Wingrave was Mayor William Caston Ralph Balancer Sheriffs In his eleventh Year John Wingrave continued Mayor John Prior William Furneaux Sheriffs In his Twelfth Year John Wingrave continued Mayor John Pointel John Dalling Sheriffs In his Thirteenth year Hammond Chickwel was Mayor Simon de Abingdon John Preston Sheriffs In his Fourteenth Year Nicholas Farendon was Mayor Renauld at the Conduit Will. Prodham Sheriffs In his Fifteenth Year Hammond Chickwel was Mayor Richard Constantine Richard de Hackney Sheriffs In his Sixteenth Year Hammond Chickwel continued Mayor John Grantham Richard de Ely Sheriffs In his Seventeenth Year Nicholas Farendon was Mayor Adam of Salisbury John of Oxford Sheriffs In his Eighteenth Year Hammond Chickwel was Mayor Benet of Fulham John Cawston Sheriffs In his Ninteenth Year Hammond Chickwel continued Mayor Gilbert Mordon John Cawston Sheriffs In his Twentieth Year Richard Britain was Mayor Richard Rothing Roger Chauntelere Sheriffs EDWARD III. EDWARD the third was Crowned King upon Candlemas-day A. D. 1327. being the eighth day after that his Father had made a resignation of the Crown to him And now because sundry great persons with the whole order of Friars Preachers took pity on the old Kings captivity Mortimer therefore hastned to dispatch him out of the way in order to which he procured an Express from the young King then about 16. Years of age to remove him from Kenelworth Castle delivering him into the hands of those ignominious Knights Thomas de Gourney Seniour and John Mattrevers who conveying him from Kenelworth to Barkly-Castle there murdred him by running a burning spit up into his body as he was about to disburden nature September 22. 1327. His body was buryed at Glocester To animate the bloody Regicides to the commitment of the horrid fact 't is said this ambiguous phrase was invented by Adam de Torleton Bishop of Hereford and sent to them by Mortimer Edwardum occidere nolite timere bonum est Gourney or Corney and his villanous companions when they would needs shave the King on his way to Barkley lest he should be known and rescued inforced him to sit down on a molehil and the rascal Barber insulting told him That cold water out of the next ditch should serve for his trimming at that time To whom the sorrowful King answered Whether you will or no there shall be warm water and therewith shed tears plentifully But young King Edward at his Fathers death was upon the borders of Scotland where having invironed the Scots in the woods of Wividale and Stanhope by the Treason of Mortimer they escaped and he returned inglorious after an huge wast of Treasure and great peril of his own person For had not his loyal Chaplain stept in and received the mortal weapon in his own body the Kings life had been lost Shortly after this peace was concluded with the Scots upon dishonourable terms to the English by the procurement of the Mother-Queen and her Minion Mortimer Joan the Kings Sister was marryed to David Bruce the Scots in derision calling her Joan Make-peace King Edward at the Treaty of Peace sealed Charters to the Scotish Nation the contents whereof were contrived by his Mother Roger Mortimer and Sir James Douglas without the privity of the English Peers He also delivered to them that famous evidence called the Ragman-Roll and likewise quitted them of all his claim to the government of Scotland withal rendring back certain Jewels taken by the English from the Scots amongst which was one of special Note called the Black-Cross of Scotland In the same year being the year of our Lord 1327. dyed Charles the fair King of France by whose death the Crown of that Kingdom devolved to Edward King of England in right of his Mother Queen Isabel Tho. Bradwardin A. B. Cant. who was daughter to Philip the Fair and Sister to Lewis Hutin Philip the Long and Charles the Fair all Kings of France successively and all three dying without Issue the whole right now seeming to be Isabel the only Child of the said Philip that had any Issue But the French pretending a fundamental Law or Entail called the Salique Law by which no woman was inheritable to France sought to debar King Edward his right receiving to the Crown Philip of Valois whose Father was younger Brother to Philip the Fair advancing the Brothers son before the Daughters son not following the propinquity or descent of blood but meliority of the Sex Against the stream of the Queen and her Lord Mortimers absolute sway some great persons now stood amongst whom was the Kings Uncle Edmund Earl of Kent whose death the Queen and Mortimer shortly procured Nor was Mortimers fall now far off for the King beginning to perceive his own peril in the others potency upon good advice therefore surprized Mortimer with the Queen-Mother in Nottingham-Castle and by a Parliament held at Nottingham Queen Isabel's Dowry was taken from her and only a pension of