this life in the .iiij. yere of his reigne and after the incarnation 688. After Eugenius the .v. succeeded Eugenius the .vj. who was the sonne of Ferquhard Eugenius the sixt succeedeth Eugenius the fifth and by perswasion of Bishop Adannan with whom he was brought vp and of S. Cutbert hee entred into league with the Northumberland meÌ„ A league betweene the Scots Northumberland men but he would at no hande ioyne in amitie with the Pictes notwithstanding hee was contented to take truce with them But when hee sawe the same oftentimes by them violated and broken to the great perill domage hinderaÌ„ce of his subiectes he caused the warre to be proclaymed Truce taken with the Picts and sent them his defiaunce by an Herald Howbeit through the earnest prayers as is supposed of the twoo bishops Cutbert and Adannan who had laboured earnestly to haue brought those people to a quietnesse this warre continued without any notable encouÌ„ter Warre without any notable encouÌ„ter The death of Eugenius the 〈◊〉 697. saue only by light incursions wherein no great bloudshed chaunced euen vnto the death of Eugenius whiche fell in the yeare of our Lord. 697. 697. and in the .x. yeare of his owne reigne He was buried togither with the other Eugenius that lastly reygned afore him in the I le of Colmekill amongst theyr predecessours Wonderfull visions seene Many wonderfull visions were seene that yeare in Albion as the Scottishe chronicles make mention In the riuer of Humber there appeared in the sight of a great multitude of meÌ„ a number of shippes vnder sayle as though they had bene furnished foorth for the warres In the Churche at Camelon there was heard a noyse as it had bene the clattering of armure Milke was turned into bloud in diuers places in Pictland and cheese conuerted into a bloudie masse or cake Corne as it was gathered in the haruest time appeared bloudie In the furthermost partes of Scotland it rayned bloud These sightes being seene of some declared to other caused a wonderfull feare in the peoples harts imagining some great alteration to ensue THe Lordes peeres of the land not greatly lamenting the death of suche a monstrous person Eugenius bicause the army for want of a gouernour should not fall into any dauÌ„nger they elected Eugenius the seueÌ„th Eugenius the seuenth is elected king of Scottes being the brother of the late foresayde Ambirkeleth to succeede as King in the gouernment of the Realme a Prince of right comely port and personage neyther destitute of honourable qualityes and good disposition of mynde Being once proclaymed king he caused general musters to be takeÌ„ of the whole armie and perceyuing by suruey thereof that he was not able to match with his enimyes A peace concluded he founde meanes to conclude a peace with the Pictishe king pledges being deliuered on eyther side for redresse to be had of al wrongs and iniuries that had bene committed betwixt them The Pictes returning home and the Scottishe armie dissolued Eugenius with the moste parte of the Nobilitie went into Argyle where hee receyued hys inuesture of the Kingdome sitting vppon the stone of Marble The king is crowned according to the maner But Eugenius being thus cleared of all former suspition minded to haue bene reuenged on those y t had falsly accused him An example of a good prince Howbeit through the godly admonishments of that reuerend father Adannan he qualified his displeasure After this giuing his minde to the aduauncement of Religion and polytike gouernment of his subiectes he ordeyned that the Hystories of hys auncestours shoulde be written in bookes and volumes The king causeth his ancestours hystories to be written that posteritie might haue to reade the same for ensample sake These monumentes he also appoynted to bee kept and reserued in the Abbay of Iona nowe called Colmekill for a perpetuall memorie and suche as shoulde write the same to remaine and haue liuings there in the Abbey Moreouer suche spirituall promotions as he perceyued to bee too meane and slender for the maintenance of the minister that should serue the cure he caused to be augmented in suche wise as was thought sufficient Hee concluded a league with the Saxons and Pictes and obserued the same during his lyfe Eugenius the seuenth departeth out of this life whiche hee ended at Aberneâ—…hy when he had raigned about .xvij. yeares whereof the last fell in the yeare after the incarnation of our Sauiour .717 716. H. B. indictione .15 Hys death was greatly lamented both of his Lordes and Commons as they that intierly loued him for his noble and moste princely qualities This Mordack was the nephew of Eugenius the vij by his brother Ambirkeleth and euen as he was knowne to be of a gentle meke and liberal nature before his aduauncement to the crowne so hee shewed himselfe to be the verie same man during the whole course of all his naturall lyfe after hee had atteyned to the same Aboue all things he wished a generall peace to continue amongest all the Princes of Albion A louer of peace and therevpon for his part establishing a peace with the Pictes Brytaynes and all the English Kings hee firmely kept euerie article therein conteyned In those dayes as Saint Bede doth testifie foure seuerall people liued in peace and quietnesse within the boundes of Albion Peace through out al the land of Albion though differing in maners language lawes and ordinances Saxons whom he called English men Britaynes Scottes and Pictes The testimonie of Bede His wordes are these The Nation of the Pictes at this tyme is in league with the Englishe men and gladly is partaker of the vniuersall peace and veritie with the Catholike Churche Those Scottes which inhabite Brytayne contenting themselues with their owne boundes goe aboute to practise no deceytefull traynes nor fraudulent deuices agaynste the Englishe men The Brytaynes though for the moste parte through a familyar hatred doe impugne the Englishe Nation and the state of the whole Catholyke Church obseruing not ryghtly the feast of Easter besydes other naughtie vsages yet both the diuine power and humane force vtterly resysting them they are not able in neyther behalfe to attayne to theyr purposed intentions As they which though partlye free yet in some behalfe are thrall and mancipate to the subiection of the English men whiche Englishe men nowe in acceptable peace and quietnesse of tyme many amongst them of Northumberlande as well of the Nobilitie as other laying away armour and weapon apply themselues to the reading of holy Scripture more desirous to bee in houses of vertuous conuersation than to exercise feates of warre What will come thereof the age that followeth shall perceyue and beholde With these wordes doth Bede ende his hystorie 734. Mordacke ended his life the same yere that S. Bede made an ende of his hystorie continued tyll the yeare 734. In the whiche yeare
duties sake and my whole Countreys cause I will at this present declare vnto you Ye which be bounde by Gods worde and to obey for feare lyke men pleasâ—â—s but for conâ—…edence sake like Christians haue contrarie to Gods holy will whose offence is euerlasting beaâ—â— and contrarie to the godly order of quietnesse set out to vs in the Kings Maiesties â—â—wes the breache whereof is not vnknowne to you taken in hande vnrulled of God vnsent by men vnfitte by reason to calle awaye your bounden duetyes of obedience and to put on you agaynste the Magistrates Gods office committed to the Magistrates for the reformation of your pretensed iniuries In the which doing ye haue first faulted grieuously against God next offended vnnaturally our soueraigne Lorde thirdly troubled miserablie the whole common wealth vndone cruelly many an honest man and brought in an vtter miserie both to vs the Kings Subiectes and to your selues being false Rebelles and yet ye pretende that partly for Gods cause and partly for the coÌ„mon welthes sake ye do arise when as your selues cannot denie but ye that seeke in worde gods cause do breake in deed Gods commaundement and ye that seeke the common wealth haue destroyed the common wealth and so ye marre that ye would make and break that ye would amend bycause ye neither seeke any thing rightly nor would amend any thing orderly He that faulteth faulteth agaynst Gods ordinance who hath forbidden all faultes and therefore ought againe to be punished by Gods ordinance who is the reformer of faults For he sayth leaue the punishment to me and I will reuenge them But the Magistrate is the ordinaunce of God appoynted by him with the sworde of punishment to looke streightly to all euil doers And therefore that that is done by the Magistrate is done by the ordinance of God whom the Scripture oftentymes doth call God bycause he hath the execution of Gods office Howe then do you take in hande to reforme Be ye kings By what authoritie or by what succession Be ye y e kings officers By what commission Be ye called of God By what tokens declare ye that Gods worde teacheth vs that no man should take in hand any office but he that is called of God lyke Aaron What Moyses I pray you called you What Gods Minister bade you rise Ye rise for religion What religion taught you that If ye were offred persecution for religion ye ought to flie so Christ teacheth you and yet you intend to fight If ye woulde stande in the truth ye ought to suffer like Martyrs and you woulde sley like tyrants Thus for religion you keepe no religion and neither will follow the counsaile of Christ nor the constancie of Martyrs Why rise ye for religion Haue ye any thing contrary to Gods booke Yea haue ye not al things agreeable to Gods word But the new is different from the old and therfore ye will haue the olde If ye measure the old by truth ye haue the oldest if ye measure the olde by fancie then it is harde bycause mens fansies chaungeth to giue that is olde Ye will haue the olde still Will ye haue any older than that as Christ left and his Apostles taught and the first Church after Christ did vse Ye will haue that the Canons doe establish Why that is a great deale yonger than that ye haue of later tyme and newlyer inuented Yet that is it that ye desire Why then ye desire not the oldest And doe you preferre the Bishoppes of Rome afore Christ mennes inuention afore Gods law the newer sort of worship before the older Ye seeke no religion ye be deceyued ye seeke traditions They that teach you blinde you that so instruct you deceyue you If ye seeke what the olde Doctors say yet looke what Christ the oldest of all sayth For he sayth before Abraham was made I am If ye seeke the truest way he is the verye truth if ye seeke the readiest way he is the verie way if ye seeke euerlasting life he is the verye life What religion would ye haue other nowe than his religion You would haue the Bibles in againe It is no maruaile your blinde guides would leade you blind stil Why be ye Howlets and Backes that ye cannot looke on the light Christ sayth to euerie one search ye the Scriptures for they beare witnesse of Christ You say pull in the scriptures for we wil haue no knowledge of Christ The Apostles of Christ wil vs to be so readie y t we may be able to giue euerie maÌ„ an account of our faith Ye will vs not once to read the Scriptures for feare of knowing of our faith S. Paule prayeth that euerie man may encrease in knowledge yee desire that our knowledge might decay againe A true Religion ye seeke belike and worthie to be fought for For without the sworde indeede nothing can help it neither Christ nor truth nor age can mainteyne it But why shoulde ye not like that which Gods worde establisheth the prematiue Church hath authorised the greatest lerned men of this Realme hath drawen the whole consent of the Parliament hath confirmed the Kings Maiestie hath set foorth Is it not truly set out Can ye deuise any truer than Christes Apostles vsed ye thinke it is not learnedly done Dare ye Commons take vpon you more learning than the chosen Bishops and Clearkes of this Realme haue Thinke ye follie in it Ye wer woÌ„t to iudge your ParliameÌ„t wisest now wil ye sudainly excell them in wisedom Or can ye thinke it lacketh authoritie which the King the Parliament the learned the wise haue iustly approued Learne learne to knowe this one point of Religion that God will be worshipped as he hath prescribed not as wee haue deuised and that his will is wholye in his Scriptures which be full of Gods spirite and profitable to teach the truth to reproue lyes to amend faults to bring one vp in righteousnesse that he that is a Gods man may be perfite and readie to al good woorkes What can bee more required to serue God withall And thus muche for Religion Rebels The other rable of Norffolke Rebelles yee pretende a common wealth How amende ye it by killing of Gentlemen by spoyling of Gentlemen by imprisoning of Gentlemen A marueylous tanned commoÌ„welth Why should ye thus hate them for their riches or for their rule Rule they neuer tooke so much in hand as ye doe now They neuer resisted the king neuer withstood his counsail be faithful at this day when ye be faithlesse not onely to the King whose Subiectes ye be but also to your Lordes whose tenaunts ye be Is this your true duetie in some of homage in most of feaultie in all of allegeance to leaue your duties goe backe from your promises fall from your fayth and contrarie to lawe and truth to make vnlawfull assemblyes vngodly companies wicked and detestable Campes to disobey your betters to obey your Tanners to change your obedience
of this great hall was for feare of raine whiche might haue perished the vawtes to the destruction of the whole Churche and the people that were therein And before the sayde yeare was fully ended all the sayde Isles of the sayde Church were made and framed of newe and maine Tymber and couered with lead and fully finished And the same yeare also the greate roufe of the West ende was framed and made of new great timber in Yorkshire and brought to London by Sea and set vp and couered with lead and fully finished And in like maner within the sayd yeare the whole roufe and frame of the East ende of the sayde Church was made in Yorkshyre and brought by Sea to London and there sayde readie to be raysed when the season of the yeare serued This one thing resteth to be tolde that by estimation of wise men ten M. pound more than is yet granted vnto it will not perfite and finishe the Church and Steple in such sore as it was before the burning thereof In this meane time also by reason of the Qeenes Maiesties letters directed to the Maior and his brethren of the Citie of London aboute the burning of Paules there were certain Aldermen and Commoners of the said City named called togither by the authoritie of the Maior so denise some good order â—…erdie remedie for the reliefe and comfort of the sayd Citie whensoeuer any chaunce of fire hereafter should happen as God forbyd wythin the sayde Citie or libertyes thereof And the persons so called after sundrie meetings and with good aduisement and deliberation agreed and penned a certaine order for the speedie remedie thereof as well for the readie knowledge of the place wheresoeuer the same fire should happen to be and for the sodain extinguishing and suppressing of the same as also for the safe keeping of the goodes of suche persons in whose house any fire should chaunce Which orders and rules vndoubtedly would be to the great comfort and safetie of the Citie and Citizens of the same if they were published and made knowne in tyme and executed accordingly But what should I say I can but lament not onely for this but also for manye such paynfull and profitable labours whiche for good gouernment of this Citie had beene taken And as soone as the talking thereof is done and the Bookes framed and delyuered so soone is it put in obliuion and nothing at all thought vppon vntill an houre after the myschiefe be past I cannot blame no bodie but there is a fault in some bodie This yeare was chosen Lorde Maior of London a woorthie Citizen named William Harper one of the companie of the marchant Taylers This man wishing in his lyfe time to benefite his Countrey founded a free schoole in the Towne of Bedford where he was borne and nowe lyeth buryed prouiding a competent stipende and lyuing for a Schoole maister there to traine vp and instruct children in vertue and learning for euer This yeare in Englande were many monstrous byrthes An. reg 4. in Marche a Mare brought forth a foale with one bodie and two heads Monstrous byrthes and as it were a long taile growing out betwene the two heades Also a Sow farrowed a pig with foure legges like to the armes of a man childe with handes and fingers c. In Aprill a Sow farrowed a Pigge with two bodies eight feete and but one head 1562 many calues and lambes were monstrous some with collers of skinne growing aboute their neckes like to the double ruffes of shyrtes and neckercheffes then vsed The .xxiiij. of May a man chylde was borne at Chichester in Sussex the heade armes and legges whereof were like a notamie the breast and belly monstrous bigge from the Nauell as it were a long string hanging about the necke a great coller of fleshe and skinne growing lyke the ruffe of a shyrt or neckerchefe comming vp aboue the eares pleyting and folding c. The Realme of France being in great trouble aboute this season by the meanes of ciuill dissentioÌ„ and warres that rose betwixt the house of Guise and other of that faction vpon the one side and the Prince of Condee and other that tooke part with him on the contrary side The Queenes Maiestie informed how that the duke of Guise and hys partakers hauing gotte into theyr possession the person of the yong King vnder a pretext of his authoritie sought the subuersion of many noble men and good subiects of the Crowne of Fraunce namely such as were knowne or suspected to be zealous for a reformation to bee had in matters of Religion Hir Maiestie therevppon considering that if theyr purpose myght bee brought to effect it was to bee doubted that they woulde not so rest but seeke to sette things in broyle also within thys hir Realme of Englande and other Countreys neare to them adioyning first as one that had euer wyshed a quyetnesse rather than the troubles of warre Sir Henrie Sydney sent Ambassador into France sent ouer Sir Henrie Sydney at that present Lorde President of Wales a manne of suche estimation as his worde ought to haue deserued credite to trye if hee myght doe any good to bryng the partyes to some attonement but such wilfull headynesse seemed to rest in some that were chyefe of the one faction that theyr desyre seemed altogyther bente to enter into to warres â—…other Amâ—…sade in Iuly Hir Maiestie yet hoping the best appointed to send another honorable ambassade which by their wisedomes good aduise might perswade the parties vnto concord whereby the due authoritie honor and dignitie might be restored to the King and euery other degree keepe their roomthes and places as to them apperteyned but all in vayne for this motion of a pacification to be hadde could take no place neyther might the will of the yong King or of his timerous mother as it then seemed bee regarded otherwise than as stoode with the pleasure and appoyntmente of those that were knowen to bee the chiefe authors and furtherers of all those troubles Whylest the Queenes Maiestie therfore did thus trauell in respect of the suretie whiche hyr grace bare to hir welbeloued brother the sayde King and to the commoditie and quietnesse of both the factions an open iniurie was offered to hir maiestie so as it might appeare what minds they bare towards hir that hadde thus excluded and refused all offers and meanes to growe to some good and indifferente conclusion of peace â—…hippes of London Exeter and Falâ—…outh spoiled by the French 〈◊〉 Britayne the thirtith of Iuly and ninetenth of August For whereas manye Merchauntes as well of London as of Exeter and other of the West partes of hir Realme were soiourning for cause of traffique in diuers portes and hauens of Britaigne and hauing dispatched their busines and gote their lading aboorde their Shippes were readye to hoyst vp sayles and to returne eache one towardes the place from whence he came
