Knives till shee dyed therewith EBRANCK EBranck after the unfortunate death of his Father by the general consent and Approbation of both Nobles and Commons is invested in the Regal Dignity Anno mundi Creationis Policronica Gaufride and others 4182. Authors affirm that he had a thing in those times not unusual one and twenty wives by whom he was enriched with a plentifull and numerous off-spring to wit twenty Sons and thirty daughters whereof the most fair and beautifull was named Guales or Gualea these daughters intending to uphold the Trojan blood he sent to Alba Silvius the eleventh King of Italy or seventh of the Latines there to be espoused unto Trojans This Ebranck was a comely man Majestical and well proportioned of incomparable valour and as desirous of Martial Attempts as his Progenitor Brutus and therefore providing all Warlike Engines and Furniture correspondent to his designs he attempts to invade France which is testified by Jacobus Bergomas in the sixth of his Chronicles and Jacobus Lessabeus in the description of Henalt affirmeth the same and that he was driven back by Brunchildis Lord of Henalt with some loss of his men Yet Fabian affirmeth this Voyage to have been prosperous and successfull insomuch that what by his own fancies judgement and policie being assisted by the Trojan-Latines or Latine-Trojans where he had espoused his daughter he over-ran and conquered a great part of Germany Some Authors ascribe this Conquest and good fortune to Assaracus the second Son of Ebranck with the rest of the younger brothers and esteem it no great service or enterprise of moment for that Europe was then scarce peopled and Colonized unless towards the Sea Coasts as Dalmatia Italy and the coasts of France of these Brethren had Germany the name à Germanis fratribus who subdued it Ebrank thus fortunate either in his own undertakings or in these of his children having setled his affairs to his hearts desire begins to take into consideration the beautifying and strengthning Britannia and as Brutus about an hundred and fourty years if he built it in the second year of his Reign before to his eternal glory had built Troynovant Ebranck with no less ambition to continue and perpetuate his name and memory layeth the foundation of a glorious City calling it being fully finished after his own nomenclation Caer Ebrank which now we call York A late learned Author saith it is a common received opinion among our Antiquaries Mr. Brough fol. 280. 2. that Ebrancus son to Mempricius a hundred years after the
Brittania as we may partly see in what is already declared of York which work finished he proceeded to a second Erection and laid the foundation of Alcuid or Alcluid in Albania now Scotland which Hector Boetius M. B. f. 336. 6. the Scotch Historian in honour of his Country imagines to be Dunbritta n but another Author to whom I give more credit saith And the old Flamens City Alcluid or Alclucht was also founded by the same King viz. Ebranck of Brittain There is a question where this City for certain was but all agree near the wall of division and so the priviledges and power thereof must probably extend on both sides of that division The City Caerlile or Lugugablia was a place of this prerogative builded by Leil the seventh in number of the Brittish Kings and out of doubt had power and prerogative in both sides of the wall both in Leogria and Albania having as our Antiquaries say and experience yet proveth in it part of that famous Wall of Separation habet haec urbs aliquam partem illius muri famosi qui transcindit Northumbriam Ranulphus Higedon and others placeth an old City Vrbs Beble Vrbs Regia a Regal City upon the River of Twyde super ripam Twydi which divideth England and Scotland and if it was a Flamen or Bishops See as the ancient glory of it perswadeth to think the jurisdiction of it must needs extend into Albania The third notable place which this Ebranck founded was the Castle of Maidens which standeth at the one end of the City of Edenbrough a Castle by the Scots thought so impregnable that the grand Seignior himself with all his numerous Armies could not be able to surprize it but the valour and courage of the English in these late wars maugre all their Scotch juglings and sanctity made them know the contrary who now have it in their possession as a curb to check that Nation This Castle of Maidens or rather Edenborough it self was also an ancient Flamins City and Residence and after Converted into an Episcopall See Ebrancus not yet content with such Edifices as he had already erected layeth a fourth Foundation and called it Bamburgh but whether this was the place which we now call Bambury Burgh and Bury in their several Languages signifying the same thing I will not decide if it were Mr. Cambden saith Hic Banburie quondam Bananbyniz primum perfundit ad quod Kinricus visisaxo Britannos pro aris focis fortiter Dimicantes memorabili praelio olim fudit superiori saeculo Ricardus Nevill comes Warwicensis dum à Lancastrensibus partibus staret Eboracenses profligavit ut statim etiam ipsum Edwardum 4. consilii innopem caeperit abduxerit Nunc autem conficiendo Caseum notissimum Here Kinricus the Visisaxon in a most memorable battle overthrew the Brittains most valiantly fighting for their lives liberties and Religion and in later times Richard Nevill Earl of Warwick being for the Lancastrian party so vanquished King Edward the Fourth that ignorant which way to turn himself he took him and carried him away the place is now famous for excellent Cheese c. To end his dayes with famous glory this heroick King laid the Foundation of that long continued and learned University now called Oxford which was first known by the name of Caer Mennix and after Bellesitum a name most fit for so pleasant a place and after Caer Bossa Rhydohen in conclusion Oxenford of a certain Ford called Isis in English Ouse Howe 's fol. 9. and so instead of Ouseford Oxenford or Oxford upon which word a Student there to prefer his own University before Cambridge for Antiquity Quibles thus the Ox went over the Ford and then Camebridge Others call it Caer Mennip Galfridus calls it Caer pen huelgoit Leland from the Antiquities of Dover writeth that it was a City before the time of K. Arviragus that builded the Castle adjoyning and nameth it a most renowned city and that King Lucius builded a Church in the said Castle Referunt idem Annales Lucium regem Britannorum c. Whosoever desireth a further and more large satisfaction concerning the erecting of the several Colledges Churches Monasteries Halls and Schools let him peruse Mr. Cambden in Oxfordshire Ebranck after he had reigned Forty years and builded so many goodly Cities departed out of this life whose Corps were buried or burned at York his Obsequies being celebrated with great solemnity and left to succeed him in his Kingdome his Son Brutus the second sirnamed Green shileld BRVTE GREEN-SHIELD BRute the Second eldest Son of Evranck succeeded in the Kingdome and for that his Father had received a repulse as some write at the hand of Brunchildis Lord of Henalt Hanolt or Hannonia which lyeth on the East of Flanders 60 miles long and 48 broad containing 950 Villages and 24 Towns besides Castles The chief are Banais supposed to stand in the same place where the ancient Belgium was built Mons Condè Valencennes c. he in revenge thereof Invaded Henalt with a great Army in the Fens and Marsh land at the mouth of the River Scaldis in old time called Stadus and encamped himself upon the River Hania where between Brutus and Brunchildis was fought a fierce and bloody battel in that place which to this day is called Estambruges of the station and Camp of Brutus as Jacobus Lessabeus writeth in his description of Henalt This Brute of his lusty courage was sirnamed Greenshield he reign'd twelve years and was buried at Caer Ebranck or York LEIL LEillus or Leill Son of Brute the second commonly called Green-shield began his Reign over the Kingdome of Great Brittaine in the year of the worlds Creation Four thousand two Hundred fifty four he was a just man and one who highly esteemed Justice and Dignity and imitating the worthiest of his Predecessors in erecting ornaments for his Kingdome he laid the foundation and in time fully built the City of Carliele The Romans and Brittains had several appellations for this place sometimes calling it Lugu-vallum and Lugu-ballium and sometimes Lugu-baliam and Caerliel The Saxons after they had possest themselves of this Island called it Luell as St. Bede affirmeth Ptolomeus as some seem to affirm called it Leucopibiam and Nennius caer Lualid the old Prophesies of the Brittains which Mr. Cambden calls ridicula Britannorum vaticinia indeed he never was Friend to the Brittains and Welsh Vrbem Duballi at this day well known it is by the name of Caerlile and by the Latines Caeliolum Lugum or Lucum priscis Celtis who spake the same language with the Brittains as Mr. Cambden imagineth and but imagineth Pomponius Mela tells us it signified a Tower or Fortification and Caerlile or Lugu vallum is as much as to say Turris or munimentum ad vallum certain it is that this City flourished and was in high esteem with the Romans as may appear by several Monuments of great Antiquity which have
and ten poor people with a Collegiat Church a Dean twelve Canons Prebendaries as many Vicars sufficiently provided for with Revenues wherein himself lyeth buried and it was the greatest ornament of that City untill the hand of King Henry the eight lay over heavy upon all the like foundations and laid their lofty tops at his own feet In this City also was buried another Crouch-back viz. Richard the third in the Church of the Gray-Friers but now nothing remains of his Monument but only the stone chest wherein he was laid a drinking Trough now for horses in a common Inne This place hath given the Titles of honour to many Honourable Families year 1057 1057. 1. Algar the Saxon. year 1103 1103. 2. Edwin died 1071. 3. Robert de Bellamonte Gules a cinquefoyle Ermine 4. Robert de Bellamont 5. Robert de Bellamont L. Steward 6. Robert de Bellamont L. high Steward 7. Simon de Montfort married Amicia sister and coheir to the last Earl Robert L. high Steward 8. Simon de Montfort L. high Steward Gules a Lion rampant his tail double forked salteir wise Argent 9. Edmond Earl of Lancaster L. high Steward 10. Tho. Earl of Lancaster L. high Steward 11. Hen. D. of Lancaster L. high Steward 12. Henry D. of Lancaster L. high Steward England a Label of 5. points Ermine 13. William of Bavaria Earl of Heinalt married the Lady Maud of Lancaster Bendis losengè Argent and Azure 14. John of Gaunt D. of Lancaster L. high steward Henry D. of Lancaster Lord high steward Quarterly France and England a Label of 3. points Ermine Robert Dudleigh Lord Denbigh c. Or a Lyon rampant his tail double forked Vert. Robert Sidney Viscount Lisle descended of a sister of the said Robert Robert Sidney Earl of Leicester Or a Phaon Azure CORDEILLA THis Heroine Lady after just revenge taken upon her two sisters husbands and her fathers and husbands death by the consent of most Writers by the joynt suffrages and votes of the Brittains was admitted to the Royal Scepter in the year from the worlds creation four thousand three hundred and ninety eight years she governed her people and subjects for the space of five years with great applause and general liking but the two sons of her sisters Morgan of Albania and Cunedagius of Cambria and Cornwal envying her prosperity and thinking themselves injured in their birth-right their grandfather Leir having divided the kingdom equally betwixt their Mothers upon their Marriages conspire together and mustering their forces invade Cordeilla and reduce her to that necessity that she is taken prisoner and by her merciless Nephews cast into Gaol which she patiently a while endured but perceiving no hopes to regain her freedom or repossess her kingdom scorning to be any longer a slave to her insulting enemies seeing she could not free her body from bondage with true Trojan and masculine Heroick Spirit she makes a divorce between her purer soul and encaged carcass giving it free power to pass into another world leaving those parts which participated of drossie mold to be interred again in the earth from whence at first it came at Leicester in the Temple of Janus by the Sepulchre of her father Cunedagius and Morgan THe obstacle which hindered the designs of these two aspiring Princes Cordeilla the gallant Brittish Amazon and Virago being by violent death perpetrated by her own hand taken out of the way divide the kingdom betwixt them and became both kings in the year of the world four thousand four hundred and three but this gallantry lasted not long for the Court-Gnats whose life is a perpetual buzzing of news and flatteries fall upon the ear of Morgan and so fill his head with projects that he highly conceives he is injured by the equal dividing of the kingdom and thus discourses with himself And am not I the son of Gonorilla and she the eldest daughter of my Grand-father to me then as lawfull Heir Brittains Crown belongs Why then do I admit a corrival competitor and co-equal one firmament admits not two Suns nor one kingdom two kings no reason I should lose my birth-right no I am resolved I will not Cunedagius shall know that Morgan can rule the Brittains without his help this fire once kindled his flattering parasites bring fewel enough to augment it Cunedagius must bear rule no longer a private life or none at all must content him it is no small policy for Princes to have Spies in neighbouring Courts Cunedagius is quickly enformed of all the passages of his Cozen Morgan and thinks there is no security in delays and therefore puts himself into a posture as well to offend as defend yet to make his case the better and to ingratiate himself with the subjects he sends Messengers to Morgan who is already firing and destroying his Territories to Treat of a reconciliation and atonement but Morgan puft up with his imagined good success and thinking the offer of his kinsman to proceed either from fear or want of ability to resist him lends a deaf ear to the Treaty of peace and will have no other Arbitrator but the sword Cunedagius now resolved comes into the field and offers battell to his enemy his cause being just the Celestial powers seem to second his attempts and he who would have all or nothing is put to flight where the Conqueror makes use of his advantage and taking occasion by the foretop to prevent all hopes of recruiting and rallying again so hotly pursues his victory that Morgan is chased from place to place from Province to Province till being beaten into Cambria now Wales a Territory belonging to his Mortal Foe and there being most sharply put to it lost his life yet with this honour that that Country ever since from him hath had the appellation of Glanmorgan which is as much as to say in the vulgar tongue Morgans Land and thus after two years joyntlie reigning with his kinsman Morgan departed this life leaving Cunedagius to rule alone Cunedagius to shew an humble thankfulness to his Gods for so great a Victory having fully setled his Kingdom erects a stately Temple to Mars at Perth which is now St. Johns town in Albania now abusively called Scotland then a part of Brittannia and inhabited by the Brittish Nation We finde saith my Author in several Authors and Antiquaries to speak in their words that 800. years before the coming of Christ Cunedagius King of all Brittain Mr. Broughton fol. 336. 6. builded a Temple of Mars at Perth that is now St. Johns town in Scotland and placed there a Flamen Therefore we may not singularly deny unto this old city a Flamens Seat which Antiquaries generally grant unto all such in this time to have been changed into a Bishops See If any one ask what I have to do with Scotland my Scene being only the Brittish History I answer that to the great glory of the Brittains that which is now called Scotland was formerly
noted that whilst Rivallus governed Brittanny for the space of three dayes it continually rained Blood out of the corruption whereof were ingendred a multitude of those which we call animalia insecta which are Vermine divided as it were between the head and belly having no flesh blood or sinews as flies gnats pismires caterpillars and such like which â—id so swarm and grew infectious that by the contagion many people died and that again caused a great and strange mortality insomuch that the Island seemed in a manner unpeopled Thus after Rivallus had Reigned 46 years he departed this life and was buried at York In the Reign of this King Rome was builded by the two brothers Romulus and Remus 356 years after Brute came into England Et ejus speaking of this King saith Vitus Tempore Romam in Italia per Remum Romulum fratres esse conditam post adventum Bruti Prisci ad Britanniam anno plus trecentis quinquagesimo sexto Sane quidem Alexander ab Alexandris l. 2. c. 22. In Palilibus sacris inquit hoc custoditur ne qua mactetur hostia quia eum diem qui patriae natalis est à caede sanguine deceret esse parum fuit enim is dies 12. Calendas Maii quo fausto faelici omine jacta sunt primum fundamenta urbis Romae quo die mos erat ovilia purgare flammas transilire sapa milio sacrum facere geniales Dies agere caenas apparare à litibus abstinere quae singula prosperos rerum successus decernebant Sed quia Gaufridus per consequentiam literarum scribit undecimo Calendas Maii qui est 21. Aprilis conditam esse Romam fortasse mendosus est Codex Alexandri per literas numerales Scriptas ad 12. Calendas qui esset Dies 20. Aprilis Nam Plutarchus in vita Romuli scribit Romam fuisse conditam 21. die Aprilis Palilia esse celebrata prius quam urbs Roma conderetur circiter annum tertium Olympladis 6. est autem Olympias spatium 4. Annorum sic appellatum quod inter duos ludos Olympiacos haberetur eorum fiebat initium ut in Theatro suo Lycosthenes scribit anno 19. Amulii Silvii Regis Latinorum qui erat ab orbe condito super ter mille ac contum annus â—8 cui si addantur Olympiades quinque cum annis tribus Olympiadis 6. atque sic 23. anni videbitur Roma condita fuisse anno undecimo supra ter mille ducentos atque sic 26. Rivallonis In his time viz. Rivallus Rome in Italy was built by Remus and Romulus after the coming of old Brute into Britany 356. Alexander ab Alexandris lib. 2. c. 22. saith that in the Palilibus or Festival days of the Shepherds in honor of Pales their Goddess order is taken that no Hostia or Sacrifice where in blood was shed should be offered because being the Birth day of the Country as it were it ought to be pure and clean and not polluted with any slaughter or bloodshed this day hapned on the 12. of the Kalends of May in which with happy and auspicious Omens the foundation of Rome was laid in which day the Custom was to purifie and purge their Flocks skip over fires to Sacrifice in boyld or burnt wine millets or hyrse to keep Wakes or Gaudy days and to make bunquetting and delicious Suppers and to abstain from all debates all which they imagined betokened prosperous success in the succeeding affairs but because Gaufridus writes Rome to have been built it may be the book of Alexander may be faulty or mistaken in the numeral Letters concerning the xii of the Calends which is the 20. day of April for Plutarch in the life of Romulus saith that Rome was built the 21. day of April and that the Palilia or Shepherds Festivals was celebrated before the building of Rome about the 3. year of the 6. Olympiade containeth 4. years which was the space between two Olympick Games which Games as Lycosthenes in his Theater writes had their beginning in the 19. year of Amulius Sylvius King of the Latines which was in the three thousand one hundred and 88. year since the worlds Creation to which if you add five Olympiads and three years of the 6. and so 23. years it will appear that Rome was built the 26. of Rivallus others as Fabian say that Rome was built 470. years after London and in the 32. year of Rivallus GVRGVSTIVS GVrgustius the son of Rivallus whom some call Gorbodian and his father Reignald began his Reign over the Kingdom of Great Brittain 4483. the flower of Histories saith that he reigned thirty and eight years otherwise little mention is made of him in History onely Mr. Howe 's in his continuation of Stow saith that he was a common drunkard whereof followed all other vices he died after a Reign of 38. years and was buried at York leaving no issue behinde him to succeed SISILLIVS SIsillius or according to Sylvius the brother of Gurgustius as affirmeth the old Author saith Fabian was elected King of Brittain in the year of the worlds Creation 4521. he is called by the English Chronicle Seizil little is recorded of this King only some Authors say that he reigned only two years but the most common opinion is that he was King 49. years and after died and was buried at Caer Badon or Bath leaving no issue of his own body JAGO or LAGO JAgo or Lago the cozen of Gurgustius and his next heir took upon him the Government of this Iland in the year of the worlds Creation 4540. whether this Kings life as the two precedent was so foul that Learned and modest Writers were ashamed to let them come to light or that they lived in such sloth and ease that nothing was done worth recounting I cannot affirm all that is recorded of him is that he ruled 25. years and through ill and disordinate living he fell into a Lethargy whereof he died and was buried at York without issue Kymmacus or Kynimacus KYmmacus or Kynimacus the Son of Silvius or more likely as saith the old Chronicle the brother of Jago was invested in the royal dignity of this Island in the year of the worlds Creation 4595. as little is said of this King as of his three immediate predecessors only that he ruled 54. years and was buried at York leaving after him a son who as testifieth Flos Historiarum was called Gorbodug GORBODVG GOrbodug the Son of Kynimacus was made King of great Brittain in the year of the worlds Creation 4650. this King crod in the footsteps of those whom he followed leaving nothing to be recorded only that he ruled to compleat the account of Histories 63. years so that these five last Kings Rivallus Gurgustius Jago Kynimacus and Gordobug died ingloriously leaving nothing to perpetuate their memory saving that they were Kings the last whereof was buried at Troynovant and left two sons to succeed Ferrex and Porrex FERREX and
PORREX FErrex and Porrex the Sons of Gorbodug were joyntly made Rulers of Great Brittain four thousand seven hundred and eleven or as some say thirteen this amity continued for a while betwixt the brothers but ambition of sole command and a Spirit not brooking a Collegue so inflamed Porrex the younger that he intends to lay violent hands upon his elder brother these tidings are brought to Ferrex but the warning comes not so speedily but that the danger is at the heels of it and the elder brother to avoid the snares laid for him hath no other way but to flie into Gallia and there as an humble suppliant to crave aid and succour of a Duke whom Gaufride calls Gunhardus or Suardus who most willingly accords to his desire and furnishing a Navy well provided with Munition as well men as weapons and the very nerves of war sends him back into Brittain Porrex who lets no occasions slip which may advantage his design attends his landing and at his very arrival scarce affording him leisure to order and marshal his forces gives him battel wherein Bellona was so propitious unto him that victory crowned his Souldiers although with the death of his brother and loss or at least discomfiture of all his Army Porrex though some mistake who make Ferrex the surviver being now an absolute King without a Competitor makes himself sure of all the kingdom but long he enjoyed not his unnatural Conquest For the more unnatural mother Idone Widen or Idone whose affection more enclined to her elder Son vows revenge and arming her self with cruelty cruelty indeed before not heard of and taking her Maids to assist her in the night enters Porrex Pavilion where finding him profoundly sleeping these she devils became his Hellish Executioners and after inhumanely tear him to pieces after this most horrid murther followed a Race of people wholly addicted to war and bloodshed daily inventing and contriving broyls and seditions and even in the quietest times of peace blood thirsting insomuch that the weakest went to the wall and he who imagined he had strength enough presumed he had right enough to the Kingdom thus had the Brittains daily domestick Wars till at the length the whole power came into the hands of five Tyrants or petty Lords and Governours who Ruled questionless with Arbitrary power with a sic volo sic jubco but deserve not to be named as Kings of this Island Gaufride affirmeth that after the death of Ferrex and Porrex great discord and civil dissension arose amongst the Brittains which continued long insomuch that five Kings were erected which was a great plague and oppression to the Country Guido de Columna relateth that the Brittains so abhorred the linage and off-spring of Gorbodug partly for the unnatural quarrels and hatred betwixt the two brothers but above all for the horrid inhumane and barbarous cruelty of the mother that had there been any Lawfull Heir to succeed they resolved none of that issue should enjoy the Government this caused a mighty distraction in the Commonwealth insomuch that one took upon him the guiding of Albania or Caledonia now Scotland another seized upon Loegria or England a third took Cambria or Wales and the fourth usurped Cornwall for his share a fifth there was but by many Authors not distinctly specified This difference continued till Mulmutius which Fabian saith was 51. years and to give some light what the names of those five Kings should be he brings An Addition of Robert Record thus The five Kings that be omitted here are found in certain old Pedegrees and although their names be much corrupted in divers Copies yet these are the most agreeable Rudaucus King of Wales Lotenus King of Cornwall Pinnor King of Loegria Statorius King of Scotland Yevan King of Northumberland Quocirca Piremen Loegriae Regem aggreditur praelio interfecit Vitus fol 181. lib. 2. notius ad Mulmut inde factus victor arma tendit in Rudacum Cambriae Regem qui faedere inito cum Albania Rege Staterio conabatur junctis viribus exercitum movere in provincias Mulmutii quibus ille obviam comitatus triginta millibus fortissimorum virorum comissoque diu praelio cum videret differri victoriam usus est fraude similitudinis armorum quibus induti erant hostes ejus atque sic pessundatis regibus ipsis caeteros palantes fugavit ad urbes oppida quibus incensis agrisque devastatis totam omnino insulam suae potestati suaeque Jurisdictioni subjecit ac primus ex auro factum Diadema capite gestavit Quis erat rex quintus Cantii nescitur ex historia Brittanica quae numerat reges quinque nec alios quam cos qui bella gesserunt commemorat tres fortasse quod illi reliqui in societatem venerint aut sponte se subjecerint Where Mulmutius sets upon Piremen or Pinmor as the other Author calls him and kills him in the field and being now victorious and a Conqueror in his first attempt full of courage and boldness he bends all his power and forces against Rudacus King of Wales who having made an offensive and defensive League with Statorius King of Albania with joyned forces and banner displayed had invaded his Territories Mulmutius delays no time but being in the head of a gallant Army consisting of thirty thousand experienced Souldiers gives them the meeting and joyns Battell but thinking victory to hover too long before she enclined to his paâ—t he makes use of a stratagem and counterfeiting the Arms Weapons and habits of his enemies in a friendly appearance gives them a most discourteous and unfriendly overthrow insomuch that the two Kings being quite overthrown he pursues the stragling Souldiers who flie to Towns and fortified places which he presently sets on fire and destroying all round about brings the whole Kingdom under his own power and subjection and being an absolute Monarch he encircles his conquering Temples with a Diadem of purest Gold being the first of the Brittish Kings that ever did the like Who was the fifth King either in Kent or as others say in Northumberland the Brittish Histories do not fully declare only the three who waged war against Mulmutius are expresly treated of the other either for that they combined or submitted are silently passed over After the death and murder of Ferrex and Porrex ended the lineal descent of old Brute but here a curious diver into Antiquities may object How then was the promise in the Prophecy by the Oracle made good that to the Kings of his seed Totius terrae subditus orbis erit This Vniverse shall them obey If after the space of 600 and some few years his Race should be extinct this objection is nothing to the Oracle for it was not specified whether it should be fulfilled in the direct or collateral Line so that if any of a Brittish off-spring should obtain the Dominion over the whole world that is so far as ever any Emperour had command