a thousand Pound per Annum allowed her Mortimer was condemned in open Parliament at VVestminster for causing the young King to make a dishonourable peace with the Scots from whom he received bribes For procuring the death of Sr. Edward of Caernarvon the late King For over-familiarity with Isabel the Queen-Mother For polling and robbing the King and Commons of their Treasure He was ignominiously drawn to Tyburn then called the Elmes where he was executed on the common Gallows there hanging two days and nights 1330. With him there dyed for expiation of the late Kings death Sr. Simon de Bedford and John Deverell Esquire About this time befel great disturbances and divisions in Scotland occasioned by young Bruce and Baliol who both pretended right to that Crown which opportunity King Edward took hold on conceiving himself not obliged to stand to that contract made in his minority by the predominancy of his mother and Mortimer the Scots also detaining his Town and Castle of Berwick from him Wherefore he raises an Army and with Edward Baliol marcheth to Berwick which having besieged David Bruce sent a puissant host to the relief thereof and at Halydon-Hill the English and Scoth Armies joyned battle where the Scots were vanquished with a lamentable slaughter of them There dyed Archibald Dougles Earl of Angus and Governour of Scotland the Earls of Southerland Carrick and Foss the three Sons of the Lord Walter Steward and at least fourteen thousand others with the loss only of one Knight and ten other English-men Hereupon Berwick was surrendred to King Edward and Baliol was accepted to be King of Scotland and had faith and allegiance sworn unto him by the Scotch Nobles Simon Islip A.B. Cant. Which done Baliol repaired to King Edward then at Newcastle upon Tine where he submitted to Edward the third as his Father John Baliol had done to Edward the first After which the King of England assisted this Edward Baliol as his homager going himself in person divers times for suppressing the Brucean party which
without the King's leave That no Archbishop or Bishop upon the Popes summons should go out of the Realm without the Kings license That no Bishop should excommunicate any holding of the King in chief or put any of his Officers under interdict without the Kings license That Clerks criminous should be tryed before Secular Judges Unto which Articles the King peremptorily urged Becket to yeild without any reservation of saving in all things his order and right of the Church But Becket utterly refused sending complaints thereupon to the Pope who very desirous to keep the Kings favour required the Bishop to yeild unto the King without any salvo's or exceptions So Becket though with much reluctancy at length did swear in verbo Sacerdotali de plano that he would observe the Laws which the King intituled Avitae of his Grandfather the like to which did all the other Bishops and Nobility But notwithstanding Becket refused to set his seal to the Instrument wherein these Customs were comprehended alledging that he did promise it only to do the King some honour in word only but not with intent to confirm the said Articles Whereupon the King sent to Pope Alexander the third thinking by his means to have subjected the Prelate But he passing it by the King undertook the case himself and by his Peers and Bishops had all Beckets movable Goods condemned to his mercy they also adjudging him guilty of perjury The Bishops did by the mouth of the Bishop of Chichester disclaim thenceforward all obedience to him as their Arch-bishop And the next day whilst they were consulting further concerning him the Bishop caused to be sung before him at the Altar The Princes sit and speak against me and the ungodly persecute me c. and forthwith taking his silver Crosier in his hands he entred therewith into the Kings presence But the King enraged at his boldness commanded his Peers to sit in judgment on him and they adjudged him as a Traytor and perjured person to be apprehended and cast into prison To prevent which Becket fled into Flanders the Pope now openly siding with him and also Lewis the French King But Henry to let the Servant of servants know that he was supreme in his own Kingdom and that he liked not his taking part with a subject against his Sovereign Lord commanded the Sheriffs to attack such as did appeal to the Court of Rome with the Relations of all such of the English Clergy as were with Becket and to put them under Sureties Also to seize their Revenues Goods and Chattels The King likewise seized all the Archbishops Goods and Profits banished his Kindred prohibited his being publickly prayed for as Archbishop Commanded his Justices to apprehend and secure all such as should bring any Interdict into England till the Kings pleasure was further known On the other hand Becket in France by special authority from the Pope excommunicated