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A13043 The chronicles of England from Brute vnto this present yeare of Christ. 1580. Collected by Iohn Stow citizen of London.; Annales Stow, John, 1525?-1605. 1580 (1580) STC 23333; ESTC S117590 888,783 1,248

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fifth of May and the. 24. of Maye entred London with them where he was receyued with greate honour of the Citizens and so conuayed to the kings pallaice at Westminster where the King sitting in his estate in Westminster Hall receyued them and after conueyed the French King to a lodging where he lay a season and after the sayde French King was lodged in the Sauoy which then was a pleasant place belonging to the Duke of Lancaster In the Winter following were gret and royal iustes holden in Smithfielde at London where many knightly sights of armes wer done to the gret honour of the king realm at the which were present the Kings of England Fraunce and Scotlande with many noble estates of all those Kingdomes wherof the more part of the strangers were prisoners Henrie Picarde Uintener Maior of London in one day dyd sumptuouslye feaste Edwarde King of Englande Iohn King of Fraunce the King of Cipres then arriued in England Dauid king of Scottes Edward Prince of Wales wyth many noble men and other and after the sayde Henrie Picarde kepte his Hall against all commers who soeuer that were willing to play at Dice and Hazard In like maner the Lady Margaret his wife did also kéepe hir Chamber to the same intente The King of Cipres playing wyth Henrie Picarde in hys Hall dyd wynne of hym 50. markes but Henrie being verye skilfull in that arte altering hys hande did after win of the same king the same 50. markes and 50. markes more which when the same king began to take in ill parte although he dissembled the same Henrye saide vnto him my Lord and King be not agrieued I couet not your golde but your play for I haue not bid you hyther that I might grieue you but that amongst other things I might trie your playe and gaue hym his money agayne plentifully bestowing of his owne amongst the retinue besides he gaue many riche giftes to the King and other Nobles and Knightes whiche dyned wyth hym to the greate glorie of the Citizens of London in these dayes Stephen Candish Barthelmew Frostling the. 28. of Sep. Sherifes Maior Sir Iohn Stody Vintener the. 28. of October This sir Iohn Stody gaue vnto the Uinteners of London all the quadrant wherein the Uinteners Hal now standeth with the tenements round about from the lane yet called Studis Lane where is founded thirtéene houses for xiij poore people whiche are there kept of charitie rent frée About Halowntide Dauid le Bruce king of Scots was deliuered from the long imprisonmēt of a. xj yeres in the castel of Oldiham his raunsome being set a 100000. markes to be payde the next ten yeares following Normandie and Brytaine were soare spoyled and wasted Tho. Walsing Anno reg 32 Rob. Knovvles by Phillippe the King of Nauers brother Iacob de la Pipe and Roberte Knowles wyth manye other Englishe menne whyche were Captaynes of that companye who raged in warlike sorte in these Countryes the space of thrée yeares and more contrarye to the Kyng of Englandes pleasure Thys Roberte Knowles béeyng a meane man of birth became Captaine of many souldiours and did manye maruellous actes Isabel daughter to Phillippe the fayre king of Fraunce 1358 now wife to King Edward the second deceased apnd Risinges Registrum fratrum minorum iuxta London the. xxij of August and was buried in the Grey Friers Quire at London in a Tombe of Aliblaster Iohn Barnes Iohn Buris the 28. of September Sherifes Maior Anno reg 33 Iohn Louekinstoke Fishmonger the 28. of October Iohn of Gaunt the Kings sonne by dispensation tooke to wife Blaunch dauhter of Henry Duke of Lancaster his kinswoman The French King vnder coulour of peace offered to King Edward Flanders Picardie Aquitayne and other lands which the Englishmen had ranged through and spoyled for the perfourmāce wherof messengers were sent into France but the Frenchmen would not perfourme the offer wherfore King Edward being angrie with a Nauie of Shippes passed the Sea to Caleis wherefore deuiding his armie into thrée partes committed one companie vnto Henry Duke King Edvvarde inuaded Burgundie of Lancaster another to Prince Edward and the third he reserued to himselfe and so passed into Burgundie In the meane season the Normans with a small Nauie 1359 Frenchmen arriued at VVinchelsea arriued at Winchelsey and partly brent the Towne and slew such as did withstand them wherefore the Prelates of England assembled from all partes in armour to withstande them but when they had prepared themselues to battayle the French were gone Simon of Benington Iohn of Chichester the 28. of Sept. Sherifes Maior Anno reg 34. 1360 Simon Dolseby Grocer the 28. of October King Edward with his power rode through France by Picardie Artois Roan Champaine and so to Briteine destroying the Countrey before him And héere is to be noted that the fourtéenth day of Aprill and the morrow after Easter day King Edward with his host lay before the Citie of Paris which day was full darke of mist and hayle and so bitter colde that many men died on their Horsse backes with the cold wherefore vnto this day it hath bin called the blacke Monday The King of Nauarre vexed sore the marches of Normandie Thus was the Realme of France miserably beset on all sides At the last a finall peace was concluded on Peace vvith France this condition that King Edward should haue to his possession the Countreys of Gascoine Gwyen Poytiers Limosin Baleuile Exantes Caleis Gwisnes and diuers other Lordships Castels Townes and all the Landes to them belonging Tho. Wals without knowledge of any soueraigntie or subiection for the same This peace being confirmed by writing and by oth King Edward came into England and so streight to the Tower to sée the French King where he appoynted his raunsome to be thrée millions of Florences and so deliuered French King releassed him of all imprisonment and brought him with great honor to the Sea who then sayled ouer into France Iohn Denis Walter Berney the 28. of September Sherifes Maior Iohn Wroth Fishmonger the 28. of October King Edward the 24. of Januarie beganne a Parliament at Westminster where the forme of the agréement was redde and allowed of all estates where the King on the last of Januarie caused his Nobles to sweare to holde and Anno reg 35 1361 kéepe the sayde agréement especially those as well Prelats as other that were not at Caleis where he sware and other that were there with him A great dearth pestilence hapned in England which was called the second pestilence in which died Henry D. of Lancaster The seconde mortalitie in March at London and was buryed at Leycester in the colegiate Church which he had founded with a Deane twelue Chanons Prebendaries as many Uickers and other ministers accordingly There dyed also Reginald Lord Cobham and Walter Lib. Lichfield Fitz Waren valiant and famous
they vse the ciuill lawe as almost other Countryes doe The English haue theyr own laws and edicts In certain other conditions they be not farre vnlike but their language is one their habite complexion like one corage in battel and in the Nobilitie one desire and pregnancie in hunting The countrey houses be narrow couered with straw réede wherein the people and beasts do lodge togither Theyr towns besides S. Iohns towne are vnwalled which is to be ascribed to their animositie hardinesse fixing all their succor helpe alway in the valiancie of their body The Scots are verye wise as their learning declareth For to whatsoeuer Art they do apply themselues they easily profite in the same But the ydle ●louthful and such chiefly as shun and auoyde labour liue in great pouertie yet wil not sticke to boast of their nobilitie and gentrie as though it were more séemely for the honest to lacke than comely by exercise of some honest Arte to get their liuing But the Scots generally be deuoute obseruers of Religion And thus muche of Scotlande Wales the third parte of Brytaine lyeth vppon the lefte VVales hande whiche like a Promontorie or foreland or an Isle as it were on euery side is compassed with the maine Sea except it be on y e Southeast part with the riuer of Sabrine commonly called Seuern which diuideth Wales from England although some late writers affyrme Hereford to be a bound betwéene Wales and England and say that Wales beginneth at Chepstow where the riuer Wey augmented with an This arme of the Sea as I ●udge is novve called Aust vvhere is a passage betvveene the village of Aust and Chepsto●● other riuer called Lugge passing by Hereforde doth runne into the Sea whiche riuer ryseth in the middle of Wales out of that hil but vncertayne whether oute of that Spring that Sabrine doth for euen to that place there goeth a great arme of the Sea which passing through the land westward on the right hand leaueth Cornwal and on the left Wales whiche Topographie or description althoughe it be newe yet I thought good to follow Therefore Wales is extended from the town of Chepstow where it beginneth almost by a straight line a little aboue Shrowsburie euen to Westchester Northward Into that part so many of the Brytaines as remayned aliue after the slaughter and losse of their countrey at the length being driuen to their shiftes did repayre as auntient writings report where partly through refuge of the mountaines and partly of the wooddes and marishes they remained in safetie which part they enioy euen to this day That land afterwards the English men did cal Wales Giraldus Cambrensis and the Brytaines the inhabitants of the same Walshmen for amongs the Germaines Walshman signifieth a stranger an alien an outborne or strange man that is suche a one as hath a cōtrarie lāguage from theirs for Wal in their tongue is called a stranger borne as an Italian or Frenchman which differ in spéech from the Germaine Man signifieth Homo which is a Man in Englishe Therefore Englishmen a people of Germanie after they had wonne Brytaine called the Brytaines whiche escaped after the destruction of theyr Country after their Country maner Walshmen bicause they had an other tongue or speach besides theirs and the lād which they inhabited Wales which name afterward both to the people and country did remaine By this meane the Brytaines with their kingdome loste their name But they which affirme that name to be deriued of their Kyng or Quéene without doubt be deceyued The countrey soyle towardes the Sea coast in other places in the valleys and playnes is moste fertile whiche yéeldeth bothe to man and beast great plenty of fruite and grasse but in other places for the most part it is barraine lesse fruitful bicause it lacketh tillage for whych cause husbandmen doe liue hardly eating Oten cakes drinking Milke mixt with water There bée many towns strong Castels foure Bishoprickes if the Foure Bishope in VVales Bishopricke of Hereford be counted in England as the late wryters declare The firste Bishopricke is Meneue so called of Meneua which at this day they call Saint Dauids a Citie very auntient scituated vppon the Sea coast and boundeth Westwarde towarde Irelande An other is Landaffe the thirde Bangor and the fourth Saint Asaph which be vnder y e Archbishop of Canterbury The Welshmē haue a language frō the Englishmen which as they say y t fetch their pedigrée frō y e Troians doth partly sounde of the Troian antiquitie and partly of the Gréeke But hewsoeuer it is the Walshemen doe not pronounce their speache so pleasauntlye and gently as the Englishmen doe bicause they speake more in the throate and contrariwise the Englishmen rightly following the Latines do expresse their voice somewhat within the lips whiche to the hearers séemeth pleasaunt and swéete And thus much of Wales the thirde part of Brytaine Nowe followeth the fourth and last part of Brytaine named Cornwal This part beginneth on that side which standeth towarde Spaine Westward Toward the Easte it is of bredth foure score and ten miles extending a little beyond S. Germains which is a very famous village situate on y e right hand vppon the Sea coaste where the greatest bredth of that Countrey is but. xx miles for this parcel of land on the right hande is compassed with the coast of the maine Sea and on the left hand with that arme of the sea which as before is declared parteth the land and runneth vp to Chepstow wher the Coūtry is in forme of a horne For at y e first it is narrow and then groweth broder a little beyonde the sayd town of S. Germain Eastward it bordreth vpō Englād West South North y e main sea is roūd about it it is a very barren soile yéelding fruite more through trauel of y e tillers husbādmē than through the goodnesse of the ground but there is greate plentie of Lead Tin in the mining digging wherof doth specially consist the liuing and sustentation of the inhabitāts Their tong is far dissonant from English but it is much like to the Walsh tong bicause they haue many words cōmon to both tongs yet this difference there is betwéen them when a Walsh man speaketh the Cornish mā rather vnderstandeth manie words spoken by the Walshman than the whole tale he telleth whereby it is manifest that those thrée people doe vnderstand one another in like maner as y e Southern Scots doe perceiue and vnderstand the Northern But it is a thing very rare and maruellous that in one Iland there should be such varietie of spéeches Cornwal is in the Diocesse of Exceter whiche was once worthy to be counted the fourthe parte of the Iland for the contrariety of the language Afterwards the Normās which constituted a kingdome of al those thrée parts reckened Cornwal to be one of the Counties or
shires of the Countrey Thus much of the particular description of Brytaine that the whole bodie of the Realme by the members maye be the better knowne to some peraduenture that neuer heard the same before The forme of the Ilande is Triquetra or thrée cornered Strab● lib. 4. hauing thrée corners or thrée sides two whereof that is to saye the corner toward the Easte and the other toward the Weast both extending Northwardes are the longest The thirde side whiche is the South side is farre shorter than the other for the Ilande is greater of length than of bredth And as in the other two partes is conteyned the length euen so in y e last the bredth in which place the bredth beginneth and so continuing from the Southe parte to the North it is but narrowe The first and right corner of which Iland Eastwarde is in Kent at Douer and Sandwich Frō whence to Callais or Boloigne in Fraunce is the distance of xxx myles From this Angle which is against France to the thirde Angle which is in the Northe in Scotlande the maine wherof boundeth vpon Germanie but no land séene and there the Iland is like vnto a wedge euen at the verye Angle of the lande in Scotlande the lengthe is seauen hundred myles Againe the length from this corner at Douer in Kent to the vttermoste parte of Cornewall being S. Michaels mount whiche is the West parte or West Angle is supposed to be thrée hundered myles From this lefte Angle being the West part and the vttermost part of Cornwal which hath a prospect towardes Spaine in which parte also standeth Irelande scituate betwéene Britaine and Spaine to the North Angle in the further part of Scotland in which parte the Iland doth end the length is eight hundred miles in whych part there be very good hauens safe harboroughes for shippes and apte passages into Ireland being not paste one dayes sayling but the shorter passage is from Wales to Waterforde a towne in Irelande vpon the Sea coast muche like to that passage betwéene Douer and Calays or somewhat more but the shortest passage of all is out of Scotland From this last Angle to Hampton which is a Towne vpon the Sea coast with a hauen so called toward the South and therfore called Southhampton betwéene the angles of Kent and Cornwall they doe measure by straight line the whole length of the Ilande and doe saye that it contayneth 800. myles as the bredth from Meneua or Saint Dauids to Yarmouth which is in the vttermost part of the Iland towards the Easte doeth conteyne 200. miles for the bredth of the Ilande is in the South part which part is the front and beginning of the lande and endeth narrowe or as it were in a strayghte So the circuite or compasse of the Ilande is 1800. myles which is 200. lesse than Caesar doth recken or accompt ⸪ ❧ Of the first habitation of this Ilande a short note to the Reader WHere it is recorded by the sacred and most auntient Gene. 10. Historie that after the vniuersal floud the Isles of the Gentiles were diuided by the posteritie of Iapheth the sonne of Noah wee doubt not but this Isle of Brytaine was also then peopled by his progenie the Historie of whom as it is to be wished and appertinēt to this purpose so sith it is irrecouerable not onely vnto vs but also to other nations I thinke it better to say nothing therein than to set downe here Samothes Magus Sarron Druys and Bardus for his successours which are vpholden and boulstered onely by the credite and authoritie of a newe smal pamphlet falsely forged and thruste into the worlde vnder the title of the auntient Historian Berosus For that is the censure of al the best learned as concerning our cōmon Berosus which at his first appering about one hundred yers since was partly suspect Lodouicus Viues Gasparus Varrerius by Lodouicus Viues afterwarde conuinced to be fabulous by the lerned Gas Varrerius in a seueral treatise and now vniuersally reiected of all skilful Antiquariesas a mere fable vnworthy the name of Berosus Therefore I dare not grounde the beginning of our Historie vppon the credite therof vnlesse I woulde be preiudicial to the trueth wherevnto I leuel al my endeauour I hope it shal bee sufficient in this Historie for the Brytaines time to follow the authoritie of the receiued Brytish Historie which Geffrey Archdeacon of Monmouth translated out of the Brytishe tong about 400. yeares since beginning with Brute who after the progenie of Iapheth seemeth to be firste discouerer namer and Ruler of this land Yet before we enter into the History of Brute it shal not bee impertinente to note here that where as Pomponius Mela mētioneth that one Hercules killed Albion a Giant aboute the mouth of Rhosne in Fraunce manye learned men haue iudged the saide Albion to haue ruled here sith the Greeke monumēts do always cal this Isle ALBION and after his deth Nicol. Perotus Lilius Giraldus Solinus that Hercules came hither Lilius Giraldus writeth An auntient aultar also conteyning the inscription of a vowe founde in the vttermost North part of Britaine 1500. yeares since as Solinus reporteth plainelie proued that Vlisses the renoumed Graecian in his tenne yeares trauailes after the sacking of Troy arriued in this our Countrey And thus much is founde only in approued Histories as cōcerning Britaine before the arriuall of Brutus ⸪ The race of the Kings of Britaine since Brute and in the margent are placed the yeares beefore Christe his byrth when euerye Kyng beganne their raignes til Cunobelinus in whose time Christ the Sauiour of the world was borne and then followyng the yeares from Chryste hys byrth are placed BRute the sonne of Siluius the sonne of Ascanius 1108 Gaufrid● the sonne of Aeneas after the death of hys father being banished into Gréece deliuered there the remnāt of the Troiās from y e long captiuitie wherin they were deteined vnder the Greciās with whome he departed thence for to séeke some habitation and associating to hymselfe Corineus wyth hys Troians whome he founde in the waye after a long and weary iourney and manye notable actes atchieued in Aquitaine he arriued in this Ilande whyche was called Albion at a place nowe called Totnes in Deuonshire the yeare of the world 2855. the yere before Christs natiuitie 1108. wherein he first began to raigne and named it Brytaine as some write or rather after his owne name Brutaine as Aethicus Aethicus that wonderfull Philosopher a Scithian by race but an Istrian by Countrey translated by Saint Hierome aboue a thousand yeares past termeth both it and the Iles adiacent Insulas Brutannicas And for more proofe of this restored name Brutannicas not only the saide Philosopher who trauelled through many landes and in this lande taught the knowledge of mynerall workes maye be alleadged but sundry other as the Sybils Oracles who in the name of the
the army and in moste base and beastly maner gouerned as it were by entreatie so as they mighte séeme to haue compounded that the souldiours shoulde liue in all libertie and the Generall at hys safetie This time for a yeare and halfe there was deadly ciuil war amōg the Romaines for the Empire betwéen Galba Otho and Vitelius VEctius Volanus then was sent hither by Vitelius he did 69 Vectius Volanus not vse any discipline or correctiō in Brytaine so as there continued the like slouth and cowardise in the souldioures toward their enimyes and the Campe still as full of wantonnesse sauing that Volanus was a good and milde man and thereby made himselfe beloued where hée shoulde haue béene feared In this time Vitelius aduaunced many Souldioures in the Brytaine legions and Herdonius Flaccus broughte vnto hym 80000. chosen men of warre oute of Tacitus Brytaine The Brytans séeing y e Romaines thus encombred with ciuil war began to trouble them wherefore Volanus would send no succour to Vitelius at his commaundement when Vespasian warred againste him for the Empire and all the Brytaines fauored Vespasian WHen as with the rest of the world Vespasian had recouered 70 Brytaine thē were there placed great Captaines and notable armies the enemyes hope abated and Petilius Cerealis broughte greate feare vppon the Brytaines The Petilius Cerealis Citie of the Brigantes which was accounted one of the greatest of the lande beyng by hym assayled he hadde manye encountres and some not withoute slaughter whereby hée eyther conquered or assayled a greate part of their country Iulius Frontinus a man as worthye and valiaunt as was Iulius Frontinus possible tooke then the charge vpon him subdued the nation of the Silures being both valiant warlike notwithstanding the valor of the enemy and difficulties of the places This was the state of Brytaine and course of the warres whych Agricola found arriuing in the middest of Sommer Iulius Agricola the Souldiors euen then beginning to retire to their strengthes and the enimye searching for his most aduantage The Citie of the Ordouices fewe dayes before hys arriuall almoste wholly defeated a company lying vppon their bordures This beginning stirred vp the prouince seruing for an example to them who coueted the warres and yet desired to sée what was in their newe Gouernor Agricola although the Sommer were nowe well spent the bandes dispersed all aboute the prouince the souldiours had determined to reste for that yeare the time being late and incommodious to commence the warre thinking it woulde be better to manne the péeces moste suspected yet he determined neuerthelesse to preuent daunger and gathering togither the Standards of the Legions with a few of his forraine aides for that the Ordouices durst not take the field marched foorth agaynste them hymselfe in the vauwarde of his armye that others might take like courage in the same danger and put almoste that whole nation to the sworde then followyng hys good successe he inuaded Anglesey whiche Suetonius had before attempted causing certaine Brytaines that serued him and knewe the shallows and maner of swimming wyth horse and harnesse to passe ouer into the Isle on a sodaine wherewith the inhabitauntes were so amazed who Tacitus feared nothing bycause they sawe no nauie that they submitted the I le vnto him immediately Nowe hauing some quietnesse and perceyuing that warre would little preuaile againste the Brytaines if they were iniuriouslye handled he purposed to cut off al causes of quarrel and first reforming his owne familie did nothing partially onely respected the vertue of men loosened tributes and behaued himsefe moste honourably And thus muche the firste yeare When the Sommer beganne he assembled his armies trayned his souldioures forrayed the enimies Countries with sodaine inuasions to their greate feare and yet so fauorably as many Countries willingly yéelded vnto him and suffered Castelles to be builte among them The Winter following he spente in ciuill administration counsayling the people priuately and helping them publikely to builde houses Temples and Courte houses He procured noble mens children to study liberall Sciences and then beganne the Brytaines to conforme themselues to Romaine fashions and attyre The thirde yeare he discouered people in the Northe hitherto vnknowne euen as farre as Tau terrifying the people and placing fortresses moste wisely to the annoyaunce of the enimie The fourth Sommer he employed getting those Countries whiche hitherto he had passed throughe euen to the Edenborough Frith and Cluid the narrowe space betwéene the whych waters he fortified The fifth yeare by Sea he discouered and vanquished further nations in the North and placed garrisons in the coast towarde Irelande wherevnto he also aspired and to that end reteyned an Irish Prince with him that was driuen oute of his Country by ciuil dissention But in the Sommer whiche beganne the sixt yere of hys gouernement he searched the Hauens by a nauie for that purpose sent to the Sea fearing leaste all those nations beyonde had vnited themselues and kept the passages by land but afterward he marched forward his nauie coasting with his army by land so as sometime in the same Campe he had horsemen footemen and Seamen lodged togither It was reported by suche as were taken prisoners that the sighte of the nauie much astonied the Brytaines as men from whom all refuge was cutte off the secrets of their Seas being discouered wherefore determining to trie it with hand blowes the inhabitantes of Calidonia with greate preparation although the reporte thereof were greater as it often hapneth in vnknowne matters of their own accorde assayled some Castelles and séeyng themselues rather to bée assaylantes than defendauntes putte the Romaines in some doubte wherevpon the ●owards pretending pollicie aduised to retire on this side Bodotria rather than to be driuen thereto by force when as in the meane while Agricola knowing that the enimye woulde charge hym in seuerall troupes and companyes and fearing to bée ouermatched and couped in wyth number or deceyued by the ignoraunce of the place diuided his army into thrée battailes and so marched forwarde whiche order marked by hys enimyes made them alter their purpose and in the night killing the watch brake in vpon the ninth legion halfe asléepe and halfe afrighted which as they tooke it was the weakest so the fighte continued within the Camp til it was day light at which time the Romaines began to gather courage and the Brytaines were discomfited so as hadde it not bene for the woodes and bogges that victorie had ended the whole strife after which battaile the Romain souldiors grew to be of hautie corage crying out to pierce the country of Calidonia that they might finde oute the vttermoste portes and boundes of Brytaine The Romaynes on the other side ascribing the prayse of this victorie not to the prowesse of the Romaine souldioure but to Fortune and the wilinesse of their Capitaine vsed al meanes possible to hearten vppe and arme their