to prevent all opportunities which might help and further his Brother at his landing was now in Northumberland and having intelligence of the Danish Kings Arrival with so small a Company he commanded his person with the rest of his Followers to be secured and committed to safe Custody upon which discovery Brennus sends peremptorily to his brother not only to surrender his territories injuriously as is complained taken from him but also his then in his possession a prisoner violently ravisht from him by Guilthdacus the King of Denmark These Proposals or rather Demands Bellinus absolutely denies insomuch that Brennus having gathered together his scattered and dispersed Navy new rigs his Fleet reinforceth his Army and with fresh Supplies and strong Recruits once more puts forth to Sea and with more prosperous gales and auspicious fortune arrived in Albania and having given a short refreshing to his Souldiers marcheth towards his Brother already resolved to give him a hot Entertainment near Calaterium a well known and famous Wood there these two incensed Brothers meet the Officers and ordinary Souldiers equally bent to live and die in their Commanders quarrel The signal is given to battel and a strange confused noyse from both the Camps pierceth even the skies terrible was the Encounter and with Martial and Heroick mettle and courage maintained on both sides the groans of dying men whose souls as the phrase now goes left their bodies in the beds of Honour were hideous and so great a destruction and havock was made that day that forty thousand bodies wanted Forms to give them being Victory at length decided the businesse and crowned Bellinus with a trimphant Laurel compelling Brennus with his forreign Adherents and Assistants to fly from his native Soil Bellinus now thinking himself to have run through all his Disasters applies his mind to rectifie things and settle his people and in the first place casting his eye upon the Danish King and his beloved Lady as then his Captives he released Guilthdacus upon Articles of Agreement and Composition That he should hold and do Homage for the Kingdome of Denmark unto the King of Brittany and pay a yearly Tribute of one thousand pounds Upon this accord Hostages being given the captive King had free liberty to depart for his own Country and Bellinus prosecutes and makes good that which his deceased Father had designed and begun to wit the finishing of the four High-Wayes the first of which was named Foss stretched out of the South into the North and began at the Corner of Totness in Cornwall and passed forth by Devonshire Somersetshire and so by Tutbury upon Cotteswold beside Coventry and Leicester and from thence to Newark and endeth at the City of Lincoln The second Way was named VVatling-street the which stretcheth overthwart the way of Fosse over the South East into the Northast this began at Dover and passeth by the middle of Kent over Thames besides London by West of VVestminster and so forth by St. Albans in the West side of Dunstable of Stratford of Touceter and of VVedon and by South Killingborne or Killebourne by Athriston unto Gilberts Hill that now is named VVrekin and so forth by Seuarum passing by VVorcester and thence to Stratton and so to the middle of VVales unto a place called Cardigan The third Way was named Erming-street the which stretcheth out of the West North-west unto the East South-East and beginneth at Menevia at St. Davids in VVales and so stretcheth forth unto Southhampton The fourth and last Way was called Kikeneldis-street the which stretcheth forth by Worcester by VVickham by Bermingham by Lichfield by Derby by Chesterfield by York and so forth unto Tinemouth the which was sufficiently made Belinus granted or confirmed unto these places all such priviledges as formerly Mulmutius had done which together with other Lawes made by the King are translated out of the Brittish tongue by Gildas but are here for brevity sake omitted Whilst Belinus thus imployed his time in providing for his Countrey and Subjects necessary conveniences Brennus after his late and almost irrecoverable overthrow like a forlorne Pilgrime spends his time in Gallia and there summons all his wits to Counsel how he may in some sort recover his Countrey and former Glory and Renown and as great spirits will leave nothing unattempted to bring their designes to the wished period so he resolves being accompanied only by twelve Cavaliers to addresse himself unto a Duke who had great power and command in those parts where it is to be observed by the way that as Vtropius and other writers affirm the Galli at that time possessed divers Counries upon which ground Titus Lavius who writ the Acts of the Romans tells us that those Souldiers who followed Brennus when he sacked Rome were Galli Senonenses to wit those who inhabited the Countrey where the City Sena stood and yet doth as testifyeth the Author of Cronica Cronicorum and others in a part of Italie in succeeding ages known by the name Etruria which Sena as divers affirm was built by Brennus when he there inhabited before the Incarnation of our Saviour Jesus Christ iii. C. lxxx and vi years Brennus finding favourable admittance into the Court of Duke of Seginus of Allobroge for so Gaufride calls him which after was called Armorica and now little Brittaine according to Policronicon and the English Chronicle the Duke beholding the comely person manly proportion and princely carriage and behaviour of Brennus and much condoling and compassionating the calamity of his Fortunes which he with a singular grace had declared set out in the most lively colours and flowers of Eloquence entertained him in a most friendly manner and observing that he delighted and was most expert in hunting and hawking and was fully accomplisht with all the parts belonging to a Gentleman cast such favours upon him that in short time he became the most eminent man in the Court and the only favorite of the Duke insomuch that Seginus being in admiration of his endowments and gallant behaviour resolves to make him his Son in law with this promise also that if the Gods shall call for him hence without other Heir that then the issue of Brennus should succeed in the Dukedome or at least in case the Duke should be made happy by the birth of a Son that then he would use all possible endeavours to reestablish Brennus in his own Possessions and upon these Conditions and Articles the Duke espouseth his only Daughter and Heir to this Heroick Brittish Prince these Nuptials are no wayes displeasing to the Nobles of Allobroge they all jointly giving their approbation and full consent Not long after death summons Seginus to appear before a greater Tribunal then his own and a convenient space being allowed to the Dutchesse Dowager the term whereof expired she was found not to have conceived nor to be with child all sorts did Homage to Brennus as their lawful Leige and Supreme Brennus being not only a
where the Flamens were seated in our times it is a Garrison where in King James his time Sir Cornewallis was Captain The third and last place which this Fortunate Prince built was Warwick Cambden saith Warwick built by Gurgaint That the Saxons called this place Warryng-wyc Mennius and the Brittains Cair Guarvie and Caer leon all which Names seem to take their derivation from the Brittish word Guarth which signifieth a Garrison Sconce or place of Defence Hoc illud oppidum est quod praesidium Romanis in Brittannia dicebatur ubi ut est in provinciarum Notitia praefectus equitum Dalmatarum sub dispositione Ducis Brittanniorum egit The situation of this place is most pleasant upon a Hill rising from the River over which is a strong and fair stone Bridge and her sharp stream upon the Town side checked with a most fair and sumptuous Castle It seemeth this Town hath been walled about as appeareth by the Trench in some places seen and two very fair Gates whose passages are hewed out of the Rock as all other into the Town are over which two beautiful Chappels are built that towards the East called St. Peters and on the South-west St. James two fair Churches are therein seated called St. Maries and St. Nicholas beside these in and about the Town suppressed St. Laurence St. Michaels St. John Baptist and St. John of Jerusalem and the Nunnery in the North of the Town the Castle which we named was ruinous but was of late Repaired at the great cost and charges of Sir Fulk Grenil the late Lord Brook who therein dwelt so was it anciently the Seat and abiding Place of the Dukes and Earles of Warwick 1 Henry de Newburgh E. 2 Roger de Newburgh 3 William de Newburgh 4 Walleran de Newburgh 5 Henry de Newburgh Lâ—sengè Or and Azure on a border Gules 8 plates 6 Thomas de Newburgh Chechy Or Azure and a Cheveron ermin 7 John Marshall first Husband of Margery Sister and Heir of Thomas de Newburgh Gules a bend fusile Or. 8 John de Placetis second Husband of the said Margery Ar 6 annulets Gules 321. 9 Walleran de Newburgh Uncle and Heir of Thomas de Newb. Losengè Or and Azure on a border gules 8 plates 10 William Manduit Son of Alice Sister and Heir of Walleran Ar 2 bars Gules 11 William Beauchamp Son of the Lady Isabella Sister and Heir of William Manduit 12 Guido Beauchamp 13 Thomas â—eauchamp E. Marst 14 Thomas Beauchamp 15 Rich Beauchamp Reg. of France 16 Henry Beauchamp D. of Warwick Gules a fess between 6 cross croslets Or. 17 Richard Nevill who married Anne sister of Henry Beuchamp D. of Warwick Gules a saltoir arg a label of three gob A B. 18 George D. of Clarence who married Anne D. of Ri. Nevill England and France quartered on a label of 3 points arg as many cantons G. 19 Edw. Plant. Son of George arma paterna 20 John Dudley descended from the Lady Margaret Daughter of Rich. Beauchamp E. of War 21 Ambrose Dudley Or a Lyon rampant his tail double-sorked veet 22 Robert Lord Rich created E. of VVarwick 16 Jac. Aug. 2. 23 Robert Rich. Gules a cheveron between 3 cross croslets Or. Gurguntius buried at Caerleon After Gurguint had ruled this Kingdom by the space of twenty nine years in great peace and tranquillity he departed out of this transitory life and was buried at Caerleon leaving to succeed him his Son Guinthelinus or Guintellius GVINTHELINVS GVINTHELINVS or Guintellius the Son of Gurguint his Father being dead took upon him the Government of this Island and was crowned King of Great Brittain in the year of the World four thousand eight hundred fifty and three The English Chronicle calleth this Prince Gwentoline a man of singular Parts and Education understanding exactly both the Greek and Latine Language he governed his Subjects with such moderation and judgement that his Memory deserveth to live for ever and to make him the more glorious the heavenly Providence bestowed upon him a Lady for his wife who equalized him in all the Excellencies that can be exprest in her Sex she was so transcendent being but a woman that she had beautified her intellectual parts with the knowledge and perfection of many Sciences insomuch that she might justly be stiled learned but above all these rich Treasures of her mind she imployed not to ostentation or vain-glory that thereby she might be praised but made use of them for the common good and utility of the Kingdome Martiae who was the Paragon of her time and nature also she composed a Law so conducing to the good of all that in memory of her it was called the Martian Law and continued in full force and power many years and so well approved of by Aluredus the Saxon Prince that he thought it an honour to him to translate it himself out of the Brittish Language for the good of his Subjects into the Saxon Tongue and called it Mathehelage that is the Law of Martia great was her assistance to her Kingly Consort in the Administration of the Republick insomuch that after his decease their Son being in his minority and very young all Orders of the Kingdome as well Nobles as Commons for her great Wisdom and Discretion made choice of her to be Queen Regent till her Son came to full Age and in this condition she ruled for the space of some years though they be not numbred by reason that her Son had the Title of King yet the Count Palatine tells us That Deinceps Martia uxor ejus Vitus à qua conditae sunt Martiae Leges regnat annis septem cum Filio suo and then viz. after the death of her Husband Martia his wife who made the Martian Law reigned jointly with her Son seven years De quo Polidorus Polidorus Nutu Dei factum inquit est ut Guintolinus ad Regnum civilibus dissensionibus quassatum perveniret quod reduceret illud in pristinum statum id quod graviter fecit Eo enim potitus Rempublicam Brittanicam ejus Legibus ac moribus velut de integro condere ac ornare maxime studuit sed ante omnia civiles discordias quae adhuc tanquam reliquiae factionum durabant penitus sedavit Huic uxor erat nomine Martia mulier praeter caeteras pulchra sapiens quae peperit unicum filium Sicilium iste mortuo patre cum nondum esset maturus imperio Martia multarum rerum perita Regni curam interim suscepit quod Reipublicae erat id imprimis sibi faciendum rata leges tulit quas posteri Martianas appellarunt This King was called by some Guttelinus and by others after the Roman Dialect Guintelinus who after he had ruled six and twenty year left this world and was buried at Troynovant or London leaving his onely Son Sisillius to succeed him in his Kingdome SISILLIVS SISILLIVS or Cecilius Son to Guinthelinus began his Reign over the
Brittains in the year of the World four thousand eight hundred seventy and nine The English Chronicle calls this King Seizill either he lived in great peace and tranquilâ—ity as well he might his most worthy Parents both the heroick Prince his Father and beautiful and prudent Queen his Mother having quite extinguisht all even the least sparks of Sedition and Rebellion and left the Realm in perfect quietnesse or else the Records of his life perished for Writers relate very little of him only Mr. Howes tells us as the Scotch Writers say that he Reigned seven years and that in the very first year after his coming to the Crown Picts arrive in Brittain the Picts arrived in Brittain and possessed those parts which now be the Marches of both Kingdomes betwixt England and Scotland and confusedly makes no distinction betwixt Scots and Picts whereas Authors affirm that the Highland-men the natural Scots indeed are supposed to descend from the Scythians who with the Getes infesting Ireland The Author of a Book of Maps printed 1646. printed for Wil. Humble Anonymus left both their Issue there and their manners apparent in the wild Irish and Highlanders even to this day And from Scythia as is thought the name of Scots grew for so the Netherlands by Scutten expresse indifferently the Scythian and Scot so Gildas calleth the Irish Brittains Scythians so King Elfred in translating the History of Orosius turneth Scots in Scyttan and so saith Walsingbam from one and the same Original Scythe Scytici Scotae Scotini take their names as from Getae Getici Goti Gotici have done As for the Picts saith the same Author anciently inhabiting part of that Kingdome they were Inborn Brittains and such as thither fled to avoid the Romans servitude whose Names began first to be distinguished under Dioclesian the Emperour when they were termed Picts from painting their bodies like the Brittains as saith Flavius Vigetius which is more strengthned for that the Northern Brittains converted by St. Columb are called Brittan Picts but the Conversion of that Nation may more properly be attributed to Saint Ninian Ninianus Bernicius ex Regio Brittannorum sanguine procreatus Italiam adhuc adolescens literarum studio petit Romae apud divini Verbi ministros mysteria Veritatis edoctus ad plenum celer in-patriam remigrabat ubi Magister Paedonomus non vulgaris concreditum à Deo Talentum per Brittannorum Scotorum Australiumque Pictorum terras latissime profudit Hujus pia industria Picti primum relicto Idololatriae cultu St. Ninian a Brittain veram Christi fidem percepere Ninian born of the Royal Brittish Bloud being yet a youth went into Italy to follow his Studies and at Rome was fully taught the Mysteries of Truth by the Teachers of the divine Word and then returned into his own Country where becoming a Master and Instructor above the ordinary pitch of men he distributed the Talent bestowed upon him by Almighty God amongst the Brittains Jo. Bal. li. de Ser. Brit. cen 1. iu Niniano Bernicio Hector Boetius Scot. Hist li. 7. Fol. 119. Scots and Southern Picts cast off the bondage of Idolatry and embraced the sweet yoak of Christianity And for those holy labours was in former times as our Histories testifie by all throughout all Brittanny called by the title of Doctor and Inctructor of the Scots Picts and Brittains Scotorum Pictorum Britonumque Doctor Paedonomus non vulgaris eo nomine omnibus qui Albionem incolunt vel hac nostra aetate in multa veneratione habitus and in that respect was had in great veneration by all the Inhabitants of the Kingdome of Albion The first King I read of of that Nation that was Christian was Hiergustus King of the Picts who with his Pictish people and subjects were Christians Mr. Br. fo 582. and publickly professed that Religion but in the time of Maximus all the Scots were banished out of this Land which was in the year of Christ Hec. Boe. l. 6. Histo Buchan Rer. Sco. l. 4. in Rege 39. 379. ' Annus à Christi adventu in carnem tricentesimus septuagesimus nonus the Picts were generally and publickly instructed and professed Christians And also in the days of King Fincomark of Scotland who reigned 47 years and died multis virtutibus nobilis and in the year of Christ 358. ' Salutis humanae anno trecentesimo quinquagesimo octavo the Picts had received the Faith of Christ and before that time For whilst King Fincomark reigned Annal. Scot. Hec. Boe. sup l. 6. fol. 104. Hollish Hist of Ireland Fincomarko Rege Scotis adhuc imperante By divers Writers many of the Irish people received the law of Christ by means of a worthy Christian woman of the Picts as the Scottsh and other Histories testifie Per id tempus mulier Christianae pietatis cultrix Pictici eam fuisse sanguinis Scotici asserunt Annales Regina insinuata Christi nomen illi mirifice praedicavit reverendumque effecit This our Brittish St. Ninian deserveth eternal memory for converting the Picts Interea Sanctus Ninianus Australes Pictos quibus adhuc error gentilis inhaerens Idola venerari ac colere compellebat aggrediens Evangelii veritatem sequentibus signis praedicabat caeci vident claudi ambulant leprosi mundantur surdi audiunt mortui resurgunt oppressi à daemonibus liberantur sicque fides suscipitur error abdicatur destructis Templis Ecclesiae eriguntur currunt ad salutis lavacrum divites pauperes gratias Deo agunt in insulis quae procul sunt habitantes Ordinavit Presbyteros Episcopos consecravit totam terram per certas parochias divisit In the mean time St. Ninian going to the Picts which yet were Pagans and worshipped Idols preached the Truth of the Gospell unto them with these signes following The b lind see the lame walk lepers are cleansed the dead are raised and they which were oppressed with Divels are delivered And so the Faith is received Error abandoned Pagan Temples are destroyed Christian Churches erected Rich and poor are baptized those that inhabit in the Isles a far off give thanks to God He ordained Priests consecrated Bishops and divided the whole Land by certain Parishes Bede Hist lib. 3. cap. 4. Capgr in St. Ninio Guli Malm. l. 4. de gest Pont Angl. The first Stone building in Britt And having thus converted and confirmed the people unto and in the Faith of Christ being the chiefest end of his Mission and coming hither he returned to his Church Confirmatis in fide omnibus ad Ecclesiam suam est regressus This House and Episcopal Church which he now returned unto was the same which he had built before of stone called for the rarenesse of such building in Brittain that being the first as our History saith and thereby named Candida Casa the white House or Church at a place called Witerne between Scotland and England as they are now termed upon the Sea coast
the divine mystery of humane Redemption was accomplished by the birth of our Saviour Christ Jesus Augustus Caesar then possessing the Roman Empire which he afterwards left to Tiberius his Adopted Son a Wary and Politick Prince who following the advice and example of Augustus did never attempt any thing in Brittain nor maintain any Garrison there Howbeit the Brittains at that time were well affected to the Romans as appeared by the entertainment which their petty Princes gave to some Souldiers of the Roman Army in Germany who crossing the Seas were by force of weather cast upon the coast of Brittain and from thence in courteous manner sent back to Germanicus their General This Conobelin or Kimbelin was in Rome when the blessed Tidings of the Incarnation of the Son of God were declared through the world for Augustus after the death of Julius Caesar successor in the Empire as say our Antiquaries both ancient and late by the will of God had established most sure peace through the world our Redeemer Jesus Christ true God and Man was born in the 42 year of his Empire in the fifth year of the Reign of Cunobelin or Kimbelin in this Kingdome of the Brittains A little before which time by the great providence of God to make this our Brittain more timely and particularly partaker of such heavenly tidings before other Nations Augustus intending an expedition against this Kingdome Embassadours came from Brittain to Rome entreating for peace swearing fealty in the Temple of Mars offering gifts in the Capitol to the Gods of the Romans and submitting part of the Isle to Augustus Mr. Br. f. 1. â— they gave him for security so many great Nobles of this Land for Pledges and Hostages that all here were so quiet that one band of Souldiers and a few Horsemen were sufficient to keep the Isle in the Roman possession Now by such means the Romans did ever here secure themselves of the Brittains from their first invasion by Julius Caesar carrying away from hence and keeping at Rome for their glory honour and quiet not only many of our chief Nobility Men Women and Children but of the Regal race and blood and Kings themselves Among which we find that Androgius Son and Heir to King Lud lived and dyed there Cassibeline his Uncle who was subdued by Caesar gave Hostages and made this Kingdome Tributary to the Roman Empire Theomantius his Nephew and Successor in the Kingdome payed Tribute to the Romans which Cassibeline had granted and Reigned quietly And his Son Cunobeline King after him his Father was one of his Fathers Hostages in Rome and was Knighted there Adaminus Sonne of King Cunobeline was kept at Rome by Cajus thus much and much more Mr. Broughton that eminent Antiquary in his first and second Folio out of divers Authors by him there cited which I here for brevity omit Augustus Caesar the Emperour being urged by the Romans to be made a God after the Heathenish manner then or about the very time when Christ was born before he would consent unto it consulted with Sybilla Tiburtina then renowned for her Prophesies Sybillam Tiburtinam super hoc consuluit quae post trium dierum jejunium respondit in hunc modum Judicii in signum Tellus sudore madescet De coelo rex adveniet per secla futurus Quorum versuum capitales literae hunc reddebant sensum Jesus Christus Dei filius salvator Eo illico apertum est coelum nimius splendor irruit super eum vidit in coelo pulcherrimam virginem stantem super altare puerum tenentem in brachiis miratus est nimis vocem dicentem audivi Haec ara filii Dei est Qui statim projiciens in terram adoravit quam visionem Senatoribus retulit ipsi mirati sunt nimis After she had fasted three dayes Sybilla answered in these Achrostical known verses whose first letters make this sence Jesus Christ the Son of God our Saviour and presently the Heaven opened and an exceeding brightnesse fell down upon the Emperour and he saw in Heaven a most beautiful Virgin standing upon an Altar holding a Child in her Armes and he marvelled exceedingly and heard this voice saying This is the Altar of the Sonne of God whereupon presently prostrating himself upon the ground he adored which Vision he related to the Senators who marvelously wondered at it And this miraculous preaching of Christs birth so far off then at Rome was so much more publick and general that at or a little before this time the same Emperour as Suidas witnesseth Suidas in Augusto in their than greatest sacrifice was told by their Oracle that an Hebrew Child commanded the Gods as they termed them to silence whereupon Augustus ab oraculo reversus in Capitolio aram erexit Romanisque literis inscripsit Haec Ara est Primogeniti Dei Augustus returning from the Oracle erected an Altar in the Capitol and made this inscription upon it in Roman Letters This it the Altar of the first and only begotten Sonne of God our English Historians with others proceed to more such publick testimonies concerning Christ at Rome Jo. Herc. in Martin Polon Dedic to Q. Eliz. Martin Polon in Aug. alii Mr. B. Fol. 4. and at that very time hoc ipso die quo natus est Christus trans Tyberim fons olei emanavit ac per totum diem largissimo rivo fluxit tunc etiam circulus ad speciem caelestis arcus circa solem apparuit etiam statim ut virgo peperit illa statua aurea corruit in Romuliano Palatio quam Romulus posuerat dicens Non cadet donec virgo pariat The very day on which Christ was born beyond Tiber at Rome a fountaine of oyl flowed and ran with a most large stream all the day The circle like to a heavenly bow appeared about the Sun also presently so soon as the Virgin brought forth her Son the Golden Statue in the Palace of Romulus fell down which Romulus placed there above 700 years before saying it shall not fall untill a Virgin be brought to bed of a Child Upon these and other such motives this Emperour was so fully perswaded of the Messias then born that he highly reverenced all testimonies thereof the Prophesies of the Sybills which are so clear for almost all Mysteries of Christ as his Nativity Life Passion Resurrection Ascention with the rest as if they had been present witnesses rather then Prophets or Evangelists of those things Suetonius in Augusto he so respected that as Suetonius a Pagan writeth Quidquid fatidicorum librorum Graeci Latinique generis nullis vel parum idoneis autoribus vulgo ferebatur supra duo millia contracta undique concremavit solos retinuit Sybellinos hos quoque dilectu habito condiditque duobus forulis auratis sub Palatini Apollinis basi he gathered together all books of South-sayers Greek and Latine and he burnt about two thousand whose Authors were either
Brute entered Brittain eleven hundred and thirty six After Alexander the Great near upon a eleven hundred and twenty five After the building of Rome seven hundred and twenty nine GVIDERIVS GVIDERIVS the first Son of Kimbeline was advanced to the Legal command of the Brittains who were under his Fathers subjection he was invested in the year of the world 5216. Anno Dom. 170. This King was potent and abounded in Treasure which indeed are the sinews of War and was alwaies a Prince of Haughty courage and where wealth and courage meet almost miracles may be wrought if the cause be good and guided by a celestial providence but self-Love Pride and Arrogancy often bringeth confusion Guiderius bolstered up with these supporters denies the covenanted Tribute to the Romans which if thus confirmed by Authors Expletis diebus vitae suae cessit gubernaculum Regni Guiderio Mr. Bro. fol. 23. 8. cum ergo Tributum quod appetebant Romani ipsis denegaret supervenit Claudius qui in Imperium subrogatus fuerat When Kimbeline was dead Guiderius succeeeded in the Kingdome therefore when he denied the Tribute the Roman Claudius came hither being then Emperor Mr. Br. 335. And I have read in a very good Author That in Claudius the Roman Emperors time he with his Romans brought the Orchades and after them Anglesey under the Roman subjection though this Act be commonly ascribed to Julius Agricola Fabian confirms my Authors Assertion saying Wherefore Claudius who was Uncle to Caius Caligula the Fourth Emperor of Rome arrived in Brittain with a great Army and not only as writeth Polychronican constrained the Inhabitants to pay the Tribute but also subjected to the Roman yoke the Iles of Orchades or Orkeys which are scituate beyond Scotland and at the end of six Months returned to his Imperial City In this Army as tells us the English Chronicle and Gaufride was a Captain called Hame or Hamo who to compasse his purpose against the Ilanders changed his Armour and Shield arming himself like a Brittain and in this Disguise did extreme Damage unto his Enemies and still pressing forward at length came to the very place where King Guiderius was fighting and by this unexpected Stratagem and Policy slew him which his Brother Arviragus perceiving used the like policy immediately investing himself in Princely Array that the Fall of the King was not perceived and thus personating a Soveraign in his Regal Ensignes he encouraged the Brittains and by his own Example Courage and Valour so animated them that they did Feats beyond belief insomuch that they put the Romans to flight Thus was Guiderius by the opinion of several Authors slain by Hamo after he had reigned the space of twenty eight years leaving his Brother Arviragus by reason that he had no Issue of his own to succeed him ARVIRAGVS ARviragus the youngest Son of Kimbeline and brothor to Guiderius was Crowned King of Great Brittain in the year of Christs Incarnation forty and four The English Chronicle calls him Armiger he was a Prince of a high Spirit and skilful in warlike Affairs maintaining with great resolution and prosperous successe his Wars against the invading Romans neither suffered he the death of his Brother to passe unrevenged For with his own hands he slew Hamo the Murderer of Guiderius near a Port or Haven which by reason of that Fact was called Hamons Haven and now with some alteration South-Hampton a Town populous rich and beautiful from which the whole Shire deriveth her Name most strongly walled with square stone containing in Circuit one thousand and two hundred Paces having seven Gates for entrance and twenty nine Towers for Defence two very stately Keyes for Ships arrivage and five fair Churches for God's divine Service besides an Hospital called God's House wherein the unfortunate Richard Earl of Cambridge beheaded for Treason lyeth inter'd On the West of this Town is mounted a beautiful Castle in form Circular and wall within wall the Foundation upon a hill so topped that it cannot be ascended but by stairs carrying a goodly prospect both by Land and Sea and in the East without the Walls a goodly Church sometimes stood called St Maries which was pulled down for that it gave the French direction of Course who with fire had greatly endangered the Town instead thereof is newly Erected a small and unfinisht Chappel In this place saith Learned Cambden stood the ancient Clausentium a Fort of the Romans whose Circuit on that side extended it self to the Sea this suffered many depredations by the Saxon Pirates and in Anno 980. was by the Danes almost quite overthrown In K. Ed. 3. time it was fired by the French under the conduct of the King of Sicills Son whom a Countryman encountred and struck down with his Club he crying Rancon that is Ransome but he neither understanding his Language nor the Law that arms doth allow laid on more soundly I know thee a Francon and therefore thou shalt die And in Richard the Seconds time it was somewhat removed and built in the place where now it is In this Clausentium Canute to evict his Flatterers made tryal of his Deity commanding the Seas to keep back from his Feet but being not obeyed acknowledged God to be the only supreme Governour and in a religious Devotion gave up his Crown to the rood at Winchester Earls of this Southampton have been 1067. 1 Bevis of Hampton that famous Souldier so much talked of Azure 3 Lyons passant gardant Or. 2 William Fitz-Williams Losenge arg and Gules 3 Thomas Wricthesley L. Ch. created E. by Ed. 6. and King at Arms. 4 Henry Wricthesley 5 Henry Wricthesley 6 Thomas Wricthesley 1641. Azure a Cross Or 4 fulcons closed argent Policr l. 4. c. 8. cited by Fabian fol. 41. After divers changes and alterations in War and Peace an Agreement was concluded between Claudius the Roman Emperor and Arviragus insomuch that the Emperor sent to Rome for his Daughter Genniss or Gennissa and espoused her to the Brittish King who had by her his Son and Heir Marius his Successor in the Kingdome This King Reigned in Brittain when St. Joseph came hither Mr. Bro. f. 22. who gave to him and his Followers a place of Residence in lateribus suae Regionis in the outside of K. Arviragus his Countrey in Regionis suae finibus saith the first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury in the very end of his Dominion Math. Parker A late Writer speaking of King Arviragus saith Quidam Historici testantur ipse omnium Regum Brittannorum primus Joes Pitseus Rel. Hist in Arvirago Fidem Christi cum Sacramentis Christianis Christianus factus suscepit Some Historians witness that of all Brittish Kings he was the first that being made a Christian received the Faith of Christ with the Christian Sacraments Another thus plainly writeth of St. Joseph He converted to the Christian Faith Marius and Coillus Son and Nephew to Arviragus and John Harding is