the Bishop of London and proceeded so far with others that there was scarce found in the Kings Chappel such as might perform the wonted Service Hereupon the King sends again to the Pope to send him Legates which might absolve his excommunicate subjects and settle a Peace But the Popes Legates whom he sent did not effect a reconciliation by reason of Becket's perversness Some conjecture that in contempt of Becket whose Office it was as Archbishop of Canterbury to Crown the King King Henry caused his eldest son Henry to be crowned King of England by Roger Archbishop of York At whose Coronation-feast the Father-King himself carrying up the first dish of Meat the Archbishop pleasantly said to the young King Rejoyce my fair Son for there is no Prince in the world that hath such a Servitor attending at his Table as you have To whom the proud young King thus answered Why wonder you at that My Father knows that he doth nothing unbeseeming him forasmuch as he is royal born but on-one side but Our self are royal born both by Father and Mother Not long after this by mediation of some friends a reconciliation between the King and Becket was effected and Becket was permitted to have the full use of his Metropolitan See and all the profits thereof with the Arrearages Which he had not long re-possessed ere he published the Popes Letters by which Roger Archbishop of York and Hugh Bishop of Durham were suspended from their Episcopal Function for crowning the yong King in prejudice of the See of Canterbury And the Bishops of London Sarum and Excester cut off from the Church by Censure for assisting therein whom Becket would not absolve at the young Kings request but under conditions Which the old King then in Normandy hearing of let fall some words intimating his high displeasure against the Archbishop and desire to be rid of him Whereupon Hugh Morvill William Tracie Hugh Brito and Richard Fits-Vrse Knights and Courtiers hasted into England and murder'd the Archbishop in the Cathedral Church of Canterbury Richard a Monk A.B. Cant. as he stood in the Evening-service-time before the Altar Which done the Parricides fled and Thomas was reputed for a most Glorious Saint and Martyr and strange Miracles beyond my Creed are reported to have been done by this dead Roman-Saint and his blood Amongst other Epitaphs made on his death this was one Quis moritur praesul Cur pro grege Qualiter ense Quando Natali Quis locus Ara Dei. But the news of this vile act coming to the ears of the old King he was exceedingly troubled and to take off the imputation of Guilt from himself he protested that he would submit himself to the judgment of such Cardinal Legates as the Pope should send to enquire of the fact And to calm his own perturbations and avert mens thoughts from the consideration of that Tragedy he undertook the conquest of Ireland which he effected being helped forward therein by the Civil dissentions then amongst the Irish petty Kings Where having caused a reformation of the Irish Church and setled affairs therein to his conveniency he returned into England and from thence posted into Normandy where attended for his arrival two Cardinal-Legats sent at his own request for his purgation concerning Thomas a Becket's death by whom he was absolved Having first given oath that he was no way consenting to the fact and declared his sorrow for having in his anger given occasion by rash words for others to do the deed and ingaged to perform injoyned penances The conditions of his absolution were That at his own charge he should maintain 200 Soldiers a whole year for the defence of the Holy Land and that he should revoke the Laws which he had made against the priviledges of the See of Rome and Beckets friends And now this Cloud thus blown over another succeeds in its place For his unnatural Son young King Henry by the instigation of his Mother Queen Eleanor conspired against him having for his confederates the Kings of France and Scotland
they would venture their lives and fortunes for him as hoping that under his government they should be eased of their Taxes Perkin accepting their invitation landed at Whitsand-Bay in Cornwall after whose arrival some thousands of people resorted to him When King Henry heard of his landing and making head against him he smiled saying Loe we are again provoked by this Prince of Rake-hells but lest my people should through ignorance be drawn into destruction let us seek to take this Perkin by the easiest way we can He therefore assembled his forces and sent out his Spies to observe the track and hopes of Prince Peterkin who had now besieged the loyal City of Excester which would neither yield to his fine promises nor his threats and violence but valiantly withstood him till they were relieved by Edward Courtney Earl of Devonshire and other good subjects that forced the Rebels away from before the City Which Rebels