returne The Pictes then and long time after kept them selues quiet at home saue onely they would now and then make inuasions into the land and driue away booties of Cattell After that they drew to a quietnesse there ensued such plentie of graine as neuer was séene the like before as farre as any man could remember whereof the people grew to loose and wanton liuing whereof all manner of lewdenesse followed specially crueltie hate of truth and loue of lying in so much that if any were gentler and more giuen to truth than other the other would worke him all the hurt Riot and euill life the destruction of the Brytaines and spite they could this did not only the seculars but also the Cleargie and the heads thereof giuing themselues ouer to drunkennesse pride contention enuie and such other casting from them the yoke of Christ In the meane season a bitter plague befell among them for their corrupt liuing consuming in short time such a multitude of people that the quicke were not sufficient to burie the dead and yet for all that the remnant remayned so hardned in sinne that neyther their friendes death nor feare of their own could cure the morrein of their soules which dayly perished through their sinfull liuing whereby a greate stroke of Gods vengeance ensued vpon the whole sinnefull Nation for being now infested againe with their old neighbours the Scottes and Pictes they deuised with themselues what was best to do and where they might séeke reskue to withstand and repell the feare of the Northren nation and they agréed all with their King Vortiger to demand ayd of y e Saxons beyond the Seas which thing doubtlesse sayth Bede was done by Gods owne appoyntmente that the people mighte be thereby plagued as by the ende it manifestly appeared The people of the English or Saxons being sent for of the Saxons sent for into Brytaine sayd King into Brytaine landed héere in thrée long Shippes and by the Kings commandement are appoynted to abide in the East part of the Land And the Isle of Thanet was giuen to them they to defend the Countrey like friendes but Wil. Malmesberie in déede as it proued afterwarde minding to destroy the Countrey as enimies Wherefore encountring with y e Northerne enimie the Saxons had the better whereof they sending word home into their Countrey as also of the fruitefulnesse of the Land the Saxons sente ouer a greater Nauie and number of men better appoynted for the Wars which being now ioyned with the former band drew to a stronger Armie than all the power of the Brytaines was able to ouercome These by the Brytaines were allowed a place to dwell among them with that condition that they should warre for them against their enimies for wages of the Brytaines These Saxons English and Iuits that came from beyonde the Seas Beade were thrée of the strongest nations in Germany That is the Saxons English and the Vites or Iuites Of the Iuites came the people of Kent and the I le of Wight and they in the prouince of Weast Saxons are called of Iuites right ouer against the I le of Wight Of the Saxons that is of that Region now called old Saxons descended the East Saxons the South Saxons and the Weast Saxons Of the English descended the Easte English the Mercies and the Northumbers The chiefe Captaines of the Saxons are sayd to haue bin two bréethren Hingest and Horsus this Hingest prepared a great banquet appoynting Wil. Malmesberie his Daughter Rowan as some write to attend at the table to the ende she might delight the Kings eye as he sate which thing was not done in vayne for as the King was alwayes desirous to behold the beautie of Women so was he straight wayes taken with the beautie and elegant behauiour of this mayden and without farther delay desired to haue hir to his Wife and woulde compell hir Father to consente therevnto who in his heart was willing ynough withall but for a subtiltie sayd nay alleaging that so base a mariage was not méete for the King and holding himselfe as agréeued and not willing All Kent was giuen him for a reward to consent therevnto in which countrey all equitie and iustice was decayed vnder gouernement of one called Gnorongus who notwithstanding was subiect vnto Vortiger as all the rest of the Princes of the Iland were For the loue that Vortiger bare to Rowayne the Saxon he was deuorced from his lawfull Wife by whome he had thrée sonnes for which déede welnéere all the Britans forsooke him Vodine Archbishop of London a man of singular deuotion Archbishop of London reproueth the King and good life by the aduise of Vortimer wente to Vortiger and sayd to him that he had not done as a Christian Prince in departing from his lawfull wife and taking another woman whose Father was an enimie to the Christian fayth and also wente aboute to conquere the Crowne of Britaine Then sayde Vortiger I was not wise when I brought the Saxons to help me against mine enimies but I was more vnwise when I was taken with the mordinate lust of the daughter of Hengist I knowe that mine Empire will bée terrible except I repent me with spéede and turne to God Hengist hearing Vortiger make this lamentation blamed him for that he beléeued the perswasions of a profane man of fayned life as he tearmed him and forthwith slewe the good Archbishop Vodine and many other Priestes and Archbishop of London slayne Religious persons All the Churches in Kent were polluted with bloud the Nunnes with other religious persons were by force put from their houses and goodes and constrayned to polution of their bodies The Britaines considering the dayly repaire of the Saxons into this Realme shewed to their King the ieoperdy that might thereof ensue and aduertised him of the danger but all was in vaine for Vortiger by reason of his wife bore such fauoure to the Saxons that he woulde in no wise heare the counsell of his subiects wherefore they with one minde depriued him of his royall dignitio when he had raigned sixe yeares ordeined to be their king Vortimere his eldest son VOrtimere pursued the Saxons and by his martiall knighthoode 454 fought against them foure battailes besides diuers skirmishes vntill at length he was poysoned by the meanes of Rowa●he his stepmother after he had raigned vj. yeares The first battel Hēgest Horse fought with Wirtigerre or Marianus Scotus I loriacen Wigornieu Vortimer as others haue was in a place called Aeglestrop notwithstanding that Horse was slayne in this battell yet Hengest caried away y e victorie The second battell Hengest Eske fought with y e Britaines in a place called Crecanford Of the Britaines many perished by the sword the rest of thē abandoned Kent altogither and with great feare fled vnto London The third battell Hengest Eske fought with the Britans néere vnto a place called Weppedes fleete
with more than fiue hundered men of armes amongst whom was the Earle of Ro. Auesbery Anno reg 19. Penbroke and Walter de Many with manye Archers into Gascoigne with Ralph Baron of Stafforde Seneshal of Gascoigne who being come thyther the sayde Earle made fiftie Knightes of his armye and after wanne manye walled Townes and Castelles making many worthy skirmishes and at length won the towne of Dagu●lown by assaulte to the kéeping wherof they appointed Ralph Stafford afterward they appointed thrée iourneys toward other townes as especially to Brigerecke so called for the strength thereof and also called the Chamber of Fraunce and also to y e town of Saint Iohn de Laruel and to many other greate and strong townes well fortified which with great toyles and diuerse daungerous assaultes they wan where the Earle of Darbie and his souldiours vndermining the Towers and Wals of the sayde towne were very sore assaulted by them whiche defended Thus he Conquered Cities Townes Castelles and Fortresses to the number of one hundred and fiftie bringing a greate parte of Gascoigne vnder subiection euen to Tolouse vnto the whiche Citie he did no domage neyther to the inhabitantes therof but that he made them wonderfully afrayde as certaine of them tolde me sayeth my aucthour their fear was such that the religious people were constrayned to beare armour and the Prior of the Carmelite Tho. de la More Friers of our Lady of Tolouse hauyng a Banner of our Ladye in Golde set in a fielde of siluer displayed the same prouoking thereby many to take armour About the second sonday in Lent the Earles being fully fraught with bootie prisoners gold and siluer they returned towardes Burdeaux where Iohn de Valoys eldest sonne to the French king being accompanyed with a great number of hyred Dutche souldiours besieged the Towne of Agnlowne and the Captaines thereof the Earle of Stafforde and other so entrenched the same Towne that without greate daunger the Englishmen coulde haue no accesse vnto them but the Earle of Darby bet awaye them that besieged the Citie and e●t soones new victualled the same notwithstanding they were not able to raise the siege bycause they hadde so entrenched themselues without the towne who refusing to fight in the fielde would aunswere that they came not to pitch a fielde but to besiege a Town wherefore they continued the same siege vntil the decollation of Saint Iohn but vnderstanding then that the King of England chaced his Father Phillip very sore at Grecie and fearing that he shoulde come verye late to the ayde of hys Father he gaue vppe the siege setting all his tentes on fire and fled in the darke but the Earle of Stafforde wyth hys power pursued them cut off theyr tayle tooke a greate manye of theyr horsses and prisoners and retourned After this certaine bowmen are mustered in England appointed to be sente ouer sea who commyng ouer are layde in garrison fordefence of the Countrey Also twenty thousande sackes of Wooll are graunted to the king Moreouer Geffrey de Harecourte a Norman came to the King requiring ayd against the French king who wrongfully withhelde hys landes from him at his first comming he did fealtie and sware homage to king Edward but afterward he reuolted Thomas of Hatfielde the Kings Secretary by meanes of Tho. Walsing the Kyngs letters to the Pope was admitted Byshoppe of Durham and when certaine of the Cardinalles sayde that the sayd Thomas was a light person and a lay man the Pope answered truly if the king of England at this time Ansvvere of the Pope had made his request for an Asse he should haue obteined it The same yeare dyed Adam Tarleton Bishop of Winchester that had bin long time blind after whome succéeded William Edendon Treasourer of England This man founded the Monasterie of Edendon the religious Liber Edendon bréethren whereof were called Bonhomes The same yeare dyed Henry Earle of Lancaster father to Henry Earle of Darby and was buryed at Leycester in the Monasterie of Channons the King and both the olde and yong Quéenes being present with Archbishops Bishops Earles and Barons in manner of all the lande whose sonne was then in Gascoigne doing chiualrous actes This yeare the Scottes to the number of thirtie thousande William Dowglas being their leader entred into Westmerland and brent Carelile Penreth with many other Townes wherefore the Bishop of Carelile with Thomas Lucy Robert Ogle and a great number compassed them in the night season and with lightes and noyse so disquieted them that they neuer durst go out for victuals nor giue their bodyes to sléepe but at the last Alexander Stragan stoutely prepared to go out for victualles whome the Bishop Scots ouercome and Robert Ogle mette and with a speare thrust him through the body so that the Scottes were soone after ouercome and slayne Edmond Hemenhall Iohn of Glocester the 28. of Sept. Sherifes Maior Richard Laget the 28 of October This yeare was the first cōgregating and first Custos or gardian of the fraternitie of the Grocers in the Citie of London elected The Earle of Northampton and the other Lordes in Briteine Anno reg 20 committed certayne Castels wonne by them in Briteine to the safekéeping of faithfull Captaynes and Souldioures and then returned into England King Edward prepared to make a voyage into Normandy 1346 his Nauie being readie to transport him from Portesmonth King Edvvard sayled into Normandy and Porchester with the Earles of Northampton Arundell Warwike Harecourt Huntingdon Oxenforde and Suffolke the Bishop of Durham and Mayster William Killesby Clerke euery one of these leading a great armie of Souldioures well appoynted were embarqued and wayted for the winde from the first of June to the fifth of July and then Tho. de la More Tho. Walsing Ro. de A●esbury hauing a good winde they beganne to make Sayle with the number of one thousande Shippes of burthen and Pinaces and on the thirtéenth day of July they landed at Hogges in Normandy where on the shore of the Sea King Edwarde made his eldest sonne Knighte and also Prince of Wales and immediately the Prince made Knightes Mortimere Montacute Rose and other That night the King lodged in the Towne of Hogges and the next day the Towne was brent by the Armie Hogges in Normandy brent The night following King Edward lodged in Mercels where he stayde fiue dayes during whiche time all the Countrey with the Towne of Barbefleete was by his men consumed with fire From thence they departed to Veloygus which they set a fire then they went to Senet combe de Mount whiche is nigh the Sea and to Garantam thence to Serius and to Saint Lewes passing along vnto the Towne of Turney wasting all with fire and that night the Kyng lodged at Carmalin then to Gerin being a Religious house belonging vnto Cane leauing nothing behinde them vnspoyled Afterward they made an assaulte and entred the Citie Cane
Cornewall and in the meane space the Kings seruants spoyled his goodes Iohn More Richard Northbery and other were likewise there conuict and condemned to perpetuall prison and their goodes confiscate to the King for certaine congregations by them made against the Fishmongers in the Citie of London Nicholas Exton Iohn French the 28. of September Sherifes Maior Sir Nicholas Brembar Grocer the 28. of October About the feast of Saint Martine a Parliament was holden at London in the whiche nothing was done worth the memorie but that which still was in hand and exacting of money of the Cleargie and common people to mainteine the men of warre And besides this there was a Combate fought in listes betwixte an Esquire of Englande and one of A Combate fought Nauarre that had accused the English Esquire whose name was Iohn Welch of Treason to the King and Realme but the effect was that when he was Captayne of Cherbrugh he forced the wife of this Nauaroys as the sayde Nauaroys being afterward ouercome and being readie to suffer death did ●penly confesse for the which cause by the Kings iudgemēt he was drawne and hanged although the Quéene and many other did make earnest intercessiō to haue his life saued The Parliament was not yet ended when newe ● came Bervvike lost and vvo●●● againe out of the North of the taking of Berwike Castell by the Scottes the custodie whereof the Earle of Northumberland Sir Henry Percy did possesse by right of his predecessors The Scottes by mediation of money got entrance into that Castel by one that was put in trust with kéeping of it The Duke of Lancaster that loued not the Earle was glad of this happe when he knew it It came to passe therefore by the Dukes procurement that the Earle was condemned by iudgement of the Lords there present the which execution was within a short while after releassed The Earle of Northumberland through the Kings fauour restored to his life and possessions without any long delaye● prepareth al furniture of warre to beséege and winne the sayd Castell of thē that were within it and after he had gathered a mighty armie he sodeinly beséeged it and after he had layne about it a certaine time it was compounded betwixt them without and them within that they within should forsake the Castell and haue their liues and moueable goodes and for surrendring the Castell they should haue of the Earle two thousand markes of English money and by this meanes did the Earle recouer the Castell foorth of the Scottishmens hands Through certaine yong men brought vp with the King Tho. Wal● there arose great dissention betwixt him and the Duke of Lancast●r who departed from the Court and wente to his Castell of Pomfret whiche he had fortified but by meanes of the Kings mother this discorde was appeased for a time The third of May was an Earthquake 1●85 The King entred Scotlande King Richard with a great armie entred Scotlande but the enimies would not shew themselues wherfore he brent the Countrey and returned The eightéenth of July there was an Earthquake Sir Iohn de Vienne that serued the French King was sent into Scotland with a great multitude of Shippes and men of warre that ioining with the Scottes they might in●e●t all England and that whilst they might● draw the power of this Realme that way forth the Frenche King with his Nauie and army might the more at liberty enter other partes of the Realme few or none being left at home to prohibit them their entrie The arriuall of the sayd Iohn being knowne in England the King with all the Nobilitie prepared themselues to make a iourney thither The King maketh a iourney into Scotland there came flocking vnto the King such a number of Knightes Esquires and Archers as the like had not bin heard of in those dayes in so much as the number of Horsses amoūted to thrée hundred thousand as they were iudged The King reioyced héereat as well he might but the reioycing was shortly darkened at Yorke by fiercenesse of Sir Iohn Holland the Kings brother that slew the Lord Ralph Stafford Ralph Stafforde ●ayne sonne to the Earle of Stafford in the way as he went to the Quéene whose seruant of houshold he was and greatly in fa●eur with hir and he was no lesse beloued of the King as he that had bin brought vp with him and bin his play-fellow from his tender age where the King taking greate indiguation determined to pursue the sayd Sir Iohn Holland he caused therefore his goodes to be cōfiscate But Sir Iohn Holland fledde to Beuerley there to enioy the libertie of the Church The Lady Iane the Kings mother sente to intreate him for hir other sonne and his brother but when the messengers were returned to Wallingforde and that the mother could perceyue no hope of grace to be gotten in that behalfe of the King she tooke it heau●●ie and fell sicke and Queene Iane the Kings mother dyed within foure or ●●ue dayes departed this life hir body being seared and closed in Leade was kept at Wallingford till the Kings returne forth of Scotland then to be buried at Stanford in the Church of the Friers Minors In the moneth of August the King of England with a mightie power entred Scotland to whose force the Scottes and Frenchmen perceyuing themselues not able to matche they séeke to get them into the wooddes places where they might be out of the way The English army then the which there hath not bin séene a fairer stronger or greater rideth through the Countrey that was destitute of inhabitantes ●●yd of Cattell wanting victualles for the land was left desolate as our men confessed that they saw not so much as a bird Owles only excepted They found gréene Corne on the grounde very faire and plentifull whiche they eyther eate vp with their Horsses or treade downe with theyr féete but the enimies fléeing battayle our men did nothing to be accompted of but brent the Abbey of Melroys and the Meltoys and Edenborough brent Towne of Edenborough with such houses as they found by the way When our armie was come to Edenborough and that victualles fayled them many of them beganne to ware sicke and some to die for hunger wherevpon the King returned with his armie into England While King Richarde was in Scotland the Scottes and Frenchmen entred into Englande brenning Townes taking spoyles and leading away many prisoners returned home into their Countrey Iohn Organ Iohn Churchman the 28. of September Sherifes Maior Sir Nicholas Brembar Grocer the 28. of October The Souldiers of Caleis went secretly forth into France and got a bootie of four thousand Shéepe and thrée hundred head of great beastes which they draw to their holdes About the feast of Saint Martine there was a Parliament at London in which the Laytie granted to the King a fiftéenth and a halfe with cōdition that the Cleargie should giue a tenth
Bodotria Glota haue sundry passages into y e sea and are clearely dirempte one from the other as Leuinus and Glota are not wherfore they iudge rather the riuer nowe called the Frith to be that which of olde time had to name Bodotria and to proue the same they adde manye other reasons whiche here I omitte But a good space on thys side Grampius riseth the riuer of Taus the greatest in all Scotland taking his name of a Laake from whence it springeth whiche falleth by Atholia and Calidonia by many places but chiefly by Perthum now called Saint Iohns towne and lastlye by Dunde in time past called Alectum and there breaketh into the Germaine sea and at the mouth forceth great estuars or armes of the sea whereof Tacitus maketh mention Againste Taus is Anguise whiche by meanes of that riuer is fertile and prosperous and is deuided from Fife To y ● same vpō the North adioyneth Athels not the barrēnest Countrey as well for water as for plentie of soyle On the other side Arguile sheweth it selfe whyche being full of laakes yéeldeth greater plentie of fodder than fruite whose vttermost bounds stretch so farre as Ireland is not distante past xvj miles about which the promontorie or foreland called Lands hed standeth That coast whilom the Silures did inhabite as Polidor gathereth by these wordes of Plinie in hys 4. booke the. 16. Chapter Ireland being situate ouer against Brytain is distant frō the nation of Silures by the shortest cut xx myles Howbeit some other for that it is manifest by the same Plinie in y t same Chapter and also by other writers that Brytaine was not in hys tyme well knowen so farre North suppose he mente not by this that the Silures shoulde inhabite Arguile but rather South-Wales from whence the passage ouer was better known and as he mighte haue vnderstanding shortest Wher also as wel Tacitus as Antoninus séeme to place that people Betwéene Argile and Olgouia Westwarde lyeth the Countrey of Sterling so called by a towne there Here the forest of Calydonia began on the left side which within stretcheth farre and broade This forrest sometimes bred white Bulles long maned like Lions whiche were so wilde as they coulde not be tamed but bycause the flesh was pleasant and daintie to the mouth the whole race of them almoste is extinguished There likewise is the Castel of Calydone situate by Taus called Doucheldine From a little hil of the forrest ryseth Glota or Cluid which by a brode chanel falleth into the Irishe Ocean for stayed in a manner by the bankes of the mountaine Grampius it slydeth into the sea by greate tydes so as witnesseth Tacitus the Romaines thought it to be another Ilande Of that riuer the Dale was called Glotevale whyche Countrey that Riuer runneth by and in the same is the Citie of Glasco a goodlye Uniuersitie Agayne towardes the Easte is ioyned the Countrey as Anguish and Merne vppon the Sea coaste wherein Fordune by situation is verye strong and for the reliques of S. Palladius the Scottish Apostle famous Of the same syde of Scotlande is the Countrey of Marre garnished with a Citie called Aberdone standing betwéene the two Riuers of Dona and Dea with a Schole also adorned Then followeth Morrey whiche the two notable Riuers doe compasse aboute called Nessa and Spea At the mouthe of thys last Riuer standeth the Towne of Elgis aboute the banckes whereof be huge woods replenished wyth all sortes of wilde beastes There is a Laake also called Spina stoared with plentie of Swannes but in the middle part standeth the broad Countrey of Rossia now called Beane Rozen stretching to the vttermost angle euen to both the Seas and the further it goeth Eastwarde the better it is inhabited In the same is a bosome of the Sea nowe and then so conuenient for Sailers as cōmonly it is called the port of Health or the Hauen of Safetie and the towne Thana The breadth of the Iland is very short for falling into y e forme of a wedge it is scant xxx mile ouer which defended with thrée promontories like towers repelleth the greate waues and surges of the Sea and inuironed with two gulfes whiche those promontories doe inclose the entries be quiet and calme and the water peaceable The straite of that lande is at this day called Cathanes coasting vpon the Sea Deucalidon Thus muche of the particulars of Scotlande But y ● same is in euery place ful of good Hauens and nauigable entryes Laakes with Marshes flouds fountaines very full of fishe and mountaines vpon the tops wherof be pleasant plaines yéelding great store of grasse and plentie of fodder for Cattel wooddes likewise full of wilde beastes That part of the land is well sustained with commodities and therefore the people harde to be vanquished at anye time by reason the woods and Marshes be at hande for refuge and hunger eased wyth Ueneson and Fish About Scotlande in the Irishe Seas are xl Ilandes of Plinie tearmed Brytanniae other call them Meuania other Hebrides Manye of these in length at leaste are thirty miles but in breadth not aboue xij Amongest thē is Iona beautified with the Tombes of the Scottish Kings The Ilanders generally speake Irishe whiche declareth them to take their originall of the Irishe nation Beyonde Scotlande towarde the Northe be the Iles of Orchades whiche as Ptolome saith be xxx in number some lying in the Ducalidon Sea and some in the Germaine Ocean the principall of whiche Ilandes is Pamonia bycause it is a Byshops sea and is vnder the gouernement of Scotlande The Ilanders vse the Gothes spéeche whiche argueth them to procéede from the Germaines They be tall of stature but verie helthie and lustie of body and minde liuing very long although their chiefest foode is fishe for the lande almost continually beset with colde in many places is not able to bear corne and generally almost without trée or bushe Beyonde the Orchades standeth Thule in the Frosen sea nowe called Iselande to which our marchauntes repaire for fishing once euery yeare in the Sommer And thus much haue I to say of the scite of Scotlande nowe of the nature and maners of the people The Scottes whiche inhabite in the Southern parte bée wel nurtured and liue in good ciuility the most ciuile vse the English spéech And for that wood there is geason scant their common fewel is of a blacke stone whiche they dig out of the Earth The other part Northern ful of mountaines a very rude and homely kinde of people doth inhabite which are called the redshankes or wilde Scottes They be clothed with a mantel and shyrte saffroned after the Irishe manner going bare legged to the knée Their weapons are bowes dartes with a verie brode sword and a dagger sharp only at the one side All speake Irish féeding on fishe milke chéese fleshe hauing a great number of Cattell The Scottes differ from the Englishe in lawes and customes bicause
