endear'd themselves to Posterity and to have made their Labours for ever valuable We are extreamly indebted to those pious Princes and generous Heroes that either in the East or Western Parts of the Kingdom have afforded us such noble advantages of Education in all sorts of Learning as no other Nation can pretend to and perhaps we cannot be more injurious to their Memories than by clogging their true Story with Fables Fancies and Forgeries Instead therefore of raking in their Ashes and rifling their Sepulchres to prove them Men of Gigantick Stature instead of refineing upon their History till we have turn'd it into Romance we should pay them more grateful and real Honours if being content with such Remains of them as we know are Genuine we employ'd more of our Time in letting the World see what use has been made of their Benefits how much the several Branches of the unforbidden Tree of Knowledge have thriven under the Influences of their Charity what mighty Numbers of great Doctors and Masters in all Faculties have been fed at their Expence and flourish'd by their Bounty 'T is true our Universities were not always the sole Fountains of good Literature in this Island many of our eminent Writers having had their Education in Monasteries But since St. John of Beverly has been made a Member of that at Oxford and venerable Bede a Student at Cambridge I wish they had rank'd all our antient Men of Knowledge on one Hand or the other provided they had given us full Accounts of their Persons and Labours I think we may without Vanity affirm that hardly any Kingdom in the World has outdone England either in the Number or Goodness of her Authors and that even in the darkest Ages our Lamps shone always as bright as any in our Neighbourhood When School-Divinity was in Fashion we had our Doctores Subtiles Irrefragabiles c. and as Learning grew to a better Ripeness and Stature we had plenty of good Books in other as useful Sciences The first that attempted the History of our Writers was John Boston a Monk of St. Edmundsbury A. D. 1410. who having view'd most of the Libraries in England drew a Catalogue of all the British Authors and gave short censures upon them He could hardly have flourish'd so early as Pits here speaks of if his Progress was as a later Writer informs us in the Reign of King Henry the Seventh But we shall not quarrel with him for such small Mistakes as this He ought indeed to have been a little better vers'd in the Story of his great Grandfather for the three following Johns Leland Bale and Pits handed from one another what was first borrow'd from him Arch-bishop Vsher had the most curious MS. Copy of his Book And our Oxford Antiquary cites another smaller Catalogue of the same Author's Composure Whether Alanus de Linna Prior of a Carmolite Monastery at Lyn in Norfolk A. D. 1420. did enlarge this Catalogue or the other I dare not determine Possibly he only made an Index to them as he did to forty other Volumes in the Library at Norwich The next that thought this Matter worth his consideration was John Leland who was indeed an extraordinary Person having besides his being a great Master in Poetry attain'd to a good share of Knowledge in the Greek Latin Welsh Saxon Italian French and Spanish Languages In the Year 1534. King Henry the Eighth gave him a Commission to Search all the Libraries of England and to make what Collections he thought Good in which Employment he Spent Six whole Years He afterwards turn'd Protestant and was siez'd with a Frenzy losing says my Author very uncharitably his Understanding with his Faith In this Condition he dy'd at London A. D. 1552. leaving a vast number of Historical Treatises behind him Amongst these the most valuable at least that which we are now chiefly concern'd to enquire after is said to have been entitl'd De Illustribus Britanniae Scriptoribus containing the Lives and Characters of most of the eminent Writers of this Kingdom This Work is now in the publick Library at Oxford where it makes the fourth Volume of his Collectanea being 354 Pages in Folio given by Will. Burton to that University John Bale was a Suffolk-Man sometime Scholar in Jesus College in Cambridge and afterwards a Carmelite Friar in Norwich He was as he says converted from Popery by the procurement of Thomas Lord Wentworth tho' in truth his wife Dorothy seems to have had as great Hand in that happy Work In the Year 1552. he was made Bishop of Ossory in Ireland But returning from Exile in Queen Elizabeth's Reign he did not think it advisable to go any more into that Kingdom contenting himself with a Prebend of Canterbury where he dy'd A. D. 1563. His Summarium Illustrium Majoris Britanniae Scriptorum was first presented to King Edward the Sixth and contain'd only five Centuries of Writers To these he afterwards added three more and made several Corrections and Additions throughout the whole Book The Ground-plot of this Work as has been observ'd was borrow'd from Leland and the chief of his own Superstructure is malicious and bitter Invectives against the Papists The Character which a late learned Person gives of him and his Writings is too just Veritas Balaeo Parum curae erat dummodo Romanae Ecclesiae Inimicorum Numerum augere posset And again Clausis plerunque oculis Scriptorum Anglicorum aetates definivit Some have thought his making Books of some little Saxon Epistles excusable and what would admit of an Apology But if we mark him well he 's continually multiplying the Writings of all his Authors at a very unsufferable and unjustifiable rate In Opposition to Bale's hard Treatment of the Romanists came forth J. P's Relat. Histor de rebus Anglicis Tom. 1. c. which is the same Book with that usually quoted by the Name of Pitseus de Scriptoribus This Author Stuy'd in New-College in Oxford and was at last Dean of Liverdune in Lorain where he dy'd A. D. 1616. Tho' he quotes Leland with great Familiarity and Assurance 't is very probable he never saw any such thing as his Collectanea de Scriptoribus but that his only true Author for all he pretends to bring out of that Store-house was John Bale himself His Latin is clean enough and his giving an Account of some eminent Popish Writers that liv'd beyond Sea in the beginning of the Reformation is an acceptable Piece of Service Mr. Wood has taken the pains to Correct a great many of his Mistakes and might have noted some hundreds more He must needs have been too much in hast to write accurately who even in the Catalogue he gives of his own Uncle Nich. Sanders's Writings is guilty of so gross an Error as to reckon the Treatise entitl'd Fidelis Servi subdito infideli responsio