hath been whether this Marius was a Christian or not Harding and other witnesse that he was of a Child brought up at Rome with the Emperour Claudius and his Mothers kindred Who nourished was at Rome in his Juventâ— With his Mothers Kin the best of the Empire Harding Chro. in Marius c. 49. fol. 41. With Claudius also that was his own Grandfire And not returning into Brittain untill the death of Arviragus his Father to inherit the Kingdome after him for any thing we read in History and by the common computation of Antiquaries King Arviragus and St. Joseph dying within three years together it is not a thing to be easily believed that Marius did or could learn Christianity of St. Joseph Neither did or could Christian Religion allow Marius a notorious known Bastard to inherit the Kin dom of Brittain as Heir to K. Arviragus he having divers legitimate children by his lawful Wife Voada Daughter of King Caraâ—â—cus Ex qua filium unum duas filias susceperat All which by Christian Religion should have inherited before him and he whether they had been living or dead by that could not claim Title to inherit or possesse the crowne of Brittainas he did And the Scottish Historians who had best reason to keep these things in memory do tell us that he was so far a Roman as by all Antiquities by his Mother and Education he truly was They stile him Marius the Roman Marius nobilis Romanus And he was so far from having any true Title to the Crown by being the bastard son of Arviragus that he was declared King by the Emperors Authority Caesaris autoritate Britonum Rex appellatus and to take all controversie away was forced to marry his own Sister by his Father the eldest Daughter of Arviragus and his lawfull wife Queen Voada Harum natu majorem ut jam Insulae status pacatior foret Matrimonis sibi copulavit which all men know no Christian could doe And yet this was after the great Victory of Marius against the Scots and Picts with their Captain Rodericke which was as Matthew Westminster and others write not above a year before the death of St. Joseph that chancing in the 75. and in the 76. year of Christ In which battel the two Daughters of Queen Voada their brother as it seemeth being dead were taken Prisoners and the oldest the next Heir of Brittain after the matters pacified which was not in any probability before St. Joseph's death was as is said before married to Marius her bastard-brother which Marriage if I may so term it was still continued and by them was begotten in it Coilus after King and Father to our first Christian King Saint Lucius So that if we speak properly and strictly of Christians and name them onely such which actually and really both in Faith and Profession do hold onely the Christian Religion and no other it is evident that none of these three Kings of Brittain Arviragus Marius or Coillus was a Christian much less converted or baptized by St. Joseph But if we speak of Christianity in an ample and extended sense as Tertullian and some Ancients have done of Tiberius Caius and some other Emperors not actually Christians but so affected especially in some points as as he doth of Pilate which washed his hands and said he was innocent of the putting of Christ to death Innocens sum à Sanguine justi bujus I am innocent of the blood of this just person that he was in conscience a Christian pro sua conscientia Christianus We may speak the like of these Kings and go so far with Harding's Author as to say with him Joseph converted this King Arviragus By his preaching to know the Law Divine For it is not unprobable but he was perswaded the Law and Religion which St. Joseph professed was true But whereas Harding addeth And baptized him as written hath Nennius A Chronicler in Brittain Tongue fall fine Except we take Baptizing in a very large and amplifying construction and say Harding a Poet did thereby understand the true knowledge of Baptisme and not the receiving thereof neither Nennius nor any approved Author doth or can prove any such thing By this also we are sufficiently assured that neither St. Joseph of Arimathea nor any of his company though otherwise most Holy and most Renowned Saints and excellently deserving of this Nation none of them converting either the King Nobles or People of Brittany as so many worthy Authors and Antiquaries have told us may be named the Apostles which converted this Kingdome to the Faith of Christ Mr. Bro. f. 166. or first founded Christian Religion here Marius King of Brittain by the opinion of all was both a Friend and Benefactor unto Christians confirming unto the Eremits of Avalon St. Joseph and his Associats those donations liberties and immunities which his Father Arviragus had formerly granted unto them and the Emperour Vespasian was so friendly and favourable unto holy Christians that when he was in Brittain before he was Emperour as Harding from more ancient Authors hath testifyed he procured those immunities and exemptions for S. Joseph and his company which King Arviragus endowed them with and I do not doubt but that he was so far a Christian in judgement that I may recount him in the number of those first Emperours of whom Tertullian writeth Tert. Apol. contr gentil c. 21. The Emperours themselves would have believed in Christ if the Emperours had not been necessary to the woâ—ld or Men that were Christians might have been Emperours Sed ' Caesares credidissent super Christo si aut Caesares non essent saeculo necessarii aut si Christiani potuissent esse Caesares This King Marius as Matth. Westm and divers others do testifie died the 78. year of Christ Math. West ao 78. and left Coillus his Son his Successor in the Kingdome Anno gratiae 78. Marius Brittannorum Rex ab hoc saeculo transiens Coillum Filium habuit successorem by whom he reigned but a short time not above six years Others affirm that he reigned a far longer time the Publisher of the Brittish History ascribe Mr. Bro. f. 169. 52 years Harding avoucheth that he died When he had Reigned sixty years and three His Tribute paid full well to Roman City Hard. in Chron. in Reg. Marius c. 50. fol. 42. Of Christs Faith somewhat he was informed But much more he needed to have been reformed But howsoever the question about his Regiment long or short be resolved certain it is that he was a Friend to Christians and if he Reigned long longer was their peace by his permission Fabian in the life of this King tells us that the Chronicle of England calls him VVestmer and that during his Reign a certain Chieftain whom Gaufride calleth Londricus of the Picts Landing with a great Navy in the Province of Albania now Scotland began to make havock with fire and sword which ungrateful
seem to say Petrus Cluniacensis and I may add Tertullian tells us that the people of Brittain in the North where the Scots now be were the first Christians Petrus Cluniacensis calleth the Scots the more ancient Christians and hereto we may add the testimony of Tertullian who saith the places of the Brittains which were unaccessible to the Romans were subject to Christ and addeth of the Brittains the name of Christ reigned among them which our English late Authors in their Theatre confirm in this manner It is certain that the Brittains were with the first Converts and Tertullian who lived within 200 years of Christs Nativity sheweth no lesse who the more to provoke the Jewes against whom we wrote calleth to witnesse the fruitful encrease of the Gospel of salvation through many countries and nations and among them nameth the Brittains to have received the word of life The power whereof saith he hath pierced into those places whither the Romans could not come Whence Petrus Cluniacensis supposeth the Scottish men the more ancient Christians The like have other late Writers and those their cited Authors which cannot be otherwise verified but by applying this preaching of the faith of Christ unto those Northern Brittains either by this their holy Countryman St. Mansuetus the first Bishop we â—â—n find of this Kingdome or some other associate of his sent hither at or about that time 〈◊〉 the same holy Apostle St. Peter for in all other respects whether we speak of the Brittish Christians here in the time of Claudius or Nero of which these modern Antiquaries will tell us more hereafter or the coming of St. Joseph of Arimathea in his Religious companions into this Kingdome in the days of Nero or the general conversion of the Kingdome of Brittain unto the trenches of Severus in the time of King Lucius by Elutherius all these were long before the conversion of the Scots in the time of K. Donaldus either by Pope Victor or Zepherinus as Harrison rather supposeth the first time which is assigned by any being in the 203 year of Christ and if it was under Pope Zepherine it was after that time for he was not chosen Pope until the year 209. before which time or the beginning it self of the papacy of St. Victor which was in the year 198. this our Brittain on this side the division had generally and publickly received the faith of Christ And the very words of Tertullian living and dying before the conversion of Scotland within the first two hundred years writing in his book against the Jews that the places of Brittain which the Romans could never conquer or come to did acknowledge Christ and his name did reign in them do manifestly convince it to be so For Tertullian living and writing in Affrica could not possibly take notice of things done here in an Island so far off presently after they were first effected and by no means could either he or any other Writer speak of things done so long after truly to report them done so long before he had been the greatest prophet that ever was St. Claudia of whom mention is formerly made was the daughter of Brittish parents which then lived as Hostages at Rome to the Emperor for this land and Kingdome of Brittain and by that means it was their happiness and honour to give the first entertainment to that blessed Apostle St. Peter at his first coming thither as that Roman tradition of that their house after by marriage with the holy Brittish Lady Claudia Mr. Bro. f. 53.3 their daughter and heir with Pudens the Senator Floren. Wigor Hist an 38. and 60. Stow and Howes and so long after this coming of St. Peter to Rome named the house of Pudens the Senator assures us which I prove by another undoubted tradition of the Romans That St. Peter was 15 years in Rome before St. Paul came thither so writeth Florentius Wigorn with the common consent of Antiquity and Writers both ancient and modern And the Roman Martyrology tells us of this Pudens the Senator Mr. Bro. f. 56. that he was baptized by the Apostles And there calleth him plainly Pudens the Senator Father of St. Pudentiana the Virgin so that being baptized by the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul for no others were then in Rome this could not be by true account untill at the soonest fiveteen years after St. Peter was first received in that house And if the Martyrology could carry that interpretation to understand by the Apostles in the plural number one Apostle one proper constructoin yet by this Friendly and more then lawful interpretation he must needs be baptized by St. Peter and so also a most unprobable thing that divers Christians then being in Rome St. Peter would first commit himself to a Pagan or Catechumen and he and the Christians of Rome make such an house their chiefest Church and place of Assembly for Divine things Martial 11. Epig. 54. de Clau. Ruff. This Lady Claudia though born of Brittish parents yet was not born in this Isle Martiall saith Claudia caeruleis cum sit prognata Brittannis but not in Brittain only she is called of the same Poet peregrina a stranger as the children of strangers usually are termed both with us and other people And the time of her birth and age so convince And whereas we find no memory at all of any natural parents of St. Pudens dwelling at Rome we have sufficient testimony not only of the permanent dwelling both of the Father and Mother of St. Claudia there but that by divers probable Arguments they dwelled in that very House where Pudens continued with them after his marriage with their Daughter and were holy and renowned Christians although their native Country of Brittain hath hitherto been almost wholly deprived of their honour and so must needs be by the Roman Tradition the first entertainers of St. Peter in Rome for as a late Author writeth Pudens and Claudia were two young persons but faithful Christians Godwin com of Brittain p 17. c. 3. 2 Tim. 4.21 at that time unmarried when Paul writ the second Epistle unto Timothy which was in the last year of Nero as all men suppose that I have read except Baronius and that they were married in the later end of Vespasian or about the beginning of Domitian Therefore Pudens being so young in the end of Nero his Empire although we grant him then newly married yet this was by all Computations at the least 24 years after the coming of St. Peter to Rome and so it could not possibly be Pudens but the parents of Claudia our Brittains that entertained first St. Peter in their House at Rome who for certain being Brittains of Noble Order and Degree and living in Rome as Hostages by all judgement they enjoyed more freedome and liberty in matters of Religion then the Romans did at that time The Emperors of Rome then nor long after intermedling with the
in high estimation with the Popes there as a principal learned and holy Priest of the Church of Rome as appeareth in the first Epistle of St. Pius to Justus Bishop of Vienna wherein he only sendeth him Salutations from St. Soter after Pope and Elutherius as the chiefest Priests then in Rome and so he recommendeth them which Epistle was written Pius Epist 1. ad Justum Vien Epist Tom. 1. Biblioth Sanct. and this honour given to St. Elutherius by that holy Pope almost twenty years before Elutherius was Pope And yet he must needs be a renowned Man long before that time and so no marvel if divers Letters were written to him from Brittain and from him hither before his Papacy especially if we reflect and consider how probable a thing it is that he was most resident with our Christian Brittains there and the Popes of that time committed unto him to have a peculiar care of this Country with his great credit and familiarity with Pope Pius conversing so much with our Brittains there Euseb Hist Chronic. Math. West an 157. Ethelwerd Chronic. and with such principal Men as were sent into these parts such as St. Justus of Vienna then was will induce to think And our own Annals doe sufficiently witnesse that the Fame and Renown of St. Elutherius was great here in Brittain before he was chosen pope And that this his glory was so great in Brittain before he was Pope those our both ancient and later Historians prove which say that King Lucius wrote unto him the first year of his Consecration to take order for the general conversion of this Kingdome Mr. B f. 221. Man Scot. aetat 6. in Eluth So doth the most authentical and approved relation of this History testifie that it was in the very beginning of his Papacy that King Lucius sent those Letters and solemn Embassage unto him about this business which plainly proveth that same and honor of St. Elutherius so well known in Brittain did not now begin here with his papacy but was of far more ancient continuance and antiquity For the very beginning of any ruler or Governour cannot give him so singular a commendation so soon especially where his Regiment is so great and ample that in so short a time he can hardly take notice of the state of those things which belong unto his charge much lesse take so good order for them all that his Fame and Honour should be for that doing reported in all the World And King Lucius sending unto him in the first year of his papacy and the very beginning thereof could not possibly have notice of his so renowned carriage therein consult with all his Nobles Flamens and Arch-flamens so dispersed in this so large a Kingdome and have their general consent for a general conversion and send notice of this by solemn Embassadours so long a journey to be there in the beginning of his papacy but that this great honour and fame of St. Elutherius was here renowned long before and this publick and general assent to forsake idolatry and embrace Christian Religion had been formerly concluded and agreed upon in Brittain and very probably as our Cambridge Antiquities have told us not only St. Timothy was sent or returned to Rome about this businesse but Eluanus and Meduvinus also as they write being but Catechumens to be instructed and consecrated there towards the performing so great a work in this Kingdom Neither can we with equality of judgement think that among so many Brittains now converted or so disposed here these two onely went from hence thither to such end and purpose But although these be the onely men remembred in Histories to have been there employed as more worthy or else designed and sent by King Lucius yet there went many others about this time from Brittain thither the better to enable themselves for a general Conversion of this their Country and there continued to enable themselves with Learning and Religion to be made fit Instruments and Workmen in those holy Labours and were therein assisted both by the popes of those times much conversant with our Country Brittains and in their Houses at Rome and others the most Renowned in the Clergy at that time among whom St. Elutherius after Pope and happy Converter of this Nation was a chief Man 〈…〉 Lud in their opinion which held the Title Cardinall was given to that holy Priest Onupheius Panuin l. de Episc Titul Diac. Cardinal Damasus alii in Cleto Evaristo Higenio which was the chief and most eminent commanding Priest in every Church or Titulus in Rome according to the Institution and Ordinance of the Holy Popes Saint Cletus Saint Evaristus and Saint Higinus in whose time we now are I cannot but probably think that Saint Elutherius so high in Dignity and Renown both with Saint Higinus and Pius and his brother Saint Pastor to whose disposing and distribution the first Titles or Churches in Rome founded by our Christian Brittains and still called by their names Saint Pudentiana and Saint Praxedes and to this day giving the names of Honour to the Roman Cardinals so stiled were left was an eminent Cardinall and chief Priest presently after this time S. Pastor Epist ad Timoth. Epist ad Pasto To. 1. Bib. Sanct. Tom. 1. Annal. Bar. Pius Epist ad Justum Fox Acts Mon. l. 1. p. 5 in one of those our Brittish Churches in Rome which among other bonds tyed him so firmly in love to this Nation and this Nation to him that he is so often honoured in Titles of Letters and otherwise by our Antiquaries above all other Popes Some add another testimony which if it be true it greatly maketh for the especial honour wherewith our Historians adorned him thinking that Saint Elutherius came personally into Brittaine and preached here and this is that opinion which Mr. Fox thus remembreth Timotheus in his story thinketh that Elutherius came himself which wanteth not probable Arguments if they speak of his preaching here beforn he was Pope sent hither by St. Timothy our Countreyman or some others sent by any of the Popes before him Mr. Howe 's saith that King Lucius sent two Embassadours Elevanus and Meduvinus Brittains most probably though great controversies be amongst Antiquaries concerning the truth thereof two learned men in the Scriptures with his loving Letters to Elutherius Bishop of Rome desiring him to send some devout and Learned men by whose instruction both he and his people might be taught the Faith and Religion of Christ Howe 's f. 38. in Lucio whereof Elutherius being very glad baptized these two Messengers making Eluanus a Bishop and Meduvinus a Teacher and sent also with them into Brittain two Famous Clerks Faganus and Damianus by whose diligence Lucius and his people of Brittain were baptized and instructed in the Faith of Christ There is saith the same Author and remaineth till this day in Somersetshire in the Deanery of Dunster
hold he was Bishop of Curre in Germany and Martyred there say his Martyrdome was about the year of Christ 182. whereas this our King was living nine years after besides they say that St. Emerita was his sister But it is evident by our Histories that our first Christian King Lucius had neither brother sister nor child begotten by King Coillus in his old Age having no other Child whereby it is evident that this King Lucius had neither brother nor sister and with what probability can it be affirmed that a King so holy and loving of his Countries good and quiet having no Christian Heir to suceeed him would or in conscience could forsake his Native Country and Subjects in such a case that were in justice belonging to his chiefest charge which no other could execute to preach unto Forreigners which many of his Subjects and others could and at his request most willingly would have performed We read in Histories that many descended of Regal race have in such cases been taken forth of their Monasteries and Religious Conversation to govern Kingdoms destitute of Heirs but that a King so vertuous wise loving and beloved of his Country having no such Heir to succeed him but by such course to expose and leave his Kingdom to so many certain miseries and calamities as fell upon Brittain by the death of King Lucius and probably were foreseen of all wisemen did might would or could take such a course Antiquities have no example Justice denyeth it Charity cannot allow it Seb. Munster Cosmog l. 3. c. 344. Mr Bro. f 349. Coxion Hist part f in K. Lucius Manu Hist Antiq. in Luco Sebastian Manster saith plainly that whereas there is a Vulgar report he maketh no more of any Lucius preaching there that one Lucius preached there if it were so it could not possibly be our first Christian King Lucius for he never went out of Brittain but very Godly lived and dyed here Gaspar Bruchius doth also plainly reject all that History as it is applyed by some to our Lucius and among other reasons addeth that the great difference of years will not permit it to be true An old French Manuscript joyneth in the same leaveth him living dying buried in Brittain And if we come home to our own Historians and Antiquities most likely to make the most true and certain relation of this their so renowned King they set down the year the day Antiq. Eccles St. Petri Cornhil Harding Cron. c. 51. f. 44. and particular place of his death and the very Church one of his own foundation where his body was interred the day and year they say was the 201. year of Christ the third day of October For the place our old Brittish History saith he dyed at Glocester and was with honour buried there in the Cathedral Church so likewise writeth Ponticus Virunnius Matthew of Westminster setting down the time as before saith he dyed at Glocester and was honourably buried there in the Cathedral The old Manuscript of St. Peters Church in Cornhil at London avoucheth from divers Antiquities that he was buried at Glocester where the Church of St. Francis was after builded being at the time of his death the Cathedral and Episcopal Church of the City John Harding also witnesseth of this Kings death and burial at Glocester At Caerglove buried after his dignity And not to exclude the testimony of our later writers in this relation in their Theater of Great Brittain written and composed by divers able Historians Theater of great Brittain l. 6. c. 9. sect 18. and published with common applause they make this History of King Lucius his death in Brittain a matter without question true and thus scoffingly condemn those writers which would carry him to end his dayes in Germany That this Lucius be the Apostle of the Banarians or that his sister Emerita was crowned with the flames of Martyrdom Harrison disc of Brittain Stow Howe 's Hist fifteen years after his death I leave to the credit of Aegidius Schudus and Hermanus Schedelius the Reporters Others of them plainly say Lucius was buried at Glocester yet this general consent of Antiquaries for his first burial at Glocester doth nothing hinder but as the known devotion both of the Brittains as Saxons after them towards holy Relicks did often and with great devotion and solemnity remove the bodies of holy Saints or parts of them for their greater honour So it might or did after fall out with the whole body of this renowned King or some part thereof And the Tradition of Winchester is that the whole body of King Lucius or a great part thereof being once removed before probably to Caerleon for some say he was buried there was the second time translated thither and there lyeth in the body of the great Church under a marble stone elevated about two foot from the pavement the same stone being now broaken in two places having upon it and those holy Relicks a cross of seven great brass buttons whereof 5. are set down in length the other two making the perfect figure and forme of the cross one on each side of the others making the length And this Reverend Translation of St. Lucius his body to divers places in Brittain is sufficiently insinuated by the old Author of the French Manuscript History who although he confidently affirmeth that King Lucius dyed at Glocester yet he addeth that he was afterwards buried in the chief See at Caerleon and this he saith was in the year of Christs incarnation 196. four or five years sooner then others before have set down his death except the Manuscript Compilation which hath the same computation of his death saying Sepultus est anno Incarnationis Domini 196. herede carens he was buried in the 196. year after the incarnation of our Lord wanting Issue or heir And both to assure us further of the undoubted truth of those Histories which testifie the death and burial of St. Lucius to have been in Brittain and not in any forraign Region as also to give us better notion and trial what honour peace and quiet spiritual and temporal with other happiness this Kingdom enjoyed by King Lucius life and lost them by the loss of him it is the constant agreement of Antiquities that Brittain now made by his death destitute not only of so worthy a King but also of any certain heir or successor of that Regal race fell to intestine discord and variance by which it was miserably afflicted long time upon that occasion a late Author tells us King Lucius dyed without issue by reason whereof after his decease the Brittains fell at variance which continued about the space of fifteen years as Fabian thinketh howbeit the old English Cronicle affirmeth that the contention among them remained fifty years though Harding affirmeth but four which his words of Hardings opinion that this variance among them continued but 4. years are to be amended for Harding setteth down
the dissensions of the Brittains as other Historians do and maketh them of as long continuance only he saith that Severus the Emperor came hither four years after the death of King Lucius to seek to appease things so doth Matthew of Westminster Florentius and others as far as Harding doth This holy King graunted made and signed many writings Charters and Donations for the defence maintainance and preservation of Religion and the chief teachers and professors thereof as to the University of Cambridge the School of Bangor Monastery of Salisbury and such others and to every Archiepiscopal or Episcopal See in Brittain both for the assuring the old revenues and priviledges of the Archflamens and Flamens as others new and more ample which he conferred unto them and such as should sit and succeed them for ever And we find in Antiquities that in the very time of King Lucius besides the Cathedral Churches in Great Cities there were others also builded in them as namely Glocester Worcester Caerleon and others for we read of divers kinds of Churches in them all both Cathedral and others King Lucius was buried at Glocester in the Church of the Chief or first Order The same distinction is given for Winchester which necessarily inferreth other Churches or a Church in either of them of inferiour Order for the word first proveth a second for the Inferiour Churches besides the Cathedral in Caerleon they are remembred in Histories Viz. of St. Julius and St. Aaron so of other Cities not inferiour unto these Glocester being then but a new and no great City we find others as at Abington in Oxfordshire Amsbury in Wiltshire Cambridge Stanford and other places where to have been Christian Churches in that time there is still sufficient testimony left us Mr. Bro. 307. 5. Gal Mon Hist l. 5 c. 1. Math. West an 201. Bulla Honorii an 624. Chart. Regis Cadw an 685. Chart. Reg. Art An. 531. die 7. apud Caium l. 1. de Antiq. Cont. John Harding Chron c. 25. fol. 22. John Ross Hist Manus Jo Caius Apol A ca. Cantib de Antiq l. 1. Will. Harri Dis Bâ—iâ— c. 3. Tâ— of Universitie p. 146. 〈◊〉 H st Bladud Bal. pref in l de scrip Twin l. de Antiq Ox. Ha â—is sup a Ha â—s manu G aston Chron. Bal l. de ser Brit cent 1. in Congello Barnachoren Gal Mor Hist Brit l 1. c. 12. Math. West an 603. Harding Chron. c. 50. f. 42 p. 2. Ma. h. West an 124. Harding Chron. c. 51. f. 43. Hâ—llershed H st of Brit. fol. 57. And to provide as well for the continuall maintainance and repair of the house of God at the first founding and building thereof these ancient Schools or Universities of this Kingdom which all now had received the faith and Religion of Christ and so were to be as Seminaries and Mothers of Christian Divinity and holy learning for preservation and upholding of Gods Church King Lucius endowed with great priviledges and Immunities that they might more quietly and diligently employ themselves to their so profitable and holy studies This his Charter of priviledges to the University of Cambridge the Antiquaries thereof prove by divers Ancient Testimonies The Bull of Pope Honorius 1000. years ago the Charter of King Cadwalladrus and King Arthur long before wherein is contained that he granted to the University of Cambridge as King Lucius with other Kings had done before to be free from all publick Vectigalls and burdens that they might the more freely and quietly attend their studies The like I may affirm of Stanford which from the time of King Bladud untill it was interdicted by St. Gregory for the Pelagian heresie continued an University so of Glamorgan claiming but a little later original Greeklade and Liechlade of such Antiquity Bellisilum now Oxford as it pleadeth Therefore whereas a late writer confidently sayeth there were 600. Students in ancient times and others not so well remembred to all which now converted to the faith of Christ and training up spiritual Soldiers for the defence profession and maintainance thereof we have sufficiently grounds to affirm King Lucius gave the like priviledges as unto Cambridge one and the same reason being for all and yet besides these which he found founded before he himself was founder of others namely Bangor in Wales which long continued in that State untill it was after changed into so great a Monastery that above 2000. Moncks as our Histories testifie abode there A late Author tells us of another University for so he calleth it by the name of Accademia Legionensis the University of Caerlegion which he would to have to be Westchester others rather take it to be Caerlegion upon Vsk in Glamorgan making it a fourth distinct place from the Metropolitan Church and the several Churches of St. Julius wherein were sacred Nuns and St. Aaron of Canon Regulars In the time of Sixtus Bishop of Rome reigned here in Brittain either Coillus or Lucius his son according to the diversity of opinions of several Authors but seeing all Antiquities and Antiquaries confess so many great and renowned things and of such labour and difficulty to have been performed for receiving generally Christian Religion and abandoning the Pagan superstitions in this Kingdom in the time of K. Lucius we must not keep the crown of Brittain from him long after the death of Pope Sixtus Harding who saith his Father Coillus reigned but 13. years will make him King all this Popes time which Matthew of Westminster doth confirm with four years addition at least to the time of his reign in the time of Pope Alexander before And yet he maketh the years of his whole age but 87 from which if we deduct the whole terme between the year 124. when the Monck of Westminster saith Lucius began his reign untill the year 142. or 143. when St. Sixtus was Martyred to prove by all accounts King Lucius reigned in some part of the Papacy of Pope Sixtus we make the time of his reign being very younge at the death of his Father not so many years as some ascribe John Harding saith Lucius King of Brittain reigned 54 years others allow but 53 years Hollenshed in his History of England tells us that Lucius having brought his people to perfect light and understanding of the true God that they needed not to be deceived any longer with the crafty temptations and feigned miracles of wicked spirits he abolished all prophane worshippings of false Gods and converted such Temples as had been dedicated to their service unto the use of the Christian Religion and thus studying only how to advance the glory of almighty God and the knowledg of his word without seeking the vain glory of worldly triumph which is gotten with slaughter of many a guiltless person he left his Kingdom though not enlarged with broader Dominion then he found it yet greatly augmented and enriched with quiet rest good ordinances and that which is more to be esteemed