Brytaines is written with y. that is the Gréekes little u. whyche Oracles althoughe they were not the Sibils owne worke as some suspecte Oracula Sibili yet are they very antient indéede and that they might séeme more auntient vse the moste auntient name of Countreys and peoples And some Englishe writers aboue an hundred yeares since vsually doe name it Brutan and not otherwise ● Mandeuil through a large historie of thys lande translated oute of Frenche Brute builded the Citie of newe Troy now called London he stablished therein y e Troian laws gaue y e vttermoste Westerne parte of the Realme to his companion Corineus of whose name it was called Corinea and to thys Iohn Harding Iohn Hanuile Nichol. Vpton day Cornwal Iohn Harding sayth that Brute bare Gules two Lions rampant endorced Ore Also a Banner of a Uertdian of Golde fichule crowned and entronized that were Aeneas armes when he entred the land of Latins Iohn Hanuil in Archinis and Nicholas Vpton saith he bare Ore a Lio●● passant Gules When hys death approched he diuided the whole Ilande among his thrée sonnes whiche he had by Innogen his wife Locrine Camber and Albanact Unto Locrine he gaue the middle parte betwéene Humber and Seuern whiche of him was called Loegria To Camber he gaue all the region beyonde Seuern which of him tooke the name of Cambria and is now called Wales To Albanact he gaue all the lands beyond Humber whyche of his name was called Albania after whiche partition he deceassed when he had raigned 24. yeares and was buryed at newe Troy LOcrine the eldest sonne of Brute raigned xx yeares hée 1084 Gaufride chased the Hunnes whiche inuaded this realme and pursued them so sharpely that many of them with their Kyng were drowned in a riuer whiche then parted Englande and Scotland And forsomuch as the king of Hunnes named Hūber was there drowned the riuer is til this daye named H●mber This king Loctine had to wife Guendoline daughter Hovve Humber tooke that name of Corineus Duke of Cornwall by whome he had a son named Madan He also kept as Paramour the beautifull Lady Estrilde by whom he had a daughter named Sabrine And after the death of Corineus hée putte from hym the sayde Guendoline and wedded Estrilde but Guendoline repayred to Cornwall where shée gathered a greate power and foughte with King Locrine and slewe hym Hée was buried at newe Troy She drowned the Lady Estrilde with hir daughter Sabrine in a Ryuer that after the young Seuerne maydens name is called Seuerne GVendoline the daughter of Corineus and wife to Locrine 1064 Gvvendoline a Queene raigned Gaufride Flores Historiar forsomuch as Madan hir son was too yong to gouerne y e lande was by common assent of all the Brytaines made ruler of the whole Isle of Brytaine whiche she well and discretely ruled to the comforte of hir subiectes xv yeares and then left the same to hir sonne Madan MAdan the sonne of Locrine and Guendoline was made 1049 ruler of Brytain he vsed great tiranny among his Britons and being at his disport of hunting he was deuoured The King deuoured by VVolues by wild Wolues when he had raigned xl yeres He left him twoo sons named Mempricius and Manlius One olde pedigrée saith he builded the city of Madan now of the riuer Doncaster builded Don called Doncaster MEmpricius the son of Madan being King by treason slue 1009 A travtor to hys brother deuoured of vvilde beastes his brother Manlius after whose death he lyued in more tranquilitie where-through he fell in slouth so to lechery taking y e wiues daughters of his subiects lastly became so euil that he forsooke his wife and concubines and fell to the sinne of Sodomie with beasts whereby he became odible to God man And going on hūting he lost his company was destroyed of wilde Wolues wherof the land was then ful when he had raigned xx yeares EBranke y e son of Mempricius was made ruler of Brytaine 989 Gaufride he had xx● wiues of whom he receyued xx sons and. xxx daughters whyche were sente by their fathers to Alba Flores Histariarū Siluius the fourth King of Albanois in Italy to be marryed to the Albanes This Ebranke firste after Brutus attempted to inuade Fraunce wyth an armye 〈…〉 s Iacobus Iacobus Bergomas Iacobus Lessabeus Bergomas sayeth in hys sixte of hys Chronicles and Iacobus Lessabeus in the description of Henault affyrmeth the same and that he was driuen backe by Brunchildis Lord of Henault with no small losse of his men Assaracus the second Germanie toke the name of Ebranke his sonnes vvho conquered the same sonne of Ebranke with the rest of his yonger brethren 18. at the least by the aide of Alba Siluius cōquered all Germanie which was then no great matter for then Europe was very smally inhabited saue only about the Sea coasts as Dalmatia Italie and the coasts of France as in reading the histories may easily be séene how the East people at sundry Bergoma● Hector Bo●nu● times came swarming into Europe Of these brethren had Germanie the name à Germanis fratribus that had subdued it Ebranke was a founder of many Cities sayth Bergomas as Alcluid in Albania now Scotland whiche is after Dunbretain Edenbrough Bamburgh and Yorke builded Hector Boetius Dunbretaine but other thinke the same to be cleane destroyed He made the Castell of Maidens now called Edenbrough He made also the Castel of Bamburgh in the. xxiij yeare of his raigne he builded Kayrbranke nowe called since by the Saxons Euorwike nowe corruptely Yorke wherein he builded a Temple to Diana set there an Archflame and was there buryed when he had raigned lx yeres Iohn Rouse sayeth he builded Caior Manour after it was called Bellositum at length Caior Bossa Rhydichen and Oxenford of a certaine Forde which Iohn Leiland calleth Isis in Englishe Ouse and saith it is namely called Oxforde for Ouseforde BRutus 2. the eldest son of Ebranke succéeded in the kingdome 929 and for that his father had receyued suche a repulse at the hands of Brunchildis Lord of Henault he in reuēge thereof inuaded Henault with a great army in the Fennes and Marshlande at the mouth of the Riuer Scaldis of olde time named Stadus and encamped him selfe vppon the Riuer Hania where betwéene Brutus and Brunchildis was foughten a strong battaile in that place which to this day is called Estam bruges of the station and campe of Brutus as Iacobus Lessabeus writeth in hys description of Henaulte This Brute of his lustie courage was surnamed Gréeneshielde he raigned xij yeares and was buried at Yorke LEill the sonne of Brute Greeneshielde béeyng a louer of 917 Iohn Bradshaw peace builded Carleile and repaired Carleon whych was since by the Romaines reedified when a legion of Souldiors was sent thither and by them named The City of Legions nowe called
newe Troy he made the Hauen whiche at this day retayneth Belines gate builded Iohn Leland Tovver of Lō dō first builded the name of hym called Belines Gate And as Iohn Lelande wryteth he builded the Towre of newe Troy He maryed hys daughter Cambria vnto a Prince of Almaine called Antenor of whome these people were called Cymbri and Sycambri Finally after he had raigned with his brother and alone xxvj yeares he dyed and after the Pagan manner with great pompe was burned and his ashes in a vessell of brasse set on a hygh Pynacle ouer Belines Gate He builded Carlheon vppon Flores Historiarū the Riuer Vske which since by a legion of the Romanes there placed was named Caerlegion now cleane destroyed GVrgunstus son of Beline succeded his father I. Rouse saith 375 he builded Caier Werithe that is Longcastra He subdued Denmarke compelling them to continue their tribute and in his returne home mette with a fléete of Basdenses comming from the parts of Spaine which were séeking for habitations Giraldus bycause their Countrey was so populous and not able to sustaine them to whom the king graunted the Isle of Ireland Ireland inhabited to inhabite and to holde the same of him as their soueraigne Lord But the Scottes write that Spaniards arriued before Hector Boetius this time in Irelande This Gurgunstus builded Porchester and Warwicke in the middle of the Realme sayth I. Rouse He raigned xxix yeres and was buried at Caerlheon GVinthelinus sonne of Gurgunstus was Crowned king of 356 Brytaine A prince sober and quiet who had to wyfe a noble woman named Mercia of excellent learning and knowledge Flores Historiarū She deuised certaine lawes whych long time among the Brytaines were greatlye estéemed and named Marcian Marcian lavves the thirde Lawes This prince raigned xxvj yeares and was buryed at new Troy CEcilius the sonne of Guinthelin and Marcia raigned vij 350 yeares as the Scottes write In the first yeare of hys raigne a people called Picts arriued here in Brytaine and possessed those partes whiche now be the Marches of bothe The Picts firste inhabited the Marches Realmes Englande and Scotlande Cecilius was buried at Caerlheon KImarus succeded Cecilius who being a wilde yong man liuing after his owne luste raigned but thrée yeares and 323 was slaine as he was hunting of wilde beastes ELanius called also Danius was king of Brytaine nine 321 yeares MOrindus the bastarde sonne of Danius beganne to raign 311 in Brytaine he foughte with a king who came out of Germanie and slewe him wyth all his power Moreouer Gaufride out of the Irishe Seas in hys time came forthe a wonderfull monster whyche destroyed muche people Whereof the king hearing woulde of his valiaunt courage néeds fight with it by whom he was clean deuoured when he had raigned eight yeares GOrbomannus eldest sonne of Morindus raigned eleauen 303 yeres a Prince iuste and religious he renued the Temples of his Gods and gouerned his people in peace welth This Gorbomannus builded Grantham in Lincolneshire Our Englishe Chronicle saith he builded bothe the townes Caxton Grantham builded I. Ro●fe of Cambridge and Grantham but séeing that Cambridge in auntient Chronicles is called Grant as it is also Grantchester Cairgrant and Grantbridge it was an easie matter as Grammarians knowe to translate Grantham into Cambridge and so ascribe the building of bothe Townes to him that builded but one of them ARchigallo brother to Gorbomannus was crowned kyng 292 of Britaine he was in conditions vnlike to his brother for he deposed the noblemen and exalted the vnnoble He extorted from men their goods to enriche his treasurie for which cause by the estates of the Realme he was depriued of The King depriued his royall dignitie when he had raigned fiue yeares ELidurus the thirde sonne of Morindus and brother to 286 Archigallo was elected King of Brytaine a vertuous gentle Prince who gouerned his people iustly As he was hunting in a forrest by chaunce he met with his brother Archigallo whome moste louingly he embraced and found the meanes to reconcile him to his Lordes and then resigned to hym hys royall dignitie when he hadde raygned fiue yeares ARchigallo thus restored to his royall estate ruled the 282 people quietly and iustly tenne yeares and lyeth buryed at Yorke ELidurus aforenamed after the death of his brother Archigallo 272 for his pietie and Justice by the generall consent of the Brytaines was again chosen King But he raigned not passing two yeares but that his yonger brethren Vigenius and Peredurus raysed warre againste him tooke him prisoner and caste him into the Tower of newe Troy where he remayned during their raigne VIgenius and Peredurus after the taking of their brother 270 The tovvne of Pickering built Caxton I. Rouse reigned togither seuen yeares Vigenius then dyed and Peredurus raigned after alone two yeres He builded y e town of Pickering in the North parts of Yorkeshire ELidurus the thirde time was made king who continued 261 his latter raigne honourablie and iustlye but being sore brused with age and troubles he finished his life when hée had nowe lastlye raigned foure yeares and was buried at Carlile Gorbonian raigned in Brytaine ten yeares 258 248 2●4 Morgan guided the Realme peaceably fourtéene yeres EMerianus his brother when hée had tyrannouslye raygned seauen yeares was deposed IVal was chosen King for his iustice and temperance which 227 gouerned peaceably twentie yeares RImo gouerned this Realme sixtéene yeares his time was 207 191 171 A good exāple peaceable Geruncius reygned in Brytaine twenty yeares CAtellus raigned peaceably ten yeares he hung vp all oppressors of the poore to giue example vnto other COilus succeded Catellus who quietlye raigned twentie 161 yeres Porrex a vertuous and gentle Prince raigned fiue yeares 142 CHirimus throughe his drunkennesse raigned but one 136 135 133 132 131 136 1●4 120 118 yeare Fulgen his son raigned two yeares in Brytaine Eldred raigned in Brytaine but one yeare Androgius likewise raigned but one yeare VRianus the sonne of Androgius wholy gaue himselfe to the lustes of the fleshe and raigned thrée yeares Eliud raigned fiue yeares who was a great Astronomer Dedantius King of Brytaine raigned fiue yeares Detonus raigned in this lande two yeares Gurgineus raigned thrée yeares in Brytaine Merianus was king of Brytaine two yeares 115 113 111 108 106 104 94 91 Prodigious signes 88 86 82 81 78 76 74 70 Bladunus gouerned thys lande of Brytaine two yeares Capenus raigned king of Brytaine thrée yeares Ouinus ruled this land of Brytaine two yeares Silius raigned in this land of Brytaine two yeares BLedgabredus raigned ten yeares and gaue himselfe to the studie of Musicke Archemalus was king of Brytaine two yeares ELdolus raigned foure yeares In his time diuerse prodigies were séene as Globes of fire bursting out of the ayre with great
noyse c. Rodianus was king of Brytaine two yeares Redargius raigned king of Brytaine thrée yeares Samulius raigned king of Brytaine two yeares Penisellus was king of Brytaine thrée yeares Pyrrhus ruled this land of Brytaine two yeares Caporus was king of Brytaine two yeares DInellus the son of Caporus a iust and vertuous prince gouerned this Real me foure yeares HElius his sonne raigned not fully one yere Of this prince the I le of Elie toke the name LVd the eldest sonne of Hely succéeded his father he amēded 66 Lud repayred fortified London Flores Hist his laws and toke away al vsages that wer nought moreouer he repayred the Citie of new T●●y with faire buildings and waltestand builded on the Weast parte thereof a strong gate which vnto this time retayneth the ●●●ne of him and is called Ludgate Finally he dyed leauing after hym two sonnes Androgius and Theomantius who not being Ludston or London toke the name of king Lud. of the age ●o gouerned their vncle Cassibelan obtayned the Crown London toke the name of Lud and was called Ludston He was buried nere to the same Ludgate in a Temple which he there ●●ilded CAssibelanus the sonne of Hely after the deathe of his brother 58 Iohn B●le Iulius Caesar his first voyage into England Eutropiu● Lud was made gouernour of Brytaine which ruled xix yeares In the. viij yeare of his raigne Iulius Caesar co●●●ing vnto that parte where Caleys and Boloigue now stand determined to make warre into Brytaine which Eutropiu● vntil that time remained vnfrequented and vnknown of the Romains His quarrell was bicause y e in the wars of Frāce Casars Commentaries he perceyued the Frenchmen to haue much succour and ayde from thence And bycause he could not vnderstand nor learn the greatnesse or state of the Ilād neither what nations they were whiche inhabited the same nor what lawes customes or kinde of gouernemente they vsed nor yet what Hauens they had able to receyue any number of ships he sent Caius Volusenus before with a Galley to discouer as muche as hée coulde concerning those matters who within fiue dayes after retourned to Caesar declaring such things as he had learned by coasting alongst the shore for he durste not for feare of the Brytaines stirre out of his Galley In the meane space there came Embassadours from many Cities of the Isle and deliuered him Hostages with whom he sent Comius of Arras charging him to exhort and perswade the reste of the Cities and Countyes to do the like And he himselfe shortly after hauing prepared lxxx ships sayled into Brytaine where Tvvo voyages of Caesar at the first being wearied with an harde and sharpe battayle and after with sodaine tempest his nauie almost destroyed he retourned againe into Fraunce there to winter his men The next Spring which was the yere before Christ 51. his Nauye being newe rigged and encreased he passed the Seas againe with a greater armye but whiles hée went towards his ●●imies on land his ships lying at Anker were driuen on the sands where they stacke fast or else throughe beating one against another with force of the tempest they were destroyed so that xl were lost the other with muche labour were saued In the meane space Saeua one of Caesars soldiours Eutropius with foure others who before in a small vessel were conueyed to a rocke neare the Isle and by ebbing of the Oceā being for saken a greate number of Brytaines fell on a fewe Romaines and some of his companions though but fewe found meanes to returne by boate but Saeua remained with out fear in y e midst of his enimies dar●s first with his speare he re●●sted them after with his sword he alone foughte against many of them and when he was both wearie woūded and had lost his helmet and shielde with two light harnesses he ranne to Caesars tents and asked pardō of the Emperor for his ouerboldnesse who not onely forgaue him but honored him with the Office of a Centurion Upon land Caesars horssemen at the first encounter were vanquished Laberius Durus the Tribune slaine in a place now called Chestō wood neare vnto Rochester as saith the Chronicle of Wygmore Cro Wigmore At the second conflict not w tout great daunger of his men he put the Brytaines to fight from thence he went vnto the riuer Thamis on y e further side wherof Cassibelanus with a great multitude of people was kéeping the banks who had set all the sayde bankes and al the shallow places vnder the Casars Comen water with sharpe stakes euery one of them as big as a mās thighe bounde aboute with leade and driuen so fast into the bottom of the riuer that they can neuer be remoued so saith Bede Asser Bede and Asser who affirme that in their times the sayde stakes were easilye perceiued to remaine as aforesayd But Cassibelanus and his Brytains not being able to resist the violence and force of the Romaines hid themselues in woods with sodaine eruptions oftentimes inuaded them but in the London submitted to Caesar meane time London their strongest Citie submitted it selfe deliuered hostages to Caesar who at their request placed Mādubratius to be their gouernour whose Father called Imanentius being chiefe Lord or ruler of the Trinobants Cassibelane had before slaine wherewith Mandubratius fled and comming to Caesar not only submitted hymself but also was a great meanes as many doe write for Caesar to subdue the rest yet did Cassibelane sende messengers to the foure Kings that ruled in the quarters of Kente that with al theyr puissance they shold set on the Romaines that lay next thē their names wer Cingetorex Caruilius Taximagulus Segonax who obeying his requeste were discomfited and Cingetorex taken wherewithal Cassibelane being dismayed after many losses was constrayned to giue pledges and to agrée that Brytaine shoulde become tributarie to Romaines Then Caesar Iulius C●sar conquering the vvorld vvas slain vvith bodkins Eutropius Iohn Lydgate Plinie Suetonius The Castels of Douer Cauterbury Rochester the tovver of London built Salisbury Chichester Excester builded like a conquerour with a great number of prisoners sayled into Fraunce and so to Rome where after his retourne out of Brytaine he consecrated to Venus a surcotte of Brytayne Pearles the desire wherof partly moued him to inuade this Countrey shortlye after he was by the Senate slaine in the Counsel house Iohn Lydgate Iohn Rouse and others write that Iulius Caesar builded in this lande the Castels of Douer of Canturburie Rochester and the Towre of London the Castell and towne of Caesars Burie taking his name after Caesar the which is now called Salisburie He also edifyed Caesars Chester that now is called Chichester and the castel of Excester c Caesar in his Commentaries fayth the Brytons coyne was Caesars Cōmenmentaries touching the barbarousnesse of Brytons of brasse or else rings of Iron sized at a
that is to say y e Fleete of Wepped where they slew xij Dukes or Captaynes of the Britaines with many other where as on the part of y ● Saxons there was one only man slaine whose name was Wepped The fourth battell was fought by Hengest Eske against the Britaines who obtaining the victory gote an innumerable spoile in whiche battell the Britaines fledde from the Angles VOrtiger obteined againe the Kingdome and shortly after 460 Hengest which was chased into the I le of Thanet entred the land with a number of Saxons but when he hearde of the great assembly the Britaines had made against him he treated W. Malme for peace which in fine was cōcluded Shortly after Hengest by a guile which before he had deuised bid his son in law iij. C. of his Nobles vnto a feast or banquet where when he The Barons of the Britaine 's slaine at a banquet had ouerlaid his guests with ouermuch Wine he fel to quarelling with taunting talke pinched euery one of thē and straight fel to fighting wherthrough the Britaines were slaine euery one The King was taken prisoner and forced to giue The King taken prisoner for his ransome Kent Sussex Suffolke Northfolke This murther of the Britans was on y t plaine of Salesbury Then Hengest began his dominion ouer Kent Vortiger fled into Wales Hengest King of Kent builded there a Castel of which building lōg let of y e same and of his Prophet Merlin Geffrey Monmouth and others speake many things Great cōpanies of y e Saxōs dayly flocked Beade into this Iland grew so strong y ● the people of y ● Countrey which sent for thē stoode in great feare of their puissance for those Saxons had taken league with the Picts began to turne their force vpō the Britaines and to be short the fire once kindled A miserable state of the Britaynes in y t lands of the Paganes there tooke iust reuenge of y ● wickednes of the people raging first vpō the Cities Countrey next adioyning after from the East sea to the Weast ouerwhelming all the whole Iland without resistance both publike priuate houses were ouerthrowne to y e groūd the Priests were slaine standing at the altare the Bishops with their flocke were murthered without respect of their dignity nor there was any that woulde bury the slaine some of the miserable leauings being takē in the hilles were there killed other being sterued with hunger were faine to créepe out of their caues buy their victuall at their enimies hāds with sale of their libertie for euer if yet they were not killed out of hand other fled ouer the Seas with an heauie hearte other tarying stil in their coūtrey in feare of death lacke of foode liued ful miserably in y e Mountaines woods Cliffes Aurelius Ambrose and Vther bréethren of Constantine y t was before slaine in France landed with a Nauie of Ships at Totnes made war vpon Vortigerne and buried him in his Castell in Wales when he had secondly raigned vj. yeares AVrelius-Ambrose was ordeined king of Britaine in whose time the Britaines by little little began to take strength 466 Beade Wil. Malme and courage vnto thē comming out of their caues in whiche they lucked before and with one consent calling for heauēly help that they might not for euer be vtterly destroyed they had then for their Captaine a Romane called Ambrosius Aurelius a gentle natured man which only of all the bloud of the Romanes remayned then aliue his parents being slayne whiche bare the name of King of the Countrey This man being their Captayne they assembled themselues togither and prouoking the victors to the fighte through Gods assistance atchieued the victorie and from that day forward now the men of the Countrey now the enimie had the victorie vntill the yeare that Bathe was beséeged where they gaue their enimies a greate ouerthrowe which was about the xliiij yeare of their comming into the land but of this we shall speake more héereafter This Ambrosius caused the Churches to be repaired Brute Booke whiche had bin spoyled by the Saxons He caused the greate Stonehenge besides Salesburie Gadeasins Tilberiensis stones to be sette on the playne of Salesburie whiche is called Stonehinge in remembrance of the Britaines that were slaine and buryed there in the time of Vortiger at the banquet and communication of Hengist with the Saxons A Saxon named Cella with his thrée sonnes and a company Kingdome of the South Saxons Agar●a Scot. Brute Booke of Saxons landed in the South part of Britaine A Saxon named Porth landed with his two sonnes Byda and Meagla at an Hauen in South-hamptonshire after whome the Hauen is named Portesmouth The third Kingdome of the East Saxons began in Britain Kingdome of the East Angles vnder Duke Vffa Aurelius Ambrosius being poysoned dyed when he had raigned 32. yeares and was buryed at Stonehinge called Chorea Gigantum VTher Pendragon so called for that he caused alwayes a 498 Gafrid Arbor Succes Dragon to be borne before him in his battels was crowned King of Britaine he vanquished Otta and Oza at Windgate by Coquet Riuer He was enamored vppon Igren the Dukes Wife of Cornewall and to obtayne his vnlawfull lust made warre vpō hir husband Goilen and slew him in battell at Duvilioc On hir he begat Arthure He raigned eyghtéene yeare and was buryed at Stonhinge ARthure the sonne of Vther borne in Cornewall at the age 516 of fiftéene yeares was crowned King of Britaine as some say at Caerleon other at Winchester one old namelesse pamflet saith at Cilicester by Dubritius Archbishop of Legions Nene●iu● This Citie of Cilicester in British is called Caier segent and was scituate néere Reading It was so called for that Constantius the sonne of Constantine the great dyed Sea Cr● there his Sepulture might once haue bin séene there besides the Citie as the Letters engranen on it in stone did declare He tooke to Wife Guinouer Cousin to Cador Duke of Cornewall and Daughter to the King of Biscay Of this King there be many fabulous reportes but certayne Wil. Malmesbery he was a Prince as Malmesberie saith more worthy to haue aduancement by true Histories than false Fables being the only proppe and vpholder of this his Countrey In the beginning of his raigne Lotho and Conradus his Aurea Histor allies enuying his prosperitie made Warre against him but he valiantlye vanquished them with their Pictes and Scottes at his pleasure and appoynted them a Gouernoure Sea Cr● Neni●● named Anguisell He fought twelue fieldes against the Saxons and alwayes bare away the victorie of whiche the last was fought at Bath where by his owne prowesse and manhoode he vanquished nine hundred Afterward he raysed the Malmesberie séege which the Saxons had planted about Lincolne and slewe them in great numbers Thus hauing abated the