give the Pope a true Account of Becket's Behaviour But whether he did really draw up a Journal of his Embassy with an Apology for his Master I cannot assuredly inform the Reader tho' Hector Boethius pretends to have seen it and recommends it as a Treatise highly worth the Perusal Three of Gyraldus Cambrensis's many Historical Books are likewise reported to be written on this Subject And Mr. Wharton mentions a Manuscript History of the same Reign by Benedictus Some say that the Life of this King as we now have it in Speed's Chronicle was composed by Dr. Barcham Archbishop Bancroft's Chaplain and penn'd chiefly in Confutation of one Bolton a Papist who had newly enlarg'd too far in the Justification of Becket's Insolent Carriage to his Prince These are mostly the King's Friends and such as engaged on the behalf of our English Monarchy What was to be said on the other hand for good Saint Thomas must be learn'd from those that have recorded the Actions Sufferings and Miracles of that worthy Roman Saint and Martyr An Account whereof shall be given in their proper place Richard the First 's Meritorious Expedition into the Holy Land gain'd him so much Repute that he 's as highly extoll'd by the Monkiâ—h Writers of that and the following Ages as his Father is reproach'd for his Persecution of their St. Thomas The chief Remarkables in his Life that part of it especially which was spent in the Levant are largely treated on by Rich. Divisiensis i. e. of the Devises in Wiltshire a Monk of Winchester Walter Constantiensis Bishop of Lincoln who accompany'd him in some of his Travels Will. Peregrinus so call'd from the Peregrination he also made in Attendance on this King and Rich. Canonicus Augustine Canon of St. Trinity in London another of his Retinue Jos. Iscanus or of Exeter had the like Curiosity follow'd the Fortunes of his Prince in the Holy War and at his Return celebrated his Acts in a Book which he thought fit to call Aâ—tiocheidos 'T is in Heroick Verse and in a Style and Strain of Poetry much beyond what one would expect to meet with in the Writings of that Age. John Leland who thought himself as great a Master and Iudge in Poetry as History says of this Author that he was Poeta Britannus omnibus Numeris Elegantissiâ—us and calls his Book Opâ—s Immortale His Life is also said to have been written by Stephen Laugton Archbishop of Canterbury and Alexander de Hales the Famous School-man But we have not so particular Directions where to look for these as for â—n Anonymous Manuscript to the same purpose in the Library of Magdalene College in Oxford The Learned Dr. Gale has obliged us with one of the largest of this King's Journals taken by one Jeâ—ffrey Vinesauf or de Vino Salâ—â— whom he takes to be the same Man with the foremention'd Walter Constantiensis who sometimes he says is also call'd Walter Oxoniensis He likewise believes that Richard of the Devises and Richard the Canon were the same Person So that instead of having our Store enlarged by what he has done for us we have lost some of our former Stock King John's Unhappy Reign was not a Subject so taking as that of his Brother and therefore has not been enquired into by so many Curious Authors John de Forda or Fordeham who is ignorantly confounded with John Fordon the Scottish Historian by John Pits was the first that attempted it and being this King's Chaplain had Opportunities enough of knowing the Truth if he was a Person of such unbyass'd Honesty as to reveal it Gyraldus Cambrensis living also at the same time is said to have likewise penn'd his Story and we may believe it will discover that warmness of Temper which runs through all that Author's Writings Some of the Learned Men of the present Age have thought the Extraordinary Freaks of this Prince worth their Considering and have therefore bestow'd good Pains in Collecting and Methodizing the most Notable Transactions of his Reign Of these Dr. Barcham's History is as we have already observ'd publish'd in Speed's Chronicle and is so well done that an Industrious Antiquary gives this Character of it That it shews more Reading and Judgment than any Life besides in that History And another witty Author says 'T is the King of all the Reigns of that Book for profound Penning The Voluminous Will. Prynne has also carefully and largely inform'd us of the publick Occurrences of this Reign as well as the two next following in order to the Asserting and Vindicating of the ancient Sovereignty of our English Monarchs against all Foreign Incroachments and Innovations whatever Henry the Third's long Reign might seem to afford Matter enough to employ one Man's Pen and yet till the Disturbances given him in the latter end of his time by S. Monfort and the other Barons so few memorable things happen'd in so many years that it has not hitherto been very nicâ—ly enquir'd into In a late Edition of the learned Sir Robert Cotton's Remains the Table of the several Discourses reckons the last of the Sixteen The Life and Reign of Henry the Third compil'd in a Critical way But the Reader to his great Disappointment will meet with no such thing in the Book Perhaps it is to be had in a former Edition of that Treatise as published by James Howel Edward the First was a brave and Victorious Prince and his Atchievements in Scotland deserv'd to be Recorded by some Person of Abilities suitable to so Noble an Undertaking To this purpose he carry'd Robert Baston Prior of Scarborough with him into that Kingdom to describe his Battels and particularly the Famous Siege of Sterling This was done in pretty Elegant Heroicks But the Author being the next year unfortunately taken Prisoner by the Scots was by the over-powering Commands and Severities of R. Bruce oblig'd to recâ—nt all and to extol the Scotch Nation as highly as he had lately magnify'd the English Will. Rishanger who was Historiographer-Royal during this King's whole Reign compos'd a special Treatise of the Annals of Edward the First whereof I presume three other Tracts of the same Man 's Writing entitul'd by J. Pits and others De Joanne Baileolo Rege Super Electione Regis Scotorum and De Jure Regis Anglorum ad Scotiam are only so many several Parts Edward the Second's Misfortunes are very honestly without either Flattery or Contempt written by Stephen Eiton or Eden a Canon Regular of Warter in Yorkshire sometime about the Year 1320. His Life was more accurately penn'd in French by Sir Thomas de la More who was Knighted by Edward the First was Counsellor to Edward the Second and liv'd to the beginning of Edward the Third's more prosperous Reign It was first Translated into Latin by Walter Baker or Swinburn Canon of Osney
the one whereof he stiles Breviarium Chronicorum which begins at Brute and ends A. D. 1234. After the Conquest he copies most from M. Paris and is very unhappy in his Chronological part His Historia Major as he calls his other Work consists of large Collections out of other common Historians save only in what relates to the Church of Winchester 3 John Sherburn a Monk who wrote Chronica Britannorum from the first coming in of the Trojans to the Reign of Henry the Sixth 4. John Henfield a Monk of Battle-Abby who drew an Abstract of our Chronicles down to the same time 5. John Langden Bishop of Rochester who possibly is all one with John Langton another of the same authentic Gentleman's Historians a Carmelite Friar who is said to die at the Council of Basil A. D. 1434. Tho. Walsingham a Benedictine Monk of St. Alban's and very probably Regins Professor of History in that Monastery about the year 1440. made something a better figure than the last mention'd and accordingly both his Historia brevis and his Hypodigma Neustriae have had the honour to be publish'd by Archbishop Parker His short History begins at the Conclusion of Henry the Third's Reign where M. Paris ended his And he might well seem to be Paris's Continuator were his Language answerable to his matter The account he gives is well enough and we are indebted to him for many things not taken notice of by any other Writer of those times Indeed his Reign of King Edward the Second is wholly borrow'd from Sir Thomas de la More His Ypodigma Neustriae as he calls it has a more particular regard to the Affairs of Normandy giving an account at large of that Dukedom from the time it came first into the