wing The left was led by one Buerne an Englishe man borne who was fled out of his countrey for that he coulde not beare suche iniuries as Osbert offred him in forcing his wife to the great reproch and dishonor of his house and name He had with him in this left wing certaine bandes of Englishmen with those Pictes that had escaped ouer into Denmarke as before is mencioned Hungar kept the battaile Hungar with all the residue of the armie kept the battaile or myddlewarde exhorting his men to shew their force manhoode that day sith the same should eyther put theÌ„ in possession of the whole land of Albion with all the substance riches conteyned therein either else bring theÌ„ perpetuall seruitude with ignominie amongst their most cruell fierce aduersaries He therefore himself openly in presence of them al Hungar made a vowe vowed with solemne othe either to returne with victorie to his campe eyther else to die in the place willing them all to make the like couenant Whereupon the vniuersall multitude allowed him so muche for this his motion The souldiers did make the like vowe that there was not one amongst the whole number which agreed not to sweare the like othe King Constantine placed his men in like maner Constantine keeping in maner the like order placed in the right wing his brother Ethus in the left Duncane the Lieutenant or Thane of Athole appoyning to eyther of them ten thousande men a peece A Comet Moreouer there was a mightie starre or Comet seene with firie rayes issuing forth of the same whiche both night and day followed the Moone during the moneth of Aprill to the great horror of all that behelde it But to proceede The Danes as is sayd hauing vanquished the Scots and wasted the couÌ„trey of Fife The Danes went into Louthian passed ouer into Louthian where robbing and spoyling all before them they pursued the inhabitants into Northumberlande whither they fled for refuge There the Danes being ayded with certain English meÌ„ in fauor of Bruern slue in battaile both Osbert Ella King Osbert Ella slaine kings of that couÌ„try The crueltie of the Danes was such after they had atchieued y e victorie that few escaped with life but such as saued theÌ„selues by flight But chiefely their rage appeared moste agaynste priestes and such as professed themselues men of religion For the Danes being Ethnikes persecuted most egerly those that in any wise professed Christ This crueltie inuaded Nor folke also The like outragious murthering of the Christians was practised throughout the Countrey and at length came vnto that blessed king S. Edmond raigning as theÌ„ ouer the people of the East angles as in the English historie more plainly may appeare Howbeit other of the English kings mainteined the warres with these Danes certaine yeares after this with variable fortune the most part of those people which inhabited on that coast towarde the Germaine seas eyther being slain or brought into miserable bondage and thraldome King Alured redressed those harmes But Alured which succeeded his brother king Etheldred not in the kingdome of Northfolke and Suffolke as Hector Boetius affyrmeth but in the kingdome of the west Saxons Hector Boetius mistaketh diuerse matters touching the report of our hystories redressed a great part of this miserie into the which the countrey was thus brought by the Danes by subduing them in sundrie conflictes and slaying their two Captaines the foresayd Hunger and Hubba as in the same English 〈…〉 further expressed But now to return â—…nto Ethus I find that he was of such â—…nesse of foote Ethus surnamed lightfoot that he woulde marche and make way in running with Hâ—…râ—…s and Houndes and thervpon was â—…named light-foote but of what â—…mble lightnesse of foote 〈…〉 â—…ith it is that he was of disposition 〈…〉 vnfitte to haue the 〈◊〉 of any 〈◊〉 regiment Ethus neglected the oportunitie For where as he might haue recouered Fife and Louthian with other 〈◊〉 whylest the English men and Danes 〈◊〉 togither by the eates he passed ouer that occasion deliting moâ—…e in following the pleasures the bodie and sensuall lustes than to bestow his time in feates of châ—…ualry and other warlike exercises A conspiracie made agaynst king Ethus The Nobles of the Realme perceyuing him thus to abuse the worthie gyftes of his person mistrusting least his â—…dler doings should endomage the publike state of the coÌ„mon wealth they tooke counsail togither how they might apprehend him and to sende him some whither out of y e way wher to be safely kept and then to place some other in the gouernment of the Realme that might rule the same with more discretion better aduise And least their resolution should be disclosed before it tooke effect they slacked no time but went spedily about their businesse And comming to the king whom they found a hunting in Calidone wood King Ethus is arested with his fauorers they sodenly arested him and therwith committed him to safe keeping and those whom they knewe to bee fauourers of his euill rule and misgouernance they put them also fast in yrons til they had answered to such articles as should be layd to their charge This done they proceeded to the election of a new king Gregorie is chosen king and in the end by the persuasion of one DoÌ„gall gouernour or Thane of Argyle they chose Gregorie the sonne of that Dongall which raigned before Alpyne who was not past two Monethes olde when his father dyed There be that wryte howe he was strangled in prison by Dongall his procurement least by aduenture he might haue bene restored vnto libertie and with all haue made clayme to the crowne againe There was surely in this Gregorie a certaine naturall inclination to vertue King Gregory was giueÌ„ wholy vnto godlinesse with suche aduisednesse in all his wordes that he vttered few or none but that the same seemed to be spoken with right great consideration He was neuer maried King Gregory was neuer maryed but continued in chastitie all his lyfe time Of meate and drinke he was verie spare deliting in all kinde of sobrietie He was sober more watchefull than giuen to sleepe But his fame encreased moste for hys mainteyning of iustice and ciuill administration concerning the state of the common wealth not omitting the practise of warre where necessitie requyred Gregorie weying with himselfe how necessarie this friendship should be King Gregory his consideration not onely to the publike weale of all the whole lande of Albion but also of the good suretie and aduauncement of Christes religion whereof the Danes were grieuous aduersaries for this hee thought that if Scottes English men A peace concluded and landes surrendred to the Scottes and Brytaines did ioyne in one and knit themselues togither in ayding ech other there was no nation in the world that they needed to feare he consented vnto the
Hystorie It is recorded by writers that these which at this time came out of Englande vnto Edgar brought great quantitie of golde and siluer with them also many relikes of Saints and amongst other that blacke crosse which king Dauid gaue vnto the Abbey of holy Rood house in Louthiā The blacke crosse which he founded at his owne charge Shortly after the proscriptiō of these English men William the Conquerour sent an heralde at Armes vnto king Malcolme William Conqueror threatneth king Malcolme demaunding to haue Edgar deliuered into his hands and threatning that if he refused to deliuer him he woulde surely fetch him and that finally for Malcolmes commoditie But Malcolme though he vnderstoode that he shoulde bee sure of warres at king Williams handes Malcolmes answere for his deniall declared plainly to the herauld that his maisters request was vnreasonable and therefore he minded not in any wise to gratifie him therein King William receyuing this answere from Malcolm Open warre proclaymed by William Conquerour Northumberlande taketh out with K. Malcolme proclaimed opē warre against Scotland In the meane time all Northumberlande tooke part with king Malcolme for that he was their Earles sisters sonne Wherevpon king William sent a valiaunt Captaine a Norman borne named Roger to inuade Northumberlande Roger a Norman captaine or rather earle Robert as I take it Whiche Roger gathering a power of men came hastily into that Countrey howbeit he abode short time there in honor for by the Scots and Northumberlande men his army was discomfited See in Englande and he himselfe trayterously slaine by his owne souldiers But king William nothing discoraged with this ouerthrow The Earle of Gloucester sent one Richard Erle of Gloucester whom amongest all the English men he had moste in trust with a mightie armie into Cumberlande Gospatricke hath Simon Danel Agaynst whome were sent the Earles of March and Menteith who defended the Countrey right manly from the inuasion of the sayde Earle so that he was not able to take any aduauntage of them King William aduertised hereof waxed wonderfull wroth that no more good was done agaynst his enimies whereupon hee sent a newe power thither with all speede Odo Bishop of Bayeux erle of Kent vnder the leading of his brother Odo who was both Bishoppe of Bayeux and Earle of Kent By this last army the coūtrey of Northumberlande was sore spoyled and a great number both of Scottes and Northumberland men discomfited and slain But as Odo was preparing to returne there came Malcolme with all the power he might make and giuing an onset vpon his enimies slue a great number of them Malcolmes enterpri◅e against his enimies and recouered al the bootie which Odoes mē had got in the countrey and so right ioyfull of that victorie returned into Scotlande King William yet nothing abashed for these mishappes Robert the son of William Conquerour sent his sonne called Robert wyth a farre greater power than at any time he had sent before into Northumberland who remayning a long season in campe neare to the riuer of Tine New Castell vpon Tine fortifyed attempted no notable enterprise sauing that he repayred and newly fortified the towne of newe Castell whiche standeth vpon the same ryuer of Tine and then at length a peace was concluded betwixt the two Kings vnder these conditions A peace concluded betwixt William Cōquerour and Malcolme Cammore that king Malcolme shoulde enioy that part of Northumberland which lyeth betwixt Tweede Cumberland and Stainmoore to do homage to the king of England for the same In the middest of Stanemoore there shall be a Crosse set vp with the king of Englandes Image on the one side and the king of Scotlands on the other to signifie that the one is marche to England and the other to Scotland This Crosse was called the Recrosse The Recrosse that is to say the Crosse of the kings Moreouer it was concluded that Waltheof or Voldosius as the Scottish writers name him y e sonne of Sywarde Earle of Northumberlande Waltief Syward Earle of Northumberlande should marry king Williams neece borne of his daughter and to be free from all payments and exactions due to the king by any maner of prerogatiue or meanes for the space of .xx. yeares next ensuing In the neck of this peace thus cōcluded betwixt y e kings Rebellion in Galloway hapned new trouble in Scotlād by reasō of intestine rebelliō for the people of Galloway the Ilād mē rose in great nūbers spoiled y e borders of their neighbors not sparing frō slaughter in al parts where they were any thing resisted Agaynst these rebelles was sent by king Malcolme Walter the sonne of Fleance Walter the sonne of Fleance of whome there is mention made before with a conuenient armie who at his comming into Galloway first gaue the people of that Countrey an ouerthrow Makglaue and slue their chiefe captaine Makglaue Then afterwards fighting with them of the Iles he subdued them in such wise that al things were pacified euen at commaundement For whose high prowes and diligence in this peece of seruice shewed Walter created high Steward of Scotlande he was created by Malcolm high Steward of the realme so that afterwardes both he and his posteritie euer sithence haue borne that surname euen vnto these our dayes After the quieting of this businesse there sprang a newe tumult more daungerous than the former for the Murrey lande men procuring them of Rosse and Cathnes A new rebellion in Murrey lande with diuerse other to ioine with them in confederacie did not onely slea the kings seruants and those that were appoynted vnder him to see iustice ministred but through support of one Makduncane whom they chose to be their captaine they also wasted and destroyed the kings possessions with more crueltie than euer had beene heard of before Wherefore to punish these trayterous attempts Makduffe Makduffe was sent with an armie into Mar. But the traytors doubting least they should not be able to withstande his puissance thought nothing more auaylable than to stop him wyth money but in the meane time came the king himselfe in good season vnto Monimuske where hee was aduertised that in maner all the north partes of Scotland with the Iles were confederate with the Murrey land men against him The king astonished somthing at these newes vowed to giue the Barronnie of Monimuske The kings vow which he vnderstoode to be landes perteyning to the crowne vnto the Church of Saint Andrew in Fife if it might please God to send him victorie ouer his enimies King Malcolm through exhortation of his wife gyueth himselfe to deuotion All ciuill trouble and commotion being thus quieted king Malcolm specially by the good admonishment exhortation of his wife Queene Margaret a woman of great zeale vnto the religion of that time gaue himselfe in maner altogither
the strangers whiche in these dayes afflicted France England Scotland and Irelande 1095 and as it appeareth by conference of tunes and Chronicles much-what about one season vexed the Frenchmen afflicted Scotland subdued Englande and multiplyed in Irelande But in the yeere of Christ 1095. perceyuing greate enuie to remayne and lurke in the distinction of the names Easterlings and Irishe that were altogither Westerne and the Easterlings not Easterne indeede but rather simplye Northren in consideration whereof and bycause they magnifyed themselues in the late conquest of theyr countreymen who from Normandie comming ouer into Englande ruled there at their pleasure The Easterlings will be called Normans these strangers in Ireland would algate nowe bee also called and accompted Normans Long before this tyme as ye haue heard Irelande was bestowed into two principall kingdomes and sometime into more whereof one was euer elected and reputed to be chiefe and as it were a Monarke whome in their Histories they name Maximum Regem that is the greatest King Maximus Rex The great king or Monarke of Irelande or else without addition Regem Hiberniae the King of Ireland the other they name Reguli or Reges that is to witte small Kings or else kings by limitting the places wherof they were to be reputed Kings as of Leynister Connagh Vlster Monster or Meth. To the Monarke besides hys allowance of Dominion titles of honor and other priuileges in iurisdiction there was graunted to him a negatiue in nomination of Bishops when they were vacant The power of the Monarke in election of Bishops for the Cleargie and laitie of the dioces commended one whome they thought conueniente vnto their King the King to the Monarke the Monarke to the Archbishop of Canterbury for that as yet the Metropolitanes of Ireland had not receyued their passes In this sorte was nominated to the Bishoprike of Dublin then voyde in the yeere of Christ 1074. Goderius king of Leynister at the petition of Goderius King of Leynister by sufferance of the Cleargie and people there Terdienatus the Monarke Patricius consecrated Bishop of Dublin by Lanfranke with the assente of Terdienatus the Monarke a learned Prelate called Patricius whome Lanfranke of Canterbury consecrated in Paules Churche at London and sware hym to obedience after the manner of his auncestors ⧠The seconde Booke of the Histories of Irelande in which the conquest made by Henry the second of that name King of Englande is comprehended Anno. 1167. Dermote Macmurche DErmucius or Dermote Macmurche Kyng of Leynister and gouernor of the fifte parte of Irelande possessed all y e East partes of the Isle aloÌ„gst by y e Sea coast an oppressor of the nobilitie vsing much crueltie towardes the Lords and great men of his countrey To serue his lecherous lust hee secretely made sute in dishonest wise vnto the Queene of Meth the daughter of Amalachelmus Amalachelnus Morice â—… of Meth. and wife vnto Morice King of Meth which Morice going vpon a iourney into farre parts foorth of his countrey left his Queene in a certayne ile in Meth but before his returne shee condiscending vnto Dermotes desire Dermote abuseth the wife of King Morice was voluntarily stolne away by the same Dermucius King Morice of Meth hir husband sore moued heerewith determineth to bee reuenged and the better to bring his purpose to passe he maketh complaynte of the whole iniurie vnto Rotherick Ochonor King of Connagh Rotherick Ochonor Monarke of Irelande that was in those dayes Monarke of Ireland beseeching him of assistance in that enterprise which he meant to take in hand against that vile adulterer Kyng Dermote The people of Leynister detesting the quarrell and hauing long agoe conceyued no smal hatred against theyr K. for his outragious-crueltie vsed against his subiects forsooke hym in his greatest necessitie so that hee being left desolate of all comforte Dermucius â—…eeth out of Irelande He commeth to the King of Englande Henry the â—…conde with muche difficultie gote a vessell and fledde for succour vnto Henry the second King of Englande then remayning in Aquitayne where hee was occupied in warres against the Frenchmen Somewhat before this presente season it chaunced that Adrian the fourth of that name then Pope of Rome an Englishman borne Adrian the fourth Bishop of Rome an Englishman borne in the towne of Saint Albous who before time had bin sente into Norway to instruct that lande in the Christian religion where he learned perfectly the state of Ireland how that although Christ was there taught and beleeued yet the multitude being a furious and sauage generation were growen to suche a licentious and shamefull kinde of libertie making no accounte of the necessarie pointes of doctrine more than serued their sensuall and wilfull lustes that it was greatly to bee doubted least they would at length vtterly abandon Christianitie and giue themselues ouer to a beastly order of liuing nothing agreeable with the lawes and rites of other people that professed Christes Religion Hereto Henry the second Henry the second of that name King of England presuming vpon the Popes fauour that was his borne subiect in the very first yeere of his raigne had sente Ambassadors to Rome for licence to attempt the conquest of Irelande Pope Adrian wishing that a reformation of the abuses in that people might be had granted his Bull for proofe of his consent to king Henries request which Alexander that succeeded him confirmed and ratifyed with like conditions as his predecessor Adrian had giueÌ„ forth y e same Now when Dermote was come in the nicke to further by occasion this enterprise thus pretended by Henry aforehand The offer of Dermucius to king Henry hee presented his complaint profering the interest of his Crowne with condition hee mighte be restored to some parte of his lands See more here in England This matter beeyng thus broched although King Henry had his handes full of warres with the Frenchmen yet hee receyued Dermote into his protectioÌ„ taking of him both his bond of subiection and othe of fidelitie and where the Kyng coulde not then attende to goe with hym ouer into Irelande yet bycause of the earnest suite that Dermote made for speede of assistaunce hee sente him into Englande honorably attended and furnished with hys letters patents the tenor whereof ensueth Henry King of Englande The tenor of King Henries letters with the whiche Dermote returneth into England Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine and Earle of Anion to all our faithfull subiects Englishmen NormaÌ„s Welchmen and Scottes and to all other nations whatsoeuer subiecte to our Dominion sendeth greeting When these letters shall come to your handes know ye that we haue receyued Dermot Prince of Leynister into y e bosome of our grace and beneuolence Wherefore whiche of you soeuer oure louing subiects within the limits of our dominions will imploy your aids to help him foreward and restore him as our liege man