Empress Martia a Brittain And by the Roman writers themselves he was at this time when he was slain at Yorke 65 years old And although he left thirty two Legions as Dio writeth to defend that his temporal Empire which had so persecuted the Church of Christ yet that temporal Empire with all those props began to stagger Tertul. adver Judaeos c. 7. and notwithstanding so great persecution in the Kingdom of Christ as Tertullian then living witnesseth was adored and ruled in all places and particularly here in Brittain And it is generally agreed upon by our both Brittish and Saxon Historians and Antiquaries that after his discomfiture by Severus he went over into Scythia interpreted to be that Country which we now call Denmark Geff. Mon. sup c. 3. Fab. Hist Polycr Harris discrip of Brit. c. 22. Hollensh Hist of Eng. l. 4. c. 23. Bede Eccl. Hist l. 1. Capg in St. Ninian Hect. Boet. Scoto Hist l. 7. Bal. l. de scrip cent 1. in Ninia and brought with him a great army of the people of that Nation which our Antiquities call Picts before he fought with Severus and they both were there slain or died at York These were none of the Christian Picts or Scots which lived in our Islands who had joyned with Fulgenius before and many of them were slain as the same Authors testify but they were Pagan Picts of whom many remained here after the death of these two Generalls and had a place given them to inhabit in the Country of Albania Thus write our Brittish Historians and our modern Antiquaries agree when they say that Carausius gave unto the Scots Picts and Scythians the Country of Cathnesse in Scotland which they afterward inhabited so these were those Pagan Picts and people which St. Ninian and others sent from Rome did long after convert to the faith of Christ as St. Bede and others testify for the Islanders which were Picts and Scots were converted in Pope Victor his time which is another argument against the Scottish writers which would have themselves seated in the Country now called Scotland so long a duration of years as they claim Bassianus being advertised of his fathers death practised with the Souldiers by bribes and fair promises that he might be declared sole Emperour whereto when he could not perswade them for the reverence they bare to his father Severus he made a league with the Northern Brittains that then assailed the Borders and returned to York to meet with Julia the Empresse his mother in law and Geta his brother There he caused the Physitians to be put to death for not ridding his father sooner out of the way as he had commanded them then he appointed secretly to the slaughter all those that for their vertue and wisdom had been esteemed and advanced by his father and all such as having been Tutors to him and his brother and advised them to mutual concord This done he entred into consultation about his fathers funerals which were solemnized by the Army with all due rights according to the ancient custome in time of war The ashes of the dead body being put into a golden Urne were afterwards by Julia the Empresse accompanied with the two Caesars carried to Rome where Severus after the usuall ceremony was consecrated a God Severus left as is related two sons Bassianus and Geta and if Fulgenius who is by divers called King though indeed he was only Dux populi had any right by descent to the Crown of Brittain seeing we read of no child or brother he left behind him that the title which he claimed must needs descend to the eldest son of Severus which was Bassianus son also to the sister of Fulgenius as some before have written now having by the death of his Father Severus and Uncle Fulgenius both their titles with the allowance of the Empress Martia his mother lawfully invested in him Therefore to decide and end all controversies in this businesse the Brittains with common assent did chuse and accept Bassianus both for their King being the next and undoubted heir whether we shall stand either upon his father or Uncles title as also for Emperor Mr. Bro. 370. 1 2. as the Eldest son and heir of Severus undoubted Emperor and for his leaving sons behind as the chiefest cause made a God among the Romans So writeth Herodian with others Herodian l. 4. Stow. Hist Roman in Severo Mos est Romanis consecrare Imperatores qui superstitibus filiis vel successoribus moriuntur And an English Antiquary though not citing authority delivereth the same in these words The Romans accustomed to consecrate with immortality such Emperors as at their death leave either Children or successors in the Empire behind them Harrison disc of Brit. c. 22. French manusc antiq c. 109. Galf. Mon. l. 5 c. 2. Pont. Virun l. 5. c. 2. Mat. West an 206. Harding Chro in Sever. Bass Hollensh Hist of Eng. l. 4. c. 22. Harris disc Brit. c. 22. Tertul. ad scapu c. 4. Spartian in Caracalla and those which are endued with that honour they Canonize among the Gods Therefore to use the speech of an other late Author Severus by birth a Roman but in blood a Brittain and the lineal heir of the body of Androgeas son of Lud and Nephew to Cassibelan was Emperor and King of Brittain Geta born of a Roman woman Julia was chosen Emperor by divers Romans but soon after slain by his halfe brother Bassianus the Brittain This Bassianus reigned alone both Emperour King of Brittain till his death besides his hereditary title to this Kingdom it seemeth that the Christian Brittains here were not a little moved to chuse and receive him for their King for the hope they had he would either become a Christan or at least a friend and no enemy to that profession of which in his youth and tender years he had given no vulgar argument for besides many other hopeful graces and gifts he was then endued with he was brought up by a Christian Nurse and with Christian Children when he did see any Christian Martyrs brought to wild beasts to be killed and devoured he would weep and turne his face away as Spartianus is an ample witnesse And being but seven years old hearing that one of his Christian Play-fellowes was grievously beaten for that his Religion as the common interpretation is he could not long after endure the Procures of his beating And in this hope of the Brittains now Christians that Bassianus would rather be a friend then persecutor of such they were not deceived For although contrary to his first education when he was with Christians being separated from them he fell to so many kinds of impieties as writers do report and put innumerable of the Pagan Roman Nobles to death and many of them which had been greatest enemies to Christians yet he died innocent from Christian blood and persecution Mr. Br. 371. and by his severe
unquiet and although Heliogabalus and his brother Severinus also if Bassianus had any such son was next true King of Brittain yet neither of them enjoyed it for by all Writers one named Carausius was King of Brittain not onely after Bassianus but by divers Authours sometime also while he lived giving an overthrow to Bassianus the Emperour or rather some Lieutenant or General of his of the same or the like name here in Brittainy and so made himself King of Brittain after whom by our Brittish History and Ponticus Virunnius Asclepiodotus Duke of Cornwall was made King deposing Alectus sent hither against Carausius with three Legions and Matthew of Westminster and Harding write was King three years untill Asclepiodotus deposed him next to Asclepiodotus was King Coelus Father to the most renowned Empress St. Helena married to Constantius Emperor and Mother to great Constantine their son our most glorious King and Emperor after which time our History will not be so obscure and confused as now it is for as in the succession of these I have now remembered there is question so concerning the time of their Government and their conversation also whether it were Christian or otherwise it is not free from difficulty Antiquaries say that Carausius was next King to Bassianus Therefore when Matthew West and some others would not have Carausius to be King till about the 286. year of Christ it must needs be an error either in them their Scribes or Printers for it is evident and all the Roman writers prove that Bassianus was dead many years and divers Emperors had succeeded long before this time and Math. Westm himself saith that Bassianus making war against the Parthians was circumvented and slain of his Enemies between Edissa and Carras in the year of Christ 213. which was above 70. years before he bringeth Carausius to attempt any thing for the crown of Brittain Florentius Wigorne followeth the same account and setteth down the very place of his death there to be Osdroena and Mercinus affirmeth the same with the Roman Histories saying it was in the year of Christ 218. And both our old Brittish History and Ponticus Virunnius Hect. Boeti Scot. Hist l. 6. ol 88 89. who gave the greatest light in this matter say plainly that Carausius lived in the time of Bassianus And add further that Carausius joyning with the Picts which Fulgenius had got together against Severus Father to Bassianus sought with his army and overthrowing it Galf. virun was made King of Brittain And these Picts and Scots must needs be those of which the Scottish Historians write when they say Bassianus made peace with them and the Brittains which followed Fulgenius Hect. Boe. ut supra fol. 100. Holenshed in Grathlint and so went from hence to Rome And whereas the Brittish History and Virunnius say that Carausius did kill Bassianus this was not Bassianus our King and Emperor son of Severus and Martia but one Quintus Bassianus a Legate of the Romans Now being the common Opinion received both of the Roman and other writers Catal. Reg. Britainie Hist Galf. Mon. that Severus dyed in the year of Christ 213. The Author of the Catalogue of our Brittish Kings thus setteth down their successions and Regiments with their continuance Bassianus Ceracel six years Carausius seven years Alectus six years Asclepiodotus thirty years Coelus twenty seven years After whom Constantius his son in law by marrying his Daughter St. Helena succeeded in the crown by which accompt we have between the death of Severus and Constantius his reigning here 76. years and from Carausius his death and the begining of Constantius his reign 65. years Harding maketh the distance shorter ascribing to Bassianus seven years to Carausius 4. to Alectus 3. Asclepiodotus 10. to Coel 11. years yet by this accompt also Carausius was dead many years before that time wherein Hector Boetius and some others make him to have first advanced any title to the Crown of Brittain Yet we may make some part of attonement between these opinions if we shall say with the Brittish and other Histories Math. West an 286. that Carausius was but a young man in the time of Bassianus or Heliogabalus the true Kings of Brittain And he went to Rome to procure his Commission there of the Senate to be Admiral to keep the Brittish Seas Howe Hist Titul The Romans an 285. And after he was thus admitted Admiral long time and divers years must needs be spent before he could come to that power by Sea and Land with Brittains Picts and Scots to be King of Brittain although he was as divers hold of the Kingly race Ex regio Stemate and Unkle to that renowned Christian King of Scots Grathnitus Carausius of Kingly race though some stile him to have been of base lineage unprobable in a man obtaining such honour of the Roman Senate Hect. Boet. Scot. Hist l. 6. and renown among Princes Kings and Emperors and divers of them Christians But to go no further out of my way whether Bassianus or his Son Heliogabalus both Emperors and Brittains by parentage or Carausius was in Brittain at this time we are by this which is said assured Hâ—lenshed in Scot. in Grathlint that the Christians here were in quiet and peace for if Bassianus still continued King he had made peace with all Christians here whether Brittains Picts or Scots before his departure hence to Rome And although Heliogabalus Hoel Boet alii sup Harding c. 53. was otherwise a Man of such wicked conversation that I had rather refer any man desirous to know the manner both of his own and his Fathers life to forrain writers then fill my pen with the dishonour of their race in them yet no History maketh mention that he any way was a persecuter of Christians if Carausius was King it is not unprobable but he was a Christian advanced chosen and honoured with that Kingly dignity by the Christians confederate with and assisted by the Christian Scots and Picts their Kings or Rulers and against the Pagan Romans a professed Patron and Propugnator of the Right and Priviledges and Revenger of the wrongs and Injuries of the Christians here contending by all means he could even with the adventure of his life loosing in that quarrel to restore the Christians of this Kingdom to that quiet and honourable Estate to be free from the Thraldom of forraign Pagans which they happily enjoyed in the Government of King Lucian and the Roman Senate began now to infringe and violate This was the pretended end and scope of his designes although by some writers not with a little design of his own greatness and exaltation no strange disease amongst great Princes in any age Hollenshed saith that Alectus was sent from Rome with three Legions Hollenshed Hist of Engl. and slew him in the field Fabian tells us that in a Book which in French is called Merc de Histories
in them as in Verulam were now onely inhabited by Christians and not a Pagan to be seen and this by the Omnipotent working of God and the Idolatrous Judge and Prince himself that ruled here under the Pagan Romans and persecuted by their power even to the utmost bounds of Brittany was made that he was unable to Rule and Govern any longer but needed be Ruled and Governed himself by others This Judge King and Roman Lieutenant as the Scottish Historians with others call him was King Asclepiodotus thus grievously either of malice or for fear of the Romans then persecuting and for so doing hated of God and Man Coel. King Coel who began his reign in the year of our Lord 262. having now both Warrant and Way to advance the Title to the Crown of this Kingdom and help to free the afflicted Christians thereof from the miseries of their so long and grievous persecution as it seemeth most probable at this time and upon these occasions he took Armes against Asclepiodotus reputed King in this persecution slew him and was crowned King as our Historians deliver unto us Harding also plainly saith that Coel took Armes against Asclepiodotus by reason of this great persecution For which Duke Coel against him rose in Armes Asclepiodotus for the first ten years of his reign was just and ruled with the general applause of all but after fell into wickedness and cruelty so that King Coel might justly pursue his right to Brittain in hope thereby in better manner to redeem the afflictions of his Countrey Christians being more potent and able and likely more willing than Asclepiodotus was not so forward in any Judgements as he should have been in defending innocence if he had not been an actual persecutor which Harding himself thus in these plain terms expresseth Harding Chron. cap. 58 fol. 57. This persecution as some Chronicles fain The ten years war of Asclepiodote For which Duke Coel again him rose full hot The Duke Caer Colun that hight Coilus Which City now this day Colchester hight Then crowned was that slew Asclepiodotus For cause he came not forth with all his might The Tyramite fell to a canstand as he hight Wherefore Brittains were all full glad and fain Of King Coilus that succoured all their pain And howsoever Asclepiodotus concurred with the Roman persecutors and pleased them in vexing and tormenting Christians here in Britany yet otherwise he was very unpleasing unto them He troubled the Roman power in all things and therefore they were glad of his death Ponticus Virunnius himself a Roman saith they did esteem him their great enemy and as for such an one rejoyced at his death and this joy was not onely of particular Romans but of the whole Senate which ruled chiefly in matters of Estate Therefore when our Antiquities assure us that Coel obtained the Kingdom and was crowned and as an old French manuscript speaketh regna sur Britaniae ruleth over Brittain and was thus inabled and made powerful to redresse what he found offensive and wicked being absolute King and joyfully so received of the Brittains as our Historian said before Wherefore Brittains were all full glad and faine Of King Coelus that succoured all their pain And he himself taking acception to Asclepiodotus next to his charging him with usurping the Crown for being to backward in resisting the Roman persecutors would not fall into the like error with him but as is proved already succoured all their pain and utterly ceased the persecution against Christians of Brittain which were thus joyful of his coronation and thereby relieved and redeemed them from their afflictions all his time which both by our own and forreign Historians continued to the end of the third hundred of years Mr. Broughton The Romans having no power here either to persecute Christians or to any other purpose But as our Brittish and other Historians testify wholly lost their government here untill after the death of King Coel or the comming of Constantius his son in law hither the second time very little before King Coel his death Our Scottish Historians say that King Coel utterly destroyed both Romans and all the Brittains also which were their favourers and set forth a severe edict to search forth all Romans and Brittains which had followed them here and caused them to be punished and put to death and so with most joyful and general applause of the people Nobles and others that the crown of Brittain was thus restored to the true heir of their regal blood was crowned King and he established the Kingdom in the Brittish government So that now so severe a law being made and executed both against the prosecuting Romans and all such Brittains as had joyned with them against the Christian inhabitants of this nation and all this done by the authority of our King and with the consent both of the nobility and people we must needs end the persecution here with the beginning of King Coels reign And it would not be singular in this point if we should hold that King Coel was actually a christian and not only a friend to such for first all they which affirm him to have been Kinsman or Heir to our first christian King St. Lucius easily prove him a christian for such a man would not leave either child or kinsman which by him had that title to have any other education Secondly by the time of his age whether he was to King Lucius so near or no we must needs confesse he lived most part of his life when christianity flourished in this Kingdom being an aged man before Dioclesian his persecution began Thirdly our Historians say that his daughter St. Helen which had her education by his direction was instructed and taught in the christian faith A late Authour thus speaketh of this Helena she was first instructed in the faith of Christ by Coel her father as Petrus de Natalibus saith and yet if we encline to this opinion we may easily answer them that will object the public and universal restitution of christian religion as building Churches Monasteries and such holy foundations was not in his time For by the common opinion his reign was short little and not above four years a great part whereof was spent in extirpating the persecutors and the rest in preparation to resist a new invasion of the Romans not reigning in quiet and security from these troubles and fears the space of two moneths by any writers and so after so great and terrible a tempest of persecution it was a wonderful comfort and happiness for the Brittish christians to enter into such a calme and quiet to live in security and rest freed from their former miseries under so renowned a King which was all he could do or they expect in such times and circumstances The Roman Emperours after the death of Heliogabolus until Constantius married first or after received again Helena daughter of Coel had little command in this Kingdom therefore
it will suffice to set down briefly their names continuance of their Emperours which our late Antiquaries do thus propose unto us After Senerius Bassianus sirnamed Antonius Caracalla succeeded in the Empire but was murdered by Martialis when he had governed six years Macrinus one year Antonius Heliogabalus three years Alexander Severus 13 years Julius Maximus three years M. Antonius Gordanus one year Julius Philipus they omit the second his son the first christian Emperour five years Decius two years Trebonianus Gallas and Vibius Hostilianus two years Julius Aemilianus four moneths Lecinius Valerianus six Lacivius Gallicinus fifteen At this time there arose in divers countries thirty usurpers which are called the thirty Tyrants of which Lollianus Posthumus Victorianus Tetricius as it is supposed kept Brittain from Gallimus Flavius Claudius two Aurelianus five Tacitus 6 moneths Florianus six moneths This year 276. Aurelian the Dane was chosen Emperour he hated christians and in the 4 year of his reign he stirred up the 9th persecution upon the church of God he reigned 5 years and 6 dayes And after that Tacitus succeeded in the Empire being a very fit and worthy governour after Tac. Probus Equirius 〈…〉 Son to Delinacius a Clown and Gardiner by profession this Probus Equirius was a most valiant Man at armes and as good a Justitiar as any that had the publick Government he began his reign in the year of Christ 282. and reigned six years and four moneths A Brittish History Aurelius Probus five years In which time Bonosus famous for excess in drinking a Brittain born usurped the Empire with Proculus at Cullen and would have exempted from the Romans Brittain Spain and part of France but being vanquished by Probus he strangled himself that was the way to spoile his drinking This Probus after he had reigned five years was slain of the Soldiers Carus was created Augustus he made Carinus and Numerianus his Sons Caesars to Carinus he assigned Brittain Gaule Illiricum Italy and Spain but Carinus was slain by lightning and the other two within three years space lost their lives Dioclesian was then chosen Emperor who adjoyned Maximianus unto him in like Government these two Emperours elected two Caesars Valerius Maximus and Constantius Chlorus to which Constantius he committed the recovery of Brittany When Dioclesian and Maximian the most offensive Enemies of the faithfull Servants and Church of Christ intended their merciless and matchless persecution against them the ease to make it was as universal and general as it was bloody and Tyrannical and perceiving that neither Nero nor any other their predecessors in that prophane impiety had or could before them transport their rage in that kind over our Ocean into this Kingdom protected and rampired both by scituation and sea and Christian Kings are Rulers or favourers of Christianity and Immunities from the Roman severities in such nature their study and practise was first to surprise and overthrow these firm Bulwarks and Forts against them and therefore assuredly knowing that by the Regal claim and title of Brittain Queen Helena was the lawfull an undoubted heir and Owner thereof that she was a Christian and descended of such parents and absolute Queen of such a Country the rare virtues and wisdom she was endued with her potency thereby with her victorious and triumphant husband Constantius that they had children to succeed them in the Kingdom and Government of Brittain and such as by credible Antiquities before were Christians and thereby more likely to enlarge and dilate then to restrain or hinder the profession of Christianity they knew these Impediments to their wicked disignements must be taken away before they could take effect whereupon beginning with the chiefest and principal propugnacle the title of Queen Helen her marriage with Constantius and love between them they first assaulted this by pretended disability in that title and marriage Her lawfull Title by Regal Lineal discent they frustrated in their Judgment which then had no Judge on Earth by their pretended and not to be examined Imperial claim and preheminence taking and reckoning for their own whatsoever they could get and keep by force and sword and their more then Panegeâ—ical Orator Mamertinus saith plainly in his oration to Maximian the Emperor that the Brittains were not only subject unto him and that he landing in Brittain The Brittains received him with great Triumph offered themselves unto his presence with their Wives and children reverencing not only himself but even the sails and tacklings of that ship which had brought his divine presence unto their coasts and when he should set foot on Land they were ready to lye down at his feet that he might as it were march over them so desirous they were of him that both the Brittains and Nations adjoyning to the bounds of that Isle were obedient to his commandement And giveth nothing to Constantius but as in the right and title of that Emperor Like to this have some other flatterers of the Romans written by which we see they went about utterly to disable the Queen to have any title to the Kingdom This they so urged to Constantius and so disgraced his marriage with that renowned Lady that in the end they compelled him to put her away and take Theodora a Pagan Daughter of the persecuting Emperor Maximian in her place then they banished St. Lucius and St. Emerita their holy children Some by reason of the Identity of the name think this Lucius here spoken of to have been Lucius the King but Harrison in his description of Brittain clears that doubt who thus relateth the occasion of Prince Lucius his forsaking Brittain his native country It hapned saith he that Lucius by reason of a quarrel grown between him and his Elder brother either by a fray or by some other means did kill his said brother whereupon his Father exiled him out of Brittain and appointed him from thenceforth to remain in Aquitain in France He became a Bishop in the Church of Christ. He erected a place of prayer wherein to serve the living God and is still called even to this our time after Lucian or Lucius the first Founder thereof and the original beginner of any such house in those parts in this also he and divers others of his friends continued their times in great contemplation and prayer and from thence were translated as occasion served unto sundery Ecclesiastical promotions in the time of Constantine his brother so that by his short narration it is easie to see that Lucius the King and Lucius son of Chlorus were two distinct persons and the same Author saith further and more at large in his relation hereof Constantius Chlorus being at the first matched with Helena and before she was put from him by the Royal power of Dioclesian he had by her three sons besides one Daughter called Emerita of which the name of the first is perished the second was called Lucius and the third Constantine that after was Emperor And
the lawfull son of Constantius and Helen and born in Brittain and that his Father Constantius was compelled by Herculius the Emperour to be divorced from Helen his true wife to take Theodora Daughter in Law of that Emperor Eutropius plainly saith that Constantine was son of Constantius in true marriage Constantinus Manasses saith St. Helen was the wife of Constantius and a most blessed Woman Hunibaldus above 1000. years since relateth the History of the composition between Constantius and our Brittish King Coel as our writers do As soon as Coel heard that Constantius was arrived he sent Embassadours desiring peace and promised to pay the tribute so that he might enjoy his Kingdom to which Constantius agrees this thus composed Coel within 40. dayes dyed whose Daughter Helen to whom for beauty and loveliness knowledge in the liberal sciences and rare skill in musick Theoph. Ceram in Chron. Egbert Albas Ser. 3. de mere manif Catho fidei Berengosus Abbas l. de in vent laud. S. Crucis c. 1 Brittain never bred the like Constantius took to wife by whom he begat Constantine who not only succeeded his Father in the Kingdom of Brittain but also prevailing against Maxentius in the Empire Victor Eutropius Eusebius and other ancient Authors are witnesses that when Dioclesian made Constantius and Galerius Cesars he compelled then to put away both their lawful wives Constantius to put away St. Helen and to take Theodore his daughter in law and Galerius Veleria his own daughter which account of theirs that St. Helen was thus put away in the year 294. invincibly proveth how according to Eusebius and many others before setting down the age of Constantine to have been about 60 years that St. Helen had been the wife of Constantius 20. years Severus Sulpitius doth not only call St. Helen the true wife of Constantius but saith she was Empresse both in her husbands and sons time which proveth her daughter and heir to Coel our Brittish King by which title only she reigned with Constantine Theophilus Cepameus an old Greek writer saith there were Arrian Hereticks and Pagans which denied Constantine to be legitimate and that the lyed therein mentiuntur Egbertus saith she was Queen and mother of Constantine Beringosus an eyewitnesse of the most things writing of her saith first she was a Queen and so the lawful wife of Constantius for a Concubine of the greatest Emperour that ever was is not thereby a queen as the Authors name her Queen to Rule to Governe nor can the lawful true wives of Kings be termed Queens by such worth Authours except they were Queens by title of Inheritance or such like as our Antiquaries write of Queen Helen that she was daughter and heir to her father King Coel this worthy author doth also though a stranger to us confirme when he proveth she was of most noble parentage and by experimental arguments because he had seen the old buildings of her stately pallace continuing to in his time the pavement whereof was marble and Touchstone the most Regal Palace in all those parts the walls were gilded with old her chamber was so sumptuous that the like was not in the World Stately building of St. Helen Q. of Brittain and to free her from all slanders the chamber of her heart and soul was far more pure in all things she was obedient to the will of God and yet externally pleasing to her husband Constantius although more pleasing to God then to her husband Thus we see how far this most blessed and noble Queen and Empresse Bernigosus ibid. was in all times from being base either by birth or conversation such sanctify of life could never agree with that foule name by which some have so wrongfully termed her such parentage Pallaces and Revenues able to entertain the greatest Princes according to their state and dignity must denominate their noble owners with better termes and attributes The Hostesse Inkeeper Stabularia except we will expound them in so large a sense that we shall so stile Abraham and Lot that lodged the Angels those that entertained Christ all receivers of Kings Princes and Emperours and all Harbourers or Exercisers of Hospitality for so both St. Helen and King Coel entertained Constantius the one a husband the other a son in law as Princes use It seemeth this Pallace and lands in and about Trevers to have descended to St. Helen by her mother or some Ancestour of that Country for both Beringosus saith St. Helen was brought up at Trevers and Otho Frigensis saith she was by some of her Ancestours come from thence And Trevers being at that time the most renowned place of those countries for Nobility Learning and Christianity and she the only child of her father King Coel and to succed him in the Kingdom of Brittain he sent her thither to have the most noble education and there it was probably where she first came to be acquainted with Constantius then living in those parts And this made the Attonement between the Romans and K. Coel to be so soon and peacebly effected without any effusion of blood as our Antiquities tell us The marriage of Constantius and Helena is by what is said so clear that it is needlesse to speak any more of that subject I will only add this for the present The old Inscription of the Church of St. Gereon at Cullen founded by her proveth her to be a Queen and an example to Kings Regibus exemplum sacroque chrismate plena Condidit hoc Templum Sancti Gereonis Helena A patterne unto Kings this heavenly light St. Helen shining with all vertue bright In honour of St. Gereon here did raise This stately Church to her eternal praise At the agreement betwixt Constantius and Coel besides paying the Tribute Galf. Mon. H. Reg. Brit. l. 5. c. 6. Pont. Virun and Coel to enjoy the Kingdom during his natural Life it was further agreed that Constantius should take again his wife St. Helen daughter and her to King Coel and by her right be King after the death of her father By which covenant and article agreed upon and truly executed as it was the first marriage between Constantius and Helen was even by Roman Pagan lawes themselves proved and declared to be true and lawfull and the children therein begotten legitimate and the taking of Theodora living with her and children by her to be adulterate and utterly unallowable in any sense even by their own Pagan constitutions for although those Pagan wicked decrees did allow to the Presidents of Provinces which were unmarried without penalty to keep Concubines prophanely thinking as some new seeming Christians have done that men unmarried could not live chast yet they never permitted it to married Praefects and Presidents such as Constantius was Elius Lamprid in Alex. Sever. as their own Historians witness By which Heathenish Roman Law Helena was not only the Concubine and no wife of Constantius but a Concubine prohibited