North from Berwike cutte off hir nose and vpperlippe and perswaded all hir sisters to doe the like that they being odible to the Danes might the better kéepe their Uirginitie in despite wherof the Danes burned the Abbey the Nunnes therein AElfrede borne in Barkshire at a village called Wantinge 872 Marians Scotus Florentij Croniea cronicarum Asser Alfridus Beuerlacens●● Speculum Hist VVilshire vvhy so named Ricardus Cirecestrensi● Hap of vvarre doubtful the fourth sonne of Athelwolfe receyued the gouernement of the whole realme and within one month after with a very small number fought a sharpe battayle againste the whole armie of the Pagans in a place called Wilion whiche lyeth on the Southside of the Riuer Wily of whiche riuer the whole shyre taketh hys name and after they had foughte a greate parte of the daye the Pagans fled but séeing the fewnesse of them that pursued they sette themselues in battayle againe and got the fielde The Weast Saxons made league with the Pagans vppon condition they shoulde departe out of theyr Countrey The next yeare they wintred at London and made league with the Mercies The nexte yeare they wintered at Lindesey which was in the Kingdome of Northumberlande The next yere at Ripindune they constrayned Burgoredus king of Mercies to flée beyond the Seas who went to Rome where he dyed and was buryed in the Schole of the Saxons Burgoredus death The Pagans subduing y e whole kingdome of the Mercies whiche they committed to Ceonulfus The next yeare one part of the Pagans wintered in Northumberlande neare to the riuer Tyne subdued the whole Countrey the other parte went with Guthram Oskecellus and Amandus thrée kings of the Pagans to Grantbridge and wintered there The yeare following the Pagans going from Cambridge in the night entred the Castel of Warham where there was a Monasterie of Nunnes scituate betwéene two riuers Fraw and Trent in the Country called in the Saxon Thornseta a most sure seat except in the West only where it ioyneth to the lande with whome king Aelfrede made a league that they shoulde departe his kingdome but contrarie to theyr othe they rode into Deuonshire to Exancester and there wintered Exceste● The next yeare 120. of the Pagans shippes were drowned at S●anauing And kyng Aelfrede pursuing an armie that went by lande to Excester toke of them pledges and also an othe to depart with all spéede In the yeare following the Danes ●ame to Chipingham a manner of the kings scituate on the left side of Wiltshire and there wintred compelling many of the Weast Saxons to leaue their Countrey and to goe beyonde the seas the rest that remayned they subdued King Aelfrede himselfe was oft-times brought into such miserie y t none of his people knew where he was become On a time being forced to hide hymwith Asser Spe. Histo. Ri. Ciren a Cowhearde in Somersetshire as he satte by the fire preparing his bowes and shaftes the Cowherdes wife baking breade on the coales threw the kings bowes shaftes aside and said thou fellow why dost thou not turn the bread which thou séest burne thou art glad to eate it ere it be halfe baked This woman thought not that it had bin K. Aelfred who had made so many battels against the Danes and gottē so manye victories For God did not onely vouchsafe to giue him victorie ouer his enemies but also to be wearied of thē in the sight of his owne people to the ende he should knowe there is one God of all to whom all knées shall bow and in whose hands the hearts of kings consisteth The brother Hinguar slayne in Deuonshire of Hinguar and of Healfden who had wintered in Mercia had made great slaughter of the Christians sayled with 23. shippes into Deuonshire where doing great mischief he the The Ensigne of the Danes vvas a Rauen. Alredus Riual most part of his people were slain the rest escaped by fléeing to theyr shippes In this battayle among many rich spoyles was taken a banner or ensigne called Reafan which among the Danes was had in greate estimation for that it was imbrodered by the thrée sisters of Hinguar and Hubba y e daughters of Lodbroke King Aelfrede made a Castel in Aethelingei Ethelyngey the noble Ilande Egbrights store from thence he went to Petram Egebrichti which is on the Eastside of the chace called Sal nudum in Latine Silua magna y ● great wood there met with him al the inhabitants of Hāpshire whiche when they sawe the king reioyced as though he had bene risen from death to life The king with his army wente to Ethandune and fought against the Pagans where he made great slaughter and pursued the reste to their Castell who after xiiij dayes desired peace gaue pledges and toke othe to depart his realme and Gythram their King receiued baptisme harde by Ethelingsey in a place called Alre whome Aelfrede receyued to bée hys Gythram king of Danes christened Chichester God-sonne In the yeare 879. the Pagans went from Chipnan to Cirenceaster and there remayned one yeare after The same yeare a great armye of Pagans came from beyonde the Sea and Fulham wintered at Fullanham harde by the riuer of Thamis The nexte yeare the Pagans wente from Circestre to the Marianus Scotus East English deuiding that Countrey among them there inhabited The Pagans that wintered at Fullanham went into East Fraunce In the yeare 885. an armie of Pagans came into Kent and besieged the Cittie of Rhofeceaster which lyeth on the Easte Rochester besieged side of the riuer Medowege and before the gate of the same Citie they made a strong Castell but Aelfrede with a greate Midvvay Armie chased them to their ships The next yeare Aelfrede restored and honorably repayred Asserius Floriacens London builded made inhabitable the Cittie of London after it had bene amongst other Cities destroyed with fire and the people killed vp he made it habitable againe and committed it vnto the custodie of his sonne in lawe Adhered Earle of the Mercies Kentishemen South and West Saxons whiche before were in Captiuitie Marianus Scotus vnder the Pagans willingly came and submitted thēselues In the yeare 890. Gythram the king of the Pagans whose name in his Baptisme was changed to Athelstane Hadley dyed he was buried in the kings towne called Headleaga among the East English In the yeare 892. the great armie of the Pagans came frō the East kingdome of Fraunce vnto Adbon and from thence with 250. shippes into Kent arriuing in the mouth of the Riuer Limene whiche riuer runneth from the great woodde whiche is called Andreads Weald from whose mouth foure Andreads vveald in Sussex and Hampshire myles into the same woodde they drewe theyr ships where they destroyed a Castel and fortified another more strong in a place called Apultrens now Apulder This wood was from the Easte to the Weaste 120. myles in length and more
appoynted the King and Earle Godwine should méete at London and thus departing for the time the King increasing his armie ledde the same to London and Godwine with his power came to Southwarke on the other side of the Riuer Thamis but there bycause his armie by little and little stipped from him he fledde and the King forthwith pronounced him with his fiue sonnes to be banished who straightwayes with his wife and two of his sonnes came to Thorney where his Shippe being laden with Golde Siluer and precious things he sayled towarde Flanders his other sonnes tooke Shippe at Bristow and sayled into Ireland In the next yeare Harold and Leofwine sonnes to Earle Godwine returning out of Ireland entred Seuerne arriued with many Shippes in Somerset and Dorsetshires spoyled many Townes in the Countrey slew many people and returned with pray then they sayle about Portesmouth c. Earle Godwine landed in Kent gathered a power sayled to the I le of Wight wasting along the Sea coastes till his sonnes Harold and Leofwine came with a Nauy which being come togither they take their course vp the Riuer of Thamis came to Southwarke and there stayed for the Tide and then weyed vp Anchor and finding none that offered to resist them on the Bridge they sayled vp by the South side of the Riuer and his armie by land placing it selfe vppon the banckes side made shew of a thicke and terrible battayle After this the Nauie turned toward the North shore as though it would haue compassed in the Kings Nauie but they that were with the King and with Godwine abhorred to fight againste their owne kindred and Countreymen wherefore a peace was made Godwine with his sonnes were restored to all former honor and the Normans were banished the land As William of Malmesbury writeth a certayne yong woman W. Malme Kings euill healed by the King being terribly diseased by reason of humors gathered about hir necke into great swelling kernels came to King Edward who with his right hand dipped in water handled hir necke and forthwith y e hardnesse did breake the wormes with the matter ranne out and all the noysome dwelling asswaged so that she was perfectly hole and faire skinned ere the wéeke were ended and they that knewe his life sayd he had oft cured this plague in Normandy This Edward raigned thrée and twentie yeres sixe monethes T. Rudborn and odde dayes He was buryed on the day of the Epiphanie in the Abbey of Saint Peeter in Westminster which he had newly builded In the same day Harold the eldest sonne of Godwine Earle of Kent and brother to Edgitha the Quéene hauing obteyned fayth of the nobilitie tooke the Crowne Leofrike Earle of Mercia and of Hereford founded the Monasterie of Couentrie in Anno 1044. He also granted great priuiledges to that Towne HArold that he might in some behalfe séeme to make the 1066 The yeare of our Lord beginneth heere at Christmas yong Edgar amendes for the wrong he had done him gaue him the Earledome of Oxford and so from a King he made him an Earle But in the meane season England began to be tossed and turmoyled with warres within and without for the disheriting of the right heire is alwayes wont to be the beginning of ciuill warres The 24. day of Aprill a Comete appeared not only to the people of this land but also in other parts of the world seauen dayes Toftus enuying as men said the prosperitie ●og Houed Simon D●nel Gualter Couen of his brother stirred vp troubles in the Realme for he ioyning himselfe to Harold the King of Norway assaulted England in warlike sort both by sea and land Whose attempt whiles Harold of England prepared to withstand William Duke of Normandy who notwithstāding he was a Bastard VVilliam Conquerour cousyn to King Edvvard by the mother side was of kinne to Saint Edward in the thirde and fourth degrée of consanguinitie séeing a conuenient time and occasion offered to take the Kingdome in gathered a Nauie of 896. Shippes and came into England with a very well appoynted armie alledging that by all right and title it was due to him by the gift of King Edward his kinsman and also by the couenant that was made and by othe established betwixt Harold and him He landed at Pemsey nine miles Gualter Couen from Hastings the 28. of September Harold notwithstanding he was bare of men by reason of the battel that he had fought against Toftus and the men of Norway yet hearing of Williams comming wente straightwayes againste him Both armies being broughte into aray the battell was fought wherin great slaughter of Englishmen was made and England conquered by vvoden bovves and arovves the Normans gote the victorie especially by meanes of their wodden bowes and arrowes which the Englishmen had not then in vse for Duke William commanded his men that Io. Rouse some of them should shoote directly forwarde and some vpward by reason whereof the arrow shot vpward destroyed the English as they stouped and the arrow shot directly afore hand wounded them that stoode vpright and King Harold himselfe valiantly fighting was shotte through the Harold slayne braynes whereof he dyed when he had raigned nine monethes and was buryed in the Priorie of Waltham which he Sigebertus Gemla●en W. Gemi●●censis Gualterus Couen Hen. Hunting Register of Wodbridge Chronicle of Normandy The description of the Saxons Mathew Paris W. Malme Flores Historiarū had founded This battell was fought at Hastings in Sussex vppon the fourtéenth day of October being Saterday in the yeare of oure Lord 1066. There was slayne of Englishmen 67974. and of Normans 6013. This was saith Mathew Paris the dolefull destruction of this swéete and pleasant land the Kings whereof meaning the Saxons at their firste comming with barbarous countenance and gesture in warlike sort prouoked all men to malice and hatred towards them who ouercame al men by warre and subtiltie but after they had receyued the Christian faith and by little and little applyed their diligence vnto Religion they neglected the exercise of armour for the Kings did change their habite and some at Rome and some in their owne Countrey sought to change their temporall Kingdomes for euerlasting Kingdomes and many which all their life time embraced worldly things did yet distribute their treasures vnto all the workes of mercy but afterwards when charitie waxed colde all their studie and trauaile of Religion slaked and then came the destruction of the inhabitants first at the comming of the Danes and now in the expulsing of the Englishmen by the Normans for the noble men giuing themselues to gluttonie and lecherie did not goe to the Church in the morning as Christian men vse to doe but lying in their Chambers dalying with Women did heare the Priest hastilie rattle vp diuine seruice The Clerkes also that had taken orders if one had learned but his Grammer euery one wondered at him All men generally gaue
he forthwith fell on the Subprior and smote him on the face with his fiste saying indéede indéede doth it become you English Traytors so to answere me Thus raging with othes not to be recited he rent in péeces the rich Coape of the Subprior trode it vnder féete and thrust him against a Piller of the chancell that he had almost killed him but y e Chanons séeing that their Sub-prior was almost dead they ranne and plucked off the Archbishop with such a violence that they ouerthrew him backwards whereby they might sée that he was armed and prepared to fight The Archbishops men séeing their mayster downe being all Strangers and their maysters countreymen borne in Prouance fell vpon the Chanons beate them tare them and trode them vnder their féete at length the Chanons getting away as well as they could ranne bloudy and mirie rent and torne to the Bishop of London to complayne who bade them go to the King at Westminster and tell him thereof wherevpon foure of them went thither the rest were not able they were so sore hurt but when they came at Westminster the King woulde neyther heare nor sée them so they returned without redresse In the meane season the whole Citie was in an vprore and readie to haue rong the common bell and to haue hewed the Archbishop into small péeces but he was secretly gotte away to Lambeth The Friers of the order of Preachers through Christendome and from Hierusalem were by a common conuocation assembled togither at their house in Holborne by London to entreate of their estate to the number of foure hundreth The King taking inestimable summes of money of all the rich mē in his Realme tooke of one Aaron a Jew borne in Yorke 14000. markes for himselfe and 10000. markes for English Ievves A marke of gold or of siluer vvas eight ounces the Quéene and before he had taken of the same Jew so much as amounted altogither to 30000. markes of Siluer and two hundred markes of golde to the Quéene In October the Sea flowing twice without ebbe made Tempestes so horrible a noyse that it was heard a great way into the land Besides this in a darke night the sea séemed to be on a light fire and the waues to fight one with another so that the Mariners were not able to saue their Shippes and to omitte to speake of other in one Hauen called Hureburne besides small vessels thrée noble and famous Ships were swalowed vp of the waues And at Winchelsea besides cotages VVinchelsea drovvned for salte fishermens houses bridges milles aboue 300. houses in that Towne with certayne Churches through the violent rising of the Sea were drowned A great Earthquake at Saint Albons on Saint Lucies day Anno reg 35 Sherifes Maior 1251 Maior of London svvorne Anno reg 36 Humfrey Beas William Fitz Richard the 28. of Septem Iohn Norman the 28. of October King Henry granted that where before time y e Citizēs of London did present their Maior before the King wheresoeuer he were so to be admitted now he should come only before the Barōs of y e Eschequer they should admit him Lawrence Frowike Nicholas Bat the 28. of September Sherifes Maior Adam Basing the 28. of October A great drought from Easter to Michaelmas for from the first of March til the Assumption of our Lady there fell Nicho. Triuet not so much as one drop of raine The Shepeheards of France England tooke their iourney towards the holy land 1252 Shepheards assembled W. Packington Anno reg 37 Sherifes Maior 1253 Iohn Taxtor to y e nūber of 30000. but their nūber vanished in short time King Henry made Alexander King of Scottes Knight at Yorke and gaue him his daughter Margaret to wife William Durham Thomas Wymborne the 28. of Sept. Iohn Toloson Draper the 28. of October The King tooke 40. s of euery Knightes fée to make his eldest son knight He purchased the tenthes of all spirituall liuings at the Popes hands for fiue yeares as it had bin in ayd of the holy land but in déede it was to make his sonne Edmond King of Naples and Sicill The Liberties of London were seased by the meanes of Richard Earle of Cornewal who charged the Maior that he looked not to the Bakers for Liberties of London seased their sises of bread so that the Citie was forced to please the Earle with 600. markes and were restored The King emprisoned the Sherifes of London in the Tower a moneth and more and after deposed them of their office bycause of the escape of Iohn Offrom that was vnder their warde in Newgate for the death of a Priour that was the Kings ally Ypodigma A great Floud hapned in Holland Lindsey and Holdernes Great floud Anno reg 38 Countreys of England the tenth of October which came vnto Alnigham where through a great portion of land with houses and people were drowned Robert Grosted Bishop Robert Grostede of Lincolne in Gréeke Latin and other languages did by an Epistle reproue Pope Innocent affirming that the Nicholas Triuet W. Sheepeshed Preaching Friers minorite Friers were infected with heresies This Robert Grostede borne in Suffolke this yeare deceased he gaue al his bookes to y e friers Minors at Oxford Iohn Northampton Richard Pickard the 28. of Septem Sherifes Maior 1254 Edvvard prince of VVales Richard Hardell Draper the 28 of October Edward y t Kings eldest sonne wedded the Kings daughter of Spayne Elianor his father gaue him the Earledome of Chester and the gouernance of Guyen and Ireland The Bishop of Hereford in the Court of Rome feigning himselfe Procuratour for the Cleargy of England bound the small houses of Religion in 100. or 200. markes the péece Rodul de Diceto the greater houses in 300. or 500. markes the péece Saint Edmondsburie was bound in 700 markes to be paide to certayne Taxtor Anno reg 39 Merchant strangers and all this money was collected to expulse Manfred out of Naples Ralph Ashwye Robert of Limon the 28. of September Sherifes Maior 1255 Mathew Paris Anno reg 40 Ievves hanged Nicholas Triuet Richard Hardell Draper the 28. of October Cxlij Iewes were brought to Westminster which were accused of y e crucifying of a child named Hugh at Lincolne xviij of thē were drawne through the stréetes at Lincolne and after hanged y e other remained long prisoners The Earles Barons of England with assent of the Prelates caused proclamatiō to be made through all England that the Charters of liberties forests should be kept at their instance Boniface Archbishop of Canturbury accursed all those that shuld breake thē Lewlin Prince of Wales gathering a mighty ●ād of mē inuaded Cheshire which y e King had lately giuē to his son Edward and destroyed all things with fire sword till he came to the gates of the Citie of Chester to represse whose violēce a valiant
taken and brought to London with greate numbers of men and women wondring vppon him he was lodged Adam Merimo in the house of William Delect a Citizen of London in Fanchurche stréete On the morrow being the euen of Sainte Tho. Delamore Bartholmew he was brought on horssebacke to Westminster Iohn Segraue and Geffrey Knights the Maior Sherifes Aldermen of London and many other both on horsseback and on foote accompanying him and in the gret hall at Westminster he being placed vppon the South benche crowned with Laurel for that he had sayd in times past y e he ought to bear a Crowne in that Hall as it was commonly reported and being appeched for a traytour by sir Peter Mallorie y e kings Justice he aunswered that he was neuer traytour to y e king of England but for other crimes whereof he was accused hée confessed them and was after headed and quartered There was opened to the K. a conspiracie wrought by the Archbishop of Canturburie and diuerse Earles and Barons against him at such time as he was in Flaunders The Earle Marshal being examined of this and being not able to purge himselfe made the king his heire and put him in possession of his landes to haue his grace and thus doing the Kyng gaue him again 1000. pound land by the yeare during hys life William cosine Reignalde Thunderle 28. of September Sherifs Custos Anno reg 34 Sir Iohn Bloud the. 28. of October Robert Bruce an Englishman presuming by the righte of his wife to vsurpe the Kingdome of Scotlād called a Parliament of the nobles of Scotland within the Church of the Friers 1306 Minors in Domfries where he slewe Iohn Comin bycause he woulde not agrée to the treason and shortlye after to wit in the feast of the Anunciation of our Lady in the Abbay of Scone he caused himself to be solemnely crowned king by the Bishoppes of Glasco and Saint Andrewes firste and the third day after by the Countesse of Bowan bicause hir brother the Earle of Fife to whome by right of inheritaunce that office belonged was then absent in England In the feast of Penticost king Edward honored his eldest sonne Edward of Carnaruan with the degrée of Knighthoode and with him also moe than a hundred noble yong men at Westminster About the feast of the Natiuity of our Lady the king wēt againe into Scotland with a great army hauing sent his son Edward with Ayner de Valence Earle of Penbroke Roberte Clifforde Henrie Lacy and many other noble knightes and gentlemen at Whitsontide before also he sente before hym his Justices of Trayle Bastō two and two togither into euery Citie and place into which he woulde come giuing thē power to kill traytours drawe and hang periured persons burn such as worke deceite destroy the wicked and set Englishmen in their places and there were taken by them in the space of two monthes by inquisition of Juries Hundreds Thousands breakers of peace and conspiratoures amongst the which Nigellus de Bruse brother to Robert de Bruse was drawne through Berwicke and hanged Moreouer Christopher and Iohn Seyton brethren wer hanged y ● Countesse of Bowan was closed in a Cage whose breadth length height depth was eight foote and hanged ouer the wa●● of Berwike the Bishop of Saint Andrews and of Glasco with the Abbot of Stone were sent to seuerall prisons in England King Edward besieged Simon Frisell in Lilyscho and tooke him and sent him to London Tower where he founde many Scottish Lordes in fetters of yron amongst whom was Thomas Morham with Herbert his sonne and Thomas Roy his Esquire who were all beheaded Simon Frisel was hanged drawne and quartered Earle Iohn de Athol bycause he was of the Kings bloud and an Englishman was not drawn but hanged and headed Sir Iohn Wallers was sente to the Tower of London and after hanged and headed Lawrence de Megos Esquire was taken at Douer there beheaded The Earle of Stratherne yéelded to king Edward who condemned him to remaine during his life in yron fetters in the Castel of Rochester At this time and long after King Edward had Scotland in such good obedience as he gaue of the landes thereof to hys Ex charta regia seruauntes and subiectes in England with Markets Fayres and Warrens amongst others I haue séen vnder the broade seale of the sayd king Edward a Manour called Ketnes in the Countie of Ferfare in Scotland and néere the furthest parte of the same nation Northwarde giuen to Iohn Evre and hys Lord Evre heires ancester to the Lord Eyre that now is for his seruice done in those partes with market euerye Monday fayre for thrée dayes euery yeare at the feast of Saint Michael and frée Warren for y e same dated at Lauercost the. 20. day of October Anno regni 34. Geffrey Cundute Simon Bylet 28. of September Sherifes Custos Sir Iohn Blound the. 28. of October This yere Margaret Quéene second wife to Edwarde the Registrum f●●●rum ●inor●m Anno reg 53 first began to builde the quire of the Churche of the Gray Friers in London to y e building wherof in hir life she gaue 2000. markes and. 100. marks by hir Testament Iohn of Brytai● Earle of Richmond builded the body of the church Lady Marie Countesse of Penbroke Gilbert Clare Earle of Glocester Margaret Countesse Lady Elenor le Spencer and Lady Elizabeth de Brugh sisters to the Gilbert de Clare gaue greate summes of mony towards the same Richarde Whitington sometime Alderman and Maior of London founded the Librarie there in Anno. 1421. King Edward held his Christmasse at Carlile with a great multitude of English people in the month of January next Parliament at Carlile 1307 following he called a great Parliament to be holden at Carlile vpon the Octaues of S. Hillarie to treat of matters cōcerning the state of Scotland wherevnto were somoned manye Lords both of the Spiritualtie Tēporaltie who either appeared Parliament Records in person or else by proxie My self haue séene and red an auntient register of good authoritie contayning y e names of lxxxvij Erles and Barōs xx Bishops lxj Abbots viij Priors besides many Deanes Archdeacons other inferiour Clearks of y e Conuocation The maister of the Knights of the Temple of euery shire two Knightes of euerye Citie two Citizens and of euery borough two Burgesses c. Archbishop of Yorke Bishops Of Lincolne London Chichester Excester Hereford Salisburie Landaf S. Assafe Bangor S. Dauids Couentrie and Li●chfielde Bath and Wels. Norwich Rochester Durham Carlile Elie. Worcester Abbots Of S. Augustine in Cāterbury Of Saint Edmunde Saint Albane Westminster Waltham Euesham Saint Marie at Yorke Peterborow Ramsey Winchcombe Glocester Bristow Malmesburie Glastonburie Selby Cyrcester Reding Furney Sawley Alnewike Saint Osith Barlyng Tupholme Byley Dale Newh●s Croxton Cokersande Saint Radegound Tichfield Torre Holmcolthram Welbecke Hales New Monasterie Iereual Fountaines