and in the ende they concluded vpon the same which were registred in eight articles Fyrst Mariages that they shoulde not contract any vnlawfull mariages with their cousins or neare allyes but in the same obserue the rules of the Canons Infantes baptised Secondly that their Infants should be Catechised at the church doores by the priests after baptized in the Fontes of their Churches Thirdely Tythes to be payed that all those that tooke themselues for Christian men shoulde duelye pay their Tythes of corne and Catell and other increasing things Fourthly that the landes and possessions belonging to the Church Liberties of the Church shoulde be enfranchised of all secular exactions and specially that neyther the Kinges nor Erles nor anye other Lordes of Irelande nor theyr sonnes with theyr familyes shoulde demaunde nor presume to exact violently from thence forth any meate or drinke or harborrow within the Church possessions as they had beene vsed and that the dyet which had beene exacted foure tymes in the yeare of Churche mennes fermes should not any more be demaunded nor answered Murthers Fiftly that for murthers committed when the offender compouÌ„ded with the kinsmen of the partie dead Churchmen that were cousins to the offender should not be forced to beare any part of the fine except they were accessaries to the offence Sixtly Testaments how they shoulde be made that the sicke should cause his testameÌ„t to bee made and read in presence of credible persons and if they had wyues theyr debts and seruantes wages deducted the residue of theyr goods should be deuided into three parts whereof y e wife was to haue one the children another and the thirde to be employed about his funerals and otherwise as he should appoynt If he had no lawfull issue then his goodes to bee deuided betwixt him and his wife and if he had children and hys wife deceassed then the same to bee deuided betwixt him and his children Funerals Seuenthly that the funerals of the dead be deuoutly and solemnly kept and executed Vniformitie in Church seruice with the English church Eightly for as much as it had pleased God to deliuer them vniuersally into the gouernment of the Englishe Nation it was decreed that in all poyntes rytes and ceremonies they should agree in forme with the Church of England Thus where in many things before the king of Englands comming into Irelande many inordinate and heynous customes were crept into the gouernment as well ecclesiasticall as ciuil by his good diligence and politike meanes the same were in part reformed so that what good orders either for maintenance of peace or increace of religion remayned afterwardes among them was to bee ascribed to him The Articles before rehearsed were established and confyrmed with consent of all the Synode Galas Primate of Ardmagh Galas the Primate of Ardmagh was not there by reason of infirmitie and great age but yet he came afterwardes to the King at Dublyn and gaue his consent in all things fauoring the kings order and disposition herein He dyed two yeares after so aged a man that his onely sustenaunce was the mylke of a white Cowe A tempestuous winter which he tooke with him whither soeuer he trauayled The winter was so tempestuous that vneth any ship durst venter to passe either to or fro betwixt Englande and Irelande so that aduertisements were verye geason both with the king in Irelande and with his counsell at home here in Englande not hearing but very seldom they froÌ„ him or he froÌ„ them Thus whilest he lay for the most part of y e winter season in Waterford longing dayly to here forth of EnglaÌ„d he practised to procure certain knights that serued vnder the Erle of Pembrook as Reymond Miles Cogan WilliaÌ„ Maskarel others being meÌ„ of right approued valiancie experience in warlike exploytes to forsake the Erles seruice to serue him taking it to be no smal policie so 〈◊〉 make his part the stroÌ„ger the Erles the weaker for he had the Erle stil in a iealousie mistrusted least his puissance might in time breed danger to his estate After midlent ships arriued there both forth of England and Aâ—â—â—taine by who it was signified that there were come into Normandie two Cardinals froÌ„ Pope Alexander the third Cardinals sent to the king menacing to put the K. his whole dominions vnder the sentence of interditing if he came not the sooner to meete them to excuse himself of things they had to charge him with touching 〈…〉 of the Archbishop Thomas 〈◊〉 herevnto another mischief appeared for it was informed him y t hys sonne Henry whoÌ„ his father had for good purpose crowned king was through euil aduice so misled â–ª that he ment to thrust himself into the actuall possession of the â—…eason in his fathers lifetime These newes sore troubled the king bycause he must nedes returne home leaue Irelande for that time where he ment to haue remayned til in that sommer following he might aswell with building castels fortresses haue made himself strong as also established the cuntry in perfect peace whiche be much desired But sith there was no helpe but y e vrgent occasioÌ„ of businesse as ye haue heard called him thence he took order for the safe keeping of the cuntry in his absence appoynted captaines with coÌ„petent numbers of men of warre to lie in garison within sundrie townes where he thought necessarie Hugh Lacie In Dublin he left Hugh Lacy to whoÌ„ he had giuen the cuntry of Meth to hold of him in fee with him .xx. knights Robert Fitz StephaÌ„ and Maurice Fitz Gerald with .xx. other knights were also appoynted to the gard of the same citie Humfrey de Bohun Robert Fitzbernard Hugh de Gundeuile with .xl. knights were left in Waterford WilliaÌ„ Fitz Aldelme Philip de Hastings Philip de Brewse w t .xx. knights had the charge of Wexford coÌ„mitted to them The king returneth forth of Irelande The king hauing thus prouided for the safe keeping of these townes other places leauing order for the gouernmeÌ„t of the cuntry in the best wise he might he toke the sea at Wexford on Easter Monday in the morning with prosperous wind and weather passed the seas landed in Southwales in an haueÌ„ there not past .xij. miles distaÌ„t froÌ„ Hauerford west so hasted forward not staying much till he got ouer into Normandy where he met the Cardinals at Constance as in the English hystorie you may read more at large After that the king was thus departed forth of Ireland Ororick king of Meth. Ororick king of Meth surnamed Monoculus that is with the one eye made suite to come to a Parley with Hugh de Lacie but Ororick had deuysed to murther the sayde Lacie and had brought hys purpose to passe Maurice Fitz Geralde if a Knight that was Nephewe to Maurice Fitz Geralde named Griffyne
rising least they shuld be resisted they deuised that some should be murthered in churches some in their houses some in seruing the king in commission other as they might be caught and to picke quarels to theÌ„ by alteration of seruice on the holy dayes and thus was the platforme cast of theyr deuice according as afterwarde by their coÌ„fession at their examinations was testified and remayneth in true record Thus they being togither agreed Oindler and Dale and others by their secret appointment so laboured the matter in the parish of Semer Wintringham and the towns about that they were infected with the poyson of this confederacie in such sort that it was easie to vnderstande wherevnto they woulde encline if a Commotion were begonne the accomplishment whereof did shortly follow For although by the wordes of one drunken fellow of that conspiracy named Caluers at the Alehouse in Wintringham some suspition of that rebellion began to be smelles before by the Lord President and gentlemen of those parties so preuented in that place where the Rebels thought to beginne yet they gaue not ouer so but drewe to another place at Seâ—â—r by the Seawast and there by â—…ight 〈◊〉 to the Beacons at Staxton and set it on side and so gathering togither a rude route of rascals yet of the townes neare about being on a slur Oindler Thomas Dale Baxton and Robert Dale hasted forthwith with the Rebelles to master Whytes house to take him who notwithstanding being an horsebacke miâ—…ting to haue escaped their handes Dale Ombler and the rest of the Rebels tooke him and â—…lopton his wiues brother one Sauage a Marchaâ—…dâ—…f Yorke and one Berry serualint to sir Walter Mudmay Which foure without cause or quarell sauing to fulfill their seditious prophecie in foure part and to giue a terrour to other Gentlemen they cruelty murthered after they had 〈◊〉 them one mile from Samer towarde the Wolde and there after they had stripped them of their clothes and purses left them naked behind them in the plain fieldes for Crowes to feede on vntill Whites wife and Sauages wife then at Semer caused them to be buryed Long it were 〈…〉 tedious to recite what reuell these Rebels kept in their raging madnesse who rauaging about the Countrey from towne to towne to enlarge their vngracious and rebellious bande taking those with force which were not willing to go and leauing in no town where they came any man aboue the age of .xvj. yeares so encreased this number that in short time they had gathered three thousand to fauour their wicked attempts and had like to haue gathered more had not the Lordes goodnesse through prudent circumspection of some interrupted the course of theyr furious beginning For first came the kings gracious and free pardon discharging and pardoning them and the rest of the Rebelles of all treasons murthers felonies and other offences done to his Maiestie before the .xxj. of August Anno .1549 Whiche pardon althoughe Ombler contemptuously reading persysting stil in his wilfull obstinacie disswaded also the rest from the humble accepting of the kings so louing and liberall pardon yet notwithstanding wyth some it did good To make shorte it was not long after this but Ombler as hee was ryding from Towne to Towne twelue myles from Hummanbie to charge all the Conestables and Inhabitaunts where he came in the Kings name to resort to Hummanbie by the way hee was espyed and by the circumspect diligence of Iohn Worde the yonger Iames Aslabey Raufe Twinge and Thomas Conestable Gentlemen he was had in chase 〈◊〉 capâ—… of the 〈◊〉 taken and at last by them apprehended and brought in the nyght in sure custodie vnto the Citie of Yorke to answere to his demerits After whome within short time Thomas Dale â—…nes of rebels taâ—… execuâ—… Yorke Henrie Baxton the first Chieftaines and ringleaders of the former Commotion whiche Iohn Dale Robert Wright WilliaÌ„ Peacocke Weatherell and Edmonde Buttrie busie styrrers in this sedition as they trauayled from place to place to drawe people to theyr faction were lykewise apprehended committed toward lawfully conuicted and lastly executed at Yorke the xxj of September Anno. 1549. â—… Actis iudicij publici registro exceptis notatis Whilest these wicked commotions and tumults through the rage of the vndiscrete Commons were thus raysed in sundrie partes of the Realme to the great hynderaunce of the common wealth losse and daunger of euerye good and true subiect sundry wholsome and godly exhortations were published to aduertise them of their duetie and to lay before them theyr heynous offences with the sequele of the mischiefes that necessarily folowed therof the which if they shoulde consider togyther with the punishment that hanged ouer their heades they myght easily be brought to repent theyr lewde begonne enterprices and submit themselues to the kings mercie Among other of those admonitions one was penned and set forth by sir Iohn Cheeke whiche I haue thought good here to insert as a necessarie discourse for euerie good English subiect The hurt of sedition how grieuous it is to a common wealth set out by sir Iohn Checke Knight Anno. 1549. The true subiect to the Rebell AMong so many and notable benefits wherewith God hath alreadye liberally and plentifully endued vs there is nothing more beneficiall than that we haue by his grace kept vs quiet froÌ„ rebellion at this time For we see such miseries hang ouer the whole state of the common welth through the great misorder of your sedition that it maketh vs much to reioyce that we haue beene neither partners of your doings nor conspirers of your counsayles For euen as the Lacedemonians for the auoyding of drunkennesse did cause their sonnes to beholde their seruants when they were drunke that by beholding their beastlinesse they might auoyd the like vice euen so hath God like a mercifull father stayed vs from your wickednesse that by beholding the filth of your fault we might iustly for offence abhorre you like Rebels whom else by nature we loue like Englishmen And so for our selues we hau great cause to thanke God by whose religion and holy worde dayly taught vs we learne not only to feare him truly but also to obey our king faithfully and to serue in our owne vocation like subiects honestly And as for you wee haue surely iust cause to lament you as drethren and yet iuster cause to â—…yse against you as enimies and most iust cause to ouerthrow you as rebels For what hurt could bee done either to vs priuately or to the whole common wealth generally that is now with mischief so brought in by you that euen as we see now the flame of your rage so shall we necessarily be consumed hereafter with the miserie of the same Wherefore consider your selues with some â—…ight of vnderstanding and marke this grieuous and horrible fault which ye haue thus vilely committed how heynous it must needes appeare to you if ye will reasonably consider that whiche for my
made a perpetuall circulation or reuolution of our soules much like vnto the continuall motion of the heauens which neuer stande stil nor long yeeld one representatioÌ„ and figure They brought in also the woorshipping of many goddes and their seuerall sacrifices Oke honored wheron mistle did grow so doe our sorcerers euen to this day thinking some spirits to deale about the same for hidden tresure they honoured likewyse the Oke wheron the Mistle groweth and daily deuised infinitie other toyes for errour is neuer assured of hir owne dooinges wherof neyther Samothes nor Sarron Magus nor Druiyus did leaue them any prescription These things are partly touched by Cicero Strabo Plinie Sotion Laertius Theophrast Aristotle and partly also by Caesar and other authours of later time who for the most part do coÌ„fesse y t the chiefe schoole of the Druiydes was holden here in Britaine whether the Druiydes also themselues that dwelt amoÌ„g the Galles woulde often resorte to come by the more skill and sure vnderstanding of the misteries of that doctrine Estimation of the Druiyâ—… or Drâ—… priestâ—… Furthermore in Britaine and among the Galles and to saye the truth generally in all places where the Druiysh religion was frequented such was thestimatioÌ„ of the Priestes of this profession that there was little or nothing done without their skilfull aduise no not in ciuill causes pertayning to the regiment of the common wealth and countrey They had the charge also of all sacrifices publicke and priuate they interpreted Oracles preached of religion and were neuer without great numbers of yoong men that hearde theÌ„ with great diligence as they taught froÌ„ time to time Touching their persons also Immuâ—…ty of the clergy â—â—ter vndâ—… Idolaâ—… then vnder the gospell they were exempt from all temporal seruices impositioÌ„s tributes and exercise of the warres which immunitie caused the greater companies of Schollers to flocke vnto theÌ„ from all places learne their trades Of these likewise some remayned with them seuen eyght tenne or twelue yeares still learning the secretes of those vnwritten mysteries by heart which were to be had amongst them and commonly pronounced in verses And this policie as I take it they vsed onely to preserue their religion from contempt where into it might easye haue fallen if any bookes thereof had happened into the hands of the commoÌ„ sorte It helped also not a little in y e exercise of their memories where vnto bookes are vtter enemies insomuch as he that was skillfull in the Druiysh religion would not let readily to rehearse many hundredes of verses and not to fayle in one tytle in the whole processe of this his laborious repetition But as they dealt in this order for matters of their religioÌ„ so in ciuill affaires historical Treatises setting downe of lawes they vsed like order and letters almost with the Grecians wherby it is easy to be séene that they retayned this kinde of writing froÌ„ Druiyus the originall founder of their religion and that this yland hath not béene voyde of letters and learned men euen sith it was first inhabited After the death of Druiyus Bardus Bardus his sonne and fift king of the Celtes succéeded not onely ouer the sayde kingdome but also in his fathers vertues whereby if is very likely that the winding and wrapping vp of the sayde Religion after the afore remembred sorte into Verse was first deuysed by hym for he was an excellent Poet and no lesse indued with a singular skill in the practise and speculatioÌ„ of Musicke of which twoo many suppose him to be the very author and beginner although vniustly sith both Poetry Song was in vse before the floude Gene. 4. vers 21. as was also the Harpe and Pype which Iubal inuented and coulde neuer be performed without great skil in musicke But to procéede as the chiefe estimation of the Druiydes remained in the ende among the Britons only for their knowledge in religion so dye the same of the Bardos for their excelleÌ„t skill in musike and Heroicall kind of song which at the first contayned only the high misteries of their religion There was little difference also betwéene them and the Druiydes â—…he Barâ—… degeâ—…rate till they so farre degenerated from their first institutioÌ„ that they became to be minstrels at feastes droncken meetings and abhominable sacrifices of the Idols where they sang most commonly no diuinitie as before but the noble actes of valiaunt princes and fabulous narratioÌ„s of the adulteries of the gods Certes in my tyme this fonde vsage and therto the very name of the Bardes are not yet extinguished amoÌ„g the Britons of Wales where they call their Poetes Musiciâ—…ns Barthes as they doe also in Irelande There is moreouer an Islande appertinent to the region of Venedotia wherinto the Bardes of old time vsed to resorte as out of the waye into a solitarie place there to write and learne their songes by hearte and meditate vppon such matters as belonged to their practises And of these Lucane in his first booke writeth thus among other the like sayinges well towarde the latter ende also saying â—…cane â—… 1. Vos quoque qui fortes animas belloque peremptat Laudibus in longum vates dimittitis euum Plurima securi fudistis carmina Bardi Et vos barbaricos ritus moremque sinistrum Sacrorum Druiydae positis reque pistis ab armis Solis nosse Deos coeli numina vobis Aut solis nescire datum nemora alta remotis Incolitis lucis Vobis authoribus vmbrae Non tacit as erebi sedes ditisque profundi Pallida regna petunt regit idem spiritus artus Orbe alio Longae canitis si cognita vitae Mors media est certe populi quos despicit arctos Foelices errore suo quos ille timorum Maximus haud vrget leti metus inde ruendi In ferrum mens prona viris animaeque capaces Mortis ignuum est redituirae parcere vitae Thus we see as in a glasse the state of religion for a tyme after the first inhabitacion of this Islande but howe long it continued in such soundnesse as the originall authors left it in good sooth I caÌ„ not say yet this is most certaine that after a time when Albion arriued here the religion earst imbraced fell into great decaye for wheras Iaphet and Samothes with their childreÌ„ taught nothing else then such doctrine as they had learned of Noah so Cham the great grandfather of this our Albion and his disciples vtterly renouncing to followe their steps gaue their mindes wholly to seduce and leade their hearers hedlong vnto all error Wherby his posteritie not only corrupted this our Islande with most filthie trades and practises but also all mankinde generally where they became with vicious life and most vngodly behauiour For from Cham and his successours procéeded at the first all sorcery witchcraft what doctrine ChaÌ„ and his disciples taught and the execution of vnlawfull