l. 3. c. 11. for Valens himself being Brother to Valentinian and by him chosen Assistant in the Empire was then a Catholick and so continued in the time of Julian that he forsook all preferment under him rather than his Religion Thodoret Hist l. 4. c. 12. And although by the perswasion of his Arian Wife and others he after fell into Heresie he being Emperor of the Eastern remote Nations from hence this Kingdom was free from his afflictions being under the command of the Catholick Emperors Valentinian and Gratian his Son until Maximus descended of a Brittish race was both King of Brittain and Emperor also who also being a Catholick Brittain could not then be endamaged in spiritual affairs by the temporal Rulers thereof Maximus Emperor a Brittain excused and defended Ruff. l. 2. c. 14. Socr. l. 3. c. 11. although in civil respects it was much infested by the Scots and Picts from which Maximus freed it in his time by his climbing and aspiring minde to be Emperor and to compass that ambition spoiling Brittain of the armed force and power thereof transporting it into foreign Nations gave occasion of greater miseries here afterward both by the Scotch Picts and Saxon Pagans About this time saith the Brittish History the Picts Scots Brit. Hist l. 3. fol. 142. and Atticots invaded the Roman Province here in Brittian These Picts and Scots as some Writers report came first out of Scythia Picts who from whence though it be not probable that the Picts were any other than such Brittains as being either born in the Northern Promontory of this Isle or fleeing thither out of the South parts entred into confederacy with the Scotchmen and retained for a time their ancient name of Picts as being so called by the Romans in respect of the old custom of painting their bodies to distinguish them from the Brittains then dwelling within the Province Neither is there any mention made of their name before the time of Dioclesian and Maximian These Picts encreasing in number did afterwards inhabit the Isles of the Orcades and being for the most part rude and Savage as the Scottish men also then were did often times harrow the borders and grievously annoy their civil Country-men there being commonly no greater hatred than that which is bred and nourished among the people of one Nation when they are severed each from other by difference of manners and customes The name of Picts in processe of time being changed into that of Scotish men as of the more popular Nation was in a manner clean forgotten when by society and alliance they became one people The Scots from whence at first That the Scotish men had their original from the Scythes their very name may seem in some sort to discover howbeit divers histories affirm that they travelled first into Cantabria in Spain where perhaps dislikeing that barren Soile they continued not long but sailed into Ireland and from thence a great number of them came over into Brittain Brittish Hist l. 3. fol. 142. landing in the North part of the Isle where afterward they seated themselves They were for the most part addicted to war using peace only but as a means to repair their losses they were people of great courage and boldnesse of stature tall strong of body their complexions some what Ruddy and high Coloured their apparrel was either very slender or none at all save only to cover their shame Neither was their peace altogether Idle for even then they accustomed their bodies to labour no less painfull than war it self and ofttimes no lesse dangerous To ride with swift pace up a steep hill to swim over Lakes and standing Meeres to pass over Bogs and Fenny grounds were things in ordinary use with them as being accounted exercises of recreation only But above all others the Nobility and better sort were delighted with hunting and that in such measure that they could more patiently endure the want of meat drink and sleep than restraint from that pastime which they esteemed manly and generous In their consultations they were very secret and sudden in the execution thereof by which meanes they ofttimes struck terror and amazement to the hearts of their Enemies and so much annoyed the Roman Princes in Brittain They were better contented with the necessities of nature and more able to endure all extremities of fortune than the Brittains in those times as being lesse acquainted with the vain superfluities and delicacies of the Romans In behaviour the Brittains were noted to be more civil but the Scotish men as a people unconquered and admitting no customes but their own refused to imitate them who were brought under the subjection of a stranger or to be reputed like to any other then to themselves Wrongs and Indignities offered as well to others as themselves they sharpely revenged the slaughter wounding or disgrace of any of their kinred allies or companions being commonly the occasion of rooting out the whole family of him that first gave the offence violent persuits seising by strong hand the goods and possessions of their neighbours burning the houses and killing upon cold blood such as they had taken in War which others termed crueltie they accounted manhood and policie supposing the assurance of their estates to consist rather in diminishing the number of their enemies by open acts of hostility than by pretended reconciliations and leagues of amity which are either kept or broken at the will of him that hath the greater power Their names first mentioned in histories about the reign of Constantine the Great Though the Scotish Writers affirme that they were governed by Kings of their own Nation many hundred yeers before this time But of things so ancient to have the certain knowledg it is no easie matter neither is antiquity in it selfe very much to be regarded where true Nobility and Vertue is wanting For all nations at the first were of barbarous and uncivil behaviour till time taugh them other customes and emulation kindled the hearts of the better sort to seek fame by their own valour rather then the Genealogies of their Ancesters Those Scotish men and Picts being now assisted with forraine power presumed more boldly to assail the Brittains both by Sea and Land killing Nectaradius the Admiral of the Brittish Fleet and surprizing Bulchebandes one of their chief Captaines the mutiny at that time in the Roman Campe giving them opportunity and boldnesse to do in a manner what they listed For the Legionarie Souldiers refused to obey their Leaders and even the Deputies themselves complaining of the partiality of their Generals who punished the least offence of a Common Souldier and winked at the great abuses of Commanders and Officers hereupon a warlike troope of Almans were sent over under the Conduct of Fraomarius their King who exercised there the authority of a Tribune Severus the Emperors steward of his houshold and Jovinius were appointed to second him with certain
Tiranidis jugo liberavi civitatem S. P. Q. R. libertatem vindicans pristinae amplitudini splendori restitui You have here viewed Illustrious Prince our first Christian Emperor and his Father fit patterns for imitation Cast your Gracious eyes upon our first Catholick King Lucius and you shall find him Christianity being now established thus Charactered Interea gloriosus ille Britonum Rex Lucius cum intra regnum suum cultum vere fidei magnificatum esse vidisset maximo gaudio fluctuans possessiones territoria quae prius templa Idolorum possidebant in meliorem usum vertens Ecclesiis fidelium permancre concessit quia majorem honorem ipsis impendere debuerat augmentavit illas amplioribus agris mansis omnique libertate sublimavit And a little after Lucius the first Christian King of this Land then called Brittain founded the first Church in London that is to say St. Peters Church upon Cornhill where he setled an Archbishops See making that Church the Metropolis of his Kingdom neither was his zeal and piety confined to that City for you shall find him erecting a goodly Cathedral at Caerlegion in that part of England abusively called Wales which now is known by the name of Monmothshire as also the famous Vniversity of Bangor in the remotest parts thereof This holy King saith my Author granted made and signed many writings Charters and donations for defence maintenance and preservation of Religion as to the Vniversity of Cambridge the School of Shaftsbury with others and when he had done all this Anno 201. Inclitus Britannorum Rex Lucius in bonis actibus assumptus ab hac vita Claudiocesbriae migravit ad Christum in Ecclesia primae sedis sepultus honorifice King Arthur sealed many grants for the advancement of Religion and Learning and by reason of his great victories thrice changed his armorial ensignes at last advancing the cross for my Author saith King Arthur that mighty conquerour and worthy had so great affection and love to this sign that he left his armes which he used before wherein were figured three Dragons another of three crownes or as some say of thirteen and depicted in his shield a cross silver in a field vert and on the first quarter thereof he figured an Image of our B. Lady with her Son in her armes and with this sign he did wonders in Arms. And to this hour we see the Knights of the Noble order of the Garter of which number your Grace the flower of chevaldry is one to bear Argent a plain cross Gules the field signifying pureness of life the cross the blood that Christ shed for this our people whom Trevisa calleth the people of God and the Realm of Gods Land the same ensign did Joseph of Aramathia give unto Arviragus King of Brittain not many years after our Saviours passion Cadwalader the last Brittish Monarch for his armes bore Azure a cross for my fitched Or whole volumes may be compiled of this Subject and the worthy and most Christian acts of your sanctly progenitors But least I should convert an Epistle Dedicatory into History or Chronology I will proceed no further humbly offering up these my weak endeavours before the shrine of your goodness with all integrity beseeching Almighty God that you may if not excel at least equal the most valiant and vertuous of your Royal Progenitors which shall be the daily prayers of Your Royal Highness Most faithful and humble servant PERCY ENDERBY The Duke of York Anarawd King of Northwales Eidwal King of the same Meurick or Meirick Eidwal II. Jago Conan Griffith King of Northwales Owen King of Northwales Jorwerth Son and Heir to Owen married Marret D. to Madoc Prince of Powis Lhewelyn Prince of Northwales Gladis sole Daughter and Heir married to Ralph Lord Mortimer who in her right should have been Prince of Northwales Roger Lord Mortimer Edmund Lord Mortimer Roger Lord Mortimer Earl of March Edmund Lord Mortimer c. Roger Lord Mortimer Edmund Earl of March married Philip D. and H. to Lyonel D. of Clarence Roger Mortimer Earl of March left one only Daughter and Heir married to Richard Earl of Cambridge Richard Duke of York King Edward the Fourth Elizabeth sole daughter and heir married to King Henry the seventh descended from Owen Tudor Margaret eldest daughter to Henry the seventh and in her Issue his Inheretrix was Grandmother to Mary Queen of Scotland France and England Mother to King James King of great Brittain France and Ireland c. Grand-Father to James Duke of York who married Anne daughter to Sir Edward Hyde Baron of Henden and Lord Chancellor of England and hath Issue Charles Duke of Cambridge YORK The City of York anciently called Eboracum is seated upon the river Vre which we call Ouse in the VVest-riding of this County and is the second City of England both for fame and greatness a pleasant large and Stately place all well fortified and beautifully adorned as well with private as publick edifices and rich and populous with all seated on the river Ouse which cutteth it as it were in twain both parts being joyned together with a fair stone-bridge consisting of high and mighty arches a City of great fame in the Roman times and of as eminent reputation in all ages since and in the several turnes and changes which have befallen this Kingdom under the Saxons Danes and Normans hath still preserved its ancient lustre adorned it was with an Archiepiscopal See in the time of the Brittains nor stooped it lower when the Saxons received the Faith Richard the second laying unto it a little Territory on the VVest side thereof made it a county of it self in which the Archbishops of York enjoyed the rights of Palatines and for a further lustre to it Henry the eighth appointed here a councel for the Government of the Northern parts consisting of a Lord President certain Councellors a Secretary and other Officers and yet in none of these hath York been more fortunate then that it adorned so many Princes of the Imperial line of Germany and blood Royal of England with stile and attribute of Dukes and Earls of YORK 1. Otho of Bavaria Earl of York 2. Edmund of Langley fift Son to Edward the third Duke of York 3. Edward Plantagenet Son of Edward of Langley Duke of York 4. Rich. Plantagenet Nephew of Ed. of Langley Duke of York 5. Rich. of Shrewsbury Son of King Edw. Duke of York 6. Henry second Son to King Henry seventh Duke of York after King of England 7. Charles second Son of James King of England 8. James second Son to King CHARLES now Duke of York The Duke of CUMBERLAND It is needless to set down at large the Brittish line of this Heroick and VVarlike Prince Rupertus being sufficient to tell you that he is Son to that Peerless and unparallel'd Princess Elizabeth Queen of Bohemia daughter to James King of great Brittain sister to Charles King of great Brittain
with all those Meteors which are engendered in the middle Region of the Air From whence the name Thursday first derived consecrating to him the fifth day of the week which was afterwards called Thursday The name of Woden they attributed to Mercury or as some write to Mars whom they reverenced as a Protector in war and a giver of strength and courage against their Enemies To him they usually sacrificed with mans blood and dedicated the fourth day of the week naming it Wodensday as yet retaining the first denomination with very little difference Wednesday from whence Under the name of Freâ— they sacrificed to Venus as the giver of peace and pleasure whom they adored sometimes under the figure of Priapus committing to her the Patronage of the sixth day called Frea-day Of these three Thor was placed upon a three footed stool in the midst Friday from whence and Woden and Frea on each side To the Goddess Eoster they alwayes offered Sacrifice in the moneth of April which thereupon was called Eoster-moneth In their consultations of any weighty matter they observed south-saying and casting of lots Their custom of casting of lots was first to cut a branch from a fruit-bearing tree into many pieces which being distinguished with several marks they did cast upon a white garment at a venture then if the matter concerned the Common-Wealth in general the Priest The manner of casting lots among the Saxons if a private person only the Master of the house having prayed the Gods and looked towards heaven did take up every one of the said pieces three times and interpreted the future success according to the form and similitude of the marks if the lots fell out contrary to their minds they consulted no more that day if otherwayes yet they would make further tryal by observing the flying and singing of birds They had another practise also to search out the event of great and weighty battails with their Enemies For they would get some one of that Nation with which the war should be made and then take another choice man of their own arming them both after their Country guise Horses much honoured by the Saxons and so make trial of their valour conjecturing by the success of that fight on whose side the victory should afterwards fall but of all other passages the neying of horses was of greatest credit both with the Preists and People who fondly supposed that those beasts understood and were privy to their secrets Why a horse for the Saxons Armes And hereupon as some suppose the Dukes of Saxony in times past gave a horse for their Ensign The names also of Hengist and Horsa the first men of note of the Saxon Nation that arrived in Brittain do signifie in their own language a horse Brit. Hist part 2. fol. 195. Mr. Bro. fol. 199. Jo. Gosc Hist Eccle. Mat. Parker Antiq. Brit. p. 8. Antiq. Glast Capgrave in vita St. Patricii Gul. Malm. l. de Antiq. Caenob Glast which denominations whether they were given in respect of their strength and courage qualities by nature proper to that beast or whether they received them upon any other occasion or accident I cannot certainly affirm sayes my Authour In this age we had here in Brittain many Monasteries and Religious houses both of Men and Women Our old Religious house in Glastenbury continued in this age as in the former having twelve religious Eremites belonging unto it dwelling in the places and Cells of the first twelve in the time of St. Joseph of Aramathea This is testified by the old Manuscripts of that place and Will of Malms in his book of the antiquity thereof witnesseth that those holy men in the number of twelve thus successively lived and served God untill St. Patricks coming The names of the twelve then living were Brunbam Dyregaan The great sanctity of the Brittish Nobility Viwall Wentreth Bantonnewing Adeloobre Loyor Wellyas Breden Swellwis Hinloirmus and Alius all of them descended of noble families rather preferred this poor penitential eremitical life then worldly honour The antiquities of Glestenbury further witness that about this time there was new founded or renewed an other little Religious house in honour of St. Michael the Archangel and particularly to honour and pray to him And that Arnulphus and Ogmar two religious holy men were the first that supplyed that office and duty there Math. West an 543. That there were divers Monasteries in Brittain as well in London Winchester Kent and other places appeareth evidently by divers Authors For say they Hengist the Pagan Saxon at his coming into Kent Stow. Howes Brit. Sax. in Const Vortiger found many religious houses both of Men and Women and many of them were glorious Martyrs by the Saxon persecutors Hengist slew the good Archbishop Vodine and many other Priests and Religious Men. All the Churches in Kent were polluted with blood the Nunns with other Religious persons were by force put from their houses and goods These religious houses must needs be builded and so furnished with goods and consecrated persons before the Saxons entred and so in or before this age these men being then Pagans were no founders but destroyers of such monuments Bed 1. c. 6. not only in Kent but all places where they prevailed by all histories Among these these sumptuous and stately Church Math. West an 313. 586. and Monastery of St. Alban builded within ten years after his Martyrdome was one for the Monastery there was not as Math. West proveth founded first by King Offa Kaer Carodoc Salisbury Manuscript Gallic Antiq. c. 24. Galf. Mon. Hist Brit. l. 8. c. 9 but being destroyed by the Saxons was re-edified by him There was also a noble monastery at Amsbury in Wiltshire near Salisbury in which as an old French Manuscript and others say there were at this time three hundred This was founded long before the Saxons came by one Ambrius near Kaer Carodoc Salisbury Our old English Chronicle treating of the desolation which the Pagan Saxons wrought in this Kingdom in destroying religious Houses and Churches and how Aurelius Ambrosius restored and builded them again thus delivereth that in general and particularly of this Monastery King Aurelambros went throughout the Land Mr. Breugron fol. 610. and put away the name of Hengist Land that Hengist after his name had called it before Then he let call it again great Brittain and let make again Churches and Houses of Religion Castles and Cities and Boroughs Old English Chronicle part 5. fol. 43. and Townes that the Saxons had destroyed The Brittains led him to the Mount of Ambrian where sometime was an house of Religion which then was destroyed through the Paynims whereof a Knight that was called Ambross that sometime was founder of that house and therefore the hill was called the holy Mount of Ambrian and after it was called Ambesbury The King Aurclambros let amend and
meant by his retreat would not suffer the Saxons to follow the pursuit but in the night following Gothlois departed secretly and rested not till he was out of danger Occa then perceiving himself to have the upper hand sent an Herald unto King Vter with a certain message threatning destruction to him and his people if he refused to do that which he should appoint Vter perceiving what disloyalty rested in the hearts of his own Subjects agreed that the matter might be committed to eight grave and wise Councellours four Brittains and as many Saxons which might have full power to make an end of all controversies and variances depending between the two Nations Occa was likewise contented therewith whereupon by the award agreement and sentence of these so nominated eight persons sufficiently authorised thereto a league was concluded upon certain articles concluded and approved among the which the chiefest was that the Saxons from thenceforth should quietly enjoy all that part of Brittain which lyeth before the Almain and Germain Ocean the same to be called ever after England and all the residue should remain to the Brittains as their own rightful inheritance Thus Hector Boetius a true Scot Thus far Hect Boetius but all he writes is not absolutely truth Fabian calls this Castle Tintagel ut supra and the Lady Igwarne or Igorne but we shall find the name of England imposed upon this Kingdom otherwayes both in respect of time and circumstance But let us return saith Hollenshed to Vter Pendragon according to that which we find in the Brittish Histories To proceed therefore after our own writers when he had vanquished the Saxons and taken their two chief Commanders prisoners in processe of time he fell in love with a most beautyful Lady called Igwarne or Igerna wife to one Garolus or Garlois Duke of Cornewall the which Duke he slew at length neer his own Castle called Dinulioc or Dunilioc to the end he might enjoy the said * Lady whom afterwards he marryed and begat on her that noble Knight Arthur and a daughter named Agnis or Anna. Occa and Osca escaping also out of prison assembled fresh powers and again began to vex the Brittains whereof Vter having advertisement prepared to resists them and finally went himself in person against them and at St. Albans as some write gave them battail and slew them both in the field Polidor Virgil will have that battail fought in this Kings reign wherein St. German caused the Alleluja to be used but questionlesse he mistaketh as is before specified But now to the incidents which happened in the reign of Vter we find that one Porth a Saxon with his two Sons Megla and Beda landed at Portsmouth about the beginning of the said Vters reign Hollenshed ut sup fol. 130. and slew a noble young man of the Brittains and many others of the meaner sort with him Of this Porth the town and haven of Portsmouth took the name as some have thought Moreover about sixty years after the comming of the Saxons into this land with their leader Hengist one Nazaleod a mighty King among the Brittains assembled all the power he could make to fight with Certicus the King of the West Saxons who understanding the great power of his enemies required aid of Oska King of Kent also of Elle King of Sussex and of Porth and his Sons which were lately arrived Certicus being then furnished with a competent army divided the same into two battails reserving the one to himself and the other he appointed to his son Kenrick King Nazaleod perceiving that the wing which Certicus led was of more strength then the other which Kenrick governed he set first upon Certicus thinking that if he might distresse that part of the Enemies army he should easily overcome the other Hereupon he gave such a fierce charge that by pure force he opened the same and so overthrew the Saxons on that side making great slaughter of them as they were scattered The Brittish King Nazaleod slain The Brittains overthrown Mat. West Hen. Hunt Stuff and Whitgar arrived 514 An other overthrow of the Brittains by the Saxons The which manner of dealing when Kenrick saw he made forward with all speed to succour his Father and rushing in among the Brittains he brake their army in pieces slew their King and put his people to flight There died of the Brittains that Day five thousand the residue escaping by flight In the fixt year after this battail Stufft and Wightgar who were Nephews to Certicus came with three ships and landed at Certicestshore and overthrew a number of Brittains who came against them in order of battail and so by the coming of those his Nephews being right valiant and hardy men the part of Certicus became much stronger About the year of our Lord 519. the Brittains fought with Certicus and his son Kenrick at ‖ This place was formerly called Nazalcoy from Nazaleod King of the Brittains The Isle of Wight conquered by the Saxons with loss of the Brittains Howes ut sup Certicestford where the Brittains valiantly behaved themselves yet in the end for who can resist what the he highest hath decreed were put to flight not without great slaughter when greater would have been had not night befriended them which impeached the bloody and barbarous enemy from further execution In the thirteenth year of the reign of Cerdicus he with his son Kenrick and other of the Saxon Captains fought with the Brittains in the Isle of Wight at Witgaresbridge where they slew a great number of the Brittains and so conquered the Isle which about four years after was given by Cerdicus or Cerdicius to his two Nephewes Stuff and Wightgar This King Vter reigned eight years and was buryed at Stone-hedge Fabian saith he dyed not without suspition of poyson after he had reigned sixteen years and was buryed at Corsa Gigantum The Fable of Pendragons taking upon him the shape of Igernies Lord and Husband and so injoying the pleasures of her bed by the inchantments of Merlin I imagine to be a phantasie taken out of Plautus the comical poet where Jove took the shape of Amphitrio and so leave it King Arthur Before I enter too far into the discription of this King I shall desire my Reader to believe that as I would not willingly add or insert any thing which may be fabulous or without Historical grounds so would I not leave out any thing which may redound to the true honour of so glorious a King so heroick a souldier and so good a Christian Whereas he is commonly branded with the note of bastardy if Hollenshed and others relate his history truly that can not be for if Vter first slew the husband and then married the wife and after wedlock begot this so much as Gordon calls him decantatum illum Arthurum admired and famed Arthur Though the act was equally cupable with that of Davids yet were the children questionlesse legitimate
wonderful largeness so that the space of his forehead between his two eyes was a span broad there appeared in his head the signs and prints of ten wounds or more all the which were grown into one wemm except onely that whereof it should seem he dyed which being greater then the residue appeared very plain Also in opening the Tomb of his wife Queen Guenhera that was buryed by him this Queen had taken upon her a Monastical habit Mr. Broug fol. 603. either after the death of her Husband or else to do pennance for some crime committed for some there are who affirm that she was too familiar with Mordred her husbands both kinsman and capital enemy the Monastery unto which she went to receive the habit of Religion was one of the two which were in Gaerleon dedicated to St. Julius our Martyr and is yet called St. Julians and is at present the Mansion House of the Right Honourable Edward Lord Herbert of Cherbery When the tombe of this Queen was opened they found the tresses of her hair whole and perfect and finely platted of colour like to the burnisht gold the which being touched immediately fell to dust The Abbot which then was governour of that house was called Stephan or Henry de Bloys otherwise de Sullie Nephew to King Henry the second by whose commandment he had searched for the grave of Arthur translated the bones as well of him as of his Queen into the great Church and there buryed them in a fair marble Tombe laying the bones of the King at the head of the Tombe and the body of the Queen at his feet towards the west part In Commendation of this Warlick Prince certain verses are made in Latine but because they are turned into English I set not down the Latine but give them unto my Reader as they are in Holinshed Who vanquisht Saxon troops with battails bloody broyles And purchast to himself a name with warlick wealthy spoyles Who hath with shivering shining sword the Picts so oft dismaid And eke unweildy servile yoak on neck of Scots hath laid Who Frenchmen Pufft with pride and who the Germains fierce in fight Discomfitted and daunted Danes with main and martial might Who of that murdering Mordred did the vital breath expell The Monster grisley loathsome huge that diresome Tyrant fell Here livelesse Arthur lies entomb'd within this stately hearse Of Chievaldry the bright renown and vertues nursling fierce Whose glory great now over all the world doth compass fly And of the airy thunder shales the lofty buildings high Therefore you Noble Progeny of Brittains line and race Arise unto the Emperour great of thrice renowned grace And cast upon his sacred Tombe the roseal garland gay That fragrant smell may witness well your duties you display The occasion that moved King Henry the second to cause his Nephew the Abbot to search for the grave of King Arthur was for that he understood by a Welsh * These Bards were as Heralds observing the true genealogies of the Country Bard that could sing many histories in the Welsh language of the Ancient Brittains that in the foresaid Church-yard of Glastenbury betwixt two pillers the body of Arthur was to be found buried six foot deep under the ground Giraldus Cambrensis affirmeth that the tree in which Arthurs body was found inclosed was an Oak but others suppose that it was an Alder tree because that in the same place a great number of those kind of trees do grow and also for that it is known that an Alder lying under the ground where moysture is will long continue without rotting But the finding thus of the body of Arthur thus buried such as believe that he was not dâ—â—d but conveyed away by Fairies deluded it may be by this fantastick verse Hic jacet Arthurus ReX quondam Rexque futurus into â—ome pleasant place where he should remain till a time and then to return again and reign in as great Authority as he did before might well perceive themselves deceived in crediting so vain a fable on the other side as quite contrary some seem to doubt whether any such man was ever In rerum Natura William of Malmsbury a writer of good credit and authority among the learned hath these words in his first book entituled De Regibus anglorum saying But he being dead meaning Vortimer the face of the Brittains waxed feeble their decayed hope went backward apace and even then suddenly had they gone to destruction if Ambrosius which alone of the Romans remained yet alive and was King after Vortigerne had not kept under and stayed the lofty barbarous people that is to say the Saxons by the notable aid and assistance of the valiant Arthur This is the same Arthur of whom the trifeling tales of the Brittains even to this day do fantastically descant and report wonders but worthy doubtless was he of whom feigned fables should not have so dreamed but rather that true Histories might have set forth his worthy prayses as he that did for a long time sustain and hold up his Country that was ready to go to utter ruine and decay encouraging the bold hearts of the Brittains in the war and finally in the siege of Badon hill he set upon 900 of the Enemies and with incredible slaughter did put them all to flight On the contrary part the English Saxons although they were tossed with several chances of Fortune yet still they recruited their forces with new supplies of their Country men that came out of Germany and so with bolder courage assailed their Enemies and by little and little causing them to give place spread themselves over the whole Island for although there were many battails in the which sometimes the Saxons sometimes the Brittains got the better yet the greater number of the Saxons that were slain the greater number still came over to the succour of their Country-men being called in and sent for over out of every quartâ—â— of their Territory Here is also to be noted that where the Brittish History declareth that Gawen or Gallowyn being slain in the battail fought betwixt Arthur and Mrodred in Kent was buried at Dover so that his bones remained there to be shewed long after This Gawain as saith a French Author did bear for his armes De Purpre a vu aigle d' Or a Deux testes membres d' Or Purpure an Eagle displayed with two heads Or yet by that which Will. Malm. in the third book of his volume entituled De Regibus Anglorum the contrary may seem true The armes of Gawain his words are these When in the Province of Wales which is called Ross the Sepulchre of Walwain was found who was Nephew to Arthur by his Sister not going out of kind from so worthy an Uncle he reigned in that part of Brittain which unto this day called Walwithia a Knight for his high prowess most highly renowned but expulsed out of his Kingdom by the Brother and Nephew of Hengist