Northampton 1228 Peace vvith the Scottes shameful peace was made betwixt the Englishmen and Scots so that Dauid the sonne of Robert Bruis scarce seuen yeres olde married Ioan of the Tower king Edwardes sister at Berwike the twelfth of July Also the king made the Scottes charters the tenour whereof was vnknowen to the Englishmen but al was done as it pleased the olde Quéene Roger Mortimer and Iames Dowglas The Scottes made manye tannting times against the Englishmen for the fond disguised apparel by them at that time vsed amongst the which was fastened vppon the Church doores of Saint Peter towardes Stangate Long beardes hartlesse Scottish taunts Painted hoodes vvitlesse Gay coates gracelesse Makes England thriftlesse Adam Tarleton was made Bishop of Worcester In a Parliament at Salisburie the K. made thrée Erles Parliament at Satisburie Iohn of Eltam his brother Earle of Cornewal Roger Mortimer Earle of the March and Iames Butler of Ireland Earle of Ormond From this Parliament the Earle of Lancaster y e Lord Wake Henrie Beamonde Earle Marshal and other noble men did absent thēselues not being far off frō thence in armour for the whiche the King was highly displeased notwithstanding in Sommer following they submitted themselues vnto the Kyngs mercy séekyng his fauour Simon Fraunces Henrie Combmartin the. 28. of Sep. Sherifes Maior Iohn Grantham the. 28. of October Certaine men of this land to y ● intent to try what friends K. Edvvard the seconde bruted to be aliue they had in England craftily deuised that Edward the second king of England was aliue in the Castell of Gorffe but not to bée séene in the daye time and therefore they vsed manye nightes to make shewes and maskyng wyth dauncing vpon the towers and Wals of the Castel which being perceyued by people of the countrey it was thoughte there had bin some great king vnto whom they dyd these greate solemnities this rumour was spredde ouer all Englande to witte that the olde King was aliue whence it came to passe that the Earle of Kent sente thyther a Fryer Precher to trye the truth of the matter who as it was thought hauing corrupted the Porter of the Castell with rewardes is Anno reg 3. let in where he lay all the day in the Porters lodge verye close and whē night was come he was willed to put on y ● habit of a lay mā and then was brought into the Hal wher he saw as he thought Edwarde the Father of the king sitting royally at supper with great maiestie This Frier being thus perswaded returned againe to the Earle of Kente and reported as he thought what he saw whervpon y ● Erle saide and affirmed with an othe that he would indeauoure by all the meanes he coulde to deliuer his brother from prison The same yeare at the earnest request of some the king 1329 held a Parliament at Winchester where by procurement of the olde Quéene and Roger Mortimer the sayde Earle of Parliament at VVinchester Kent and manye other noble men and religious persons to witte the prouincials of the white Carmilit Friers and of the blacke Preaching Friers and Frier Richarde Wliten were accused of conspiracie touching as it was sayde the deliuerye of the Kings Father which matter although it were but deuised fantasie and a méere lye yet the sayde Earle for certaine confessions whyche he made and for certayne letters which were founde about him was there beheaded The other to wit y ● prouincials of the Predicants Erle of Kent the kings vncle beheaded at VVinchester Carmilites were banished but the Bishop of London was set at libertie Robert de Taunton Priest and some certain Carmilite Friers and predicants were condemned to perpetual prison The death of the sayde Earle was the lesse lamented bycause his familye and seruauntes had aboue measure afflicted the commons in taking vp things as they trauayled at the Kings price paying nothing or verye lyttle for it Richarde Lazer Wyllyam Gisours the 28. of Sept. Sherifes Maior Richarde Swanland the 28. of October There was a Parliament holden at Notingham where Roger Mortimer was in suche glorie and honoure that it was without all comparison No man durst name him any other than Earle of Marche a greater rowt of men wayted at his héeles than on the Kings person he would suffer the King to rise to him and would walke with y ● King equally step by step chéeke by chéeke neuer preferring y ● King but would go formost himselfe with his Officers he greatly rebuked the Earle of Lancaster cousin to the Kyng for that withoute hys consent hée appointed certayne lodgings for Noble men in the Towne demaundyng who made him so bolde to take vppe lodgings so nighe vnto the Quéene wyth whyche wordes the Conestable béeyng greatelye feared appoynted lodging for the Earle of Lancaster one myle oute of the Towne and lykewise were lodged the Earle of Hereforde Iohn de Bohune of Estsex highe Conestable of Englande and others By whyche meanes a contention rose among the Noblemen and greate murmuring among the common people who sayde that Roger Mortimer the Quéenes Paragon and the Kyngs Mayster sought all the means he could to destroy the Kyngs bloude and to vsurpe the Regall Maiestie whyche reporte troubled muche the Kyngs friendes to wéete William Mountacute and other who for the safegarde of the Kyng sware themselues to be true to his person and drew vnto them Robert de Hollande who hadde of long tyme béene chiefe kéeper of the Castell vnto whome all secreate corners of the same were knowne Then vppon a certayne night the Kyng lying without the Castel bothe he and his friendes were brought by Torchlight through a secrete waye vnder ground beginning far off from y ● said Castell til they came euen to the Quéenes Chamber whyche they by chaunce found open they therfore beyng armed with naked swords in their hāds went forwards leauing the King also armed without the dore of the Chamber least that his mother should espie him they which entred in slew Hugh Turpinton Knighte who resisted them Mayster Iohn Neuell of Horneby giuing him his deadly wound From thence they went toward the Quéene mother whome they found with the Earle of March readie to haue gone to bedde and hauing taken the sayde Earle they ledde him out into the Hall after whome the Quéene followed crying Bele fits bele fits ayes pitie de gentil Mortimer Good sonne good son take pitie vpon gentle Mortimer for she suspected that hir sonne was there though she saw him not Then are the keyes of the Castell sent for and euery place with all the furniture is yéelded vp into the Kings hands but in suche secret wise that none without the Castell except the Kings friends vnderstoode thereof The next day in the morning very early they bring Roger Mortimer and other his friēds taken with him with an horrible shout and crying the Earle of Lancaster then blind being
Valoys layde out in the warres of Gascoigne Thirdly he sayde that he was a friend and louer of iustice and equitie whiche he woulde neuer swarue from neyther for friendship nor affinitie but he woulde by all meanes he could molest and vex all breakers of the peace of the Kingdome of Scotland for saith he there shall neuer be perfecte peace and quietnesse among Christians before the King of Fraunce sitte in place of Judgement for the right of the Kingdomes of France England and Scotland Iohn Kingston Walter Turke the 28. of September Sherifes Maior Reignald at Conduct Vintner the 28. of October Part of the Uniuersitie of Oxford wente to Stamforde Ro. de Auesbery bycause of a variance that fell betwéene the Northerne and Southerne Schollers Upon Saint Clements night through abundance of waters Anno reg 9. but specially in the Thamis all the Cattell and beastes néere therevnto were drowned and the land made 1335 vnfruitefull by salte waters King Edwarde had a tenth of the Cleargie and also ●● the burgesses and a fiftéenth of the commons About the feast of Pentecost he helde a Parliament at Parliament at Northampton Tho. de la More Northampton where leauing the Prelates states and commons debating about matters himselfe secretely rode to Berwike and there taking with him a few men of armes he went to Saint Iohns Towne whiche he strengthned wyth trench and rampire and sente his Earles with the King Conquerour to make an inrode vpon the Countrey and to sée what Scottes they could finde would resist them but Ro. de Auesbery none durst abide their comming but hidde themselues in hilles wooddes and marishes and in the meane tyme many Earles and Barons came and submitted themselues to King Edward vpon conditions as followeth These be the poyntes agréed betwixt the counsell of the Kings of England and Scotland on the one partie and Alexander Mowbrey Geffrey Mowbrey Godfrey de Roos William Bulloke and Eustace de Loreyne hauing full power from Dauid Stravulgi Earle of Dassels and Robert Steward of Scotland to treate accorde and affirme all poyntes enterparled and to be enterparled betwixt the sayde Kings and the Earle and Stewarde as appeareth by their letters patents of eyther partie First it is accorded that the sayd Earle Dassels the great men and all other of the communaltie of Scotlande whiche shall come in the same conditions shal haue life and member lands and tenements fées and offices within Scotland which they ought to haue by inheritance or right those except which shall be surprised by common assent Item that they shall be pardoned of emprisonmente and of all manner trespasses by them done in the Realmes of England and Scotland from the beginning of the world vnto the date of these presents Item the Earle Dassels and Alexander Mowbrey shall haue landes tenementes possessions and fées in Englande which they had at their departure after the homage done at Newcastell vpon Tine Item that the franchises of the Churche in Scotlande shall be mainteyned after the auntiente vsage of Scotlande Item that the lawes of Scotland in Borough Townes Shriuewikes within the landes of the King of Scotlande be vsed after the antient vsages and custome of Scotland as they were vsed in the dayes of King Alexander Item that the offices of Scotland be ministred by people of the same Nation yet notwithstanding that alwayes the king of Scotland may put such officers in as shal please him of what nation soeuer they be Item that all those that within the conditions of the Earle Dassels haue landes within the landes of the King of England in Scotland shall haue agayne the same landes tenements possessions offices and fées as they had them at their departure after their homage done at Newcastell vpon Tine except those that shall be forprised by common assent Item that if they be empleded for their landes and tenements a●oresayd that they haue their defences and recoueries in Court where they ought to haue Item as touching the demaund which the Earle Dassels claymeth that the King of England ought to acquite his lands in England which he hath in gage for eyght hundred markes the King neyther ought nor will do it but as touching the Manour of Byphingdone which the said Earle layd to pledge for two hundred and fiftie poundes it is accorded that if the sayde Earle do come within one yeare after the date of these presents and will acquite the Manoure the King shall cause that hée haue the same Manoure Item as touching the Castell and Lands of Chilham it is accorded that the sayde Earle be in the same point that hée was before at hys departure and haue hys recouerie by lawe and the Kyng promiseth in good fayth that he will cause that he may haue the land without delaying eyther partie And touching the lands which the sayde Earle claymeth to haue in Norffolke of the which he hathe Charters it is accorded that hys Charte●● béeyng séene of the Kinges Counsell he wyll doe reason ●●em that in case any man surmise treason vpon the sayd Earle he may defend himselfe by his body according to the lawes and vsages of Scotland and on the march●● and that all those that be within these conditions haue the like graunt Item as to the pardon which William Ramsey Knight demandeth for the trespasse by him done to William Lorde Mountagew to wéete for beating downe his Castell of Haghtordone the same William shall be readie to do according to that that shall be aduised by the Kings of England and Scotland Item that the sayd Stacie de Lorayne haue his landes and tenements which he ought to haue within the Realme of Scotland and if any man haue trespassed towardes him he shall haue his recouerie by law Written at S. Iohns Towne in Scotlande the eightéenth of August Anno 1335. Walter Mordon Richard Vpton the 28. of September Sherifes Maior Nicholas Wutton the 28. of October Phillip Quéene of England did beare hir second sonne named Wyllyam at Hatfielde who shortlye after dyed Aboute the feast of the Epiphany the King and the Anno reg 10 Archbishoppe returned out of Scotland to the buryall of Iohn of Eltham Earle of Cornewall brother vnto the King who deceassed at Berwike in the moneth of October and was buryed at Westminster At whiche time 1336 Parliament at London Duke and Erles created W. Sheepeshed the King kepte a Parliamente at London whiche beganne on the Monday after Saint Matthies day and on the firste Sundaye in Lente hée made hys eldest sonne Edwarde Earle of Chester and Duke of Cornewall Tho. de la More He made also sixe other Earles Henry of Lancaster sonne to Henry Earle of Lancaster Earle of Darby Hugh Audley Earle of Glocester William Bohune Earle of Northhampton William Montacute Earle of Salisburie William Clinton Earle of Huntingdon Robert Vffurd Earle of Suffolke to the which Robert he at that time gaue the manor of
and therefore shalt thon dye for he vnderstoode not his spéech neyther had he anye skill to take gentlemen prisoners to kéepe them for their raunsome wherfore the residue of those Gennowayes after they had set the towne a fire and brent it vp quite fledde to their Galleyes and in theyr fléeing certaine of them were drowned After this the inhabitantes of the towne compassed it about with a strong and great Wal. The King still mayntayning his warres in Fraunce on the euen of the Annuntiation of our Lady ●j galleyes approching to the towne of Harwich they cast fire therein the force whereof by a contrarie winde was stayd so that no gret harme was done thereby Furthermore in the same yeare about the feaste of Pentecost certaine Pirates of Normandie and Geno● shipped in Gallenes and Pinaces made a shew on the sea about Southampton as they woulde haue come alande and threatned sore to spoyle the towne againe but perceyuing the townesmen ready to resist them they returned to the I le of Wight but entred not being put backe by the inhabitauntes wherevppon they sayled about the sea coastes séeking to lande in places lesse defended and after came to Hastings where they brente fishers cotages with theyr boates and slewe many men Also they made greate shewes many times against the I le of Thanet Douer and Fulkestone but in those places they did little harme excepte to poore fishermen thence they sayled about to the hauens of Cornewall and Deuonshire doing in all places much harme to the fisher men and suche shippes as they founde vnmāned they fiered At length they entred Plimouth Hauen where they brent certain great shippes and a great parte of the towne these were met by Hugh Curtney Earle of D●●onshire a knight of foure scoure yeares olde being accompanyed with manye souldiours of his Countrey who hauing lost at the firste fronte a fewe of his men whiche were slaine by the quarrels of the French ioyned to fighte wyth them hande to hande and slaying many of the Pyrates vpon drye lande chased the residue which fled to take their Galleys and being not able to come nigh them by wading they ●●ere drowned in the ●ea to the nūber of fiue hundred New●s being brought to the King lying in Brabant that diuers Parts of Englande were spoyled with the Pirates hée declared to his friends to wit the Marques of Iult●cence and a cer●●●●e Cardinall what great causes he had to reuenge himself vpon them and in the end was aunswered by the Cardinal as followeth The kingdome of Fr●●●● sayde he is compassed about with ● thr●ed of ●●lke whiche can not be broken by all the strength of the kingdome of Englande wherefore my Lorde king you must stay for the comming of the Dutchmen and other your friendes and confederates the greater part wherof you now ●a●l●● The King raking great disdaine hereat staying nothing at al● said that he woulde ride into the land of Fraunce with Banner displayed and y ● ther he wold l●ke for that mightie power of the French men and that hée woulde eyther winne the same against any man that should with 〈…〉 〈…〉 or else ●●nestly dye in the fielde 〈…〉 Po●●●●et Hugh M●betel the 28. of Septem Sherifes Maior Hence Dar●● the ●8 of October King Edward wintere● at Antwerp where Quéene Philip was deliuered of hir thirde son Lionel after Erle of Vl●●er The king toke vppon him to be lieuetenauute of the King Edvvarde made vicegerē● of the Empire Empire from the D●●● of Bauare who helde himselfe as Emperour A sodaine inundation of Water at Newcastle vpon Tine Richard South Nevvcastel drovvned 1339 bare downe a péece of the Towne Wall a sixe pearches in length neare to a place called Walkenew where ●20 men women were drowned In the U●g●●●● Saint Matthy king Edwarde beganne to ryde with Banner displayed and twelue thousand men of armes against the Frenche King burnyng Townes and Castels wheresoeuer he came In the first night being verye darke Geffrey Lord Scrope one of the Kings Justices led one of the Cardinals to wit Bertrand de Mount Fa●●ntyne of the title of our Ladie vp into an high Tower shewing hym the whole lande about towarde Fraunce for the compasse of fiftéene leagues to be in euery place on ●re saying these wordes sir doth not this si●●en threed wherwith Fraunce is compassed seme to you to be broken the Cardinall aunswering nothing fel downe as deade for sorowe and feare In thys sort king Edward made ●ourneyes into France dayly continuing the space of fiue wéekes and caused ●y● armye to trauell in such sort that they destroyed the whole Countrey of Cambray Tourney Vermode● and Landenewe excepting those Cities which wer sword to him w t churches and Castels The inhabitauntes of the Countrey fledde neyther was there anye man that durst resist his enterpryses althoughe the Frenche King had gathered greate armies within the Walled Cities himself lying in the strōg Towne of Saint Quintines what time the Brabanders had determined to returne home againe and were entred into theyr iourney being forced there vnto partlye by wante of victuals and partlye by the coldnesse of Winter whyche grew on fast The French king vnderstanding thereof beganne to moue himselfe with hys armye towarde the campe of the king of England who gladly loking for his comming called back again the Brabanders hauing receyued letters frō the Frenche King that he woulde ioyne battayle against hym he sent him worde back againe that he woulde stay for him thrée dayes wherefore on the fourth daye the Kyng loking for the Frenche Kings comming whiche woulde come no nearer them than two miles off breaking bridges and felling of trées that the King of Englande mighte not followe hym he fled to Paris wherevpon king Edwarde returned by Hanonia in Brabrant where he continued almost the whole Winter William Thorney Roger Frosham the. 28. of Septe● Sherifes Maior Andrewe Awbery Grocer the. 28. of October In this Winter time king Edwarde grewe into greate friendshippe with the Flemmings who prepared themselues at all times to shewe their selues as good subiectes vnto him swearing to doe homage and fealtie vppon condition that he would call himselfe King of Fraunce and in token thereof would from thence forth giue armes with Flouredeluces for otherwise they durste not obey him for feare of the Popes curse which was to be layde vppon them if at any time they rebelled against the King of Fraunce Wherefore by the co●●●●ll of his friends the Flemmings and consent of his noble men he agréed there vnto and tooke vppon him both the name and armes of the King of France He also toke Flaunders vnder his gouernement the people wherof long after in all matters were to him obedient as vnto the King of Fraunce Conquerer As touching the title and and armes aforesayde the Frenche king sayde to certayne Englishmen sent vnto him our cousin quoth he doth wrongfully beare quartered armes of England
Scotlande where most victoriouslye he conquered it and the same Ile being called the I le of Man the kyng gaue it to the Conquerour franckelye and fréely to be possest and caused hym King of Man to be called and crowned king of that I le Then King Edward returning towards the south parts kept solemn torneymentes at Dunstable beyng accompanyed wyth 230. Knightes The same yeare was a Parliamente at Westminster wherein the Archbishoppe of Canterburie was reconcyled to the King before whom the Archbishoppe sware that althoughe the Kyng by hys counsell and consente hadde done homage to the French King for the Dukedome of Aquitaine and the Earledome of Poytowe yet he neuer consented therto as to be anye hurte or preiudice to the Kyng or that by hys counsel he myghte incurre fauoure or séeke to please the French King but for that presente tyme he thoughte it beste to be done both for the obtayning of peace and also for the profit of the Kyng and Realme After this Parliament the king commaunded Florences of golde to be made at the Tower of London that is to saye the peny of the value of sixe shillings eight pence the halfe penye of the value of thrée shillings foure pence a farthing worthe twentye Florences of golde Sherifes Maior Anno reg 17 pence Iohn Louekyn Richard Rifling bury the. 28. of Septem Simon Fraunces Mercer the. 28. of October In a Parliament at Westminster in the moneth of May the religious men that were possessours of Lands graunted to the king towards the maintenaunce of his warre al their iewels and plate as wel siluer as gold horsses carts wagons whervpon the kings treasure was notably enriched The same yeare auctoritie was giuen to the kings escheters 1343 to enquire and certifye the Counsell of al such persons which helde of the King any landes in Capite or by any A general suruey of the vvhole realme of England other fée to the value of one hundred shillings and that the names of all suche shoulde be enrolled and giuen vp for recorde Also certaine other were put in aucthoritie to signifie howe many sufficient and able bow-men were in euerye shire also what other sufficient men were able to beare armour for the defence of theyr Country and to sée them practised with suche kinde of weapon wherein they had beste skill and being thus assembled in all parts of the Realme speciallye suche as were of lawfull age commaundemente was giuen out that they shoulde be readye at the Kyngs commaundemente to fyghte agaynste theyr enimies King Edwarde and his nobles perceyuing the derogation Ro. de Auesbury Gual Homingford that was done to the realme by such reseruations prouisions and collations of benefices as the Pope practised here in England wrote to him requiring him that sith the Churches of Englande had bene founded and endued by noble and worthy men to the ende the people might be instructed by people of their owne language and that he beyng so farre off coulde not vnderstande the defaultes yet hys predecessours and he more than had bene vsed by diuerse reseruations prouisions and collations made to diuerse persons some straungers yea and some enimies to the Realme whereby the money and profits were carried forth theyr cures not prouided for according to the founders mindes they therefore vpon due considerations therof signifyed to him that they coulde not suffer such enormities any longer and therefore besought him to reuoke such reseruations prouisions and collations wholy to auoyde suche slaunders mischieues and harmes as mighte ensue and that the cures might be committed to persons méet for the exercises of the same beséeching him further wythout delay to signify his intention sith they ment to bestow their diligence to remedie the matter and sée that redresse might be had Giuen in ful Parliament at Westminster the xviij of May in the yeare 1343. Iohn Steward Iohn Aylesham the. 28. of September Sherifes Maior Iohn Hamonde the. 28. of October Many being called to ayde the King against the Scots but not being ready they contributed their money wherewith the king might hyre souldiours in place of them that remayned at home King Edward caused to be called togither a great many Anno reg 18 Tho. Walsing 1344 Round Table at VVindsore of Artificers to the Castell of Windsore and began to builde an house whiche was called the Rounde Table the floure wherof from the Center or midde point into the compasse was an hundred foote and the whole Diameter 200. foote the Circunference thereof is 600. foote and thrée quarters The same time Phillip de Valoys king of Fraunce buylded Round Table in Fraunce Scala Croni a Rounde Table in his Countrey to the ende he mighte allure the menne of Warre of Germanie and Italie and so to kéepe them from the Kyng of Englandes Rounde Table Kyng Edwarde in succour of Iohn Mountfort Duke of Th● de la More Brytaine and of his wife and children who then remayned in the kings custodie sent the Earles of Northampton and of Oxforde Hugh Spencer and Richard Talbot Knightes and maister William Kilesby Clearke euerye one of them hauing vnder them many mē of armes and archers into Britaine who entred there-into in despight of al theyr enimies whych resisted them making many conflictes They toke as well walled Townes as other with diuerse Fortresses and Castelles both by assaulte and surrender by whiche meanes they had the whole Countrey vnder theyr subiection conquering till they came to the Towne of Morleis where Charles de Bloys mette them wyth a greate armye Therfore in the Champion grounde nygh vnto Morleys the Battayle as Morleys two armyes made greate and moste stoute battayle wherin the worthinesse of both sortes dyd full well appeare for they fought so stout on both sides that in the first conflict it chaunced as the like had not bene séene for the chiefe Captaines Charles de Bloys to whom the Frenche king hadde giuen the Dukedome of that Countrey and William de Bohune Earle of Northamton who for the defence of y e right of Iohn de Mountfort naturall heire and Duke of that lande the king of Englande had made a generall ouer the army of the English men who foughte so long wyth hande strokes in the fielde that daye that no manne but a lyar coulde giue more prayse to the one than to the other Thrée tymes that daye they beyng wearied on both sides wythdrewe themselues to take breathe and then fell to it again with Speare and shielde and sworde and Targe but in y e ende the right worthy and stoute Charles de Bloys his men fléeing away was also forced to flée himselfe wherevppon after many slaine on both sides the victorie fell to the Englishmen Geffrey Wichingham Thomas Legge the. 28. of Sep. Sherifes Maior Iohn Hamond the. 28. of October King Edwarde sente ouer Henrie Earle of Darbie son to the Earle of Lancaster his cousin