hands of Rollo and his Danes down to the Sixth year of Henry the Fifth wherein the Reader will find many Occurrences not elsewhere to be met with About the same time wrote John Wethamstede the first Opposer of the story of King Brutus and Nicolas Cantelupus the Cambridge Historiographer who is also reported to have penn'd a General Chronicle of England The next Historian of Note was John Harding a Northern Englishman and an inveterate Enemy to the Scottish Nation against whom he carry'd Arms in several Expeditions He collected out of all our Histories whatever might tend to the proof of the ancient Vassalage of that Kingdom to the Crown of England and hearing there was in Scotland an old Record that put the matter beyond dispute he went with great hazard thither in disguise and with much ado brought it away and shew'd it to Hen. V. Hen. VI. and Edw. IV. To the last of these he dedicated his two Books of Chronicles in English Rhime whereof the curious Reader may have a taste in some of our Modern Writers It appears he was living tho very old in the year 1461. So that Nic. Montacute about that time Master of Eaton-School and a Collector of English History may be reckon'd his Cotemporary as may also Roger Albanus a Carmelite of London who drew up the Genealogies of some of our Kings William Caxton of whose continuation of Trevisa something has been noted already seems to challenge the next place after Harding He was a menial Servant for thirty years together to Margaret Dutchess of Burgundy Sister to our King Edward the Fourth in Flanders He afterwards return'd into England where finding as he says an imperfect History begun by one of the Monks of St. Albans says John Pits very unadvisedly he continu'd it in English giving it only the Latin Title of Fructus Temporum How small a portion of this Work is owing to this Author has been observ'd before but he now usually bears the Name of the whole which begins with the first inhabiting of his Island and ends the last year of Edward the fourth A. D. 1483. The opportunities he had of being acquainted with the Court-Transactions of his own time would encourage his Reader to hope for great matters from him but his fancy seem to have led him into an Undertaking above his strength John Rosse or Rous was a person somewhat better qualify'd to write History being a Man of tolerable Parts and singular Industry He was born at Warwick and bred at Oxford He travell'd over the greatest part of England and having made large Collections out of the Libraries where he came relating to the History and Antiquities of this Kingdom he at last retir'd to Guy's Cliff about a mile from Warwick on the Banks of Avon where he spent the Remainder of his Life and dy'd A. D. 1491. His History of our Kings is still extant wherein are many Collections illustrating the Antiquities of our Universities Hereupon he is frequently quoted by our Oxford-Antriquary who nevertheless will not allow that his Judgment equall'd his Pains 1501. The first Post in the Sixteenth Century is due to Rob. Fabian an eminent Merchant and some time Sheriff of London where he dy'd A. D. 1512. Both Bale and Pits subdivide his historical Writings into a great many several Treatises but I presume that which they call his Historiarum Concordantiae is the sum of all This Chronicle is publisht and does indeed consist of seven parts whereof the six first bring down his Story from Brutus to William the Conqueror and are chiefly taken out of Jeoffry of Monmouth and the Seventh gives an account of our several Kings from the Conquest of Henry the VII He is very particular in the Affairs of London many good things being noted by him which concern the Government of that great City hardly to be had elsewhere He gives the Names of all the Bailiffs Mayors and Sheriffs with the chief Transactions in their several Years but in other matters he is a great Follower of R. Higden He mixes all along the French History with the English but in different Chapters He translates his Authors very literally whence Monmouth's Phrase of Ferro Flamma vastare is render'd to wast with Iron and Fire c. In the beginning of his Seventh part he observes Higden's method of making his Years commence at Michaelmas by which the Reader will understand how William the Conqueror comes to begin his Reign in October 1067. Cardinal Woolsey is said to have procur'd all the Copies of this History that he could meet with to be burn'd because says my Author who is not infallible either in his Reasons or Relations the Church's Patrimony was thereby too plainly discover'd This Cardinal 's Menial Servant John Skuish Squisus or Squisius is reported to have compil'd a notable Epitome of our Chronicles about the Year 1630. but I am not able to direct the Reader where to meet with it Polydore Virgil was the most recomplish'd Writer for Elegancy and clearness of Style that this Age afforded So much the
and Measures us'd both at home and abroad The whole digested into an Alphabetical and the most natural Order the Derivatives and Compounds being ranked after the Primitives and enrich'd with many Thousands of Words that were never inserted in any other Dictionary Illustrated with Figures curiously Engraven on Copper Plates representing all the parts of a Human Body of a Horse Ship Fort and several other things that cannot be well understood without such a Help to the Imagination particularly Geometrical Figures c. To which is added a Collection of the Words and Phrases that are peculiar to the several Counties of England Some of the Parts done and the whole revis'd by J. Mitchel M. D. A larger and more particular Account of the Design and Method of this Great and Usefull Work with a Specimen will be speedily publish'd THE ENGLISH Historical Library PART II. GIVING A CATALOGUE Of the most of our Ecclesiastical Historians And some Critical Reflections upon the chief of them WITH A PREFACE Correcting the Errors and supplying the Defects of the former PART By WILLIAM NICHOLSON A. M. Arch-Deacon of Carlisle London Printed for Abel Swall at the Vnicorn in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1697. TO THE Right Reverend Father in GOD THOMAS Lord Bishop of CARLILE MY LORD THE first Part of this Work having taken Shelter under the Patronage of our Metropolitan this naturally flies to your Lordship From whom I have good Encouragement to hope for as kind a Protection I have great Reason to be fond of any Opportunity of making my grateful Resentments of your Lordship's Favours known to the World and I heartily wish this little Book may be look'd upon as any part of a suitable Return I can honestly boast of your Lordship's Approbation of what I have already publish'd and of your Encouragement to proceed Tho' give me leave My Lord here to repeat it those are Words which sometimes appears in Dedications without any thing of the caress'd Patrons Knowledge or Allowance I dare not presume to enlarge upon your Bounty and Goodness to the Author since most of the Instances I should give of 'em are so many Testimonies of your Lordship's Desire to follow the Directions of your Great Master in bestowing your Benefits in Secret May God be graciously pleas'd to reward openly what you have thus done for this Church and Diocese as well as for MY LORD Your Lordship 's most Obliged Dutiful and Grateful Servant W. Nicolson THE PREFACE WHen I was first perswaded to publish this Historical Library I easily foresaw some of the many Difficulties to which such