now understanding what great preparations were made against them began many of them to drop away from their new King and Perkin himself secretly fled and took Sanctuary at Beaulieu in New-forest out of which Sanctuary upon the Kings offer of life to him and oblivion of his crimes he gladly came forth and put himself into the Kings hands by whose order he was conveyed to London where the King by curious and often examination of him came to the full knowledg of that his heart desired The châ—ef matter of which confession the King caused to be published in Print But the imaginary King Perkin indeavouring to make an escape from such that had the charge of him after the undergoing of some publique shame for that attempt was committed to the Tower where he by his insinuations and promises had corrupted his keepers to set himself and the Earl of Warwick at large to which design of escaping the poor Earl is said to have consented Perkin for this conspiracy had his Tryal at Westminster and was condemned and being drawn to Tyburn had the sentence of death executed upon him At the Gallows Perkin did read his own confession therein owning himself to have been born in the Town of Tourney in Flanders of such parents whom he named and that being come into Ireland to see the Country he was there wrought upon to personate Richard Duke of York c. Thus died If I be not deceived a deceiver A. D. 1499. The Earl of VVarwick was publickly arraigned for minding to have escaped out of the Tower and consequently to deprive King Henry of his Crown and Dignity and to usurp the Title and Soveraign Office all which streined charge the Earl by false friends 't is said was perswaded to confess So lost his head upon Tower-hill and was buried at Bisham by his Ancestors Thus died the last Heir Male of the blood and Sirname of Plantaginet It is said That in the eyes of the Castilâ—aâ—s who had secretly agreed with King Henry to match their Princess Katharine with Prince Arthur there could be no sure ground of succession whilst the Earl of VVarwick lived Tho. Langton A. B. Cant. And the said Lady Katharine when the Divorce was afterward prosecute against her by her Husband King Henry the eight is reported to have said That it was the hand of God for that to clear the way to the Marriage that innocent Earl of VVarwick was put to unworthy death A. D. 1506 Edmund de la Pole Earl of Suffolk wilfully slew a common person in his fury for the which King Henry caused him to be arraigned the fact he was perswaded to confess and had pardon But the Earl as a Prince of the blood his mother being sister to Edward the fourth held himself disgraced by having been seen at the Kings-Bench-Bar a Prisoner therefore in discontent fled to his Aunt the Dutchess of Burgundy but within a while after he returned into England and the year following his spirit not yet being laid fled again after he had first complotted to disturb the Kings peace Whereupon King Henry applied himself to his wonted Art for learning the secrets of his enemies imployed Sir Robert Curson to feign himself a friend to Pole thereby to get himself into his bosome for the finding out of his secret designs and correspondents Mâ—ny great persons for Poles câ—use were committed to prison some were put to deaâ—h as Sir James Terrel and Sir John VVâ—dâ—am who lost their heads on Tower-hill and three other persons who were executed in other places And the more to disanimate de la Poles complices and favourers King Henry had procured from Pope Alexander the sixth an Excommunication and curse against Pole Sir Robert Curson and five other persons by special name and generally all others that should aid the Earl against the King Sir Robert Curson was named on purpose to make de la Pole secure of him Neither did the King leave here for he so prevailed with the Pope as he decreed by Bull That no person should afterward have priviledge of Sanctuary who had once taken the same and came forth again and that if any Sanctuary-man should afterward commit any murder robbery sacriledge treason c. He should by lay force be drawn thence to suffer due punishment And now Suffolk perceiving himself stript of all future hope of endamaging the King he put himself into the grace and protection of Philip King of Spain with whom he remained in banishment till King Philip was driven by tempest into England at which time King Henry prevailed with him to deliver Pole into his hards upon promise that he would spare his life And accordingly at Philips return home Pole was sent in England and then committed to the Tower King Henry thus secured of this hazard bestowed his ages care on gathering of mony though by some such ways as seemed none of the justest Empson and Dudley two Lawyers were his instruments for the bringing in of mony to fill his Exchequer These called the richer sort of Subjects into question for the breach