theyr horsse féete but these performed not that whiche was commaunded them as it appeared by the sequele thereof The armies being set in a readinesse on both sides for to fighte early on Sonday in the morning which was notable fayre beholde there came the Cardinall of Petragoren and charged the prince in the name of God who was crucified that it mighte please him to deferre the warre for a tyme both for ecclesiasticall peace and also for the sparing of Christian bloud and to the ende there might be a treatie had of peace the whiche he promised shoulde be performed wyth great honour on both sides The Prince neyther feared nor refused peace but modestly agréed to the request of this Father All this day nowe being appointed for the obtaynyng of peace the army of the French men encreased by the number of a thousande men of armes and also of other On the morrowe after the Cardinall came againe from the Frenche king in his behalfe to request a truce which should endure for one whole yeare the whiche the Prince denyed yet at the importunate sute of that Cardinal he graunted a truce to continue till Christmasse next comming Therefore the Cardinall returning to the Frenche King requested him of pledges for the truce but the Marshall Dawdenam Geffrey de Charney Douglas the Scot perswaded him that by common reason it coulde not come to passe that the English men shoulde at that time preuayle and especially bycause they were but fewe and in a straunge Countrey wearyed out miserably with their toyle in trauel therefore not ableto indure so great a number of the French men of Fraunce who stood in defence of theyr own lande The Prince of Wales being certified that the Captaines of the French wold haue no kind of peace but such as they could get by force of armes calling his men togither he made to them an Oration first in generall and then to his Archers as followeth your māhoode saith he hath bin alwayes known to me in great dāgers which sheweth y t you are not degenerate frō true sons of English men but to be descended from the bloude of them which heretofore were vnder my fathers dukedome his predecessors kings of Englande vnto whome no labour was paineful no place inuincible no ground vnpassable no Hil wer it neuer so high inaccessible no tower vnscaleable no army inpenitrable no armed souldiour or whole hostes of men was formidable Their liuely couragiousnesse tamed the French men the Ciprians the Siracusians the Galabrians the Plestinis and brought vnder the stiffe necked Scottes and vnruely Irish men yea and the Walsh men also which could wel indure all labour Occasion time and daungers maketh of feareful verye strong and stoute and doeth manye times of dull witted men make wittie honour also and loue of the Countrey and the desire of the rich spoyle of the French men doth stirre you vp to follow your fathers steps Wherefore follow your auntients and wholy be intentiue to follow the commaundement of your Captaines as well in minde as in body that if victorie come with life we may still continue in firme friendship togither hauing alwayes one will and one minde but if enuious Fortune whych God forbidde shoulde let vs at this presente to runne the race of all fleshe and that we ende both life and labour togither be you sure that your names shall not want eternall fame and heauenly ioy and we also with these gentlemen our companions wyll drinke of the same cuppe that you shal doe vnto whom it shal be an eternal glorie and name to haue wonne the nobilitie of Fraunce but to ouercome as God forbid is not to be ascribed vnto the daunger of time but to the courage of the men Hauing spoken these words he perceyued that there was a Hill harde by whiche was planted on the toppe with hedges and ditches the inside whereof was very playne and a pasture fielde on the one side thereof with manye roughe bushes and on the other side it was all planted with vines and the residue was playne in the top wherof he did imagine the armye of the French to lye betwixt our men and the Hil. There was gret and lowe vallyes and a péece of marish ground One company of the Prince finding out a narrowe passage entred the valley and toke the Hyll where among the bushes they hidde themselues taking the aduantage of the place The fielde wherein our men laye to witte the vawarde and middle warde was deuided from the playne where the Frenche armye laye with a long hedge and ditche the one ende whereof dyd reache downe to the Marishe aforesayde that of the Hyll nexte the Marishe the Earle of Warwicke kept Captaine of the vawarde In the vpper part of the hedge toward the hanging of the Hil there was a gret gap from the whiche a stones cast stoode our rereward ouer the whiche the Earle of Salisburie was Captayne Oure enymies perceyuyng oure Princes auntiente to bée displayed and ofttymes to bée remoued from place to place and by reason of the Hill to be some time quite out of sighte they iudged that the Prince fledde yet Douglas the Scotte and Marshal de Clarimount sayde that it was not so but Marshal Dawdenam being deceiued in his owne opinion thought otherwise crying out still to followe and chase the Prince now fléeing and with him also Douglas to the intēt to get preferment and a worthy name of his new warfare but Clarimount to washe awaye the euill opinion whiche was conceyued of him touching his fidelitie was the more vehement to perswade them forwarde for vnto them the charge of the vawarde was deputed before these went out as the fashion was certaine to chase and to iuste againste whom certain that wer vnder the Hill of our vaward came to méete Marshal Dawdenam who staying to sée the end of the iusting kept himselfe from encountring In the meane time Clearimount thinking to come out by the gap in the hedge and so to come at the backe of our vawarde and to compasse them in met with the Earle of Salisburie who perceyuing his comming and purpose suspected his whole intent and so they whiche gouerned our rereward making haste to take the gap and kéepe the enimie from passing that way sustayned the first charge of the battayle Then began a terrible méeting betwixte the armed menne who laide on loade with swordes and speares neyther dyd the Archers slacke theyr duetie but lying in safe trenches start vp aboue the ditche and shot ouer the hedge preuayling more with their arrowes than they did that fought in armes thus our rerewarde slaying the enimies who came stragling to the gap and the vawarde which lay on the hanging of the Hil towarde the Marish being gouerned by the Earle of Warwicke were alwayes readye and met with the French men beating them downe The Archers of the vawarde were placed in the Marishe out of daunger from
the other an Italian chalenged to fighte within listes against sir Iohn Cornewall and Iames of Artois which two straungers were ouercome in battaile and Chalenge of cōbat at Yorke sir Iohn Cornewal obtaining the Kings fauour maried the kings sister that had bin wife to sir Iohn Holland Earle of Huntingdon The Welchmen taking occasion by the Kings absence The VVelchmen rebel when he was in Scotlande beganne to rebel by the settyng on of Owē Glendouerdew son to Griffyth Vichā an esquier of Wales so called Glendour bicause his dwelling was in a place called Glēdordwy for Glyn in Welch is a vale and Dor is water bycause the place was in a dale at the side of y e water or Riuer of Dew in the Parish of Corwrn in the Countie of Mer●●neth in Northwales He serued King Richarde at the tyme of his oppression by Henrie Duke of Lancaster at Flint Castell The first cause of this stirre was about a péece of land in controuersie betwixte him and the Lord Reignolde Gray of Ruthiue for when he saw his cause not fauoured firste hée began to spoyle the landes of the sayde Lord Gray whereof the king being certified went with an army into Wales but the Welchmen fledde to the mountaines the King brente the Countrey slew the people with whom he mette and returned with a great pray of Cattaile Iohn Wakel William Ebot the 28. of September Sherifes Maior Anno reg 2. Geffrey Chavvcer chief Poet of Brytaine Sir Iohn Frauncis Goldsmith the. 28. of October Geffrey Chawcer the most excellent Poet of Englande deceased the xxv of October who was buried at Westminster where of late at the charges of one maister Bridgeham is made ouer him a faire monument on the Southside of the Quire his workes for the most part are published in print by sir Iohn Thinne Knight and somewhat increased by my trauell in the last impression Not long after deceased the like famous Poet Iohn Gower Iohn Govver a most excellent Poet of Englād who lyeth buried in Sainte Marie Oueries Church in Southwarke He new builded a great part of that Church and cōpiled thrée famous bookes The first in Latine Vox Clamātis The second in French Speculum Meditantis The third in Englishe Confessio Amantis which last booke is in Print the other hard to come by of the first I haue séen thrée very faire copies but of the seconde I neuer sawe any one The Emperour of Constantinople came into Englande to requyrs ayde agaynste the Turkes whome the King wyth sumptuous preparation mette at Blacke Heath vpon Saint Thomas daye the Apostle and brought him to London and paying for the charges of his lodging presented him with giftes worthy for one of so high degrée Soone after came newes that the King of Leto had ●lain in battayle Bassacke the sonne of the noble Balthazardan ● destroyed Ierusalem and all the Countrey rounde aboute And bycause he had by Gods grace so ouercome contrarye to his opinion he became christened and 60000. men of his secte The Emperour of Constantinople hearing this was very 1401 The Emperour returned gladde and departed out of Englande being honored by the King with precious giftes The fiue and twentith day of July Isabel late wife to K. Isabel late vvife to K. R. returned into Fraunce Richarde not yet twelue yeares of age departed from Douer towardes Caleis and so into Fraunce to hyr Father Owen Glendouerdew w e his Welchmen did much harme to the Englishmen and returned There was founde in the Kings bedde clothes an yron K. H. escapeth ● great daunger with thrée sharp pikes slender and round standing vpright layde there by some Traytour that when the Kyng should haue layde him downe he might haue thrust himselfe vpon them This time was vsed excéeding pride in garmentes gownes with déepe and broade sléeues commonlye called poke sléeues the seruauntes ware them as well as theyr Tho. Wals Aditions to polic maisters whiche mighte well haue bene called receptacles of the Diuel for what they stole they hidde in their sléeues whereof some hung downe to the féete and at leaste to the knées ful of cuttes and iagges whervpon were made these Anno reg 3 verses Now hath this lande little neede of Bromes To sweepe away the filth out of the streete Th● Hoc●li●● Sen side sleeues of pennilesse gromes will it vp licke be it drie or weete O England stand vpright on thy feete so foule a waste in so simple a degree Banish or it shal ●ore repent thee William Venor Iohn Fremingham the. 28. of Septem Sherifes Maior Sir Iohn Chadworth Mercer the. 28. of October The Conduit vpon Cornehil in London was made which before time had bene a prison called the Tunne in Cornehill wherevnto nightwalkers that were taken in suspition of fellonie or other trespasses were committed In the moneth of March appeared a blasing starre first betwixt the East and the North and last of all putting firie beames towards the North foreshewing peraduenture the effusion of bloud about the partes of Wales and Northumberlande Owen Glendouerdew with his Welchmen wasted y ● lands 1402 of the Lord Reignalde Gray tooke him prisoner and slewe many of his people Certaine men affirmed King Richarde to be aliue and Conspiracie against K. Henrie that he should shortly shew himself openly reward them y ● wer faithful vnto him But after a certain priest was taken at Warwike who had written y e names of many which were the aucthours of these troubles both the hope and feare of this conspiracie vanished The Priest was drawen hanged and quartered Also Walter Waldocke late Priour of Lande a Priorie in Leicestershire bycause he confessed he knew euill against the king and did conceale it was likewise hanged and headed Moreouer certaine gray Friers were taken of the whiche one Richard Friseby doctour of Diuinitie being A stout Frier executed asked what he would do if K. Richard were present answered that he woulde fight in his quarrel against any man euen to the death wherfore he was condemned drawen and hanged in his religious habit and wéede At Daneburie in Essex vpon Corpus Christi day the Diuell appeared in likenesse of a Gray Frier who entring the Church raged insolentlye to the greate feare of the Parishioners and the same houre with a tempeste of whyrlewinde and thunder the toppe of the Stéeple was broken downe and halfe the Chauncel scattered abrode Shortlye after sir Roger Claringdon Knighte a bastard sonne to Edward the blacke Prince and wyth him a Squire and a yeomanne were beheadded and eyghte Graye Friers hanged and beheaded at London and two at Leicester all whiche hadde published King Richard to bée aliue Owen Glendouerdew with a company of Welchmen inuaded all the shires that bordered neare vnto hym wherefore sir Edmund Mortimer wyth manye Knightes and Esquiers wente out to encounter with Owen stronger than he was of the
passed ouer to Caleis and streight from thence to L●●● in Artois and so into Henault making no outrage as he passed through Duke Phillips Countreys At their comming into Henault many townes obeyed thē and other refused ●● to do likewise were y ● Nobles diuided The D. of Burgoigne hearing of this was sore offended for the iniurie done to his Cousin of Brabant the dishonor of his Cousin the Duch●● Iaqueline and the euill dealing of the Duke of Glocester A third cause of the amitie to be broken betvvixt England and Burgoigne and the losse of many Tovvnes in France and therefore to ayde the Duke of Brabant he appoynted many of his Captaynes with xij C. fighting mē Pickards to go against the Duke of Glocester The Duke of Brabant was a man but of weake complexion and therefore by the Counsell of Brabant it was ordeyned that his yonger brother Philip Earle of Saint Pol should be chiefe Captayne of the warre against the Duke of Glocester He had a great Armye as the more part of the Nobles of Brabant of Henalt and of Burgoigne in all 50000. Piere de Luxenburge Earle of Conuarson his néere kinsman had the leading of the Armie for himselfe was but yong The Duke of Burgoigne had put of his men in garrison within the towne of Braine in the Countie of Henault who made sore warre to the Countrey about but the Earle of Saint Pol and Conuarson did come and beséege Braine continuing afore it twelue dayes before they within yéelded compounding to departe with bodyes and goodes saued these hauing wonne Braine destroyde it vtterly and that done tooke the Field with all puissance which was great and the Duke of Glocester likewise came into the fielde so that they approched néere togither and the vauntcurrers skirmished but the battayle ioyned not The Duke of Glocester had sent his Heraulte and Humfrey Duke of Glocester chalengeth the Combate vvith Phillip Duke of Burgoigne written to the Duke of Burgoigne calling him Traytor and disloyall to the King of England and France for that he had sente men in ayde against him and offered him the Combate wherevnto the Duke of Burgoine aunswered that hée would accept the Combate denying that euer he had fayled of his promise but that the Duke of Glocester had done great wrong to the Duke of Brabant to haue bereft him of his wife contrarye to the ordinance of God and of holye Church and for other wordes which the Duke had vttered against the Duke of Burgoignes honor he gaue him the lye and so farre the matter went in words betwixt them that the day was appoynted for the Combate and the Duke of Burgoigne chose for Iudge of the Combate the Emperour of Almayne and the Duke of Burgoigne sent the Duke of Glocester a safeconduct to departe safely into England to prepare himselfe of things necessarie for the Combate wherevpon both the Campes brake vp the Duke of Glocester wente to Mons in Henalt to the Duches his wife so tearmed gaue hir to vnderstand that he was desirous to trie the Combate with the Duke of Burgoigne and many other things he told hir which he performed not for within four dayes after he tooke all his power with him and returned into Englād and left the Duches in Mons smally accōpanyed with y e people of that Countrey Shortly after his departure the Duke of Burgoigne sent the Lord Lilladam to the Towne of Mens to receyue Iaqueline the Duches who being deliuered vnto him he conueyed hir to Gaunt where the Duke and she made great semblance of ioy togither she promising to bée gouerned alwayes by his aduise but to goe to hir olde husband the Duke of Brabant she would not and when she espied hir time she stale away into hir Countrey of Holland where she was well receyued of many Lordes and began forthwith to mainteyne warre against Duke Philip of Burgoigne and sent to the Duke of Glocester for ayd who sente to hir a thousand fighting men vnder the conduct of the Lorde Fitzwaters The Duke of Burgoigne fearing least Iaqueline would deliuer the Countrey of Holland into the possessiō of the D. of Glocester he assembled his power and wente into Holland to put the Coūtrey into obeysance At his comming thither Iaqueline accompanyed with many Nobles of the Countrey and the Lord Fitzwaters woulde haue defended his landing but notwithstanding al the defence they could make he entred vpō thē there néere to y e Towne of Brusseils they ioyned in battaile the D. of Burgoigne his people against the Englishmen Hollanders taking y e Duches Iaquelines part there was a fierce battayle on all sides but in the end the Hollanders and Englishmen were all discomfited and there dyed in that place aboue seauen or eight hundred besides those that were taken prisoners the Lord Fitzwater hardly escaped After this battell gote by the Duke of Burgoigne 1425 diuers Townes of the Countrey reuolted to him against Iaqueline the Duches as Dordrecht Sericzee and many other Shortly after the Duke of Burgoigne leauing garrisons in those Townes that obeyed him to make resistāce against the Duches that lay in the Towne of Gaunt hée returned into his Countrey of Flanders and Artoyes there to prepare such abiliments as were necessary for him to vse at the Combate appoynted betwixt him and the Duke of Glocester The Duke of Glocester likewise in England made his pronision of his habilimentes and furniture but the Duke of Bedforde brother to the Duke of Glocester tooke greate paynes to make them friends and also the counsell of the yong King of England were nothing content with this variance doubting least it might be occasion that the Duke of Burgoigne mighte withdrawe himselfe from their amitie whereby their businesse in France should be hindered The Duke of Bedford therefore tooke hys iourney from Paris to Caleis and so into Englande to the ende to agrée the sayde Anno reg 4. Dukes he tooke with him the Duches his wife and not past a four or fiue hundred men About Michaelmasse the Prince of Portugale came into England and was honorably receyued and feasted by the Kings Uncles William Mildred Iohn Brokell the 28. of September Sherifes Maior Rob. Fabian Iohn Couentry Mercer the 28. of October The morrow after Simon and Iudes day when the Maior of London had bin at Westminster to take hys charge as Debate betvveene the Duke of Glocester and the Bishop of VVinchester the custome is at suche tyme as hée was holding hys greate dinner hée was by the Duke of Glocester Lord Protector sent for in spéedie manner when hée came to hys presence he gaue to hym commaundement to sée the Citie were surely watched in the night following and so it was done On y e next morrow about ix of the clock certain seruāts of y ● Bishop of Winchester brother to y e said Protector would haue entred the Citie by the
Captayneshyp but the Earle for as muche as he was made by Parliament he woulde not obey the Priuie Seale but continued forth in the sayd office The Noble Science of Printing was about this tyme 1459 Printing first inuented founde in Germanie at Magunce by one Iohn Cuthembergus a Knight One Conradus an Almaine brought it into Rome William Caxton of London Mercer brought it into England aboute the yeare a. 1471. And fyrst practised the same in the Abbay of Saint Peter at Westminster after which tyme it was likewyse practised in the Abbayes of Saint Augustine at Caunterburie Saint Albons and other Monasteries of England In a lyttle Towne in Bedfordshire there fell a bloudie It raigned bloud rayne whereof the red drops appeared in shéetes the which a woman had hanged out for to dry In this tyme the Realme of Englande was out of good order as it had bene of long tyme for the King béeyng symple and pitifull was ledde by couetous Counsell The King grewe in debte dayly but payment was not made All the possessions and Lordshippes that pertayned to the Crowne the King had giuen some to Lordes and some to others such as would begge them so that himselfe had almost nothing lefte to lyue on but such impositions as were put to the common people as Taxes Tallages Quinzimes all which was spent in vayne for he helde no houshold nor maintayned no warres for which misgouernaunce the heartes of the people were turned from them that had the Land in gouernaunce The Quéene with such as were of hir affinitie ruled the Realme as hir lyked gathering riches innumerable The Officers of the Realme especially the Earle of Wilshire Treasurer of England for to enriche himselfe pilled the poore people disherited rightfull heyres and did many wrongs The Quéene was defamed and sclaundered that the young Prince was not hir sonne but a Bastard gotten in adulterie wherefore she dreading that he shoulde not succéede his father in the Crowne of Englande allyed vnto hir all the Knightes and Esquiers of Chestershire for to haue theyr fauour she helde open housholde among them and made hir sonne the Prince to giue a liuerie of Swannes to all the Gentilmen of the Countrey and to many other through the land trusting through their strength to make hir sonne King making priuie meanes to some of the Lordes of England for to stirre the King that he should resigne the Crowne to her sonne but she could not bring their purpose about The. xxj day of September Richard Earle of Salisburie hauing An. reg 38. gathered a well appoynted armie for dread of his enemies especially of the Quéene tooke his way towarde Ludlowe where at that time the Duke of Yorke lay to the intent that they both together would haue rydden to the King to Colshull in Staffordshire to haue excused them of certaine articles layd against them by malice of their enemies as they sayd Wherevpon those that were about the King and also the Quéene who laye at Eglishall moued him to assemble a great powre whereof Iames Twichet Lorde Awdley was made chiefe and had the leading of them into the fielde called Bloreheath néere vnto Mucklestone by the which the sayde Bloreheath fielde Duke and the Earle must néedes passe there both hostes mette and fought a mortall battaile wherin the Lord Audley was slaine with Hugh Venables of Kinderton Thomas Dutton of Dutton Richard Mollynes William Trowtbek Iohn Legh del Bothes Iohn Donne of Vtkinton and Iohn Edgerton of Edgerton Knightes Richard Donne of Croton Iohn Duttes Esquiers and many other of Chestershire that had receyued the Princes liuerie of Swannes and there were takē prisoners the Earle of Salisburies ij sonnes Thomas and Iohn and sir Thomas Harington which were sent to Chester but soone after deliuered After this discomfiture the Earle of Salisburie passed forth to Duke Richard to Ludlowe and thether came to them for Calleis the Earle of Warwike which all thrée writ a letter vnto King Henry whereof the tenure is this MOst Christian King right high and mighty Prince our most dread Soueraigne Lord after as humble recommēdations to your high excellencie as will suffice Our true intent to the prosperitie augmentation of your high estate and to the commō Weale of this Realme hath be●●● shewed vnto your highnesse in such writing as wée make thereof And ouer that an Indenture signed by our hands in the Churche Cathedrall of Worcester comprehending y ● proofe of the truth duetie that God knoweth we beare to your saide estate and to the preheminence and prerogatiue thereof we sent vnto your good Grace by the Prior of the sayde Churche and diuers other Doctors and among other by M. William Lynwood Doctor of Diuinitie which ministred vnto vs seuerally the blessed Sacrament of the body of Jesus wherevppon we and euery of vs deposed for our sayde trueth and duetie accordyng to the tenor of the sayde Indenture And sith that time we haue certified at large in writing and by mouth by Garter King of Armes not onely to your said highnesse but also to the good worthie Lordes beyng about your most Noble presence the largenesse of our sayde trueth and duetie and our intent and disposition to serche all the motions that might serue conueniently to the affirmation thereof and to our perfect suerties from suche inconuenient and vnreuerent ieopardies as wée haue béene put in diuers tymes here before Whereof we haue cause to make and ought to make suche exclamation and complaint not without reason as is not vnknowen to all the sayde worthie Lordes and to all his land and wil offer vs to your high presence to the same intent if we myght so doe without sayd suertie which onely causeth vs to kéepe suche fellowshippe as we doe in our léefull manner And hereto we haue forborne and auoyded all thinges that might serue to the effusion of Christian bloud of the dreade that we haue of God and of your Royall Maiestie and haue also eschued to approche your sayde most Noble presence for the humble obeysaunce and reuerence wherein we haue and during our lyfe will haue the same And yet neuerthelesse we heare that we be proclaimed and defamed in our name vnrightfully vnlawfully and sauing your high reuerence vntruely and otherwise as God knoweth than we haue giuen cause knowing certainely that the blessed and noble intent of your said good grace and the righteousnesse thereof is to take repute and accept your true and lawfull subiectes and that it accordeth neyther with your sayd intent nor with your wyll or pleasure that we shoulde be otherwise taken or reputed And ouer that our Lordshippes and tenantes bene of high violence robbed and spoyled agaynst your peace and lawes and all ryghteousnesse Wée therefore as we suffice beséeche your sayde good Grace to take repute and receyne therevnto our sayde trueth and intent which to God is knowne as wée shewe it by the sayde tenor