an Adventure would expose me I knew the little I had to say would fall very far short of being a just Treatise on so copious a Subject And I was also sensible that even in that little there was too much that would give Offence This was the general Notion I had of the Undertaking which was so natural and obvious that 't was impossible I should be mistaken I confess in Particulars my Conjectures have very much fail'd me I have been cavill'd at and buffeted by a couple of Gentlemen whom above all Mankind I thought I had oblig'd One of these is lately dead and therefore my Answers to his Reflections which I think were never made very publick shall be bury'd with him The other attacks me in the Face of the Sun and what he objects shall be particularly reply'd to as soon as that Author and his Book are out of the Clouds Till when it will be sufficient to acquaint the Reader that I have here amended whatever he has truly observ'd to be amiss in me If these two Persons had known and consider's that I have been fifteen Years which Tacitus justly calls grande mortalis aevi spatium a Member of a Church and Diocese at a very great distance from our Universities and Publick Libraries they would have overlook'd a few little Failures and have given some grains of Allowance to a Writer in my Circumstances Not that I who am so insolent as to censure every body either do or ought to beg Quarter of any No. Let each Man that 's offended chastise me in his own way provided his stripes make me wiser For 't is indifferent to me whether my Informations come wrinkled or smooth whether I have 'em in plain English or in rough balderdash Latin I was as much surpriz'd with the different and more acceptable Entertainment which my former Book met with amongst a great many eminently learned Men who were pleas'd together with their kind Remarks on the Omissions and Mistakes in it earnestly to request the publishing of this Second Part. 'T is to their unexpected Goodness that I owe a great share of the following Emendations which strongly oblige and encourage me to proceed in the Attempt hoping for the like Assistance and support from them hereafter I must also acknowledge my self extremely indebted to the late accurate Catalogue of the Manuscripts in Sir John Cotton's Library which has effectually clear'd a great many of my Doubts rectify'd my Mistakes and furnish'd me with a much better Light than I could have hoped for from any other hand So that if it shall be the good Fortune of this Work to appear in a second and more entire Edition it may possibly prove more serviceable to the English Reader than ever its Author had the Confidence to think it would The first Error that 's to be taken notice of is of a very large Extent and wherein the Printer and I are joint Faulters The Index 't is observ'd is too scanty and the repeating of no less than Twenty Pages from p. 99. to 108. and again from 185. to 194. inclusive causes great Confusion in some of the References This latter Failure is remedy'd in the following Additions by marking the repeated Pages thus 99. * 100 * c. and the Reader is desir'd to correct the first Index after the same manner Aelfred King 87. 100 118. of Beverley 147. 152. Aldhelm 100. 101. Annius of Viterbo 106. Antoninus 2. 17. Aras 140. Archer 27. Arthur K. 98. Ashmole 22. 23 25. Asserius 14. 16 87 119 121. Aubrey 17. 65 66 102. Bacon 17. 192 * 223. Baker 196. 212. Baldoc 173. Baldwine 60. Bale 8. 46 213. Barcham 195. 204 205. Bartholine 140. 146. Baston 210. Beamont 19. 56 57. Bede 4. 59 102 114 117. Bernard 24. 74. Blacket 107. Blome 15. 23. Bolton 205. Ã Bosco 82. Bodley 23. Boethius 205. Bourchier 186. 229. Britannus 79. Bodenham 55. Brompton 112. 121 175. Brook 11. 23. Brutus 81. Burnet 56. 227 Burton 3. 43 44 53 55 195. Caedmon 104. Caesar 92. 103. Caius 50. 56 89. Cambrensis 4. 60 125 164 205 206 208. Combden 8. 9 10 15 21 29 49 93 105 108 117 192 * 231. Cantelupus 189. Caradocus 82. 97. Carew 29. 195 218. Cary 212. Caxton 5. 118 178 190. Chetwind 44 58. Childrey 17. 18. Coggeshal 165. Constantiensis 206. 208. Cornubiensis 97. Coryate 9. 57.
Wiltshire was put to death for his Gratitude and Loyalty to his lawful Sovereign and kind Master Richard the Second by Henry the Fourth against whom he conspir'd with the Earl of Northumberland and others His Declaration against the said Henry giving his Reasons why he cannot submit to his Government has been lately Publish'd as is likewise Clement Maydestone's History of his Martyrdom Cardinal Wolsey's purple will give him a rank with the greatest of our Prelates how mean soever the Circumstances of his Birth and Parentage may have been and the Figure that he made in the State as well as the Church during his Rule and Government rather than Ministry in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth very justly challeng'd the pains of a special Historian Such was Cavendish his menial Servant who was also in good esteem with that King He has left us an impartial Account of his Master's Life which has had several Editions Dr. Burnet quotes a MS. Copy different from what we have in Print And so does the Lord Herbert but whether this be not the same with the former I know not We have another History of his Life and Death in elegant Verse by Tho. Storer who was a Student of Christ-Church and dy'd a famous Poet in the Year 1604. They that know how many of our Bishops before the Reformation not to mention other inferiour Dignitaries of the Church bore the grand Offices of Chancellours Treasurers Judges c. will readily believe that most of those left such Memoirs as might easily have been fram'd into very exquisite Histories of their Lives And yet our Monks to whom the Trust of writing all our Historis was usually committed were so much Strangers to Affairs of this Nature that we rarely find any thing among them that looks this way Their Business was to pick up or invent as many amazing Stories as they could of the Exemplary Courage of some choice Prelates in asserting the Papal Usurpations of their extraordinary Sanctity of their Benefactons to some Church or Monastery of their Miracles c. And with such Narratives as these we shall find the Lives of most of the following Prelates are Stuff'd and Glutted That of Gundulf Bishop of Rochester by a Monk of that Church his intimate Acquaintance is the earliest of these and the rebuilding of the Cathedral the Enlargement of the Monastery and the Foundation of the Hospital at Chatham were Acts of Piety that very well deserv'd such a Respect The like was done for Robert de Betun Bishop of Hereford by his Chaplain and Successor in the Priory of Lanthony William de Wycumb who had a very noble Subject for the two Books he has left us if we may believe William of Malmesbury He pretends to have known this Robert very well and assures us that he was the most familiarly entertain'd at the Court of Rome of any of our Bishops of that Age. We have only a Fragment of Gyraldus Cambrensis's Life of Hugh Nonant of Norwich and such as is hardly worth the mentioning He is somewhat more copious in his History of the Six chief Bishops of his own Age to which we may add the Three Books he wrote De rebus a se gestisâ— since he was at least Bishop Elect of St. David's Robert Grostest of Lincoln was a Prelate of great Worth a mighty Stickler against the prevailing Crime of Symony and the modish Appeals to Rome and we have a full History of his Life by Richard a Monk of Barden or Burton in Hartfordshire and