heard of the time wherin Idolatrie reigned and blinded the heartes of such as dwelled in this Islande Theodâ—… Sophroâ—…us Nowe let vs sée the successe of the Gospell after the death and passion of Iesus Christ our Sauiour And euen here will I beginne with an Allegation of Theodorete wherevpon some repose great assurance conceyuing yet more hope therein by the wordes of Sophronius that Paule the Apostle shoulde preache the worde of saluatioÌ„ here after his deliuerie out of captiuitie which fell as I doe reade in the 57. of Christ But sith I caÌ„not verifie y e same by the wordes of Theodorete to be spoken more of Paule then Peter or the reast I will passe ouer this coniecture and deale with other things wherof we haue more certeinty That one Iosephus preached here in Englande â—…ephus in the time of the Apostles his sepulchre yet in Aualon nowe called Glessenburg or Glastenbury and Epitaphaffixed therevnto is proofe sufficient Howbeit sith these things are not of coÌ„petent force to perswade all men I wil adde in few what I haue read elsewere of his arriual here First of al therfore you shall note that he came ouer into Britaine about the 64. after Christ when the persecution began vnder Nero â—…illip â—…eculphus â—… 2. lib. 2. p. 4. â—…nnius â—…cephoâ—… lib. 2. p. 40. at which time Phillip and diuers of the godly being in Fraunce whether he came with other christians after they had sowed the word of God in Scythia by y e space of nyne yares seuered themselues in sunder to make the better shift for their owne safegarde and yet not otherwyse then that by their flight the Gospell myght haue furtheraunce Hereby then it came to passe that the sayde Phillip vpoÌ„ good deliberation dyd sende Iosephus ouer with him Simon Zelotes to preach vnto the Britons and minister the Sacramentes there according to the rites of the Churches of Asia and Gréece from whence they came not long before vnto the country of the Galles And this is the effect in a litle rowme of that which I haue reade at large in sundrye writers although it may well be gathered that diuers Britains were conuerted to the fayth before this sixetiefoure of Christ Howbeit wheras some write that they lyued dwelled in Britaine it can not as yet take anye absolute holde in my iudgement but rather that they were Baptized and remayned eyther in Rome or elsewhere And of this sorte I suppose Claudia Ruffina the wyfe of Pudens to be one â—…audia â—…ffina 〈◊〉 â—…aye who was a Brittish Lady in déede and not only excellent in the Gréeke Latine tongues but also with hir husbande highly commended by S. Paule as one hauing had conuersation and conference with them at Rome Tim. 4. from whence he dyd write hys seconde Epistle vnto Timothy Of this Lady moreouer Martial speaketh in reioysing that his Poesies were read also in Britaine and onely by hir meanes who vsed to cull out the finest of his Epigrammes and sende them to hir friends for tokens saying after this maner as himselfe doth set it downe Dicitur nostros cantare Britannia versus Furthermore making mentioÌ„ of hir and hir issue he addeth these wordes â—… 11. Epig. Claudia ceruleis cum sit Rufina Britannis Edita our Latiae pectora plaebis habet Quale decus formae Romanam credere matres Italides possunt Atthides esse suam Dij bene quod sancto peperit faecunda marito Quot sperat generos quot a puella Nurus Sic place at superis vt coniuge gaude at vno Et semper natis gaudeat illa tribus The names of hir thrée children were Pudontiana Praxedes and Nouatus who after the deth of Pudons their father which befell him in Cappadocia dwelled with their mother in Vmbria where they ceased not from time to time to minister vnto the Saincts But to leaue this impertineÌ„t discourse and procéede with my purpse I find in the Chronicles of Burton vnder the yeare of grace 141. and time of Hadriane themperour that nine Schollers or Clarkes of Grantha or Granta nowe Cambridge were Baptized in Britaine became Preachers of the Gospell there but whether Taurinus Bishop or Elder ouer the congregatioÌ„ at Yorke who as Vincentius sayth Lib. 10. cap. 17. Taurinus was executed about this time for his fayth were one of theÌ„ or not as yet I doe not certeinly finde Diuers other also inbraced the religion of Christ very zealously Howbeit all this notwithstanding the glad tidings of the Gospel had neuer frée open passage here vntill the time of Lucius in which the very enemies of the worde became the apparant meanes coÌ„trarie to their owne mindes to haue it set forth amongst vs. For when Antoninus the emperour had giuen out a decrée that the Druiysh religion shoulde euery where he abolished This is coÌ„trarie to y e common talk of our Atheistes who say let vs liue here in welth credite authoritie vpon earth let Go take heaueÌ„ and his religion to himslfe to do withall what he listeth Lucius the king whose syrname is nowe perished tooke aduise of his counsell what was best to be done wrought in this behalfe â—… And this dyd Lucius bycause he thought it impossible for man to lyue long without any religion at all Finally finding his nobility and subiects vtter enemies to the Romaine deuotion for y t they made so many gods as themselues listed some to haue the regiment euen of their dyrt and dung thervnto being pricked forwards by such christians as were conuersant about him to chuse the seruice of the true God that liueth for euer rather then the slauish seruitude of any pagane Idole he fully resolued with himself in the ende to receyue imbrace the Gospel He sent also two of his learned christians and greatest Philosophers to Rome vnto Eleutherus then Bishop there in the 177. of Christ not to promise any subiectioÌ„ to his sie Lucius openeth his eares to good counsell as one desirous to serue God not preferre the worlde which then was not required but to saie with such as were pricked in minde Actes 2. vers 37. Quid faciemus viri fratres I meane that they were sent to be perfectly instructed and with farder commission to make earnest request vnto hym and the congregation there that a competent number of Preachers might be sent ouer from thence by whose diligent aduise and trauayle the foundation of the Gospell might surely be layde ouer all his kingdome according to his minde The purpose of Lucius opened vnto y e coÌ„gregation at Rome by Eleutherus When Eleutherus vnderstoode these things he reioyced not a litle for the great goodnesse which the Lord had shewed vpoÌ„ this our Isle countrie Afterwardes calling the brethren togither they agréed to ordayne euen those two for Byshoppes whome Lucius as you haue heard had directed ouer vnto them Finally making
generall prayer vnto God and earnest supplication for the good successe of these men they sent them home agayne with no small charge that they should be diligent in their function and carefull ouer the flocke committed to their custody The first of these was called Eluanus a man borne in the Isle of Aualon and brought vp there vnder those godly Pastours and their Disciples whom Phillip sent ouer at the first for the conuersion of the Brytons The other hight Medguinus and was thereto surnamed Belga bycause he was of y e towne of Welles which then was called Belga This man was trayned vp also in one schoole with Eluanus both of them being ornaments to their hory ages and men of such grauititie and godlinesse that Eleutherus supposed none more worthy to support this charge then they after whose comming home also it was not long ere Lucius and all his housholde with diuers of the nobility were Baptized A zealous prince maketh ferueÌ„t subiects beside infinity numbers of the common people which daily resorted vnto them and voluntarily renounced all their Idolatry and Paganisme In the meane time Eleutherus hearing of the successe of these learned Doctours supposing with himself that they two only could not suffice to supporte so great a burden as shoulde concerne the conuersion of the whole Islande Faganus Dinauus Aaron He directed ouer vnto them in the yeare insuing Faganus Dinaw or Dinauus Aaron and diuers other godly Preachers as fellow labourers to trauayle wyth them in the Vineyarde of the Lord. Radulphus de la noir alias Niger These men therfore after their comming hyther consulted wyth the other and forthwith they wholly consented to make a diuision of thys Islande amongst themselues 3. Chiefe Bishops in Britain appoynting what percel eche Preacher shold take y e with the more profits and ease of the people and somewhat lesse traueyle for themselues Theonus Theodosius the Doctrine of the Gospell might be preached and receaued In this distribution also they ordayned that there should be one congregation at London where they placed Theonus as chiefe Elder and Byshop London yorke Caerlheon for that present time Another at Yorke whether they appoynted Theodosius And the thirde at Caerlheon vpon the ryuer Vske which thrée cities had before time béene Archeflamines to the end that the couÌ„tries rounde about might haue indifferent accesse vnto those places and therewith all vnderstande for certeintie whether to resort for resolution if after their conuersion they shoulde happen to doubt of any thing Thus became Britaine the first Prouince Britainâ—… first Prâ—…uince thâ—… receyueâ—… Gospell generalâ—… that generally receyued the faith and where the Gospell was fréely preached without inhibition of hir prince Howbeit although that Lucius and hys princes and great numbers of his people imbraced the word with gréedinesse yet was not y e successe therof eyther so vniuersal that all men beléeued at the first y e security so great as that no persecution was to be feared from the Romaine empyre after his decease or the procéeding of the king so seuere as y t he inforced any man by publicke authoritie to forsake and relinquish his Paganisme but only this fréedom was enioyed that who so woulde become a christian in his time might without feare of his lawes professe the Gospel in whose testimonie if néede had béene I doubt not to affirme but that he woulde haue shed also his bloude as dyd his Nece Emerita Emerita néece 〈◊〉 Lucius who beyng constant aboue the common sort of women refused not after his decease by fire to yéelde hir selfe to death as a swéete smelling sacrifice in the nostrels of the Lorde beyonde the sea in Fraunce The fayth of Christ being thus planted in this Islande in the 177. Lucius â—…deth 〈◊〉 to Rome after Christ and Faganus and â–ª Dinaw with the rest sent ouer froÌ„ Rome in the 178. as you haue heard it came to passe in the thirde yeare of the Gospell receyued that Lucius did sende agayne to Eleutherus the Byshop requiring that he might haue some briefe Epitome of the order of discipline then vsed in the Churche For he well considered that as it auayleth little to plant a costly Vineyarde except it afterwarde be cherished kept in good order and such things as annoy daily remooued from the same so after Baptisme and entraunce into religion it profiteth little to beare the name of christians except we doe walke continually in the spirite Ro. 8. â—… haue such things as offende apparantly corrected by seuere discipline For otherwise it will come to passe y t the wéedes of vice and vicious liuing will so quickly abounde in vs that they will in the ende choke vp the good séede sowen in our mindes eyther inforce vs to returne vnto our former wickednesse with déeper security then before or else to become méere Atheistes which is a great deale woorse For this cause therefore dyd Lucius sende to Rome the seconde tyme for a copie of such politicke orders as were then vsed there in their regiment of the Church The wisedome of Eleutherus But Eleutherus considering w t himselfe how that al nations are not of like condition therfore those constitutions that are beneficiall to one may now and then be preiudiciall to another and séeing also that beside the worde no rites and orders can long continue or be so perfect in all points but that as time serueth they wil requyre alteration He thought it best not to lay any more vpon the neckes of the newe conuerts of Britaine as yet then christ his Apostles had already set downe vnto al men In returning therefore his messengers he sent letters by them vnto Lucius and hys nobilitie dated in the Consulships of Commodus and Vespronius wherein he tolde them that Christ had left sufficient order in y e scriptures for the gouernement of his Church already in his worde and not for that only but also for the regimeÌ„t of his whole kingdome if he woulde submit himselfe to yéelde follow that rule The Epistle it selfe is partly extaunt and partly perished yet such as it is and as I haue faithfullye translated it out of sundry copies I doe deliuer it euen here to the ende I will not defraude the reader of anye thing that may turne to his commoditie in the hystorie of our nation Epistle of Eleutherus vnto Lucius You requyre of vs the Romaine ordinaÌ„ces and therto the statutes of the Emperours to be sent ouer vnto you and which you desire to practise and put in vre within your realme and kingdome The Romaine lawes those of Emperours we may eftsoones reprooue but those of God can neuer be founde fault withall You haue receyued of late thorowe Gods mercy in the realme of Britaine the law and fayth of Christ you haue with you both volumes of the Scriptures out of them therefore by Gods grace and the Counsel
much of Scotlande as Galloway Pentland Mers and Annandale with sundry other landes to thys Hengest and his people to inhabite which they did accordinglye But when thys Hengest in processe of tyme thirsted after the whole Kingdome he was banished and yet afterwarde beyng restored he conspired with the scottes against Aurilambrose the sonne of Constantine the iust inheritour of this whole dominion But his vntruth and theirs both were recompensed togither for hée was taken prisoner by Eldulph de Samor a noble man of Bryteyne and his heade for his traitory Some thinke the Seymors to come from this man by lineal disceÌ„t striken of at the coÌ„mandement of Aurilambros In the fielde the scottes were vanquished but Octa the sonne of Hengest was receiued to mercye to whome and his people this Aurilambrose gaue the countrye of Galloway in scotlande for which they became his Subiectes And hereby appeareth that Scotland was then againe in his handes Vter called also Pendragon brother to Aurilambros was next king of y e Britons agaynst whome these sworne Saxons newe foresworne subiectes confederate wyth the Scottes newely rebelled but by his power assembled against theÌ„ in Galloway in Scotlande they were discomfited and Albania againe recouered into his handes Arthur the sonne of this Vter begotten before the marriage but lawfully borne in matrimony succéeded next to y e crowne of great Britayne whose noble actes though manye vulgare fables haue rather steigned then commended yet al the scottish writers confesse that he subdued great Britayne made it tributary to him ouercame the Saxons then scattered as farre as Cathenes in scotland and in all these warres against them he had the seruice and obeysance of scottes and Pictes But at the last settyng their féete in the guilfull paths of their predecessours they rebelled besieged the city of Yorke Howel king of the lesse Britayne cosin to king Arthur being therin But he with an hoste came thither and dyscomfited the Scottes chased them into a marshe and besieged them there so loÌ„g that they were almost famished vntyll the bishoppes Abbotes and men of religion for as much as they were christened people besought hym to take theÌ„ to his mercy and grace and to graunt them a portion of the same countrey to dwell in vnder euerlasting subiection Vppon this he tooke them to hys grace homage and fealtle and when they were sworne hys subiectes and liegemeÌ„ he ordeyned his kinsmaÌ„ Anguisan to be their king gouernor Vrian king of IslaÌ„d MurefreÌ„ce king of Orkney He made an Archbishoppe of Yorke also whose authoritie extended through all Scotland Finally the said kyng Arthur holding his royall feast at Cairleon had there all y e kings that were subiectes vnto hym among the which Angusian the sayd king of Scots did his due seruice for the realme of Scotlande and bare kyng Arthurs sworde afore hym Malgo shortly after succéeded in the whole kingdoÌ„ of great Britaine who vpon new resistaunce newly subdued Ireland Islande the Orchads Norway Denmarke made Ethelfrede a Saxon king of Bernicia that is Northumberland Louthian and much other land of Scotland which Ethelfrede by the sword obteyned at the handes of the wilfull inhabitantes and continued true subiect to this Malgo. Cadwan succéeded in the kingdom of great Britayne who in defence of his subiectes the scottes made warre vppon this Ethelfrede but at the last they agréed and Cadwan vpoÌ„ their rebellion gaue all Scotland vnto this Ethelfrede which he therupon subdued and enioyed but afterward in the raigne of Cadwallo that next succéeded in great Britaine he rebelled whereupon the same Cadwallo came into Scotland and vpon his treason reseized the country into his owne handes and hauyng with hym all the Viceroyes of SaxoÌ„s which then inhabited here as hys subiectes in singuler battaile slew the same Ethelfrede Oswald was shortly after by CadwalloÌ„s gift made kyng of Bernicia and he as subiect to Cadwallo and by his commaundemeÌ„t discomfited the Scottes and Pictes and subdued all Scotland Oswy the brother of thys Oswald was by the lyke gift of Cadwallo made next kyng of Bernicia and he by lyke commaundement newely subdued the scots and Pictes and held them in that obeysaunce to this Cadwallo during xxviij yeres Thus Cadwallo reigned in the whole monarchy of great Britayne hauing all the vij kynges therof as well SaxoÌ„s as others his subiects for albeit the number of Saxons from tyme to tyme greatly increased yet were they alwayes either at the first expelled or els made tributary to the onely kinges of Britons for the tyme being as all their owne writers confesse Cadwallader was next kyng of the whole great Britayne he raigned xij yeres ouer al the kinges thereof in great peace and tranquillitie then vpon the lamentable death of hys subiectes which dyed of sundry diseases innumerably he departed into litle Britaine His sonne and cosin Iuor and Iue being expulsed out of england also by the Saxones went into Wales where among the BritoÌ„s they and their posteritie remayned Princes Vpon this great alteracion warres being through the whole dominion betwene Britons and Saxons the Scottes thought tyme to slip the coller of obedience and thereupon entred in league with Charles then kyng of Fraunce establishing it in this wyse 1. The iniury of Englishmen done to any of these people shall be perpetually holden common to both 2. When Frenchmen be inuaded by Englishmen the Scottes shall send their army in defence of Fraunce so that they be supported with mony and victuals of Fraunce 3. When Scottes be inuaded by Englishmen the Frenchmen shall come vpon theyr owne expences to their support 4. None of these people shall take peace or truce with Englishmen without the aduise of other c. Many disputable opinions may be had of warre without the praysing of it Nicâ—â— Adaâ—… as onely admittible by inforced necessitie and to bée vsed for peace sake onely where here y e Scots sought warre for the loue of warre only For their league giueth no benefite to theÌ„selues either in frée trafique of their owne commodities or benefite of the French or other priuiledge to the people of both what discoÌ„moditie riseth by loosing the entercourse and exchaÌ„ge of our coÌ„modities being in necessaries more aboundant then Fraunce y e scots féele and we perfectly know What ruine of theyr townes destruction of countries slaughter of both peoples haue by reason of this bloudy league chaunced the histories be lamentable to reade horrible among christian men to be remembred but God gaue the increase accordyng to their séede for as they did hereby sowe dissention so did they shortly after reape a bloudy slaughter For Alpine theyr kyng possessing a light mynde that would be lost with a little wynde hoped by this league shortly to subdue all great Britayne and to that ende not onely rebelled in his own kingdome but also vsurped vpon the kingdome of Pictes wherupon Edwine king of england made one