Thomas Harington Knighte Sir Thomas Neuil sonne to the Earle of Salisburie and Syr Henrie Ratforde Knight and other to the number of 2200. The Earle of Salisburie was taken aliue and ledde by the Duke of Somerset to the Castell of Pomfraite and had graunte of hys life for a greate summe of money but the common people of the Countrey whyche loued hym not toke hym out of the Castel by violence and smote off hys heade When the death of these Lordes was knowen ●● the King he commaunded writs and commissions to be sent into the shires to the people and to goe againste the Rebelles into the Northe to suppresse them but they of the Northe came sodainelye downe to the Town of Dunstaple robbing all the Countrey and people as they came spoyling Abbayes Priories and Parish Churches bearing awaye Chalisses bookes ornamentes and other whatsoeuer was worth the carriage as thoughe they had bin Sarisens and no Christians againste whom the twelfth of Februarie the Duke of Norffolke and Suffolke the Erles of Warwicke and Arundale the Lord Bonuile and other with the King wente out of London towarde Saint Albons and when they heard that they of the Northe were so nyghe they tooke a fielde beside a little Towne called Sandriage not farre from Sainte Albons on Barnarde Heathe in a place called No mans Lande where the Kyng stoode and sawe hys menne slayne on bothe sydes tyll at the laste throughe the wythdrawyng manye of the Kentishmen with their Captaine Louelace that was the vaward King Henries parte lost the fielde the Lords fled and the King wente to Quéene Margaret that was come w t the Northerne men and hyr sonne Edwarde The Earle of Warwicke wente towarde the Earle of Marche that was comming towarde London out of Wales The Lord Bonuile woulde haue withdrawen him but the King assured hym to haue no bodylye harme neuerthelesse at the instance of the Quéene the Duke of Excester and the Earle of Deuonshire he was beheaded at Saint Albons and wyth hym Syr Thomas Kyriell of Kente This battayle was fought on Shroue Twesday the seauentéenth of February Exlibre Norwicensis in the whiche was slain 1916 persons The same day Thomas Thorpe Baron of the Exchequer was beheaded at High Gate by the commons of Kent Then the Citizens of London dreading the malice of the Quéene and the Duke of Somerset sente vnto them the Dutchesse of Buckingham with other to treate for to be beneuolent to the Citie for the which a summe of money was promised and that they shoulde come to the Citie wyth a certayne number of persons where vpon certayne speares and men of armes were sente to haue entred the Citie before the Dukes commyng whereof some were slayne some sore hurte and the remnaunte putte to flighte by the Commons who tooke the Keyes of the gates and manfully defended the Citie vntill the comming of Edwarde Earle of Marche where-throughe King Henrie wyth Quéene Margaret and the Northerne men were forced to return again Northwarde The thirde of Februarie Edwarde Earle of Marche foughte wyth the Welchmen beside Wigmore in Wales neare vnto Mortimers Crosse whose Captaynes were the Earle of Penbroke and the Earle of Wilshire where he put them to flight and slewe of the Welchemen aboute foure thousande Owen Tewther whome Iohn Leylande sayeth shoulde be called Me●●dicke Father to the sayde Earle Penbroke whiche Owen hadde married Katherin mother to King Henrie the sixth was there taken and beheaded and afterward buried in the a Chapel of the Gray Friers Church in Hereforde the day before this battayle about tenne of the clocke before noone were séene thrée Suns in the firmamēt shyning a like cleare which after closed togither all in one The eight and twentith of Februarie Edward Earle of March accompanied with the Erle of Warwicke a mightie power of Marchmen came vp to London where he was ioyfully receyued and on the seconde day of March being Sonday all hys hoste was mustered in Saint Iohns fielde where was redde among the people certaine Articles and pointes that King Henrie had offended in and then it was demanded of them whether the said Henrie were worthy to raigne still and the people cryed nay naye Then was it asked if they would haue the Erle of March to be theyr King and they sayde yea yea then certaine Captaynes were sente to Erle of March elected King the Earle of March at Baynardes Castel and tolde the Erle that the people had chosen him King whereof he thanked God and them and by the aduise of the Archbyshoppe of Canterburie the Byshoppe of Excester and the Earle of Warwicke wyth other hée tooke it vpon hym The Dutches of Yorke mother to Edwarde Earle of Marche fearing the fortune of the worlde sente hyr two yonger sonnes George and Richarde ouer the seas to the Citie of Vtricke in Almaine where they remayned tyll their elder brother had got the Crown Also Phillip Malpas Alderman of London Thomas Citizens of Lōdon fled Vaghan Esquire Maister William Atclife with many other fearing the Quéenes comming to London shypped them in a shippe of Antwerpe purposing to haue sayled thyther but by the way they were taken by a French shippe named the Colmapne and at length delyuered for greate raunsome Edwarde Earle of March being elected as is abouesaid Edvvard Erle of March toke on him the kingdome on the next morrowe went in procession at Paules and offered there and after Te Deum beyng sung he was with gret royaltie conueyed to Westminster and there in the Hall sette in the kings seate with Saint Edwards Scepter in his hand and then asked of the people if they would haue him King and they cryed yea yea Then after certaine homages by hym receyued he was with Procession conuayed into the Abbay there and sette in the Quire as King whyle Te Deum was singing that done he offered at Saint Edwardes Shryne and then returned by water vnto Saint Paules and was there lodged wythin the Bishops Pallaice Thus tooke he possession of the Realme vpon a Tuisday being the fourth of Marche and was proclaymed King of England by the name of Edward the fourthe when King Henrie hadde raigned thirtie yeares eight monthes and odde dayes ⸪ ¶ Edward Earle of March EDvvarde Earle of Marche borne at Roane sonne and heyre to Anno. reg 1 10. Rouse Richarde Duke of Yorke about the age of eightéene yeares began his raigne the fourth day of March by the name of Edward the fourth in the yeare 1460. he was a man of noble courage and greate wit but in his time was muche trouble vnquietnesse in the realme The twelfth of Marche Walter Walker a Grocer that VValter VValker beheaded dwelt in Cheape for words spoken touching King Edwarde was beheaded in Smithfield This Grocer is he whom Maister Hal mistaketh to be Burdet of whom ye shal finde in the xvij yeare of this King The same xij day of Marche in the afternoone
diuers partes of this Realme certaine Gentlemen of y e Earle of Richmondes faction amongst whom sir George Browne sir Roger Clifford and iiij other were put to death at London y ● iij. of December Sir Thomas Sentlegar which had marryed the Duches of Excester the Kings owne sister and T. Rame with diuers other were executed at Excester The. xxx of December was a great fire at Leaden hall in Fire at Leaden hall in London London where through was brent much housing and all the stocks for gunnes other like prouision belonging to y e citie After this King Richard called a Parliament in y ● which 1484 he attainted the Earle of Richemond and all other persons which were ●led out of the Realme for feare or any other cause as enemyes to him and to their natural countrie and all their landes and goods was confiscate to the Kings vse and yet notwithstanding he laid on the people a great taxe In this troublesome season nothing was more maruelled Anno. reg 2. at than that the Lorde Stanley had not bene taken considering the working of the Lady Margaret his wyfe mother to the Earle of Richemond but for as muche as the enterpryse of a woman was of hym reputed of no regarde or estimation and that the Lorde Stanley hir husband had purged hym selfe to be innocent of all attemptes by hir committed it was giuen him in charge to kéepe hir in some secrete place at home without hauing any seruaunt or company so that from thence forth shée shoulde neuer send letter to hir sonne or to any of his friendes by the which the Kyng myghte bée molested which commaundement was a whyle put in execution This yéere King Richard began the high towre at Westminster which remaineth yet vnfinished Also he caused the K. Henry the sixt remoued to VVindso● body of King Henry the sixte to be remoued from Chertesey Abbey in Surrey and to be buried at Windsor where he nowe resteth on the. xij of August Richard Chester Thomas Britaine the 28. of September Sherifes Ralph Austry the 6. of Februarie Tho. Hill Grocer the 28. of October W. Stocker draper the Maiors 24. of Sep. in anno 1485. Iohn ward grocer the 29. of Sep. William Collingborne made a Ryme of iij. of King Colingborne executed Richards Coūsellers the Lord Louell sir Richard Ratclife and sir William Catesby which was The Ratte the Catte and Louell our dogge Rule all England vnder the hogge For the which he was drawne frō Westmin to the Towre of London and there on y ● hyll hanged headed quartered King Richard considering y ● a●ities concluded betwéene Princes are the cause that their Realmes are fortified with a double power that is to say with their owne strength the ayde of their friendes practised a league with the King of Scots which not long before had made diuers incursions roades into the Realme of Englande and therefore sued to haue a truce or peace concluded Wherfore Commissioners were appointed which met at Notingham there in the end concluded for iij. yéeres on certaine articles xv in number Truce vvith Scotland for three yeeres This peace thus concluded King Richard nowe doubtyng his owne people was continually vexed with feare of the returne of the Earle of Richmond and his complices Wherfore nothing was for his purpose more then once agayne with price prayer to attempt the duke of Britaine in whose territorie y ● Erle then abode to deliuer him into his hands wherfore incontinent he sent certaine Ambassadors to the Duke of Britaine which tooke vpon them that King Richard shoulde yéerely pay and aunswere the Duke of Britaine of al the reuenewes rentes and profites of the landes possessions as well belonging to the Earle of Richmond as to any other noble or gentlemā which then were in the Erles companie if he after that time would kéepe them in continuall prison and restrayne them from libertie The orators furnished with these other instructions ariued in Britaine but could not speake w t the duke by reason y ● he being weakned by a long and dayly infirmitie began to waxe ydle of his remembraunce for whiche cause Peter Landoyse his chiefe Treasurer ruled all things at his pleasure vnto whom the English Ambassadors moued to him their message offering to him the same rewardes and lands that they should haue offered the Duke This Peter faythfully promised to accomplishe King Richardes request so that he kept promise wyth him but fortune was so fauourable to the publike Weale of England that this deadly compact tooke none effect for Iohn Morton Byshop of Elie soiourning then in Flaunders was of al this craftie deuise certified wherfore he sent Christopher Vrswike to declare to the Earle of Richemond all the deceyt giuing him charge in all hast possible with his company to retire out of Britaine into Fraunce When these newes came to the Earle he incontinent sent to Charles the French king requiring that he and his myght safely passe into Fraunce which desire was graunted and the Earle with the rest dispatched as priuily as mought be into Fraunce no man susspecting their departure After this the Erle tooke his iourney to Charles the Frenche King to whō after great thanks giuen he disclosed the occasion of his accesse to his person After that he required of him helpe and succour to the intent he myghte returne to the Nobilitie of his Realme of whō he was generally called to take vpō him the Crowne King Charles promysed him ayde and bad hym be of good comforte for he assured him that he woulde gladly shewe to 1485 him his bountifull liberalitie Whiles the Earle of Richemond thus attended on the Frenche Court Iohn Vere Earle of Oxforde so perswaded Iames Blonte Captaine of Hames Castle and sir Iohn Forteskewe Porter of the Towne of Calleis that he him selfe was not only set at libertie but they also leauing their fruitfull offices condescended to goe with him into Fraunce to the Earle of Richemond In the meane season King Richard was credibly aduertised what promises and othes the Earle and his confederates had made and sworne and how by the Erles meanes all the English men were passed out of Britaine into Fraunce Wherefore being in manner desperate imagining howe to infringe the Earles purpose by an other meane so that by the mariage of Lady Elizabeth his niece he should pretend no clayme to the Crowne there came to his minde a thing not onely detestable but much more cruell to be put in execution for he cléerelye determined to reconcile to his fauour his brother wife Quéene Elizabeth and so by that meanes the Earle of Richemond of the affinitie of his Nice shoulde bée vtterly defrauded and if no ingenious remedie coulde bée otherwyse inuented if it shoulde happen Quéene Anne hys wyfe to departe out of this worlde then he himselfe woulde rather take to wyfe hys cosin and Nice
at sixe pence the bushell Anno reg 10 Bay Salte for thrée pence halfe peny the Bushell Na●●wiche Salte was solde for syxe pence the Bushell white hearring nine shillings the barrel red hearring at thrée shillings the cade red sprots sixe pence the cade and Gascoine wine for sixe poundes the tunne Nicholas Alwine Iohn Warner the 28. of September Sherifes Maior Richarde Chawry Salter the 28. of October Sir Robert Clifford bearing fauor to the house of Yorke had long since sayled ouer to the Lady Margaret Dutchesse of Burgoigne by whome he was there persuaded and broughte in beliefe that one Perken Werbecke a Fleming born was the verye sonne of King Edwarde the fourth but afterwarde béeyng sente for by King Henry and pardon promised him he returned into Englande and comming to the Kings presence in the Tower of London hée on hys knées moste humblye cr●●ed pardon which shortely he obtained and after accused manye amongest whome he accused sir William Stanley whome the Kyng hadde made his chiefe Chamberlaine and one of hys priuie Counsaile The reporte is that this was hys offence When communication was had betwéene him and Sir Robert Clifforde as concerning Perken Werbecke sir William Stanley affirmed there y ● he would neuer fight nor beare armor agaynst the yong man if he knowe of a trueth that he was the vndoubted sonne of King Edward the fourth For this offence sir William Stanly was apprehended araigned and on the xvj day of February beheaded on the Tower hill This sir William Stanley was the chiefest helper of King Henrye to the Crowne at Bosworth fielde againste King Richard the thirde He was a man of greate power in his Country and also of great wealth insomuch as the cōmon fame ran that there was in hys Castell of Hol●e founde in readye coyne plate and Jewels to the value of fortie thousand markes or more and his lande and fées extended to thrée thousand poundes by yeare In Lent white hearring being good were sold for iij. ● 1495 iiij ● the barrell at London Sir W Capel Aldermā of London was condemned to the king in xxvij C. and xliij pound sterling Cronicl● of Lond. for the breaking of certain statuts made before times for the which he made his end with the King for xvj C. and fiftéene pounde sixe shillings eight pence Pierce or Perken Werbecke which by the counsaile of Margaret Dutches of Burgoigne named himselfe Richarde of Yorke King Edwards seconde sonne arriued at Deale in Kēt the thirde daye of July where when he and his companye sawe they coulde haue no comforte of the Countrey they withdrewe to their shippes againe at which so withdrawyng the Mayor of Sandwich with certaine commons of the countrey bickered with the residue that were vpon land toke aliue of them an hundred thrée score and nine persons among the which were fiue captaines Mountford Corbert Anno reg 11 Whitbelt Quintine and Gem●●e And the xij of July Iohn Peche Esquier Shriue of Kent brought vnto London bridge thos● 169. prisoners where the Shriues of London receiued them and conueyed them in cartes and long ropes vnto the Tower of London and to Newgate who were shortly after to the number of 150. hanged in Kent Essex Sussex and Norfolk the residue were executed at Tiburne Wapping in the Wose besides London Thomas Kneisworth Henry Sommer the. 28. of Septemb. Sherifes Maior Sir Henry Colet Mercer the. 28. of October The. xvj of Nouember was holden the Serieants feast at the Bishops place of Ely in Holborne where dined the King Quéene and all the chiefe lordes of England The new Serieants names were maister Mordant Higham Kingsmill Conisby Butler Yakesley Frowicke Oxenbridge and Constable In digging for to lay a new foundation in the Church of S. Mary hill in London the body of Alice Hackeney which had bene buried in the Church the space of 175. yeares was ●●●ud whole of skinne and the iointes of her armes pliable whiche corps was kepte aboue grounde foure dayes without anoyance and then buryed againe In Aprill was concluded an amitie and entrecourse betwéene this lande and the Countrey of Flaunders c. In September the Scots entred England by the setting on of Perkin Werbecke and did much harme to the borders but when they hearde of the Lorde Neuels commyng against them they sped them away Iohn Shawe Richard Haddon the 28. of September Sherifes Maior Iohn Tate Mercer the 28. of October This Iohn Tate newly builded and enlarged Sainte Anthonies Churche in London a goodly foundation with a Frées●hoole and certaine almes houses for poore men Iasper Duke of Bedforde vncle to King Henry the seauenth dyed the eightéenth daye of December and was buried at Kensham By meanes of a payment that was granted to the king 1497 a new commotion was made by the commons of Cornewal whiche vnder the leading of Iames Tuchet of Audley Lorde Audley with Michaell Ioseph a horse farrer or Blacksmith of Bodman and other came to Blackeheath where the Kyng met with them and discomfited the rebels and tooke their Captains the two and twentith of June where were slain of the rebels about 300. and taken aboute 1500. the Kyng gaue to them that tooke them their goodes The Lord Audley was beheaded on the Tower hill the xxviij of June The blacke Smith and Flamoke a lawyer were hanged headed and quartered at Tiburne In July the King sente an army into Scotland vnder the guyding of the Earle of Surrey and the Lorde Neuell which made sharpe warre vppon the Scots At Bartholmewtide in Bedfordshire at the Towne of Haile stones hightene ynches aboute Saint Needes fell haile stones that were measured eightéene ynches aboute Perkin or Pierce Werbecke landed at Whitsondbay in Anno reg 13 Cornewall the seauenth of September hauing in his company not paste a hundred and twentie persons hée wente to Bodman where beyng accompanyed wyth a thrée or foure thousand rascalles and almoste naked men he proclaymed himselfe King Richarde the fourth second sonne to Edward the fourth from thence he wente to Excester and besieged it which Citie was valiantly defended by the inhabitants the Earle of Deuonshire being their Generall who hymself was hurt in the arme with an arrow of the rebels but many of the rebelles béeyng slaine they wythdrewe them to Taunton but sir Giles Dawbeney Lorde Chamberlaine approching with an armye the people fledde and Perkin got him to Beudley where he tooke Sanctuary but vppon couenauntes offered he came to the King and was pardoned his life Bartholomewe Rede Thomas Windought 28. of Sep. Sherifes Maior William Purchas Mercer the 28. of October The eight and twentith of Nouember Perkin Werbeck Perkin VVerbecke broughte vp to London was conueyed vppon horse backe through Cheape and Cornhill vnto the Tower of London and from thence back againe through Candleweeke streate to Westminster with many a cursse and muche wondering The one and twentith
fewell were rowed vp to Holborne Bridge as they of old time had bin accustomed which was a great commoditie to all the inhabitantes in that parte of London Also the Tower néere to the blacke Friers was taken downe by the commandement of the Maior The sixth of May Sir Iames Tirell Knight Lieutenant of Guisnes Castell and Sir Iohn Windham Knighte were beheaded on the Tower hill and a Shipman was hanged and quartered at Tiborne all for ayding Edmond de la Poole Earle of Suffolke Thys yeare were brought vnto the Kyng thrée men taken Men brought from the nevv found Ilands in the new found Ilands by Sebastian Gabato before named in Anno 1468. these men were clothed in Beastes Skinnes and eate raw Flesh but spake such a language Anno reg 18. as no man could vnderstand them of the which thrée men two of them were séene in the Kings Court at Westminster two yeares after clothed like Englishmen and could not bée discerned from Englishmen Henry Keble Nicholas Nines the 28. of September Sherifes Maior Bartholmew Rede Goldsmith the 28. of October The Chappell of our Lady aboue the East ende of the high Aultare of Westminster Churche with a Tauerne called King Henry the seauenths Chappell at VVestminster the white Rose néere adioyning was taken downe in whiche place a most beautifull Chappell was then forthwyth begonne to be buylded by Kyng Henrye the seauenth the charges whereof as I haue bene credibly informed amounted to the summe of fourtéene thousande pounds Elizabeth Quéene of England wife to Kyng Henry the Queene Elizabeth deceassed seauenth dyed of Childbed in the Tower of London on the twelfth of February and was solemnely buryed at Westminster King Henry the seuenth being himselfe a brother of the Sixe Kings of England breethren vvith the Taylors Company in London before they vvere entituled Merchant Taylors 1503 Taylors company in London as diuers other his predecessors Kings before him had bin to wéete Richard the third Edward the fourth Henry the sixth Henry the fifth Henry the fourth and Richard the second Also of Dukes eleuen Earles xxviij and Lords xiviij he now gaue to them the name and title of Merchant Taylors as a name of worship to endure for euer This yeare about the later end of March the prior of the Prior of Shene murthered Charterhouse of Shene was murthered in a cell of his owne house by meanes of one Goodwine a Monke of the same Cloyster and his adherents artificers of London On the xxv of June at the Bishop of Salisburies place in Fléetestréete was the noble Prince Henry the second sonne of King Henry the seauenth assured in matrimonie to the Lady Katherine late the wife of that excellent Prince Arthure The fifth of August deceassed Sir Reginald Bray Knight Treasurer of the Kings warres and was buryed at Windesore The eyght of August the King of Scottes marryed Margaret Margaret the Kings daughter maryed the eldest daughter of King Henry the seuenth A drye Sommer hauing no notable rayne from Whitsontide Anno reg 9. to the later Lady day in haruest Christopher Hawes Robert Wittes the 28. of Septemb. Sherifes Thomas Granger the 11. of Nouember Sir William Capell Draper the 28. of October Maior The xiij of Nouember was holden within the pallace Sergeants feast of the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth the Sergeants feast where dined the King and all his nobles and vpon the same day Thomas Granger newly chosen Sheriffe of London was presented before the Barons of the Kings Exchequer there to take his oth and after went with the Maior vnto the same feast whiche saued him money in hys pursse for if that day that feast had not bin kepte he must haue feasted the Maior Aldermen and others Worshipfull of the Citie This Feast was kept at the charge of tenne learned men newly admitted to be Sergeants to the Kings law whose names were Robert Bridnell William Greuill Thomas Marow George Edgore Iohn Moore Iohn Cutler Thomas Elyot Lewes Pollard Guy Palmis William Fayrefax On the xxj day of Nouember at night beganne a perillous Fire on London Bridge fire at the signe of the Panyer vpon London Bridge néere to Saint Magnus Church where sixe tenements were brent ere the same could be quenched The seauenth of January were certayne houses consumed Fire with fire againste Saint Butolphes Churche in Thamis stréete The xxv of January beganne a Parliament at Westminster Parliament of the which was chosen speaker for the commons Maister Edmond Dudley The xxvij of March was an house brent againste Sainte 1504 Martins le grand in London A newe Coyne was by Parliament appoynted that is Nevv Coyne to say Grote and halfe Grote which bare but halfe faces the same time also was coyned a Grote whiche was in value twelue pence but of those were but few coyned This yeare Alume which many yeares had bin sold for Alume deere sixe shillings an hundred and lower arose to fiue Nobles an hundred and after to foure Markes c. The forenamed Sir William Capell Maior of London caused in euery ward of London a Cage with a paire of Stocks Anno reg 20 Cages and Stockes ordeyned Hunsditch paued Sherifes Maior therein to punish vagabonds Also he caused all Hunsditch to be ouerpaued the which many yeares before lay full noyously and perilously for all trauellers that way Roger Acheley William Browne the 28. of Septemb. Iohn Winger Grocer the 28. of October About Christmas the more parte of the prisoners of the Marshalsey in Southwarke brake out and many of them béeing Prisoners of the Marshalsey brake out shortlye after taken were put to execution speciallye those which had layne for Felouie or Treason The xv of Aprill a money maker one of the Coyners of 1505 the Tower was drawne to Tiborne and there hanged There was great strife in the Guild hall about choosing Anno reg 21. of the Sheriffe for the Taylors woulde haue had Mayster Fitz Williams Tailor and the other commons chose Roger Groue Grocer Richard Shore Roger Groue the 28. of September Sherifes Maior Thomas Kniesworth Fishmonger the 28. of October This Thomas Kneisworth of his owne goodes builded the Conduit at Bishopsgate He gaue to the Fishmongers Conduit at Bishopsgate builded certayne tenements for the whiche they be bound to finde four Schollers that studie Arte two at Oxford and two at Cambridge euery of them foure pound the yeare They bée bound also to giue to twelue aged poore people of their company to euery one of them at Barthelmewtide a winter garment for euer Also to giue to the prisoners of Ludgate and Newgate euery yeare forty shillings c. The fifth of January in the night the Kings Chamber Richmond on fire was fiered at Richmond the which might not be quenched till many curteyns carpets rich beds and much other stuffe was consumed Through great