another Anonymous Writer We have also a Letter from the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's for his Canonization But it appears from many of his own Writings that his Request was not like to be granted notwithstanding the fair Caresses that he had from the Pope who fear'd him more than he lov'd him in his Life-time William of Wickham the great Founder of two famous Colleges in Oxford and Winchester could not avoid the having his Benefits carefully Register'd by some of those that daily tasted of the Sweets of them And indeed there have been several of those who have thus paid their grateful Acknowledgments to his Memory The first of 'em I think was Tho. Chaundler sometime Warden of New-College who wrote the Founder's Life by way of Dialogue in a florid and good Stile This is contracted by the Author himself as is suppos'd into a Couple of Pages together with which is publish'd a piece of his larger Colloquy wherein he touches upon the Life of his Patron Tho. Bekinton Bishop of Bath and Wells He commends this latter Prelate's Skill in the Civil Law but says nothing of what won the Heart of King Henry the Sixth his writing against the Salic Law of France The next Writer of Wickham's Life was Dr. Martyn Chancellour of Winchester under Bishop Gardiner who had the greatest part of his Materials out of Chaundler's Book After him Dr. Johnson sometime Fellow of New-College as well as the two former and afterwards Master of Winchester-School gave a short view of their Founder in Latin Verse which being a small thing of it self has been several times Printed with other Tracts Bishop Godwine is censur'd for having a little unfairly borrow'd the Account he gives us of this Prelate's Life one of the best in his Book from Mr. Josseline without taking any notice of his Benefactor Henry Spencer Bishop of Norwich a more proper Officer for a Camp than a Cathedral had his active Life written by John Capgrave who takes occasion to state the Case how far a Prelate may engage in Military Affairs There 's no doubt but there may be some Junctures wherein 't is not only allowable but a Duty in every Man that is able to bear Arms and this Bishop's Suppressing the Rebellious Insurrection in his own Diocess was so far from being a Crime that 't was highly commendable and becomingly Brave But his Atchievements in Flanders and other Foreign Parts against the express Command of his Sovereign were such extraordinary Efforts of Lay-Gallantry as are not easily to be defended Nor do I see that honest John ever thought of Apologizing for them William of Wainfleet Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellour of England was bred in Wickham's Colleges and did his Founder the Honour to Write very fairly after his Copy His Magdalene may vye with the other 's two St. Maries being Modestly one of the richest Seminaries of Learning in the whole World And his magnificent Charity has been celebrated by the eloquent Pen of Dr. Budden the Writer of Arch-bishop Morton's Life who was a while Reader of Philosophy in that College His Book bears the Title of Guilielmi Pateni cui Waynfleti Agnomen fuit Wintoniensis Ecclesiae Praesulis Coll. Beatae Mariae Magd. apud Oxon. Fundatoris Vita Obitusque A Treatise much applauded by Godwine who nevertheless seems not to have
seems soon after this to have written particularly of the Antiquities of Oxford besides the Treatise he left upon the two Universities in common for such a Book of his Leland refers to tho' he gives the Author of it the tart Character of Vir majoris longe Diligentiae quam Judicii 'T is perhaps the same which we elsewhere meet with under the Title of Contra Historiolam Cantabrigiensem About the same time or it may be a little sooner William Wircester Worcester or Buttoner wrote his Polyandrum Oxoniensium c. wherein he gave a List of all the eminent Persons that had been educated in this University which might possibly be had amongst Brian Twine's Collections The first Champion that appear'd in the Cause against Cambridge was Tho. Key Master of University College who having for some time been employ'd in the Registrary's Office was the best acquainted with the public Instruments and Records His Assertio Antiquitatis Oxoniensis Academiae was written in Defence of this University in opposition to what had been advanc'd two years before by the public Orator of Cambridge who in an Harangue to Queen Elizabeth had affirm'd his own Mother to be the Elder Sister of the two That Princess coming afterwards to Oxford the foresaid Treatise was hastily drawn up and presented to Her in Manuscript And a Copy of it falling afterwards into the hands of Dr. Caius it was publish'd with his Answer which will be further mention'd anon This usuage provok'd the Author to take more leisure in Composing a Reply which he communicated to several of his Friends under the Title of Examen Judicii Cantrabrigiensis cujusdam qui se Londinensem dicit nuper de Origine utriusque Academiae lati Mr. Wood says he once met with a Transcript of this Book and found some things in it worth his observation but he could not direct his Reader where it was afterwards to be had and speaks so coldly of it that the obscure owner in whose hands he saw it does not appear to be worth the enquiring after He rather offers to our perusal the Mystical Oxon. of Oxonford c. by Henry Lyte which he says is amongst Twine's Manuscripts at Oxford and has several Crotchets in it which may be serviceable to the Man that shall hereafter engage in these weighty Disputes To these fanciful pieces may be added the Laudes Academiae Parisinoe Oxoniensis by the eminently learned Dr. Alberic Gentilis whose Panegyrick on this University is penn'd with the like accuracy as the other Works of that noted Author After him follows Isaac Wake 's Rex Platonicus wherein the Author who was then publick Orator afterwards a Knight and Ambassador elegantly describes the Entertainment given by the University to King James the First and occasionally intermixes the History and Antiquities of the whole and all its parts Brian Twine Fellow of Corpus Christi and sometime Custos Archivorum to the University made a more diligent search into the History and Records of this place than any of the former and oblig'd the Lovers of these Studies with his Antiquitatis Academiae Oxoniensis Apologia which in three Books very amply refutes all Dr. Caius's Arguments for the Seniority of his Cantabrigians The industrious Author intended another Edition of this Book and to that purpose had largely augmented an interleav'd Copy which 't is suppos'd was lost during those unhappy Confusions which at first retarded the publishing of it What is printed has been censur'd as an Heap rather than a Pile and the Writer himself declar'd to be no methodical Antiquary And yet how strangely different are the Judgments of Men of contrary Affections and Interests this is the Character we have of the Book from another hand In eo libro praeter Subactissimum Judicium etiam varia Lectionis indicia passim sparguntur The same year with this Apology was publish'd Ilium in Italiam written by John Sansbury of St. John's College wherein are the Arms of the several Colleges in this University and Verses upon them 'T is not much more considerable than what not long before was written at Rome by Nich. Fitzherbert a Reteiner to Cardinal Allen and was there printed under the Title of Oxoniensis in Anglia Academiae Descriptio A slight Discourse on the