Howbeit by the tables hanging in the reuestry of Sainte Paules at London and also a table sometyme hanging in Saint Peters Church in Cornehill it shoulde seeme that the sayd Church of Saint Peter in Cornehill was the same that Lucius builded But herein sayth Harrison anno mundi 4174 doth lie a scruple sure Cornell might soone be mistaken for Thorney especially in such olde recordes as time age euill handling hath oftentimes defaced But howsoeuer this case staÌ„deth troth it is that Lucius reioycing muche in that he had brought his people to the perfect light and vnderstanding of the true God that they needed not to bee deceyued any longer with the craftie temptations and feigned miracles of wicked spirites he abolished all prophane worshippings of false Gods and conuerted suche Temples as had bin dedicated to their seruice vnto the vse of the Christian ReligioÌ„ and thus studying only how to aduance the glory of the immortall God and the knowledge of his worde without seeking the vayne glory of worldly triumph whiche is gote with slaughter and bloudshed of many a giltlesse person hee lefte his kingdome though not enlarged with broder dominion than hee receyued it yet greatly augmented and enriched with quiet rest good ordinances and that which is more to be esteemed than all the rest adorned with Christes religion and perfectly instructed with hys most holy worde and doctrine He raigned as some write .21 yeares Polidor Fabian Iohn Hard. though as other affirme but twelue yeares Agayne some testifie that he raigned .77 other say .54 Harrison .43 Moreouer heere is to bee noted that if he procured the faith of Christ to be planted within his Realme in the time of Eleutherius the Romayne Bishop the same chanced in the dayes of the Emperour Marcus Aurelius Antoninus And about the time that Lucius Aurelius Commodus was ioyned made partaker of the Empire w t his father which was seuen yeres after y e death of Lucius Aelius Aurelius Verus and in the .177 after the birth of our Sauiour Iesus Christ as by Harrisons chronologie is easie to bee collected For Eleutherius beganne to gouerne the sea of Rome in the yeare .169 according to the opinion of y e most diligent chronogrophers of our time gouerned fifteene yeeres and thirteene days And yet there are that affirme howe Lucius dyed at Glowcester in the yeare of our Lorde .156 Galfridus Mat. VVest other say that he dyed in the yeare .201 and other .208 So that the troth of this historie is broughte into doubt by the discorde of writers concerning the time and other circumstances although they all agree that in this kings days the Christian faith was first by publique consent openly receyued professed in this lande whiche as some affirme should chance in the twelfth yeare of his raigne Polidor and in the yeare of our Lord .177 Other iudge that it came to passe in the eyght yeare of his regiment and in the yeare of our Lord .188 where other as before is sayd alledge that it was in the yeare .179 Nauclerus sayth that this happened about the yeare of our Lord .156 Nauclerus Henricus de Herford And Henricus de Erphordia supposeth that it was in the yeare of our Lorde .169 and in the nineteenth yeare of the Emperour Marcus Antonius Verus after other about the sixth yeare of the Emperoure Comodus But to proceede King Lucius dyed without issue by reason whereof after his decesse the Britaynes fell at variance Fabian whiche continued about the space of fiftene yeares as Fabian thinketh â–ª howbeit the olde englishe Chronicle affirmeth Caxton Iohn Hard. that the contention betwixte them remained .50 yeares though Harding affirmeth but 4. yeares And thus much of the Britaynes and their kings Coylus and Lucius Now it resteth to speake somewhat of the Romaynes whyche gouerned here in the meane while After that Agricola was called backe to Rome the Britaines namely those that inhabited beyond Twede partly being weakened of their former strength and partly in consideration of their pledges whiche they had deliuered to the Romaynes remayned in peace certayne yeres After this the Britaynes bearing a malicious hatred towards the Romayne Souldiers repyning to be kepte vnder the bond of seruitude eftsoones goe aboute to recouer libertie againe Whereof aduertisement being giuen the Emperour Pius Antonius sendeth ouer Lollius Vrbicus as Lieutenant into Britaine Lollius Vrbicus LieutenaÌ„t who by sundry battayles stryken constreyned the Britaines to remaine in quiet and causing those that inhabited in the North partes to remoue further off from the confines of the Romaine prouince Iulius 〈◊〉 An other 〈◊〉 built reysed another wall beyond that whiche the Emperour Adrian had made as is to be supposed for y e more suretie of the Romayne subiectes agaynste the inuasion of the enimies But yet Lollius dyd not so make an end of the war but that the Britaynes shortly after attempted of newe eyther to reduce their state into libertie or to bring the same into further daunger With whiche newes Commodus being sore amased Vlpius Marcellus Lieuâ—â—naunte sent against the Britaynes one Vlpius Marcellus a man of great diligence temperancy but therwith rough nothing gentle He vsed the same kinde of diet that the common souldiers did vse He was a Captayne much watchfull as one contented with very little sleepe desirous to haue his souldiers also vigilante and carefull to keepe sure watch in the night season Euery euening hee would write twelue tables such as they vsed to make of y e linde tree deliuering them to one of his seruants appointed him to beare them at seueral houres of y e night to sundry souldiers wherby supposing that their Generall was styll watching and not gone to bed they might be in doubt to sleepe And although of nature he could wel absteyne from sleepe yet to be the better able to forbeare it he vsed a maruellous spare kinde of dyet for to the end y t he would not fil hymselfe too much with bread he woulde eate none but suche as was brought to him froÌ„ Rome so that more than necessitie compelled him he could not eate by reason that the stalnesse toke away y e pleasant tast therof lesse prouoked his appetite He was a maruellous coÌ„teÌ„ner of money so y t bribes might not moue him to do otherwise thaÌ„ dutie required Thus Marcellus beeing of such disposition sore afflicted the Britaynes and put them oftentimes to greate losses through fame whereof Commodus enuying his renoune was after in minde to haue made him away but yet spared him for a further purpose and suffered hym to departe After he was remoued from the gouernement of Britayne â—â—rhennis â—â—ptayne 〈◊〉 the Empeâ—â—rs garde one Perhennis Captayne of the Emperours garde or Pretorian Souldiers as they were then called bearing all the rule vnder the Emperour Commodus appoynted certaine Gentlemen of meane calling to
Galloway and so forth eueÌ„ vnto Dunbrytain in Scotland which I haue thought good to note that it may appeare in what Countreys Cadwalle bare rule of whome so often mention is made in this part of the Hystorie But as concerning Edwyn his reputation was such as not onely the English men Brytaynes and Scottes but also the Iles of Orkney and those of Man Wil 〈◊〉 taketh 〈◊〉 to be Angleâ—â— and other the West Iles of auncient tyme called Meuania had him in reuerence and feared his mightie power so as theâ—… durst not attempt any â—…xpâ—…oyâ—…e to the 〈◊〉 of him It chaunced also that shortly after king Redwalde had aduaunceâ—… him to the Kingdome of â–ª Northumberlande vâ—… aboute sixe yeares the same Redwalde deceassed whiche made greatly for the more augmentation of Edwyns power For the people of the East Angles which whilest Edwyn remayned amongest them as a banished man had conceyued a good opinion of him for his approued valiancie and noble courage offered themselues to bee wholy at his commaundement Carpwaldus But Edwyn suffering Carpwalde or Erpwalde the sonne of Redwalde to enioy the bare tytle and name of king of that Countrey ruled al things at his owne will and pleasure Neither was there any Prouince within Brytaine that did not obey him or was not ready to do him seruice the kingdome of Kent onely excepted for he suffered the Kentishmen to here inquieâ—… bycause he began to haue a lyking vnto the sister of king Eadbald the Lady Ethelbâ—â—ga otherwise named Tarâ—… or Tace Beda lib. 2. cap. 9. He made request therefore by sending Ambassadours to hir brotherâ—… to haue the sayde Ladie in mariage and at length obteyned hir with condition that shee being a Christian woman might not onely vse the Christian religion but also that all those whether men or women priestes or ministers which came with hir might haue licence to doe the same without trouble or impeachment of any maner of person Herevpon she being sent vnto him Mat. VVest Beda lib. 2. cap. 9. there was appoynted to goe with hir beside many other one Pauline which was consecrated Bishop by the Archbishop Iustus the xxj of Iuly in the yeare of our Lorde .625 625 At his comming into Northumberlande thus in companie of Ethelburga hee trauayled earnestly in his office both to preserue hir and such Christians in the fayth of Christ as were appoynted to giue theyr attendaunce on hir least they shoulde chaunce to fall and also sought to winne some of the Pagans if it were possible vnto the same fayth though at the first he little profited in that matter In the yeare following there came a murtherer vnto the Court of King Edwyn as then soiourning in a Palace whiche stoode vppon the syde of the Ryuer of Dorwent being sent from Quichelme King of the West Saxons to the intent to murther Edwyn bycause hee had of late sore endomaged the Countreys of the west Saxons Other say an axe as Math. VVest This murtherer was called Eumerus and caried vnder his cote a short double edged Woodknife enuenomed of purpose that if the King â—…eâ—…ing 〈◊〉 a little 〈…〉 of the wound yet he should not 〈…〉 get of the poyson Eumerus On Easter Moâ—â—â—y this 〈…〉 to the King and working foorth to â—…panâ—… had beene to haue declared 〈…〉 frâ—… his Maister when hee had espyed his tyme he drâ—…we hyâ—… wâ—…apoâ—… and 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 the King â–ª But one of the Kings 〈…〉 Lylla perceyuing thys 〈…〉 another blowe But yâ—â— the 〈…〉 sâ—…aype forwarde 〈…〉 â—…umâ—…ing through the bodie of Lylla 〈◊〉 also the King a little and before this 〈◊〉 coulde bee beaten downe he fiue another of the Kings seruaunts a might that attended vpon him 〈◊〉 Fordher The Bishoppe receyuing hir on Whitsundaye nexte following baptysed hir with twelue other of the Kings householde shee beeyng the fyrste of the Englishe Northumbers that was so washed in the Fountayne of Regeneration In the meane tyme King Edwyn being recouered of his hurt assembled an army and went agaynst the West Saxons with whom recountring in battaile he eyther fâ—…ue or brought 〈◊〉 subiection all them that had conspyred his deathâ—… And so returned as a conquerour into his cuntry â–ª But yet he â—…elayed â—…me for performance of his promise to become a christian howbeit he had left his doing of sacrifice to Idols euer since he made promise to be baptised He was a sage Prince and before he woulde alter his Religion he politikely thought good to heare matters touching bothe hys olde Religion and the Christian Religion throughlye examined And whilest he thus hangeth in doubt to whether paâ—â— he shoulde encline there came letters to him from Pope Bonifaâ—…e the fift of that name Beda lib. 2. cap. 10. exhorting him by sundrie kinds of gentle perswadens to turne to the worshipping of the true and liuing God and to renounce the worshipping of Mawmets and Idols Bede lib. 2. cap. 11. The Pope likewise wrote to Queene Ethelburga praying hir to coÌ„tinue in hir good purpose and by all meanes possible to doe what might bee done for the conuerting of hir husbande vnto the fayth of Christ A vision But the thing that most moued the king was a vision which sometime he had while hee remained as a banished man in the Court of Redwald king of the East Angles as thus Bede cap. 12. After that king Ethelfred was informed howe that the foresayde Redwalde had receyued Edwin he ceassed not by his Ambassadours to moue Redwalde eyther to deliuer Edwyn into hys handes or else to make him away At length by often sending and promises made of large summes of money mixed with threatnings he obteyned a graunt of his suyte so that it was determined that Edwyn shoulde eyther bee murthered or else deliuered into his enimyes handes One of Edwynes friendes hauing intelligence hereof in the night season came to Edwyns Chamber and taking him forth abroade tolde him the whole practise and what was purposed agaynst him offering to helpe him out of the countrey if he would so aduenture to escape The honorable consideration of Edwin Edwyne being wonderously amazed thanked his friend but refused yet to depart the Countrey sith hee had no iust cause outwardly giuen to play suche a slipper parte choosing rather to ieoparde his lyfe wyth honour than to giue men cause to thinke that hee had first broken promise with such a Prince as Redwalde was to whom he had giuen his fayth Herevpon his friende departing from him left him sitting without the doores where after hee had reuolued many things in his mind thought long vpon this matter at length he perceyued one to come towards him vnknowne in strange apparell seeming to him in euery poynt a straunger at which sight for that he could not imagine who he shoulde be Edwyn was much afrayde but the man comming to him saluted him and asked of him what he made there that
DESCRIPTION OF Scotlande written at the first by Hector Boethus in Latin and afterwarde translated into the Scottish speech by Iohn Bellendon Archdeacon of Murrey and now finally into English for the benefite of such as are studious in the Histories by W.H. The Contents of the Chapters conteyned in this Booke 1 OF the boundes of Albion with the sundrie commodities thereof and of the great infirmities that fall vnto the people there for their intemperancie and finally of the religion vsed there in olde tyme. 2 The description of the East VVest and middle borders of Scotlande with the most notable townes and floudes thereof 3 The description of Galloway Kile Carricke and Cunningham with the notable townes lakes and riuers in the same 4 The situation of Renfrew Cliddesdale Lennox Lowmund Argile Louchquaber Lorne and Kentire with all the notable things conteyned in the same 5 Of Ros Stranauerne and Murray lande with such Lakes and Riuers as are to be touched there 6 Of Boene Anze Buquhane Mar Mernes Fiffe and Angus with the Lakes Flouddes Abbeyes Townes and other notable commodities there to be seene and founde 7 Of Louthian Striuelin Menteith Calidon wood Bowgewall Gareoth with the notable Cities Castels and Flouds thereof 8 Of the greate plentie of Hares Hartes and other wilde beastes in Scotland also of the straunge nature of sundrie Scottish dogges and of the nature of Salmon 9 Of the sundrie kindes of Muskels and Cockles in Scotlande and Perles gotten in the same Of vncouth and strange fishe there to be seene and of the nature of the herbe Citisus commonly called Hadder 10 Of the Iles of Scotlande and such notable things as are to be found in them 11 Of the nature of their Claike Geese and diuerse maner of their procreation and of the Isle of Thule 12 The description of Orkenay and Shetlande with sundrie other small Isles and of the maners and conditions of the people dwelling in the same 13 Of the maners of the Scottes in these dayes and their comparison with the behauiour of the olde and such as liued long since within this Ilande 14 The description of an auncient Pict and such as dwelled beyond the wall of Hadrian 15 Of Bishoprikes Vniuersities and Counties in Scotland TO THE RIGHT VVORSHIPFVL Maister Thomas Secford Esquier and Maister of the Requestes William Harison vvisheth all knovvledge of God with dayly increase of his giftes at this present and in the worlde to come life euerlasting HAuing by your singular curtesie receyued great helpe in my description of the riuers and streames of Britain and by conference of my trauaile vvith the platformes of those fevv shires of England vvhich are by your infinite charges alreadie finished as the rest shall be in time by Gods helpe for the inestimable benefite of suche as inhabite this Ilande not a little pullished those rough courses of diuerse vvaters not exactly before time described by Leland our Countreyman or any auncient vvriter I coulde not deuise anye thing more agreable vvith mine abilitie your good nature vvhich greatly fauoureth anye thing that is done for a commoditie vnto many than to shevv some token of my thankefulnesse for these your manifold kindnesses by the dedication of my simple translation of the description of Scotland at this tyme vnto your vvorship In deede the trauaile taken herein is not great bycause I tie not my translation vnto his letter neither the treatise of it selfe such as taketh vp any huge rovvme in the volume of this Chronicle But such as it is vvhat soeuer it is I yeeld it vvholy vnto you as a testimonie of my good vvill vvhich detesteth vtterly to receyue any benefit though it be neuer so smal and not to be thankfull for it Certes my vocation is such as calleth me to a farre other kind of studie so that I exercise these things onely for recreation sake and to say the truth it is muche vnsitting for him that professeth Diuinitie to applie his time any other vvise vnto contemplation of ciuill Histories And this is the cause vvherfore I haue chosen rather onely vvith the losse of three or foure dayes to translate Hector out of the Scottish a tongue verie like vnto ours than vvith more expence of time to diuise a nevve or follovv the Latin copie vvhich is farre more large and copious Hovv excellently if you consider the arte Boethus hath penned it and the rest of his Historie in the Latin the skilfull are not ignorant but hovv profitably and compendiously Iohn Bellendon Archdeacon of Murrey his interpretour hath turned him from the Latin into the Scottish tongue there are verie fevve English men that knovv bycause vve want the bookes VVherefore sith the learned reade him in his ovvne stile and his Countreymen in their naturall language vvhy should not vve borovv his description and read the same in English likevvise sith the knovvledge thereof may redounde to the great benefit of so many as heare or read the same Accept therefore right vvorshipfull this my simple offer and although I assure my selfe your naturall inclination to be such as that it vvill take nothing in ill part that is vvell meant tovvard you hovve rudely soeuer it bee handled in the doing yet I vvill not let to craue pardon for my presumption in that I dare be so bold as to offer such a trifle vnto you whom more vveightie affayres doe dayly call from things of so small importaunce Almightie God keepe your vvorship from time to time in his feare and blesse you and my good Ladie your vvife vvith such increase of his benefites as may most redounde to his glorie and your ovvne aduauntage ¶ The boundes of Albion with the sundry commodities thereof and of the great infirmities that fall vnto the people there for their intemperancy and finally of the Religion vsed there in old tyme. Chap. 1. THe I le of Albion contayneth in the whole circuÌ„ference two thousande myles hauing in length 700. and in breadth 300. as appeareth well by the coast therof that lieth ouer agaynst Fraunce where it is broadest and from whence it gathereth narrower and narrower till it come to the vtter Marches last boundes of England and Scotland For betwixte the Mâ—…le of Galloway that is on the west side ouer against the Irish seas and Saint Ebbes head that lieth vpon the Germaine Ocean towarde the east are scarcely 130. myles and thenceforth it groweth smaller and smaller till it touch vpoÌ„ the North seas where it is not aboue 30. miles as I noted before in the descriptioÌ„ of Brytaine This I le is replenished with people horses and all other kindes of cattell and corne in moste aboundant maner except it be in suche places where as God of his singular goodnesse 〈◊〉 otherwise indued the soyle with ritche mynes of Gold Siluer Tinne Brasse Copper quicksiluer whiche for the most parte are so plentiful that they suffise not onely for the necessaries of the whole Iland but also