former evills he encreaseth the new with the old Harpsfield cap. 22. fol. 36. Thus in effect hath Gildas written it is to be noted that there were two writers of eminency of that name the one stiled Albanius the other Badonicus of whom Harpsfield thus relateth his opinion complaining first of the scarcity of Schollers and learned men in Brittain by reason of the Saxons cruelty and persecution Notwithstanding saith he there florished eminent and worthy men both in Scotland Ireland and that part of Brittain Gildas a Bâ—ittain of princely parentage which is now called Wales whose acts as much as they concern the Welshmen living in forrain Countries or abiding here at home we shall deliver unto you as we have gathered them out of authentick and approved authours it is therefore most certainly written that this age brought forth among other excellent and eminent men two both called Gildas the one surnamed Albanius which was the Disciple of the great St. Patrick and he born of princely or regal parentage of the Brittains the other Badonious surnamed Sapiens the wife The first is much extolled for the nobleness of his birth the great pilgrimages which he undertook even to Rome it self the better to enable his soul in learning and vertue to oppose and beat down the Pelagian heresie for singular devotion and solitary life for the severe and strict course of his living and rare abstinence and fasting thereby to bring under the wanton and rebellious flesh and make it obedient and subject to the spirit in so much that through his extream fasting his face looked as though he had been in a continual fever or ague He fled and avoided all terrestial and earthly negotiations thereby to have his mind more free and ready to contemplate celestial mysteries to which frame and example of life he exhorted his disciples with sweet and eloquent language He is reported to have written the Lives and acts of Germanus and Lupus the which I wish to God were extant he lived and was an Inhabitant in a certain Island seated near the river Severne where also he died about the fourth of the Kalends of February DXV His body was carryed to Glastenbury and there buryed Gildas Badonicus as he himself confesseth was born that year when the great slaughter of the Saxons was at Badon or Mons Badonicus of which you have heard before he was of Bangor Monastery Learned Religious and as much as could be in those turbulent times eloquent and a most free-spoken man inveighing without dread or fear as may appear by his books against the vices both of the Clergy Kings and Princes of his time reproving them with evident and convincing Text both out of sacred scripture and holy prophets He flourished Anno. 580. About 300. or rather more years after anther Guildas appeared who cloaked many ridiculous things in the name of this our Badonicus and as it were casting a mist before his readers eyes vended centons of lyes which he had forged upon the Anvile of Gaufride the Fable teller Aurelius Conanus After that Aurelius Conanus had slain Constantine as in the Brittish history is mentioned the same Conanus was made King of Brittain in the year of our Lord 546. Hollâ—nshed ut supra This Aurelius Conanus as is recorded by some writers was of a noble heart free and liberal but addicted much to softer and boulster up strife and contention among his Subjects light of credit and naturally had an open eare to receive and hear the reports of such a accused others Moreover he was noted of cruelty as one who took his Uncle who in all right and justice should have been King before him and kept him in prison securing his person and not so satisfied slew in Tyrannical manner his two Sons But God would not suffer him long to enjoy a Crown purchased with so much blood for he died after he had ruled two years leaving a son called Vortiporus which accordig to the agreement of Authours succeeded him in the Kingdom Of this Aurelius Conanus Gildas writeth calling unto him after he had made an end with his Predecessour Constantine in this wise saying And thou Lyons whelp as saith the Prophet Aurelius Conanus what dost thou Art thou not swallowed up in the filthy mire of murthering thy Kinsmen of committing fornications and adulteries like to the other before mentioned if not more deadly as it were with the waves and surges of the drenching sea overwhelming thee with her mercilesse rage Doest thou not in hating the peace of thy Country as a deadly serpent and thirsting after civil wars and spoyles oftentimes unjustly gotten shut up against thy soul the gates of Celestial peace and refreshment thou being left alone as a withering tree in the midst of the field call to remembrance I pray thee the vain youthful fantasy and over-timely death of thy father and thy brethren shalt thou being set apart and chosen forth of all thy linage for thy Godly deserts be reserved to live an hundred years or remain on earth till thou be as old as Methusalem No No. And after these Reprehensions with further Threatning of Gods Vengeance he exhorteth him to amendment of Life Howes saith that this King reigned thirty three years for which he citeth Flores Historiarum But Fabian agrees with Hollenshed allowing onely two years and citeth Gaufrid The Kingdome of Northumberland began first in Brittain under a Saxon named Ida about this time Vorliporus Vorliporus the Son of Aurelius Conanus succeeded his Father and began to Reign over the Brittains in the Year of our Lord 576. This Vorliporus vanquished the Saxons in Battel as the Brittish Histories record and valiantly defended his Land and Subjects the Brittains from the Danger of them and their Alleyes In the time of this King's Reign Ella began to Reign in the South part of the Kingdome of Northumberland called Peira according to the Account of some Writers who also take this Vorliporus to begin his Reign in the Year 548. Finally after that Vorliporus had ruled the Brittains the space of four years he departed this Life leaving no Issue behinde him to succeed him in the Kindome Against whom also Gildas turning his Pen beginneth with him thus And why standest thou as one quite amazed Thou I say Vortiporus the Tyrant of South-Wales like to the Panther in Manners and Wickedness diversly spotted as it were with many Colours with thy hoar head in thy Throne full of Deceits Crafts and Wiles and defiled even from the lowest part of thy Body to the Crown of the Head with divers and sundry Murders committed in thine own Kinde and filthy Adulteries Thus proving a naughty Son of a good King as Manusses was of Ezekias How chanceth it that the violent streams of sins which thou swallowllest up like pleasant Wine or rather art devoured of them the end of thy Life by little and little now drawing near cannot yet satisfie thee What meanest
thou that with Fornication of all Evills as it were the full Heap thine own Wife being put away and by her honest Death thou dost oppress thy Soul with a certain Burden that cannot be avoided of thy own un-shamefac'd Daughter consume not I pray thee the Residue of thy Daies to the Offence of God Hollenshed in Vorliporus c. Thus Hollenshed out of Gildas Fabian in Vorliporus Fabian writing of this King saith Of which is little left in any Chronicle except that Guido testifying him to be a victorious Knight shewing briefly that in sundry Battels he discomfited the Saxons and defended the Land and Brittains from the Danger of them and other their Allyes Howe 's in eodem Howes calleth him a vicious King and a Tyrant who put from him his Wife and kept her Daughter for his Concubine Harpesfield having spoken of several Saintly men and great Schollers in the Reign of former Kings continuing his History saith After whom other famous and learned Brittains are not to be forgotten I mean Thelianus Daniel Petrocius Kentegernus Sampson Cadocus with others Thelianus born of an Illustrious and Princely Off-spring yet more illustrated his Family by his own most resplendent Virtues he was first Disciple to Dubritius Bishop of Landaff and afterwards together with Saint David to Paulinus So strict was the Amity betwixt him and David that they were esteemed the most admirable Pair of Friends of that time For the wonderfull Lustre of his Virtue and Sanctity he was commonly called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. The Sun from whence by Corruption instead of Elios he is usually called Elive He succeeded Dubritius in the Episcopal Dignity of Landaff where after the leading of a most holy Life he rendred his blessed Soul into the hands of his Creatour in the Ides of February in the Reign of Vorliporus Anno 540. Daniel famous both for Learning and Virtue associated himself with Dubritius and David for Extirpation of the cursed Poyson of the Pelagian Heresie and founded that Renowned Colledge of Acaon in the province of North-Wales which is now the Bishopprick of Bangor where he was the first Bishop and flourished untill the year 560. under Vortiporus There is a certain Island in Wales which the Cambrians or Welshmâ—n Scots and English call Bardsey in which they say not onely the Body of this Daniel but of divers other Saints likewise are interr'd neither want Authours who affirm that for the sakes of those Saints there buried the Inhabitants of that Isle live extreamly long even to the most decrepid Age that can be imagined Who so desireth to have further Satisfaction concerning the Renowned Brittains in this Kings Reign let him read Harpsfield in the first six Ages c. 27. Malgo Conanus Malgo Pulcher Conanus of North-Wales began his Reign over the Brittains and continued his Reign five years This Malgo was in proportion of body Hower fol. 56. greater then any of the Kings or Dukes of Brittain but he delighted in the foul sin of Sodomy he slew his first Wife and then took to Wife his own Brothers Daughter This Malgo saith Hollenshed is reported to have been the comeliest Gentleman in beauty and shape of Personage Hollenshed 147. in Malgo. that was to be found in those dayes among all the Brittains and therewith of a bold and hardy courage he manfully defended the Countrey which he had in Government from the malice of the Saxons and subdued the out Isles as Orkney and others but notwithstanding the Noble Qualities with which his person was adorned yet he spotted them all with the foul sin of Sodomy so that he fell into hatred with Almighty God and being pursued of the Saxons received many Overthrows at their hands as by the Report of the English Writers is gathered more at large Finally when he had reigned five years and odd Moneths he departed this Life It seemeth that this Malgo is named by Gildas Maglocunus which Gildas before he speaketh of him inveigheth against one Cuneglasus whom he reproveth for that he warred both against God and Man against God with grievous sins as namely Adultery in forsaking the Company of his lawfull Wife and keeping to Concubine a Sister of hers that had professed chastity and against man with material Armour and Weapons which he used to the Destruction of his own countreymen with whom he kept Wars and not against the Enemies of the Common-Wealth From Cuneglasus he cometh to the foresaid Maglocune whom he nameth The Dragon of the Isles and the Expeller of many Tyrants not onely out of their Kindomes but also out of Life the last of whom he intreateth as himself saith but the first in all Mischief and Evill greater then many in Power and likewise in Malice right liberal in giving and more plentifull in sin strong and valiant in Arms but stronger in Destruction of his own Soul and so proceeding chargeth him with the sin of the Sodomites and sore blameth him for that whereas it had pleased God to make him higher then all other Chieftains of his Kindome he did not shew himself better but contrarily worse then they by far in manners and conditions He declareth also a little after that this Maglocune in his younger years slew in Battel his Uncle being King with the most valiant Souldiers in a manner that he had Also that whereas the said Maglocune took upon him the profession of a Monk he after renounced the same and became a worse Liver then ever he was before abandoning his Wife and keeping his Brothers Sons Wife whilst her Husband was yet living Thus by that which Gildas writeth of the Kings and Rulers of Brittain which lived in his daies ye may perceive that they were given to all manner of Wickedness and namely to civil Dissention Rapine Adultery and Fornication so that it may be thought that God stirred up the Saxons to be a scourge to them and to worke his just Vengeance upon them for their wicked and abominable Offences daily committed against his Divine Majesty so that we finde recorded by Writers how that the Saxons in divers conflicts against the Brittains had the better and also took from them divers Towns as hath been partly already and shall hereafter be made manifest Fabian tells us Fab. fol. 99. that Malgo in his later daies being oppressed and pursued by his Enemies lastly dyed when he had reigned thirty five years whereas other Authours allow only five Careticus Careticus took upon him the rule and Goverment of the Brittains this man loved civil War and was odible both to God and his Subjects They moved the Saxons being accompanied with Gurmundus King of Ireland to make war upon Careticus in such wise that he was faine to take the Town of Cicester where they assaulted him and fired the Town by tying fire to the wings of Sparrows that he with his men fled from thence into Wales by which means he left a great
never saw them they be in divers places to be had so that the Truth may be eastly proved To make an end I say that he being a stranger born as also ignorant in our Histories and in the Tongues and Languages wherein they were written Polidores ignorance the cause of many mens errours in History could never set forth a true and perfect Chronicle of the same but he having a good Grace and fluent Phrase in the Latine Tongue and finding himself in a countrey where every man either lacked Knowledge or a Spirit to set forth the History of their own country took this enterprize in hand to their great shame and no less dispraise because he a blinde leader should draw a great number of undiscreet and rash followers as well Geographers Cosmographers as Chroniclers Historiographers to the dark pit of Ignorance where I leave them at this time remitting the Reader to the Apology of Sir John Price Kt. and his Brittish History written by him on purpose against the envious Reports slandrous taunts of the said Polidore where he shall see a great number of his Errours confuted at large And to return to my former matter concerning the name of Wales which name to be given of late by a stranger Nation may be otherwise proved That which is now abusively called Welsh was the ancient Language of the first Brittains for the Welshmen themselves do not understand what these words Wales and Welsh do signifie nor know any other Name of their countrey or themselves but Cambry nor of their Language but Cambrae which is as much as to say as Cambers Language or Speec so likewise they know not what England or English meaneth but commonly they call the Countrey Lhogier the Englishmen Sayson and the English Tongue Saysonaec which is an evident token that this is the same Language which the Brittains spake at the beginning for the works of Merdhin and of Taliessin who wrote above 1000. years since are almost the same words which they use at this day or at the least easie to be understood by every one which knoweth perfectly the Welsh Tongue especially in North-Wales Besides this whereas at this day there do remain three Remnants of the Brittains divided every one from the other with the seas which are in Wales Cornwal called in British Cerniw little Brittain yet almost all the particular words of these three people are all one although in pronunciation writing of the sentences they differ somewhat which is no marvell seeing that the pronunciation in one realm is often so different that the one can scant understand the other But it is rather a wonder that the Welshmen being separated from the Cornish well nigh these 900 years and the Brittains from either of them * In this Authors time 290 before that and having small traffick or concourse together since that time have still kept their own Brittish tongue They are not therefore to be credited which deny the Welsh to be the old Brittish tongue And here I cannot passe over what one of the five Chroniclers writ of late of the name of Brittain affirming that it should be so called of Brittain in France as the elder of that name but sure he had either never seen Ptolomy nor Caesar nor any other ancient writer or read them with small judgment and memory for there he might have learned that when this land was called Brittain the other was called Armorica and how in Maximus time Conan Meriadoc was the first that gave it that name and inhabited it with Brittains out of this Isle other derivations of these words out of Greek and Latine I am ashamed to relate of which I have spoken formerly I will therefore returne to the description of Wales which was almost in old time compassed about with the Irish seas and the Rivers Dee and Severne although afterwards the Saxons wan by force from the Brittains all the plain as is already said and champion Countries over the rivers and specially Offa King of Mercia who made a ditch of great breadth and depth to be a Meare betwixt his Kingdom and Wales which ditch began at the river Dee by Basingwerk between Chester and Ruthlan and ran along the hills sides to the South sea a little from Britstol reaching above an hundred miles in length and is in many places to be seen at this day bearing the name of Clawdh Offa viz. Offa's ditch and the Country between it and England is commonly called in Welsh Y Mars although the greatest part of it be now inhabited by Welshmen namely in Northwales which yet keepeth the ancient limits to the River Dee and in some places over it Other as Sylvester Giraldus make the river Wy called in Welsh Guy to be a mear between England and Wales on the South part called South-VVales who measureth the breadth of VVales from Sallowe or VVillowford called Rhydyrhelig upon VVy to St. Davids in Menevia a 100 miles and the length from Caertheon upon Vsk in Gwentland to Holy head called Caergibi in Anglesey in Welsh called Môn above a 100 miles And these be the common mears at this day although the Welsh tongue is commonly used and spoken England-ward beyond these old mears a great way as in Herefordshire Glocestershire and a great part of Shropshire and thus for the general description of Wales which afterward about the year of Christ 870. Rodericus Magnus King of Wales divided it into three territories which he called Kingdoms which remained till of late dayes These three were Gwyneth Northwales Dehenbarth Southwales and Powis land in every of which he ordained a princely seat or Court for a Prince to remain at most commonly as in Gwyneth which some old writers call Venedocia Abersfraw for Gwinethia Abersfraw in the Isle of Môn or Anglesey In Deheuberth called in Latine Demetia ' Caermardhyn from whence it was afterwards removed to Dinevowr eight miles thence Dinevowr In Powis Penguerne called Y Mwythic and in English Shrewsbury Methraval from whence it was removed to Mtheraval in Powis land And because this history doth as well intreat of wars betwixt these three Provinces as betwixt them and the Saxons Normans and Flemmings I think good to set forth the particular description of every part by it self and first of Northwales as the chiefest part which he gave his Eldest Son Northwales ordering that either of the other two should pay him yearly 200. pound of tribute as it appeareth in the lawes of Howel Dha which are to be had in Welsh and also in Latine Therefore Gwyneth called Northwales had upon the Northside the Sea from the River Dee at Basingwerck to Aberdyni and upon the West and Southwest the river Dini which divideth it from Southwales and in some place from Powis land And on the South and East it is divided from Powis land sometimes by the mountains and sometimes with rivers till it come
The Cantref Mereon hath three camots Talibont Pennal and Ysttumaner the Cantef of Arustly hath these Vwchcoed Iscoed and Guarthrenion Guarthrenion Cantref Perilhum hath these Vwchmeloch Ismeloh and Micnaint and this keepeth the said name till this day but not within the same Mears it is full of hills and rocks and hath upon the Northside the sea notable at this day for the great resort and number of people that repair thither to take herings it hath upon the East Arnon and Denbighland upon the south Powis and upon the West Dini and Cardiganshire In this Country standeth the Town of Harlech and a great lake called Lhin Tigid through which the river Dee runneth and medleth not withī the water of the Lake Note a wonder which is three miles long and also the Salmons which are commonly taken in the river hard by the Lake are never seen to enter the Lake likewise a kinde of fish called Guymaid which are like to Whitings and are full in the Lake and are never taken in the River not far from this Lake is a place called Garergay which was the house of Gay Arthurs foster brother This shire as well as Arvon is full of Cattel Fowl and Fish with great number of Deer and Roes but there is great scarcity of corn The fourth part of Gwenith was called Y Berusdhwlad which may be Englished the Inland or middle Countrey which contains 5. Cantrefs and had thirteen comots as cantref Rivomoc had in it these comots Vwbhalet and Isalet Cantref Ystrat had Hiraethoc and Cynmeirch Cantref Roff these Vwchdulas Isdulas and Crenthin which all are in the Lordship of Denbeigh saving the Crenthin which is in Carnarvonshire wherein the Castles of Dygandwy did stand which was the Earl of Chester and is commonly called in Latine English Chronicles Gannoc The 4th Cantref was Difrin Clwid which may be Englished the valley of Clwid and now is called the Lordship of Ruthin and hath those comots Coleigion Lhannerth and Dogvelin The fifth Cantref is Tengle and is now a part of Flintshire having these comots Counsylht Prestatyn and Ruthlan and in this part is one of the fairest valleys within this Isle containing 18. miles in length and 4 5 6 or 7. in breadth as the hills either draw inward together or backward asunder which high hills do enclose it on the East West and South parts and Northward the sea it is plentiful of Cattel fish and foul corn hay grasse and wood and divided along in the middle with the river Clwy to whom runneth Clywedoc Ystrad Whilar Elwy and a great number of other rivers from the hills In this valley two miles from the sea is the town and Castle of Ruthlan where sometime a Parliament hath been kept and two miles above it is the See of Asaph between the rivers Cly and Elwy called in the old time the Bishops See of Lhan Elup Four miles thence and two miles from the river is situate upon a rock the town and Castle of Denbigh where is one of the gratest Markets of the Marshes of Wales and one of the fairest and strongest Castles within this Realm which being the house of David brother of Lhewelin the last Prince of the Welsh blood was enlarged and strengthened by Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln to whom K. Edward gave the same Lordship It is also the Shire Town of that Shire Anno 12. Ed. 1. five miles above this is the Town of Ruthin with a fair Castle which sometimes belonged to the Lords Grey Earles of Kent This part of Northwales hath upon the North the river Dee and the sea upon the West Arnon and the river Conwey South and east Merionith and the country he called Powys and these be the mears and bounds of Gwyneth or Venedotia for the name of Northwales containeth beside this all Powis in these dayes so there was under the territory of Terffraw 15. Cantrefs and in them 38 comots The second Kingdom was Mathranal which in right order was the third as that which came to third brother yet for the better understanding of the History following I have placed it here To this Kingdom belonged the Country of Powis and the land betwixt Wy and Severne which part had upon the South and West Southwales with the river Wy and Twyl and other meers upon the North Gwineth and upon the East the Marshes of England from Chester to Wy a little above Hereford and therefore it was most troubled with wars as well of the Saxons as afterwards of the Normans Lords Marchers who afterwards daily wan some part thereof and by that means it was the first part that served the Kings of England and therefore lesse esteemed of all the rest This part called Powis was divided again into Powis Vadoc and Powis Wenwin win Powis Vadoc contained in it self five Cantreds and 15 comots Cantref Y Barwn which hath three comots Dynmael Edeyrneon and Glindourdwy which be now in Merionithshire saving Dinmael which is in Denbighshire Cantref Y Rhiw whose comots are these Yal now in Denbigshire Staytalin and Hop now in Flintshire Cantref Treferd containeth these comots Creosuam Tref Y wayn in English Chirk and in Denbighshire Toesoswallt English Oswestred and in Shropshire Cantref Vwchnant hath these comots Merforth in Flintshire Maelor Gymraeg in English Bromfield now in Denbighshire and Meoler Saesneg in Flintshire Cantref Rayder with his comots Morchnant Israider Clynhaeth and Nanhendwy all in Chirkland and in Denbighshire Also the Lordship of Whittington now in Shropshire was in this part of Powis which part at this day hath lost the name of Powis and is situate in divers Shires as it appeareth by the discourse before passed In this part is the Castle of Holt in Bromfield and the Castle of Chirk in Chirkland likewise the Lordship and Castle of Whittington which came by marriage to Goulh Fitzwarren There is besides these the Lordship of Oswestre of the which the Fitz Allans have been Lords these 300 years and odd and of divers other Lordships in those Marches as Shrarden the eleven townes Clun and many others which are now in Shropshire The second part call'd Powis Wenwinwin had likevvise five cantreds and tvvelve comots Cantref Y Vyrnwy had these comots Mechnant Vwch Rayader Mechain Iscoed and Lhanerch Hudol Cantref Ystile hath these Deuthwr Gorthwr Isaf and Strat Marchelch Cantref Lhyswinaf had these Caerneneon and Mechain Vwchcoed Cantref Cydowen had comot Conan and comot Hauren Cantref Conan had Cyveilioc and Mouthwy which is now in Merionithshire of all these the three first Cantreds do only at this day bear the name of Powis which are upon the Northside of Severne and are all five saving the comot of Mothwy in the County of Montgomery This is a Country full of Wods Hills and Rivers and hath in it these towns the Pool Newtown Machinlheth Arustly was in old time in this part but afterwards it came to the Princes of Gwineth These Lordships came by just