Oxford-Antiquities by way of Letter to a Friend was penn'd by Dr. Leonard Hutton who dy'd Canon of Christ-Church A. D. 1632. and left also behind him a Manuscript Treatise in Latin entitl'd Historia Fundationum Ecclesiae Christi Oxon. una cum Episcoporum Decanorum Canonicorum Ejusdem Catalogo Of the like Complection with the latter of these Meager in it self and of a narrow Subject is Dr. Savage's Ballio-Fergus which pretends to give a true History of all the great Men that have been Members of Baliol College whereof the Author was Master This Writer is observ'd to have had a Genius somewhat averse to the Business he was here engag'd in being too much a Courtier to turn Antiquary so that having also a very imperfect stock of Materials 't was no wonder that a great many Errors and Defects were discover'd in his Book that Duns Scotus for example was transplanted hither from Merton and Bishop Tonstal wholly overlook'd The Notitia Academiae Oxoniensis was the Work of the late learned Mr. Fulman who also began the History of his own College Corpus Christi but did not live to finish it for the Press Above all this famous University is chiefly indebted to the indefatigable pains of honest Anthony Wood whose Industry joyn'd with Camden's Learning and Judgment would have made a compleat English Antiquary His Historia Antiquitates Vniversitatis Oxoniensis gives abundantly more than the whole Tribe of the foremention'd Authors could afford us and in two large Books runs through every particular of her Story In the former of these we have her Annals from the eldest date of her Records down to the Year 1648. wherein our ancient British Government Religion Liberties Laws and Learning were all sacrificed together The Confusions that ensu'd and continu'd for above eleven long Years after King Charles's Martyrdom made a Scene too Tragical and therefore our Historian wisely drop'd the Curtain before Ignorance had entirely usurp'd the Schools Blasphemy the Pulpits and Oliver the Throne The latter Book presents us with an Account of the Foundations Endowments c. of the Publick Lectures Library Colleges and Halls with a List of their Benefactors Governours and eminent Writers To which is added a Catalogue of the Chancellors Vice-Chancellors Proctors Stewards and Representatives in Parliament This Work was first penn'd in English and translated into Latin by several Persons appointed by the Curators of the Press So that the Style is not very uniform and sometimes the original Sense a little mistaken and perverted Some instances of these failures are given by a late Learned
Prelate of our Church who is a little too severe in his Reflections upon the chief Publisher of these Antiquities The Author himself complain'd of several Additions and Alterations made without his Privity and Consent and seem'd to hope that his own English Copy the Language whereof I dare say was not over Charming would sometime or other hereafter be Publish'd The Black Book at Cambridge makes as considerable a Figure there as any of our old Statute-Books can do at Oxford and it has also its Historiola which is equal both for Matter and Authority with ours The whole Volume is a Collection of ancient Charters and Priviledges amongst which this short History was in the last Age inserted by William Buckenham Master of Caius College and Vice-Chancellor of that University In this we have the Story of King Gurguntius's bestowing the Eastern part of Great Britain upon Cantaber a Spaniard who forsooth had sometime study'd at Athens and after Caer-Grant was built by his Son Grantanus invited thence his old Friends Anaximander and Anaxagoras to teach Philosophy in this City Centum sunt ibi says John Leland praeterea ejusdem farinae Fabulae Profecto nihil unquam legi vanius sed neque Stultius aut Stupidius Missas igitur facio has Antiquitatis delicias Out of the same Book Robert Hare borrow'd his Catalogue of the Chancellors or Rectors if the other Word should prove too young for the purpose of this University which are most exactly continu'd from St. Amphibalus who was Rector A. D. 289. down to the Conquest 'T is reported that a certain Historia Cantabrigiae was written by Nicholas Cantelupe a Welch Gentleman who dy'd Prior of a Monastery of Carmelites at Northampton A. D. 1441. Archbishop Vsher takes this to be the same with what we have already observ'd to be in the Black Book and therefore he frequently quotes Cantelupe's Historiola for the Benefactions of King Lucius and King Arthur to the University of Cambridge Pelagius's studying there c. Our later Antiquaries agree with this learned Primate and allow this Author and that very Work to be the first that appear'd in defence of the British part of her Story And they further tell us that here began the Quarrel betwixt the two Sisters and that John Ross professedly engag'd on the behalf of Oxford Indeed Tho. Fuller speaks of a Treatise concerning the ancient Priviledges of this University which seems to carry a little more Age being written by one Thomas Markant Fellow of Peter-House and Junior-Proctor A. D. 1417. This Book he says was bestow'd on the University by the Author himself and at his request carefully kept for some time in a lock'd Chest. It was afterwards lost or stoln but recover'd and restor'd by R. Hare It was again lost and recover'd by Matt. Wren Bishop of Ely A third time 't is lost And this Relapse says he I suspect to be mortal The Life of King Sigebert was amongst John Leland's many Designs and broad Hints he gave that in it he would discover the true Original of the University of Cambridge But the bulkiest Promises of such noted Writers commonly prove the most abortive Despair of answering the World 's rais'd Expectations very much contributing to their Miscarriage The most learn'd Cantabrigian Antiquary that has yet appear'd was John Caius Doctor of Physick and Physician in Ordinary to Queen Mary who was born at Norwich and was the generous Founder of Caius College out of Gonvil-Hall His two Books De Antiquitate Cantabrigiensis Academiae were written in defence of the Cambridge-Orator against Tho. Key The former Edition of them was under the feign'd Name of Londinensis But in the second the Author himself thought it no disparagement to own his Work His first Attempt is to establish the lately advanc'd Doctrin of his Mother's great Age and Seniority which he endeavours to do from the exemplify'd Charters of King Arthur and King Cadwallader together with those of the Popes Honorius and Sergius This done his next Business is to overthrow the pretended Antiquity of Oxford which in his second Book he dispatches as effectually as he had done his former Argument He seems to have intended a much larger History of this University than is here given us For speaking of the frequent Depopulations and Miseries of the Town during the Wars betwixt the Saxons and the Danes he concludes De quibus in libris nostris de Historia Cantabrigiensis Academiae explicatius egimus I am very confident that a good part of the Collections which he made for this purpose are still in Sir John Cotton's Library where we are told of a Volume of Collectanea ex antiquis Rotulis variis Auctoribus de Academia Cantabrigiensi ejus Antiquitate Privilegiis cum multis Literis Originalibus ejusdem Academiae ad Regem Henricum VIII Thomam Cromwellum c. The same Year with the first Edition of Dr. Caius's Book was publish'd Regina Litera sive De Adventu Elizabethae Reginae Angliae ad Academiam