concluded with the Scots Picts At the last aboute .x. yeares after the conclusion of this last peace it chaunced that one Conanus the sonne of the aboue mencioned Conanus descended of the bloud of the Octauij sometime kings of the Brytains sore maligned to see his countrey thus brought into thraldome of the Scottish nation and deuising how to find some redresse called togither the moste parte of the Brytish nobilitie by secrete messages home to a manour place whiche hee had within a thicke woode in the countrey of Kent and there opening vnto them a great peece of his minde perswaded them with the weightiest reasons hee could imagine to leuie warre against the Scots and Pictes hauing at that present meane to maintaine it aswell by reason of theyr increase now sithence the last warres bothe of able men as also of substaunce to furnish them with Here the nobles were of sundrie opinions for some aweried with the note of bondage The Brytons hauing respect to their sonnes and kinsmen lying in hostage would not agree to breake the peace would gladly haue had warres other hauing regarde to theyr sonnes lying in hostage with the enimies would in no wise consent thereto by reason whereof this counsell brake vp without conclusion of any effect When eche man was returned to his home there had bene some amongst them that gaue knowledge to the confederate kings what mocion had bene made and what was intended against them Whervpon they immediatly determined not onely to cause the hostages to be executed but also to pursue the rebelles with fierce and cruell warres The kings of the Scots and Pictes offended with the conspiracie of the Brytons prescribe vnto them new articles to be performed Yet before they practised any violence they sent theyr ambassadours vnto the Brytains to vnderstande theyr full meaning and to declare vnto them further certaine articles whiche the sayde kings required to haue performed without all delayes or els to looke for open warre out of hande The chiefest pointes of which articles were these First that the Brytons should not assemble togither in councell without licence of the Scottish and Pictish kings Impudent serâ—â—itrie intruded vpon the Brytons by the proude cruell Scots if it be trâ—…e notwithstanding that their auncient lawes they might vse at their pleasure but they should receiue no straunger into their countrey being a Romaine or a Frenchman neither merchaunt nor other Their olde hostages they should receyue home againe and deliuer in exchaunge of them twice so many in number of the like age and degree as was couenaunted by the former league The commons of the lande vnderstanding what was demaunded by these ambassadours were in a wonderful rage and would haue made a great sturre if they had not bene quieted by the Lordes The coÌ„mons of Brytaine offended with their gouernours who for theyr paines taken herein got them an euill report amongst the inferiour sorte of people as though through theyr wante of stomake only the common wealth was brought into suche a miserable estate that looke what pleased the enimie to charge the Bryttish nation with no man durst once speake against it This grudge of the commons encreased so farre foorth agaynst their superiours that after the Scottish and Pictish ambassadours were returned home with answeare agreeable to theyr demaundes The commoÌ„s of Brytaine coÌ„spire against the nobles there arose incontinently a great coÌ„motion of the people conspiring togither to the vtter destruction of the whole nobilitie But their furie was repressed so that they were ouerthrowen in battell at twoo seuerall times with great slaughter and bloudshed wherevpon they withdrew into the mountaynes and there kepte themselues making reyses vpon the nobilitie and fetching booties away from the heardes flockes of cattell belonging to the Lordes and Gentlemen but finally through famine which beganne to oppresse bothe partes One estate of men can not liue without helpe of another they perceyued what neede the one had of the others helpe and so they agreed This ciuill warre sore decayed the force of the Brytons for beside the greate slaughter that was made betwixt them by the aduoyding of the commons out of their houses the ground lay vntilled whereof ensued a marueylous great scarcetie dearth of all things by reason wherof an innumerable sorte of people died Yet shortly after followed such plentie Superfluous wealth occasioÌ„ of vice that those that were left aliue forgetting the passed miseries gaue themselues to all kinde of vice whiche tooke such roote in the harts of the more parte of them that for any man to vse any maner of vertue amoÌ„gst them was a readie meane to procure great enuie and hatred In the meane time liued the Scottish and Pictish kings in good quiet and reste applying their studies onely howe to instruct theyr people now after the warres were once ended The Scots apply theÌ„selues to peace in laudable exercises and necessarie occupations conuenient for the time of peace wherby their realmes might florish in wealth and prosperitie without dreede of any forraine power For they saw such tokens of ruyne in the Brytish estate as small likelyhood appeared that the same should at any time be able to recouer againe the former force and dignitie Finally the Scottish king Eugenius hauing aduaunced the estate of his countrey vnto more felicitie wealth than any of his predecessours had euer done before him The death of Eugenius the Scottish king after hee had raigned xxx yeares he ended his life about the .iiij. yeare of Leo that vsurped the Empyre of Constantinople BVt for somuch as Eugenius lefte no issue behind him Dongard king of Scottes 461. H.B. The study of Dongard for preseruatioÌ„ of iustice and good orders his brother named Dongarde succeeded in the estate Hee began his reigne in the yeare 470. and his chiefest studie was according to his brothers ensample to prouide for the maintenance of good orders and iustice appointing in euery quarter men of good fame and reporte to haue the administration vnder him with coÌ„maundement that they should diligently forsee that euery man might enioy his owne The repairing of castels by king DuÌ„gard He himselfe tooke vpon him also to see to the repayring of such castels as were decayed and to the building vp of newe in places where hee thought moste expedient specially neare to the Brytish borders for he well coÌ„sidered that peace encreassed riches riches pride and presumption with other sinnes whiche could not long endure without the plague of warres Therfore he douting the chaunges of scornefull fortune thought good in time of peace to prouide for the daungers of warres wheÌ„ the same should happeÌ„ vnto him These ciuill policies and princely prouisions for defence of his couÌ„trey subiects increased the fame of DoÌ„gard mightily but that which he did towards the aduauncement of religion did most exceedingly set foorth his commendation First all suche
any mater in controuersie Aduersaries in suyte of law shall be iudged giltie of the action and the other set free If oxen or kyen chaunce by runnyng togither to kill one an other Oxen or kyne â–ª hurting eche other the truthe beyng not knowen whiche it was that did the hurte that which is founde without hornes shall be iudged the occasion of the skathe and he that is owner of the same shall haue the dead beast satisfie him for the losse to whom it belonged If a sow eate hir pigges A Sowe let hyr be stoned to death and buried so that noman eate of hyr fleshe A swyne that is founde eating of corne that groweth in the field Swyne or wrooting vpon the tilled groundes let it be lawfull for any man to kill the same without daunger Other kindes of beastes Beasts domage â—…esant wherein other men haue any propertie if they breake into thy pastures or eate vp thy corne impounde them till time the owner haue satisfied thee for the quantitie of the domage These were cyuill ordinaunces belongyng to the good gouernment of the people Articles touching religioÌ„ other there were whiche appertayne to religion as these Thou shalt deuoutly reuerence the Aulters TeÌ„ples Images Oratories Chapels Priests and all men of religion Keeping of holy dayes Thou shalte obserue with dewe reuerence festiuall and solemne holy dayes fasting dayes vygiles and all maner of ceremonies instituted by the godly ordinaunce of man in the honour of our Sauiour Christe and his Saintes To hurt a Prieste let it be accompted an offence woorthie of death Priests That grounde wherein any that is slayne lieth buried Ground to be left vntilled leaue it vntilled for seuen yeares space Repute euery graue holy Graues and adorne it with the signe of the crosse so as thou shalt be well aduised that in no wise with thy feete thou treade vpon it Burie the dead according to the quantitie of his substaunce Buriall The body of a noble man of him that hath well deserued of the common wealth Buriall of noble men shal be buried in solemne and pompouse wise but yet in mourning sorte and dolorous manner Let there be two knights or squiers to attend his bodie to the graue the one being mounted vpoÌ„ a whyte horse shal beare the coate armure of the dead the other in mourning apparell with his face couered shal ride vpoÌ„ a blacke horse who after the corps is brought to churche turnyng his horse from the Aulter shall crie out how his maister is dead therwith the people making an outcrie against him he shall straight wayes departe and get him with all speede to the place froÌ„ whence he came the other going straight to the aulter shall there offer vp to y e priest his coate armure with his horse as a token to signifie therby that his master doth enioy euerlasting lyfe in the land of permanent light and ioyes eternall But this custome of buriall as that whiche was supposed not appertayning to the order of the Christian religion the age that followed dyd vtterly abolishe appoynting to the Priestes in steede of the horse and armure .v. pound sterlyng in money for the offering With these and diuers other ordinaunces whiche tyme and other statutes by other kings diuised haue abrogated Kenneth gouerned his people in great felicitie during his lyfe time The Bishops sea whiche before had bene at Abirnethy S. Reule his Church nowe called Saint Andrewes hee translated vnto the Churche of that holy man Saint Reule Euer sithe whiche time the towne hath bene called Saint Andrewes and those whiche gouerned the same Churche long time after were called the greate Bishoppes of Scotlande for the realme was not deuided into Dioceses till the daies of Malcolme the thyrde who by deuine inspiration as is sayde ordeyned the sea of Murthlake now called Abirden but suche as were reputed of vertuous behauiour and knowledge meete for the office vsed the authoritie and rowmeth of Bishoppes in what place so euer they were resident Yet suche was the continuaunce of those which gouerned the church of Saint Andrewes that there haue bene aboue the number of fortie Bishoppes resident there sithe the firste institution of that sea many of them for the opinion conceyued of theyr holinesse beyng numbred accordyng to the maner in times paste in the register of Saints The boundes 〈◊〉 Scottish kiâ—…gdome But nowe to returne vnto Kenneth who hauing as is sayde enlarged the boundes of his kingdome so as the same stretched foorth vnto the confynes of Northumberlande on the one side and to the Isles of Orknay on the other the sea compassing in the residue at the length after hee hadde reygned aboute twentie yeares in greate renowme and glory hee departed out of this lyfe King Kenneth departeth out of this life 85â—… H.B. through to muche abundâ—…̄â—…ce of rewmatike mater at Fortivoite in the yeare of our Lorde .856 His bodie was conueyed into the Isle of Colmekill and there honorably buried amongst his auncestours Donald AFter his deceasse succeeded in gouernment of the realme his brother Donald Donald the 〈◊〉 of that 〈◊〉 accerâ—… 〈◊〉 brother Kenneth farre differing in qualities from his noble brother the foresayde Kenneth but yet before he came to the rule of the realme he disclosed not his vicious nature for doubte of offending the king his brother The king is of dissolute behauiour Neuerthelesse he had continued vnneth twoo yeares in the astate but that he had subuerted all good orders in his realme by his naughtie ensamples of dissolute liuing for his minde was set on nothing but on wanton pleasures as in the vnlawfull vse of concubines riotous banquetting keepyng of Hawkes Houndes and Horses for pleasure and not for the vse of warres whereof hee had no regarde at all for suche charges as hee shoulde haue bene at for mayntenance of men of warre to keepe the frounters of his realme was imployed vpon a sorte of rascals that serued him in the furtherance of his wanton delites and voluptuous desires as HuntsmeÌ„ Fauconers Cookes Bawdes Ruffians and suche lyke Wherevpon diuers of the Nobles remembring what appertayned to theyr dueties The king is admonished of his Nobles spared not but freely admonished the king what daunger woulde ensue of his misordered behauiour if hee reformed not his manners nor restrayned the licencious doyngs of his seruaunts and familie But when they perceyued that theyr woordes were not regarded but for the same they themselues ranne into displeasure they sorrowed not a litle to see so small hope of amendment of suche enormities as euery where reygned through the region for all youthfull persons gyuen to sensuall luste followed the same without any feare or care of correction so that there was no measure of offending and haunting of euill rule in all parties in so muche that shortely through wante of all good gouernaunce wrong
before there came into Scotland sent by Saint Dominicke The first comming of black Friers into Scotlande certaine blacke Friers of whiche order the same Dominicke was the first author These men that were first sent by him lyued according to his institution more perfectly than such as followed for as it often happeneth all things commonly from a good beginning fall into worse estate so that the successors of those men declined from al good religion into most insolent abuses and misorders and so continuing in vicious liuing the space of three hundred yeares at length were perfectly reformed into a better rule Iohn Adamson by a Frier named Iohn Adamson that proceeded doctor in the profession of diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Abyrdene at the same time that Hector Boetius the Scottishe Chronographer proceeded there in the same facultie On the same maner The first comming of friers minors aboute the selfe same time were sent into Scotlande aswell as into all other partes of the christian world Friers minors of Saint Frances his order Many of them also after his deceasse fell to dissolute liuing keeping no such strayte rules as both he prescribed and also obserued But now to returne to the residue of the Hystorie the Scottish people enioyed peace a long time after the appeasing of the trouble in Cathnes The death of Alane Lord of Galloway till time that Alane Lorde of Galloway and Conestable of Scotland departed out of this life and for that hee had deuided his landes before his death amongst his three daughters hys bastard sonne gathered an army of ten thousande men His Bastarde sonne rayseth a commotion in hope to attaine the possession of Galloway by force of armes but at length after hee had wrought much scaith in the countrey by his violent inuasion he was slaine with fiue thousande of those that tooke his part The Earle of March by the Earle of Marche and Walter Stewarde of Dunewalde whiche was sent agaynste him wyth a power The eldest daughter of the aboue mentioned Alane of Galloway was giuen in maryage vnto Roger Quincie Earle of Winchester Roger Quincy Earle of Winchester Conestable of Scotlande who after his father in lawe his deceasse was made Conestable of Scotland which office continued in the handes of his succession till king Robert the seconde his dayes In whose time this Roger of Quyneyes posteritie was disinherited and extinguished for certaine offences commytted agaynst the kings maiestie and then afterwardes the office of the Conestable was giuen to the Hayes of Arroll The seconde daughter of the foresayde Alane The deuision of the lande of Galloway was maryed vnto Iohn Ballyol and the thirde to the Earle of Albemarle Thus was the Lordship of Galloway deuided into three by reason whereof the inhabitants of that Countrey taking displeasure therewith cleaued vnto the aboue mentioned bastard till he was vanquished and slaine as before yee haue heard This trouble being appeased thus within the realme king Alexander was aduertised of great diuision rising betwixt king Henrie of England and his Nobles K. Alexander goeth into Englande and therefore to helpe towardes an agreement betwixt them he went to London with his wife Queene Iane Isabell his sister Through his earnest diligence all the debates and quarelles were remoued and the parties throughly accorded Isabell the sister of king Alexander maryed to the earle of Norffolke Iane Queene of Scotlande deceasseth Which beeing done hee maryed Isabell his sister vnto the Earle of Norffolke and in the meane tyme hys wyfe Queene Iane asceassed wythoute leauing any issue behinde hir whiche chaunce caused the King hir husbande to returne with great griefe and lamentation into Scotlande In the yeare next following which was after the incarnation 1239 1239. king Alexander bycause he had no succession of his body begot matyed at Rockesbourgh the daughter of Ingelram Lord of Coucie K. Alexander marieth the daughter of the Lord of Coucie a virgin of excellent beautie named Mary on whom he got a sonne named Alexander which succeeded after his deceasse in the gouernment of the realme Aboute the same tyme Iohn Cumyn Earle of Angus being sent in Ambassade to Lewes the French king Iohn Cumyn Earle of Angus departeth this life dyed by the way Also at Hadynton was holden a royal tournament where Knightes and Squiers aduaunced themselues by valiant prowes to winne honor Neuerthelesse the ende of all that pleasure and pastime ended in sorow for Patrike Cumyn Earle of Atholl was slaine within his lodging in the nyght Patrike Earle of Athol murthered and the house set on fyre and burned ouer-hym to the intente no suspition shoulde rise but that it happened by some euill misfortune and negligence of fyre Iohn Byssart suspected But yet was Iohn Byssart with Walter Byssart his vncle shrewdly suspected for the matter insomuch that though no euident proufe coulde be had agaynst them yet were they banished the Realme and lost all theyr goodes by confiscation to the kings vse A conuocation of the cleargie at Saint Iohns towne After these things were thus passed a conuocation was called of the Cleargie at Saint Iohns towne In the which were diuers prouinciall ordinances and statutes made by consent of the King and Nobles of the Realme which were obserued in the Church of Scotland vnto these late dayes About the same time also Somerleid Thane of Argile rebelleth one Sommerleid Thane of Argyle the sonne of that Somerleyd of whome ye haue hearde before following his fathers steppes rebelled agaynst the King sore endomaging by rodes and forages the partyes bordering vpon the confines of his Countrey of Argile Somerleides humble submission till at length the Earle of March brought him to the termes of such extreeme necessitie that he was faine to yeelde himself with a corde abou◅ his necke in token of submission and beeyng so brought before the king obteyned pardon of his heynous offence In the same season Henrie King of Englande prouoked by the setting on of some sedecious persons remayning in his Court as trusted by warres to aduaunce theyr priuate gaine during whiche time lawe and iustice haue no place beganne to buylde a Castell for aneynst Barwike A Castell begonne to be builded by K. Henry aneynst Barwike in the same place where the other was begunne afore by King Richarde which as before is shewed was razed and throwne downe by King William Mathew Paris disagreeth frō the Scottishe writers rouching the occasion of this warre as in the English chronicles ye may reade by the articles of agreement with couenant that it should neuer be buylded vp againe This attempt of the Englishe men had ministred sufficient occasion of warre if the Nobles of Englande considering that the buylding vp of this Castell was contrary to theyr bande and promysed fayth had not slayed the worke and so therevppon that begynning of newe trouble betwixt