of old penal Laws Henry Dean and William Warham A. Bps. Cant. long before discontinued and forgotten The courses they took in the execution of their imployment was for one of them to outlaw persons privately and then to seize their estates forcing them to chargeable compositions with the King and heavy bribes to themselves Another detestable practise of theirs was to have false Jurors and Ring-leaders of false Jurors who would never give in any verdict against their Patrons Empson and Dudley insomuch that if any stood out in Law these sons of Belial squared the destiny of their causes By these means many honest and worthy Subjects were rigorously fined imprisoned or otherwise afflicted But the King falling sick of a consuming disease by the means of good Counsel he inclined to grant to all men general Pardons certain only excepted and ordained that all such monys should be restored as had been unjustly levyed by his Officers He died A.
sacrificers discussers and interpreters of Religious matters they decided also as temporal Judges almost all controversies in the civil State and such as refused to stand to their judgment they put under their Interdiction which was accounted the most grievous punishment These Druides were priviledged from the Wars and all other burdens taxes and payments Over all the rest of them there was one Primate The main thing they laboured to perswade men was That the Soul is immortal They taught only by word of mouth The Merchandizing of the ancient Britains consisted chiefly in Ivory Boxes Sheers Onches Bits and Bridles Wreaths and Chains with other conceits made of Glass and Amber And as their Merchandize was mean so was their Shipping also the Keels and Ribs whereof were of light wood covered over with Leather Their Coyn was either of Brass or else Iron-Rings sized at a certain weight which they used for their Money but as times grew more civil and Traffick more frequent they stamped both Gold and Silver Their Armour were Shields and short Spears in the lower of which Spears was fastned a round Bell of Brass which at the beginning of a fight they shoke with a great courage conceiting that such a ratling noise did dismay the enemy In the beginning of a Battel they fought in Chariots but when they had wound themselves in amongst their enemies they fought on foot upon occasion retiring to their Chariots which in the mean space that they fought on foot were drawn all together They were so expert in managing their Chariot-Horses that running them forceably down a steep Hill they could stop and turn them in the mid-way Julius Caesar found the Island of Britain not in a Monarchical estate under one King but divided into several Provinces or petty Kingdoms The Names of which Provinces were 1. Cantii the Inhabitants of Kent 2. Regni Sussex and Surrey 3. Durothriges Dorcetshire 4. Damnonii Devon and Cornwall 5. Belgae Sommerset Wilts and Hampshire 6. Attrebatii Berkshire 7. Dobuni Oxford and Glocestershire 8. Catieuchlani Warwick Bucks and Bedford 9. Trinobantes Hartford Essex Middlesex 10. Iceni Suffolk Norfolk Cambridge 11. Coritani Northampton Lincoln Leicester Rutland Derby Nottingham 12. Cornabii Stafford Worcester Cheshire and Shropshire 13. Brigantes Parisi Lancashire York Richmond Durham Westmorland and Cumberland 14. Ordovices Flint Denbigh Merioneth Caernarvan and Montgomery 15. Silures Hereford Radnor Brecknock Monmouth and Glamorgan 16. Pembroke Cardigan and Caermarden called Dimetae 17. Ottadini Northumberland Teifidale Twedale Merch and Louthien 18. Selgovai Lidesdale Eusdale Eskdale Annandale and Niddisdale 19. Novantes Kile Carick Galloway and Cunningham 20. Fife Renfraw Cluydsdale Leanox Striveling Menteth called Damnii 21. Ciledonii Gadini Perth Stratherne Albin Aâ—gile and Lorne 22. Epidii Cantire 23. Vicemagi Murray 24. Venricones Mernia Anguis Mar. 25. Taezali Buquhane 26. Cantae Creones Cerontes Rosse Southerland 27. Carnonacae Carini Cornabii Stratnavern 28. Simertae Logi Caithnes The most memorable Kings of the Britains in the times of the Romans COmius King of the Attrebatii Cassibelan King of the Trinobaates who as the most worthy of the Brittish Kings was chosen by general consent to withstand the Roman invasion which he did with very great prowess twice repulsing their Legions from the British-Shore His chief City was Verolam near where St. Albans now standeth Cingetorix Caruil Taximagul and Segonax Kings reigning together in Kent Mandubrace a Prince of the Trinobantes who after that he was beaten out of his Country by Cassibelan fled unto Caesar into Gallia and was a great Incendiary against his native Land perswading Caesar to make a second expedition into Britain Cunobeline the chief City for whose residence was Camalodunum now called Malden in Essex Adminius Catacratus and Togodumus Sons of Cunobeline the last whereof made gallant resistance against the