Cantabrigiensem a Treatise of the same Nature with that of Rex Platonicus afterwards at Oxford In the same Queen's Reign wherein the Civil Wars betwixt our two Universities were the most violent was Printed a Catalogue of the Rectors and Chancellors of Cambridge from Mauritius in the Time of Constantine the Great to the Year 1585. written by Matt. Stokys Beadle and Registrary of that University Since his Time the only Person as far as I know that has publish'd any History of this place for I do not think Sir Simonds D'Ewes's Speech deserves such a Name is Tho. Fuller who was pleas'd to annex his History of the University of Cambridge to that of the Churches of Great Britain and most People think they ought not to be separated He begins modestly at the Conquest and ends at the Year 1643. for the like Reasons that prevail'd with our Oxford-Antiquary to break off Five Years after The Foundation of the University by King Sigebert he had discuss'd before in the Body of his Church-History And the potent Arguments he there produces have been nicely examin'd and consider'd by Mr. Wood. Parker's Sceleton Cantabrigiense does not promise any great Matters in its Title and Mr. Hatcher's Catalogue of the Fellows of King's College tho it may have some things of Note in it yet is of too confin'd a Subject to deserve any more than the bare nameing in this Place It had been a happy thing if all those that with so much Industry and Application have enquir'd into the first Originals of our two Universities had bestowed as much of their learned Pains in following down the Histories of such eminent Writers as have flourish'd in either of them For as hereby they might severally have done as much Honour to their respective Mothers so this had been the most effectual Course to have
of Chivalry And yet I do not find that all his strict Piety gain'd so far upon the Monks of his Time as that there was any great struggling among them who should most effectually recommend him to Posterity Archbishop Vsher tells us of one Iohn Blackman a Carthusian who was particularly intimate with him and has left a Collection of the many good things he had taken notice of in the most Secret Passages of his Life Tho. Walsingham who also liv'd in his Time took a Journal of his Reign out of which is composed that which some have entitul'd his Acta Regis Henrici Sexti Had the Pope favour'd the Attempt which was afterwards made at the Enshrining or Sainting of this King 't is very likely that his Legend would have out-grown his History and have been penn'd by more Writers than his Life Since the Roman Saints are commonly most Active after their Decease and the Wonders of their Relicks are usually much greater than those of their Persons Edward the Fourth can hardly be said to have enjoy'd so much Quiet during the Twenty Years of his suppos'd Reign as to have setled the House of York in the Throne So that even the Favourers of Justice and his Cause have not known what Account to give of the Times or how to Form a Regular History out of such a vast Heap of Rubbish and Confusion Mr. Habbington has given us as fair a Draught as the thing would bear At least he has Copy'd this King's Picture as agreeably as could be expected from one standing at so great a distance from the Original Edward the Fifth had the Name of a King for some few Weeks and purchas'd the Complement at far too high a Rate His Accession to the Throne the Tower and the Grave all within the Compass of little more than two Months are largely and elegantly described by the Famous Sir Thomas Moor Lord Chancellor of England who has sufficiently shewn how a short and doleful Tale may be improv'd into a complete History by a Person of good Skill and Judgment This Treatise has met with such a general Acceptance as that it not only finds Admission by whole-sale into all our late Chronicles but has also been separately printed without any other Alteration than a small change of the English Orthography according to the Usage and Mode of the present Age. The short Epitome of this and the three following Reigns that was written and publish'd by Will. Fleetwood Serjeant at Law is so thin a piece and refers so peculiarly to the Transactions in the Courts at Westminster that it has been rather look'd on as a Table or Index to the Year-books of those Times than any Historical Treatise Richard the Third's short and unfortunate Reign had its Tragical History begun by Sir Thomas Moor who did not bring it to such a final Conclusion as he had done that of his Nephew and Predecessor Neither Bale nor Pits take notice of any such thing But Vossius seems to have seen and perus'd it Vt fusè says he persequitur quibus Sceleribus ille ad Regnum pervenerit ita quomodo id gesserit non exponit Ac nec eâ parte quam habemus ultimam manum accepit Praeterea Elegantiâ Latini Sermonis ab aliis ejusce viri operibus longè vincitur Which last words must refer to Sir Thomas's Life of this King and not to that of Edward which indeed might seem to be an Introduction to this and would answer all the former part of Vossius's Story But King Edward's was only written in English whereas Richard's was in both Languages and as appears from Stow's account was more copiously treated on in Latin Great Additions have been since made by a more Candid Composer of his Annals who endeavours to represent him as a Prince of much better Shapes both of Body and Mind than he had been generally esteem'd Various are the Censures which have pass'd upon this Work I shall only trouble the Reader with that of Dr. Fuller His Memory says he speaking of King Richard has met with a Modern Pen who has not only purg'd but prais'd it to the heighth and pity it is that so able an Advocate had not a more meriting Person to his Client Henry the Seventh having most fortunately and wisely united the Houses of York and Lancaster continu'd his Reign as prosperously as it began and is justly esteem'd one of the most Politick Princes that ever sat on the English Throne It appears Sir Thomas Moor had once some faint Thoughts of writing this King's Life whilst he was in hand with those of his immediate Predecessors But I know not whether he ever liv'd or not to digest them Sir James Ware has Industriously Collected and Published such Occurrences of this Reign as relate to the Affairs of Ireland And a Poetical History of the whole has been printed by Ch. Aleyn But this good Work was the most effectually undertaken and compleated by the Incomparable Sir Francis Bacon who has bravely surmounted all those Difficulties and pass'd over those Rocks and Shallows against which he took such Pains to caution other less experienc'd Historians He has perfectly put himself into King Henry's own Garb and Livery giving as spritely a View of the Secrets of his Council as if himself had been President in it No trivial Passages such as are below the Notice of a Statesman are mix'd with his Sage Remarks Nor is any thing of Weight or Moment slubber'd over with that careless Hast and Indifferency which is too common in other Writers No Allowances are given to the Author 's own Conjecture or Invention where a little Pains and Consideration will serve to set the Matter in its proper and true Light No Impertinent Digressions nor fanciful Comments distract his Readers But the whole is written in such a Grave and Uniform Style as becomes both the Subject and the Artificer Henry the Eighth was a Prince of great Vertues and Accomplishments and as great Vices So that the pleasing Varieties that were in his Life and Reign might have temptest many more Writers than we know of to engage in the Composure of so entertaining an History Edmund Campian wrote a Narrative of the most remarkable Passages relating to his Divorce of Queen Katharine which is printed at the end of Nich. Harpesfeild's Church-History and is written with the true Spirit and Heart as well as Eloquence of a Jesuit Fran. Godwin Bishop of Landaff who will be remember'd at large amongst our Ecclesiastical Historians compil'd also the Annals of this and the two following Reigns Whereof one of our Criticks gives this just Character That his Book is penn'd Non mâ—gis succinctâ quà m laudabili brevitate The Author was a perfect Master of the Latin Tongue and wrote in that Language But his Annals were translated into English and so have been