gayâ—â—d built 〈◊〉 voyage and then tooke order for the Fortest that sir Andrew Dudley Captayne of Broughtie â—…ragge had befe with him two hâ—…ndred Souldiours of Harbutters and other and a sufficient number of Pioners for his worâ—…es Sir Edwarde Dudley Captaine of Hume Castell three score Harduttâ—â—s fortye horsemenne and a hundred Pioners Sir Raufe Bulmer Captain of Rockesbourgh three hundred souldiours of Hacbutters and other and two hundred Pioners As things were thus concluded and warning giuen 〈◊〉 night on this Wednesday being Michadmasse euen on the nexte morrowe being Michadmasse day euery 〈◊〉 fell to paeking apace â—…y reâ—â—â—â—…omeâ—â— and gotte them homewardes passing ouer the Twede there with some trouble and daunger also by reason of â—…yne that lately fell before â—… daunger â—…e souldiâ—â— pasâ—…ing â—…er of 〈◊〉 and had â—…aysed the streaâ—…e whiche beeing swyâ—â—â—t of it selfe and the Chaâ—…tell vneueri in the bottâ—â— wyth great sicâ—â—es made the passage combersome so that many as well horsemen as footemen were in no small perill as they passed throught and one or two drowned and many caryageâ—… ouerthrowne and in great hazarde of lossing The Duke of Somerset roade streight to Newcastell and thence homewardes 〈◊〉 Earle of Warwike my Loâ—â—â— Gray and Sir Raufe Sadler with diuerse other roade to Berwike to abide the comming of the Scottish commissioners In the meane tyme of theyr carying there the Erle of Warwike made sixe knightes â—â—ke made Sir Thomas Neuill the Lorde Neuels brother Sir Andrew Corbet Sir Anthonie Strelley Sir Anhurt Manering Sir Richard Verney Sir Iohn Berttuille After that the Earle of Warwike had taryed for the comming of the Scottes the full tearme of the appoyntment which was vntil the fourth of October and perceyued they came not the next day he departed homewardes Here ye haue to vnderstande and that in part of the meane time whilest the Duke of Somerset was in doing of these exploytes in Scotlande as ye haue hearde rehearsed The Earle of Lenox and the Lorde Wharton warden of the West Marches with an armie of fiue thousande men An inuasion made into Scotlande entred Scotlande on that side and first passing two myles after a daye and a nyghtes defence they wanne the Church of Annan Annan church wonne tooke teuentie and two prisoners keepers of the same dâ—…ient the spoyle for cumber of cariage and caused the Churche to bee blowne vp with powder passing thence a .xvj. myles within the lande they wanne the Castell of Mylke the whiche they left furnished wyth munition and â—â—nne The Castell of Milke wonne and so returned But of this ye shall â—…nde â—…ore in the Hystorie of Scotlande by the suffernesse of God where we entreate of the â—â—ings there in this yeare Thus much haue I collected oute of master Patens booke or rather exempliâ—…ted the same not much digressing from his owne wordes except where I haue beene forced to 〈◊〉 his worke in places wishing to haue inserted the whole if the purpose of this volume would haue so permitted as well for the full vnderstanding of euerie particular poynt by hym remembred as also for his pâ—…esant and apt maner of penning the same Whilest the Lorde Protectour out was abroade thus in wereck agaynst the Scottes the Lords of the Counsayle that remayned at home chiefly by the good and diligent caâ—â—ing on and further â—…ner of the the bishoppe of Canterburie and other of the Cleargie tooke order for the aduancement of Religion The Homelles Paraphrase of Erasmus â—â—ing the bookes of Homilyes and the Paraphrase of Erasmus to be set foorth and had in Churches At the comming backe of the Lorde Protectour from his iourney into Scotlande the Citizens of London determined to haue receyued him with great tryumphe but he healing thereof forbid them in any wyse so to doe for sayde hee if any thing hath beene done to the honour of the Realme it was Gods doyng and therefore willed them to giue him the prayse Neuerthelesse the Maior and Aldermen with certayne of the Commoners in theyr Liuereys with theyr Hoodes hearing of his approch to the Citie the eight day of October meete him in Fylnâ—â—â—arie fielde The Lord Protectors retuen where betwixt eche of them by the hande and handed them for theyr good willes The Lord Maior did 〈◊〉 with him till they came to the pounde in Smithfielde where hys grace left them and roade to his house of Sheue that night the next day to the king to Hampton Court The fourth day of Nouember began a Parliament called and holden at Westmynster which continued till the .xxiiij. of December next following and then proroged In thys Parliament all Calleges Chaunteries and free Chapels were gyuen to the king and the Statute of the sixe Articles were repealed wyth dyuerse other tending to the lyke ende Moreouer during this Parliament visiters beeing appoynted to visite in London the sixtenth of Nouember beganne to take downe the Images in Paules Church and shortly after all the Images in euery Churche not onelye through London but also throughoute the whole Realme were pulled downe and defaced 1547 An. reg 2. The Lorde Protector and other of the counsaile considering nowe in what sort they had got footeholde in Scotlande by reason of such Peeces as they had taken and fortified within the realme did deuise for the more suretie of those places which they had alreadie gotte and the better to bring the rest of the Countrey vnto reason to haue some holdes also more within the land and therefore first they caused a fort to be buylded at Lowder Lowdes fortified Sir Hugh Willoughby where sir Hugh Willoughbie was appoynted Captayne with a conuenient garnison of souldiours to keepe it Besyde this it was thought expedient to fortifie the Towne of Hadington wherevpon the Lord Gray Lieutenant of the North partes with sir Thomas Palmer and sir Thomas Holeâ—…oft were appoynted to got thyther wyth a conuenient number of men of warre and Pioners to see that towne fenced with Trenches Rampires and Bulwarkes as shoulde seeme to his Lordshippe necessarie and behouefull who therefore entring into Scotlande the eightenth of Aprill Hadington fortified by the lord Gray passed forth to Hadington where hee beganne to fortifie and there remayned to see the worke brought to some perfection During his abode there diuerse exploytes were bothe valiauntly attempted and luckilye atchieued by hys martiall conduct and politique direction as occasions offered mighte moue him the whiche I woulde gladlye haue sette downe at large if I coulde haue come to y t true vnderstanding thereof but sithe I cannot gette the same in suche full manner as I haue wished that yet whiche I haue learned by true report as I take it I haue thought good to impart to the reader The .xxviij. of May his Lordship wanne the Castell of Yester Yester Castell wonne after he had beaten if right sore with terrible batterie of Canon shotte for the
the forenamed personages with all furniture due vnto the setting forthe of such a matter well meante as the argument declared costly sumptiously sette forth as y e beholders can beare witnes Nowe the Queenes Maiestie drew neere vnto y e said Pageant for somuch as the noyse was great by reason of the preasse of people so that shee coulde scarce heare the childe which did interprete the said PageaÌ„t and hir Chariot was passed so farre forwarde that she could not well view the personages representing the Kings and Queenes aboue named she required to haue the matter opened vnto hir and what they signified with the ende of vnitie and ground of hir name according as is before expressed For the sight whereof hir grace caused hir Chariot to be remoued backe and yet hardly could she see bycause the childreÌ„ were set somewhat with the farthest in But after that hir grace had vnderstoode the meaning thereof shee thanked the Citie praysed the fairenesse of the worke and promised that shee would do hyr whole endeuour for the continuall preseruation of concord as the Pageante did importe The child appoynted in the standing abouenamed to open the meaning of the sayde Pageaunt spake these words vnto hir grace The two Princes that sitte vnder one cloth of state The man in the redde Rose the woman in the white Henry the seuenth and Queene Elizabeth his mate By ring of marriage as man and wife vnite Both hetres to both their blouds to Lancaster the Kyng The Queene to Yorke in one the two houses did knitte Of whome as heyre to both Henry the eyght did spring In whose seate his true heire thou Queene Elizabeth dost fitte Therefore as ciuill warre and shede of bloud did ceasse when these two houses were vnited into one So now that iarre shall stint and quietnes encrease We trust O noble Queene thou wilt be cause alone The which also were written in latin verses and both drawen in two tables vppon the forefront of the said Pageant as hereafter foloweth Hij quos iungit idem solium quos annulus idem Haec albente nitens ille rubente Rosa Septimus Henricus Rex Regina Elizabetha Scilicet haeredes gentis vterque sua Haec Eboracensis Lancastrius ille dederunt Connubio è geminis quo foret vna domus Excipit hos hares Henricus copula regum Octauus magni Regis imago potens Regibus hinc succedis auis Regique parenti Patris iusta haere Elizabeth tui Sentences placed therein concerning vnitie Nulla concordes animos vires domant Qui iuncti terrent deiuncti timent Discordes animi soluunt concordes ligant Augentur parua pace magna bello cadunt Coniunctae manus fortius tollunt onus Regno pro moenibus aeneis ciuium concordia Qui diu pugnant diutius lugent Dissidentes pricipes subditorum lues Princeps ad pacem natus non ad arma datur Filia concordiae copia neptis quies Dissentiens respublica hostibus patet Qui idem tenent diutius tenent Regnum diuisum facilè dissoluitur Ciuitas concors armis frustrà tentatur Omnium gentium consensus firmat fidem c. These verses and other pretie sentences were drawen in voide places of this Pageant all tending to one ende that quietnes might be mainteyned and all dissention displaced and that by the Queenes Maiestie heire to agreement and agreeyng in name with hir which tofore hadde ioyned those houses whiche had bin the occasion of muche debate and ciuill warre within thys Realme as may appeare to suche as will search Chronicles but be not to bee touched heerein onely declaring hir graces passage though the Citie and what prouision the Citie made therfore And ere the Queenes Maiestie came within heating of this Pageant shee sente certaine as also at all the other Pageauntes to require the people to bee silent For hir Maiestie was disposed to heare all that shoulde bee sayde vnto hir When the Queenes Maiestie had hearde the childes Oration and vnderstoode theÌ„ meaÌ„ning of the Pageant at large she marched forwarde towarde Cornehill alway receiued with lyke reioycing of the people and there as hir grace passed by the coÌ„duit which was â—â—â—ously trimmed againste that time with rich banners adorned and a noyse of loude instruments vpon the toppe therof she espyed the seconde Pageaunt and bycause she feared for the peoples noyse that she should not beare the child which did expound the same shee enquired what that Pageant was ere that shee came to it And there vnderstoode that there was a childe representing hir Maiesties person placed in a seate of gouernemente supported by certaine vertues whiche suppressed their contrarie vices vnder their feete so forth as in the description of the saide Pageaunt shall heereafter appeare This Pageant standing in the nether ende of Cornehill was extended from the one syde of the streete to the other and in the same Pageant was deuised three gates all open and ouer the middle parte thereof was erected one chaire or seate royall with a cloth of estate to y e same apperteyning wherein was placed a childe representing the Queenes highnes with consideration had for place conuenient for a table whiche conteyned hir name and title and in a comely wreath artificially and well deuised with perfite sighte and vnderstandyng to the people In the front of the same PageaÌ„t was writteÌ„ the name and title thereof which is The seate of worthy Gouernaunce which seate was made in such artificiall manner as to the apprearance of the lookers on the foreparte seemed to haue no stay and therefore of force was stayde by liuely personages which personages were in number foure standing and staying the forefront of the same seate royall eache hauing hys face to the Queene and people whereof euerye one had a table to expresse theyr effects whyche are vertues namely Pure Religion Loue of Subiectes VVisedome and Iustice which did treade their contrary vices vnder their feete that is to witte Pure Religion dyd treade vpon Superstition and Ignoraunce Loue of Subiects did treade vpon RebellioÌ„ and Insolencie VVisedome did treade vppon Follie and Vaine glory Iustice dyd treade vpon Adulacion and Briberie Eche of these personages according to their proper names and properties had not only their names in playne and perfite writing set vppon theyr breastes easily to be redde of all but also euerye of them was aptly and properly apparelled so that is apparell and name dyd agree to expresse the same person that in title he represented This part of the Pageant was thus appointed and furnished The two sydes ouer the two side portes had in them placed a noyse of instrumentes whyche immediately after the childes speeche gaue an heauenly melodie Vpon the toppe or vppermost part of the said Pageant stoode the armes of England royally portratured with the proper beastes to vphold the same One representing the Queenes highnes sate in this seate crowned with an imperial crowne and before hir seate was a conuenient
place appoynted for one childe which did interprete and apply the said Pageant as heereafter shall be declared Euery voyde place was furnished with proper sentences commending the seate supported by vertues and defacyng the vices to the vtter extirpation of Rebellion and to euerlasting continuance of quietnesse and peace The Queenes Maiestie approching nigh vnto thys Pageaunte thus beautifyed and furnished in all poyntes caused hir Chariot to be drawen nygh therevnto that hir grace myght heare the childs Oration which was thys While that Religion true shall ignorance suppresse And with hir weigtie foote breake superstitious head whyle loue of subiects shall Rebellion distresse And with zeale to the Prince insolency downe treade Whyle Iustice can flattering tongs and briberie deface While follie and vayneglorie to wisedome yeeld their handes So long shall gouernement not swarue from hir right race But wrong decayeth still and rightwisenes vp standes Now all thy subiuects heartes O Prince of yereles fame Do trust these vertues shall mainteyne vp thy throne And vice be kept downe still the wicked out to shame That good with good may ioy naught with naught may mone Whiche verses were painted vpon the ryghte side of the same Pageant and the latine thereof on y e left side in another table which were these Quae subnixa altè solio regina superboest Effigiem sanctae principis alma refert Quam ciuilis amor fulcit sapientia firmat Iusticia illustrat Relligioque beat Vana superstitio crassa ignorantia frontis Pressae sub pura relligione iacent Regis amor domat effraenos animosque rebelles Iustus adulantes Doniuorosque terit Cùm regit imperium sapiens sine luce sedebunt Stultitia atque huius numen inanis honor Beside these verses there were placed in euery voyde rome of the Pageant both in English and latin such sentences as aduanced the seate of gouernaunce vpholden by vertue The groūd of this Pageante was that lyke as by vertues whiche doe aboundantly appeare in hir grace the Queenes Maiestie was established in the seate of gouernemente so shee shoulde sitte fast in the same so long as shee embrased Vertue and helde vice vnder foote For if vice once gote vp the head it woulde put the seate of gouernement in perill of falling The Queenes Maiestie when she had heard the childe and vnderstoode the Pageant at full gaue the Citie also thankes there and most graciously promised hir good endeuour for y e maintenance of the saide vertues and suppression of vices and so marched on till she came agaynste the great conduit in Cheape whiche was beautified with pictures and sentences accordingly against hir graces comming thither Against Soper lanes ende was extended frō the one side of the streete to the other a Pageant which had three gates all open Ouer the midlemost whereof were erected three seuerall stages whereon sate eyght children as heereafter followeth On the vppermost one childe on y e middle three on the lowest foure eache hauing the proper name of the blessing that they did represent written in a table and placed aboue their heads In the forefront of this Pageant before the children which did represent the blessings was a conueniēt standing cast out for a child to stand which did expound the sayd Pageante vnto the Queenes Maiestie as was done in the other tofore Euery of these children were appointed apparelled according vnto the blessing which hee dyd represent And on the foreparte of the sayde Pageaunte was written in faire letters the name of the sayde Pageant in this manner following The eight beatitudes expressed in the fifth Chapter of the Gospell of Sainte Mathew applyed to oure soueraigne Lady Queene Elizabeth Ouer the two side portes was placed a noise of instruments And all voyde places in the Pageant were furnished with pretie sayings commending and touching the meaning of the said Pageaunte whiche was the promises and blessings of Almightie God made to hys people Before that the Queenes highnes came vnto this Pageaunte shee required the matter somewhat to be opened vnto hir that hir grace might the better vnderstand what should afterwarde by the child be sayde vnto hir Which so was y t the Citie had there erected the Pageaunte with eyght children representing the eyght blessings touched in the fifth Chapter of S. Mathewe Wherof euery one vpon iust consideratiōs was applyed vnto hir highnesse and that the people thereby putte hir grace in mind that as hir good doings before had giuen iust occasion why that these blessings might fall vpon hir that so if hyr grace did continue in hir goodnes as she had entred shee shoulde hope for the frute of these promises out vnto thē that do exercise themselues in the blessings whiche hir grace heard maruellous graciously and required that the Chariot might be remoued towardes the Pageaunt that she might perceiue the childs words which were these the Queenes Maiestie giuing most attētiue eare and requiring that the peoples noyse might be stayde Thou hast bin eyght times blest O Queene of worthy 〈◊〉 By meekenes of thy spirit when care did thee besette By mourning in thy griefe by mildnes in thy blame By hunger and by thirst and iustice couldst none gette By mercy shewed not felt by cleanes of thine heart By seeking peace alwaies by persecution wrong Therefore trust thou in God since he hath helpe thy smart That as his promis is so he will make thee strong When these words were spoken all the people wished that as the childe had spoken so God woulde strengthen hir grace againste all hir aduersaries whome the Queenes Maiestie dyd most gently thanke for their so louing wishe These verses were painted on the left side of the sayd Pageaunte and other in latin on the other side which were these Qui lugent hilares fient qui mitia gestant Pectora multa soli iugera culta metent Iustitiam esuriens sitiensue replebitur ipsum Fas homini puro corde videre deum Quē alterius miseret dominus miserebitur huius Pacificus quis quis filius ille Dei est Propter iustitiam quisquis patietur habetque Demissam mentem caelica regna capit Huic hominum generi terram mare fidera vouit Omnipotens horum quisque beatus erit Besides these euery voide place in the Pageant was furnished with sentences touchyng the matter and ground of the sayd Pageaunte When all that was to be sayd in this Pageant was ended the Queenes Maiestie passed on forward in Cheape side At the Standert in Cheape which was dressed faire against the time was placed a noyse of Trumpettes with banners and other furniture The Crosse lykewise was also made faire and well trimmed And neere the same vppon the porche of Saint Peeters Church dore stoode the Waites of the Citie which did giue a pleasaunte noyse with their instrumentes as the Queenes Maiestie did passe by whiche on euery side cast hyr countenance and wished well to all hir most louing people Soone