Romans Cogidunus who received in pure gift at the hands of the Romans certain Cities over which he peaceably reigned King Caractacus a most renowned Prince of the Silures who in Nine years resistence waded through many adventures against the Romans but at last was betrayed and carried to Rome where being led in Triumph was for the braveness of his Spirit released of his bonds and accepted into Claudius Caesars favour Venutius a famous King of the Brigantes Voadicea or Boadicea Queen to Prasutagus after her Husbands death receiving incivilitieâ— from the Romans opposed her self against them and in one Battel slew Eighty thousand of them Those two strong Cities Verolamium and Camalodunum she took and sacked Petilius Lieutenant of the Ninth Legion she discomfited Catus the Procurator she forced to fly beyond the Seas All feared the Heroick prowess of this Princess but at length she was vanquished in Battel when rather than live subject to her foes she poysoned her self Arviragus stoutly withstood Claudius Galgacus a right valiant Prince of the Caledonians in the time of Domitian These were the oppugners of the Roman Power for above an hundred years nor were the Britains then subdued without themselves for their own divisions made way for the Romans to become their Masters and to possess their Countrey About the year of the Worlds Creation 3913 and before the birth of Christ Fifty four years the fortunate Romans under the conduct of Julius Caesar first took footing in Britain about Deal and so welcom was the news of Caesars landing in Britain to the Roman Senate that they decreed unto his honour a general Thanksgiving for Twenty days which was the first so great honour ever granted the former greatest Victories having had but five or at most but ten days assigned them Emperors of Rome commanding in Britain CAius Julius Caesar was General of the Roman forces in Gallia when he invaded this Island of Britain in short time after which JVLIVS CAESAR he assumed the Title and Authority of perpetual Dictator about A.M. 3925 He was very succesful in War and of a most undaunted spirit upon all occasions In Fifty several Battels by him fought he always prevailed one only excepted Four times was he created Consul and five times entred Rome in Triumph Once entring into a Boat in tempestuous weather and the Waterman afraid to put forth from shore he thus animated him Proceed couragiously against the storms for thou carriest Caesar and Caesars fortunes And when he was forewarn'd of the conspiracy made against him in the Senate-house and disswaded from going thither at that time he answered That he had rather dye than admit fear into his breast So resolutely going to the place was by Brutus Cassius and other conspirators murdered in the Senate-house receiving in his Body Twenty three Wounds He was bald-headed therefore to cover it he always wore the Triumphant Lawrel Garland Some report that the Bathes by the City of Bath were first found out by him others say by an ancient British King called Bladus For Twenty years after Caesars coming into Britain the Britains retained their own Kings and Laws having no Roman praefects over them
AVGVSTVS A. M 3930 OCtavian Augustus Caesar was Julius Caesars Sisters Son and his adopted and declared Heir In the Fourty second year of his reign the Prince of peace Jesus Christ was born when was universal peace This wise Emperors Motto was Festina â—enté And used to say That is speedily or soon enough done that is well enough done and that to get some small profit with great danger is like those that fishing with a golden Hook hazard more than the Fish is worth He dyed in the embraces of his Wife Livia of whom he took this Farewell Livia Nostri conjugii memor vive vale CLaudius Tiberius Nero was ordained by Augustus for his Successor TIBERIVS A. D. 17. Such an impudent Letcher he was that he caused naked Women and Maidens to bring in and attend on him at Supper Such a notorious Drunkard that caused the people instead of Claudius Tiberius Nero to call him Caldus Biberius Mero a Wine-bibber In his time the worlds Saviour was crucified about Five years after which time the Gospel was planted in Britain as saith old Gildas This Emperor as is conjectured was smothered to death by Caligula CAius Caligula Nephew to Tiberius CALIGULA A D. 39. was at some times exceeding prodigal at other times sordidly covetous always cruel proud and libidinous He would force Rich men to make their Wills and therein to declare him their Heir which when they had done he would presently cause them to be poysoned scoffing at them and saying That when men had once made their Wills it was fit they should dye His own Mother he defamed to be incestuously begot his Grandmother he poysoned his Brother Tiberius he murdered his Three natural Sisters incestuously polluted He made himself a god commanding that men should worship