frequently publish'd by his Son Morgan Godwin LL. D. Sir Robert Cotton had drawn together some Notes and Collections as Materials for a future History of this King's Reign But these fell unfinish'd into the hands of John Speed who has taken Care to preserve them as orderly as he could in his Chronicle I suppose that which was written in Greek Verse by George Etheridge sometime Regius Professor of that Language in Oxford and by him presented to Queen Elizabeth was intended only for the Use of Her Majesty and its Author and for that reason has ever continu'd in Manuscript sub Noctibus Atticis Above all Edward Lord Herbert of Cherbury may be truly said to have written the Life and Reign of King Henry the Eighth having acquitted himself with the like Reputation as the Lord Chancellor Bacon gain'd by that of Henry the Seventh For in the Politick and Martial Part this Honourable Author has been admirably Particular and Exact from the best Records that were Extant Tho' as to the Ecclesiastical he seems to have look'd upon it as a Thing out of his Province and an Undertaking more proper for Men of another Profession The Oxford Antiquary tells us That he had seen four thick Volumes in Folio of Collections which this Lord has furnish'd himself withal as Materials necessary for the firm erecting of so noble a Structure Out of these and other Helps he at last finish'd his excellent History the Original Manuscript whereof he was pleas'd to bestow on the University of Oxford in whose Archives it still remains It has been frequently Printed and the several Impressions as greedily bought up But the last Edition is indeed what is always Pretended the Best and most Correct Edward the Sixth The most Considerable Transactions of this Reign are it may be as well Register'd by the Young King himself as any other Historian in the Diary written with his own hand and still preserv'd in Sir John Cotton's Famous Library from whence our Learned Bishop Burnet transcrib'd and publish'd it There was a Notable Discourse touching the State of the Times in this King's Reign written by a Person admirably well Skill'd in the Antiquities and Laws of England Dr. Gerard Langbaine Provost of Queen's College in Oxford which he publish'd by way of Preface to Sir John Cheek's True Subject to the Rebel As for Sir John Hayward He is the same Man in his Life of Edward the Sixth that we have already observ'd him to be in that of Henry the Fourth Only his Style is here sometimes too Sharp and Pungent especially when he comes to give Characters of the Nobility Ministers of State c. where an Intelligent Historian ought no more to be Clownish than he needs turn Courtier when he Converses with Plowmen Queen Mary's Reign had Blemishes in it which have discourag'd some sort of Writers from attempting its Story tho' I cannot but wonder that others have not thought themselves oblig'd to endeavour to Represent it as Advantageously to Posterity as Art can do it Queen Elizabeth in a long and Prosperous Reign gave the World very ample Proofs of her Sex's being Capable of Government and the most gallant Aâ—chievements Her blasting the longing Hopes of Spain after an Universal Monarchy in Temporals and putting a final Period to that of Rome in Spirituals together with her Personal Endowments were such Extraordinary Glories as tempted a great many Artists to try how fairly they were able to take the Features of such an Original in all Points of Soveraignty Her Establishment of the Reformation and Executing the Laws upon some few Turbulent Persons of the Romish Communion whetted the Style of that Party against her and particularly provok'd Tho. Bourchier a Franciscan Doctor of the Sorbon to write a History of the Martyrdom as he terms it of the Men of his Order The Life and Martyrdom of Mary Queen of Scots was also written by Rob. Turner sometime Scholar to Ed. Campian who was afterwards Doctor of Divinity at Rome and Secretary to Ferdinand Arch-duke of Austria Some of her better Subjects have furnish'd us with more agreeable Accounts of the chief Passages in her Reign Sir Henry Vnton has drawn up a Journal of his Embassy in France giving a full Register of his Commission Instructions Expences c. a Manuscript Copy whereof is now in the Publick Library at Oxford Heyward Towneshend an Eminent Member of the House of Commons preserv'd the Debates in Parliament of her last fourteen Years which long after the Author's Death were publish'd under the Title of Historical Collections c. But this as vast an Undertaking as it seems to be is only a part of that more Comprehensive one of Sir Symonds d'Ewes whose Journal of Both Houses during her whole Reign was soon after given us in Print Her Wars with Spain the several Engagements of her Fleets at Sea with their many Successful Expeditions c. have been well described by Sir William Monson who bore a high Command in most of them and has shewn such a Judgment in Maritime Affairs as well qualify'd him for such Posts of Honour His Book bears the Title of A Particular and Exact Account of the last Seventeen Years of Queen Elizabeth 's Reign both Military and Civil The former kind being the Work of Sir William and the latter Mr. Towneshend's Out of all these and many other good Helps Mr. Camden compos'd his most Exquisite History of this Queen which as Dr. Smith shews in his Life was undertaken by the special Directions and Command of the great Lord Cecil It has had many Editions and in several Languages tho' 't is pity it should be read in any other than its Author 's Polite Original Latin Dr. Fuller observes that one of its English Translations for it had several was done out of French by Abraham Darcy who understood not the Latin and has therefore committed many Mistakes Hugh Holland one of Camden's Scholars at Westminster and a Papist is said to have written this Queen's Life as well as his Master 's But 't is only if it be at all an English Manuscript and very probably not worth the seeking Sir Robert Naunton's Character of her Court and Favourites has been lately publish'd with Sir Francis Walsingham's Arcana Aulica and a short System of her Policies hath been offer'd to our present Soveraign and the late excellent Queen by the Ingenious Edmund Bohun Esq Author of many other Treatises of good Value The End of the First Part. AN INDEX OF THE AUTHORS c. A ABingdon Pag. 67 Adams 16 Aelfred King 100 118 of Beverly 147 Aelfric 103 Agard 21 Albanus 190 Aldhelm 101 Aleyn 223 Anonymi 199 202 Antoninus 2 Aras 136 Asamal 131 Asserius 121 Ashmole 22 25 Aubrey 65 102 B. Bacon 223 Baker 196 Baldoc 165 Bale 46 213 Barcham 193 205 209 Bards 78 Bartholin 146 Basset 217