and altogither vnmeete to require them that may commaunde or those appoynt whose partes are to desire or such to binde and limitte whose dueties are to obey or to take vpon you to draw my loue to your lykings or to frame my wil to your fancies A guerdon constrayned and a gift freely giuen can neuer agree Neuerthelesse if any of you be in suspect that whensoeuer it may please god to incline my heart to that kinde of life my meaning is to do or determine any thing wherewith the realme may haue iust cause to be discontented Put that out of your heades for I assure you what credence my assurance may haue with you I cannot tell but what credite it shall deserue to haue the sequele shall declare I wil neuer in that matter cōclude any thing that shall bee preiudiciall vnto the realme For the weale and good safetie whereof as a good mother of my Countrey I will neuer shooune to spende my lyfe And who soeuer my choyse may lyght vpon he shall be as carefull for the preseruation of the Realme as you I will not say as my selfe for I cannot so certainly promise of another as I doe surely knowe of my selfe but as any other can be And albeeit it doth please almightie God to continue me still in this minde to liue oute of the state of mariage it is not to be feared but hee will so worke in my heart and in youre wisedomes that as good prouision may bee made in conuenient tyme whereby the Realme shall not remaine destitute of an heyre that may bee a fitte Gouernour and peraduenture more beneficiall to the Realme than suche ofspring as may come of mee For though I bee neuer so carefull for your well doings and mynde euer so to be yet may mine issue growe out of kinde and become vngracious And for mee it shall bee sufficient that a Marble stone declare that a Queene hauing raigned suche a tyme lyued and dyed a Virgine To make an ende I take your comming to mee in good part and gyue vnto you eftsoones my heartie thankes more yet for your zeale good will and good meaning than for your message and petition The returne of the Protetestants from exile Many that for feare of persecution in Queene Maries dayes were fled the Realme and liued in voluntarie exile nowe that all persecution ceassed by the gracious clemencie of this noble Princesse Queene Elizabeth they returned with all conuenient speede home into their natiue Countrey giuing to Almightie God most humble thankes for that his mercifull deliuerance in sending them a gouernor that not only permitted libertie of conscience but also was readie to aduaunce religion and command free exercise of common prayer preaching and administration of the Sacraments according to the right institution of the primitiue Churches Fryday the .xvij. of Februarie one of maister Hunnings seruants One set on the Pillorie that was also one of the takers of freshe fishe for the prouision of the Queenes house was set on the Pillorie in Cheape side in the fishe market ouer agaynst the kings head hauing a baudrike of Smeltes hanging about his necke with a Paper on his foreheade written for buying Smelts for .xij. pens the hundred and solde them againe for tenne pens the quarter He stoode so likewise on the xviij and .xx. day of the same moneth euerye of those three dayes from .ix. of the clocke vntill twelue The last day he should haue had one of his eares slitte if by great suyte made to the Counsayle by the Lorde Maior of London be hadde not beene pardoned and released oute of prison This penaunce was assigned to him by the Queenes owne appoyntment when to hir Grace his trespasse was reuealed Whereby she gaue a taste to the people of a zealous minde to haue iustice duely ministred and faults accordingly punished namely of those which vnder pretence of hir Graces authoritie shoulde goe aboute to wrong and oppresse hir louing subiects This yeare in the Easter holidayes Preachers on the Monday preached at the Spittell Doctor Bill on the Tuesday doctor Coxe and on the Wednesday Doctor Horne the first was hir Maiesties Chapleine the other two had remayned at Geneua and in other places beyond the seas all Queene Maries time On low Sunday maister Sampson made the rehearsall Sermon but when the Lord Maior and Aldermē came to their places in Pauls Church yarde the Pulpet doore was locked and the key could not bee bearde of wherevpon the Lord Maior sent for a Smith to open the lock which was done and when the Preacher should enter the place it was founde verie filthie and vncleanly Moreouer the Verger that had the custodie of the Key that opened the doore of the place where the Prelates and other vse to stande at the Sermon time would not open the doore but the Gentlemen with a forme brake it open and so came in to heare the Sermon This disorder chaunced by reason that since Christmasse last past there was not a sermon preached at Pauls Crosse by reason of an inhibition sent from the Counsaile vnto the Bishop of London that he shoulde admit no Preacher bycause of the controuersie betwixt the Bishops and other of the Clergie that were now returned into the realm from the parties of beyonde the Seas The last of Marche the Parliament yet continuing A Conference appoynted was a conference begon at Westminster concerning certaine Articles of Religion betwixt the Bishops and other of the Cleargie on the one part and certaine learned preachers of whom some had beene in dignitie in the Churche of Englande before that tyme on the other parte the declaration of the proceeding wherein and the cause of the breaking vp of the same conference by default and contempt of certaine Bishoppes parties of the sayde conference was published in a little treatise and imprinted by Richarde Iugge and Iohn Cawood Printers to the Queenes maiestie as here followeth The Queenes most excellent Maiestie hauing hearde of diuersitie of opinions in certaine matters of Religion amongst sundrie of hir louing Subiectes and beeing verie desyrous to haue the same reduced to some godly and Christian concorde thought it best by the aduice of the Lordes and other of hir priuye Counsayle as well for the satisfaction of persones doubtfull as also for the knowledge of the verye truth in certayne matter of difference to haue a conuenient thosen number of the beste learned of eyther parte and to conferre togyther theyr opinions and reasons and thereby to come to some good and charitable agreement And herevppon by hir Maiestyes commaundement certayne of hir priuye Counsayle declared thys purpose to the Archebishoppe of Yorke beyng also one of the same priuie Counsayle and requyred him that he woulde imparte the same to some of the Bishoppes and to make choyse of eight nine or tenne of them and that there shoulde bee the lyke number named of the other parte and further also declared to
parte of his army wyth Horses and Carriages so that it was iudged to bee a punishmente appoynted by God that the spoyle whyche hadde bene gotten and taken out of Churches Abbeys and other Religious houses shoulde perishe and be lost by suche meanes togither with the spoylers Yet the Kyng hymselfe â—…t Paris â—…t VVest and a fewe other escaped the violence of the waters by following a good guide But as some haue written hee tooke suche griefe for the losse susteyned at thys passage that immediately therevppon hee fell into an agewe â—…g Iohn â—…eth ficke of â—…gewe Mat. Paris the force and heate whereof togither with his immoderately feeding of rawe Peaches and drinking of newe Syder so increased his sicknesse that he was not able to ryde but was fayne to be carried in a litter presently made of twigges with a couche of Strawe vnder him without anye bedde or pillow thynking to haue gone to Lincolne but the disease still so raged and grew vpon him that hee was inforced to stay one nyght at the Castell of Laford â—…ord â—…th VVest â—…t Paris and on the next day with great payne he caused hymselfe to bee carried vnto Newarke where in the Castell through anguishe of mynd rather than through force of sicknesse â—…g Iohn â—…arted thys 〈◊〉 he departed thys lyfe the nyghte before the nineteenth day of October in the yeare of his age fiftie and one and after hee had raigned seauen yeares sixe monethes and seuen and twentie dayes There be whiche haue written that after hee had lost hys army hee shoulde come vnto the Abbey of Swyneshead in Lincolneshire and there vnderstanding the cheapenesse and plentie of corne shewed hymselfe greatly displeased therewith as he that for the hatred whiche he bare to the Englishe people that had so trayterously reuolted from hym vnto his aduersarie Lewes wished all miserie to lighte vppon them and therevpon sayde in hys anger that hee woulde cause all manner grayne to be at a farre higher price ere many dayes shoulde passe Wherevppon a Monke that heard hym speake suche wordes being moued with zeale for the oppression of hys Countrey â—…ns Cro. gaue the Kyng poyson in a cuppe of Ale whereof hee fyrste tooke the assaye to cause the Kyng not to suspect the matter and so they both dyed in manner at one time â—…n There are that write howe one of hys owne seruauntes dyd conspire with a conuert of that Abbey and that they prepared a dishe of peares whyche they poysoned three if the whole number excepted whyche dishe 〈◊〉 sayde conuerte presented vnto hym and then the Kyng suspected them to be poysons indeede by reason that such precious stones as he hadde about cast soorth a certayne sweate as it were bewraying the poison hee compelled the sayde conuerte to fast and eate some of them who â—…nowing the three peares whych were not poysond tooke and eate those three whych when the Kyng had seene he coulde no longer absteyne buâ—…â—…ell too and eate greedily of the rest and so â—…d the same nyghte neyther any hurte chaunced â—…o the conuert who thorough helpe of suche as â—…e no good will to the Kyng founde shift to escape and conueyed himselfe away from daunger of receâ—…ing due punishmente for so wicked a deede But verily touching the manner of his deaâ—… there is great diuersitie among Writers The variable reâ—…ortes of wâ—…ers concerning the death of King Iohn For besyde these reportes whyche ye haue hearde there are other that write howe hee dyed of surfeting in the nyghte as Raufe Niger some of a bloudy flixe as one hathe that writeth an addition vnto Roger Houeden And Raufe Cogheshall sayeth that comming to Lynne where he appoynted Sauary de Mauleon to be Captayne and to take order for y e fortifying of that towne hee tooke a surfet there of immoderate dyet and withall fell into a laske and after hys laske had left hym at hys commyng to Laford in Linsey hee was let bloud and to increase hys other griefes and sorrowes for the losse of his carriage iewels men in passing ouer the washes whych troubled hym sore there came vnto him messengers from Hubert de Burgh and Gerard de Sotegam Captaynes of Douer Castell aduertising him that they were not able to resist the forcible assaultes and engines of the enimies if speedy succoures came not to them in tyme. Hereof his greefe of mynde beyng doubled so as hee myghte seeme euen oppressed with sorrow the same increassed hys disease so vehemently that within a small tyme it made an ende of hys lyfe as before yee haue hearde The menne of warre that serued vnder hys ensignes beeyng for the more parte hyred Souldiers and straungers came togyther and marching foorthe with his body eache man with hys armour on hys backe in warlike order conueyed it vnto Worcetor where hee pompously was buryed in the Cathedrall Churche before the hygh Aulter not for that hee had so appointed as some write Bernewell but bycause it was thought to be a place of most suretie for the Lordes and other of hys friendes there to assemble and to take order in their businesse nowe after hys deceasse Bycause he was somewhat fatte and corpulente his bowels vere taken foorth of his body and buried at Crâ—…ton Abbey a house of MoÌ„ks of the order called Premonstratensis in Staffordshire The Abbot of which house was his Phisition He had issue by his wife Queene Isabell two sonnes Henry who succeeded him in the Kyngdome and Richard with three daughters Ioane married to Alexander Kyng of Scotlande Isabell coupled in matrimony with the Emperoure Fredericke the seconde and Eleanor whome William Earle of Glowcester had to wife Hee had also another daughter as some haue lefte in writing called also Eleanor Hee was comely of stature but of lookes and countenaunce displeasant and angry somewhat cruell of nature as by the writers of hys time he is noted and not so hardy as doubtfull in time of perill and daunger But this seemeth to be an enuious report vttered by those that were giuen to speake no good of hym whome they inwardly hated But yet there be that giue this witnesse of him as the author of the booke of Bernewell Abbey and other that he was a great and mighty Prince but yet not very fortunate not vnlike altogither to Marius the noble Romayne tasting of fortune both wayes bountifull and liberall vnto Strangers but of his owne people for their dayly treasons practised towardes hym he was a great oppressour so that hee trusted more to forreyners than to them and therefore in the ende he was of them vtterly forsaken Verely who soeuer shall consider the course of the history written of thys Prince hee shall fynde that he hath bin little beholden to y e Writers of that time in which he liued for vnneth caÌ„ they aford him a good word except wheÌ„ y e trueth enforceth them to come out with it as it were
against their willes And the occasion as some think was for that he was no great friende to the Cleargie And yet vndoubtedly his deedes shew he hadde a zeale to ReligioÌ„ as it was then accompted for he fouÌ„ded the Abbey of Beaulean in the new forrest as it were in recompence of certayne Parishe Churches which to enlarge the same forrest he caused to be throwen downe and demolished Hee also buylded the Monasterie of Farendon and the Abbey of Hales in Shropshire Also he repared Godstow where his fathers concubine Rosamond lay enterred Likewise he was no small benefactor to the Minster of Liechfielde in Staffordshire Likewise to the Abbey of Crokesden in the same shire and to the Chappell at Knatesburgh in Yorkshire So that to say what I thinke hee was not so voyde of deuotion towards the Churche as dyuers of his enimies haue reported who of meere purpose conceale all his vertues and hide none of his vices but are plentifull ynough in setting foorthe the same to the vttermost and interprete all hys doyngs and sayings to the worst as may appeare to those that aduisedly reade the workes of them that write the order of hys lyfe Mat. Pâ—… Polidor alii whych may seeme rather an inuectiue than a true history Albeeit syth we cannot come by the trueth of things through the malice of Writers wee must contente oure selues with this vnfrieÌ„dly description of his time Certaynely it shoulde seeme the man hadde a princely heart in him and wanted nothing but faithful subiectes to haue wroken himselfe of such wrongs as were done and offered to him by the French Kyng and others Moreouer the pride and pretenced authoritie of the Cleargie he could not well abide wheÌ„ they went about to wrast out of his hands the prerogatiue of his princely rule and gouernemente True it is that to maynteyne his warres whych he was forced to take in hand as wel in Fraunce as else where he was constreyned to make all the shift hee coulde deuise to recouer money and bycause he pinched at theyr purses they conceyued no small hatred against him which when he perceyued and wanted peraduenture discretion to passe it ouer hee discouered now and then in hys rages hys immoderate displeasure as one not able to bridle his affections a thing very hard in a stout stomacke and thereby he missed nowe and then to compasse that which otherwise he might very well haue broughte to passe 〈◊〉 Paris It is written that he meant to haue become feodarse for maintenaunce sake agaynste hys owne disloyall subiectes and other his aduersaries vnto Miramumeline the great Kyng of the Sarazens but for the trueth of this reporte I haue little to say and therefore I leaue the credite thereof to the Authors It is reported lykewise that in time when the Realme stoode interdited as he was abroade to hunt one day it chaunced that there was a great Stagge or Hart killed whiche when he came to be broken vp prooued to be very fatte and thycke of flesh oh sayth hee what a pleasant lyfe thys Deare hathe ledde and yet in all hys dayes hee neuer hearde Masse To conclude it may seeme that in some respectes hee was not greatly superstitious and yet not voyde of a religious zeale towardes the mayntenaunce of the Cleargie as by his bountifull liberalitie bestowed in buyldyng of Abbeyes and Churches as before yee haue hearde it may partly appeare There lyued in hys dayes many learned men as Geffrey Vinesaufe Simon Fraxinus alias Asch Adamus Dorensis Gualter de Constantijs first Bishop of Lincolne and after Archbyshop of Rouen Iohn de Oxeford Colman surnamed Sapiens Richard Canonicus William Peregrine Ilane Teukesbury Simon Thuruaye who beeing an excellente Philosopher but standing too much in his owne conceyt vppon a suddayne dyd so forget all his knowledge in learning that he became the most ignorant of all other a punishment as was thought appoynted to hym of God for suche blasphemies as he hadde wickedly vttered both against Moises Christ Geruasius Dorobernensis Iohn Hanwill Bale Nigel Woreker Gilbert de Hoyland Benet de Peterburgh William Parbus a Monke of Newburgh Roger Houeden Huberte Walter firste Bishop of Salesbury and after Archbyshoppe of Caunterbury Alexander Theologus of whome ye haue heard before Geruasius Tilberiensis Siluester Giraldus Cambrensis who wrote many treatises Ioseph Deuonius Walter Mapis Radulfus de Diceto Gilbert Legley Mauritius Morganius Walter Morganius Iohn de Fordeham William Leicester Ioceline Brakeland Roger of Crowland Hugh White alias Candidus that wrote an history entituled Historia Petroburgensis Iohn de Saint Omer Adam Barking Iohn Gray an Historiographer and Byshop of Norwich Walter of Couentrie Radulphus Niger c. See Bale Scriptorum Britannia Centuria tertia Henry the thirde By this means it came to passe that his frendes greatly reioyced of these newes and manye of those whyche tyll that tyme hadde ayded the Frenchemen reuolted from them and in hope of pardon and rewarde tourned to king Henry It is reported by writers that amongst other thyngs as there were dyuers whiche withdrewe the hearts of the Englishemen from Lewes the consideration had of the confession which the vicount of Melune made at the houre of his death was the principall The order whereof in the later ende of the lyfe of king Iohn ye haue heard Truly how little good will inwardly Lewes and his Frenchemen bare towardes the Englishe nation it appeared sundry ways And first of all in that they had them in a maner in no regard or estimation at al but rather sought by all meanes to spoyle and keepe them vnder not sufferyng them to beare anye rule nor puttyng them in truste wyth the custodye of suche places as they had brought them in possession of SecoÌ„dly they called them not to councel so often as at the first they vsed to doe neyther dydde they proceede by theyr directions in their businesse as before they were accustomed Thirdly in all maner of theyr conuersation â—…e pride of Frenchmen â—…cureth them â—…ed neyther Lewes nor his Frenchmen vsed them so familiarly as at their first coÌ„ming but as their maner is shewing more loftie couÌ„tenances towardes them they greatly increased the indignation of the Englishe Lordes against them who myght euyll abyde to be so ouer ruled To conclude where greate promises were made at their entring into the lande they were slowe ynough in perfourmyng the same so as the expectation of the English barons was quite made voyde For they perceyued dayly that they were despised and scoffed at for their disloyaltie shewed towardes their owne naturall Prince hearyng nowe and then nyppes and tauntes openly by the Frenchemen that as they had shewed them selues false and vntrustye to theyr owne lawfull Kyng so they woulde not contynue anye long tyme trewe vnto a Straunger Thus all these thyngs layde togyther gaue occasion to the Englyshe Barons to remember themselues and to take iust occasion to reuolte vnto Kyng