him as such and ordained his great Horse for his Priest but as Decius saith Truly a fit priest for such a god and a fit god for such a priest Howbeit though he would be a god yet when the true God sent his Thunder he would cover his eyes with his Hat and hide himself under the Table He was so exceeding hairy of body that during his regality it was next to High Treason but to name a Goat He often lamented that some rare and unusual disaster happened not in his time whereby his Reign might be made memorable to posterity He wish'd that all the people had but one Neck that so he might have the glory of giving the bravest blow that ever was struck but himself was murdered receiving Thirty wounds of the Conspirators CLAUDIUS A. D. 43. CLaudius Drusus the Grandson of Livia Augustus's Wife was by the Praetorian Band chosen Emperor contrary to the mind of the Senate who had determined to reduce the City into her ancient liberty without admission of any Caesar He came into Britain where for his clemency the Britains erected a Temple and Altar in his name giving him Divine honour His first Wife Messalina besides all her private Lecheries went often to the common Stews to satiate her Lust but she for her impudency being put to death Claudius Married Julia Agrippina who to make way for her Son Nero to the Empire procured the disinheriting of Brittanicus the Emperors Son and by Poyson tempered in a Mushrom she ended Claudius's days DOmitius Nero was elected Emperor by the Soldiers His own Father he poysoned NERO A. D. 56. upon his Mother he first committed incest then murder he deflowred the Vestals slew his Brother Germanicus and Sister Antonia his Wives Poppea and Octavia his Ant Domitia his Son-in-Law Rufinus and his famous Tutour Seneca with many of the Roman Nobility and raised the first persecution against the Christians He set the City of Rome on fire 1st Persetion charging the innocent Christians with the fact and tormenting them for it He caused St. Peter and St. Paul to be put to death the first by crucifying the other by beheading But this Tyrant was grown so hated that the Senate adjudged him to be shamefully whipt to death which he hearing of run himself upon his own Sword In the first five years of his Reign he was very compassionate in so much as being requested to sign a Writ for the execution of a Malefactor he said Would God I had never learnt to Write In the year of our Redemption 67 Joseph of Aâ—imathea was sent by Philip the Apostle to plant the Gospel in Britain who laid the foundation of the Christian Faith at a place then called Avalon afterward Iniswitren now Glastenbury where he dyed and was buried In Nero the progeny of the Caesars ended SErgius Sulpitius Galba was elected Emperor by the Soldiers and Senate GALBA A. D. 70. who when he had Reigned only Seven Months was by the procurement of Otho slain by a Troop of Horsemen OTHO A. D. 71. SAlvius Otho being chosen Emperor Vitellius a Roman General marcheth against him and at Brixillium won the day and to save the shedding of Roman Blood Otho refused to engage any further with him though much importun'd by his Soldiers to reinforce the Battel but he thus answered them To hazard your virtues and valours for one mans estate I hold it dangerous and needless it is that my life should be prized at so dear a rate These Civil Wars Vitellius begun which for my part I purpose not to continue And hereby let posterity esteem of Otho that others have kept the Empire longer but never any that left it more Valiantly You for your parts would have dyed for my sake but I to save your lives do dye voluntarily and unvanquished I blame not the gods nor envy I Vitellius his rising glory sufficient to me it is that my House hath touched the highest strain of honour and my self to be left upon Record The Soveraign Monarch of the World And thereupon with a solemn farewel to the whole Army he went into his Tent and with his Dagger gave himself his deaths-wound VITELLIVS A. D. 71. AVlus Vitellius was so gluttonous and prodigal that Two thousand Dishes of Fish and Seven thousand of Fowl were served to his Table at one Supper In those few Months he reigned he wasted Seven millions thirty one thousand two hundred and fifty pound Sterling but was ignominiously slain after the manner of a common Malefactor when he had reigned only Eight Months and five days FLavius Vespasian was chosen Emperor by the Mesian Legions VESPASIAN A D. 71. He was a great enemy and scourge to the Jews but a great favourer of Learning valiant just and wise yet it may be too covetous for he imposed a Tax upon every Family according to the quantity of Urine that was made in it which his Son Titus blaming him for as dishonourable to so great an Emperor he bade Titus smell to the Gold brought for Tribute-Money asking him what ill favor he found in it Adding that the smell of gain is sweet out of any