number of Lay brethren of that house which lived by the labour of their hands This Brochwel retired over Dee hard by Bangor and defended the Saxons passage till Cadvan King of Northwales Meredith King of Southwales 1066. Saxons slain by the Brittains and Bledrus or Bletius Prince of Cornwall came to succour him and gave the Saxons a sore battail and slew of them the number of 1066. and put the rest to flight After which battail Cadvan was chosen King of Brittain and was chief ruler within the Isle after whom his son Cadwallon who was father to Cadwallador the last of the Brittish blood that bare the name of King of Brittain This was writ by a Northwales man but Southwales far exceedeth it for beauty profit and pleasure was King The third time that Northwales came to a Woman was to Esylht daughter to Conan Tindaythwy the son of Edwal Ywrch the son of Cadwalador She was wife to Mervin Vrich and Mother to Roderike the great as hereafter shall be declared By this you may understand that Northwales hath been a great while the chiefest seat of the last Kings of Brittain it was and is the strongest countrey within this Isle full of high mountains craggy rocks great Woods and deep valleyes straight and dangerous places deep and swift Rivers as Dev which springeth in the hills of Merioneth and runneth Northwest through Mouthwy and by Machinlaeth and so to the sea at Aberdini dividing North and Southwales asunder d ee called in Welsh Dourdwy springeth also in an other side of the said hills runneth East through Penlhin and the lake Tisgyd down to Corwen and Lhangolhen between Chirkland and Bromfield where it boweth Northward toward Bangor to Holt and to Chester and thence Northwest to Flint Castle and so to the sea There is also Conwel rising likewise in Merionithshire and dividing Caernarvon from Denbighshire runneth under Suowdon North-east by the Town of Aberconwey to the sea Also Clwyd which rising in Denbighland runneth down to Kuthin and plain North not far from Denbigh to St. Asaph and so by Kuthlan and to the sea there be many other fair Rivers of which some run to the sea as Mawr at Traethmawr and Avon Y Saint at Caernarvon and others that run to Severn as Murnwy in Powis and to Murny Tanat some other to d ee as Ceirioc betwixt the Lordships of Chirk and Wittington Alin through Yal and Moldes dale and Hopedale and so to Dee a little above Chester And this shal suffice for the perfect description of that which in old time was called Gwineth and Powis and at these dayes the six Shires of Northwales Now remaineth the last Kingdom of Wales called Dinevowr which although it was the greatest Dinevour yet was it not the best as Giraldus writeth chiefly because it was most molested by Flemmings and Normans and also that in divers parts thereof the Lords would not obey their Prince as in Gwent and in Morganwc which wrought their own confusion as shall hereafter appear This was divided into six parts of which Caredigion was the first and contained four Cantrefs and ten comots Caerdigion as Cantref Penwedic had in it these comots Geneurglin Perueth and Crenthin Cantref Canawl had these Mevenith Anhunoc and Pennarch Cantref Castelh had these comots Mabwinion and Caerwedros Cantref Sirwen had these Gwenionith and Iscoed and this part is at this day called in English Caerdiganshire and in Welsh Swidh Aberleini This is a champion country without much wood and hath been divers times overcome by Flemmings and Normans who builded many Castles in it and at last were beaten out of them all It hath on the East Northwales with the River Dini and part of Powis upon the South Caermarthenshire upon the West Pembrockshire with the river Teini and upon the North the Irish sea In this part is the Town of Cardigan upon Teini not far from the sea The Town of Aberystwyth upon the river Ystwith by the sea and Lhanbadern Vawr which was a great Sanctuary and a place of religious and learned men in times past and in this Shire was a great number of Castles as the Castle of Strat Meyric of Walter of Lhanristed of Dynerth of the sons of Mineaon of Aber Reidol and many more with the Towns of Tregaron Lhandhewibreni as you shall understand hereafter The second part was call Dinot and at this day Pembrockshire and had in it eight cantrefs and 23. comots which where these cantref Emlin that had these comots Vwchluch Iscutch and Lenethir Cantref Arberth had these Penrhin or Elays Esterolet and Talacaarn Cantref Dangeld had these Amgoed Pennant and Eudfre Cantref Ycoed had these Lhanhayaden and Castelh Gwis Cantref Penvro had these Coedychaf Maenorbyir and Penvro Cantref Ros had these Hulfforth Castelh Gwalhmai and Ygarne Cantref Pubidioc had these Miniw Pencaer and Pebidioc Cantref Cemas hath these Vwchnener Isnener and Trefdracth In these parts are divers towns and havens at this day as Pembroch Tenby in Welsh Denbigh Y Pis Heref. in welsh Hulforth with the fair haven of Milford called in Welsh Aberdangeldhen S. Davids or Menevia called in Welsh Miniw the chiefest see in all Wales Then Friscare called Abergwain Newport named Trefdraeth these be along the sea coast and not very far of besides these there be divers Castles as Cilgarran Arberth Gwys Lanhayaden Walwin and divers others This part was wan first by the Montgomeries Earls of Shrewsbery and after given to the Marshalls and so to Valence and from thence to the Princes of Wales most troubled with the Normans and Flemmings who do remain and inhabit about Pembrock Tenbie and in Ros to this day which can neither speak Welsh nor good English as yet Dinet for so I will call it hereafter hath on the West and the North the Irish sea upon the South the Spanish sea and upon the East Caermarthenshire and on the North-East Caerdiganshire The third part of Caermardhinshire having 4 cantrefs and 15. comots as cantref Finioc with the comots of Harfryn Dervedh and Isgeneny Cantref Eginoc with these Gwir now in Glamorganshire Cidwel and Carnwillheon Cantref Baehan with these Melhaen Caeo and Maenor Deilo Cantref Mawr with these Cethineoc comot Mab Elvyw comot Mab Vchdrid and Widigada In this Shire are the Townes and Castles of Caermadhin Dinevowr which was the Princes seat of that Country Newton Lhandeilo Lhauymdhyfry Elmin Swansey now in Glamorganshire called in welsh Abertawy upon the sea the Castle of the sons of Vchtryd of Lhanstephan and others It hath upon the West Dinet or Pembrockshire on th North Caerdigâ—â—shire upon the Southwest the sea and upon the Southeast Glamorgan and upon the East Brechnockshire This is counted the strongest part of all Southwales as that which is full of high mountains great Woods and fair rivers specially Tywy In this and in the other two parts of Southwales were the notablest acts that their History treateth of atchived and done The fourth called
Masbrook Chitbury Caurs Clonn which are now in Shropshire Ewyas Lacy Ewyas Harold Clifford VVinsorton Yardley Huntington VVhitney Loghardneis in Herefordshire Also this country of Southwales as all the rest of Brittain was first inhabited by the Brittains which remain there to this day saving that in divers places specially along the sea shore they have been mingled with Saxons Normans which the VVelsh history calleth Frenchmen and Flemings For that the Princes of VVales since the conquest of the Normans could never keep quiet possession thereof but what for strangers and what for disloyalty of their own people vexation and war were for the most part compelled to keep themselves in Caermardhenshire This shall suffice for the description of the Country After this great King had as it is said before disposed of his affairs had had war with Burchved King of Mercia which by the aid of Ethelwaph entred Northwales with a great power and destroyed Anglesey fought with the VVelshmen divers times and slew Meric a great Prince amongst them 846. Math. West Kongen P. of Pendieth at Rome 871. The year 846. was Ithel King of Gwent or Wetland slain in fight by the men of Brechnoch and in the year 854 Kongen King of Powis died at Rome being slain or choaked as some say by his own men Much about this time dyed Gwyan King of Cardigan This was that noble Gwyan ap Mevric ap Dunwal ap Arthen ap Sitsylt King or Prince of Cardigan who as some Brittish books have was at this time drowned by misfortune The Danes having entred the land being with shame and ignominy beaten and repulsed and compelled to abjure the Isle they bent whether equivocally or perfidiously their force against Wales and entred the Isle of Môn with a great army in the year of Christ eight hundred seventy three where Roderick gave them two battails one at a place called Menegd in Anglesey Dav. Powel fol. 34. 879. I find also saith my Authour that about this time Halden and Hungare two Captains of the Danes arrived in Southwales and overrun the whole Countrey destroying all before them with fire and sword neither sparing Churches nor Religious houses but within a while after they received their deserved reward at the hands of the West Saxons who awaiting for them on the coasts of Devonshire slevv both Halden and Hungare vvith 1200 of their people At this time Endon Bishop of Menevia or St. Davids died and Hubert was installed in his place And within two years after Dungarth King of Cornwal was drowned by a mischance In the year 876 the Englishmen entred into Anglesey and fought with the Welshmen a sore battail who in the year following slew Roderike King or Prince of Wales and Gwyriad his brother or as some say his son This Roderike had by his wife Enharad the daughter of Meyric the son of Difnwal or Dunwal the son of Arthen ap Sytsylt divers sons as Anarawd his Eldest son to whom he gave Aberfraw with Northwales Cadelh the second son vvho had Dinevour vvith Southvvales and also took Mathraval and Powis land by force from his brethren after the death of Mervin the third son to whom the father had given the same A Welsh manuscript which I have saith Rodri the great did bear G. a cheveron between three Roses arg Quarterly Gules and Or four Lions passant gardant Counterchange The Authour who sets down this coat as belonging to this King or Prince Mr. Mills catologue of honour fol. 209. compendiously gives us this relation Roderike the great in Welsh called Rodero Mawr Prince of all Wales a man of much strength and courage the son Essilt begotten by Mervin King of the Isles whose Grandfather by the Mothers side was Conan the son of Roderike the son of Idwall the son of Cadwallader the last King of the Brittains This Idwall conveyed the miserable Brittains that were oppressed and afflicted with the invasions and inroads of the Saxons into Cambria now called Wales and worthily governed them under the name and title of Prince of Wales Some are of of opinion that the Cambres were called Welshmen by this Idwallo as in old time the Brittains took their name from Brute But this is of no more truth then theirs is that would have them of one Wallo their Duke and governour or of Wendola a Queen of whom there is no mention made among them This Roderike of all the Princes of Wales The Authour also put Camber before Albanact preferring Wales before Scotland was the first that caused the histories of the Brittains to be written He renewed good Lawes he caused strong Castles to be built and procured that Churches or Temples should be kept and maintained for Divine Service at his decease he left the Principality of all Wales to be divided unto his three sons following the example of Brute who made Locrine Camber and Albanact Kings This matter of division was the very true and first Originall of the Welsh mens ruine as being divided into three Kingdomes which they called Principalities For allbeit whilst they lived one man held and maintained his own with much stoutness and magnanimity yet their posterity being distracted and falling to war among themselves were enforced every each to defend his part as well from their general enemies the English as from their Neighbours and Countreymen the Welsh by which the whole Kingdome of VVales was wrackt and overthrown Roderike ended his life in the eighty ninth year of his Age Mr. Wills ut ante and in the year of Christ eight hundreed seventy seven Alured the son of the godly King Ethelwolph being then King of the English Saxons He was buryed at Keyby Castle in Anglesey Engharad Princesse of VVales Wife of Roderike the great was daughter and heir to Meirich the son of Dyfnwal the son of Arthen ap Sytsilt King of Cardigan Their Issue Mervin Prince of Venâ—dosia or North-Wales of whom more hereafter Anarandus was second Son to whom his Father gave the 105. Cantreds or hundreds of Powis Land and for that of all his Brethren he was the most valiant and approved Warriour he seated him in the Marches or Borders of VVales his principal Seat and Mannour was at Mathraval The patrimony of this Anarandus namely the Principality of Powis in process of time devolved and came into the hands of a Woman named Hawis as her Right and Inheritance She being married to one John Chorlton an Englishman enfeoffed him with her Right and made him Lord of Powis From this Family it descended at last to the Greys of the North and thereby utterly lost that Name and Title of Principality For Andornus or Owen the Father of Hawis or Avis being called and sent for to a Parliament which King Edward the First held at Shrewsbury by the Decree and Judgment of the King and Barons took his Lands to be held in Capite under the Title and Tenure of Free Baronage of England and
fought at a place called Meilon of the which it was called Maes Rhos Meilon year 907 The year 907. died Cadeth King or Prince of South-Wales third Son to Roderick the Great leaving behinde him three Sons Howel Dha that is to say Howel the Good who succeded his Father in the Kingdome of South-Wales Meyric and Clydawc Shortly after there came a great Navy from Tydwick with Vther and Rahald and past the Western Sea to Wales and destroyed Saint Davids and there fought the Battel Dinerth where Mayloc the Son of Peredur Gam was slain year 913 In the year 913 Anaawd chief King of Wales dyed and left behinde him two Sons Edwal Voel who reigned after him and Elise 〈…〉 Mr. Mills fol. 292. Anno 877. Mr. Mills differeth here from Mr. Powel the one setting Voel the other Mervin to succeed I will therefore set down both Writings the former of these two saith Mervin the first begotten son of Rhoderick the Great Prince of all VVales by the Gift and Grant of his Father was made Lord or Prince of that Country of Wales which the Inhabitants call Gwyneth the Englishmen North-VVales and the Latines Venedotia This province was divided into four countries or quarters which contained fifteen Cantreds This word Cantred being compounded of the Brittish and Irish Language is said to be such a portion of Land as may contain an hundred Villages The chief and principal place of this Country was the Isle of Anglesey or Mon and in Aberfraw a city thereof was the Royal pallace of the Kings of North-VVales now the reason why the Kings of Gwyneth were called Kings of Aberfraw was for that in the Laws of the good Howel Prince and Law-giver it was decreed That as the Kings of Aberfraw ought of Right to pay threescore and three pounds in way of Tribute to the King of London so the King of Dynefur and Mathraval should also be hound in like manner to pay the like mony unto the King of Aberfraw as it were also by way of Tribute by vvhich it appeareth that this Lord vvas the chief Prince of VVales The VVife of Mervin the Son of Roderick Prince of Venedotia or North-VVales thus saith Mr. Mills but names her not Their Issue Idwallo surnamed Voel Prince of Venedotia Edwal Voel Ut ante After that Edwal Voel began his Dominion over North-Wales Mr. Powel fol. 46. Howel Dha being King or Prince of South-VVales and Powis land a terrible Comet appeared in the Firmament at which time the year following Leicester was nevv built year 917 The next year follovving the men of Denelm did destroy the Isle of Môn or Anglesey and the year 917. Clydawc the Son of Cadeth vvas slain by the hands of his brother Meyric and about the same time the Englishmen did overthrovv the Danes Much about this time Elfled Dutchess of Mercia sent her vvhole Army into VVales Ren. Cest Math. West Hel. pa. 222. and fought vvith the VVelshmen and vvan Brecknock and took the Queen and three and thirty men This vvas it vvhich is called in VVelsh Gweythy Dinas Newydh that is to say The battel of the new Citty also she vvon the Tovvn of Derby John Castoreus reporteth this story in this manner Huganus Lord of VVest VVales Jo. Cast perceiving King Edward to be occupied in the Danish VVar far enough from him gathered an Army of Brittains and entred the Kings Land whereupon Elfled Lady of Mercia and Sister to King Edward came to Wales with a strong Army and fought with the Welshmen at Brecknock and putting Huganus to flight took his Wife and thirty four Captives and led them with her to Mercia Huganus thus discomfited fled to Derby and there being peaceably entertained of the Countrymen with fifteen men of War and two hundred Souldiers well appointed joyned himself with the Kings adversaries the Danes of which thing when Elfled was certified by the men of Derby she followed him with a great Army and entred the Gates of that Town where Huganus resisted her and slew four of her chief Officers But Gwyane Lord of the Isle of Ely her Steward set the Gates on fire and furiously running upon the Brittains entred the Town then Huganus being overmatched A stout resolution of a valiant Welshman and choosing rather to dye by the Sword then to yield himself to a Woman was there slain The same Authour also reporteth that about this time Leofred a Dane and Gruffith of Madoc Brother in Law to the Prince of West Wales came to Ireland with a great Army to Snowdon and minding to bring all Wales and the Marches thereof to their subjection overran and subdued all the Countrey to Chester before King Edward could be certified of their Arrival whereat he was much discontented and being loth to trouble his subjctes in that behalf made a vow that he and his Sons with their own people would he revenged on Leofred and Gruffith and thereupon came to Chester and wan the City from them after which he divided his army into two Battails whereof he and his Son Athelstane led the first and Edmund and Eldred the second and so followed them with as much celerity as he could and overtook them at the Forrest of Walewood now Sherwood where Leofred and Cruffith set upon him fiercely so that the King in the beginning was in some Distress until Athelstane stepped in between his Father and Leofred and wounded the Dane in the arme in such sort that he being not able to hold his spear was soon taken and committed to the custody of Athelstane In the mean time Edmund and Edred encountring with Gruffith slew him and brought his head to their Father Then Athelstane caused Leofred to be beheaded and so both their heads were set up together on the top of the Tower of Chester The year 933. Owen the Son of Gruffith was slain by the men of Cardigan 933. Wil. Malmsh Hol. p. 225. Jo. Cast Mat. West Ren. Cest Pâ—wâ—l fol. â—50 The Bâ—â—tains removed into Cornwal Math West Hol. pag. 226. Then Athelstane did enter Wales with a great Army and brought the Kings of the Country to subjection and received yearly of Tribute twenty pounds in gold and three hundred paid in silver and two hundred head of Cattel yet the Laws of Howel appointed to the King of Aberfraw to pay yearly to the King of London no more but sixty six pounds for a Tribute and that the Prince of Dinevowre and the Prince of Powis should pay a like summ of sixty six pounds yearly to the King of Aberfraw In the year 936. dyed Euneth the son of Clydawc and Meiric the son of Cadeth at this time also Athelstane did remove the Brittains that dwelt in Exeter and thereabouts to Cornwal and appointed the River Cambria to be the utter Mere towards England as he had before appointed the River Wy to be the Mere of England and Wales About the year 940. Cadeth the son of Arthvael a noble
whole Countrey Gruffith of Northwales and Rees of Southwales descending both lineally from Roderic the Great against whom came Trahern ap Caradoc and Caradoc Gruffith and Mailer the sons of Rywalhon ap Gwyn his cosin Germans for Gwyn ap Blethin was their Grandfather who in those daies were the chief Rulers of all Wales and after they had met at the Mountains of Carno they fought a cruel battel and were the more eager because upon that daies work lay the lives and honour of either party but at length the victory fell to Gruffith and Rees and Trahern with his cosins were all slain and most part of their people then the Kingdomes of Wales came under the rule of the right heirs again At this time also a noble man in VVales called Vrgency ap Sitsylht was slain by the sons of Rees Sais i. e. Rees the Englishman for so they used to name all such as had served in England or could speak English Gules three Lyons pass Gardant or other say onely passant which I rather approve of Gruffith the Son of Conan The Welsh Princes do homage to VVilliam the Conquerour After the death of Trahern Gruffith ap Conan did quietly rule Northwales and Rees ap Theodore Southwales In the year 1079. William commonly called the Conquerour entred VVales with a great Army and passed as far as Saint Davids where he offered and took homage of the Kings of the Land And not long after the Sepulchre of VValwey King Arthurs Sisters Son was found upon the sea shore in the Countrey of Ros the body by estimation upon viewing of the bones was thought to be fourteen foot in length VValwey in his life time was a right noble and valiant Warriour of very good reputation who ruled that Country which to this day from him is called VValwethay Caerdiff built And this year Sulion forsook his Bishoprick the second time and VVilfrid was enstalled in his place and in this time also the Town of Caerdyff was built year 1087 About the year 1087. the sons of Blethyn ap Convyn sometime King of VVales gathered their strengths together against Rees of Tewdor who not being able to meet them fled to Ireland and there he purchased to himself great friends and got an Army of Irishmen and Scots to whom he promised great Rewards when he should obtain his Kingdome and so landed in Southwales with those strangers which when his friends heard of they drew to him and the other came in all haste thinking to fight with him before his power should encrease and at Lhechryd they gave him battel where they were overthrown and two of the Brethren slain to wit Madoc and Riryd and the other fled and forsook the Countrey As soon as Rees was in quiet possession of his Kingdome he sent home his strangers with great rewards About this time the Shrine of Saint David was stollen out of the Church and when all the Jewels and Treasures were taken away the Shrine was left where it might be found again About this time the Earls of Hereford and Shrewsbury with the VVelshmen burned all VVorcestershire and Glocestershire to the very gates of VVorcester And in the year 1088. there was a terrible Earthquake through all the land and the year following dyed Sulien the godliest and wisest man and the greatest Clerk in all Wales being 89. years old About this time certain strangers which were Rovers upon the seas landed at St. David and robbed it and burned the Town at which time also Cadinor the the son of Colhoyn Lord of Dinet dyed whose sons Lhewelyn and Eneon moved Gruffith the son of Meredyth to make war against their Lord and Prince Rees ap Tewdor and so joyning all their strength together came against him to Lhandydoc where Rees was who gave them battail and putting them to flight pursued them so sore that he took Gruffith ap Meredith and put him death but Eneon son to Cadinor ap Colhoyn fled to Jestin Lord of Morganwc who likewise rebelled against Rees ap Theodor and promised upon condition to have Jestins daughter in marriage and certain other covenants then agreed upon between them to bring to their succours an army of Normans for he had served in England before and was well known and acquainted with all the English Nobility which things being thus concluded they were fully determined to be revenged upon Rees And so Eneon went to England and wrought such means that he procured Robert Fitzhamon in the reign of William Rufus which twelve other Knights to gather a great army of Frenchmen and Normans to come to their aid who shortly after landed in Glamorganshire where Jestin ap Gurgent Lord of the Land received them with much honour and joyning his power to theirs burned and spoyled Prince Rees it grieved him exceedingly whereupon he suddainly gathered his people and met him not far from Brecknock where after a terrible fight he was slain with whom fell and decayed the Kingdom of Southwales This Rees had by his wife the daughter of Rywalhon ap Convin a son called Gruffith who at his fathers death was but a very child and one Grovo that was in the Kings prison These Normans after they had received their promised Salary and great rewards of Jestin returned to their ships When Eneon burthened Jestin with the promise of his daughter in marriage Jestin laughed him to scorn and told him that he would bestow his daughter otherwise whereupon Eneon full of anger and despite followed the Normans and when he came to the shore they were all a shipboard Then he shouted to them and made a sign with his cloak to call them back and they returned again to know his meaning Then he went to the chiefest of them and shewed his abuse at Jestins hands declaring withall how easie it was for them to win that fair and pleasant Country from Jestin whom for his treason to Rees none other Prince of Wales would succour whereunto they easily perswaded turned all their power against him for whose defence they had come thither and at whose hands they had been well entertained and recompenced with rich gifts and rewards And first they spoyled him of his country who mistrusted them not and took all the fertile and valley land to themselves and left the barren and rough mountains for Eneon his part the names of Robert and the twelve Knights and parcels which fell to each ones share were these Azure a Lyon rampant gardant Or encensed gules Those men whose Coats are mentioned and their Heirs have enjoyed the Country to this day who were the first strangers that ever Inhabited Wales since the time oâ— Camber Of this King or Prince Master Mills saith Griffin Prince of Northwales son and successour of Conan the Prince between this Griffin or rather Gruffith and Blethyn Prince of Powis and Rees the son of Theodore Prince of Demetia there was a great search and enquiry made concerning their Armes and military Ensigns as
himself but was ready to make peace with the Scottish King and the Earl of Chester but for all this Owen would not trust the King until such time as his Unkle Meredyth came from the King to him and counselled him not to forsake the King of Englands offer but rather to trust to his promise and to make haste before the Prince agreed with the King who offered him all his Lands without tribute Owen hearing this came to the King who received him graciously and told him because he had trusted the Kings word and promise he would not only perform that but also exalt him above all his â—kin and give him his lands without tribute The Prince also hearing of this sent to the King to have his peace which because the King could not come by him he obtained for a great summe of mony Some Brittish copies write that the submission both of Gruffith ap Conan and also of Owen ap Cadogan was procured by subtle policy of Meredyth ap Blethyn and the Earl of Chester the one working with Gruffith and bearing him in hand that Owen had submitted himself to the King and made his peace with him before it was so indeed so that the Prince something yeilding to the Earls request if Owen had so done contrary to his oath for they were sworn each to other the one not to agree without the assent of the other seemed to encline to peace On the otherside Meredyth going himself in person to his Nephew Owen This Nation still brought to ruine by the nobles thereof affirmed for a truth that the Prince and the Earl of Chester were throughly agreed concerning peace and that the Prince was on his journey towards the King to make his submission and in the mean time all messengers between Owen and the Prince were by the procurement of Meredyth intercepted where upon Owen willingly yielded himself to the King The King having finished his businesse in Wales called Owen to him and told him that if he would go with him into Normandy and be faithful unto him he would perform all his promises with him whereupon Owen went with the King into Normandie where he was made Knight and had all promises performed by the King at his return the Year following At which time dyed Griffith Bishop of Menevia and the King made one Bernard a Norman Bishop in his place contrary to the minds of all the Clergy of Wales who were alwaies accustomed to choose their Bishop At this time there was a rumour through all Southwales of Gruffith the son of Rees ap Theodore who for fear of the King had been of a child brought up in Ireland and had come over two years since which time he had spent privately with his friends and Kinsfolk and Allies as with Girald Steward of Pembrock his brother in law and others but at last he was accused to the King that he intended the Kingdom of Southwales as his father had enjoyed it which was now in the Kings hands and that all the Country hoped for Liberty by his means therefore the King sent to secure him but Griffith ap Rees hearing of this sent to Griffith ap Conan Prince of Northwales desiring his and and that he might remain safely with him in his country which he granted and received him joyfully for his fathers sake Howel the brother of this Griffith being committed to prison Arnulph Earl of Chester in the Castle of Montgomery where he remained prisoner a long time made an escape and being sore hurt and bruised fled to Gruffith ap Conan where his brother was Which thing when the King heard he sent gentle letters to the Prince desiring him to come and speak with him which Griffith ap Conan did whom the King received honourably and gave him rich gifts and pretious Jewels after the usage of the Normans who make much of men to serve their turns afterwards he talked with him of Gruffith ap Rees promising him mountains of gold to send the said Griffith or his head unto him the which thing the Prince being deceived with the fair words of the King promised to do and so returned home joyfully But Gruffith ap Rees and Howel his brother had counsel given them to withdraw themselves out of the way awhile untill they understood what the Prince would do for their friends suspected the Kings message The Prince as soon as ever he came to his pallace at Aberfraw inquired for Griffith ap Rees and learning where he was sent certain horsemen for him to come to his Court and as they came towards his house where he was he had warning of their coming and with much ado escaped to the Church of Aberdaron and took Sanctuary there Then the Messengers returned again and declared to the Prince how all things fell out and the Prince being highly offended commanded him to be taken out by force but the Clergy of the whole Country with stood that and defended the liberties of their Church That night some who took compassion to see the young man innocent to be sought as a Lamb to the slaughter conveyed him away out of Northwales to Stratywy in Southwales where he was compelled for safeguard of his own life to rebell against the King and so gathering all the power he could to him made war against the Flemmings and Normans year 1116 The next year after to wit 1116. Gruffith ap Rees did gather his forces and laid seidg to a Castle that was over against Arberth and wan the same and utterly dismantled it laying it level with the ground which done he approached the Castle of Richard de Pwns at Lhanymdhyfry to whom the King had given the Cantref Bychan and would have burnt it but Meredyth ap Rytherck ap Caradoc Lieutenant of the same and the Garrison defended it couragiously yet Gruffith fired the outworks and slew many of the Souldiers but not without losse on his own part and then returned without any advantage From thence he went to Abertawy and beleagur'd a Castle which Henry Beaumont Earl of Warwick had built burning the outguards and destroying the Country of Stratywy Upon these transactions several haire-brain'd young men in great numbers from all parts adjoyned themselves to Gruffith So that his power began to be considerable which so elevated his thoughts that he made attempts and inroads into Ros and Dynet spoyling and plundering the Country The Normans and Flemmings seeing this mischief entered into consultation how to remedy so grand a tempest calling unto their aid and assistance all such as were the Kings friends amongst which were Owen ap Ritherck and Rytherck ap Theodore and his sons Meredyth and Owen whose mother was Heynyth the daughther of Blethin ap Convin and Owen ap Caradoo whose mother was Genlhian an other daughter of Blethin ap Convin and Meredyth ap Rytherck and asked whether they were true and faithful to the King of England who answered affirmatively If you be said they you