part whereof were happily atchéeued to the ●●●eats ouer throwe of the aduersaryes parte and singular commendation of ours William Allin Richard Chamberlaine the 28. of Sept. Sherifes Maior Anno reg 5. Tempest at Leycester Sir Thomas Lodge Grocer the 28 of October On Saterday y e xvj of January a great tempest of wind and thunder happened in the Towne of Leycester whiche vncouered 411. bayes of houses and ouerturned manye The ix x. and xj of February Westminster hall was ouerslowen 1563 wyth water and Holland in Lincolneshire was drowned by rage of winde and water When the Frenchemen with huge armies assembled oute Iohn Cai●● of all partes of Fraunce to recouer the place of passage the stopping whereof by our power was the double woe of their common wealth there bred throughe the season of the yere and putrifactiō of the aire a miserable infortunate plague among our men whyche maruellously encreased with the death of diuers of the best captains souldiors where withal there folowed a cruel and quicke siege whereat was present the yong Kyng hymselfe the Quéene hys mother the beste tryed number of warlike souldiours within the whole Countrey besides an other sorte of yong and olde that cared not for life or lande so their aduenture might winne againe the cause of their distresse wyth this generall ayde the marishes were made passable and firme ground whych by men of great experience was thought impossible and with common helpe the Cannons were placed the Castell and wals were battered and sundrye breaches made beyond expectation howbeit they were rewarded by oure Gunners and made to taste the bitter fruit of their desperate approche to their greate terrour and annoyaunce the Earle of Warwike wyth the remnant of our Capitaines and souldiors in couragious order standing at the seuerall breaches ready to defende their assaultes whyche perceyued by the enimy they caused their Trumpets to sound the blast of Emparle that composition of eyther parte mighte be made to auoide the imminent slaughter and effusion of bloude This offer séemed not vnméete bothe parties concluded the Towne was delyuered the nine and twentith of July wyth condition that the Englishemen should departe When the towne in this sorte was surrendred to the Frenche and the greatest part of our garrison shipped many sicke persons were lefte behind impotent and vnable to help themselues The misery whereof Edwarde Randolfe Esquier hygh Marshall of the Towne who was appointed to tarry and sée the vttermoste of oure composition accomplished perceiuyng moned with naturall pitie of his Countreymen relinquished withoute comforte caused the saide sicke persons to bée carryed aboorde not sparing his own shoulders at that time feeble and full of the plague hymselfe and hys men still bearing and helping the poore creatures on Ship-boorde a rare facte worthy rewarde and no doubte in remembrance with God the true recorder of mercifull deserts As ye haue hearde the plague of pestilence being in the Pestilence Towne of Newhauen through the number of souldiors that returned into Englande the infection thereof spread into dyuers partes of this Realme but especially the Citie of London was so infected that in the same whole yeare that is to say frō the first of January 156● till the last of December 1563. there dyed in the Citie and Liberties thereof containing 108. parishes of all diseases xx M. iij. C. lxxij and of the 108. parishes in London besides ●● in the suburbs plague being parte of the number aforesaide xvij M. ii●j C. ii●j persons And in the out parishes adioyning to y ● same Citie being xj parishes dyed of al diseases in the whole yeare itj. M. tj C. lxxx and vitj. persons and of them of the plague tj M. vtj C. xxxtj persons so that the whole number of all that dyed of all disseases as well within the Citie and Liberties as in the out parishes was xxitj M. vj. C. and lx of them there dyed of the plague xx M. one hundred thirtie and sixe The eight of July in the morning hapned a great tēpest Tempest at London of lightning and thunder where through a woman thrée kyne were slaine in the Couent Garden neare to Charing Crosse At the same time in Essex a man was torne to péeres as he was carying haye hys barne was borne downe and hys haye brent bothe stones and trées were rent in many places The Counsell of Kyng Philip at Bruxels commaunded proclamation to be made in Antwerpe and other places that no English ship with anye clothes shoulde come into anye places of their lowe Countries their colour was as they saide the daunger of the plague whyche was that tyme in London and other places of England notwythstanding they woulde gladly haue gotten our Woolles but the Quéenes Maiestie throughe sute of oure Merchaunt Aduenturers caused the Wooll fléete to be discharged and our Cloth fléet was sente to Emden in East Friselande aboute Easter nexte following in Anno 1564. Forsomuche as the plague of Pestilence was so hote in Threefolde plague to the poore Citizens of London the Citie of London there was no Terme kepte at Michaelmasse to be shorte the poore Citizens of London were thys yeare plagued with a thrée folde plague pestilence searcity of mony and dearth of victuals the misery whereof were too long here to wryte no doubte the poore remember it the riche by flight into the Countries made shifte for themselues c. An Erthquake was in the moneth of September in dyuers Earthquake places of thys realme speciallye in Lincolne and Northamptonshires Edwarde Bankes Rowlande Haywarde the 28. of Septem Sherifes Maior Sir Iohn White Grocer the 28. of October After the election of this Maior by the Counsels letters the Quéenes Maiesties pleasure was signified to Sir Thomas Lodge then Maior that forsomuche as the plague was to greate in the Citie the newe Maior elected shoulde kéepe no feast at the Guild hall for doubte that throughe bringing togither suche a multitude the infection might encrease for that wéeke there dyed wythin the Citie and out Parishes more than two thousande wherefore this sir Iohn White tooke his othe at the outermoste Gate of the Tower of London From the firste daye of December till the twelfth was Anno reg 6. Lightning and thunder sache continuall lightning and thunder especially the same twelfth day at night that y ● like had not bin séene nor heard by any man then liuing In the moneth of December was driuen on the ●hore ●● Grims●●e in Lincolneshire a monstrous fishe in length nynetéene yardes his taile fiftéene foote broade and sixe yardes betwéen hys eyes twelue men stoode vpright in hys mouth to get the oyle For that the plague was not fullye ceased in London Terme kepte at Hertforde Hillarye Tearme was kepte at Hertforde Castell besides Waer Thys yeare an honorable and ioyfull peace was concluded 1564 betwixte the Quéenes Maiestie
there were foūd aboute hym fiue diuelishe Bookes of Coniuration and most abhominable practises with a picture of Tinne of a manne hauyng thrée Dice in hys hande with this writing Chaunce Dice fortunately and dyuers papers of suche like matters as he had dealt in for men such as are mentioned in Leuiticus the twentith Chapter and sixth verse If any soule turne himselfe after suche as worke with spirites and after soothsayers to goe a whoring after them sayth the Lorde I wil put my face againste that soule and will cutte him off from among my people The third of February early in the morning Iohn Nelson Nelson executed for denying the Quéenes Supremacie and such other trayterous wordes againste hir Maiestie was drawen from Newgate to Tyborne and there hanged bowelled and quartred The seauenth of February one named Sherewood was Sherevvood executed drawen from the Tower of London to Tyborne and there haged bowelled and quartered for the like treason The ninth of Marche seauen Pyrates were hanged at Pirats hanged Wapping The fiftéenth of February Iohn de Ley a Frenchman fiue Englishe Gentlemen were conueyed from the Tower of London towarde Norwiche there to be araigned and executed for coyning of money counterfaite The tenth of March deceassed the Lady Margaret Countesse 1578 of Leunex and was buryed at Westminster the thyrde of Aprill The one and thyrtith of Maye Martin Frobisher wyth Frobishers third voyage fiftéene saile of good Shippes manned victualled and other wayes wel appoynted departed from Harwich in Essex on hys thyrde voyage towardes Cataya The one and thyrtith of July after many attempts and sundrye times being putte backe by Ilandes of Ice in hys straights he recouered his long wished Porte and came to Ancker in the Ilandes newly by hir Maiestie named Meta Incognita where as in the yeare before they fraughte theyr shippes with Golde Ore oute of the Mines and then on the laste of Auguste returning thence arriued safely in England about the firste of October George Bond Thomas Starkie the 28. of September Sherifes Maior Anno reg 21 Cassimere receyued Sir Richarde Pipe Draper the 28. of October The two and twentith of Januarie about seauen of the clocke at night Iohn Cassimere Counte Palatine of Rhene Duke of Bauare landing at the Tower of London was there by diuers Noblemen and others honorably receiued and conueyed by Cresset light and Torche lighte to sir Thomas Greshams house in Bishops gate stréete where he was feasted and lodged till Sunday nexte that he was by the Nobilitie fetched to the Courte at Westminster and after lodged in Somerset house On the eight of Februarie he was made Knight of the Garter and on the fouretéenth of Februarie departed from London homewardes with greate rewardes giuen by the Quéenes Maiestie the Nobilitie men of honor the Maior of London and the Citizens The fourth of Februarie and in the night following fel Deepe Snovve such abundance of Snowe that on the fifth in the morning the same was founde at London to lye two foote déepe in the shallowest and otherwise being driuen by the winde very boysterous in the Northeast on Bankes an ell or yard and halfe déepe in the whiche drifts of Snow in the Countries manye cattell and some men and women were ouerwhelmed and loste it snowed till the eight daye and fréezed till the tenth Then followed a thawe wyth continuall raine a long time after whyche caused suche high flouds that the Greate lande vvater floudes Marshes and lowe groundes being drowned for the tyme y ● water rose so high in Westminster hall that after the fall therof some fishes were founde there to remaine The seauentéenth of Februarie a yong man was hanged One hanged at Miles end in chaines on the miles end by London for murdering of a man in a Garden of Spep●n heath parishe The twentith of February deceassed sir Nicholas Bacon Lorde Keeper deceassed Lorde kéeper of the greate Seale of Englande who was honorably buried vnder a sumptuous Monument or Tombe by him in his life time erected in Paules Churche of London the ix of March He also in his life time gaue for sixe Scholers to be founde in Benet Colledge at Cambridge to eache of them thrée pounde sixe shillings and eight pence the yeare for euer The foure and twentith of Aprill fell such a snowe betwixt 1579 the houres of foure of the clocke in the morning and nine of the clocke before noone that at London some was foūd to lye almost one foote déepe The fiue and twentith of Aprill sir Thomas Bromley Knight was made Lorde Chauncelor of Englande Mathew Hamont of Hetherset by his trade a Plough Wright thrée myles from Norwiche was conuented before An Heretike brent at Norvviche the Byshop of Norwiche for that he denyed Christe ●●t the time of hys appearaunce it was obiected that he had published these Heresies followyng That the newe Testament and Gospell of Christe are but mere foolishnesse a storie of menne or rathera mere fable Item that man is restored to grace by the méere mercy of God wythout the meane of Christs bloud death and passion Item that Christe is not God nor the Sauiour of the world but a méere man a sinfull man and an abhominable Idoll Item that al they that worshippe him are abhominable Idolaters And that Christe didde not rise agayne from death to life by the power of his Godhead neither that hée did ascende into Heauen Item that the holy Ghoste is not God neither that there is any suche holy Ghoste Item that Baptisme is not necessarie in the Churche of God neither the vse of the sacrament of the body bloude of Christ For the whyche heresies he was condemned in the Consistorie and sentence was read againste him by the Bishop of Norwich the fouretéenth of Aprill and therevppon deliuered to the Sheriffes of Norwich and bycause he spake wordes of blasphemie against the Quéenes Maiestie and others of hir Counsell he was by the Recorder Maister Sergeant Windham and the Maior sir Robert Wood of Norwich condemned to lose bothe hys eares whyche were cutte off the thyrtéenth of Maye in the market place of Norwiche And afterwardes the twentith of Maye he was brent in the Castell ditche of Norwiche This yere in the moneth of May Marke Scaliot Blacke A locke kāy vveyghed but one vvheate corne smith Citizen of London borne in the parish of Saint Clements wythoute Temple Barre for ●yall of Workemanshippe made one hanging Locke of Yron Stéele and Brasse of eleauen seuerall péeces a pipe Kay fyled thrée square wyth a Potte vpon the shotte and the bowe wyth two Esses all cleane wrought whyche weighed but one Graine of Gold or Wheat corne he also at the same time made a Chaine of Golde of 43. Linckes to the whyche Chaine the Locke and Kay being fastened and put aboute a Flyes necke she drew the same with ease all whyche
case by good pollieie shoulde condignely deserue And to speake of this facte suche it was and so fearefull The people maruellous attē● tiue to heare as my heart quaketh and my eyes can not refraine teares to repeate it againe amongest you God for hys mercies sake shielde and defende hir moste excellent Maiestie that moste mightily hathe digested the notable daunger And so I will tel you of this tragedie in course as it fell out It liked hir Highnesse in respecte of the greate heate to take the ayre of the water where in graue and waightie negotiation she passed the time in discourse with the French Embassador by y ● space of an houre or two In hir returne it The cause is declared vvhy hir Maiestie tooke vvater pleased hir to take dyuers pauses and the rather bicause she earnestly read a Booke wherein it séemed for recreations sake she tooke some delight By meanes whereof euen as it pleased God wth his holy hande as it were to directe hir safetie she commaunded the Bargemen to slacke their labour Only Gods prouidēce in sauing hir Maiestie frō the shotte and slowly to passe on where if they hadde hasted but two strokes more they had brought hir Royal person to the shotte it selfe These wordes were scarcely spoken out by hir Maiestie but this Caitiue moste vnhappily I muste saye moste diuelishly discharged his Arquebuze strōgly charged with Bullet into the Barge where hir Maiestie was God that hath defended hir thou most mightie God euer vouchsafe to kéep hir With this blowe the seconde man to the bayles of the A strange and horrible terrour neuer heard nor seene the like in England before Barge wythin sixe foote of hir Royall person was stricken down from his seate and woūded through both his armes whiche hir Maiestie beheld and kingly handled this cause as euen straight I will tell you My Lordes of hir Maiesties Counsel dispersed abroade The sodaine greate feare of the Lords of the Counsel at the hearing of these ●errible nevves in their affaires hearing of this moste perilous aceidente returned to Courte wyth suche spéede as the waight of such a cause might moue them to do and there with feareful and louyng applausure towarde hir Maiestie did moste holily thanke our God for his singular help in the preseruation of oure moste deare and righteous Soueraigne That done according with their loues and dueties of seruice to God hir Maiestie and this whole estate after deliberate and moste graue consultation of the cause they al moste humbly on their knées besoughte the Quéene that The Counsell most desious to punishe this fact this slaue mighte suffer not this death but tenne thousande deaths if so it were possible in nature to doe for his so rash and fearefull offence Suche in déede mighte the offence haue bin whiche God for his mercies sake hathe moste fauourably forbidden that it mighte hane rought vp to Heauen and shoulde moste miserably not onely haue plagued this hir owne lande but all the true seruants of God dyspersed It vvas straunge to see the people staring in M. Vischamberlaines face some vveeping some trembling at the speaking of these vvordes through Christendome our Religion and true faith in Jesus Christe whyche wée enioye wyth vnspeakable comforte of frée conscience mighte hereby haue suffred confusion and persecution of bloude and vengeance amongst vs. Our peace and secure estates encreased with excéeding wealthes and nourished with most swéete quietnesse of life by thys hir moste happy gouernement and raygne of twentie yeares might hereby haue bin turned to blouty warres the fruites whereof is burning and spoyling of houses and goods rauishing and destroying of wiues and chyldren And what vengeance soeuer the worlde can bring forth the same shoulde haue fallen on vs I saye on vs then the most miserable men in the worlde And therefore heare me I praye you Let vs acknowledge before God wyth all humble Here they lyfte vp both handes and eyes to heauen saying God blesse hir Maiestie God blesse hir Maiesty c. thankefulnesse these vnspeakable benefites whych we haue enioyed and still shall doe while God vpholdeth hir blessed life and state amongest vs The losse and lacke of whome can not but bring on vs all these calamities and ten thousande moe whyche I cannot foresée If then by these and al other benefites whyche you possesse féele and taste of you Here the people vvith tears shevved themsesues most sorrovvful of these tragicall speaches finde how inestimable and pretious a Jewell thys our déere Soueraigne is for vs and amongest vs what plague forment or punishment could suffise you for reuenge on him that by anye meanes shoulde depriue you of suche heauenly and worldly felicities as dayly by hir holy hande are ministred amongest you But I will meddle no further wyth these matters I knowe you thanke God for them and wyth true and faithfull obedient heartes wyll euer serue hir moste excellent Maiestie whome he hathe made hys Minister to distribute al these blessyngs into your bosomes And now if it please you you may wyth maruell heare This sodaine straunge pardon amazed the people the Message I come of I bryng mercie to thys manne the gratious pardon of oure most deare Soneraigne who with hir mercifull eye beholdyng the clearenesse of this mannes heart frée from euill thought and consequentlye from prepension of any malicious fact against hir perstō vouchsaseth The greatnesse of hir Maiesties mercie seemed such as the people betvveene ioyes and sorrovves vvere a●●●sed to put him from the Gall●wes A notable action of compassion procéeding from a heauenlye minde and so farre different from the common nature of man forced into a fearefull iealousie of lisse of life as hath neuer bene read nor hearde of If casually a man suffer hurte in the fields by an arrowe shot by chance at rouing markes how reuengefully y ● party A true description of mans fraile nature in seeking reuenge confirmed vvith examples offended will follow his processe of felonie I haue oft séene and the law doth well allow it If in the Court the meanest s●ruing man strike his felow with his fist so that he bléede he is to loose the same hande Many other examples may be giuen you both touching the casualitie in this mans fact touching the place and presence wherein it chaunced to bée done But our Quéene looketh neyther on hir prerogatiue on th● power of hir lawes nor on the perill of hir person but Here he noteth the heauenly disposition of hir Maiestie far different from the nature of man in pardoning so great an offence against lavve and nature with the nobilitie of hir hearte the daunger onely done to hir self doth as you heare fréely pardon it And in the sacred word of hir kingly estate I protest it vnto you she hath firmly auowed that she had rather haue suffered the woūds the Bargeman now hath ten folde than the
all before thē whervpon Embassadors be sent again to Rome beséeching thē they would not suffer their miserable countrey to be vtterly destroyed Againe there is sent another legion which cōming vpon a suddaine made a great slaughter of y ● enimies chased thē ouer into their own country Then y e Romanes told the Britaines y t it was not their ease to take any more such trauellous iourneys for their defence and therefore bade thē to practise their armoure themselues and learne to withstand their enimies They builded vp a Wall of hard stone from Sea to Sea right betwéene the two Cities whiche there were made to kéepe out the Enimie in the selfesame place where Seuerus before had cast his Trench with publike and priuate charges the Brytaines also putting too their helping handes they then builded it eyght foote broade and twelue foote high right as it were by a line from East to Weast as it doth to this day appeare which being perfected they giue the people straight warning to looke well to themselues they teach them to handle their weapen and instruct them in warlike feates Also by the Sea side Southward where their Shippes lay at harbor least their Enimies should land there aboutes they made vp Bulwarkes along one somewhat distant from another and this done bid them farewel Gildas Sapiens as minded no more to returne At this time almost all the treasure of Brytaine was hidde vnder ground or transported ouer into France As soone as they were gone the Scottes and Pictes hauing intelligence that they had made promise they woulde come no more they taking heart of grace returne agayne to their businesse and first all that was without the wall they tooke for their owne After that they giue assault vnto the wall where the Britaynes were with Graples pulled downe and otherwise so assaulted that they leauing both the Cities and the wall also were dispersed and put to flight the enimies following killed and slayed more cruelly than euer they did before wherevpon being driuen out of their owne houses and possessions they fall a robbing and spoyling one the other of them so farre foorth that all the whole Countrey was brought to that exigent that they had none other sustenance but that they gote by hunting and killing of wilde Beastes THeodosius the yonger sonne of Arcadius succéeded his 408 Uncle Honorius and appoynted Valentinianus his Cousin Emperour in the Weast partes At this time Timotheus héere in Brytaine vnder a pretence Sigebertus of Religion and great continencie drew many into a dangerous Heresie Chrisanthus the sonne of Byshop Martian a Consull of Socrates Lib. 7. Italy was made Uiceroy and Lord Deputie of Britayne he was afterward made Bishop of Constantinople Now the poore remnant of the Brytaines directed letters to Aetius whereof this was the beginning To Aetius thrice 446 Consull the mourning of the Brytaines In the processe of which Epistle they thus set foorth their pitifull estate The barbarous enimie driueth vs vpon the Sea the Sea agayne vpon the enimie betweene these twayne riseth two manner of deathes eyther we are killed or drowned And yet for all their suite they could obtayne no ayde of hym as he whiche had then both his hands full of businesse and battayle at home with Bleda and Attila Kings of the Hunnes The Pelagian Heresies being brought in by Agricola Pelagian Heresie the sonne of Seuerianus a Pelagian Bishop about this time did fore corrupt the faith of the Brytaines but the Brytaines béeing neither willing to receyue their lewde Doctrine as blasphenrous againste the grace of God neyther able to refute their wilie and wicked persuasions they deuised this wholsome counsell to séeke for ayde of the Bishops of France against these their spirituall enimies And they calling a common counsell consulted among themselues whome of them all it were best to send to help their neighbours fayth By the assent of them all there was chosen two woorthie Prelates Germanus Altisiodorensis and Lupus Bishop of the Citie Germanus and Lupus Trecassa whiche shoulde passe ouer into Britaine to confirme them in the Faith whiche with readie obedience accepting the commandement of the Sinode tooke shipping thitherward and had prosperous windes which set them ashore in place where they themselues desired Thither a great multitude of people being assembled receyued the Priestes of God and the word of God was preached by them not onely in their Churches but also in the open stréetes and in the Countrey in such sort that in all places both the sound and faithfull were confirmed and they that before swarued out of the right faith were amended The Authoures and head professors of this heretical error lay lurcking all this while and much spited to sée the people dayly to fall from them After long aduisement vsed they take vpon them to trie the matter by open disputation which being agréed vpon they come foorth richly appoynted gorgeously apparelled accompanyed with a number of flattering fauourers The people were present both to sée and iudge the matter The parties were farre vnlike of condition on the one side was the faith on the other mans presumption on the one side méekenesse on the other pride on the one side Pelagius on the other Christ First of all Germanus and Lupus gaue their aduersaries leaue to speake which vaynely occupyed both the tyme and eares of the people with naked words but after the reuerend Bishops poured out their words cōfirmed with scriptures out of the Gospels and Apostles Thus the vanitie of Heretikes was conuicted and falsehoode confuted so that at Pelagians Heresie confuted euery obiection they were forced to confesse their errour not being able to aunswere them but after their departure the Heresie began againe to reuiue Wherefore Germanus returned into Britaine with Seuerus banished the Heretiques with banishment and restored the faith The end of the Romaynes gouernement in Brytaine Brytaines and Saxons THe Brytaines continued in doubtfull Warre with the Scottes and Pictes sometime bearing away the victorie sometime leauing it to the enimie But considering the ambitious minds of men and fearing least some should vsurpe the Kingdome at home while they were deteyned with warres abroade thought good to appoynte ouer them some King and so with one consent they elected Vortiger VOrtiger raigned in Brytaines in whose time hunger more 447 Beade preuayling against the Brytaines droue many of them to yéeld themselues vnto the hands of their enimies Other there were which could neuer be brought therevnto but from the hils and brakes where they lurked many tymes inuaded their enimies as trusting so much the more in the help of God how muche the lesse hope they had of ayde of men and by such meanes first of all both resisted and ouerthrew them which many yeares togither had liued by the spoyle of the Countrey whereby for the time they drewe homeward with shame ynough contending not long after to