Howell Sais Lord of St. Clere y moch Esq Llewellin ap Ivor Lord of S. Clere Esq Lleykye d to Griffith ap Eli Lord of Gilfeild in Powis Ivor ap Llewellin Lord of S. Clere Esq Nest daughter to Cadwgan and Great Grandchilde to Elistan Pr of Ferlix Llewellin ap Ivor Lord of S. Clere and Tredegar Esq Augharand daughter and heir to Sir Morgan Meredith Knight Lord of Tredegar Morgan ap Llewellin Lord of Tredegar Esq Maud daughter to Rhun ap Grono ap Llwarch Lord of Kybor Esq Llewellin Morgan of Tredegar Esq Jonet daughter to Dd. Ychan of Rydodyn Esq Evan Morgan of Tredegar Esq Denis daughter to Tho ap Howell Ychan Esq Sir John Morgan of Tredegar Kt. Jonet daughter and heir of John Matthewes of Landaff Esq Thomas Morgan of Machen Esq his Brother Sir John dying Sans Issue Rowland Morgan of Manghan Esq Thomas Morgan of Maughan and Tredegar Esq Sir William Morgan of Tredegar Knight Daughter to Wintour Kt. Com. Glonc. Thomas Morgan of Maughan and Tredegar Esq now living 1661. Daughter and Heir to Windham Com Somer William Morgan Esq Heir apparent I Have seen a Pedegree of this noble Family deduced even from Brute but because I affect brevity I have only selected what serves for my purpose giving you to understand that all Morgans or of what Name else soever who either bear for their Armes Argent a Lion Rampant gardant sable or else Or a Griffon Sergreant sable for their Paternal Coat must acknowledge themselves to descend from this ancient Family THE FOURTH BOOK OF THE Antient and Modern Brittish and Welsh HISTORY The Princes of VVales of the blood Royal of England collected for the most part out of the Records of the Tower Edward of Caernarvon KIng Edward albeit he had brought all Wales under his subjection and by a statute made at Ruthland An. 12. Edw. I. incorporated and united the same to England in the which Statute there be many good lawes concerning the division of Wales into Counties and concerning divers Offices and Officers and concerning Trial and the divisions of actions and the the formes of many writs and the proceeding therein much like to the lawes of England yet he could never win the good will of the common people of the Country to accept him for their prince except he were of their own nation for the Welshmen having experience of the government of the English Officers and knowing that the King would rule the Country by his Deputies could not abide to have any English man to be their Rulers who often times upon the Kings motion answered that they were content to take for their prince any man whom his Majesty would name so that he were a Welshman and no other answer could he ever get from them by any means whereupon the King sent for Q. Elianor out of England in the deep of Winter being then great with child to the Castle of Caernarvon and when she was nigh to be brought to bed the King went to Ruthlan and sent for all the Barons and best men in Wales to come unto him to consult concerning the Weale publick of the Country And when they were come he deferred the consultation till he was certified that the Queen was delivered of a son then sending certain Lords to the Christening of his child and informing them how he would have him named he called the Welshmen together declaring unto them that whereas they were oftentimes suiters unto him to appoint them a Prince he now having occasion to depart out of the Country would name them a prince if they would allow and obey him whom he should name To the which motion they answered that they would so do if he would appoint one of their own Nation to be their prince whereunto the King replyed that he would name one that was born in Wales and could speak never a word of English whose life and conversation no man was able to stain and when they all had granted that such an one they would obey he named his own son Edward born at Caernarvon Castle a few dayes before Then the King having the whole country at his will gave whole Towns and Lordships in the midst of Wales unto English Lords as the Lordship of Denbigh to Henry Lacy Earle of Lincolne the Lordship of Ruthin to the Lord Reginald Grey second son to J. Grey of Wilton and other lands to many of his Nobility This Hen. Lacy Lord of Denbigh was the son of Edmund Lacy the son of John Lacy Lord of Halton Pomfret and Constable of Chester who married Margaret the Eldest Daughter and one of the heirs of Robert Guincy Earl of Lincolne the said Henry married Margaret the daughter and sole heir of William Longesped Earl of Sarum and had Issue Edmund and John which both dyed young of whom the one perished by a fall into a very deep well within the castle of Denbigh and a daughter named Alicia married unto Thomas Plantagenet Earl of Lancaster who was in the right of his said wise Earl of Lincolne and Sarum Earl of Denbigh Halton Pomfret and constable of Chester After the death of the said Thomas King Edward the second gave the Lordship of Denbigh to Hugh Lord Spencer Earl of Winchester After whose death the said Lordship was given by King Edward the third Anno regni sui primo as it appeareth on record to Roger Mortimer Earl of March with divers other Lordships in the Marches in performance of the Kings promise while he remained in France with his mother for the provision of 1000 l. lands of a reasonable extent for the said Roger as soon as by Gods grace he should come to the possession of the crown and Kingdom of England which in few years after the Earl of March being attainted the said Lordship of Denbigh was given by the said King to the Lord Mortague Earl of Sarum but shortly after Anno 29. Edward 3. it was restored again with the Earldom of March to the Mortimers in the which family the same remained untill the whole inheritance of the Mortimers came with a Daughter to the house of York and so to the crown A help to English History fol. 263. and it was given by Queen Elizabeth Anno regni 610. to Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester who was created Baron of Denbigh it is accounted one of the greatest and best Lordships of England This Town is well seated on the banks of the River Istrad which from thence runneth into the Cluyd the fairest River of this Country a Town well peopled and inhabited especially since it became the head of the Country which was not till the 27. of Hen. 8. what time the 5. new shires were added to the rest of Wales of which this was one but before that it was the head Town of the Barony of Denbigh being conceived to be one of the goodliest Territories of all England as having more Gentlemen holding thereof in Fee and by service then any other
did take out of the several profits of those years and did cast them all into one summe which they again divided into three several parts equally esteeming one of the said three parts to be the just yearly value of the said Revenues Communibus annis that is one year with an other And in this account we find no other charges allowed then the Justics Fees only This survay and account made about 200 years past is here inserted to the end it might appear what the Revenues of this Principality alone was The said prince of VVales surnamed the Black prince Mr. Mills fol. 315. after many fortunate victories atchieved by him having subdued a great part of France and having taken John the French King prisoner at Poyteers in France and after that also having vanquished Henry at Naveroit in Spain and restored Peter King of Aragon dyed in June Sr. John Dodridge fol. 15. leaving behind him Richard his Son and Heir born at Burdeux and thereof sirnamed Richard of Burdeux Richard of Burdeux Richard son of Edward Prince of VVales was after the death of his father created prince of VVales at Havering at Bower the 20. day of November in the 50. year of King Edw. III. his Grandfather he was after the death of his said Grandfather K. of England by the name of K. Rich. II. This Richard saith Judge Dodridge sirnamed of Burdeux son and heir of Edward the black prince was created prince of VVales ut supra being about the age of XI years and upon Christmas day next following the said King Edward the third caused the said prince being his Nephew or Grandchild to sit at the table in high estate above all his Uncles being the Kings sons as representing the personage of the heir apparent to the Crown and gave to him the two parts of all the said principality Counties Lordships Castles and the most of the said Lands which belonged to the said black prince and the reversion of the third part thereof the possession of the third part there of then being to the mother of the said Rich. to her dowry with an 113 l. 6 s. 8 d. yearly rent payable by the Earle of March as a Fee Farm for the Lordship and Lands of Buelht and 85. marks for the fee farm of the Castle Lordship and Land of Montgomery with the vacations of Bishopricks excepting the Fees of the Baron Marchers of VVales who do alwaies hold of the Crown in Capite and excepting the avoydance of the Bishoprick of St. Davids in VVales which anciently also belonged to the Crown with the like limitation to the estate viz. To the said Richard and his heirs Kings of England It seemeth that these Lordships of Buelht and Montgomery being formerly granted to Edw. the black prince were before this time given away in Fee Farm After the death of the said K. Edw. III. which was in the 51 year of his reign the Kingdom of England descended to the said Richard being his grandchild and he was crowned King thereof by the name of Richard the second and in the 23 year of his reign he resigned his Kingdom or to speak more truly was deposed against his will and after by a violent death departed this life without issue Henry of Monmoth Henry of Bullingbrock a Town or Castle in Lincolneshire and heretofore belonging to the Lacies Earles of Lincolne and by the marriage with Alice daughter and heir of Henry Lacy Earle of Lincolne to Thomas Earle of Lancaster this with the residue of the lands of Lincolne became united and incorporated with those of Lancaster It hath been almost ever since this time one of the honours as we call them of the Crown of England but never made any honorary title unto any family untill King James conferred it on Sr. Oliver Saint John who possibly might affect to be thence denominated as fetching his descent from the Lady Margaret Beauchamp Grandmother to King Henry the seventh the heirs of the Lancastrian family by which descent likewise as well as otherwayes he is descended of the Welsh blood and beareth for his armes Argent on a chief gules two mullets Or but to our former matter this Henry of Bullingbrock by the name of Henry IV. who was formerly Duke of Lancaster and Hereford Earle of Derbie Leicester and Lincolne son and heir of John of Gaunt the fourth son to K. Edward the third by his Charter dated at Westminster 15. Octob. in the first year of his reign created Henry his eldest son prince of Wales and invested him in the said princely Ornaments viz. the chaplet gold ring verge or rod of gold To have and to hold unto him and his heirs Kings of England And by another Charter of the same date gave to him and his heirs Kings of England the said principality with the Lordships Sr. John Dodridge fol. 17. Castles and Lands before mentioned in the Charter made to the black prince together with four Comots in the county of Caernarvon viz. the comots of Ifaph Vghaph Nantconwey and Crewthin not named before and the reversion of the Lordship of Haverford with the prices of Wines there and of the Lordships of Newin and Pughby in Northwales which Thomas Percy then Earle of Worcester held for term of life of the demise of King Richard the Second together also with the reversion of the county and lordship of Anglesey in Northwales and the castle of Beaumarish and the comots lands tenements and hereditaments belonging thereunto which Henry Percy son of the Earle of Northumberland then held for terme of his life of the demise of the said K. Hen. IV. and by an act of Parliament made in the first year of K. H. IV. whereby the Dutchy of Lancaster is severed from the Crown of Engl. the stile of the said P. is declared to be this P. of Wales D. of Aquitane of Lancaster of Cornwal E. of Chester for the said K. H. IV. having been himself D. of Lancaster before his assumption to the Crown and knowing that the name of Duke being an inferiour dignity would extinguish and be surrounded in the crown as in the superior desired as by that Act of Parliament appeareth not only to separate the said Dutchy of Lancaster and the lands thereof from the Crown to the intent he might still hold the said Dutchy as his antient patrimony if he were put from the Crown it being but his new acquired dignity but also to preserve the said stile Mr. Lhoyd fol. 385. title and name of Duke of Lancaster in his posterity which as the said act affirmeth his ancestours had so worthily borne and sustained In the time of K. Rich. II. there was one Owen ap Gruffith Vachan descended of a younger son of Gruffith ap Madoc Lord of Bromfield This Owen was first a Student at the Lawes of the Realme and became an utter Barrister or an apprentise of the law as they term it and served King Richard in
number of Servants to attend him according to his estate and dignity which should be at diet in the Kings house untill the said prince should accomplish the age of 14 years and that the King should have all such summes of money as should clearly remain unto the prince due of all manner of Issues and Revenues which the Prince then had in respect of his said Principality Dutchy and Earledom untill the said age of 14. years The said Revenues to be accounted for to the King in his exchequer reserving unto the said Prince untill he should come to be of the age of eight years 1000 l. yearly and from that age till he came at fourteen The K. to have the revenues till the P. accomplish the age of 14 2000 marks yearly for his Wardrobes Wages of Servants and other necessary expences But saving alwaies unto the King the Advousons of Bishopricks and spiritual livings and the gifts of all Offices Wards Reliefs and Escheats belonging to the said Prince untill he should accomplish the said age of fourteen years saving such estate in certain of the said lands as the Queen had to her before the said time assured untill the Prince should be of the said age of fourteen years and saving certain particular summes of money in the said Act of Parliament mentioned as were formerly appointed out of the said lands as well for expence of the Kings of England for their houshould as otherwise during such particular times as are therein declared provided that all Offices formerly granted by the King and needing actual exercise and the Fees to the same should not be prejudiced by the same Act. Afterwards by another Charter Ex Charta Regia dat In Scaccaria penes Rememor Thesaur remoâ—te the said King doth release unto the said Prince all the said Grant of the said yearly summes of money issuing out of the revenues aforesaid and all things by the said Act granted and appointed unto the said King yearly 527 marks 4 s. 7 d. ob and out of the said Dutchy untill the said prince should be of eight years of age then reserving out of the said Principality and Earldom yearly unto the King 277 marks 4 s. 7 d. ob and out of the said Dutchy yearly 517 marks 11 s. 7. ob untill the said age of 14. years of the Prince for the said Dutchy and to be employed towards the charges of the Kings houshould and not otherwise And the said King by his letters Patents dated 18 of January anno regni 35. during the minority of the said Prince ordained the then Archbishop of York In Chartes l. 35. H. 6 part 2. a Privy Councellors appointed to the Prince the bishops of Winchester Hereford Lichfield and Coventry and the Lord Keeper of the privy Seal the Earles of Shrewsbury Stafford and Wilts the then Viscount Beamont and also John Sutton and Thomas Stanley Knights to be of the privy Counsel to the said Prince enjoyning all Officers and Ministers of the Prince that they and every of them should be obedient to the execution of all commandements and warrants of the said Councellours or at least four of them together with the assent and consent of the Queen in all causes and matters concerning the titles rights possessions and Interests of the said Prince and that the said commandements and warrants should be as available in that behalf as if the said had been made or done by the said Prince himself being of full age which commandement in all leases of the said Princes inheritance was pursued accordingly In the 39. year of the said K. Henry VI. reign he being of the house of Lancaster such is the mutability and so unstable are all humane things that the said King being a man devout and religious the founder of Schooles and Colledges vertuous and a lover of peace was by the violence of the heirs of the house of York put from his Kingdom and secured in prison and Edward Earle of March son and heir to Richard Duke of York reigned in his stead by the name of Edw. IV. But yet behold the hand of God for in the tenth year of the said King Edward IV. upon a discontentment conceived against him by Richard Earle of Warwick a man more popular and potent then was fit for a Subject the said Richard with a collected power so pressed the King that he was driven to fly the realme and to seek forraign aid seeing his homebred subjects proved so unfaithful In Chartes pat 35. H. 6. pars 2. Then King Henry VI. after 10 years imprisonment readepted the Kingdom and in the said tenth year of King Edward IV. wrote the 49 year of his reign having endured 10 years intermission in the computation of his time as appeareth in the books of law of that age but being thus seated he was unsetled after much effusion of blood for in a civil war there is no true victory in as much as he that prevaileth is a loser K. H. 6 was compelled again to give place to his adversary after to make that part sure was deprived of life having lost also Edw. his son P. before spoken of the hope of all his posterity in the battail at Tukesbury Edward of Westminster Edward IV. having gotten the Crown which had been thus shaken from his head did by his Charter dated the 26 of June 11 regni created Edward of Westminster his son and heir apparant P. of Wales and E. of Chester 11 Ed. 4 pars 1. memb 1. and by another like Charter of the same year gave unto him the lands and revenues of the said principality to have and to hold to him and his heirs Kings of Engl. This Ed. the P. being of tender years was born in the Sanctuary whether the Queen his mother was fled for security and during the time that the King her husband had avoided the realm Afterwards the said King by his letters patents dated the 8. of July in the said 11 year of his reign ordained his Queen the then Archbishop of Canterbury George Duke of Clarence Richard Duke of Glocester brothers to the said King the then Bishop of Bath and Wells and Durham Sr. J. Dodridge fol. 25. Anthony Earle Rivers the then Abbot of Westmonastery Chancelour to the Prince Will. Hastings Knight Lord Chamberlain to the King Rich. Fines Lord Dacres Steward of the said Prince John Fogg John Scot Knight Thomas Vaughan Chamberlain to the Prince J. Alcock and Rich. Farler to be of Councel to the said Prince giving unto them and every 4 of them thereby with the advice and expresse consent of the Queen large power to advise and councel the said Prince and to order and dispose the lands revenues and possessions of the said Prince and the nomination of officers to him belonging when they should happen to become void or that the parties were insufficient The said authority thus given unto the said councelours to continue untill
the said Prince should accomplish the age of 14. years which was performed by them accordingly in all leases dispositions and grants of the revenues of the said prince The said K. Edw. by another Charter composed in English and bearing date 10 of Novem. 13o. regni appointed the said E. Rivers being brother unto the Queen to be governour of the person of the said prince and to have the education and institution of him in all vertues worthy his birth and to have the government and direction of his servants King Edward the fourth having reigned full 22. years left this mortal life 24. regni at VVestminster and was enterred at VVindsor Edward his Son and Heir then being at Ludlow neer the Marches of Wales for the better ordering of the Welsh under the Government of the Lord Rivers his Unkle on the Mothers side and upon the death of his Father drawing towards London to prepare for his Coronation fell into the hands of his Unkle by the Fathers side Richard D. of Glocester and the said Lord Rivers being upon his way to London Dulce vennum regnum was intercepted and lost his head at Pomfret for what cause I know not other then this that he was thought to be too great an obstacle between a thirsty Tyrannous desire and the thing that was so thirstily and Tyrannously desired Edward the 5. King of England for so he was although he enjoyed it not long being thus surprised under the power of his natural or rather most unnatural Unkle and mortal enemy was brought to London with great solemnity and pompe and with great applause of the People flocking about to behold his person as the manner of the English Nation is to do whose new joyes cannot endure to be fettered with any bonds His said Unkle calling himself Protector of the King and his realm but indeed was a wolfe to whom the lamb was committed for having thus surprised the Kings person he laboured by all means to get into his possession also the younger brother being D. of Yorke knowing that they both being sundered Vindex nocentes sequitur a tergo Deus the safety of the younger would be a means to preserve the elder and therefore by all sinister perswasions and fair pretences having obtained the younger D. from his mother the King and the D. both for a time remained in the Tower of London Ed. v. upon his return to England and there shortly after both in one bed were in the night smothered to death and buried in an obscure and secret place unknown how or where untill one of the Executioners thereof after many years being condemned to dye for many other his manifold crimes confessed also his guilty fact in this tragical business and the circumstance thereof of which by reason of the secresie and incertainty divers had before diversly conjectured And by this means all for the Coronation of Innocent Edward served the turn to set the Crown upon the head of Tyrannous Richard Out of which by the way I cannot but observe how hatefull a bloody hand is to Almighty God the King of Kings who revenged the bloodshed of those civil broyles whereof Edward the Father had been the occasion and the breach of his oath upon these his two Innocent Infants Edward Son of Richard III. This Tyrant and stain of the English story Inter warr ad magnum sigillum in Cancellaria Henricus rosas Richard D. of Glocester usurped the Kingdom by the name of Richard the third and became King yet as our Records of Law witness de facto non de jure and in the first year of his reign created Edward his son being a child of ten years of age Prince of Wales Lieutenant of the Realm of Ireland But for that the prosperity of the wicked is but as the florishing of a green tree which whiles man passes by is blasted dead at the roots and his place knoweth it no more so shortly afterwards God raised up Hen. Earl of Richmond the next heir of the house of Lancaster to execute justice upon that unnatural and bloody Usurper and cast him that had been the rod of Gods Judgment upon others into the fire also for in the third year of his reign at the battail of Bosworth whereunto the said Richard entered in the morning crowned with all Kingly pomp he was slain and his naked carkass with as much despight as could be devised was carried out thereof at night and the said Henry Earle of Richmond the Solomon of England Reigned in his stead by the name of King Henry the Seventh Arthur Son of K. Henry VII Henry the VII took to wife Elizabeth the eldest daughter and after the death of her brothers the Relict heir of King Edward IV. by which marriage all occasions of contention between those two noble Families of York and Lancaster were taken away and utterly quenched and the red Rose joyned with the white The said K. Henry the seventh by his letters patents dated the first day of December 5. regni created Arthur his Eldest son heir apparent being then about the age of three years Prince of Wales But before we proceed any further treating of the Princes of Wales let us consider from whence this Arthur descended and admire the goodnesse and providence of the highest and great God towards the VVelsh nation to bring the honour and principality to one descended of the Ancient Welsh or British blood I will bring the pedegree ascendent the noble Prince Arthur was son to Henry the VII Arthur The King of England from the Welsh blood first thus Henry VII Elizabeth Eldest Daughter to K. Edward IV. Edmund Earle of Richmond Margaret Daughter and Heir to John Duke of Somerset Sr. Owen Tudor Katherine Queen Dowager to K. Henry the V. Meredyth son to Tudor Tudor son to Grono Grono son to Tudyr Tudyr son to Grono Grono son to Ednivet Ednivet Vachan married Gwenlhian daughter to Rees Prince of Southwales Gruffith King of Southwales Rees ap Tudyr King of Southwales Whose Armes were Gules a Lyon Ramp within a border indented Or. I could deduce this family from several English matches as Holland Tuckets Norris but I should be too prolix and seem to exspaciate beyond my bounds and therefore I will return to our Prince of whom we now speak Dodridge fol. 28. Also there was a Charter of the Grant of the Lands of the said principality Earledom of Chester and Flint dated the 20 of February in the said fift year of the said King made unto the said Prince The said King Henry the VII by his Charter bearing date the 20. day of March in the eight year of his reign did constitute and appoint the said Prince Arthur to be his Justice in the County of Salop Inter war ad magnum sigillvm in Cancellaria Hereford Glocester and the Marches of Wales adjoyning to the said Shires to enquire of all liberties priviledges and
Black Prince about 300 years ago without deductions amounted to 4681 l. 12 s. 5 d. q. is now worn and wasted to the sum of 1865 l. 8 s. 10 d. ob q. and with the ordinary deductions and reprizes taken out of it at this present in charges fees to Officers and other Reprizes is brought to the sum of 1335 l. 2 s. 3 d. ob q. Which small sum also as the Revenue was to Queen Eliz. was much lessened for that a greater sum in the whole amounting yearly to 1789 l. 13 s. 2 d. which did partly arise by reason of the allowance of the diet of the councel of the Marches being yearly 1106 l. 13 s. 4. the fees of the Barons of the Exchequer in Wales the Auditors fees Woodwarps fees Receivers fees Surveyers fees and for the portage of money was charged as well upon this Revenue of the Prince as upon other Lands or Revenues belonging to the Crown within the several Counties of Wales Prince Henry Mr. Holl. pag. 247. James King of Scotland onely son and heir of Henry Stewart King of Scotland the name of Stewart here first presenting it self as concerning the right of succession to the Crown of England I think is convenient to shew unto my Readers out of Mr. Hollenshed the descent of that Noble Antient and Regal Family which hath much of the Welsh blood in it Mackbelih after he had obtained the Crown of Scotland by indirect means fearing the posterity of Banquho a Nobleman whose children and off-spring the three women told should enjoy the Crown and sway the Regal Scepter invited the father Banquho with his son Fleance to his Palace to supper but caused certain of his wicked adherents and Ministers treacherously to murther them before they entred his Court which assascination fell too heavy upon the father for there he lost his life the son by the Divine assistance escaped the massacre and having intelligence by some private friends in the Palace that his life was sought after to avoid the further peril he fled into Wales where by reason of his carriage proportion and Court-like behaviour he found such courteous entainment that better he could not desire from the Prince the Courtiers admire his gallantry the Ladies his person his pleasing and charming behaviour the Princes daughter is so ensnared with Cupids bewitching allurements that she admits him privately into her most secret closet where what hearts content they enjoyed unseen by any but themselves appeared openly to the world in a short time by the encrease and exuberance of Her belly in revenge whereof Fleance is slain and the poor Lady kept in miserable condition for having thus suffered her self to be deflowred by a stranger at the last she was delivered of a son named Walter who within a few years proved a man greater in courage fortitude than any commonly was found although he had no better bringing up by his Grand-fathers command than amongst the baser sort of people howbeit he shewed ever from his infancy that there reigned in him a certain stoutness of stomack ready to attempt high enterprises It chancing that falling out with one of his companions after many taunting words which passed between them the other to his reproach objected that he was a Bastard and begotten out of lawful Wedlock which so incensed him that he slew him forthwith This sad accident forced him to leave Wales and betake himself to Scotland to seek some rising fortune there where he happened into the company of certain Englishmen which came thither with Queen Margaret and behaved himself so soberly in all his actions that within a while he grew into high esteem amongst them Not long after by such means raising high esteem he was sent with a great power of men into the Western Isles and other places of the Realm to free the same from the Tyranous and Injurious oppressions there Walter made Steward of Scotland exercised by divers misgoverned persons which enterprise according to his Commission he atchieved with such prudent policy and manhood that immediately upon his return to the Court he was made Lord Steward of Scotland with assignment to receive the Kings Rents and Duties out of all parts of the Realm This Walter Steward had a son named Allan Steward who went after with Godfrey of Bulloin Duke of Loraine and Robert Duke of Normandy Alan Steward son to King William Conquerour into the Holy Land at what time they with other Western Princes advanced thither An. 1099. Allan had issue Alexander Steward that founded the Abbey of Pasley of St. Benedicts Order who had issue Walter Steward Alex. Steward Walter Steward whose valour was notable in the battail of Largis This same Walter had issue two sons the one named Alexander who fought right valiantly at the foresaid battail in defence of his father Alexander and Robert brothers from whence the Earles of Iénox and Dernly John James Walter inhetor of Bonkil The Crown of Scotland comes to the family of the Stewards John Steward alias Robert Rex Duke of Albanie and the other named Robert Steward got the lands of Terbowtoun and married the heir of Cruckeistoun from whom descended the Earles of Lenox and Dernly Moreover the abovenamed Alexander that founded Pasley had divers other sons as John Iames c. howbeit they took new sirnames by the names of those lands unto the which they succeeded The abovenamed Iohn Steward after the death of his brother Iames married the heir of Bonkil a virgin of great beauty and had by her Walter Steward that inherited the lands of Bonkil Runfrew Rothsay Bute and Stewardrown after that his father Iohn was slain at Fulkyrk He married Margery Bruce daughter to K. Robert Bruse by whom he had issue K. Robert the second of that name This Robert the second took to wife one Isabel Mure a Damosel of excellent beauty she was daughter to Sr. Adam Mure Knight and brought forth issue three sons three daughters the eldest son called John Steward and by some Robert who succeded immediately after his fafathers death in the Kingdom The second called Robert was made Earle of Fyfe and Mentrith also he was created Duke of Albanie and ruled the realm of Scotland under the name of Governour by the space of XV. years The third son named Alexander was Earle of Buchquane and Lord of Bondzenot The Earle of Buckquane a Steward The eldest daughter was married to James the son and heir of William Earle of Dowglas the second daughter was maried to John Dunbar brother to George Dunbar Earle of March and was made to his more honour Earle of Murray He got on her one only daughter that was married to the Dowglas and so Dowglas came to be Earle of Murray The third daughter was married to John Lyoun that was made afterward Lord of Glammis Moreover the foresaid Robert that was the first of the Stewards The Earle of Athol and